Best Street Foods to Try in Hanoi - Ranked by Locals

Walking through Hanoi is like flipping through pages of an edible storybook. The sidewalks are the city’s kitchen, and every sizzling pan or bubbling broth tells a tale of family tradition, regional pride, and creative flavor. If you’re visiting Hanoi for the first time - or even the fifth - one of the most unmissable things to do is eat like a local.

Here are the best street foods in Hanoi, ranked and recommended by Hanoians themselves - not travel brochures.

1. Phở - The National Icon

You can’t talk about Hanoi without starting with Phở. Though it’s well-known abroad, true Hanoian Phở is lighter, clearer, and more fragrant than the southern version. Locals often eat it for breakfast.

Pro Tip: Skip hotel breakfast one morning and head to Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn - be ready to queue, but it’s worth it.

• What to try: Phở Bò (Beef Noodle Soup)
• Recommended location: 49 Bát Đàn Street, Old Quarter

2. Bún Chả - The Obama Special

Famously enjoyed by President Obama and Anthony Bourdain in 2016, Bún Chả features grilled pork belly and patties in a savory broth, served with vermicelli noodles and herbs. It’s smoky, salty, sweet, and uniquely northern.

• What to try: Bún Chả with fried spring rolls
• Recommended location: Bún Chả Hương Liên (24 Lê Văn Hưu)

3. Bánh Mì - Vietnam’s Take on the French Baguette

Crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy inside - Bánh Mì in Hanoi is filled with local meats, pickles, and sauces that reflect the city’s colonial and indigenous blend.

Don’t expect it to taste like the southern versions - Hanoi's Bánh Mì tends to be simpler, but more savory and meat-forward.

• What to try: Bánh Mì Pâté Trứng (Pâté and Egg) or Bánh mì truyền thống (traditional banh mi)
• Recommended location: Bánh Mì 25, 25 Hàng Cá Street

4. Xôi - Sticky Rice That Sticks With You

More than just a snack, Xôi (sticky rice) is a whole meal in Hanoi. It’s often topped with mung bean paste, fried shallots, shredded chicken, or cured pork.

• What to try: Xôi Xéo (sticky rice with mung beans and fried onions)
• Recommended location: Xôi Yến, 35B Nguyễn Hữu Huân

5. Chả Cá - The Fish Dish with a Flame

A beloved dish that gets its own restaurant name, Chả Cá is grilled turmeric-marinated fish served in sizzling oil with dill and spring onion. You eat it with noodles, herbs, and dipping sauce.

This dish has been part of Hanoi culinary history for over a century, famously served at Chả Cá Lã Vọng.

• What to try: Chả Cá Thăng Long (modern take with lighter oil)
• Recommended location: 21 Đường Thành Street

6. Nem Rán - Northern Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls

Golden and crunchy outside, filled with pork, mushrooms, and vermicelli inside - this familiar appetizer tastes extra crispy on Hanoi streets. Often served with Bún Chả or Bún Nem.

• Where to try: Any small street eatery in the Old Quarter

7. Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng) - Dessert in a Cup

Invented in Hanoi in the 1940s when milk was scarce, Egg Coffee combines whipped egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk over robust Vietnamese coffee. It’s creamy, rich, and oddly perfect.

• Recommended location: Café Giảng (original family recipe), 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân

Bonus: Seasonal Street Snacks

• Bánh Rán (Sweet Glutinous Donuts) - Try the mung bean ones in winter.
• Kem Tràng Tiền (Tràng Tiền Ice Cream) - Iconic cold treat sold near the Opera House.
• Hoa Quả Dầm (Fruit Cocktail with Condensed Milk) - A summer favorite.

Join our Free Street Food Walking Tour today and discover the flavors that define the city!

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