Heading to Hanoi and in search of some classic Vietnamese food? Here are my favourite food spots across the city.
1) Phở Thìn
You may already be familiar with the dish Pho but the best place to get your noodle soup fix is Pho Thin. Pho is typically a breakfast dish in Vietnam and is either chicken (Pho Ga) or beef (Pho Bo). Usually, restaurants will specialise in either one and Pho Thin is all about Pho Bo. Unlike many other Pho places, Pho Thin is open all day and is always packed with locals. You pay 60k for the Pho upon arrival and wait for them to bring it to you. It’s a very busy atmosphere with people rushing around carrying big bowls of Pho so don’t hesitate, just pay and find a seat.
Enjoy it like the locals: Add a squeeze of lime, a splash of hot chilli sauce and if you really like spice add a couple of chillies. Then take a spoon, add some broth to it and while using chopsticks place noodles and beef onto the spoon and enjoy!
Address: 13 Lò Đúc, Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng.
2) Bún Bò Nam Bộ
A popular restaurant with locals and tourists which serves Bun Bo Nam Bo – Beef Noodle Salad. It’s a big bowl of rice noodles, fresh veggies and tender pieces of beef all for 60K Dong. This is known as a dry dish as there isn’t any broth so some locals will top the dish with squeezes of lime or hot chilli sauce. This has to be one of my favourite dishes as there are a vast mix of flavours which leave you wanting more. The restaurant also serves a few side dishes so make sure to try Banh Bao - a plain dumpling cake. It’s a sort of fried cake ball with no filling, a perfect accompaniment for your noodles (It costs 5K for 1)
Address: 67 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm.
3) Quán Ngon Gia Đình
If you’re after a very local spot this is the place, located just outside the main areas of the city. It specialises in Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake), Nem Lui (pork skewers) and Tra quat (sugar cane and kumquat juice). They also serve you a plate of fresh veggies and rice paper to make spring rolls as standard. Banh Xeo is a rice pancake filled with pork mince and shrimps which you cut into bite size pieces with the scissors they provide you with. In the restaurant, you will be seated on little stools and a small table while you wait for them to bring out the food. Once you’re finished, ask for the bill and pay at the door on your way out. I highly recommend trying the juice as it’s a popular drink across Vietnam and you will not be disappointed. I've tried many sugar cane drinks across my trip in Vietnam but this was by far the tastiest version I've had.
Address: 153A Đội Cấn, Ba Đình
4) Bánh Mì 25
The king of Banh Mi restaurants has to be Banh Mi 25. It’s a very popular spot but it serves the freshest Banh Mi in the city. Choose from a selection of different meats from ham, chicken and beef. For those who aren’t familiar with Banh Mi, it’s a sandwich made from a baguette type of bread filled with cooked meat, carrots, cucumber, coriander and chilli sauce. Popular Banh Mi fillings are ham with pâté or egg. I prefer chicken but my boyfriend likes a mix of meats with pâté . The restaurant is split into 2 parts across the street so order at one side where they make the Banh Mi and then walk across to the seating area while they prepare your order.
Address: 25 Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm
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