Hanoi Old Quarter Food Guide: 20 Dishes and Where to Find Them

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is one of the world’s great street food destinations. Every alley has a specialty, every corner a hidden gem. The problem? Knowing what to eat when—and where to find the best versions.

Here’s your guide to 20 essential Hanoi dishes and exactly where to eat them.

The Classics

1. Pho (Noodle Soup)

Vietnam’s national dish. In Hanoi, it’s served simply: rice noodles, beef or chicken, clear broth, green onions. Different from southern pho—less sweet, fewer accompaniments.

Best for: Pho Gia Truyen (49 Bat Dan). Opens 6 AM, queue by 7. Expect to share a tiny table. Cash only.

Price: 50,000-70,000 VND (~$2-3)

Order: Pho bo tai (rare beef) or pho bo chin (well-done beef)

2. Bun Cha (Grilled Pork with Noodles)

Charcoal-grilled pork patties and belly in a sweet-sour dipping broth, with rice noodles and fresh herbs. The dish Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain.

Best for: Bun Cha Huong Lien (24 Le Van Huu). The “Obama” restaurant. Or Bun Cha Dac Kim (1 Hang Manh) for a more local experience.

Price: 50,000-80,000 VND

When: Lunch only (11 AM – 2 PM)

3. Cha Ca (Turmeric Fish)

Hanoi’s signature dish. White fish fried in turmeric and dill, served sizzling at your table with rice noodles, peanuts, and shrimp paste.

Best for: Cha Ca La Vong (14 Cha Ca). The original, since 1871. Expensive for Hanoi but worth it. Or Cha Ca Thang Long for half the price.

Price: 150,000-250,000 VND (~$6-10)

4. Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich)

Hanoi banh mi is different from southern versions—less sweet, often with pate and cha lua (pork roll). Crispy baguette is key.

Best for: Banh Mi 25 (25 Hang Ca). Simple but perfect. Or Banh Mi Pho Hue for variety.

Price: 20,000-35,000 VND (~$1-1.50)

5. Egg Coffee (Ca Phe Trung)

Whipped egg yolk with condensed milk over strong Vietnamese coffee. Tastes like tiramisu. A Hanoi invention from the 1940s.

Best for: Cafe Giang (39 Nguyen Huu Huan). The original—cramped, hidden upstairs, essential. Or Cafe Dinh for a lakeside alternative.

Price: 30,000-45,000 VND

Noodle Dishes

6. Bun Bo Nam Bo (Dry Beef Noodles)

Cold rice noodles with stir-fried beef, crispy shallots, peanuts, and herbs. Refreshing and filling.

Best for: Bun Bo Nam Bo (67 Hang Dieu). The namesake restaurant.

Price: 45,000-60,000 VND

7. Bun Thang (Hanoi Chicken Noodle Soup)

Delicate chicken broth with shredded chicken, egg, Vietnamese pork roll, and dried shrimp. A refined, complex soup.

Best for: Bun Thang Ba Duc (48 Cau Go). Generations of family recipe.

Price: 50,000-70,000 VND

8. Mien Luon (Eel Glass Noodles)

Fried eel with glass noodles in broth or dry. Crispy eel pieces add texture. A Hanoi specialty.

Best for: Mien Luon Dong Thinh (87 Hang Dieu)

Price: 40,000-60,000 VND

9. Pho Cuon (Fresh Pho Rolls)

Not soup—fresh rice noodle sheets rolled around beef and herbs. Light, healthy, summery.

Best for: Ngu Xa Street (near West Lake). The whole street specializes in these.

Price: 40,000-50,000 VND for a plate of rolls

Street Snacks

10. Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Paper-thin steamed rice sheets filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. Served with fried shallots and dipping sauce.

Best for: Banh Cuon Gia Truyen (14 Hang Ga). Breakfast specialty.

Price: 30,000-45,000 VND

When: Morning (before 10 AM is best)

11. Xoi (Sticky Rice)

Sticky rice topped with various things: fried shallots, pate, fried egg, shredded chicken. Breakfast staple.

Best for: Xoi Yen (35B Nguyen Huu Huan). Multiple topping options.

