Hanoi is a paradise for street food lovers. I’m completely addicted to it! Everywhere in the city, whether on the busy streets or in the quiet alleyways, there are countless stalls tempting you with the most delicious dishes. Here you can discover not only traditional Vietnamese cuisine, but also the passion and creativity that goes into every meal. Whether it’s a simple dish consisting of egg, herbs, spices and crab meat or a very special dish made from previously grilled pork: in Hanoi, you’ll find what you’re looking for and can indulge yourself 100%!
The most exciting street food dishes in Hanoi
Phở is perhaps the most famous dish in Vietnam. It is a very aromatic soup with rice noodles that is traditionally served with beef or chicken. Insanely delicious, even when warm. It exudes a hint of grandma’s cooking. The herbs and spices combine to create a wonder of soup cuisine!
- Ingredients: Rice noodles, broth, beef or chicken, herbs (basil, coriander), lime, chili.
- Special feature: The broth is cooked for hours, which gives it an intense flavor that immediately lulls me as a soup lover.
- When to eat it? Phở is typically eaten for breakfast or as a light lunch. If you don’t like it in the morning, you should definitely have it at lunchtime. Firstly, because it is very tasty and secondly, because it hydrates the body.
Bánh Mì is THE Vietnamese sandwich that offers the perfect mix of crispy baguette, fresh herbs, marinated meat or tofu and a selection of pickles. I prefer to call it a soft baguette.
- Ingredients: Baguette, marinated pork (or tofu for vegetarians), coriander, pickled carrots and daikon (Vietnamese white radish). The dough is fluffy and nice and soft, so that the marinade soaks in a little and makes the bánh mì so “umami” 🙂
- Special feature: A delicious quick meal for on the go that combines sweet, salty and sour flavors. It’s terrific! My favorite: Filled with paté, a meaty paste made from pork. Yummie!
- When to eat? Ideal as a snack between meals or a light lunch.
Bánh Cuốn is a thin rice flour pancake filled with a mixture of pork, mushrooms and onions, served with a spicy broth. The seasoning is unbeatable, it’s not spicy, which suits my taste and stomach wonderfully.
- Ingredients: Rice flour, pork, mushrooms, herbs, broth.
- Special feature: The delicate pancakes are so thin that they are almost translucent. Amazing how it is made as street food!
- When to eat. I highly recommend these little pancakes for breakfast or a light lunch!
Bánh Đúc is a savory rice flour pudding served with a mixture of meat, beans and spices. It sounds strange at first, but it tastes exceptionally good. The mouthfeel is a little wobbly, like a jelly.
- Ingredients: Rice flour, pork, fermented beans, soy sauce.
- Special feature: This mixture of sweet and salty is often seasoned with garlic and chili. This adds a little fire to the mouth, which you can let heat up – or not, depending on your preference. In any case, I opt for the low-fire version.
- When to eat? Perfect for the afternoon, after a long walk around town.
Special drinks in Hanoi
In addition to the delicious street food, there are also a number of drinks in Hanoi and Vietnam in general that you should definitely try:
- Cà Phê Trứng (egg coffee): A sweet, creamy coffee made with a mixture of egg yolk, sugar and sweetened condensed milk. It’s an incredibly good and sweet dessert in my eyes. I really like it when coffee and egg foam mix and the intense taste of Vietnamese coffee combines with the sweetness! Insanely good!
- Trà Sen (lotus tea): An aromatic tea that is steeped in lotus flowers to give it a unique flavor. Really delicious!
- Sinh Tố (smoothies): Fresh fruit smoothies that are very popular throughout Vietnam, especially with mango, banana or papaya. This is also great as a dessert or small snack to tide you over until the evening!
To feel good after eating & drinking
- Avoid eating food that doesn’t look fresh. If something looks dirty or has been unrefrigerated for too long, it’s better to avoid it and stroll to the next stall. I always trust my intuition here: if something smells funny, I don’t take it (even if it’s already in my hands).
- Be careful not to consume too much ice. The ice could be made from unsafe water. Make sure that the drinks are served without ice or that only packaged ice is used.
- Not all stalls are the same. If a street food stall has a lot of customers, this is usually a good sign – a lot of customers means fresh ingredients! And the more locals there are at the table, the more authentic the food is!
- Avoid eating in the very touristy areas. The best street food stalls can be found in the local neighborhoods, where the Vietnamese eat for themselves. This is a feast!
My story with streetfood in Vietnam
I can’t get enough of Vietnamese food! The freshness, spices and herbs are wonderful creations for my palate. The speed and simplicity of the preparations never cease to amaze me. In addition to the culture and nature, Vietnam is also and above all absolutely worthwhile because of its great cuisine!
Would you like to join me next time? What are your experiences? Feel free to write to me on Instagram, I look forward to it!
