Hanoi Food Guide: Cafes, Restaurants and Entertainment
Updated: March 5th, 2020
For many tourists, Hanoi is just the starting point for a trip from north to south of Vietnam or Asia as a whole. Ha Long Bay, famous for its picturesque landscapes, is located about 4 hours away from the capital as well as the beaches of Cat Ba island – the country’s national reserve.
Ninh Binh which is often referred to as “Halong on land” thanks to its karst mountainous formations is just 2 hours away from Hanoi. The mountainous area of Sapa and Ha Giang Loop are located north of Hanoi.
However, Hanoi is not only the political capital of the country but also a cultural center full of attractions. Hanoi is a mixture of ancient Asia’s unhurried spirit and modern bustle of the business capital.
Here is Jim’s stats of his time spent in Hanoi throughout 2 years!
Some travelers start their journey in Ho Chi Minh and fly out of Hanoi, for example, to Laos, to continue their trip through Asia.
Table of Contents
Traditional Vietnamese breakfast
What to eat in Hanoi
local bun cha in hanoi
Bun Cha/Bún chả - a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodles, which is thought to have originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. The best Bún chả is served with grilled fatty pork over a plate of white rice noodles and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce. In most places, Bun Cha costs VND 30,000 and it is a common lunch food among locals.
Banh Mi/Bánh mì - French/Vietnamese hybrid sandwich that’s makes it a local favorite when you’re in need of a quick meal. This Vietnam street food is priced between VND 20,000 and VND 30,000 depending on where you go, consists of a toasted baguette sandwich, pickled vegetables, butter, soy sauce, pate, cilantro, and chilis.
Depending on the location you can be left with meat choices such as Heo quay (roasted pork belly), Trứng ốp la (fried egg), thịt nướng (satay), Chả cá (fish cake), Chả lụa or giò lụa (sausages), Xá xíu (Chinese bbq), and Thịt gà( chicken).
Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls)
Fresh spring rolls in old quarter, Hanoi
By far Jim and Inna’s Favorite thing to eat while traveling throughout Vietnam as a whole.
Nothing quite as satisfying as enjoying the fresh taste of locally caught prawns, pork, and vegetables tossed into a sea of vermicelli noodles wrapped in rice paper!
If looking for a healthy and delicious snack you really cannot go wrong with spring rolls when done properly and served fresh.
Bún Thịt Nướng
Another favorite made of thin vermicelli rice noodles, shaved lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, pickled white radish, basil, crushed peanuts, mint, and finished with some grilled pork shoulder on top. Don’t envision this as a soup or broth as it’s all put into layers on top of one another.
Btw, eating out is definitely among our most favorite things to do in Hanoi!
Traditional Vietnamese Breakfast
Phở or pho
Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat – usually beef, sometimes chicken. It is by far one of the most famous Vietnamese dishes and it is very common to see locals eating Pho as early as 5.30am. Yes, the day here starts early! Most of the time Pho is thought of as Vietnam’s street food but it is served in the restaurants too.
In fact, Phở is the name of flat rice noodles so you can see other dish names contain the word Phở as well. So, the soup can contain beef (Phở bò), chicken (Phở gà) or just veggies (Phở chay). Fragrant broth is prepared in advance, and dry noodles can be boiled immediately before serving. A plate of Phở is served with fresh herbs (basil, mint, salad leaves), lime, chili peppers, soybean sprouts, garlic sauce on the side. You can find Pho in cafes and restaurants, as well as in little shops on the side of the road recognizable by its plastic tables and chairs.
Not only Phở is a traditional Vietnamese breakfast, it is also popular street food in Hanoi and throughout restaurants around the world
Where to eat in Hanoi
Inna and I have been in Vietnam on and off for the better part of the past two years. Although we do find that Hanoi can get a bit pricier than most of the country, there is no denying that some of the best food you’ll find in SouthEast Asia comes through this city. From the best Bun Cha to Egg Coffee to the Infamous Banh Mi’s, you’ll find something to cleanse even the oddest of palettes!
Bunchata
photo is just a bun cha set up, not from this restaurant**
A local Hanoi Bun Cha Restaurant that gets busy and packs a punch with its tasty and traditional recipes.
