The BEST food in Hanoi: 19 dishes to try!

Last updated on March 15th, 2024

Hanoi is known as one of the best food cities in Vietnam. And in this guide we’re sharing the best food in Hanoi, including 19 dishes and where to find them!

It’s no secret that we love to eat. Half of the reason we travel is so we can try different foods! And if you’re a food lover like us, Hanoi is a foodie’s paradise. With an amazing street food scene, high quality restaurants, and iconic Hanoi dishes, there is no shortage of delicious food to try.

We spent around 10 days in Hanoi and since food is much more affordable, we ate out almost every meal. This means we got to try a lot of the best restaurants in Hanoi! And while we normally try to visit as many new restaurants as possible, some places were so good that we had to go back multiple times.

Watch us try many of the Hanoi foods listed in this guide, like pho, bun cha, and bánh rán, in our Hanoi food tour video!

Ready to eat your way through Hanoi? In this guide we’re sharing some of the best food in Hanoi. From Vietnamese dishes, to more Western food, to dessert, we’re covering it all! And not only are we sharing which food items to try, but the best restaurants in Hanoi to try them.

Best Food in Hanoi: Vietnamese Food

1. Bun Cha 

Hands down, one of the best foods in Hanoi is Bun Cha. This is a Hanoi specialty that just after one bite, became one of our all time favorite Vietnamese dishes. This dish consists of grilled pork patties, with sometimes pork belly as well, plus pickled veggies, all in a fish sauce based broth. On the side, you’ll have vermicelli noodles, herbs, and fresh veggies.

You put together the perfect bite of meat, herbs, veggies, and noodles, and then dip it into the broth. Or you can just put the ingredients all into the broth and chopstick up the perfect bite.

The combination of the nice smoky/grilled flavor from the meat, crunchy freshness from the veggies, and the savory, sweet, umami broth, is to die for!

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Bun Cha

Bun Cha Dac Kim is where our local guide took us on a food tour and it was SO good! It is Michelin rated and because of this, there are some imposter restaurants next door and across the street. Our guide Minh told us that this is a common scam where others will try to copy the name and colors of a popular restaurant, to try to steal some of their business.

Bún chả Hương Liên is another popular spot for bun cha. And this one is especially famous because Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate here for an episode of Parts Unknown. You can see photos and even their table, plus order the exact meals they had!

2. Nem Nuong Cuon

Nem Nuong Cuon (Nem Nuong Nha Trang) are fresh spring rolls made with nem nuong, a Vietnamese grilled pork sausage. You fill rice paper with this sausage, plus cucumber, mango, herbs, crispy rice sticks, and any other toppings you desire, roll it up, and then dip it into the most delicious sauce. Which tasted like a peanut sauce to us. It is a delicious handheld snack or meal!

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Nem Nuong Cuon

Our local guide took us to Nem Nướng Nha Trang Quế Hoa and it quickly became one of our favorite restaurants in Hanoi. You get to build the spring rolls yourself, which is a fun activity. We went there at least four times during our stay, but could’ve easily eaten this daily if we didn’t also want to try new places!

3. Bun Bo Nam Bo 

Another one of the best foods we tried in Hanoi was Bun Bo Nam Bo. While this dish originates from Hue, it wasn’t until Hanoi that we got to try it. And let’s just say, we were SO mad we didn’t try it sooner. It has now become a weekly staple meal back home for us!

Bun Bo Nam Bo is a warm noodle salad made with vermicelli noodles, beef, fresh veggies, and peanuts, served with a fish sauce. It is super refreshing and filling!

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Bun Bo Nam Bo

If you want to try Bun Bo Nam Bo in Hanoi, you must go to Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương! This restaurant has a small menu, with Bun Bo Nam Bo being the start of the show. And they do it super well! We went here on our last day in Hanoi and had we not been leaving Vietnam, this would’ve been a daily staple for us.

The Corner Food is also a popular spot to try Bun Bo Nam Bo in Hanoi! 

4. Cha Ca 

Cha Ca is catfish marinated in turmeric, galangal, fermented rice paste, and then topped with dill and other herbs. And dates back more than 130 years! It was first invented by a local family, who served the special dish to troops during French colonial rule. People loved it, so they opened the first Cha Ca restaurant. And then many others followed suit, with there now even being a Cha Ca Street in town.

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Cha Ca

During our visit, we went to Cha Ca Thang Long and it was delicious! Some other great spots to try Cha Ca in Hanoi are Chả Cá Lã Vọng, Chả Cá Anh Vũ, and Nhà Hàng Chả Cá Lão Ngư. What is fun about all of these restaurants is that the fish is grilled right in front of you. It’s a unique experience!

5. Northern style Pho

Pho is one of the most iconic Vietnamese dishes. But did you know that it varies by region? We tried southern style pho in Ho Chi Minh City, but the north has its own spin on it as well. In fact pho is believed to have originated in the north!