Price: 20,000-40,000 VND

12. Banh Goi (Fried Dumplings)

Deep-fried pillows filled with pork, glass noodles, and wood ear mushrooms. Crispy outside, savory inside.

Best for: Banh Goi (52 Ly Quoc Su). Hot from the fryer.

Price: 15,000-25,000 VND each

13. Nem Ran (Spring Rolls)

Northern-style fried spring rolls—smaller and crispier than southern versions. Dipped in nuoc cham.

Where: Available everywhere, but best at dedicated nem restaurants or as sides at bun cha shops.

Price: 5,000-10,000 VND per roll

Grilled & Barbecue

14. Cha Cha Ga (Grilled Chicken)

Marinated chicken grilled over charcoal. Often served with young rice (com) or sticky rice.

Best for: Various street corners in the Old Quarter around dinner time. Look for the charcoal smoke.

Price: 80,000-150,000 VND for a portion

15. Bia Hoi & Snacks

Bia hoi is fresh draft beer, brewed daily, served at street-side stools. Pair with grilled meats, peanuts, and nem chua (fermented pork).

Best for: Bia Hoi Corner (Ta Hien). The famous backpacker junction. Or any bia hoi stall with plastic stools.

Price: 10,000-15,000 VND per glass of beer

Sweet Treats

16. Banh Com (Green Rice Cake)

Made from young green rice wrapped in lotus leaves. Seasonal specialty (autumn). Soft, slightly sweet, unique texture.

Where: Hang Than Street (near Long Bien Bridge). Multiple vendors.

Price: 20,000-30,000 VND

17. Che (Sweet Soup)

Sweet soups with various toppings: beans, jellies, fruit, coconut milk. Hot or cold.

Best for: Che 4 Mua (4 Hang Can). Traditional recipes.

Price: 20,000-40,000 VND

18. Kem (Ice Cream)

Vietnamese ice cream at old-school parlors. Try tram (unique local fruit) or dua (coconut).

Best for: Kem Trang Tien (35 Trang Tien). Classic since 1958.

Price: 15,000-25,000 VND

More Must-Try

19. Lau (Hot Pot)

DIY cooking at your table. Popular for groups and dinner. Various broths with meats, seafood, and vegetables.

Best for: Any restaurant with steaming pots visible from outside.

Price: 150,000-300,000 VND for 2 people

20. Bun Dau Mam Tom (Tofu with Shrimp Paste)

Fried tofu with rice noodles, herbs, and pungent fermented shrimp paste. An acquired taste—the smell is intense but the flavor is addictive.

Best for: Bun Dau Home Made (42A Ngo Huyen). Clean, reliable.

Price: 50,000-70,000 VND

Eating Tips

Timing

• Breakfast (6-10 AM): Pho, banh cuon, xoi, banh mi
• Lunch (11 AM-2 PM): Bun cha (only served at lunch), bun bo
• Dinner (6-9 PM): Hot pot, cha ca, grilled meats
• Anytime: Egg coffee, banh mi, street snacks

How to Eat Like a Local

• Sit on the tiny plastic stools
• Point at what others are eating
• Slurp your noodles
• Pay when you’re done (note what you had)
• Carry small bills (20,000-50,000 VND notes)

Food Safety

• Eat where locals eat (high turnover = fresh food)
• Avoid pre-made food sitting in the sun
• Ice is generally fine (factory-made tube ice)
• Wash hands frequently

Self-Guided Food Walk Route

Start at Hoan Kiem Lake and walk this route over 4-5 hours:

1. 9 AM: Egg coffee at Cafe Giang
2. 10 AM: Banh cuon at Hang Ga
3. 11:30 AM: Bun cha at Hang Manh
4. 1 PM: Walk toward Long Bien Bridge, street snacks
5. 2 PM: Che at Hang Can
6. 4 PM: Rest, explore, shop
7. 6 PM: Bia hoi corner for beer and snacks
8. 8 PM: Night market grazing

Come hungry. Leave happy. Hanoi’s Old Quarter will ruin you for lesser food cities.

For more planning tips, check out our full Vietnam Travel Guide.