Top 8 Childhood Dishes That Evoke Memories in Hanoi

The iconic Hanoi Snail Noodle Soup is made from simple, rustic ingredients including snails (either small or stuffed), noodles, tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and a blend of spices. This dish is loved by locals and visitors alike, with its vibrant colors and rich, savory broth embodying the essence of Hanoi’s flavors. Bà Lương’s Snail Noodle Soup has been a staple for over 40 years, offering a taste of Hanoi’s rich culinary heritage. The soup is known for its robust flavor, with the snails, banana blossoms, and tofu adding depth to the dish. Bà Lương’s restaurant also offers grilled snails, snail spring rolls, and even snail hot pot for those looking for a variety of delicious options. The hot pot is especially memorable for its tangy, spicy broth, while the grilled and spring roll snails provide a satisfying crunch and a unique, spicy flavor. Every bite of these dishes is a delightful journey through Hanoi’s culinary history.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Address: 34 and 64 Alley 191, Khương Thượng, Đống Đa District, Hanoi

Phone: 0777 068 686 & 0982 541 458

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauocbaluong195khuongthuong/

Opening Hours: Open all day

Quality Rating: 4.1/5 (787 reviews on Google)

Grilled Pork with Vermicelli is a beloved dish from Northern Vietnam, and is one of Hanoi's most enduring culinary delights, making it a signature of the city’s food scene. The dish consists of vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, and a dipping sauce with a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. The combination of savory grilled pork and tangy pickled papaya in the dipping sauce has won over countless food lovers. While this dish has spread across the country, there's no denying that enjoying grilled pork with vermicelli in Hanoi is the ultimate experience. We recommend visiting Bún Chả Sinh Từ, a popular chain in Hanoi known for its outstanding grilled pork vermicelli.

Bún Chả Sinh Từ has been a go-to spot since the early 1970s. Even today, it remains one of the top places for grilled pork with vermicelli in Hanoi. The recipe here is quite traditional, yet the flavors are unforgettable. The secret lies in the careful selection of the best quality pork and the unique marinating process. The grilled pork is perfectly balanced between lean and fatty pieces, tender and juicy without being greasy. The dipping sauce, without the need for extra garlic or vinegar, has a perfect blend of flavors that makes it easy to eat in one go. This is why Bún Chả Sinh Từ continues to be a beloved institution in Hanoi.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address:

• 44 Đào Tấn, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
• 2 Nguyễn Phong Sắc, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
• 48 Trần Thái Tông, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi

Phone: 1900 2866

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://bunchasinhtu.vn/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bunchasinhtu.vn

Opening Hours: 07:30 - 14:00 | 17:00 - 21:00

Quality Rating: 4.1/5 (313 reviews on Google)

Crab Noodle Soup Huyền Thu is a well-known name for those who are passionate about this dish. Famous for being the ‘most expensive in Hanoi’, this noodle shop still attracts a steady stream of customers. It’s renowned for its delicious street-side crab noodle soup, with both snail and crab variations. The highlight of the dish here is the stuffed snails, which are hard to find elsewhere due to their high cost and the difficulty of preparation. However, the Huyền Thu shop serves this dish at an affordable price, making it a rare gem. Many food enthusiasts and connoisseurs come to this shop just for the stuffed snails. A bowl of noodles at this shop comes with 6-7 stuffed snails, and it’s worth every penny. The snails are large, juicy, and crunchy, unlike the flavorless varieties you might find elsewhere. The crab broth is rich and well-balanced, with a perfect blend of sourness from the vinegar and freshness from the tomatoes. The noodle soup is creamy but not greasy. The combination of crab soup and premium beef tenderloin adds a luxurious touch, which is why a full bowl can cost up to 60,000 VND. If you arrive after 10 a.m., you might miss out on the beef tenderloin as it sells out quickly!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address: 2F Quang Trung, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Phone: 0393 959 009

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BunrieuHuyenThu

Opening Hours: 06:00 - 15:00

Quality Rating: 4.0/5 (139 reviews on Google)

Bun Thang is a must-try delicacy when visiting Hanoi, as it's not just a dish, but a true culinary masterpiece passed down through generations. Typically, Bun Thang is made with dried shrimp, shredded chicken, pork sausage, fried eggs, pickled radish, salted eggs, and the star—smooth, white, delicate rice noodles. The rich, flavorful broth is made by simmering chicken bones or pork bones along with shrimp to extract a savory essence. Served in a bowl filled with vibrant colors and tastes, Bun Thang captures the essence of Hanoi. The dish is available at the famous Bun Thang - Xoi 29 Hang Hanh, located at 29 Hang Hanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

The broth at Bun Thang - Xoi 29 Hang Hanh has a clean, subtly sweet taste, offering a balanced flavor with a delightful variety of ingredients. The colors of fresh herbs, scallions, golden fried eggs, pink sausage, white noodles, and bright red shrimp are a feast for the eyes. All these components are harmoniously combined in a broth infused with the fragrant essence of dried shrimp and shiitake mushrooms. Preparing Bun Thang requires precision and care from the chef, from thinly slicing the pork sausage and eggs to finely shredding the chicken, and ensuring all accompanying ingredients like herbs, shallots, and chilies are perfectly clean. When you eat, mix all the ingredients together in the bowl to experience the full, authentic taste of Hanoi in one serving of Bun Thang from 29 Hang Hanh.

Contact Information:

Address: 29 Hang Hanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 06:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Rating: 3.9/5 (214 reviews on Google)

Bun Dau is a beloved traditional dish that has been a staple in the narrow lanes of Hanoi for many years. It's a perfect fusion of Vietnamese culinary excellence, offering a taste that stays with you long after the first bite. The crispy fried tofu, creamy and rich meatballs, paired with the fresh rice noodles and served with fermented shrimp paste create a memorable, legendary flavor of Bun Dau with shrimp paste. One of the most famous places for Bun Dau in Hanoi is Bun Dau Trung Huong, located in Phat Loc Alley, on Hang Bac Street. What sets this place apart is its uniquely flavorful shrimp paste, sourced from Thanh Hoa, which has a distinctive pinkish hue and is expertly prepared by the owner.

In addition, the ingredients for Bun Dau at Bun Dau Trung Huong are carefully chosen. The tofu comes from Mo village, known for its smooth and soft texture, while the noodles are handmade from Phu Do village, cut into small, bite-sized pieces. The herbs, including Vietnamese balm and perilla, are handpicked from Lang village. The prices are affordable, and the meal options vary depending on the side dishes, such as meat, sausages, or intestines. What impresses most visitors is that the tofu is never pre-fried; it's always cooked fresh to order, ensuring a piping hot and crispy texture every time.

Contact Information:

Address: 49 Phat Loc Alley, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Phone: 0987 702 955 & 024 3926 0662

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063480105143

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Rating: 3.7/5 (114 reviews on Google)

Famous for its long-standing history and unique flavors in Hanoi, one must mention Banh Duc Nong Thanh Tung. The rice cake here stands out for its chewy texture, generous servings of meat and mushrooms, all seasoned perfectly. When served, the dish emits a delightful aroma from the rice flour, fried shallots, and fish sauce. The Banh Duc here is generously topped with a light, sweet and savory fish sauce, minced pork, mushrooms, and fried shallots.

The way this Banh Duc is served is quite similar to the dish of Banh Gio with minced meat and fish sauce at the Pho Chua Lang Son restaurant near Ban Co Market. It’s a perfect light snack that satisfies without being too heavy, simple and nostalgic, which makes it irresistible for many people. This version of Hanoi’s Banh Duc doesn’t include mung bean flour, preserving its authentic taste. An especially nice touch is the filling, which contains stir-fried jicama that retains its sweetness and crispiness.

Contact Information:

Address: 112 Truong Dinh, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Rating: 4.7/5 (14 reviews on Google)

Perfect for a light breakfast or a midday snack, rolled rice cakes combine minced meat (chicken, shrimp, or pork), wood ear mushrooms, onions, Vietnamese ham (gio lua), and cucumbers wrapped in steamed rice flour. A well-known traditional restaurant in Hanoi that Mytour recommends is Traditional Rolled Rice Cake Thanh Vân, famous in Hanoi for its long-standing reputation. If it's your first time visiting Hanoi, locals will suggest Thanh Vân as the place to try. The key to its popularity lies in the quality of the rice cakes—thin, soft, and slightly chewy with a flavorful filling.

Traditional Rolled Rice Cake Thanh Vân also offers a chicken-filled version at a very affordable price, with finely chopped chicken mixed with wood ear mushrooms inside the soft rice flour. The dry accompaniments served with the rice cake are homemade, ensuring they stay crispy without becoming soggy. The shrimp floss is finely ground and pairs perfectly with the rice cakes. The overall flavor is fragrant, and you can dip the cake in a dipping sauce to enhance its taste. While rolled rice cakes can be found all over Hanoi, the Thanh Vân shop in the Old Quarter is the best choice.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address: 14P Hàng Gà, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Phone: 0977 738 190

Operating hours: 07:00 - 13:00 | 17:00 - 21:00

Quality rating: 4.4/5 (328 reviews on Google)

With over 40 years of history, Phở Thìn, originally a small shop on Lò Đúc street, has carried the authentic Hanoi flavor in every bowl of pho. Despite numerous challenges over the years, Phở Thìn continues to welcome loyal customers as well as travelers from both domestic and international destinations who long for this special taste. One of the unique features of Phở Thìn, which few people know, is its stir-fried rare beef pho, a creation by Mr. Thìn to offer a distinct flavor. His dedication ensures that the pho retains its traditional taste while introducing the modern twist of stir-fried beef. The beef is tender and juicy, maintaining its natural sweetness. A bowl of pho, with thin slices of beef and onions, makes the perfect combination.

After 40 years, Phở Thìn Lò Đúc has preserved its original, refined flavor – keeping the culinary memories intact while keeping up with the fast-paced lifestyle! The hot, flavorful broth with thin slices of beef and a hint of ginger is still a highlight, but what sets it apart is the unique way the beef is stir-fried to retain the perfect texture without being overcooked. The broth is specially prepared to maintain the most authentic Vietnamese pho essence. Phở Thìn is not just any pho shop; it is a cultural space for pho lovers, showcasing pure Vietnamese culture, untainted and original.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address: 15 Lò Đúc Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Phone: 0966 657 997

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://phothin13loduchn.vn/

Fanpage: www.facebook.com/phothin13loduchn

Quality rating: 4.3/5 (20 reviews on Google)