9 TASTY Things To Eat In Hanoi
What Things Should I Eat In Hanoi?
What are the best things to eat in Hanoi?
Might sound like a simple question, but I remember standing at the Old Quarter’s edge on my first night, overwhelmed by the smoke, the motorbikes, and the sheer chaos of food everywhere. You’re probably wondering the same things I was: Can I actually handle the food here? Will my stomach survive? And honestly, what am I supposed to order when every corner has something different bubbling away?
Here’s what nobody tells you before you go.
The Vietnamese food you think you know is nothing like what’s actually happening on these streets. We’re talking fresh herbs piled so high they’re basically salads with a side of noodles. Broths that have been simmering since 4 am. Ingredients you’ve never heard of that somehow taste exactly right.
I spent a month in Hanoi doing nothing but eating. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and those weird 3 pm snacks that become necessary when you smell something incredible and can’t walk past it. The problem isn’t finding good food. The problem is that there are approximately eight thousand incredible things to eat and maybe ten blog posts online that actually explain what any of them are or how to order them without pointing desperately at someone else’s bowl.
The dietary information situation? Basically nonexistent. You’re going to be guessing a lot.
But here’s what I learned that changed everything: the best meal I had wasn’t at some trendy restaurant with good lighting and English menus. It was bánh cuốn at 6 am, sitting on a plastic stool so low my knees were basically at my ears, watching a grandmother make rice rolls by hand while motorbikes sprayed exhaust three feet away.
That uncomfortable, slightly sweaty, completely magical moment is the entire point of eating in Hanoi.
If you’re the kind of person who gets excited about food you can’t pronounce and you’re heading to Hanoi, this is everything you actually need to know. The authentic stuff. The fresh stuff. The weird stuff that becomes your new obsession.
No fluff. Just the meals that matter and how to find them.
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Bun Cha
The iconic Bun Cha is mouth-watering stuff.
If you were asking what Obama ate when he was in Hanoi, it was this exact dish.
He and the late Anthony Bourdain ate at Bún Chả Hương Liên, and I was delighted to eat right across from the same seat as them!
It’s cordoned off like a museum exhibition, and rightly so. It doesn’t get much more iconic than that.
Anyway, back to the food. A good bun cha will have rice noodles, tasty broth, good quality pork patties and crunchy salad leaves, as well as occasionally coriander and perilla. Trust me, it’s one of my favourite dishes in Vietnam.
Normally, you get sliced red chilli, garlic and lime or lemon on the side so you can add to taste. The bowls are also big, and usually you end up leaving satisfied, no matter whether you eat in an upper-class restaurant or on the street, sitting on plastic stools.
In fact, it’s more authentic to eat on the street, and it’s where you find some of Hanoi’s best street food – no surprise there.
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Pho
If you’re curious about pho, you need to try it, take it from me, your Hanoi food expert!
I made a full guide to the best pho in Hanoi. Tasty broth, chunks of beef (or even seafood), but I always opted for chicken. Less chewy and tastier in my view.
But you do you!
Pho can be found on most streets, whether at a fancy restaurant or a small family-run eatery offering just pho.
I recommend trying pho at Phở Gà HBO and Phở Gà 26 for the best pho in Hanoi. But to be honest, most places won’t disappoint.
Pho has been around since the early 20th century and was likely influenced by the French or Chinese. Because of the surplus of bones from the French demand for beef, they put them to use making the incredible broth for the pho.
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Bánh Xèo
Another famous food to try in Hanoi is the Banh Xeo.
I must admit I wasn’t aware of this until my recent trip to Hanoi, but it’s a tasty recipe and one that has to be added to your itinerary of foods to try.
Normally, it’s made with rice flour, coconut cream, turmeric powder, green onions, and even sometimes beer to make a crispy crepe. You can even add meat or seafood to them for a fuller meal and some protein.
It is said that this is the ultimate Hanoi street food, and you can get it easily throughout the many authentic Vietnamese restaurants in the city.
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Bánh Mì
Let’s be real, we have the French to thank for this tasty baguette.
Bread filled with meat and salad it’s a staple in Hanoi and Vietnam more broadly. When I was in Hanoi, it was found on literally most streets near the Old Quarter. You can pick it up from a small vendor on the street or from other bigger places to eat in Hanoi.
If you’re wondering what to eat in Hanoi Old Quarter, the Bánh Mì is a great choice. Especially if you’re getting tired of rice, rice noodles and other typical Vietnamese dishes.
It was in the 19th century when the French introduced it, and in the following century, it became part of day-to-day life, eating in Hanoi.
When Saigon fell in 1975, Bánh Mì actually became a luxury food to eat in Vietnam.
As a coeliac, I sadly couldn’t eat the Bánh Mì in Hanoi, but every traveller I spoke to loved it. Easy to eat, fast and filling. Not to mention that I saw so many locals every day tucking into their large baguette on the streets.
If your wondering what are the famous foods in Hanoi then seek a Bánh Mì.
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Egg Coffee
I fell in love with egg coffee after the first sip.
The creamy, sweet, and rich coffee is one of the most famous drinks in Hanoi, and while I understand this is a post about what to eat in Hanoi, I must include this incredible invention.
When I visited Sapa, Hanoi, and Hue, they all had slightly different versions of egg coffee and coffee in general. But when I had it in Hanoi, it was three-quarters creamy, foamy top and a quarter coffee.
