When visiting northern Vietnam, you will surely step into the chaotic streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter at some point. These 36 bustling streets of Old Quarter are filled with historical landmarks, endless motorcycles, tourists, and delicious Vietnamese food.
But when you have so limited time but so many options to choose from, it’s a dilemma. So where to eat in Hanoi Old Quarter?
Well, lucky you (and me). Since the majority of my time in Vietnam is spent in Hanoi, I had the opportunity to try out various restaurants that the Old Quarters had to offer.
Whether these be touristy restaurants or hidden local gems, I promise you I tried out plenty. After shortening my list, these are the 7 best restaurants you should try in Hanoi Old Quarters.
If you’re looking for things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter, I got you. Check out my 22 best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter!
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Table of Contents
Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương
(see delicious big photo on top)
This is my favorite restaurant to eat in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Staying in Hanoi for a limited time means that I’ve got a limited number of meals. The food here was so deliciously filling that I had to go back twice. The second time with a group.
Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương definitely deserves its 4.3 stars and 4,000+ reviews on Google.
There’s only one main dish on the menu (aside from the chicken soup and some appetizers). Bun bo nam bo (the beef noodle salad) is the specialty of the shop. True to its name, in one order, you get a big portion of stir-fry beef, noodle, and salad.
Expect a busy crowd when you go. There’s even a bubble tea shop across the street, which is a plus.
Bánh Mì 25
One of the most popular Vietnamese sandwich shop with extremely long lines. I learned afterwards that Bánh Mì 25 was featured in tons of YouTube videos as one of the best places to eat in Hanoi. They even opened a second shop right across the street to accommodate the large number of visitors.
Just order the sandwiches at the original shop. Then walk across the street and take a seat. The staff will bring it your food over once it’s made.
There are lots of different options for the filling. I tried the tofu sandwich, and it was amazing.
Phở bò 8 Hàng Da
A block from the Hanoi Train Street, Phở bò 8 Hàng Da serves hot pho made right in front of you. It’s cheap. It’s delicious. And it comes with free fried dough!
I eat these fried dough all the time as part of a Chinese breakfast (dipped in soymilk or soup noodle, yum!), but this is the first time I ever had it combo with pho. I definitely recommend trying it out since it’s free.
The staff here doesn’t speak English, and the menu is all in Vietnamese so google translate the menu beforehand.
There’s two floors in this restaurant. If you can’t find seating on the first floor, you can always go up to the second floor.
Cơm Gà Quay
Having spent the entire morning touring the Hoa Lo Prison, I was pretty hungry as I walked to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. Fortunately, I quickly found this place that serves a huge portion of chicken leg and fried rice.
Not only does the chicken leg look appetizing, it’s also very juicy! Unlike the other recommendations on this list, however, this restaurant does not offer any indoor seating. So be prepared to experience the local way of dining: eating on the streets.
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
Go for fresh and delicious beef pho!
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su is one of the top pho restaurants to eat in Hanoi. They are so popular, there’s even a sign outside the door, warning tourists they are the only legit pho 10. Which means, avoid going during lunch hours if you don’t want to wait on the long lines.
The menus here are in English. Order from the list of beef phos and top it off with limes, chili peppers, garlic, and house seasoning.
Cafe Giảng
Cafe Giảng is always the top recommendation I received for egg coffee. Opened in 1946, Cafe Giảng is the birthplace of Hanoi’s famous egg coffee!
As popular and touristy as this place is, however, the price for a cup of egg coffee is surprisingly cheaper than in other places. Definitely, a must-try when you are in Hanoi.
Chè Bốn Mùa
This authentic traditional dessert place was crowded with locals when I found it. They serve both warm and cold desserts at very affordable prices.
This place got both outdoor and indoor seatings. Just choose a seat and wait for the staff to come around to take your order.
Ordering can be tricky since there are no English menus, nor does the staff speak English. I just showed them some pictures and point to what other customers had. After eating, you can pay the lady outside.
The only con is that service is not the best, with locals being favored over others. But the desserts were cheap and delicious!
That’s it! My 7 best places to eat in Hanoi Old Quarter!
What do you think? Is your stomach growling now?
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