Top 10 Best Sticky Rice Dishes in Hanoi

Bird sticky rice is a specialty of the Red River Delta and can be found in many northern regions like Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, and Ha Nam. The bird used for this dish is usually dove, quail, or sparrow. The sticky rice is steamed with high-quality glutinous rice to perfection. The bird meat is finely chopped, marinated with onion, pepper, oil, and a secret blend of spices, then simmered with the rice. The sweet and fragrant flavor of the bird slowly seeps into every grain of rice. Once the dish is prepared, crispy fried onions are sprinkled on top to enhance the aroma. At first glance, this dish might seem simple, but after taking the first bite, you'll experience the rich, savory taste of the bird meat mingled with the soft and chewy sticky rice. The dish is so flavorful that it can be enjoyed on its own without the need for any dipping sauce. To try it, visit Oanh's restaurant on Hoe Nhai Street for the authentic taste of bird sticky rice.

The coastal region of Quang Ninh is renowned for its delicious crab and squid cakes, particularly from Ha Long. Only the freshest seafood from local markets is selected to create these flavorful, tender cakes packed with the briny taste of the sea. If you're a seafood lover, this is a must-try. Crab cake sticky rice is an innovative combination of glutinous rice and seafood. Thao's restaurant is well-known for serving Ha Long-style crab and squid cakes. These cakes are sourced directly from Ha Long's market, ensuring authentic flavor and food safety. Made with 100% fresh squid and crab meat, they are hand-pounded and steamed to retain all their natural flavors and nutrients. At the restaurant, the sticky rice is served with squid and crab cakes, offering a taste that is reminiscent of the coastal flavors of Ha Long. The rice is fragrant, soft, and sticky, paired with tender crab and squid cakes that are rich in flavor without being overwhelming. The dish is also topped with fried shallots and dried pork to enhance the aroma. It's best enjoyed while the rice is still hot to fully savor its deliciousness. The standout feature of this dish is the homemade crab cake, which has a delightful sweetness and savory flavor from the crab meat, combined with a hint of salty fish sauce and a mild spiciness from the pepper. It's a wholesome, tasty dish that's sure to impress. Thao's restaurant, located across from Hang Da Market, is a beloved spot for locals who crave this unique combination of crab cake sticky rice and fried crab rice. Another great option is the store on Hang Dieu Street, which also serves this dish.

Mushroom sticky rice is a versatile dish that's sure to please everyone. It's just as delicious for breakfast as it is for lunch or an afternoon snack. The moment it's served, you'll notice how enticing it looks. Though the portion is small, it's packed with crispy pork belly and a unique mushroom floss that adds an unexpected twist. When you dig into the dish, be sure to mix it well to allow the savory juices from the meat to infuse the rice, while also uncovering the perfectly sautéed mushrooms hidden underneath. The mushrooms in this dish offer a rich, satisfying flavor that can rival the savory pork, but with a distinctive taste that's hard to beat. Mushrooms are a great source of protein, essential amino acids, and healthy unsaturated fats. Mushroom sticky rice can be enjoyed with a variety of accompaniments such as pork floss, traditional mushroom floss, vegetarian sausage, crispy pork belly, or chicken liver pâté. This dish is a perfect choice for mushroom lovers—it's both flavorful and easy to enjoy. The sautéed mushrooms retain their deep taste and nutritional value, making this meal wholesome and fulfilling. You can try mushroom sticky rice at 76 Lo Duc or 1B Le Ngoc Han.

