4 unique restaurants in Hanoi with unusual opening hours but always crowded

These restaurants open in the early morning, some in the afternoon, others at noon... Their opening hours may be strange, but they are still popular dining destinations.

4 Hanoi restaurants with unusual opening hours but always crowded

1. Bamboo skewer bun cha at Bach Mai

Bamboo skewer bun cha, also known as the 'fancy' bun cha, has long been a familiar address for foodies in Hanoi. The reason why this bun cha place is called 'fancy' is due to several reasons. The restaurant specializes in bamboo skewer bun cha - a type of bun cha that is currently rare in Hanoi. Moreover, the opening hours here are quite... unusual, starting from 2 p.m. and selling out at a 'rapid' pace.

This restaurant sells out so quickly that some people have to visit 3 or 4 times before they get a chance to taste the bun cha here. Furthermore, according to many customers, the owner is also... arrogant. However, because of its well-known deliciousness, the restaurant is always in high demand when it opens.

A serving of bun cha comes with a bowl of dipping sauce and a plate of grilled pork patties. The dipping sauce is not particularly special, but the grilled pork patties are much more fragrant than those at other places. The pork patties are not only fragrant but also chewy, so they don't break when squeezed with bamboo skewers. Quickly dip the well-seasoned pork patties into the dipping sauce while they are still hot to fully appreciate the uniqueness of the bun cha here with its rich, fragrant taste of grilled meat.

Perhaps because it is so delicious, despite the inconvenient hours and the relatively high price (40,000 to 50,000 VND per serving), and the lack of amenities in the alley seating area, the restaurant is still very crowded. If you don't arrive early, you may miss out. A small tip is that if you plan to eat here, you should come around 2 or 2:30 p.m. If you arrive at 3 p.m., you will be quite lucky, as either the restaurant will be sold out or you will have to wait for 2-3 turns of customers.

2. Pho at Hang Chieu street food stall

Pho is a dish that is closely associated with all generations of Hanoians. People can eat pho at any time from early morning to late at night. However, there are not many places that sell pho at night, so for a long time, the Hang Chieu street food stall has always been a familiar late-night or dreamy breakfast spot for many people. The stall's assets are just a pair of baskets with a pot of broth, rare and well-done beef, wine sauce, pho noodles, a few shallots, and a couple of plastic chairs.

In fact, in terms of outstanding taste, the Hang Chieu street food stall's pho is hardly comparable to the pho at Ly Quoc Su or Ganh Cau. But at around 2 or 3 a.m., when there are only a few places still open in Hanoi, the fragrant aroma of simmering bones and the sweet, tender slices of beef at the Hang Chieu street food stall are truly the perfect choice.

The fragrant broth, tender beef, and truly appetizing bowl of pho at the Hang Chieu street food stall are enough to make people wide awake from the first spoonful. However, the stall also has certain drawbacks, such as having to wait quite a long time for your turn, or sometimes, because of the small kitchen, there is too much rare beef hanging from the ceiling, making it difficult to always have boiling, steamy broth.

3. Pho at Hang Trong

While Hang Chieu pho is sold from late night until early morning, Hang Trong pho is sold in the evening, from around 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, perfect for those who want a light meal before dinner. Especially from 5:30 to 6 p.m., this eatery is always packed, and customers may have to wait for a seat.

Hang Trong pho only sells one simple type of well-done pho. Because it is mainly sold for evening consumption, the bowl of pho here is quite small, a small bowl with white pho noodles topped with a few slices of soft, fragrant well-done beef, and some green onions just enough to warm the stomach without feeling too full.

Furthermore, the price of Hang Trong pho is also very affordable, ranging from 25,000 to 30,000 VND per bowl. That is also a reason why this place is always bustling with both local and foreign customers coming to enjoy it every evening. In fact, at this eatery, it is not difficult to see foreign customers awkwardly trying to use chopsticks to enjoy Vietnam's famous dish.

Previously, Hang Trong pho was served right on the sidewalk at the Hang Trong and Hang Gai intersection, with seating consisting of a few super low plastic chairs. The pho was served, customers paid, grabbed a few sheets of paper to use as napkins, and enjoyed their meal while standing. However, recently, this eatery has moved into a house in a nearby alley.

4. Hoa Ma crispy noodles

In fact, to say that Hoa Ma crispy noodles are unique is not entirely true, as the stall sells in the morning, suitable for those who want to start their day with a... bowl of noodles. However, compared to many morning stalls in Hanoi, this stall's opening hours are somewhat early, around 6 a.m., and by 8 a.m., or at the latest 8:30 a.m., the stall is almost out of noodles. So if you're someone who likes to eat late, this place is not for you. Perhaps because it sells early and runs out quickly, those who miss out on food here blame the stall for opening at... unusual hours and not willing to sell a bit longer to accommodate more customers.

Hoa Ma crispy noodles has a narrow space, with only 2-3 tables inside, so customers have to sit on the sidewalk, using chairs as tables, which can be quite challenging. But that doesn't seem to make diners here uncomfortable. The stall is crowded, and the owner is busy managing the staff to serve customers as quickly as possible to minimize waiting time, which is why many customers describe the owner as 'cold.

Hoa Ma crispy noodles has 3 price levels: 40,000; 50,000; and 60,000 VND per bowl. Compared to many other crispy noodle stalls, with an average price of 30,000 to 40,000 VND per bowl, the price here is slightly higher, and the bowl of noodles is a bit smaller, without eggs, fresh shrimp, or fried dumplings.

However, every component of the bowl of noodles is delicious, from the delicious fresh noodles, standard dumplings, to the sweet broth. Especially, the noodles here are extremely fresh, with a clear fragrance of wheat, a soft, chewy texture, a firm elasticity that can only be achieved with freshly made noodles. When combined with the sweet and clear broth, even without dumplings or meatballs, the noodles are enough to satisfy you.

The regular customers of the stall comment, 'I have never seen noodles as delicious as here. The bowl of noodles is not too much, but easy to eat, you can eat as much as you want without getting bored.' Perhaps that's why even though the stall's opening hours are somewhat early, customers still wake up early to come to Hoa Ma for noodles, among the dozens, hundreds of noodle stalls in Hanoi.

Source: Afamily

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide