18 Must-Try and Famous Restaurants in Hanoi

Explore the renowned eateries in Hanoi that Mytour recommends below. These are familiar spots that travelers often whisper about when visiting the city.

18 Must-Try and Famous Restaurants in Hanoi

1. Grilled fermented pork – 10 Au Trieu Street

The grilled fermented pork spot at 10 Au Trieu Street opens from 2 PM until midnight. Despite the title of a restaurant, this place is quite simple. The dining area consists of trays placed on green seats arranged in a row along the alley, ensuring an unobstructed pedestrian path.

2. Roasted chicken sticky rice – 604 Truong Chinh Street

Trường Chinh Street, though small and always crowded with vehicles, is a haven for food enthusiasts, especially those craving delicious chicken dishes. One standout is the roasted chicken sticky rice, available at house number 604. The dish boasts vibrant yellow glutinous rice, evenly cooked roasted chicken, and fragrant fried shallots. For a refreshing touch, you can enjoy it with carrot and cucumber on the side to balance the flavors.

3. Fried Pho – 206 Kham Thien Street

Starting with a large, soft, and white pho cake, the chef skillfully cuts it into small square pieces, approximately half the size of a palm. After a quick pan-fry to achieve a uniform golden color, the pho is then deep-fried to a crispy and slightly charred perfection. When served, the fried pho resembles mini pizza slices, exuding the aromatic essence of both the cake and the delightful crunch on the outer layer, complemented by a soft and chewy inner texture. It's served with a hot and savory beef sauce.

4. Jackfruit Yogurt – 22 Ba Trieu Street

Located at house number 22 on Ba Trieu Street, near the intersection of Hang Khay and Trang Thi, the petite Hoang Anh yogurt shop sits right on the sidewalk. With a simple glass cabinet, the shop, always bustling, accommodates around 20 seats. Here, you can savor a variety of yogurt-based treats such as yogurt sweet soup, fruit yogurt, yogurt with jelly, yogurt with sticky rice, and the unique jackfruit yogurt.

5. Wine-infused Baguette – 252 Hang Bong Street

The beef used for the wine-infused sauce is ribeye, with a touch of beef tendon for added texture. After marinating the meat with spices, it's simmered with a splash of wine to tenderize and enhance the flavor. The sauce is poured into the simmering mix of meat and other spices, along with a bit of cornstarch for the desired thickness. Once the sauce reaches the perfect consistency, the chef adds Lang basil, Thai coriander, and finely chopped shallots to elevate the aroma.

6. Rolled Cake - 12-14 Hang Ga Street

Renowned in Hanoi, Thanh Van's rolled cake at 12-14 Hang Ga Street has been a staple for locals for decades and a 'must-visit' for tourists. The main attraction is the thin, soft rice paper and delicious filling. The restaurant offers rolled cakes with chicken filling, priced at 30,000 VND per plate.

7. Fried Dumplings - Alley 135 Phuong Mai

The dumpling filling consists of lean shoulder meat, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms - all finely chopped and mixed thoroughly with spices and black pepper to release a delightful fragrance. However, the uniqueness lies in the dumpling's outer layer. Besides glutinous rice flour and plain flour with a pinch of salt, mashed sweet potatoes are added, giving the dumpling a crispy texture without being overly dry. The shop operates from 4 PM to 7 PM, offering each piece at 3,000 VND.

8. Wild Carp Sticky Rice - Alley 107 Nguyen Chi Thanh

The most time-consuming part of preparing this dish is the fish. The scaled and boiled carp is cooled, and the meat is then separated. Marinated with fish sauce and a dash of pepper for fragrance, the fish is deep-fried until golden. Paired with white sticky rice and a sprinkle of fried shallots, a serving costs 25,000 VND and includes a side of fresh green mustard soup to refresh the palate.

9. Pillow Cake - Ly Quoc Su Street

Travelers strolling along Ly Quoc Su Street will easily spot the famous pillow cake shop in Hanoi. The cake features a crispy and chewy golden outer layer, filled with a mixture of minced meat, Chinese sausage, wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli, and a hint of black pepper. Each piece, priced at around 9,000 VND, is served with fresh vegetables and a sweet-sour dipping sauce.

