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Other Food Destinations in Hanoi

Xôi Đường Thành (Đường Thành’s Sticky Rice)

Xôi, sticky rice, is somewhat a familiar dish to the most of Vietnamese. Even to the foreigners, this is also not a dish that is not likely to attract their attention compared to the other because it is recommended all the time by the locals. However, you will find that nowhere has the exact kind of sticky rice as the others except for small food stalls selling on the side of the street. Thought as a simple dish, sticky rice is probably the most customized dish from those basic and fundamental ingredients in Vietnam.

In Hanoi, one place that will definitely blow your mind away with a variety of different sticky rice dishes of explosive flavor is the one-and-only Đường Thành. There on Đường Thành lies a sticky rice shop that not a single person does not know the name. Cát Lâm shop, the one that puts the once plain sticky rice dish to a whole new level.

Besides Cát Lâm, you can also find to Mrs. Thảo’s sticky rice shop. It is also a very well-known and highly recommended sticky rice shop in Đường Thành by most people. The most popular dishes at Mrs. Thảo’s are probably Crab Pie and Squid Pie Sticky Rice.

Apart from those dishes, you can also have your sticky rice of eggs and pork cooked with brine, the simple salted shredded meat sticky rice, pork pie sticky rice, pate, grilled rib, or stir-fried chicken with mushrooms sticky rice and so on. The price is very cheap, ranging from 8.000 – 20.000vnd per portion. You can choose sticky rice as your breakfast because of its convenience and nutrition which keep you all day long.

Gà Tần Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Simmered Chicken)  

Simmered chicken, until now, is still an unforgettable dish to all Hanoians. Simmered chicken has been there with all generations living in this capital. From the time when they were very little, they have been taken to simmered chicken shops by their parents to taste a wonderful dish for the first time in their lives. Simmered chicken is a very special dish. Despite most people usually have the dish in winter, some still love to eat it around the season, simply because they love it!

Simmered chicken is very sophisticatedly made with around ten different ingredients which are mostly Chinese traditional medicinal herbs. In the past, most people wanted to make simmered chicken would have to go to Chinese traditional herb shops to buy the ingredients. However, until recently, the development of the industry has made it much easier by putting all the needed ingredients in small packs and sell them in most grocery stores. Nevertheless, if everyone could make it and make it good, then simmered chicken shops as in Hàng Cót would no longer exist.
What makes it so special about gà tần Hàng Cót is probably how the ingredients are bought, carefully selected and seasoned. If you are looking for a taste that will change your view of Asian cuisine, just spend some time dropping by Hàng Cót. You can have normal simmered chicken or black simmered chicken (gà ác tần) or eat them with noodle (mì gà tần, mì gà ác tần).

Address: #12C Hàng Cót Street, Hòa Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hoa Quả Dầm Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Mixed Fruits)

Mixed fruits, what a lovely snack that most people would love to enjoy when they want treats to comfort their mouth. Mixed fruits are something very special to Asian people, especially Asian girls! In the past, people would mostly catch sight of a group of girl students after school talking and eating mixed fruits. Until now, mixed fruits are still a treat in favor of most teenagers for its sweet and sour taste with a little bit of chili that will easily get you addicted! You can choose from hundreds of flavors that you want. However mostly, people would choose mango, dracontomelum and plum flavors.

Address: Thủy Khế’s mixed fruits shop, 10 Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hoa Quả Dầm Ngọc Thạch Quán (Ngọc Thạch Quán’s Mixed Fruits)

You should also pay attention that there are two kinds of mixed fruits. The first one is the mentioned above, which is mostly in packages. The second kind is also in favor of lots of people. The fruits are altogether mixed in a bowl of cream sauce and coconut oil with different kinds of with white bubbles (trân châu trắng) as in bubble milk tea. For this kind of mixed fruits, it would be recommended that you go to Ngọc Thạch Quán in Tạ Quang Bửu Street because it is said to be one of the best shops for mixed fruits of this kind in Hanoi. The dish will be a perfect treat in summer. However, if you still want to try it in winter, just go for it!

Address: Ngọc Thạch Quán, 101 K5 Bách Khoa Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

5. Khoai Lang Xí Muội Hàng Cót (Hàng Cót’s Salted Dry Fried Sweet Potato)

The first time you discover this treat is also the time that you fall in love with it. It may sound simple to Vietnamese but once you try it, you will probably talk to yourself like: “Oh God, what did I just eat?” because is insanely delicious. Fried Sweet Potato is like a treat that mostly fits for a cold winter in Hanoi. You will love the feeling of walking on the street, enjoying the beautiful old scenery while eating those scrumptious pieces of fried sweet potato. 

The best place for this treat you can find is in Hàng Cót Street, the Big Uncle Shop (Tiệm Chú Mập). Apart from salted dry fried sweet potato, you can also have some spicy Korean tokbokki (bánh gạo cay Hàn Quốc) or cheese mixed tokbokki. Everything is put in the paper bag if you want to take-away so it is quite convenient and eco-friendly.

Address: #12E Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hải Sản Hương Kiều (Hương Kiều’s Seafood)

Mentioning of seafood, apart from most big restaurants in the West Lake, Hương Kiều’s Seafood in Hàng Thùng is a good example of fresh and delicious seafood that you can get in the center of the capital. The restaurant also receives positive comments from the customers and rated as a must-visit seafood restaurant in Hanoi.