Mango sticky rice has long been one of the most beloved dishes in Thailand, and it's something every traveler visiting the country wants to try. In Thailand, mango sticky rice is sold everywhere, with each shop offering its own twist on how the dish is prepared and presented. Thai cuisine is known for its bold and exciting flavors, and it has spread to Vietnam, where you can now enjoy this dish at nearly every Thai restaurant in Hanoi. Thai sticky rice typically includes coconut milk and tropical fruits such as mango, durian, jackfruit, and banana. Additionally, the rice colors are naturally derived from ingredients like carrot (orange), beetroot (red), turmeric (yellow), pandan leaves (green), and butterfly pea flowers (purple), making them as healthy as they are beautiful. To add even more flavor, some restaurants incorporate various beans such as mung beans, red beans, and white beans into the rice. The soft, fragrant sticky rice paired with the rich coconut milk and the sweetness of the fruit creates a unique and irresistible taste that defines Thai sweet sticky rice. One of the most popular and loved variations is mango sticky rice. The creamy rice combined with ripe, fragrant Thai mango slices makes for a mouthwatering treat. The contrast of hot rice with cold mango, the richness of coconut milk, and the subtle tartness of the fruit creates a perfect balance of flavors. You can enjoy mango sticky rice at Gusto Thai, Home Cook Gia Đình BB at 44 Tue Tinh, Thai Siam 20, or Koh Samui Hut at 40 Nha Chung.

Soft-boiled egg sticky rice has become quite popular lately, with soft, rich eggs that are both creamy and healthy. The soft-boiled eggs are stir-fried with garlic until slightly crispy, filling the air with an aromatic scent that's hard to resist. Along with the eggs, you’ll find chicken gizzards, hearts, and liver, all marinated and cooked to perfection, creating a savory, garlicky sauce that gives the dish a delightful sweetness and spice. The eggs, rich and creamy, are often stir-fried with garlic to bring out their flavor. This dish is commonly served with shredded chicken, Chinese sausage, steamed pork, ham, crispy shallots, and crispy fried skin, adding layers of texture and flavor. The salty sticky rice, combined with the bitterness of the chicken liver and the savory richness of the soft-boiled egg, makes for a perfect balance. Each serving of this sticky rice includes a mix of tender egg, crispy chicken skin, shredded chicken, meatballs, chicken thighs, pickled vegetables, boiled gizzards and liver, dry pork floss, and fried shallots. The special sauce poured over the rice is made from the chicken broth, giving it a unique flavor that's both savory and satisfying.

One of the most popular dishes on this list is the spicy ribs sticky rice. The sticky rice is perfectly cooked, not dry at all, and the ribs are just right, crispy and fragrant. What really makes this dish unforgettable is the spicy sauce poured over the rice, a taste that's unmatched anywhere else. The restaurant also offers other delicious varieties like chicken sticky rice, broken rice, corn sticky rice, and char siu rice, with the chicken marinated to perfection. When you hear ‘spicy ribs sticky rice,’ many of you might be intrigued, while others might hesitate due to the ‘spicy’ part. Even if you are a fan of sticky rice, you’ll find the heat in this dish intense. The spiciness comes from both the ribs and the sauce, and even the most seasoned chili lovers will be surprised by the heat here—it’s fiery! The dish is typically served with golden broken rice, about 4-5 pieces of ribs, garnished with cucumber, fried shallots, and a little cilantro. The ribs are tender with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the sticky rice is soft and chewy, enhanced by the incredibly spicy sauce. A serving of spicy ribs sticky rice comes with a generous piece of rib soaked in sauce, accompanied by pickled papaya and carrots. What’s special about the ribs is the depth of flavor—they are marinated thoroughly before cooking, making each bite full of flavor. The balance of heat, tender ribs, and soft rice makes this dish truly satisfying. You can also choose to add braised pork and grilled Chinese sausage for a deliciously rich meal.

