Iconic Street Eats That Echo Through Hanoi

When in Hanoi, visitors are in for a treat with Bún Chả Hàng Mành, refreshing Đào Duy Từ lemon tea, delightful Hồ Hoàn Kiếm dried beef salad, and the innovative Ngũ Xã rolled pho.

Discover the Familiar Tastes of Hanoi's Streets

Hanoi features streets lined with eateries offering similar dishes. Just mention the dish's name, and food enthusiasts know exactly where to go.

Sizzling Sirloin at Hòe Nhai

Known for its sizzling cast-iron plate sirloin, Hòe Nhai is synonymous with this popular dish. You'll find numerous adjacent eateries, each distinguished by its unique house number. The dish includes grilled sirloin, fried eggs, thick beef slices, potatoes, char siu, and pate, all soaked in flavorful sauce and heated on a cast-iron plate. When served, the dish releases an enticing aroma. Recommended spots include 3 Hà Cúc, 5 Gia Bảo, 6, 20A, and Ngon 18, known for aromatic pate and tender beef. Each serving with bread is priced around 60,000 – 70,000 VND.

Tropical Bliss at Tô Tịch

Similar to Hòe Nhai, Tô Tịch initially had only one stall selling tropical fruit salad, and later, multiple shops emerged, turning this dish into a street brand. The fruit salad mainly features avocado, mango, dragon fruit, watermelon, jackfruit, and seasonal fruits like lychee and mulberry. Each bowl is priced at 25,000 VND, with an option to add ice cream for 30,000 VND.

Pho Rolls at Ngũ Xã

Ngũ Xã Street is the birthplace of pho rolls, consisting of stir-fried beef, boiled pork, various fresh vegetables, and small-cut vegetables, all rolled in a large rice noodle sheet. After several years, this dish has become familiar to Hanoi locals and has spread to other streets.

Pho rolls at Ngũ Xã are priced around 5,000 VND each. Typically, you need to enjoy 3 to 5 rolls for a satisfying meal. Visitors can try Hương Mai or Hưng Bền. Recommended variations include fried pho and puffed pho, served with stir-fried beef and vegetables.

Caramel Delight at Hàng Than

Originating from Europe, the delightful flan or caramel custard, with its rich aroma of eggs and milk, has become a renowned street snack at Hang Than. Caramel is elevated with various toppings such as sticky rice, pearls, and fruits. The busiest spot is Dương Hoa at number 29. A bowl of caramel costs 8,000 VND, while those with extra fillings range from 15,000 to 20,000 VND. Additionally, the coconut ice cream at the stall is a favorite among many tourists, priced at 70,000 VND per serving.

Bún chả Hàng Mành

At the intersection of Hang Non and Hang Manh in Hanoi, numerous bun cha stalls share the same name. Among them, one long-standing establishment named Đắc Kim has been serving since 1966. The grilled meat at this place is tender, sourced from pork belly or underarm cuts. A generous bowl costs 60,000 VND, suitable for two. Featured on international news platforms like CNN, this eatery attracts many foreign visitors.

Bún đậu Hàng Khay

Located in the narrow alley at 31 Hang Khay are three stalls selling fermented shrimp paste vermicelli. During lunchtime, patrons often spill out onto the alley, creating a bustling and lively scene. Among them, the most crowded and with the longest history is Ms. Tuyen's stall, situated at the innermost part. The highlight of the dish is the small, expertly deep-fried tofu, crispy on all four sides, and the tightly rolled pork legs before boiling, sliced into evenly round, firm pieces. However, the drawback is the cramped space. Many diners note that due to the crowdedness, the accompanying vermicelli dishes aren't as good as before.

Lemon Tea at Đào Duy Từ

The narrow alley, considered the birthplace of lemon tea, still holds its unique charm at Đào Duy Từ. Despite its presence on numerous streets, Đào Duy Từ's lemon tea retains its special taste with the perfect level of bitterness, a hint of jasmine fragrance, and the rich flavor of lime, sugar. Some patrons express their preference for the lemon tea here due to the cozy atmosphere of the alley, where laughter and the sound of sunflower seeds cracking are abundant. In addition to the lemon tea, Đào Duy Từ is also renowned for its square bowl crab spring roll vermicelli, priced at around 45,000 VND per serving.

The city boasts many other lemon tea streets such as Nhà Thờ and Chợ Gạo.

Dry Beef Salad at Hồ Hoàn Kiếm

Situated in the heart of the Old Quarter, the street named Hồ Hoàn Kiếm stretches about 50 meters. Here, just a glance reveals 3 or 4 dry beef salad stalls. Despite using similar ingredients including papaya, dried beef, tendon, dried jerky, and dried liver, Long Vi Dung's stall remains the most crowded. One can notice the difference in the rich, flavorful dressing. Additionally, tourists can visit the street vendors at the beginning of the road, run by an elderly couple. The beef salad here is abundant, with delicious and chewy rice dumplings, and the sellers are cheerful and friendly.

According to Lan Hương/ Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour