Savouring the Culinary Delights of Hanoi: Where to Eat, Drink and Indulge
Remember the Rocketts'? 60 or 70 person-dance company at radio city musical in NY? What made their magic was the fantastic teamwork and coordination of their dancing. Not one of them was a star. Each of them was superb.
Restaurants in Hanoi are like the Rocketts. There are not any huge stars…just a huge network of extraordinarily gifted chefs working in restaurants throughout the city. Some were born here but most came for a visit ,made friends, acquires a family and just never left.
Restaurants in Hanoi are like the Rocketts. There are not any huge stars…just a huge network of extraordinarily gifted chefs working in restaurants throughout the city. Some were born here but most came for a visit ,made friends, acquires a family and just never left.
Most cuisines are represented but the addition of Vietnamese taste in these flavours with many of the traditions of European cuisines is almost magical. Service is superb.
Wine lists are generous and you set the pace of your meal. Let me mention some of the rockets who make Hanoi a great food city.
Wine lists are generous and you set the pace of your meal. Let me mention some of the rockets who make Hanoi a great food city.
Essence Restaurant
On the rooftop of a hotel, AIRA Boutique Hanoi Hotel and Spa, this restaurant has been at the top of the list of many tourists. The service is top-notch, and the food is delicious and not super expensive. You can't beat this combination. For a treat on your trip, eat here at least once. Try their Green Papaya Salad, Pho, and Shrimp in Coconut, and your tastebuds for Western Vietnamese food will forever be damaged. 38A P. Tran Phu, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, 10000, Vietnam Tel.:84 24 3935 2485 |
Quan An Ngon
18 Phan Boi Chau Str., OR 34 Phan Dinh Phung Str.
You can sample Vietnamese street food and other traditional dishes in this open and spacious place organized into food stalls.
You can watch the cooks prepare the food.
We always order the seafood hot pot here and enjoy the banter with Ha, one of the fun servers.
18 Phan Boi Chau Str., OR 34 Phan Dinh Phung Str.
You can sample Vietnamese street food and other traditional dishes in this open and spacious place organized into food stalls.
You can watch the cooks prepare the food.
We always order the seafood hot pot here and enjoy the banter with Ha, one of the fun servers.
Tan My
61 Hang Gai Street, Hanoi.
Amid Old Quarter shopping, I often come to Tan My and have tea in the restaurant there.
It offers calm, serenity, and tasty food to replenish one's energy for more shopping.
Even better, Koto now runs its cafe. Koto used to have a restaurant close to the Temple of Literature. It is a foundation that helps young people acquire skills in the hospitality business. Eating here supports this worthy cause.
61 Hang Gai Street, Hanoi.
Amid Old Quarter shopping, I often come to Tan My and have tea in the restaurant there.
It offers calm, serenity, and tasty food to replenish one's energy for more shopping.
Even better, Koto now runs its cafe. Koto used to have a restaurant close to the Temple of Literature. It is a foundation that helps young people acquire skills in the hospitality business. Eating here supports this worthy cause.
Little Hanoi Restaurant
For a moderately priced option, try Little Hanoi. Visitors rate it highly, and it is affordable. The staff is super friendly, so your evening will be an experience.
21 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Not, Vietnam.
You are right in the Old Quarter, so when you get tired and wish for a meal, look for this one in Hang Gai.
For a moderately priced option, try Little Hanoi. Visitors rate it highly, and it is affordable. The staff is super friendly, so your evening will be an experience.
21 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Not, Vietnam.
You are right in the Old Quarter, so when you get tired and wish for a meal, look for this one in Hang Gai.
San HO Restaurant
58-Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Just a short walk around the corner from where we stay, San Ho has become our go to restaurant in Hanoi when we are in the mood to eat out. Housed in a beautiful old colonial home, it is inviting from the outside.
The big draw for us, though, is the regular 7 p.m. musical performance using Vietnamese traditional instruments. It is uniquely different from the usual music we listen to, thus, its charm.
The tiny expert hands of the Vietnamese musicians sometimes produce music of familiar songs such as Greensleeves or Guantanamera. This also makes us hum and sway to the delight of the servers.
58-Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Just a short walk around the corner from where we stay, San Ho has become our go to restaurant in Hanoi when we are in the mood to eat out. Housed in a beautiful old colonial home, it is inviting from the outside.
The big draw for us, though, is the regular 7 p.m. musical performance using Vietnamese traditional instruments. It is uniquely different from the usual music we listen to, thus, its charm.
The tiny expert hands of the Vietnamese musicians sometimes produce music of familiar songs such as Greensleeves or Guantanamera. This also makes us hum and sway to the delight of the servers.
Food is excellent and expertly served by staff who seem to enjoy what they're doing.
The last time we were there, we tasted different types of blue crabs. We had fun tasting each dish and savouring tamarind in one, garlic in the other at the same time guessing the other spices used.
But the one special feature that joyfully surprised me was the heated toilet seat. Don't miss this one when you go to this restaurant.
The last time we were there, we tasted different types of blue crabs. We had fun tasting each dish and savouring tamarind in one, garlic in the other at the same time guessing the other spices used.
But the one special feature that joyfully surprised me was the heated toilet seat. Don't miss this one when you go to this restaurant.
Pho Bo in Hai Ba Trung
Our Favourite Pho Restaurant. Every weekend, breakfast is right here. At times, the line up is long but the wait is not.
People get in here and immediately, your bowl of Pho comes especially when they already know the one you like.
Cooking is right in the street and the spill over of Pho breakfast enthusiasts sit in low stools on the street.
We have tried other Pho places but we think that the the soup base here is just full of flavour and beat all the others.
Our Favourite Pho Restaurant. Every weekend, breakfast is right here. At times, the line up is long but the wait is not.
People get in here and immediately, your bowl of Pho comes especially when they already know the one you like.
Cooking is right in the street and the spill over of Pho breakfast enthusiasts sit in low stools on the street.
We have tried other Pho places but we think that the the soup base here is just full of flavour and beat all the others.
But on weekends, what's even more fun is this area of closed off streets around Ta Hien and MaMay. Restaurants and street stalls crowd the streets with musical bands, both traditional and modern, as well as other performances.
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