In Vietnamese cuisine, ‘chè’ (sweet dessert soups) is a beloved dish, often enjoyed as a treat. The creativity behind these dishes is truly astonishing, as people transform simple ingredients into delightful desserts. Depending on the region, chè takes on various forms, each with its unique twist. Hanoi’s street food scene is no exception, with sticky rice served with chè becoming a classic, cherished dessert. This sweet sticky rice is not only light and simple, but it also embodies the cultural richness of Hanoi’s culinary traditions. The sticky rice is prepared in the traditional way, perfectly chewy and fragrant with a beautiful golden color. It’s neither too sticky nor falling apart, just the right texture that makes every bite feel like quality. Chè served with it often includes bà cốt chè (ginger-based sweet soup) and hoa cau chè (sweet mung bean soup), both of which are kept warm in special pots. The bà cốt chè is particularly favored by locals, its honey-like golden color blending with the golden sticky rice to create an irresistible combination of sweetness and the warm kick of ginger. Alternatively, hoa cau chè with its light sweetness, topped with mung beans, or black bean chè with a rich, syrupy sweetness, pairs perfectly with the sticky rice, offering a well-rounded and satisfying dessert experience.

The origins of fried sticky rice remain a mystery, and its exact history in Hanoi is unclear, but one thing is certain: this crispy, golden treat has become a beloved snack. A creative twist on the classic sticky rice, it features chewy, fragrant rice wrapped in a crispy golden shell. To prepare, the soft, fragrant sticky rice is tightly packed and shaped, then shallow-fried until golden and crispy on the outside while retaining its chewy, aromatic texture inside. Fried sticky rice pairs perfectly with savory dishes like braised eggs, sausages, roasted meats, and pate, often served with a rich, savory sauce. The dish is thought to have originated in Hanoi's De La Thanh Street, where it’s known for its resemblance to the crispy crust of rice, but with a bit of extra fat to enhance the flavor. Some vendors have even created stuffed versions of fried sticky rice, such as those filled with chicken, cheese, or other unique fillings, making this dish even more fun and convenient to eat on the go. In the Old Quarter, you can find these fried sticky rice vendors at the intersection of Bat Dan and Hang Dieu streets or along De La Thanh street, where these crispy treats are served fresh from the pan, golden and ready to devour.

In Hanoi, locals are as crazy about jackfruit as those in Saigon are about durian. The sweet, tropical scent of ripe jackfruit can easily entice anyone from a distance. This dish not only looks beautiful but also tastes incredible. The golden, ripe jackfruit segments are de-seeded and serve as an outer layer, with sticky rice on the inside, colored in light green and offering a delightful contrast. The dish is topped with fresh coconut, peanuts, and coconut milk, creating an eye-catching presentation. The jackfruit adds a subtle sweetness, while the sticky rice provides a fragrant, smooth texture. The highlight of the dish is the sweet, tender sticky rice, perfectly infused with coconut milk and toasted sesame, giving it a distinct taste that’s smooth and rich. It’s a visually appealing treat that’s sure to please anyone who loves sweet and sticky rice desserts. The dish is a favorite among those with a sweet tooth, and the combination of the chewy jackfruit and soft sticky rice makes it an unforgettable experience. This delicious jackfruit sticky rice can be found on To Hien Thanh Street, one of the first places in Hanoi to serve this enticing dish.

In Hanoi, street corners are filled with shops selling sticky rice, but wild fish sticky rice is a rare find. The only place that serves it is a small shop on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. The portions are modest, and if you're craving more, you’ll have to pay a bit extra for a larger serving. However, the quality of the dish is worth it. The sticky rice remains soft and sticky even as it cools, never becoming dry or tough. The wild fish, a key feature of the dish, stays fresh and fragrant, even after some time. It’s likely that the fish is prepared with great care, seasoned well with a mix of shallots and pepper, and cooked thoroughly to preserve its natural flavor. The most time-consuming part of making this dish is preparing the fish: it’s scaled, boiled, cooled, and then the flesh is separated. The fish is then marinated in fish sauce and seasoned with pepper before being fried until golden. The sticky rice is served with crispy fried shallots for added flavor. However, be warned – this dish is not for those who can't handle spice. It’s packed with ginger, and the accompanying bowl of hot mustard greens adds a sharp, authentic touch. While there are many sticky rice vendors in Hanoi, finding one that serves wild fish sticky rice is not so easy. The shop at No. 1, Alley 107, Nguyen Chi Thanh, is always bustling with customers, even during the cold winter days.