Hanoi Food Guide
Want to know what and where to eat in Vietnam’s Hanoi? I’m sharing my tips and recommendations so you can enjoy the best food for your Hanoi holiday!
I LOVED the food in Hanoi! We ate at some very cheap & cheerful as well as more high end options and everything was delicious (and no, I never for sick while there!). I’ll start with local classics but read on for some unexpected suggestions towards the end - pizza, anyone?
What food and drink is Hanoi known for (that we tried and tested ourselves)?
Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette roll)
Banh Mi is very popular in Australia so I was excited to compare it in Hanoi. One thing to note is that in Hanoi there is less filling, but honestly this makes it easier and less messy to eat. Otherwise, it’s pretty similar to what we have at home, just cheaper and usually from a street cart rather than a sit-down place. Just pick your meat or veg filling and they’ll add yummy salad and toppings to your crusty bread roll. Paté and coriander are both common in a Banh Mi, yet can be acquired tastes so tell the vendor in advance if you don’t want something on yours. For reference, a Bahn Mi would be around $8-$10 in Australia and we saw many for around $1.50-$2 in Hanoi.
Suggested options: Bahn My Mama, Bami Bread (multiple locations)
Bun cha (grilled pork meatballs and noodle)
Bun Cha was something I had never heard of until researching for our trip. I found it to be a really nice, homey dish. For locals, it’s a lunch dish, but I preferred it as more of a dinner food than a quick lunch option as it can be quite filling. The main part of Bun Cha is the pork meatballs and chunks. You really want a smoky/chargrilled flavour to these - this is key. This comes with a broth base for dipping, lots of thin cold noodles on the side and bunch of fragrant herbs - and you basically eat it all together. For reference, we paid around $3-$7 for Bun Cha.
Suggested options: Bun Cha Coi Pho Co: Hanoi food specialty, Bun cha que tre Binh Chung
Banh cuon (rice noodle rolls)
This was probably my favourite local dish and another I didn’t know until we started planning our trip. Bahn Cuon is a little hard to describe, but it’s kind of like fresh rice paper rolls but the wrapper is a little more substantial and it’s warmer and softer rather than cold and set. Inside is a flavour bomb of usually pork mince and diced veg with crispy shallot chilli on top for added crunch and flavour + a bunch of added condiments including fresh limes, herbs and sauces. It’s super local, cheap and always made to order so you know it’s fresh! A serve is around $2-$3 but we had double to fill us up.
Suggested option: Banh Cuon Ba Xuan
Pho bo (beef noodle soup)
Pho is the other classic Hanoi dish that we have a lot of here in Australia. Because of this, we had it once or twice but honestly, we didn’t seek it out and ones we had were good not amazing. If you’re not that familiar with pho however - which is essentially a soup often served with sliced meats, it’s definitely something to try on your bucket list. For reference, a Pho would be around $15-$20 in Australia and we saw many for around $3-$5 in Hanoi.
Egg coffee (and cocounut milk coffee)
This is THE instagram food&drink moment in Hanoi - the famous egg coffee! Which, in reality, is really more aptly described as a meringue coffee. It’s sweet and tasty, albeit confusing to figure out how to drink - so just ask lol! If you’re a sweet tooth, definitely give this a try, or it’s cousin - coconut milk coffee, but if not, I would stick to an O.G coffee.
Suggested options: Cafe Giang, Xofa (for coconut coffee)
Fruit cider + craft beer!
Now I’m not saying craft beer and cider are traditionally Veitnamese. But there is a whole part of Hanoi dedicated to this! - the areas of West Lake + Truc Bach is an expat zone with a LOT of craft breweries that make unique flavoured beers and ciders using local flavours, especially fruits.
Suggested options: Turtle Bay Brewing, Standing Bar
What else did we try in Hanoi?
It’s definitely important to try local dishes when travelling overseas, but it’s also totally ok to not ONLY eat the local cuisine. Sometimes you’re craving something specific, want to compare your favourites fast-food chains around the work or make the most of a cheap country to try some fine dining!
Two of our favourite meals in Hanoi were NOT Veitnamese. These were:
Pizza 4P’s
This is high end Italian pizza and pasta restaurant with a 4.9 google review! I was sceptical but every single thing we had was so good! They make not only all their own dough but also cheeses, have a lovely wine selection and amazing desserts. They have a few locations but the one we went to had an amazing interior as well. My husband said it was the best crab pasta and burrata he’s ever had! We probably spent around $60 all up but this would have been around $130-$160 for the same quality in Australia.
My Bo Dai Loan
The name may look Vietnamese but the food is not. This little local spot is famous for Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. For around $2.50AUD you get a giant bowl chock full of meat. The flavour profile is much more bold and rich compared to Vietnamese cuisine and we only finished half a bowl each but it’s an absolute bargain.
We also at McDonalds and KFC (something we try to do in each country we visit), stocked up on French pastries from a local patisserie (there are a lot of these in Hanoi), and tried some beautifully aesthetic cafes and drink spots that cost way more than a full meal.
A note on food safety
When I first started travelling I was very concerned about getting sick from food overseas. While I still try to mindful e.g. no water out of the tap, researching restaurants etc., I also try not to limit myself too much and miss out on experiences. A large amount of Vietnamese cuisine involves things like fresh salad, leaves and herbs. These are things we’re often told to avoid but if we did this, we wouldn’t get to try much local food. Also, don’t assume that a street vendor is always less than clean than a restaurant with nice looking exterior. Look more carefully at things like how the food is stored and covered, whether staff are cleaning their hands or using gloves etc. lastly, accept reality. It’s hard to find many cheap local joints in Hanoi that are going to have 100% positive reviews and pristine venues. Use the information at your deposal, decide what’s going to work for you and enjoy!
Planning a trip to Hanoi? Check out more of my Vietnam blogs for more inspiration or ask any Qs below.
