For great, traditional and some unusual Vietnamese food, try Highway 4. The actual Highway 4 crosses the mountains and hill tribes (and ethnic minorities) of northern Vietnam, and this defines the cuisine (and the great fruit, herbal or medicinal flavored rice wine) of Highway 4 in Hanoi as well. All this can be had at reasonable prices, in a pleasant environment that evokes the highlands.

Recommended dishes: Nem Cá, or famous Highway 4 spring rolls with fried catfish and wasabi soy dipping sauce. But tell them to go light on the mayo inside the rolls.

Grilled chicken with lemon leaves (Gà Nương Lá Chanh) and the Bò Xào Dưa Chua (beef sautéed with local pickled mustard greens—translated as sauerkraut but it’s quite different).

A unique and wonderfully textured green that’s only available seasonally is Hoa Thien Lý Xào (sautéed Thien Ly vegetable/flower).

For seafood, try the soft shell crab roasted with Tamarind or Salt (Cua Dong Rang Me/Muoi) and Ca Kho To (fish simmered in clay pot). Also good: Green mango (Xoài Xanh) marinated with salt and chili; and for the pork lover—Thịt Kho Tộ (pork carmelized in clay pot with coconut—tourist places tend to use lean sliced pork, while more traditional places like Hwy 4 will use pork belly). Try the sampler set of their Son Tinh liquor.

5 Hang Tre, just east of the north end of Hoan Kiem Lake. For more restaurant recommendations (and travel itineraries and other great tips) go to www.savourasia.com - they really throw themselves into eating in Asia, and especially Hanoi!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We joined a tour with Hanoi Street Foods which was a great introduction to the local grub and took us places we wouldn't have dared go ourselves.

When we got more confident we sampled the local 'bia hois' where a glass of beer is available for less than 10p!

Also recommended is Highway4 restaurant where we were either ultra-confident or drunk on their rice wine and tucked into local scorpions, bugs, ostrich and crocodile!

www.hanoistreetfood.com
www.hanoibiahoi.com
www.highway4.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I love Vietnamese food but after three months on the road in south east Asia, this place was a dream come true!

The most delicious ice cream, and the biggest variety of flavours I've ever had!

There is one near the lake in Hanoi, and also one in Ho Chi Minh City.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Need a break from restaurants? Simply stroll around, look for a street vendor selling a noodle dish or two, pull up a child-size plastic chair and enjoy a quick meal with the locals, cheaply.

Find by accident when hungry

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Most towns have their own varieties of noodles, entrees and beer. We spent a marvellous month sampling the local food and some great brews.

One food seller noticed our apprehension of the local dish and after her comments we couldn't refuse trying them: "Don't try, don't know".

All areas (not just Hanoi)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Lovely food in a beautiful atmosphere prepared and served by street kids learning the skills for their own futures. Right over the street from the Temple of Literature, and a good 20 minutes' walk from the centre of the old town.

OK, so Bill Clinton's been here, but it's really very down to earth.

KOTO on Van Mieu
59 Van Mieu Street, (opposite the Temple of Literature)
www.streetvoices.com.au/koto_restaurant.asp

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A great initiative to train young people up as chefs, waiters and bakers.

The restaurant serves French-accented Indochine cuisine in a lovely garden courtyard.

Seemed popular with diplomats when we were there.

Food is excellent and we felt very very full when we left, but very virtuous as we had helped people just by eating!

They also have a cafe and bakery called Baguette et Chocolat

www.hoasuaschool.com/index.php228a Ha Hoi (it is down a couple of side streets so you may need to look carefully for the signposts - or bring a map).
Tel: 4 942 4448

Baguette et Chocolat:
11 Pho Cha Ca
Tel: 04 923 1500

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Pho (rice noodle soup, pronounced “phur”) is a traditional meal in northern Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi, dating back thousands of years.

Pho looks like a simple dish, but it actually takes a lot of skill and experience to prepare properly. A good bowl of pho calls for sweet and pure bouillon, soft rice noodles that are soaked in boiling water for just the right duration, and of course, tender and fragrant meat (chicken or beef).

Pho Bo is noodles with sliced beef while Pho Ga is noodles with shredded chicken.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Le PUB is a fantastic bar serving reasonably priced food right in the middle of the old quarter. The staff are very good and there is even free wifi. The place attracts a good mix of locals, tourists and expats and the music is superb. The tables outside allow fantastic people watching.

www.lepub.org
25 Hang Be, Hanoi
le.pub.hanoi@gmail.com
04 826 2104

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Comprehensive, frequently updated listing of restaurants and cafes in Hanoi and other places. Reviews submitted by users and links to third-party reviews. Submit your favourite places and help it to grow.

chefmoz.org/Vietnam/Hanoi/
chefmoz.org/vietnam/Hoi_An/
chefmoz.org/Vietnam/Ho_Chi_Minh_City/
...and other cities.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Hanoi Old Quarter has a street cafe on every corner - you pick what you want & sit on the street (with little tables). Probably best to go with a local person - they will know the best ones!

They're incrediably cheap: three of us ate our fill for £1 in total.

Failing that, try the local cafes (where you sit inside - with the kitchen at your elbow). Cost me £1 for a massive plate of stir-fry beef & Chinese cabbage (delicious) & two beers.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Hanoi is a beautiful city and I had a fantastic - if soggy - time there. If it wasn't raining then the air was thick with damp mist, and my clothes never quite dried properly. However, I found the perfect start to these wet days: breakfast at the Kangaroo Cafe. They serve up the biggest and hottest breakfasts - the perfect way to set yourself up for a wet day exploring the city.

18 Pho Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I should declare a vested interest first. I work as a VSO volunteer at KOTO; we are a restaurant that take in street kids and house, pay and train them to work in the hospitality industry.

The food is fantastic, trust me. Would we have had the likes of Bill Clinton and John Prescott dine with us if it wasn't?

If you like the concept and want to find out more - ask staff and we may be able to provide you with a short guided tour of the training centre too which is near Westlake.

61 Van Mieu Street - opposite the Temple of Literature. The training centre is at 72 Thuy Khue but ask first at the restaurant if it's OK to visit.
www.streetvoices.com.au
My blog on life in Hanoi and my time as a KOTO volunteer: www.ourmaninhanoi.blogspot.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We wandered into KOTO by accident on a stormy day as we sought shelter prior to visiting the Temple of Literature. What we discovered was a temple to both good food and good intentions. The restaurant trains street kids for the catering industry and serves delicious Vietnamese food - watch out for the specials board. Great service in a place that offers a great service.

61 Van Mieu St
www.streetvoices.com.au

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Sticky Rice is a blog about the food scene in Hanoi. Everything from street food to fine(ish) dining. Great pics, great writeups and well worth a sniff if you're heading to Hanoi.

stickyrice.typepad.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Vietnamese restaurant. Great food at very reasonable prices.

65 Ngo Hue

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends