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Hanoi’s lively street food culture is an enticing mix of flavours, textures, and scents that wins over both residents and tourists. Street food in Hanoi takes diners on a unique culinary adventure around Vietnam’s cuisine. Through bustling markets and charming alleyways, the sizzle of grills and the scent of fresh herbs create an inviting atmosphere. Every taste of food, be it from the corner road stall or local cafe, has its unique tale of tradition and innovation.
10 Best Street Food In Hanoi
Dive into the bustling streets to try the street food in Hanoi and indulge in a rich tapestry of flavours that showcase the culinary heritage:
1. Pho
Photo: David Pursehouse / Wikimedia Commons
Hanoi has its ultimate street food dish, Pho, defined by deliciously aromatic broth and silky rice noodles. The broth is made by simmering beef or chicken bones together with fragrant spices until the broth is clear but extremely flavourful. Once the broth is simmered with the bones, it is added to tender slices of meat and filled with fresh herbs. Because it is served steaming or hot, Pho is most popular in the morning but is eaten any time of the day. The endless flavour combinations of savoury, herbal, and slightly tangy are irresistible. Locals often add some depth by adding a dash of fish sauce or chilli to their perfection.
Best Paired With: Fresh herbs and lime wedges
Best Places To Try: Pho Thin, Pho Gia Truyen
2. Bun Cha
Photo: Kiraface / Wikimedia Commons
Bun Cha is a must-eat when in Hanoi, hugely popular for its bold and hearty flavours. Bun Cha is made up of grilled pork patties and slices of marinated pork belly. In addition, there is a huge mound of soft vermicelli noodles topped with fresh herbs, mint, cilantro, and lettuce. Vendors grill the meat over a charcoal flame, adding a distinct smoky aroma. Traditionally, you put together your own bite by dipping the noodles and herbs into the broth and then adding pieces of pork. Bun Cha is spectacular for capturing the experience of street food in Hanoi.
Best Paired With: Nem Ran (Vietnamese Spring Rolls)
Best Places To Try: Bun Cha Huong Lien, Bun Cha Dac Kim
3. Banh Mi
Photo: Stu Spivack / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Banh Mi represents a classical street food in Hanoi. It combines Vietnamese and French culinary elements into one irresistible sandwich. The crisp and airy sandwich is often topped with velvety layers of pâté and mayonnaise and filled with an assortment of savoury ingredients. These include grilled pork, sliced pork loaf or marinated chicken. Fresh and crunchy vegetables, often including pickled carrots, jicama, cucumbers and cilantro, offer a brilliant contrast to the savoury flavours. Soy sauce or chilli sauce helps elevate the taste as each bite explodes in flavour and texture. It’s a delightful combination of crisp, tender, and tangy flavours that embodies the charm of street food.
Best Paired With: Iced Vietnamese Coffee
Best Places To Try: Banh Mi 25, Banh Mi Pho Co
4. Xoi
Photo: Yuichi Kosio / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Xoi is a popular sticky rice dish that is an integral part of Hanoi’s street food culture, offering both sweet and savoury variants. The delicious savoury kind is Xoi Xeo, with mung bean paste and crunchy fried shallots. It is often served with slices of pork, chicken, or even Vietnamese sausage. Sweet forms such as Xoi Vo include coconut milk and are eaten with sweetened mung beans. The vendor would then skilfully set up the topping on fresh warm sticky rice, wrapping it in a banana leaf for easy access.
Best Paired With: Fried Shallots and Mung Bean Paste
Best Places To Try: Xoi Yen, Xoi May
5. Cha Ca
Photo: Phương Huy (thảo luận) / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Cha Ca is a famous dish in Hanoi and is acclaimed for its fragrant flavours and unique preparation. The dish consists of freshwater fish, commonly catfish, that is marinated with turmeric, garlic, and galangal. Then, it is grilled over charcoal to create a smoky aromatic flavour profile. The fish is served hot on a platter with generous portions of fresh dill and green onions, adding an element of colour and freshness. Accompaniments include soft rice noodles, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, and a tangy dipping sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, and chilli.
