Dong Thinh eel noodles
Address: 87 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Nearly 40 years old, Dong Thinh has been recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2024 and 2025. The star ingredient is eel prepared two ways: stir-fried until tender and slipped into broth for a noodle soup and fried crisp and served with dry or stir-fried noodles.
The shop also sells vacuum-packed eel for customers to take home.
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., dishes range from VND30,000 to VND65,000 ($1.10 - $2.45).
Photo by Giang Huy
Sam Cay Si fish noodle soup
Address: 5 Trung Yen Alley, Hoan Kiem Ward
For 30 years Sam Cay Si has drawn both locals and visitors to its alley location in Hanoi's popular dining quarter. With about 10 outdoor tables and a 10-square-meter indoor space, the place is famed for its fish rolls, a recipe learned in Hue in central Vietnam. The perch is fried and served with noodles or vermicelli, while the broth, simmered from fish bones with pineapple and tomato, is light and tangy.
Bowls cost VND45,000 - VND50,000 ($1.70 - $1.90).
Photo by Xuan Phuong
Pho Thin Lo Duc
Address: 13 Lo Duc Street, Hai Ba Trung Ward, plus several franchised locations in Hanoi
Opened in 1979 by Nguyen Trong Thin, this pho shop pioneered stir-fried beef pho, a smoky twist on Hanoi's classic. The beef is seared in hot fat with garlic, ginger and scallions before being ladled into broth, giving each bowl a smoky aroma. The bowls are also topped generously with scallions.
Prices range from VND65,000 to VND95,000 ($2.45 - $3.60)
Photo courtesy of Pho Thin Lo Duc
Pho Thin Bo Ho (by Sword Lake)
Address: 61 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Founded by Bui Chi Thin in 1955, this spot specializes in beef pho with rare, well-done or flank cuts, all in a clear broth. Hidden down a narrow alley, the eatery seats only 20 and so often has diners queueing up at peak hours. Around 500 bowls are served daily, with much higher numbers on weekends.
Each costs around VND60,000 ($2.30).
Photo by Tam Anh
Noi's savory steamed rice cake
Address: 8 Le Ngoc Han Street, Pham Dinh Ho Ward
For over 30 years Noi's banh duc (steamed rice cake) has been a favorite comfort food. Owner Pham Thi Noi still personally ladles each bowl with a rice batter topped with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms and bathes it in savory broth crowned with fried shallots and herbs.
A serving costs VND25,000 ($1).
Photo by Xuan Phuong
Thanh Van rice rolls
Address: 14 Hang Ga Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Thanh Van in the Old Quarter has served banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) since 1973 that keep the shop packed, especially in the mornings. Fillings include pork, chicken and shrimp, with optional sides like cinnamon sausage and ca cuong (water bug), whose essence adds a spicy note to the dipping sauce. The shop also offers bun thang (chicken noodle soup).
Prices start at VND35,000 ($1.30).
Photo by Tam Anh
Pham Bang's rice flour balls (banh troi tau)
Address: 30 Hang Giay Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
The late actor Pham Bang's dessert shop has been around for more than 30 years. After a five-year hiatus it reopened in 2017 under his son's management. Its specialties include chi ma phu (black sesame soup), luc tau xa (mung bean dessert) and banh troi tau (rice flour balls). Bowls cost VND20,000 - VND40,000 ($0.75 - $1.50).
Photo by Vy An
Ba Duc's chicken noodle soup (bun thang)
Address: 48 Cau Go Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Just 200 meters from Hoan Kiem Lake is Ba Duc's bun thang (chicken noodle soup) eatery, which has been serving diners for more than 30 years. This classic Hanoi dish involves at least 20 ingredients from shredded chicken and egg to dried shrimp and herbs. The shop only opens from 4 p.m. but sells around 500 bowls daily, rising to 800 during holidays. Prices start at VND60,000 ($2.27).
Photo by Xuan Phuong
Red sausage banh mi
Address: 12 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
One of Hanoi's oldest banh mi stalls, this family-run place has been serving customers near Hoan Kiem Lake since 1979. Fillings include pate, barbecued pork, pork floss, butter, and red sausage, which is a specialty made from pork and rind. The stall is busiest from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., with sandwiches priced from VND12,000 ($0.45).
Photo by Tam Anh
May's sticky rice
Address: 45 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cua Nam Ward
Located near Ly Thuong Kiet and Hang Bai streets, May's sticky rice once appeared on a Korean food program and remains packed every morning from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Its specialty is xoi xeo: golden sticky rice topped with fried shallots, pork fat and shaved mung bean paste. Customers can dine in or take away. A serving costs from VND10,000 ($0.40).
Photo courtesy of Instagram/Ninh Tito
