Top 12 Seafood Delights for Seafood Enthusiasts in Hanoi

When people think of Trung Yen Alley, they often recall the famous fish noodle soup stalls under the Si tree, but many also come here just to savor a unique bowl of stir-fried vermicelli with squid on days when they crave something different from meat. The signature dish at Miến Trộn Mực Trung Yên is the stir-fried vermicelli with squid, although the restaurant also offers bánh đa (crispy rice noodles) for variety. The dish consists of several ingredients like crab roe, fried dried squid, eggs, fish cake, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and peanuts, all mixed with two types of dressing: soy sauce and sweet-sour fish sauce, creating an unusual blend of flavors that excite the taste buds. The noodles and vermicelli are soaked in crab broth before mixing, absorbing the seasoning so they don’t taste bland.

While the stir-fried vermicelli at Miến Trộn Mực Trung Yên may not be the most exquisite, it is undeniably appetizing thanks to the squid – a less common ingredient compared to the usual shrimp or crab. The dried squid is soaked, washed, chopped, and then deep-fried to crispy perfection without any fishy taste, offering a unique chewy and crispy texture. If you're looking to try this distinct dish, be sure to visit Miến Trộn Mực Trung Yên!

Ốc Trang Hải Phòng is another popular seafood spot in Hanoi. The restaurant may not boast a grand interior, but it offers a spacious seating area with friendly, quick, and attentive staff. The focus here is on delicious, clean, and affordable food, so you can enjoy your meal with peace of mind, knowing that the food is safe and healthy.

The squid served here is perfectly sized—not too large to crack while grilling, yet tender and not chewy. The sauce is rich, aromatic, and creamy, ensuring the dish doesn’t dry out. The grilled squid is evenly charred, visually appealing, and incredibly appetizing. Prepared with the restaurant’s own special recipe, the seasoning is bold, yet it allows the squid's natural flavor to shine through. On a cool, crisp day, enjoying a hot, spicy plate of grilled squid here is an absolute delight. The prices at Ốc Trang Hải Phòng are very reasonable, making it an ideal place to indulge in tasty seafood.

Ốc Lan Béo Hải Phòng is one of the hottest seafood spots, especially loved for its sucking snails by seafood enthusiasts. The outdoor seating provides a spacious, cool, and clean environment, perfect for enjoying a plate of snails and a glass of iced tea while chatting with friends. The sucking snails here are much larger than those at other places in the capital, with firm, juicy meat that is easy to suck out. These snails are cooked with a tangy sauce and infused with delicious flavors, so they’re always fresh, free of sand, and never fishy.

The dipping sauce at Ốc Lan Béo Hải Phòng is absolutely amazing—tangy, sweet, with a slight natural spiciness from fresh chili, fragrant with garlic, lime leaves, and ginger. It pairs perfectly with the snails, making for an irresistible combination. The service is exceptionally friendly and attentive, and with such great food, it's no wonder the place always has a steady stream of customers. Although there’s only one location on Dang Van Ngu Street, loyal fans of this dish gladly make the trip from all over to indulge in the delicious snails here.

Email: [email protected]
Website: masterchef.vn
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/masterchefxadan

Cua Bay Seafood is a restaurant designed with a sophisticated and attractive space, offering delicious dishes and exceptional service, making it a perfect spot for family gatherings, friendly meetups, or business dinners. The Singapore-Style Chili Crab is undoubtedly one of the standout dishes, loved not only for family meals but also as a classic choice for wedding banquets. The dish’s appeal comes from both its incredible taste and the luxurious touch it brings to the table.

As many people know, crab is a beloved seafood known for its great taste. It’s packed with protein and calcium, making it especially beneficial for children in their bone development. The Singapore-style chili sauce is a perfect balance of fragrant spice, mild heat, and a slight tanginess that complements the crab, masking any fishy taste and enhancing the flavor. Compared to other popular dishes like stir-fried beef or salads, this chili crab has a rich, bold flavor that’s easier to prepare and always satisfying. Come to Cua Bay Seafood to savor this delicacy!

Oc Nhay Saigon is a popular seafood restaurant in Hanoi, known for serving a variety of delicious seafood dishes with authentic flavors from Saigon. The restaurant offers a spacious, airy, and clean environment, thoughtfully designed to provide comfort and a perfect backdrop for those who love snapping pictures while enjoying their meal. If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a paradise of fresh catches here.

One of the standout dishes at this restaurant is the stir-fried razor clams with tamarind, which is as visually appealing as it is flavorful. Razor clams may not be new to many, but preparing them perfectly, without breaking the meat and keeping the natural sweetness intact, requires great skill. The clams are large, firm, and fresh, and when stir-fried, they retain their sweetness while soaking up the rich, tangy tamarind sauce. The tamarind sauce at Oc Nhay Saigon is enhanced with a touch of coconut milk, giving it a smooth, fragrant sweetness balanced by a zesty sourness from the tamarind. It’s an absolutely delicious dish that isn’t fishy or greasy, just perfectly balanced.