Address: #18 Hàng Thùng Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Cháo Sườn Tạ Quang Bửu (Tạ Quang Bửu’s rib gruel)

If you are wandering around Tạ Quang Bửu, the rib gruel shop on the street side is definitely a must-visit place if you want to have a taste of this notorious dish of Hanoi. It has been a long time since the shop for the first time sold its first bowl. There is no restaurant and no space for what we call “shop” but only plastic table sets on the street side or sometimes steps of stairs as a place to sit. Well, but people still love it. It is like being back to the past when the simplest thing can be that wonderful. For college students near that area, each afternoon will be the time for a get-together on the side street, gasping for those bowls of hot rib gruel while the stomach is craving for something to digest.

The bowl is the perfect match of each and every single ingredient in the bowl from the chewy meat of rib, the beautiful smell of fennels and the spiciness of pepper. All together create the most delicious treat of winter that you can ever imagine. Rib gruel is the best fit with some sticks of quẩy. You can either cut them in to piece or leave the whole stick. However, the first way is still recommended because it is easier to eat.

Address: #17 Tạ Quang Bửu Street, Bách Khoa Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Lutulata – Desserts and Drinks

Lutulata is a very special café shop in the center of the capital. Here in Lutulata, not only can you get the sensation of a relaxing tranquil heaven, you can also soak yourself in the sweetness of all kinds desserts and drinks such as sweeten porridge, sticky rice cake, lotus seed porridge and so on. Most people wanting to find an escape from a hard day will find to Lutulata. The café shop has a great view from the second floor to the street with the evergreen tree and an ancient pagoda. If you are finding yourself a place like this, take some time to drop by Lutulata – the land of dreams and tranquility.

Address: #39 Hàng Cót Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

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Here is the list of all the food destinations that he went to. Some of the owners in those restaurants or food stalls say that their life did take a huge milestone or a 180-degree turn for the better after being featured by Anthony Bourdain.

Bun Cha Huong Lien

What is it? Bun Cha – Grilled pork noodles
Address: 24 Le Van Huu
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Note: You should come as early as possible to avoid the crowd and the queue. Also, if you come late, Bun Cha will run out. Only vermicelli and spring rolls available – which happened to us once. We got there at almost 8:00 PM and we ended up eating vermicelli and spring rolls without Bun Cha in a Bun Cha restaurant.

Bun Cha Huong Lien is the most famous destination in the list since it is where U.S. Former President – Obama and Bourdain ate. You can navigate your way to Le Van Huu street which is located in the Old Quarter and drop by a small restaurant fully packed with scooters on the front and lots of people coming in and out. You would know you’re in the right place by seeing all the framed pictures of Obama and Bourdain on the wall. After their visit, the restaurant amended its own menu with the addition of “Obama combo” which literally means “this is what Obama ordered” including Bun cha, beer, and seafood spring rolls, one each. Bun Cha is a bowl of grilled pork, crunchy papaya, and carrots with fish sauce accompanied by rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. Just dip some vermicelli into the bowl then take a pork bite and eat! It’s easy, just mix and take bits of everything together and eat. It’s DELICIOUS!

Cussing Noodles

What is it? Bun doc mung – Noodles with pork and taro stems
Address: 41 Ngo Sy Lien, Hanoi
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Cussing noodles restaurant is well-known among Hanoians. Some people from other provinces of Vietnam often make jokes about the name of this restaurant and some might even be afraid of it. They make lots of questions about not only the restaurant but also the people of Hanoi, whether they are rude or not, whether they are always cussing or not, and alike. The name of this restaurant is just after the name of the dish – Bun doc mung; however, the owner always cusses at her staff, customers, and even not any specific one, which makes people call her shop “cussing noodles”. This bun doc mung shop started to become famous thanks to the word of mouth as people have been always curious “why cussing noodles? what cussing?” and they just wanted to check it out. It became more and more famous thanks to Bourdain’s visit and that it was featured on CNN, viral all over the world. But the question is how about its quality?

Bun doc mung is a bowl of noodles (same strings of Bun Cha noodles) with pork, tomatoes, and taro stems. The best thing about it is its broth made of pork knuckles and snouts. Cussing noodles shop has been doing a great job in this. People love its broth, so no matter how long the queue is and no matter how much cussing they think they would get, they still come. What’s funny is some customers even “volunteer” and desire to be cursed by the owner that they tried to make fun of her or whatever way they could think of to piss her off.

Bun Oc Pho Co

What is it? Bun Oc – Snail noodles with broth
Address: Giang Bun Oc Pho Co, 36 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hanoi
Opening hours: 7:30 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM

This is one of the first dishes that Bourdain had in Hanoi. Although Bun Oc is not as famous as Pho in Vietnam, it is still worth trying at least once. The broth is special; the flavor and the smell are very good. Take a seat on a little plastic stool, swirl the chopsticks around and slurp some Bun Oc like a local.

Bia Hai Xom (Beer)   

What is it? Beers
Address: Bia Hai Xom chain is everywhere. But Bourdain went to 22 Tang Bat Ho, Hanoi.
Opening hours: 10 AM–11:30 PM

Beer is everywhere in Vietnam and the number of beer consumers in Vietnam ranks on the up-top in the world. If you can drink or even can’t but want to see some party vibes and Vietnamese ways to clink the glasses, just come check out Bia Hai Xom – the most popular beer shop chain in Vietnam. You will see all the people around shout out cheerfully like crazy, counting from 3 to 1 and “Dzo”. You say “Cheers”. The Vietnamese say “Dzo” and “Uong” – “Drink”.

Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang

What is it? Banh Xeo – Vietnamese pancake
Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC (Saigon)
Opening hours: 10 AM – 2 PM / 4 PM – 9 PM

This Banh Xeo shop has become popular since Anthony Bourdain’s first visit which literally changed the shop’s destiny and life forever positively. Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang offers a perfect version of Vietnam’s Southern pancake – Banh Xeo. The fried crust is made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder, while what’s inside is full of pork, shrimp, herbs, scallions, and bean sprouts. If you are a vegetarian, you can tell the owner to exclude all the meats. Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang uses firewood to make the pancake, which makes the crust crunchy and the whole cake itself smell and taste better. You can eat Banh Xeo with your hands or chopsticks. Dip your Banh Xeo into a bowl of fish sauce and take a bite!

Bun Bo Hue The Lunch Lady

What is it? Bun Bo Hue – Hue style noodles
Address: 23 Hoang Sa Street, Phuong Da Kao, District 1, HCMC (Saigon) or Hem D Chung Cu Nguyen Dinh C, Da Kao, District 1, HCMC (Saigon)
Opening hours: 11 AM – 3:30 PM

One of the most famous street food stalls in Saigon belongs to the legendary, also the street food celebrity – the Lunch Lady or Nguyen Thi Thanh. Anthony Bourdain found her stall and had some delicious noodles that he featured on his show No Reservations. It made this food stall become famous and popular all over the world day by day just after his visit; however, her name was and is still always well-known for her noodles and broth among the locals in Saigon. What’s interesting about this food stall is the way the Lunch Lady rotates her menu which serves only one type of noodle soup or broth every day just because she is an expert in that. Seven days in a week, she can walk you through a maze of noodles’ collection from Bun Bo Hue, Bun Thai (Thai’s noodles?), Bun Mam (Fish sauce noodles) to Banh Canh Cua (Crab noodles). If you visit on Friday, you will be served Bun Bo Hue in which you slurp some clear broth with a meaty flavor and chew on thick noodles while eating some meats, herbs, and rolls.

Cao Lau Hoi An

What is it? Cai Lau – Hoi An Noodles without broth
Address: Central Market in Hoi An

Cao Lau is a Hoi An signature that nobody should ever miss it when they are in Hoi An. Bourdain had Cao Lau in the Central Market, Hoi An where there are a large number of food vendors and restaurants offering delicious Central Vietnam cuisine. Cao Lau has thin slices of pork, thick Quang noodles, and all the fresh herbs and vegetables. If you travel to Central Vietnam without eating Cao Lau in Hoi An and My Quang in Da Nang, you’re not really in town.

Others

The above list is just to map out some signatures. To check the full food list by Anthony Bourdain, you can check the gallery below. Click on the photo for a bigger size and use the arrow to navigate. Feel free to give us your thoughts or feedback on these food destinations!

More articles about Food in Hanoi and Food in Saigon. 

The post Recreate Anthony Bourdain’s Food Adventure in Vietnam appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Nem Chua Rán Bà Già (The Old Lady’s Fried Fermented Pork Roll)

Staying hidden in the side of Hàng Bông Street, the Old Lady’s is easily missed by most foreigners. With a small hand-drawn sign and not at all highlighted, the Old Lady’s, at first sight, seems to scare a bit. If you are not a meticulous person to notice the sign, the only signal that will tell is an old lady or old man at the entrance of the lane will ask you something like: “Nem chua không em ơi?!!” - Do you want some fried fermented pork rolls my pal? The feeling of entering the small lane (alley) for the first time seems quite scary because it is dark even in the day light but somehow very adventurous. However, when you finally get there, you will find yourself sitting in the tiny room with plain plastic table sets but miraculously fits about 10 people. The place has another back door which opens to the side lane which is another “snack’s heaven”!

About the fried fermented pork rolls, there is nothing you have to worry about because they are absolutely delicious! If compared to Ấu Triệu’s fermented rolls - a popular spot for nem chua, this dish will definitely be better and cheaper! Besides the rolls, the Old Lady’s also offers some other dishes and drinks such as fried fries, cheese sticks, iced tea, and kumquat tea and so on.

Address: #38 Hàng Bông Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hanoi Light Bites

Chén Trứng Nướng (Nguyễn Quang Bích’s Fried Eggs)

Nguyễn Quang Bích is well known as the night street of snacks and hotpots. There is also a market that opens late at night which sells mainly fish. On the side of Nguyễn Quang Bích, you will notice a few lines of chairs and tables set on the side of the street and people are sitting there, one side for hotpot and one side for snacks. As soon as you arrive there, just look to the opposite side, you will see a few people are cooking with small stove and grates, just go there and order your food, there will be a menu for you. If you cannot read Vietnamese, you can order these suggested dishes:
The first dish that you must try is small bowls of fried eggs (Chén trứng nướng) which is the specialty of the stall. If you go in a group of two, you can order 4 bowls because they are quite small portions.

The second dish you can order is oyster grilled cheese (Hàu nướng phô mai). The taste is absolutely mouth-watering! You can order 4 of them for 2 people.
The last but not least dish, which you will definitely like, is fried bread with salty chili powder (Bánh mỳ nướng muối ớt). The name may sound “spicy” and slightly creepy but believe me, you will fall for it in no time. The bread is well fried in butter, salted shredded meat and salty chili powder. There are also small slices of sausage to eat along with the bread.

You can also order some parchyrrhizus for dessert and lemon tea for drink.
Address: #24 Nguyễn Quang Bích Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter Popular Foods

Phở Cuốn Ngũ Xã (Ngũ Xã’s Rolled Phở)

Mentioning of Ngũ Xã, no one will forget about its notorious rolled phở (phở cuốn). The one-and-only rolled phở here has made its name for a long long time. If you want to try the most genuine rolled phở in Hanoi, just pack your bag to Ngũ Xã Street, there will be millions of family restaurants for you to choose from. However, the one on the street side is still advisory since it is an old family restaurant that has been put in choice by so many customers. Again, you will have your plastic table sets and sometimes you will find that there is not so much space for you to sit properly and if you are a little bit too tall, well, this will be an obstacle! In contrast, maybe it is still acceptable because you can try the best of the best-rolled phở in Hanoi!

Usually, if you go in a group of 2, you should call a dish of 10 sticks, but if you can eat more, just go for it! There is also a very great dish that you should also order which is bloated fried phở (phở chiên phồng). Because this is served in dish so one is fair enough.

Bánh Gối Gốc Đa (Gốc Đa Fried “Pillow Pie”)

There will only be one place where you can find the finest pillow pie (bánh gối), that is the popular family restaurant Gốc Đa, located in the Old Quarter. Gốc Đa has been selling fried pillow pie for years and despite the space is limited and it looks not-quite-hygienic but you can fully put your trust in the quality of the final dish because the pies are fried in front of your face, you can see the owner frying the hundreds of pie as soon as you stand at the front of the restaurant.

Gốc Đa serves with a wide range of different dishes from pillow pie, fried pie, jiaozi (há cảo) and so on. The cover is crispy and the stuffing is absolutely appetizing and there is nowhere to be found a stuffing as tasty as Gốc Đa’s. The difference that makes the name of Gốc Đa is not only the pie but the mouthwatering sauce. And as people say: “The soul of the dish is its sauce”.

Address: #52 Lý Quốc Sư Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Bánh Tráng Nướng Hàng Tre (Hàng Tre’s Grilled Girdle Cake)

A place where Hanoi’s teenagers usually come every weekend is probably 48 Hàng Tre, where has the well-known grilled girdle cake looking like another version of pizza. The making of grilled girdle cake is very simple but there are so many flavors that you can choose from such as butter, beef jerky or mixing of all kinds. If you go to Hanoi, then Hàng Tre’s girdle cake is a dish that you must try at least once!
The restaurant is not too big but there are two floors. Most of the time, the owner will ask you to go through a small lane to the second floor because it is cleaner and there are small table sets which fit three people. The price is also very cheap and competitive so you can enjoy your dish to the fullest!

Address: #48 Hàng Tre Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Bánh Tráng Trộn Cô Toàn (Aunt Toàn’s mixing girdle cake)

It has been a long time since Hanoians, especially the teenagers usually dropped by Aunt Toàn’s girdle cake family restaurant. Until now, if being asked about the place with the best mixing girdle cake, most of the answers received will be Aunt Toàn’s. Mixing girdle has no longer been a strange dish to Hanoians for the last few years. And for a snack that you will probably want to enjoy all day, mixing girdle cake is definitely the dish. Actually, in a previous post of Luke Nguyễn, girdle cake was once recommended by him as the most tasteful dish with a surprisingly cheap price that you can get in the capital. The ingredients are so simple such as quail eggs, fennels, mints, mangoes, beef jerky, dried shrimps and chili powder can still add up to such perfect snack. Aunt Toàn’s mixing girdle cake has made its name as the best and most favorite kind of girdle cakes in Hanoi.

For that reason, there are also many ungenuine restaurants opened under the name of Aunt Toàn but of course, the taste cannot be compared. The only genuine Aunt Toàn’s girdle cake family restaurant is located at Hàng Trống Street. Aunt Toàn also opens another restaurant in Tạ Quang Bửu Street but most people still love the taste of girdle cake in Hàng Trống more.

Nộm Long Vi Dung (Long Vi Dung’s sweet and sour grated salad)

Sweet and sour grated salad or also known as “nộm” in Vietnamese is an absolutely delicious treat that you must never ever forget to try when setting foot to Hanoi. The Old Quarter is indeed a heaven for snacks in the capital. Here you will find dozens of scrumptious treats but only if you look closer, can you find the best dish! Long Vi Dung’s Nộm is an example. This nộm restaurant has been in working for such a long time. In the past, it was run by Mr. Long, who is native of China, and the ingredients, as well as the recipe, were brought by him from the country to Vietnam. Nộm at Long Vi or in general is generated from China for a long time and now it has been changed partly to fit with Vietnamese’s appetite. After Mr. Long passed away, the restaurant was passed on to his son and the flavor is still stay the same.

The dish is a harmonizing mix of papaws, carrots, fennel and different kinds of beef and jerky. Again, the soul of the dish is still the sauce, which is mixed together with all the ingredients to create the most unforgettable taste that one can find. The restaurant is relatively small but there are always so many customers so sometimes you will find yourself sitting on the side of the street with the same plastic table sets, except for the table is now replaced with a plastic chair and a metal tray. Well, but that is just the thing that creates the unique street-eating style of Hanoi! Besides nộm, you may be interested in bánh bột lọc, a kind of cake with a transparent cover made of flour and mixed stuffing of mushrooms, chopped pork and small shrimps. The place also serves fried fermented pork rolls and iced tea (trà đá), lemon tea (trà chanh) and kumquat tea (trà quất) in case you are interested.

Address: #23 Hồ Hoàn Kiếm Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Mỳ Vằn Thắn Đinh Liệt (Đinh Liệt Street’s Vằn Thắn Noodle)

Đinh Liệt Street in the Old Quarter is definitely another place you should drop by if you are a noodle lover. Vằn thắn noodle in Đinh Liệt has been so popular for such a long long time since the time of our parents, they have gone there hundreds of times just to have a bowl of noodle. It even used to be a dating place for former generations in our city! Having a taste of vằn thắn in the middle of the winter is somewhat an indescribable feeling.

Usually, in other vằn thắn restaurants, they will only offer normal vằn thắn bowl in which the noodle is soaked in bouillon; but at Vằn Thắn Đinh Liệt, you will find another dish known as dried or mixed vằn thắn noodle dish in which the noodle is mixed with a very special sauce. The first time tasting this dish, most people also bear the same question in mind of what ingredients is this sauce made of; but of course, it is the restaurant confidential information!

Address: #9A Đinh Liệt Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Read our full guide to Hanoi here

HANOI TRAVEL GUIDE

Covering from popular tourist hotspots to antique and hipster places for adventureous backpackers

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If “chè” is translated into English, it means tea. However, in Vietnam, we have a totally different definition for this type of food. The term “chè” refers to a Vietnamese sweet beverage or dessert soup. This somehow explains why “chè” is one of the first “must-try” foods when you visit Vietnam. In this article, we recommend some popular kinds of “chè” from all parts of our country.

Pomelo sweet soup (Chè bưởi)

Chè bưởi is a typical food that Hanoi people like to eat when it comes to summer. In the excessively high temperature in Hanoi, rewarding yourself with a bowl of chè bưởi seems to be an amazing idea. You will be emerged in the sweetness of coconut milk, a little crispy of pomelo meat and the softness of mung bean. All of these elements combined together brings us a spectacular dessert that you can never forget.

Lotus seed and Longan sweet soup (Chè hạt sen long nhãn)

Different from pomelo sweet soup, which gives us the thick and sweet taste, this kind of chè is light and clear. Lotus seeds are simmered in sugar for long hours, then cooked with longans, a Southeast Asian fruit similar to lychees. If you have problems with sleeping, this dessert should definitely be your remedy as both ingredients will help you to sleep soundly.

Sweet black bean soup (Chè đậu đen)

As one of the most favorable dish, sweet black bean soup is an indispensable dessert in summer for Vietnamese people. It is quite easy to cook this soup since the only ingredient you need is black beans. By simmering it for hours with sugar, you will have an elegant bowl of the sweet soup to chase out the heat of summer. Normally, people will add black jelly and coconut into the soup to make it more appetizing.

Vietnamese sweet corn pudding (Chè ngô)

Although the way to cook sweet corn pudding is not as sophisticated as pomelo sweet soup or taking as long as black beans, just a bowl of this dessert could bring you the fresh and gentle flavor of the countryside. Corn and coconut milk are definitely a perfect match.

Almond with Cheese Jelly and Lychee Sweet Soup (Chè khúc bạch)

Getting sick of ice cream in summer? Then this sweet soup will help you to cool down the heat with a brand new taste. Colorful jelly made from cheese combining with the lusciousness of lychees and longans creates a fanciful explosion of flavor in your mouth. Almonds are put on top of the dessert to increase its richness.

Rice Balls with Roasted Pork Filling Sweet Soup (Chè Bột Lọc nhân Heo Quay)

To change your taste a little bit, regardless of its name, the main ingredient for this Hue‘s dessert is roasted pork. Rice balls are made from cassava powder, after boiling, they turn clear white color, which will later be used with sugar added water. The rice balls cover a piece of roasted pork inside, therefore the soup will contain both sweetness and saltiness. This dessert should be enjoyed when it is still hot or cooled down slightly but not completely cold.

Purple Yam Sweet Soup Recipe (Chè khoai môn tím)

Many people favor this dessert thanks to its unique purple color and taste. With the main ingredient from purple taro, the sweet soup is then cooked with coconut water and simmered under low heat until the mixture becomes condense. A small amount of sugar is added to balance the taste but still maintain coconut milk’s flavor. In winter, purple yam sweet soup recipe is a fantastic choice, especially if you have children.

Vietnamese sweet ginger rice (Chè con ong)

On Tet holiday, each Vietnamese family usually has a dish of sweet ginger rice on altar depending on family’s tradition as well as regional custom. This dessert is quite popular in the North area because its spicy taste of ginger suits perfectly with the cold weather at the beginning of the year. Called as “chè”, however, “chè con ong” possesses the appearance of sticky rice but a little bit softer. Enjoy each piece of the ginger rice, drink a small cup of tea, you will feel warm inside with full of energy.

Steamed sticky rice with sweet gruel (Xôi chè)

This dessert is originally from Hanoi. It includes mung bean steamed glutinous rice and sweet gruel. In order to understand more about “xoi” and “xoi che”, as well as the way to cook them, you can check our previous article here.

Where to eat Che in Hanoi?

Here are the top 4 most popular Che places in Hanoi

1. Chè Bốn Mùa #4 Hàng Cân, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
2. Xôi Chè Bà Thìn #1 Bát Đàn, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
3. Chè Mười Sáu #16 Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội
4. Chè Huyền #14 Thiền Quang, Nguyễn Du, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

Where to eat Che in Saigon?

Chè – 8 Must Try Vietnamese Sweet Desserts & Where to find them in Saigon

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The answer to why we have such unmapped places hidden in every single corner of Hanoi lies in a city’s own distinct feature. Many lots of Hanoi houses, especially in the old quarter, now still keep the old-fashioned architecture – the tube houses. They are usually three small blocks sharing a centre yard, with each block being built up to two or three floors, making them look narrow in width but tall in height. To reach these residences, you can go through tiny lanes and mounting winding staircases, and sometimes it’s quite an adventure. But, don’t worry, the quaint aroma of street food will help you well!

Pho

As you all know, you can’t say you’ve been to Hanoi without trying “Pho”. There are, however, loads of Pho stores in Hanoi today that make you confused in choosing the best one. Personally, I really really love the one in Hàng Đồng called “Tiệm ăn Việt Hòa”, an over 30-year-old family Pho store. Situated in the intersection of Hàng Đồng and Hàng Vải, it is a quite small store with about 3 big and 2 small tables, specializes in beef only. What makes I prefer it more than any others is its broth and the beef itself. “Tiệm ăn Việt Hòa”’s broth is not too condensed (maybe because here they don’t overuse beef bones) which makes people feel oily; the beef is perfectly cooked: if “bò chín” including “nạm bò” – the greasy meat - are amazingly thin beef slices that seem to melt in your mouth, “bò tái” or “gân bò” – the part of meat with many muscles – is tender but creates a small sound of explosion as eating. Another choice for Pho bo is Thìn store in Đinh Tiên Hoàng St, facing the Sword Lake. This store is somewhat more popular than the one mentioned above. And for chicken noodle if you feel like, I highly recommend Lâm in Nam Ngư St, a small and quiet spot. Give yourself an absolutely fresh experience by ordering “tiết” for a perfect bowl of Phở gà by the way!

Nem chua

The traditional Nem chua is the mixture of ground pork, pork skin, “thính gạo” – the roasted ground rice, seasonings like salt, pepper, sugar, garlic... It is wrapped in the banana leaf together with guava leaf or fig leaf to culture in between 3 and 5 days to be served. You can eat Nem chua directly with red paste and garlic or green mango, guava and a cup of beer will do it well!

Almost all Nem chua distributed in Hanoi comes from this nearly 30-year-old family home-made store, situated in a long quiet street of Hanoi. Come by and give it a try.

Address: 8 Trần Xuân Soạn, Hai Bà Trưng district, Hanoi
Open – close: 6.00 - 22.00
Price: 20.000 - 25.000 VND

The 2 kinds of Nem chua mentioned are still not all, though, as Vietnamese people find one more way to serve Nem chua- Nem chua nướng. Instead of frying, the locals grill Nem chua over charcoal and serve it with mango, lime tea. The best place to try this dish is the tiny Ấu Triệu lane, facing the St Joseph’s Cathedral. Sitting on small plastic chairs in a lane of just about 1 metre wide, enjoying the hot delicious Nem chua nướng while admiring the beauty of the church is one-of-a-kind experience.

Hu tieu – My van than

This Chinese dish has been one of my favourite since I was a small child. If you are so familiar with Dimsum or black noodles, here is a perfect change to make. Frankly, there isn’t much to talk about this cuisine itself; and the only reason I mention it is that Hanoi serves you Hu tieu – My van than in a very special place: a hidden store in the middle of the old quarter. Situated on Hàng Điếu, this store is housed in a small lane leading to a small yard of the very owner’s house. You can choose to sit along the tiny lane or in the yard inside. Watch out if a pet cat suddenly appears and takes you aback!

Address: 21 Hàng Điếu , Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Open – close: 16.00 - 22:30
Price: 5.000VND/nem

Thit xien nuong

Another lovely food in Hanoi, Thit xien nuong is what you can’t miss. It is quite usual to find along almost all the alleys or traditional markets or street stands the picture of Vietnamese women quickly turn dozens sticks of meat over hot coals while flapping a piece of card or a hand fan to maintain the fire. Their sweat falls, their faces seem to fade behind the dense smoke, and the perfectly seasoned meat on sticks gradually turn golden, ready to be served and topped with a bit of chili sauce. A baguette will also go well with it!

Address: 31 Quang Trung street , Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Open – close: 11.00 - 21:00
Price: 10.000 – 30.000VND

Quay nong

A soft snack for you on the way! Drop by the small counter on the pavement of Hàng Bông, you’ll find crullers being deep fried on pan. To make cruller which is quite similar to doughnut, you need to roll dough out on a floured surface, then cut into sticks. Let stand for about 10 minutes and fry. Quay is served on its own or dumped in the sweet sauce of fish sauce, sugar, vinegar and sliced carrots and kohlrabi.  Don’t eat too many as it can make you feel really full!

Address: 73 Hàng Bông , Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Open – close: 17.00 - 21:30
Price: 2.000 – 20.00VND

Trung chen nuong

How many ways of making eggs can you think of at once? Fried– scrambled– poached – boiled or maybe salted? The young crowd of Hanoi has added to the list a whole new recipe: the roasted egg. But it’s still to be talked about. It is not the oven but the hot coals, it is not any other kinds but the quail eggs, and it is nothing other than the tiny porcelain dishes that are used to make this lovely specialty. Each dish includes about 4 quail eggs together with sausages, scallions, fried shallots and “ruốc”; and it is grilled for about 10-15 minutes, which is quite a long time for us hungry guys. But before adding all the ingredients, a slice of butter is put in the dish to make sure that the eggs won’t get stuck. You can order a cup of lime or peach tea and about 2 or 4 servings for a light but full dinner.

Address: 24 Nguyễn Quang Bích St, Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Open – close: 16.00 – 22.00
Price: 10.000 – 50.00VND

Tao pho

“Phớ đâyyyyy, ai tào phớ đâyyy” /fɜː dei/ /ai tao fɜː dei/ is a familiar street cry to many Hanoians for generations. The traditional silky tofu pudding with sugar syrup, tender small white and black jelly, and of course lots of crushed ice stands firmly no 1 in any list of summer deserts. Thanks to many creations in the cooking field, the bean curd now is served with more toppings than ever, such as white and black pearls, red beans, lotus seeds, taro...; while the sugar syrup is replaced by chocolate or coffee one. But if you’re looking for the old-fashioned value of the very old city like Hanoi, it’s best to walk all around the streets and happen to catch sight of a vendor riding a bike, selling tofu in a sunny noon, stop by, watch him quickly slice the tofu pudding with a big shell or the very lid of a canned milk, pour sugar syrup seasoned with jasmine (which is a tradition not many sellers keep today) and finally add jelly but also ice. It’s hard to say for sure where you can find such vendors, but I do come across them quite often along Hàng Bông and Đường Thành – mostly by hearing the loud distinct cry; or if you fail to meet them, well, turn to the last resort that come to chains of tofu stores, and order the very traditional serving!

Banh ran

The round golden fried cake called “Banh ran” is just a small full moon in the world of food. Made of glutinous rice, stuffed with an array of ingredients from green bean, sugar and shredded coconut for the sweet version to minced pork, dried woodear mushroom, and glass noodle for the other. The cake is perfectly shaped by hand, topped with sesame before being deep fried in a large pan. If the former version is severed on its own, the other has a sauce to go with, just like the one of “Quay nong” mentioned above. “Banh ran” enchants people by the lovely aroma, by the crispy coat, by the tender taste of the cake itself. An amazing delicacy but costs almost for next to nothing, just 2.000 VND for the sweet cake and 3.000 VND for the meat one. So, hurry up, head to the following address immediately as it sells like hot cakes!

Address: 5 Lương Ngọc Quyến St, Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Open – close: 7.00 – 22.00
Price: 2.000 – 20.00VND

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If you want to have an insight into the intricates and traditions of Vietnamese food, you should not miss “Xôi”, which is one of our most popular and oldest street foods. “Xôi” is the term of steamed sticky rice that varies in dozens of kinds and tastes. It is a delicious, easily found and pretty cheap Vietnamese dish.

Wandering around Hanoi, you will have no difficulty finding a store or vendor selling “Xôi” on almost every main street or down many sides streets and alleyways. I highly recommend that you spend time visiting the two famous stores: Mrs. Thao’s on Hang Dieu St and Mr. Tung’s on Mai Hac De St. But should you be interested in cooking “Xôi” on your own, here is the recipe. Prepare glutinous rice, salt, sugar and oil. Firstly, keep the rice in salted water in 3 hours, then rinse it with fresh water. Next, season glutinous rice and mix all properly. Now put the concoction into your rice cooker, add water following this golden ratio: 1.5 cup of water for one cup of rice. When the cooking is done, serve steamed sticky rice with steamed pork, pork pie, salted shredded meat, fried shallots or any toppings you like.

Address:

Mrs. Thao’s store:
41 Đường Thành Street, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Tel: (+84) 3828 5182
Opening hours: 06.30 AM– 22:30 PM

Mr. Tung’s store:
75 Mai Hắc Đế Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Xôi chè – steamed sticky rice with sweet gruel

You might now have the thought that there are so many ways to enjoy this dish but then it suddenly comes to your mind that: Is that all? The answer is No. Have you ever heard of “Xôi chè”? I guess you not.

“Xôi chè” is a traditional Northern dessert which is cooked every full moon and Lunar New Year. It consists of two main parts: mung bean steamed sticky rice and sweet gruel. People use the tiny, tender, slightly sweet green beans, glutinous rice to make the former and tapico starch or arrowroot, sugar to make the latter. When the weather turns cold, though, mung bean steamed sticky rice can be served with another sweet gruel called “Chè Bà Cốt”.

There is no specific explanation for its name other than a related old saying of Vietnamese people that: “Con chim chích chòe … ông thầy ăn một, bà cốt ăn hai,còn cái thủ cái tai đem lên biếu chúa… ”. Considered as one of the most distinct sweet courses in Northern part of Vietnam, “Chè Bà Cốt” is always Hanoi people’s favourite dessert, especially in winter. It’s the harmony of glutinous rice, brown sugar and fresh ginger, which will warm you up as soon as you taste the very first spoonful. Try cooking “Xôi chè” in the way you prefer or if you have a chance to visit Vietnam, don’t forget to drop by Mrs. Thìn’s store in No 1, Bat Dan St, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. It will definitely be a lasting memory of your trip, I promise.

Mung bean steamed sticky rice with sweet gruel: 

Mung bean steamed sticky rice with Chè Bà Cốt: 

Address:

Mrs. Thìn’s store:  1 Bát Đàn Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 9:00 AM- 22:00 PM

The post Xôi – Xôi chè appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Hanoi is one of the most famous cities in the world for foodie connoisseurs. You will never go out hungry in this capital all day and night as you can definitely fill up on in different places from food street vendors, centuries-old Vietnamese food stalls located in hidden corners, to unique Western-style restaurants. As a food lover, I always seek for the greatest gems in Hanoi, sticking to the list of the most distinct foods served in the best restaurants. Here are the must-try dishes I would highly recommend you dine on during your stay in this city.

*UPDATED 31 MAY 2019

BÁNH CUỐN

Banh cuon is one of Hanoians’ favorite dishes for breakfast and lunch. The process of making Banh cuon is so interesting that no one could stop sticking their eyes on the masters of the rolls. The cooks stretched fermented rice batter with a ladle over the surface of the steamer, taking a lid to cover it for a couple of seconds. After that, they meticulously placed the super thin and delicate sheets with a stick onto a tray and filled them with a mixture of cooked meat (mostly pork), minced mushrooms and shallots. When you eat this food, just pick the sheets up with your chopsticks, dip them into the fish sauce and take the first bite. I sometimes eat this in one of the restaurants of the chain Bánh cuốn Gia An ( http://www.banhcuongiaan.com.vn/cua-hang/) which offers a diversity of Banh Cuon flavors, or Bánh Cuốn Hòe Nhai in the Old Quarter.

BÚN CHẢ

CHẢ CÁ LÃ VỌNG

BÚN ỐC THỊT

BÁNH GIÒ

Banh gio (Vietnamese pork pyramid dumpling) is a Vietnamese cake wrapped in banana leaf and made by glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch with meat, onions, mushrooms and spices inside. This food can be eaten any time of the day. Bánh giò Kim Liên (#B16 Kim Liên, Đống Đa) and Bánh giò Thụy Khê (The largest pyramid dumpling offered in Hanoi according to Vietnamese people) (at #5 Thụy Khê) are where my friends and I usually stop by. To try out this food like a local, just take two plastic stools, getting one as a table and the other as a chair and enjoy.

Trust me, Banh mi must go to the top of the world’s sandwiches. It is a flawless combination of different fillings like pork pâté, fried eggs and vegetables all stuffed into a soft and crunchy baguette. The image of the Vietnamese having quick breakfast with Banh mi on the road is ubiquitous. It is never a challenge for people to get Banh mi since they actually appear almost everywhere in Hanoi.

BÚN BÒ NAM BỘ

NON-VIETNAMESE FOODS

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Thịt Xiên
Vietnamese barbecue (Thịt xiên), pork grilled on the "meat cage",  is one of the most popular street foods among young Hanoians. If you wander around any school areas, you will see a large number of students of all ages lining up and waiting for the pork grilled skewers with yummy chili sauce and mayonnaise.
Bánh mỳ thịt xiên Đặng Tiến Đông (Address: Opposite to Quang Trung primary school at #6 Dang Tien Dong, Dong Da, Hanoi) or Thịt xiên Hoàng Đức (Address: 55 Chua Lang, Dong Da, Hanoi).

Bánh Đúc Trung Tự
Bánh Đúc in Vietnamese version (heated cake made from rice flour with pork, fried onions and vegetables) is hidden in a corner that is familiar to just the locals. Banh Duc is of its simplicity in ingredients but complexity in its preparation where the cook has to handle the process with great care to reach the the turning point for the soft texture and mild taste.  It is quite hard to navigate your way to this little shop on your own, so don't hesitate to ask Vietnamese residents around there for help!
Price: 15 000 vnd
Opening hours: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Address: #C2 Trung Tu, Dong Da, Hanoi.

Bánh giò Kim Liên
This is another familiar place to Hanoians. Bánh giò (Vietnamese pork pyramid dumpling) is a Vietnamese cake wrapped in banana leaf and made by glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch with meat, onions, mushrooms and spices inside.  
Address: #B16 Kim Lien, Dong Da, Hanoi

All photos on this post taken by Tung Pham.

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Bánh Tôm Hồ Tây
Bánh Tôm Hồ Tây (Shrimp cake) comes from a famous restaurant located in Ho Tay District, Hanoi. If you ever drop by this district, don't forget to try this typical and authentic food, though some waiters there are seen as not so friendly ones in their customers' eyes. Well, just never mind about it, go grab some shrimp cakes wrapped in batter and get some beers! 
Address: Thanh Nien, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Bánh giò Thụy Khê
Bánh giò (Vietnamese pork pyramid dumpling) is a Vietnamese cake wrapped in banana leaf and made by glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch with meat, onions, mushrooms and spices inside. Vietnamese people say that Banh gios Thuy Khe are the largest cakes offered in Hanoi. Take two plastic stools, getting one as a table and the other as a chair and enjoy the cake like a local.
Opening hours: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
Price range: 12 000 - 25 000 vnd
Address: #5 Thuy Khe, Tay Ho, Hanoi

All photos on this post taken by Tu Vu

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Bún ốc thịt Hòe Nhai
Bun oc thit (snail noodle soup) is a great combination of ideal broth, snails, beef and tofu along with other ingredients and garnishes. Have a bowl of snail noodle soup to try the sourness and sweetness of the broth, the tenderness of the beef and the crunchiness of the snails.
Address: #13 Hoe Nhai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.

Caramen Hàng Than
If you want to cool off in Hanoi during the hot and sultry summer days, Caramel mixed with different things can beat the heat inside you. The maze of Caramels here will impress you by its compatibility between Caramel and fruits/tapioca pearls/jellies/yogurt/...
Address: #29 Hang Than, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.

All photos taken on this post by Tung Pham

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