Hanoi Street Food: It’s more than Phở! Sneak-peek into top 3 delicious local delights!

TVO's Hanoi Street Food Tour - Autumn 2023

Just land in Hanoi? Feeling tired, hungry and super jetlagged?

Perhaps slurping a bowl of phở would help wake you up? Or do you crave the smoky bún chả at the corner from your Airbnb?

But Hanoi street food scene is more than phở and bún chả.

If you ever consider going beyond them, you will be amazed at the various choices for a full, hearty meal that Hanoi has to offer. Don’t fall asleep yet because we’re about to help you graduate from phở. Here are the top 3 local favorites we would recommend. 

 

Bánh Cuốn 

Bánh cuốn is a must-try Hanoi street food.
Photo: Báo Lao Động

Bánh cuốn originates in North Vietnam and enjoys its diverse variation across the country. While the loose translation of the word “bánh” could mean “pastry”, “bread”, or “cake”, it could also refer to any dishes made from rice flour such as “bánh canh”, a thick, udon-like rice noodle dish. “Cuốn”, which is a Vietnamese verb, means “to roll”.

As you walk the streets of Hanoi, you’ve probably seen some curbside sellers pouring white liquid made from fermented rice batter on the surface of steaming cloth that covers the top of a hot boiling water pot. The steam will create of fragile, thin, and delicate sheet of “bánh”. As the sheet of “bánh” is carefully spread on a flat surface, it is filled with a mixture of cooked, minced grounded pork with mộc nhĩ (ear mushroom). The “bánh” is then rolled and topped with the crunchy minced fried shallots and served with chả quế (cinnamon pork sausage) and lots of fresh basil and mints.

A perfect plate of bánh cuốn cannot be complete without the mouth-watering, sweet and sour nước chấm (dipping sauce). We can confidently say that bánh cuốn is one of the most well-loved breakfasts, endorsed by Hanoi’s locals and foreigners.

📍Where to eat? 

(No sponsor; just our TVO’s teachers’ and students’ recommendation for an authentic experience!)

  • Bánh cuốn tôm thịt – 79 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Hai Bà Trưng 
  • Bánh cuốn trứng – 36 Núi Trúc, Ba Đình 
  • Bánh cuốn trứng, mỳ gà tần – 33 Hoa Bằng, Cầu Giấy 
  • Bánh cuốn chả – 27 Hàng Điếu, Hoàn Kiếm

 

Bún Riêu Cua 

Bún Riêu served with fresh veggies and quẩy (fried dough stick)
Photo: hanoimoi.com

Bún riêu cua is a savory vermicelli tomato broth that will wake up your taste buds. “Bún” means vermicelli, and “riêu cua” means blocks of pounded, minced paddies’ crab meat. What could be better than sitting on the iconic plastic stools of Hanoi streets on a winter day and slurping a hot, steamy bowl of bún riêu, topped with the vibrant red colour of tomatoes and served with different types of raw veggies and fresh herbs.

If you’re a home-cooked meal enthusiast, making bún riêu could be a healing process for a slow and lazy weekend. Crabs are cleaned and pounded with the shell to make a paste, which is the base for the broth. The resulting broth is then simmered and stirred, so crab cake will surface. To produce vibrant red color and bring out the attractive aroma of the broth, sauteé the crab meat with tomatoes, onion and rice wine. Topping for bún riêu can include stir-fried beef, pork cake, and fried tofu. 

For many long-term Hanoi inhabitants, bún riêu is the ultimate comfort Hanoi street food. It will surely warm you up and sustain you for the whole morning before the next meal. The richness of the broth, the fresh taste of the sour tomato, and the spiciness from drops of chilli oil really constitute a bowl of happiness. If you’re a mắm tôm lover, adding it will definitely elevate your appetite to another level. Bún riêu is a truly balanced meal as it ticks all the boxes in the food pyramid. The carb comes from the bún, the rich protein comes from the crab meat, and the fibre comes from various veggies toppings such as split water spinach, perilla, shredded banana flower, and more.

📍Where to eat?

  • Bún riêu tóp mỡ – 17 Hàng Cót, Hoàn Kiếm
  • Bún riêu cua sườn sụn – 50 Nguyễn Du, Hai Bà Trưng
  • Bún riêu cua Hàng Bạc – 11 Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm

 

Bún Bò Nam Bộ 

Bún Bò Nam Bộ is a perfect Hanoi street food for a summer day
Photo: mediamart.vn

Bún Bò Nam Bộ is a must-try dish from the bún family, featuring vermicelli noodles topped with marinated, stir-fried beef with lemongrass and garlic. Its origins spark debate, with some claiming it comes from the South, where locals refer to it as “bún bò xào.” One story suggests it was popularized by a woman named Can, who sold bún chả in phố Nam Bộ, the busy, bustling Lê Duẩn in the modern day, during the 80s. The owner, Can, initially sold bún chả, but many customers asked if they could use her tools to grill their thịt bò. Perhaps, Bún Bò Nam Bộ, which is presumably an incarnation of bún chả, built its reputation from there, hence the name.

A staple in Hanoi’s culinary map, Bún Bò Nam Bộ is actually easy to make at home. It’s complemented by fresh veggies like lettuce and cucumber and topped with fried onions and peanuts. The key to a great Bún Bò Nam Bộ is a flavorful nước chấm that balances sweetness, saltiness, and sourness. Mix the bowl well.

Are you ready for the first taste? We bet the stir-fried beef is juicy, the vermicelli noodles are soft, and the raw lettuce, thin-sliced cucumber, peanuts, and fried onions are crunchy. Served cold, it’s a refreshing choice for hot days, providing a delicious alternative to hot noodle soups that often leave you in beads of sweat.

📍Where to eat?

  • Bún Bò Nam Bộ – 73-75 Hàng Điếu, Hoàn Kiếm
  • Bún Bò Công Chúa – Lane 35 Kim Mã Thượng, Ba Đình 
  • Bún Bò Nam Bộ – 7 Tạ Hiện, Hoàn Kiếm

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🌟 Exciting News for Food Lovers! 🇻🇳🌟

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Tieng Viet Oi’s Hanoi Food Tour! 🎉

Get ready for a culinary adventure that takes you from the savory Nem Nướng (Grilled Pork Sausage Wrap) to the refreshing Nộm (Green Papaya Salad), and indulge in the mouth-watering Caramen (Vietnamese Flan) — and so much more! 😋

Whether you’re a newcomer to Hanoi or a long-time resident, our expert guides are here to lead you to the ultimate local favorites in the city’s most historic neighborhoods. 🍽️ Join us for a taste of Hanoi that you won’t forget! 🍽️❤️

🏙️✨ Book now for an unforgettable experience! Check out our Food Tours and snippets from our previous successful Food Tour to learn more!

 

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