What to eat in the Old Quarter? TOP 15 must-try dishes in Hanoi's Old Quarter - Mytour

Hanoi's 36 streets leave a lasting impression on travelers with their ancient and simple beauty. But hidden behind those buildings, those streets are the characteristic eateries that make up the culinary brand of the Old Quarter. So what to eat in the Old Quarter of Hanoi? Let's 'clean up' these famous delicious dishes with Mytour!

1. Vằn thắn noodles in soup/mixed

The impressive thing about vằn thắn noodles is the broth. Similar to pho, vằn thắn noodles have a very distinctive aroma. So much so that if there's a vằn thắn noodle seller, just walking a few houses away, you can already smell the lingering aroma.

The broth of vằn thắn noodles is particularly unique, with a refreshing shrimp and chive scent. The noodles are just blanched to perfection, soft and fragrant with an egg aroma. Plump and juicy baby shrimp, generously sized slices of pork, and the most delicious part is the full and fragrant dumplings. Additionally, there are pork liver, boiled eggs, and pig intestines, each contributing to a delicious dish.

Photo: @gdbaby1881988 

Vằn thắn dry noodles are equally exquisite as the soup version. Instead of broth, they are mixed with a tangy and sweet sauce.

2. Beef Pho

When it comes to delicious dishes in the Old Quarter, beef pho stands out. Hanoi's Beef Pho is famous throughout the capital city, often considered the national soul of Vietnam.

A bowl of beef pho is a harmonious blend of various elements and intricately prepared. The broth is simmered bone broth for hours, enhanced with dried shallots and roasted ginger for added fragrance. Essential spices like star anise, cinnamon, and other spices are added in just the right amounts to enhance the flavor without overpowering the distinctive beef taste.

Photo: @chiecbungthuongluong

A steaming bowl of pho filled with silky white noodles, tender rare beef, hearty well-done beef slices, fresh scallions, and onions. The rich broth, enhanced with a splash of garlic vinegar and chili sauce, creates a delectable dish on the historic streets.

3. Authentic Old Quarter Pate Baguette

The baguette, a beloved staple of Old Quarter residents, is known for its portability, delightful aroma, and affordability. It's the preferred choice for many, suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack.

In contrast to the variety of sandwiches with different fillings and sauces nowadays, the traditional Old Quarter sandwich brings diners back to the nostalgic taste of the past. This sandwich consists of simple ingredients: butter, pate, pork, red sausage, and shredded pork, served with pickles. Depending on the vendor, a sprinkle of spices may be added to enhance the flavor, following the old-fashioned style.

Photo by: @vvnxo

The most crucial aspect here is that the pate must be made perfectly. The pate is crafted skillfully, fragrant with the aroma of liver, pepper, dried shallots, and notably smooth and creamy without being dry or crumbly. The sandwich is always heated beforehand, ensuring a crispy crust. A single bite allows you to savor the deliciousness of each ingredient, harmoniously blending together.

4. Bun Thang – A Delightful Old Quarter Night Dish

When visiting the Old Quarter, one cannot miss Bun Thang. This dish is renowned in the ancient capital, but due to its high level of complexity, it is not commonly sold. However, it is most concentrated in the Old Quarter area. A bowl of Bun Thang may seem simple at first glance, but it is actually meticulously crafted, requiring the chef to be knowledgeable about each ingredient and meticulous in every step.

The broth is simmered from bones and must be prepared from the previous evening. A well-prepared broth will exude the fragrant aroma of simmered chicken bones, shrimp paste, and shiitake mushrooms, with a sweet and rich flavor.

Photo by: @vetbeohaman

A bowl of bún packed with flavors, featuring thinly sliced eggs, tender chicken, fragrant pork sausage, and pickled radishes with a refreshing sweetness and crunch. Don't forget a touch of scallions and coriander. To enhance the flavor, you can add a bit of shrimp paste while enjoying.

If you love this dish, you can also explore the TOP 10 bún thang restaurants in Hanoi.

5. Bún chả – A Signature Dish of Hanoi's Old Quarter

Together with pho and bun rieu, combining bun cha has created the unbeatable trio of delicious dishes in the Old Quarter that conquer every diner. Bun Cha Hanoi with authentic flavor will be the perfect harmony between grilled pork patties, minced pork patties, and especially the flavorful dipping sauce.

The patties are marinated just right, best grilled over charcoal to absorb the delicious smoky aroma. The large pork patties, with a mix of lean meat and fat, ensure a juicy bite. If you want a more complete meal, you can also order fried spring rolls to accompany.

Photo: @eatwithpeachy

Delicious bun cha cannot be without the perfect dipping sauce. Diluted fish sauce with a bit of sugar, vinegar, and added garlic and chili. A bowl of well-balanced dipping sauce, sour, spicy, salty, is irresistibly delicious.

6. Chicken Pho with Dipping Sauce – Unique Delicacy of the Old Quarter

Chicken pho is already well-known, but have you ever heard of or tried chicken pho with dipping sauce? It might sound unusual, but connoisseurs of Hanoi cuisine have been enjoying chicken pho with dipping sauce for a long time.

When you order this dish, you'll be served a plate of pre-cut pho noodles topped with sliced chicken breast or thigh and a sprinkle of fragrant lime leaves. The most distinctive feature is the bowl of rich soy sauce dipping sauce, bursting with flavor. 

Photo: @trangnhimtron

The eating style is incredibly simple, just dip the pho noodles into the dipping sauce, occasionally enjoy a piece of chicken. What makes this dish special is that the pho noodles are not soaked in boiling water, so they remain firm. The sweet, salty, and spicy dipping sauce complements the tender and crispy chicken skin, making you crave for more. 

Additionally, if you're a fan of this dish, you can also check out the TOP 10 famous and delicious chicken pho in Hanoi.

7. Rice Rolls

When talking about delicious dishes in the Old Quarter, one cannot overlook rice rolls. This popular dish is both delicious and affordable while still ensuring satisfaction. For only 20k – 25k, you can enjoy a hearty serving of hot rice rolls. It's suitable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

What's more interesting than watching skilled craftsmen spread each thin layer of batter, add filling, and then wait for the rolls to cook, roll them up, slice them, and sprinkle some fragrant fried shallots. The plate of rice rolls is enticing with its thin, soft outer layer and the clearly visible savory meat filling, stimulating the senses.

Photo: @trangnhimtron

When eating, you can enjoy with fresh herbs to enhance the flavor. Additionally, customers can order additional items like cinnamon pork sausage, Vietnamese ham, or Chinese sausage... Even better, adding a portion of runny egg, mixed with fish sauce, is exquisite.

8. Lã Vọng Fish Cake

When mentioning the legendary land, one must mention the famous Lã Vọng fish cake in Hanoi. In Hanoi, there are not many restaurants serving fish cake, and one of the first to create this dish must be mentioned.

Lã Vọng Fish Cake selects snakehead and beltfish, so the meat is firm, chewy, and sweet. The fish is cut into chessboard-shaped pieces, marinated with spices, then lightly grilled over charcoal. When eating, the fish cake is placed in a pan and placed on a small stove at the dining table. Accompanied by fresh herbs, shrimp paste, roasted peanuts, and an indispensable bowl of shrimp paste sauce.

Photo: @shizi.lifestyle

The fish slices are evenly golden, crispy on the outside but tender in the middle. The sweet and fatty flavor of Lã Vọng Fish Cake blends with the aroma of herbs and shrimp paste, creating an unforgettable taste of this traditional street food.

• Address: 14 Cha Ca Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

9. Bun Oc, Snail Vermicelli

With simple ingredients like snails, tofu, banana blossom, and vermicelli, skillful cooking techniques have created a delicious and unique dish. To make a delicious bowl of snail vermicelli, the ingredients must first be fresh and flavorful.

Boiled snail broth combined with simmered bone broth, fragrant sautéed tomatoes with dried shallots create a sweet and flavorful broth, beautifully orange in color. A traditional bowl of snail vermicelli typically includes simple ingredients like vermicelli and snails. The large, crispy snails burst with flavor, accompanied by a spoonful of broth, releasing the aroma of snails, balanced with the sourness of vinegar and tomatoes, simple yet leaving a memorable taste.

Photo: @ninheating

If you're on team 'sticky rice with meat,' you can add toppings like pig's ears, beef, balut eggs, or even pork fat to make the bowl of vermicelli more flavorful. The secret to enjoying this dish is to add a bit of shrimp paste and roasted spicy chili, ensuring a much more delicious taste.

Check out more of the best places to eat snail vermicelli in Hanoi!

10. Chicken Mì Tần – Specialty of the Old Quarter Cuisine

The next must-try on the list of famous dishes in the Old Quarter is chicken mì tần. Chicken mì tần shops usually open late, making them ideal destinations for late-night cravings.

Chicken mì tần shops typically offer two options: tender chicken and free-range chicken. You can have the chicken separately or with noodles. The signature of this dish is the canned chicken essence, preserving the essence of sweetness. The chicken is tender, juicy, dipped in squeezed lime with a bit of chili flakes for the perfect balance. The broth is fragrant with Chinese herbs, a hint of bitterness from mugwort, and a hint of sweetness from the meat and Chinese red dates.

