Hanoi Old Quarter Food Tour

Vietnam is famous not only for its pristine nature but also for its fantastic cuisine. One of the cities that has the most delicious cuisine is Hanoi. In this article, ICA Travel Group will give you Hanoi Old Quarter Food Tour, a magical journey of Hanoian cuisine that definitely won’t disappoint you. It’s also a good way to learn more about Hanoi culture.

Hanoi is famous for its 36 ancient streets, where you can explore the city’s rich and long-standing cultural and historical heritage. It is also a place to indulge in thousands of unique and delicious dishes that captivate everyone’s taste buds. To have a memorable food tour in Hanoi, you cannot miss out on the hottest destinations in the Hanoi Old Quarter Food Tour listed below.

1. Bún chả Hàng Quạt

Address: 74 Hang Quat Alley, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

The first cuisine we would like to introduce the foreign tourist to Hanoi is Bún Chả. It’s a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodles, which is thought to have originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. Bún chả is served with grilled fatty pork (chả) over a plate of white rice noodles (bún) and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce. 

If you want to enjoy delicious Hanoi-style Bún Chả, you must visit the Bún Chả restaurant on Hang Quat street. This Bún Chả establishment has a long-standing history, and the taste of the dish has been preserved through generations. The Chả (grilled pork patties) here are made from tender pork belly that has been marinated with exclusive spices according to a secret recipe, and then grilled over fragrant charcoal. As a result, the restaurant is almost always packed with customers from near and far.

2. Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư

Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Phở is not unfamiliar with foreign tourists. Perhaps you may hear “Phở” by chance in your country at least once. Phở is a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles (bánh phở), herbs, and beef, sometimes chicken (phở gà). Phở is a popular food in Vietnam where it is served in households, street-stalls, and restaurants country-wide. It is considered Vietnam’s national dish. Phở is varied in each city in Vietnam.

When talking about Hanoi Phở, it is impossible not to mention Phở Lý Quốc Sư. This is an address that Hanoians absolutely adore and consistently ranks among the most renowned and delicious phở restaurants. The broth here is prepared to be rich and flavorful, while the tender beef is cooked according to each customer’s preference. The accompanying side of quẩy (fried dough) is also very enticing.

3. Bún đậu mắm tôm Hàng Khay

Address: 31 Hang Khay Alley, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Bún đậu mắm tôm is one of the most well-known dishes in Hanoi. As the name suggests, this dish consists of vermicelli (bún), deep-fried tofu (đậu rán), and fermented shrimp paste (mắm tôm). Traditionally, this dish features clumps of soft tangled rice vermicelli and the best tofu from the then Mo Village. Currently, any other kinds of toppings are available to be enjoyed, including pig’s leg, pork belly, green rice, pork nuggets, … The side dish of this special Vietnamese food consists of fresh herbs and vegetables, such as fish mint, perilla leaf, … The dipping sauce – mam tom or shrimp paste – is the feature of this dish. It has a distinct pungent taste that goes extremely well with all the toppings. People who are not used to shrimp paste can use fish sauce with chili and lemon extract instead.

There are many Bún đậu mắm tôm places but Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm Hàng Khay is the most well-known address among the list spots in Hanoi. A serving of Bún Đậu has an average price of 30,000 VND. The fried tofu is golden and crispy, the white and silky vermicelli noodles are cut into bite-sized pieces, and the accompanying toppings are diverse, including pork leg, fried spring rolls, fermented pork sausage, pork patty, fresh herbs, and especially the shrimp paste, which is skillfully prepared to be savory and appetizing.

4. Bún thang Cầu Gỗ

Address: 48 Cau Go Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Bun Thang is a Hanoi local cuisine. It’s a Hanoian dish of broth and thin rice vermicelli (Bún) with thin fried egg, shredded chicken breast, sliced pork sausage and Vietnamese herbs like Vietnamese coriander and perilla leaves. Shrimp floss is sprinkled on top. A complete bowl of bún thang cannot be without pickled radishes, also known as ca-la-thau in its original form.

Bún Thang Cầu Gỗ or Bún Thang Bà Đức is a familiar name to many generations of Hanoians. This small eatery doesn’t have a fancy sign board or a luxurious space, yet it has the power to captivate customers from near and far. It is undoubtedly a must-try destination for avid enthusiasts of Hanoi’s bún thang. 

5. Bò nướng Mã Mây

Address: 47 Ma May, Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Walking along Mã Mây Street, it’s not difficult to spot the professional staff of Bò Nướng Mã Mây in their uniforms. The aroma of perfectly grilled beef wafts through the air, enticing everyone to turn their heads and take a look. The grilled dishes here are marinated to perfection, and just one plate is enough to satisfy diners’ appetites.

6. Chả cá Lã Vọng

Address: 14 Chả Cá, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Chả Cá Lã Vọng is the name of a specialty dish in Hanoi called “chả cá.” This dish is made from fish, usually snakehead fish, which is cut into pieces, marinated, grilled over charcoal, and then fried in oil. The Doan family at house number 17 on Chả Cá Street (formerly known as Hàng Sơn Street) in the Old Quarter has held the secret recipe and has been running the business since 1871, giving the dish its name, Chả Cá Lã Vọng.

Chả Cá Lã Vọng is a dish with a history of 130 years, and it is also the birthplace of this intricate and unique delicacy. 14 Chả Cá is a recommended restaurant in the Old Quarter where you should visit at least once in your lifetime. The fish here is rich in flavor, fatty, and blends perfectly with the aroma of herbs and shrimp paste after preparation, making it irresistibly tempting to anyone.

In conclusion, ICA Travel Group gave you an instruction for your Hanoi Old Quarter Food Tour. However, Hanoi cuisine has more than these above. For detailed information, please contact us and ICA Travel Group are glad to offer you the best tour ever!