Hanoi Food Guide: 5 must-try food in Hanoi & authentic restaurants to eat

Hanoi, Vietnam is a food lover’s paradise as every corner is packed with restaurants and street food stands, the options are endless. Knowing what to eat and where to find authentic Vietnamese food in Hanoi makes all the difference. In this Hanoi food guide, I’m sharing some of the must-try food in Hanoi and my personal favourite authentic spots to eat in Hanoi (with high ratings on Google too). If you are planning a Hanoi trip, don’t miss out on this list!

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• Hanoi travel guide: attractions, Itinerary & currency tips

Things to know when going to eat at local restaurants in Hanoi:

• Most of the local eateries in Hanoi are cash-only, so it’s best to carry some VND with you when eating out. While many places accept USD as well, you will only get your change in VND, and often at a poor exchange rate, which could cost you more in the end.
• If you want to dive deeper into Hanoi Old Quarter and food in Hanoi, it’s recommended that you 🔗join this guided city and food tour.
• Or hop on 🔗this food tour that brings you to some of Hanoi’s best Michelin-recommended local eateries.

Hanoi must-try food 1: Pho (rice noodle soup)

Pho is the most iconic and well known Vietnamese food, it’s a mix of rice noodles, beef broth, and beef, though you can also find chicken or vegetarian versions.

For extra flavour, people often squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice, which adds a fresh, sour touch to the savoury soup. It is definitely a must-try food in Hanoi!

Where to find the best pho in Hanoi, Vietnam

One of the most famous and best places to eat pho in Hanoi is Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, a Michelin-recognised restaurant in Hanoi.

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su stands out among Hanoi’s pho restaurants by offering quality, authentic beef pho and has the open-window kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing each bowl. 

What’s even more special is that, unlike other places with only one kind of beef, Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su provides a variety of beef cuts, including fillet, brisket, and flank. You can even pick how you want the beef cooked— well-done or medium-rare, so everyone can enjoy their beef pho just the way they like it, making it one of the top pho spots in Hanoi. 

Note:

• Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su doesn’t have chicken and vegetable options.
• Even though Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su is a famous restaurant in Hanoi which attracts international tourists, it doesn’t accept credit cards! It’s a cash only local restaurant. Don’t forget to bring some cash!

Google Maps location for Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su: 🔗click here

Hanoi must-try food 2: Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)

Influenced by French during colonial times, Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made with crispy French-inspired baguette and savoury ingredients like meats, vegetables, herbs, cheese, and sauces. This French-Vietnamese mix style of bread is perfect for breakfast or lunch and it’s a must-try street food in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Where to have the best Banh mi in Hanoi, Vietnam

The best banh mi I’ve had in Hanoi so far is from a small street vendor called Banh mì Mama near St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

They offer a wide range of fillings—from various meats to vegetarian and fish options. You can also select sauces and other fillings and add an egg and cheese into your banh mi. It’s so delicious!

What’s more about Banh mì Mama is that the baguette provided by them is always served warm and crispy, and surprisingly it’s not the kind of crispy bread that dries out your mouth. It’s one of the tastiest banh mì spots in Hanoi, and the price is so cheap! (less than 2 USD for one), which makes sense that there’s always a line of people waiting to grab one.

Google Maps location for Banh mì Mama: 🔗click here

Hanoi must-try food 3: Goi cuon/Nem cuon (Vietnamese fresh spring roll)

Another popular Vietnamese food is Goi cuon/Nem cuon, the Vietnamese fresh spring roll made with rice paper and filled with rice noodle, vegetables, herbs and shrimp/meats. It is usually served with fish sauce dip, and it’s so refreshing and perfect for hot weather in Hanoi!

Where to try the best Vietnamese fresh spring roll in Hanoi?

In my opinion, the best place to try Vietnamese fresh spring rolls (Goi cuon/Nem cuon) in Hanoi is at Banh Mì Pho. It is not the famous kind of eatery, but more like a place where locals would go as well.

We ordered Nem cuốn Tôm Thịt (fresh spring roll with pork and shrimp), and what I love about it is how generous the filling they put in, and every ingredient (shrimp, pork, vegetable, rice noodle) inside tastes so good. I highly recommend it.

Google Maps location for Banh Mì Pho: 🔗click here

Hanoi must-try food 4: Pho tron ga (dry rice noodle with chicken)

Pho tron ga is the Vietnamese food I tried in Hanoi that surprised me the most!

It’s still pho, but served as a dry version without the broth. Typically it comes with the rice noodles, chicken, mint, cucumber, peanuts, and crispy fried shallots, which creates layers of flavour. It’s seriously delicious!

Where to eat the good Pho tron ga in Hanoi, Vietnam?

If you are up for a pho with even more layers of flavour than the soup version, visit the eatery called Banh Mì Pho for Pho tron ga (they also have a beef option for this dish) and the price is so good!

Google Maps location for Banh Mì Pho: 🔗click here

Hanoi must-try food 5: Bun cha (vermicelli noodle with grilled pork)

Bun cha is a very popular Vietnamese food originated from Hanoi that is served with vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, vegetable/herbs, and Vietnamese dipping sauce made with fish sauce. It is a must try food in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Where to try bun cha in Hanoi?

Without any research before visiting Hanoi, I didn’t get to eat the best bun cha.

But later I saw many bloggers recommend the Michelin-recognised local eatery 🔗Bun Cha Ta Hanoi & 🔗Bun cha Huong Lien. If you try them, let me know how it is.

Where to stay in Hanoi is the most convenient?

If you are wondering where to stay in Hanoi is the best and most convenient choice for tourists, I’d say the 🔗Hoan Kiem District.

Hoan Kiem District is where the French Quarter and Old Quarter are located. And most of the city’s main attractions are either located here or just a short distance away. Additionally, many day tours offer hotel pickup services exclusively within this area, making it even more practical for visitors.

As for hotel type, there’s a wide variety of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels, so everyone can find something that suits their budget and needs.

Also let me know what you think about all the above Vietnamese food in Hanoi! And share what else you’ve tried that are good!