So what is the difference between northern and southern pho? Northern pho tends to include wider rice noodles, and instead of lots of toppings like bean sprouts, lime, and basil, it only has cilantro and green onion in it. Another big difference is the broth. In northern style pho, the broth is mostly boiled with beef bones, creating a more clear and delicate broth. Southern pho uses many spices, along with flavoring from the bones. 

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Northern style Pho

Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn came recommended to us by our local food tour guide. It is only open for breakfast (6 AM-10 AM) and then again for dinner (6 PM-8:30 PM). And there is always a line! But it is popular for a reason, the pho is solid. You order at a counter and the pho is made right in front of you. Be prepared to hunt for a seat and sit right next to strangers!

Besides Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn, some other popular pho restaurants in Hanoi include Pho Khoi Hoi, Phở Tư Lùn Ấu Triệu (Michelin rated!), and Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ.

6. Thit Nuong

For the meat lovers, you must try Thit Nuong! These grilled meat skewers are a simple dish, but one of the tastiest little snacks to enjoy while soaking up the chaos and excitement of Hanoi. Make sure you try the sauce with them!

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try Thit Nuong

We LOVED the skewers from Quán thịt nướng khói, a street food stand right on the corner of a bustling street. There were tons of locals here, plus some food tours (which is how you know it’s good)! Make sure to get the fried bananas afterwards for a sweet treat. We’ll share more about those later on!

7. Banh Mi 

Just like pho, the bánh mì is one of the most famous dishes in Vietnam. The phrase banh mi just means “bread” in Vietnamese, but it is actually a sandwich.

Its origins date back to the 1850s, when the French invaded Vietnam. Over their 100 years of occupation, they had a heavy influence on the area, both positive and negative. And one of which was the baguette, which has become the vessel for the banh mi sandwich. 

A typical banh mi consists of pork, cucumber, pickled carrots, cilantro, pate, daikon, and a buttery mayonnaise. But there are many variations! And while it can be eaten any time of day, it is very popular for breakfast.

Best restaurants in Hanoi to try a Banh Mi

Banh Mi 25 and Banh My Mama are some of the most popular spots to get a banh mi in Hanoi. But you can also get a solid banh mi at some of the thit noung spot we listed above.

Check out our guide to even more Vietnamese foods you MUST try!

Best food in Hanoi: Non-Vietnamese Food

While we LOVE Vietnamese food (and try to make it weekly back home), after 5 weeks of nonstop Vietnamese cuisine, we sometimes craved something different. So if you’re like us and want a taste of home, here are some of the best Non-Vietnamese foods to try in Hanoi.

8. Western breakfast

A common traditional Vietnamese breakfast consists of banh mi or pho. But if you’re looking for a western breakfast, like eggs, potatoes, and meat, Hanoi still has some great options!

Best restaurants in Hanoi for a Western breakfast

Muối Tiêu – Salt n’ Pepper Kitchen is a delicious choice! We shared their Muối Tiêu platter, which had eggs, meat, potatoes, avocado, fruits, bread, tomato soup, and more. It was huge and SO good!

Lifted Coffee & Brunch is another great breakfast spot, with avocado toast, pancakes, English breakfast, sandwiches, shakshuka, and more!

9. Pizza 

Vietnam is known for its own style of pizza, called bánh tráng nướng, which is made on rice paper and has a variety of toppings. But you can get some solid Italian, neapolitan pizzas as well! 

Best restaurants in Hanoi for pizza

Easily the best restaurant in Hanoi for pizza is Pizza 4P’s. This Japanese Italian spot is whipping up some legit pies. Their menu has so many fun flavor profiles, including classics and some with an Asian twist. We loved their tandoori chicken, bo kho, classic margherita, and salami and chorizo margherita.

They have multiple locations around town, so you’ll likely always be near one. We enjoyed their pizza as takeout, after arriving into town late, and even though we didn’t eat it fresh out of the oven, it was still AMAZING. We gobbled it up before we could snap a photo, so you’ll just have to trust us!

10. Tacos

One of our favorite foods of all time are tacos. Being from Texas and making multiple trips to Mexico, we have had some of the best tacos in the world. And while it’s usually a good idea to keep your expectations low for tacos in a country on the opposite side of the world from Mexico, Hanoi surprisingly has some great tacos.

Best restaurants in Hanoi for tacos

Naco Taco, located near Hanoi’s West Lake, is a gem! This outdoor spot, just a minute from the lake, has a cool and colorful vibe. But the food itself was the star of the show! We enjoyed their birria tacos, al pastor, chicken, and carnitas. Maybe it was just the 6 weeks away from Texas talking, but these tacos were legit. We also loved their chips and salsa!

Looking for another option? Hanoi Taco Bar is also a popular choice!

11. Burgers

Burgers are one of our favorite foods. We met at a burger restaurant afterall! And while you can find worldwide burger chains, like Burger King and McDonalds in Hanoi, why not try a local spot instead?

Best restaurants in Hanoi for burgers

Ngoặm is a higher end spot for burgers, but we really loved their unique combinations and sides! When we went, we didn’t have a reservation and they squeezed us in, so we would recommend making one.