Here you’ll receive extremely fast and good service, it is on the tourist trails, but locals as well as tourists, eat here, a sign of good quality food in Vietnam.
Priced not too badly for local food, fresh and clean atmosphere, a must-try if you want to sample good Vietnamese food and the best bun cha.
Do try: Spring rolls with the best Bun Cha in Hanoi for just under $5 total.
Pizza 4p’s Bao Khanh Alley
Mushroom pizza 4p’s in hanoi’s old quarter
A lovely little hideaway with some of the best pizza you’ll find in all of Hanoi, and yes I’m from NYC and I’m saying it’s up to international standards. The staff here go above and beyond to make sure everything is to your liking. The restaurant is wide open with plenty of space for you to eat and enjoy a conversation between the two floors! All ingredients are local and the cheese is made in house! Highly recommend reserving a table online ahead of time as they tend to be full at most times!
Do try: The cheese board and we highly recommend that you try Mushroom Pizza.
Chef Duong’s seafood plate
Duong Restaurant/ Cooking School
One of the first places Inna and I ever went on a date to in Hanoi a couple of years back. It still has the highest levels and standards they had from the first time we went there. This is a bit pricier than you’ll find from most places close by, but the service, decor, presentation, and food make it worth it. They’re open daily from 11am - 10pm and offer an A la carte or set menu. If you’re planning a special evening and want to secure your table, reserve for Duong Restaurant Online.
Suggested: Chef Duong’s Seafood Plate and a bottle of red wine
Lovely food, decor, and setting at Cousins restaurant
Cousins Restaurant
This was our latest venture when visiting Hanoi again last week for a date night in Tay Ho! They didn’t let us down whatsoever, the hype of this restaurant was very real. We were seated in the back indoor garden area, where we were able to enjoy a nice romantic and quiet candlelit dinner together. Attentive service, a good bottle of French red wine, cheese plate, and juicy steak made for a wonderful night together. It was on the pricier side.
Jacksons Steakhouse
If this isn’t the perfect place for you to enjoy yourself with a nice piece of western steak and a glass of red wine, then I don’t know what is. The menu is extensive with both Vietnamese and different types of western cuisine. The atmosphere here is classy, the staff is attentive and the prices are more than reasonable as it’s in line with the quality of food.
Do try: Steak tartare, Filet Mignon, or Salmon as they were all fantastic!
Hey Pelo
French Tacos w/ secret party To say that this place is insanely good would be an understatement... Their French-style tacos are some of the tastiest food in this city. You can customize your taco to your heart’s desire. Even better late at night after a few drinks... I recommend the medium-sized 500g taco w/ samurai sauce and beef. Excellent staff, great service and incredible food!
Where to get coffee in Hanoi
Giang Cafe
Cafe giang - The original egg coffee spot since 1946
Vietnam is home to some of the best coffee in the world, after being introduced by the French over 150 years ago. With its thick brew and bold taste, you can’t really go wrong with it! But here in Hanoi, you’ve got the chance to add another element to that.
Egg Coffee - First created in Hanoi in 1946, egg coffee is the brainchild of Nguyen Van Giang. In response to the pressures of a milk shortage caused by the French War (also known as the First Indochina War), Giang whisked in the egg as a much-needed substitute while bartending at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel.
Luckily, for all of us, we’re able to enjoy the tradition passed down through the family as his son operates the cafe till this day!
The Note Coffee
One of the better touristy coffee shops in the area, but one that’s not to be missed. Rarely do you find a coffee shop that can offer you a coconut coffee and an iced caramel coffee, both of which are vegan and delicious!
We found this place using one of the best travel apps we’ve found thus far “HappyCow”! Everything on the menu here can be made vegan...except the cakes.
One thing worth noting though, for you digital nomads out there, this place is not work-friendly so you’ll have to work on that computer elsewhere!
One of our favorite coffee shops
Black Bird Coffee
Charming petite coffee shop down a quiet and picturesque alley (for all you Instagrammers). This spot is truly special as they have their own coffee farm and brew their own coffee...so you get that amazing farm to table love and care! We love supporting this sort of business as it’s one thing we intend to do in our future.