West Lake Shrimp Cake Restaurant is a popular destination in Hanoi, well-known for serving delicious shrimp cakes. These crispy cakes have a light, crunchy outer layer with a subtle sweetness from the mashed mung beans inside. The shrimp filling is not overly large but is fresh, tender, and perfectly seasoned. The dipping sauce is rich in flavor, with a balance of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy notes, and it’s served alongside some pickled papaya and fresh herbs. Though this dish might seem like a simple street food, the shrimp cakes here have gained a loyal following.

The shrimp cakes are coated in a golden, crispy batter, and the shrimp inside, while not too large, are sweet and succulent. Dipped in the tangy, sweet-and-sour sauce with some chili and fresh herbs, these cakes are irresistibly delicious. West Lake Shrimp Cake Restaurant offers a spacious, relaxing atmosphere, located near the cool breeze of West Lake. The restaurant also offers other dishes such as soups, spring rolls, lobster, crab, seafood hot pot, porridge, rice, and noodles.

Thai Seafood Noodles is a well-loved dish in Hanoi, known for its vibrant and delicious blend of seafood. The bowl features a variety of seafood including bright red boiled shrimp, thick slices of squid, and golden fried fish. But the star of the dish is undoubtedly the tangy, spicy broth. With a taste reminiscent of tom yum, it has a fragrant combination of tamarind, ginger, chili, and lemongrass, creating a tingling sensation on your tongue. The broth is carefully balanced to suit the Vietnamese palate while retaining the authentic sour-sweet flavor of Thai cuisine. A bowl of this special Thai noodles is filled with shrimp, fish, squid, and noodles, all in a zesty, aromatic broth that will keep you coming back for more at Long Thuy Thai Seafood Noodles!

A serving of Thai seafood noodles includes shrimp, squid, fish cake, and other seafood, alongside fresh vegetables. Each bowl is overflowing with delicious ingredients. The broth is light yet flavorful, and with a drizzle of satay, chili paste, and a bit of pickled onion, the taste is perfectly balanced. All the seafood is fresh, with large, sweet shrimp and firm, juicy meat. A spoonful of the tangy, spicy broth completes the experience. If you're craving a delicious bowl of Thai seafood noodles, don't hesitate to visit Long Thuy Thai Seafood Noodles and indulge yourself!

Sambal is a flavorful dipping sauce originally from Indonesia and Malaysia, now widely used in Indonesian cuisine. It can be served as a sauce or stir-fried with seafood. The combination of salty shrimp paste, tangy lime and tomato, aromatic garlic, and the spicy kick of chili and ginger creates a mouthwatering blend that perfectly complements the freshness of seafood. When you indulge in crab with sambal sauce, it's a hands-on experience, as you peel off the shell and savor the sweet, tender meat coated in the sweet-spicy sauce. The flavors are so irresistible, you'll find yourself licking your fingers in satisfaction. To try this delectable dish, head to Tomato Seafood.

The crabs served here are large, meaty, and firm. The sambal sauce, with its spicy-sweet undertones, perfectly masks the natural seafood flavor, making it a delightful eating experience. Tomato Seafood provides wet towels or a bowl of water with lemon to clean your hands after enjoying the meal. The spacious and clean atmosphere ensures a comfortable dining experience, and the professional and friendly staff are always attentive to your needs. The restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients, ensuring the best quality seafood for their dishes.

Bánh canh is a popular dish from the coastal regions of Southern Vietnam, particularly from Da Nang southward. The noodle, made from either tapioca flour or rice flour, is thicker and chewier than northern-style vermicelli. The broth, usually a rich and slightly sticky texture, is simmered from seafood, crab, and other ingredients, giving it a sweeter, fuller flavor compared to the clear broths found in northern pho. When it comes to bánh canh ghẹ (crab noodle soup), you can’t miss Bánh Canh Ghẹ 69, a beloved spot in Hanoi known for serving exceptional crab noodle soup that many locals adore.

This restaurant offers various types of bánh canh, such as shrimp or pork, but the standout is undoubtedly the crab noodle soup. The crab is large, cooked perfectly with its bright orange shell sitting atop a bowl of piping hot noodles. It’s served with shrimp and fish cakes, and some places even add hard-boiled quail eggs. From fine dining establishments to street food vendors in cities like Hue, Da Nang, Vung Tau, Ben Tre, and Ho Chi Minh City, crab noodle soup is a nostalgic and beloved dish. If you’re craving this unique soup, make sure to visit Bánh Canh Ghẹ 69, where you’re guaranteed not to be disappointed!

If you're a seafood lover, you simply can't miss trying the spicy octopus stir-fry at least once in your life. The octopus is large, firm, and its texture is delightfully chewy with a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. The dish at Jogaesa is prepared in the traditional Korean style, featuring a fiery blend of chili powder and gochujang (Korean chili paste) stir-fried with the octopus, vegetables, and sauce, creating a flavor that's both spicy and subtly sweet from the seafood. The sauce is rich and savory, and if you add instant noodles into the mix, it becomes a fulfilling, flavorful meal.

The serving is generous, making it perfect for two people to share. Along with the octopus, the stir-fry includes vegetables, mushrooms, and seasonings that all blend together beautifully. You can also enjoy unlimited kimchi on the side, adding a traditional touch to your meal. Jogaesa offers a spacious, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environment, ideal for those who love snapping pictures. The prices are quite reasonable, and the food quality and service are top-notch, which is why this place attracts so many customers.