Nhà hàng Chops is another burger spot that we loved in Hanoi! They are serving up classic burgers, plus a variety of other items. Mischief & Mayhem Burgers is a great choice as well!

12. French tacos

During our time in Hanoi we discovered French tacos. What is a French taco you might ask? The best way we can describe it is that it’s a grilled burrito, filled with a variety of toppings, like meat, french fries, and veggies. It’s almost like a panini! 

Best restaurants in Hanoi for French tacos

We first discovered French tacos when we ordered delivery from Hey Pelo. And it was love at first bite! The taco was loaded with ingredients and SUPER filling. Since we got these delivered, we forgot to snap a photo. But check out their Google photos to see the goodness!

M’ Bros – Original French Tacos is another spot close to Hey Pelo that also serves French tacos. These restaurants are both located near West Lake, which is the expat area of town.

Best food in Hanoi: Dessert

After indulging in some of Hanoi’s best savory food, it’s time to find something sweet! We checked out quite a few desserts in Hanoi, both the classics, as well as special Vietnamese treats.

13. Banh Ran

Banh Ran (also called Banh Cam) are deep fried rice balls, with mung beans inside, which are slightly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. They reminded us of donut holes, but in our opinion, even better!

Best restaurants in Hanoi for Banh Ran

These are a northern Vietnamese specialty, so you’ll see them being sold all over town. The ones sold on the streets aren’t as fresh and overpriced.

For the best banh ran, head to this little hole in the wall cart! This stand had 3 different varieties to choose from: savory with sesame seeds on the outside, one covered in glazed sugar, and a darker one covered in honey. Make sure to try them all!

14. Ice cream

If you’ve been following our adventures for a while, you know that we are big ice cream consumers. It is our favorite dessert! So we of course had to check out Hanoi’s ice cream scene as well.

Best restaurants in Hanoi for ice cream

One must visit spot for ice cream in Hanoi is Kem Tràng Tiền ice cream. It has been a Hanoi staple since the 1950s! Their ice cream is a bit unique, as it is served pre-scooped onto a cone, or in popsicle form. It also has more of an icy texture, but still maintains creaminess. They have several flavors to choose from and we really enjoyed the taro and rice flake flavors! 

Note: This place is large inside, with many different counters to order. Some counters only service one style (cone or popsicle), while others may only have some flavors. It is a bit confusing!

For more of a traditional ice cream experience, head to La Milana for gelato!

15. Chuoi Chien

Chuoi Chien is a fried banana and was a tip from our local guide Minh during our food tour. It’s very simple and may not look like much, but the flaky outside combined with the gooey, piping hot banana inside is a delicious combination. 

Best restaurants in Hanoi for Chuoi Chien

Nga Bánh Chuối Bánh Khoai, which is right next to our favorite meat skewer stand, makes these fresh right in front of you! Ours was steaming because it was so hot and fresh! She puts a whole banana inside, which Minh said not all places do. 

16. Hoa Qua Dam

One food item that our guide Minh had us try on our food tour that I don’t think we would’ve discovered ourselves is hoa qua dam. Which is basically a fruit salad with condensed milk and coconut milk. Fruit salads are solid on their own, but the milk additions took it to the next level!

Best restaurants in Hanoi for Hoa Qua Dam

Minh took us to Hoa Quả Dầm Hoa Béo to try this dish and we loved it! It was loaded with a wide variety of fruits, including jackfruit and avocado. Another place to try this dish is Cửa Hàng Sinh Tố Hoa Quả Dầm.

17. Kem Xoi

Kem Xoi is coconut ice cream on top of green, pandan sticky rice. If you’re unfamiliar with pandan, it is a popular Southeast Asian plant. To us, it kind of tastes like a slightly nuttier vanilla. The mix of the cold, sweet ice cream, with the chewy rice, is a unique texture experience that works well together. 

Best restaurants in Hanoi for Kem Xoi

Kem Xôi Quang Bích – 9 Phan Chu Trinh is a small stand that serves kem xoi. Hoa Quả Dầm Hoa Béo, where we tried hoa qua dam, also has kem xoi! 

18. Che

One of Vietnam’s most famous desserts is che. This is essentially a sweet soup, with a coconut sauce base and loaded with beans, fruits, seeds and nuts, and jellies. It’s super customizable and refreshing!

Best restaurants in Hanoi for Che

Little Bowl is one of the best restaurants in Hanoi to try che!

19. Chocolate

Last, but certainly not least, we have chocolate! Just like how Vietnam grows its own coffee, it also grows cacao. And while chocolate may not be the dessert you have in mind while in Vietnam, we highly recommend trying some!

Best restaurants in Hanoi for chocolate

Maison Marou makes some incredible chocolate, with lots of flavor combinations to choose from. Including a chocolate bar with pho spice! We especially recommend going to their flagship location, which is not only beautiful, but has tons of options. Including a cafe, where you can get pastries and hot chocolate.

We brought back some of their chocolate for our family and everyone loved it!

Ready to eat your way through Hanoi’s best restaurants?

Pin this guide with the best food in Hanoi to plan your trip!