Best Paired With: Rice Noodles and Fresh Dill
Best Places To Try: Cha Ca La Vong, Cha Ca Thang Long
6. Banh Cuon
Photo: stu_spivack / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Banh Cuon is a cherished Vietnamese dish known for its light, silky texture and complex flavour. It consists of a delicate rice flour sheet, made by steaming the batter until it is solid, filled with a savoury filling of minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. The roll is topped with crispy fried shallots and served with fresh herbs like cilantro and mint. Another crucial ingredient is a dipping sauce called Nuoc Cham, made from fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chilli. Soft, fragrant, and filling, Banh Cuon is a great example of Hanoi’s mastery of texture and balance in their food.
Best Paired With: Fried Shallots and Fish Sauce Dip
Best Places To Try: Banh Cuon Gia Truyen, Banh Cuon Ba Hanh
7. Nem Ran (Spring Rolls)
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Nem Ran, or Vietnamese spring roll, is a crispy and savoury dish that occupies a unique place in the food of Hanoi. It consists of rice papers wrapped with minced pork, shrimp, mushrooms, glass noodles and finely minced vegetables (carrots, taro). These are rolled tightly and fried to an even golden colour and a crunchy texture. A good Nem Ran requires a crisped, blistered coating while retaining moisture and flavour in the fillings. Nem Ran is a finger food enjoyed as a starter or side dish.
Best Paired With: Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)
Best Places To Try: Nem Ran Thanh Van, Old Quarter Street Stalls
8. Bun Rieu
Photo: Sohini.sen / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Bun Rieu is a vibrant and flavourful Vietnamese noodle soup that’s especially popular in Hanoi. The soup consists of thin rice vermicelli submerged in a pleasantly tangy broth, flavoured with tomatoes blended with crab paste and pork bones. The star of Bun Rieu is the delicate crab meat and egg mixture, mounded into fluffy, flavourful clusters bobbing around in the soup. It is traditionally topped with fried tofu, fresh herbs such as perilla and cilantro, and a hint of fermented shrimp paste. Served steaming hot, Bun Rieu is comforting and satisfying, beautifully contrasting rich and savoury broth.
Best Paired With: Fresh Herbs and Shrimp Paste
Best Places To Try: Bun Rieu Cua Hang Bac, Bun Rieu Ganh
9. Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)
Photo: travel oriented / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Egg coffee (Ca Phe Trung) is one of the most unique and most loved treats that demonstrate the genius of Hanoi’s street food culture. Its concoction is made of a rich, creamy whipped egg yolk and sugar on top of a robust Vietnamese coffee. The egg is furiously beaten to create a froth and custard-like texture. Then, it is poured over the freshly brewed dark coffee, resulting in a visually appealing layered drink aesthetic. The drink can be enjoyed hot or iced and feels velvety in your mouth. Small, unpretentious cafés are filled with locals and tourists alike, craving this delectable treat.
Best Paired With: A light pastry or sweet bun
Best Places To Try: Cafe Giang, Cafe Dinh
10. Nom Bo Kho (Green Papaya Salad with Dried Beef)
Photo: Jpatokal / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Nom Bo Kho, or green papaya salad with dried beef, is a refreshing and flavourful street food in Hanoi. Green papaya is shredded thinly for the base of this dish, lending a crisp texture and mild flavour. The salad is topped with slices of dried, spiced beef that give a chewy, salty contrast. Cilantro, basil, and roasted peanuts are mixed in for a lovely crunch. The salad is dressed in vinegar, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chilli to provide some tangy sweetness. The salad is served on a small plastic plate from street vendors, usually with one or two toothpicks.
Best Paired With: Grilled Pork Skewers
Best Places To Try: Nom Bo Kho Hoan Kiem, Nom Gia Truyen
Exploring the vibrant street food in Hanoi is an experience that leaves an indelible mark on your taste buds and memories. Food serves as the protagonist in the story describing the history of extravagant traditions in cooking in Hanoi. If you’re either a food lover or simply just passing through, investing time into street food is a rite of passage in the city. Make sure your adventures are legendary by planning with TripXL, your best travel guide to finding Hanoi’s dining spots!
Cover Photo: dronepicr / Wikimedia Commons