I enjoyed this because it had less caffeine, and I didn’t want to be too energetic later in the evening.
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Spring Rolls
Hanoi has some of the tastiest fresh spring rolls I’ve had.
I was lucky enough to make some of these when I was visiting Sapa’s amazing rural village of Tam Coc, and they were so good! Hanoi also has amazing fresh rolls to try.
The rolls are normally very thin and transparent, so the green herbs look extra appealing. Additionally, you can find vermicelli, carrots, cucumbers, and shellfish like prawns.
On the side, you can have a spicy dipping sauce that looks clear and tastes so fresh, it’s the perfect combination.
I had spring rolls numerous times, and you can get them throughout the city.
If you prefer to have them crispy, it’s an option too, but for me, spring rolls are a must-eat thing in Hanoi.
Pho Cuon
Another thing to eat in Hanoi is Pho Cuon.
This is very similar to spring rolls mentioned before, but the difference is that they have stir-fried beef with aromatic herbs and lettuce, so it’s heavier and filling. Loved it!
I had the most amazing Pho Cuon at Phở Cuốn Chinh Thắng, which was recommended to me by a friend, and I’ve been looking for these in Vietnam ever since.
The rolls did seem a little thicker than regular spring rolls, but they were just as tasty. The meat is thick but not too thick that it’s a chewing bonanza. This I loved!
On the side, I got a small dipping sauce with small pieces of garlic and cabbage, and together the taste was out of this world.
There are many foods I recommend you try in Hanoi, and this is one of them, even though it originates in Ho Chi Minh City!
Seafood HotPot
I love hot pots!
I’ve tried some amazing hot pots in Thailand, and Vietnam also has some great options.
Lẩu Nướng Các Món Nhậu gave me the largest hot pot I can remember, and while it would easily serve two people, I forgave myself for not finishing it.
Huge prawns and chunks of beef, I could add the herbs, lime, garlic, and ginger as I pleased. I was in total control of my dinner as the busy street to my left was packed full of people, their mouths watering as they gazed down at my meal.
You can get seafood, meat, or a mix, and while I went for the mixed hot pot, you can choose whatever you like.
It’s filling, so tasty, and you won’t need to eat for another twenty-four hours at least.
Crispy Sea Crab Rolls
Bun Cha Dac Kim gave me a culinary experience that made me fall in love with Vietnamese food.
This Michelin-starred restaurant, only a short distance from my hotel in Hanoi, served the best crispy sea crab rolls and bun cha I can remember.
A lady who looked like the owner cooked them fresh on the street. The crab rolls were light, crunchy, and filled with tasty crab. They were generous in size, which I appreciated.
They glistened under the light above my table and looked so appetising. They came with a bun cha that seemed small at first, but by the time I’d nearly finished, I realised the portion size was spot on.
You can get crispy sea crab rolls all over the city, and I also had some great ones at Bỗng – Ốc Ngon Hà Nội, another excellent option.
Make sure one thing to eat in Hanoi is the crispy sea crab rolls.
Where To Eat In Hanoi?
I’ve written a dedicated post covering the best restaurants in Hanoi, as well as a dedicated article on where to eat the best pho, so make sure you check them out before you come to Hanoi.
You can also try some amazing egg coffee, and there are restaurants with the best vegan food in Hanoi, too, so lots of options for different travellers.
Anyway, here’s my list of places to try some of the dishes above:
- Bun Cha Nem Qua Bey
- Bún Chả Hương Liên
- Met Restaurant 1
- Bun Cha Ta Hanoi
- Bun Cha Dac Kim
There are so many great places to eat in Hanoi that I urge you to try as many as you can, including small street vendors for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
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Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Hanoi has so many amazing and interesting things to eat.
The food alone makes Hanoi worth visiting.
Some of my favourite dishes were authentic Vietnamese like bun cha, chicken pho and seafood with rice. It feels healthy, filling and packed with flavours that restaurants in Europe and North America fail badly to imitate.
That’s why I urge you to go to Hanoi and taste as many unique dishes as you can.
Whether it’s egg coffee (a classic Vietnamese beverage) or chicken pho, said to have originated in northern Vietnam.
In some restaurants in Hanoi, you can try eel, pigeon, or a frog hotpot, which I didn’t try, but I know it exists.
So, how adventurous will you be when it comes to things to eat in Hanoi?
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
What Is Food Hanoi Known For?
Hanoi is known for bun cha, egg coffee, chicken pho, and many other Vietnamese dishes. The abundance of things to eat in Hanoi is splendid and not overcomplicated, which I found out and loved. Fresh ingredients and centuries of experience are crafted into making Hanoi’s food scene one of the best in the world, in my view.
What To Avoid In Hanoi?
I can’t tell you to avoid anything in Hanoi except for the traffic, which is genuinely unavoidable. Jokes aside, in terms of food, I suggest the opposite – I urge you to try every dish that you can and experience authentic Vietnamese food and flavours as closely as you can. It’s an extraordinary country with such unique and simple flavours that food is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
What Do Locals Eat In Vietnam?
Locals often eat pho with chicken or beef, bun cha, xoi, banh cuon, or fried rice with different meats or seafood. There are so many options when it comes to things to eat in Hanoi that you’ll be totally spoilt for choice. My favourite was the bun cha and chicken pho. Tasty, simple and fresh ingredients make it extra special. Trust me, you’ll fall in love with Vietnamese food after spending one day in Hanoi.
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