Photo: @eatwrb

11. Tóp Fat Vermicelli Soup

As summer approaches, vermicelli soup becomes an unbeatable dish to beat the heat. When you're tired of fried dishes or the suffocating heat of soupy dishes, vermicelli soup is the perfect blend of both. It provides just enough broth to prevent dryness but still remains refreshing for the summer.

A bowl of vermicelli soup typically includes: thick vermicelli noodles, seasonal greens (usually water spinach, morning glory), dried shallots, fat vermicelli knots, and a generous portion of crab broth. You can also order extra pork trotters for a higher quality meal.

Photo: @tneatttt.02

The crab broth is super fragrant and rich, with crispy dried shallots and fat vermicelli knots that tantalize the taste buds. Add some spicy sautéed chili and a squeeze of lime, and you'll be in food heaven. The price is quite affordable, ranging from 15 to 20k for a full bowl, perfect for a summer day meal.

12. Rice Vermicelli with Fermented Shrimp Paste

Alongside crab vermicelli soup and rice vermicelli with grilled pork, rice vermicelli with fermented shrimp paste is also one of the delicious dishes in the Old Quarter that you shouldn't miss. The key to the success of this dish lies in the fermented shrimp paste. The shrimp paste is rich and flavorful, mixed with a bit of hot oil, sugar, lime, and chili, then whipped up into a frothy texture. It's fragrant and robust.

Photo: @mokhoet_hanoi

It's not just the delicious fermented shrimp paste that makes this dish irresistible, but also the toppings that add to its allure. There's the perfectly sliced vermicelli, crispy yet tender fried tofu, boiled pork leg, crunchy fried pig's ears, chewy rice cakes, and clean and fragrant sausage. It's a delightful combination of textures and flavors. 

13. Sweet/Savory Fried Doughnuts in Hanoi's Old Quarter

The most addictive treat for sweet tooth enthusiasts. Each handcrafted dough ball is perfectly round with a thin outer layer coated in dark, visually appealing honey. Inside, there's smooth mung bean paste paired with shredded coconut for that delightful texture. 

Fresh out of the oven, the doughnuts are still warm, and the honey filling remains soft and chewy. Alternatively, you can wait until they cool down; the honey will harden, resulting in a crispier texture. Honey doughnuts have a rich sweetness, while sugar-coated or sesame seed doughnuts offer a milder, more palatable sweetness.

Photo: @dungdo4402

Doughnut vendors typically offer both sweet and savory options. Savory doughnuts are filled with minced pork, mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms sautéed with spices for a flavorful bite. They're aromatic and savory, especially when dipped in tangy chili sauce.

14. Sweet and Savory Xôi Chè, Black Jelly Dessert

Summer is the season for desserts, and what's better than a refreshing cup of black jelly dessert on a hot afternoon, sweetly fragrant with jasmine flowers. Smooth jelly, crispy tapioca pearls, tender lotus seeds, and a hint of shredded coconut.

Photo: @bachuaviahe

If black jelly dessert offers a refreshing chill, then sweet and savory xôi chè brings a comforting warmth, perfect for any season. There are two types of xôi chè: one with mung bean and the other with fragrant, chewy sticky rice mixed with crispy green rice flakes. Both types are delicious, especially with tender, fluffy grains. The sweet and fragrant chè, combined with sticky rice, is a match made in heaven.

15. Shrimp Cake, Pork and Shrimp Dumpling

West Lake Shrimp Cake is extremely famous. When in the Old Quarter, this dish is perfect for sharing with friends. What makes the fried dumplings so enticing is the filling. Each golden, crispy dumpling is filled with fragrant minced shrimp.

The shrimp cakes are fried to a crispy perfection, golden and not greasy. The fresh and sweet shrimp filling is generously packed. Dip the shrimp cakes or pork and shrimp dumplings into the sweet and tangy dipping sauce. Wrap them with fresh greens and add a bit of chili for the perfect combination.

Photo: Collected

Here is a list of 17 delicious dishes from Hanoi's Old Quarter that Mytour Blog wants to share with you. Hopefully, you won't miss out on any of these dishes. Gather your foodie friends and check off this delicious list together, and don't forget to explore the most famous Old Quarter eateries as well.

Additionally, you should explore more delicious dishes in Hanoi in the central areas of the capital city to enjoy if you have the chance:

• #10 delicious dishes in West Lake that even foreigners love
• #12 delicious dishes in Cau Giay sought after by the young generation

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