Located at 98 To Ngoc Van Street, Hanoi, Chao Ban Restaurant has been honored three times by the Michelin Guide with the Bib Gourmand award, recognizing its delicious food at reasonable prices.
The restaurant's owner, Helen Hoai, chose the name "Chao Ban" (Hello Friend) to create a welcoming atmosphere for diners.
"I want guests to feel like they're coming home and being greeted," Helen explained.
The restaurant, founded by Vietnamese designer Helen Hoai and her French husband André Bosia, a former head chef at the Metropole Hotel, specializes in Vietnamese cuisine.
Helen has had the chance to eat at Michelin-starred restaurants abroad which inspired her to earn Michelin recognition for her own restaurant. That dream came true in 2023, three years after she opened Chao Ban.
"I feel very happy and honored," Helen said, while acknowledging the ongoing need to improve service every day.
The restaurant covers 40 square meters on the ground floor, including an outdoor terrace. With just 32 seats and a menu of 32 main dishes served year-round, reservations are often needed.
Manager Phan Phuong Linh says the 32 dishes were chosen to match the number of seats. The restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Besides the main menu, seasonal specials are offered, including five summer dishes like fresh pork spring rolls, Hanoi-style fish with dill, grilled pork noodles, garlic stir-fried water spinach, and red date lotus seed sweet soup.
Prices for these specials start at about VND85,000 (US$3.60). The specials have limited daily portions and rotate every 2 - 3 months.
Since earning Michelin recognition in 2023, customer numbers have doubled, with 90% international visitors and 50-70% loyal regulars.
22-year-old customer Nguyen Truc Van shared, "I've come here three times for lunch, usually with a Chinese friend who introduced me because she loves the food."
Van's favorite dish is grilled ribs, while her friend prefers spring rolls.
One of the top sellers is grilled pork wrapped in local moc mat leaves. At lunchtime, it is oven-roasted, while in the evening, it is grilled over charcoal outdoors.
A serving costs about VND260,000 ($11).
Another favorite is pomelo salad with dried and fresh shrimp, priced at about VND160,000 ($7). Dishes are placed on stainless steel trays by the kitchen door for staff to serve.
Grilled pork ribs served with rice are also popular highlight. Chef Hang explains that the ribs use loin meat, trimmed of excess bone, marinated with soy sauce, black pepper, and honey for 30 minutes, then slow-cooked for 45 minutes until tender.
This dish, priced from VND210,000 ($9), comes with a dessert.
The kitchen team includes 13 staff, with 3 assistant cooks and Pham Thi Thu Hang as head chef. The area is just over 10 square meters, where all dishes are prepared by Hang. Ingredients are sourced fresh daily and used within the day.
Chef Hang has 28 years of experience, including 14 years at the Metropole Hotel. She rarely takes a day off due to her concern for maintaining consistent flavor and food quality.
Reflecting on the restaurant's Michelin recognition, she recalled, "In the first year, we were surprised and unprepared to receive the award in person, so the organizers brought the plaque to us. In the following two years, I accepted the award on behalf of the restaurant. This is a milestone in my nearly 30-year career."
Braised pork belly with eggs is another standout dish, priced from VND210,000 ($9) per serving.
"We estimate daily customer volume to cook just enough without waste," Hoai said.
Besides main dishes, guests can enjoy drinks and desserts at outdoor tables, watching the lively street scene.
Drinks start at about VND40,000 ($1.80), and desserts from VND45,000 ($2).
Outside and inside the restaurant.
Helen Hoai believes mealtime is the happiest part of the day when people put aside their worries and enjoy good food with friends and family.
"That's why we put our heart and soul into every dish, helping create joyful moments for our guests," she said.