10. Fried Spring Rolls - Alley Tam Thuong

Known as the paradise of fried sour spring rolls in Hanoi, Tam Thuong Alley hides in the bustling Hang Bong Street. Despite its short length of about 10 meters, it hosts 6 to 7 stalls selling this delicacy. The rolls are perfectly fried, not greasy, offering a crispy texture at a price of 30,000-40,000 VND per plate. You can also enjoy them with pickled radish, cucumber, green mango, and fried sweet potatoes.

11. Dried Beef Salad - Ho Hoan Kiem Street

Measuring only 52 meters, the name of this shortest street in Hanoi evokes a sense of both familiarity and novelty. It's renowned for its dried beef salad, attracting a bustling crowd every evening. The dish comprises shredded green papaya, sliced dried beef, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, thin slices of grilled pork, and a few pieces of crispy pork skin. Mixing all the ingredients thoroughly to absorb the perfect blend of flavors, it is priced at 35,000 VND per plate.

12. Grilled Muscovy Duck Noodles and Muscovy Sausage - Hang Bong Street Sidewalk

Located on the sidewalk of Hang Bong Street, near the Phu Doan intersection in Hanoi, Hien's Muscovy duck eatery discreetly stands amidst the fashion boutiques. Though not widely known, once you've tasted the rich flavor of the Muscovy sausage, the specialty of the place, along with the fragrant sweet bamboo shoot soup, you won't forget it.

13. Mango Sweet Soup - 2 Nguyen Truong To Street

Many Hanoians have experienced mango sweet soup, but some are yet to discover this delight. For those who appreciate the refreshing sweetness of this unique dessert, the bustling corner of Nguyen Truong To Street, intersecting with Hang Than Street, is the go-to place. Situated at number 2 Nguyen Truong To, Hong Kong dessert shop is always packed with customers. While offering a variety of desserts and jelly dishes, most patrons opt for a taste of mango sweet soup before exploring other options.

14. Grilled Offal - Under the Bridge Street

Alongside Ma May, Under the Bridge Street is also a familiar rendezvous for the young whenever they crave grilled delights. Here, a variety of ingredients like heart, stomach, intestines, gizzards, beef, and snails are abundantly available. To add a unique twist, the restaurant often marinates with honey before grilling, giving the taste a delightful twist.

15. Hot Rice Cake - Le Ngoc Han Street

This rice cake stall in Hanoi has been a favorite snack spot for students for about a decade. The rice cake is soft yet chewy with a hint of warmth. Additionally, it features the sweet taste of minced meat and broth, accompanied by a few crunchy roasted peanuts and aromatic herbs. Each bowl of hot rice cake is priced at 13,000 VND.

16. Shrimp Cake and Fried Dimsum - 55 Hang Bo Street

The petite and crispy dimsum, fried to perfection, takes the spotlight at house number 55. Thin, crispy, and golden, each piece is generously filled. A serving of about 20 pieces is served with a plate of fresh vegetables and a bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce. Additionally, you can also order shrimp cakes, equally popular. These are slightly larger than the dimsum, offering a rich shrimp flavor complemented by the crispy fried outer layer.

17. Mixed Chicken Pho - 5 Phu Doan Street

The mixed chicken pho at 5 Phu Doan is a familiar haunt for night owls. The poached chicken here is well-cooked, fresh, fragrant, and firm. No industrial chickens are used to avoid the dry and bland feel. In addition, the noodle strands at this establishment are enticing, offering both chewiness and tenderness. Notably, the standout feature is the specially crafted broth, expertly prepared for a light and naturally sweet taste.

18. Carry-your-bowl Pho - 1 Hang Trong Street

Right at the beginning of Hang Trong Street, a pho eatery known by the illustrious nickname 'carry-your-bowl pho' attracts many. The place opts for low plastic stools instead of tables. Diners hold the bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, sipping the broth directly without the need for a spoon. Enjoying this unique pho may be a bit challenging, but the flavorful and traditional aroma, coupled with the clear and non-greasy broth, makes the effort worthwhile. Pho Hang Trong only opens from around 4 PM to about 8 PM.

By San San (Compiled)

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide