When it comes to street food, I don’t think anywhere rivals the vibrant and diverse food scene of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital.
From fragrant bowls of noodle soup to crispy spring rolls and irresistible desserts, every street corner here feels like a sensory playground. I went on a walking food tour, and here are some of my favorite must-try eats:
1. Nộm Bò Khô (dried beef salad) – Hoàn Kiếm Street
I kicked things off with a refreshing plate of nộm bò khô, a dried beef salad tossed with tangy lime, herbs, peanuts, and crunchy vegetables.
Dried beef salad
2. Bún Cá Trung Yên (fish noodle soup)
Next stop: a bustling local joint for bún cá trung yên. I had this steaming bowl of delicate rice noodles in a savory fish broth. The soup was topped with tender fish fillets, herbs, and crispy fish cakes—finished with a squeeze of lime and some chili.
Fish noodle soup
3. Nem Rán (spring rolls) – Hàng Bè Street
While walking off the fish noodle soup, I passed by this stall and I couldn’t resist trying nem rán, Hanoi’s famous crispy spring rolls. Golden, crunchy on the outside, and filled with minced pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and veggies on the inside—these little rolls were a flavor bomb. Dipping them in tangy fish sauce took it to the next level and made me forget the oil dripping on my fingers while eating this fresh hot off the frying pan.
Fried spring rolls
4. Bún Chả – Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street
One of the highlights of my tour was bún chả. I found a busy spot along Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street and dug into a plate of grilled pork patties and sliced pork belly, served over rice noodles with herbs and pickled veggies. The dipping sauce tied everything together—it was smoky, sweet, tangy, and totally addictive. They served it with a refreshing iced sweet tea made from boiled corn husks, something I’ve only ever tried here, and something that stuck with me. (I really must have it again when I’m back in Hanoi.)
‘Bun cha’
5. Bánh Mì Nhu Y – Hai Bà Trưng
I grabbed a bánh mì from a stall on Hai Bà Trưng for a snack on the go. The crispy baguette was packed with pâté, ham, grilled pork, pickled veggies, and herbs. They say the secret ingredients are the mystery meat, pâté, mayonnaise, butter, and… Maggi Savor seasoning! (No way!) Each bite was an explosion of flavor and texture. You can find this all around Hanoi. I prefer the nondescript ones on the streets. It’s always a surprise; sometimes it’s good, sometimes just so-so. For something that costs around VND40,000-60,000 (P50 to P80) you can afford to try more than one.
‘Banh mi’ stall
6. Kem Xôi (sweet sticky rice with ice cream) – Hàng Bạc Street
Craving something sweet, I headed to Hàng Bạc Street for kem xôi. It was an unexpected but brilliant combo—sticky rice with creamy ice cream and toppings like toasted coconut and crushed peanuts. The contrast between chewy and cold, creamy and crunchy, made this dessert a unique standout. It cleansed my palette and it was just what I needed at the end of a day of eating.
Sweet sticky rice with ice cream
7. Egg Coffee at Café Giang – Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street
I ended my tour with Hanoi’s iconic egg coffee. Sitting in a cozy café on Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street, I slowly sipped a velvety blend of egg yolk, condensed milk, and rich Vietnamese coffee (while watching them whip up the egg yolk on the KitchenAid mixer, wondering if I can replicate it at home). It was smooth, indulgent, and unlike anything I’ve had before.
Egg coffee at Café Giang
Then there were more eats the following day:
8. Chả Cá Thang Long (6B Duong Thanh Street) is our family’s go to for Bún Chả Cá, a fragrant and flavorful noodle dish with fresh herbs, light broths, and perfectly cooked fish. Not to be confused with bún chả (grilled pork with noodles), bún chả cá is all about the fish. The deboned catfish is seasoned with turmeric, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled. This wasn’t part of my street food tour, but we always eat here, and I tell all my friends this is a must when in Hanoi. It’s so good they have three branches in one street. Make sure you go to the century-old pale yellow townhouse.
‘Bun cha ca,’ deboned catfish seasoned with turmeric
Chả Cá Thang Long’s main branch
9. Trung Nguyên Legend coffee. This coffee brand has significant presence all over Vietnam so it’s hard to miss. It’s the only coffee I drink (I am not really a coffee drinker), and the only way I will drink coffee— dripped over condensed milk then poured over ice.
Vietnamese drip coffee
Vietnamese coffee over ice
10. Beef Pho at Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư. I had a steaming bowl of beef phở that was simple, comforting, and full of flavor. The clear, rich broth had just the right balance of beef and spice, the kind of flavor that only comes from hours of simmering, with super tender slices of beef and silky noodles topped with scallions, cilantro, and onions. A squeeze of lime and a bit of chili was all it needed—pure, honest phở done right.
Wandering and eating on the streets of Hanoi felt like I was tasting the soul of the city—one bite at a time. From the fresh herbs to the smoky grilled meats, every dish told a story of tradition and creativity. This wasn’t just a food tour—it was a deep dive into Vietnamese culture.
