“Going to Vietnam the first time was life-changing for sure. Maybe because it was all so new and different to my life before and the world I grew up in. The food, culture, landscape, and smell; they’re all inseparable. It just seemed like another planet; a delicious one that sort of sucked me in and never let go.”
Anthony Bourdain
Stepping out into the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam can be overwhelming. People zigzagging, weaving through persistent vendors and zooming motorbikes. Not to mention the lack of space, everything squished into the narrow streets of the Old Quarters.
The wild atmosphere is part of the game — the search for the best street food!
It’s not even that much of a search… the Old Quarters are jam packed with amazing and insanely inexpensive food.
Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten was on the streets of Hanoi. Price does not determine quality, so it’s a great opportunity to go all out. Indulge!! You can do your squats when you get home, but in Vietnam eat, eat, and EAT!
The layout of Hanoi Old Quarters may be difficult to navigate, but you just have to go with the flow. The same can be said of the food. For first time Vietnam visitors, the food will seem, well… foreign! There are food tours you can book on your trip. Guides take you to the must-eat stands and introduce you to the food and the culture.
I’ve always liked exploring on my own.
The adventure of stepping into something unknown is an unmatchable thrill. On my trip, I was surprised and blown away by tastes. I was fully immersed in a whirlwind of tradition, beautiful sights and delicious smells.
Food is a window into understanding another culture, and there’s nothing like that first bite in that corner of that market that you’ll be raving about to friends and family for years to come. Remember the crunch, the heat, how some fish sauce dripped down your chin?
Oh yeah, in Hanoi get ready for plenty of fish sauce.
Food is taken very seriously here. The citizens pride themselves in it, and that pride is well deserved. Let’s dig in with my top ten favorite Vietnamese Street food!
(Please note that I am eating a pescatarian diet now and rarely eat meat so this post talks a lot about Vietnams best meat dishes since that is what they are known for. I however did find a bunch of restaurants in Hanoi that made these dishes vegetarian style.)
1. Banh Cuon
I thought pho was my favorite Vietnamese dish until I tried Banh Cuon!
Banh Cuon are little steamed rice rolls filled with minced wood ear mushroom, Vietnamese ham (also known as Cha Lua), onions, beansprouts and varying ground meat (chicken, shrimp or pork) all wrapped up in a thin rice flour sheet. Nuoc cham (Vietnamese for dipping sauce) usually accompanies them — try sweet, sour, savory, or spicy!
Banh Cuon insanely delicious. It’s complex yet light in flavor. I ate it for both breakfast and an afternoon snack!
You can find this staple throughout the streets of Hanoi, I even found a place that did both meat and vegetarian. (I normally eat a pescetarian diet) If you want to get some Banh Cuon with star power, check out Bún Chả Hương Liên. Anthony Bourdain and President Obama ate the dish together at that very restaurant!
2. Pho
I love a good bowl of pho, who doesn’t? In the early morning in Hanoi, you can see locals eating this dish for breakfast on the streets. It’s a Vietnamese staple. Most foreigners think of pho when they think Vietnamese food, and for good reason.
Pho was most likely invented in Hanoi in the early 20th century. It’s rice noodle soup made with almost any meat you could imagine — crispy brisket, fatty brisket, flank, chicken, tenderloin. You will have zero difficulty finding Pho in the streets or in high end restaurants.
I always follow the people. If you see a large gathering of locals, you can put money down that they’re waiting for some delicious pho. Hop in line.
3. Xoi Xeo
Simple, but so tasty — yellow sticky rice topped with fried onion and mung bean. There is something so satisfying about rice.
Xoi Xeo can be a side or a main. Sometimes it’s even served with egg or chicken to add a little protein. Turmeric gives the rice that yellow color and accounts for most of the flavor.
This dish is known as one of the most difficult Vietnamese foods to make, so give it a taste while in Hanoi. You may not get the chance anywhere else.
4. Cha Ca La Vong
My first meal in Hanoi was Cha Ca La Vong. I love vermicelli noodles (bún in Vietnam), so I couldn’t resist.
Fish grilled with turmeric and dill is served with vermicelli (thin rice noodles), green onions, shrimp paste and peanut. Not only does it taste in incredible, but the smell and look is unforgettable. Crisp, bright and aromatic, Cha Ca La Vong was a great way to start my Hanoi journey in food.
5. Bún Cha
There is nothing quite like some hot, sizzling pork.
Bún Cha has got it, along with vermicelli noodles, (hence the bún in the name), green papaya, garnished with herbs and a side of sweet and salty dipping sauce. Sometimes they even give a side of —get this — more pork meatballs and pickled veggies!
Bún Cha is pretty focused on the meat, but the flavors can be transferred to a vegetarian dish. I found a place that substituted pork for tofu and it was delicious!
6. Banh Mi
Another well-known favorite! Where I live in LA, you can get a Banh Mi inspired pizza, but it’s best served in Hanoi.
The sandwich dates back to the 1830’s. The fact that it is a sandwich, served on baguette, is actually a result of French Colonialism. Inside that baguette is one-hundred percent Vietnamese. Although recipes vary, it’s known for daikon, pickled carrots, mayo, pâté, jalapeños and sliced meat. The perfect lunch.
7. Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)
Strong coffee served with condensed milk, butter and cheese. Top it off with a whisked egg yolk and Vietnamese powder and you got the most decadent of lattes.
It’s creamy, silky and indulgent, but it was bred from adversity! During a milk shortage in the 1940s, a barman decided to get creative and Ca Phe Trung was born.
8. Chè (Vietnamese Sweet Soup)
Chè translated in English is dessert. The perfect end to a perfect meal.
It’s a sweet soup served in a beer glass and made from a variety of veggies or fruits — including corn, taro, jelly, tapioca, even mung beans or black beans.
Chè can be served hot or iced depending on the season!
9. Bún Nem
Spring roll and vermicelli — two of my favorites!
Crispy spring rolls filled with your heart’s desire and served with bún. The name pretty much speaks for itself, but the most important part of the dish is the dipping sauce.
I like to drench mine in sauce. It’s made up of chili, garlic, sugar, pepper and, obviously, fish sauce.
10. Banh Tom Ho Tay
These little West Lake Crispy Shrimp Cakes are gorgeous to look at and to taste. I kept seeing the bright yellow delicacies as I walked through the street and I couldn’t resist. Besides, street food and fried food go hand in hand. No feast is complete without a crispy fried treat!
The shrimp, caught fresh in West Lake, is wrapped in flour and pan fried. The shrimp will eventually soufflé and turn yellow, which means it’s ready to eat. You can smell it immediately too. Scoop them out and serve with the ever present sweet and sour dipping sauce. Yum!