Serein Coffee
A 5 story luxury coffee house located next to the Long Bien bridge with a beautiful view of all the lovely Hanoi traffic at sunset! ** add a photo of @hanoiphotographer** Coffee here is a bit more than you’ll spend on your average cup of coffee, but the view is unbeatable for a rooftop and also it’s still not overcrowded from tourists...YET
Where to enjoy the nightlife in Hanoi
Ta Hien/Beer St
Nowhere else will you partake in such vibrant nightlife of Hanoi other than in Ta Hien Street “International Crossroad”. This is the mecca where many other local young people and tourists from all over the world come each and every night! Here you’re guaranteed to make a friend or two for sure.
If you’re not the overly social person try hopping onto a “meetup” group or “Couchsurfing” to meet up with like-minded people. This street at night you’ll be able to find not only beers starting at as little as 7000vnd (.30usd) ...but you’ll also be able to find some of the most amazing street food Hanoi has to offer. Whether it’s the best Bun Cha in Hanoi, pho, fresh spring rolls, banh mi, or Nem Chua you can be certain of one thing...it’ll be cheap!
Pro Tip: This area can often be so full of people when the weather is hot during the summer that you may not be able to find a single seat. But unlike nightlife in Ho Chi Minh or Bangkok where they’ve got similar streets, I believe you find more order to the chaos in Hanoi.
**As the night gets later and you’re walking around the streets, this is where an unusual travel app may come into play! “Flush” is an app that can help you locate bathrooms that are nearby, saving you that money so you don’t have to go somewhere to purchase.**
Walking Street
The Walking Street is actually a 7km street that combines of 26 streets located around Hoan Kiem Lake. It only opens on the weekend, from Friday nights to Sunday nights and makes for a perfect intermission for all the nightlife around you.
Hanoi Weekend Night Market - The original nightlife!
The Hideout
Located next door to Hey Pelo and down a large staircase is where you’ll find this quiet and rewarding retreat for the night. The nightlife out in Tay Ho is a bit different, with a dimly lit and nature-filled spot, you’ll find yourself sitting next to a campfire sharing stories with complete strangers and drinking draught/bottled beer for a great price!
B4 Bar (Secret Bar)
Located in the Tay Ho area of the city located right near “The Hideout” is where you’ll find this place. Unlike other places that you can find on the internet, this word of mouth club with some of the best music and underground Dj’s isn’t gonna be one of those.
Just know that it does exist and you do have to enter through a secret refrigerator! 11pm - Late (The true underground nightlife)
Address: 81b Xuân Diệu, Quảng An, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội
Docker Natura
We had a blast the last time we visited this wonderful establishment located on West Lake. The beers are reasonably priced, the shots are always flowing, music is always pumpin, people are always on the pool table, and you’ll never find this lively place empty! If you’re looking to dance to some top 40 music with some strangers and enjoy a balloon or two this is for YOU!
Viewpoints and rooftops
Lotte Observation Deck
@HanoiPhotography/Shutterstock
Lotte Observation Deck is located on the 65th floor of the Lotte Hotel. This attraction is relatively new so the windows are very clean and not scratched.
It’s important to time your visit with clear weather, otherwise, you will just see the clouds and the city covered in fog which happens a lot.
If you're lucky with the weather, you can opt to enter the area with a glass floor – Sky Walk.
There are no restrictions on how long you can stay, just know to enter the Sky Walk zone you need to take off your shoes.
Landmark 72
The observation deck Landmark 72 or Sky 72 is located in the second tallest building in Vietnam - Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower. The building loses in hight only to the Landmark 81 Skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City – the highest in all of Southeast Asia. Landmark 72 is 336 meters high and the observation deck is at the very top, on the 72nd floor.
Photo from: travelhanoi.org
In addition to the breathtaking view of the city through thick and objectively not very transparent double-glazed windows, here you can watch the scenery through free binoculars, visit the museum of illusions (an attraction with several dozens of funny 3D pictures for photographing), a 5D cinema, an area with game consoles.