TOP 5 DISHES TO EAT IN HANOI | Vietnamese Food Lovers
Vietnamese Cuisine

TOP 5 DISHES TO EAT IN HANOI

Hanoi is a foodie’s paradise offering plenty of cheap yet delicious eats. Heartier and indicative of the cooler temperatures of the north, the nuanced flavours of Hanoi cuisine can be a welcome relief to it’s brash cousin to the south. Nowhere is this more indicative than in the Old Quarter. The maze like streets are crammed with makeshift stalls and storefronts that offer one or two dishes handed down from generation to generation. They have spent years perfecting these dishes so when you sit down on that little plastic blue chair, take whatever they give you. You won’t be disappointed.

We have listed five must eat dishes while in Hanoi.

Bun Cha Hanoi

northern-vietnamese-food

You will probably smell this dish before you see it.  Sliced pork along with seasoned pork patties are grilled over hot coals and served in a sweet and salty sauce. It is served with a garnish of fresh herbs, noodles, chopped chili and garlic. Beware, once you have this dish, it will haunt your dreams. Local insight: Grab a side of Nem Cua Be, crab spring rolls that are traditionally served with this dish.

Pho Bac

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You can’t mention Vietnamese food without mentioning the country’s national dish, pho. The pho in Hanoi is very different from the pho from the South. Pho Bac  is beefier and tends to be cleaner tasting than it’s southern kin, Pho Nam.
Local insight: Less is more with Pho Bac so don’t dilute the taste of the broth with extra condiments.

Banh Cuon

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Traditionally served as breakfast, this rice crepe is filled with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms and chopped onion. Garnish can consist of fried shallots, fresh basil, beansprouts and steamed pork pate. Served on the side is the obiquitous nuoc cham dipping sauce.
Local insight: Though traditionally served for breakfast, this is also popular late night snack.

Cha Ca La Vong

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Served in a skillet, this fish dish combines tumeric, a heavy dose of dill, fish sauce and shrimp paste to create a flavourful dish that is nuanced yet bold in taste. Typical of Vietnamese cuisine, the fish is only a part of the equation with noodles, fresh herbs and nuoc cham sauce rounding out the dish.
Local insight: The shrimp paste can be a bit strong and most restaurants will omit it in the preparation if you don’t care for it.

Xoi Xeo

northern-vietnamese-food

Photo Source: Hanh Le – Tue Vien

This dish combines yellow sticky rice with ground mung bean and fried onion. Traditionally served for breakfast and lunch, some Hanoi stalls serve this as an afternoon snack.

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