BEST Food in Vietnam: 11 Must Try Dishes

With dozens of food options on every block, every traveler wants to experience the best food in Vietnam. I uncover the iconic street food in Hanoi and tell you the best places to try each dish. Keep reading for all the delicious details!

Hanoi: Home of the Best Street Food In The World

In the land of hot pho and motorbikes, Hanoi is an exceptional food filled to the brim with amazing food. I spent a month in Hanoi, exploring the nooks and crannies for the absolute best foodist finds.

Below, you will find some iconic dishes that are a must-try in Hanoi, as well as a few unique favorites that will make any food trip complete. Most eateries listed below are street food vendors where you are literally eating off tiny brightly colored stools and tables.

If fears of food poisoning are keeping you from exploring these culinary wonders, check out my street food post to stay safe and minimize risks.

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1. Ca Phe Trung – Vietnamese Egg Coffee

Yes. There is real egg in this coffee. A true breakfast beverage, the egg coffee is beautifully frothy, rich, with a strong espresso kick. Egg yolk is blended with sweetened condensed milk creating a perfect rich/sweet combo to compliment the bitter espresso. What better way to start the day?

Location: Cafe Giang – 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

2. Bun Cha – Barbecued Pork With Rice Vermicelli

I fell in love with bun cha, and I am unashamed. Pork belly and meatballs grilled over coals served in a bowl of fish sauce with greens, and dry noodles served with a fried spring roll on the side.

Take a bite of meatball, dip your noodles in the fish sauce and find pure bliss. I always used the tableside greens and herbs that make the dish complete.

Bún Chả Cửa Đông truly serves some of the best food in Vietnam, providing the literal embodiment of street food. If you are having trouble finding it, smoke wafts through the streets during peak times, so just follow your nose.

Location: Bun Cha Cua Dong – 41 Cửa Đông, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

3. Banh Cuon – Steamed Rice Rolls

Banh Cuon is a north Vietnamese staple: a rice roll filled with minced pork and mushrooms and dipped into fish sauce. The pork and mushroom are earthy and packed with flavor. At Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân, the wrappers are made to order giving every bite a unique texture.

You can watch as the steamed rice batter is spread thinly in a steamer pot, only needing seconds to cook before it is masterfully lifted, creating a paper-thin sticky crepe. This place is a local favorite with menus in English. 

Location: Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân – 12 Hàng Gà, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

4. Pho Bo – Beef Soup With Rice Vermicelli

Beef Pho is a classic Vietnamese dish that foreigners instantly relate to and understand. Simply, beef pho is piping hot beef broth with rice noodles with various accouterments. Hanoi and northern Vietnam have a different style than their southern half.

From my experience in the United States, Vietnamese restaurants mimic the southern style, so trying beef pho in Hanoi was an amazing and new experience.

The broth is more savory and light but packed with intense beef flavor. Bowls come with herbs already added with only garlic, chilis, and a vinegar hot sauce at the table.

No one can say they tried the best food in Vietnam without eating at my favorite place, Pho Hang Trong. If you are feeling adventurous, Pho Hang Trong is a bit hard to find, located on the second floor of the owner’s apartment.

If you are looking for a more normal establishment, Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan is excellent with thick slices of beef and hand cut noodles. 

Location: Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan – 49 Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Location: Pho Hang Trong – 8 Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

5. Pho Ga – Chicken Soup with Rice Vermicelli

If you prefer chicken, then head over to Pho Hanh, where they serve a delicious helping of chicken pho. The meat was super tender and not overcooked unlike what’s found in traditional American chicken noodle soup. Slurp away and find your new favorite chicken noodle soup. 

Location: Phở Hạnh – 65A Lãn Ông, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

6. Banh Mi – Vietnamese Sandwich

I believe Banh Mi is the perfect sandwich. A crusty French roll filled with various delicious treats including but not limited to ham, pate, cheese, meatballs, bbq meats, chicken, and various herbs and pickled veggies.

Each banh mi stall will have its own custom sandwiches so try a few! Banh Mi is inexpensive and a perfect lunch during a day of exploring the city.

Please do not miss out on adding pate to your sandwich. Pate is usually the house specialty with recipes varying from each sandwich shop, so do not skip it!

Location: Bánh Mì 25 – 25 Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Location: Banh Mi Paté – 11 Hàng Cá, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

7. Pho Chien Phong – Fried Pho Noodles

Fried Pho was a unique experience all on its own. Thick rice sheets (which resemble rice cakes) are cut into rectangles and then thrown into hot oil resulting in a deep fried magical dish topped with sautéed greens and sliced beef with a thick sauce.

The rice sheets soak up the sauce, and crispy bites are paired with deep umami from the beef with spikes of bitterness from the greens.

Location: Phở Cuốn Hương Mai – 25 Ngũ Xã, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam

8. Custard Buns – King Roti

One of the most perfect handheld desserts imaginable, King Roti has large crispy baked buns with four different gooey fillings.

I preferred the super rich Chocolate Coffee when it comes straight out of the oven. This roadside bakery is located close to Ho Guom Lake in the center of the city, so you will be within walking distance. Do not miss this place!

Location: KingRoti – Hàng Gai – 34 Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 110703, Vietnam

9. Bun Bo Nam Bo – Beef Noodles Salad

Also known as a beef noodle salad bowl, this dish can give you a break from the normal noodle soups all over the city.

Vermicelli noodles and sautéed beef sit on a bed of lettuce with various herbs and bean sprouts topped with fried shallots and a splash of sauce to keep everything from sticking. Be sure to order a crispy baked bun to dip in the sauce. 

Location: Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương – 67 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

10. Bia Hoi – Fresh Beer

I hate admitting how often I spent time in local Bia Hoi spots. Hanoi fresh beer is a local take on all-day drinking with the ABV sitting around three percent. No traveler looking for the best food in Vietnam can forego an afternoon sucking back ten or so beers.

This makes the beer extremely drinkable without getting drunk. On hot Vietnamese days, this beer tastes better and is often cheaper than water around $0.30 a glass. It’s cold and refreshing with notes of malt and nuts.

My favorites were in the west part of town further away from the backpackers. Quán Bia Hơi Bát Đàn had the cheapest, but best tasting beer with plenty of delicious food to order.

Sautéed morning glory greens with garlic were my absolute favorite thing to pair with it. There are a few Bia Hoi spots on this block so if one is full, go to the one across the street.

My wife, Tiarra, and I would start at 2 pm and we would talk and laugh all day while sucking down as much food and beer as we could handle. Our most expensive bill after 16 beers and some food was about $12 USD.

Location: Quán Bia Hơi Bát Đàn – 50 Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

11. Pho Cuon – Phở Cuốn Chinh Thắng

Think of all the ingredients in a beef pho without the soup. You have Pho Cuon! Without the soup, this is a unique version of pho that eats well even on sweltering hot days. I found these to be surprisingly light and a nice palate cleanser from the usual Vietnamese fare.

A dipping sauce usually accompanies the rolls giving each bite needed moisture and a flavor boost.

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Whether you are staying for a few days or a few months, these recommendations will make any food lover’s trip to Hanoi worth remembering. For the best food in Vietnam, explore the food stalls and get lost in the culinary adventures tucked between buildings and under tarp canopies.