Iconic Bun Dishes That Evoke Memories of Hanoi

No matter where you go, just the mention of bun cha, bun thang, bun oc... is sure to bring back memories of Hanoi.

Iconic Bun Dishes That Evoke Memories of Hanoi

One of the most distinctive features when it comes to Hanoi cuisine is the various bun dishes. With their unique flavors and abundance, one cannot overlook the most iconic and delicious bun dishes of Hanoi.

Bun cha

When it comes to Hanoi cuisine, bun cha is a must-mention, a traditional dish that has been around for ages. The best bun cha features lean pork shoulder meat, prepared in two forms: grilled patties and minced, then grilled over charcoal. You can choose to have one type of patty or both, depending on your taste. Bun cha is best enjoyed with rice vermicelli, dipped in a sweet and savory fish sauce, accompanied by garlic and chili, along with a side of green papaya and fresh herbs.

Bún riêu cua is a traditional dish originating from northern Vietnam. It is a sour soup made from crab paste, minced crab meat, tomatoes, broth, vinegar, and various spices. Enjoying bún riêu cua is incomplete without fresh vegetables and a dash of shrimp paste with chili. This dish is perfect for a refreshing summer breakfast to kickstart your day with energy.

Over time, the bún riêu cua in Hanoi has evolved significantly. While the traditional bowl used to consist of simple ingredients as mentioned above, nowadays it's much more elaborate with additional toppings like pork hocks, tofu, beef, and more. However, many still crave the flavors of the past and seek out eateries that offer the taste of nostalgia. The price per bowl of bún riêu cua ranges from 20,000 to 40,000 Vietnamese dong.

Snail Noodles

Snail noodles are often sold alongside bún riêu due to similarities in preparation and flavor. Snail noodles use thin vermicelli noodles in a broth made from boiled bones, vinegar, and tomatoes. People in Hanoi typically enjoy snail noodles with two types of snails known colloquially as 'big snails' (apple snails or snails stuffed with pork) and 'small snails' (pond snails or rock snails) choosing medium-sized, boiled but tender snails, and serving them in the bowl. Eating snail noodles requires roasted chili and raw vegetables on the side. Snail noodles can be eaten hot or cold, with dipping or mixing.

Hanoi boasts many famous snail noodle stalls such as Bà Sáu Snail Noodles, Sister Thêm's Snail Noodles, Khương Thượng Snail Noodles, Bạch Mai Fat-Top Snail Noodles, Ô Quan Chưởng Cold Snail Noodles, or snail noodle stalls in the alleys of Đồng Xuân Market. The price per bowl of snail noodles also varies, starting from around 25,000 Vietnamese dong.

Faux Fox Noodles

This is one of the delicious dishes in Hanoi, especially in winter. The main ingredient of faux fox noodles is pork trotters, including both meat and trotter nails, which undergo various complex processing stages. The finished faux fox noodle bowl has the rich taste of trotter nails blending with the sourness of bamboo shoots, the sweetness of sticky broth, and the aromatic flavors of various spices. Faux fox noodles also require shrimp paste to enhance the aroma, making it unmistakable from any other dish just by its smell alone. The dish is often served with finely chopped banana blossom. When eating, you mix the meat and fragrant herbs evenly in the bowl, adding a few slices of chili if desired.

A bowl of faux fox noodles is usually sold for around 30,000 Vietnamese dong per serving, commonly served at lunchtime. Almost anywhere in Hanoi, you can find this dish, especially at small eateries and street vendors.

Water Morning Glory and Pig's Intestine Noodles

This is a refreshing dish, suitable for hot days. The ingredients include cleaned water morning glory to avoid itchiness, thinly sliced pork trotters, and pig's intestines made from raw sausage meat with tendons. In many places, vendors also serve young ribs or trotter nails. The dominant flavor of the dish is a refreshing sourness, enhanced by meticulously simmered bone broth and carefully seasoned to achieve just the right taste. When boiling the trotter nails and pork trotters, a bit of turmeric is often added to make the dish more appealing. The boiled meat is tender, slightly chewy, and sweet.

When water morning glory and pig's intestine noodles are served in Saigon, eateries here often add fried shallots and bean sprouts. Depending on your family's taste preferences, you can tweak the dish a bit to make it more appetizing. The price per bowl is also around 30,000 Vietnamese dong. You can enjoy it for breakfast or lunch.

According to Linh Hương – Vĩnh Hy/Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour