Must-Try Dishes in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter – A Food Lover’s Guide

The Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a gourmet heaven. From street-side booths presenting aromatic bowls of Pho to busy sellers offering freshly grilled Bun Cha, this is where you will find the real heart of Vietnamese food. If you enjoy food, you really must visit this portion of the city. So, what are the must-try dishes in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter ? Let MOTOGO Tours explore.

Must-Try Dishes in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter

Ha Noi is sometimes praised as Vietnam’s gastronomic center with good cause. So, when joining Hanoi Motorbike Tour, visitors cannot miss the local cuisine. Particularly the Hanoi’s Old Quarter is well-known for its variety of mouthwatering street food that reflects the rich gastronomic legacy of Vietnam.

Pho – Vietnam’s Iconic Noodle Soup

Talking about Vietnamese food cannot exclude Pho ( Vietnamese Noodle Soup). Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, where Pho was first invented, is the only better place to taste this basic but aromatic noodle soup worldwide.

Made from cooking cow bones, oxtail, and spices including cinnamon, star anise, and cloves for hours, sometimes overnight, pho is a savory soup. Presenting the broth alongside flat rice noodles and your preferred meat or chicken, Pho is beautiful in simplicity; the light but savory broth, soft noodles, and fresh herbs harmonically balance tastes.

See Pho Bat Dan for a real bowl of Pho. Pho is served in a simple setting here famous for residents lining up for their morning fix. Thanks to stir-fried beef included to the soup, another beloved location, Pho Thin, is noted for its smokey broth.

Bun Cha – Grilled Pork with Vermicelli Noodles

Hanoian hearts have a particular spot for the delicacy Bun Cha. When President Obama visited Ha Noi, he tried this very meal; it’s clear why it’s so popular. Serving in a broth based on sour fish sauce, Bun Cha comprises grilled pork patties and slices of seasoned pig belly. Along with the pork are crunchy spring rolls, fresh herbs, and lots of vermicelli noodles. This meal is remarkable with the combination of sweet, salted, and smoky tastes.

Visit Bun Cha Huong Lien, the very location President Obama ate, for a real Bun Cha experience. Another great place is Bun Cha Dac Kim, a well-known restaurant noted for its expertly cooked pork and rich dipping sauce.

Cha Ca – Grilled Turmeric Fish

One of Ha Noi’s most unusual meals, Cha Ca has a taste sensation that distinguishes it from all else in Vietnamese cooking. Originally from Ha Noi more than a century ago, this delicacy is a must-try for any guest. Cha Ca serves grilled to perfection white fish seasoned in turmeric. Accompany the fish sizzling on a hot skillet with dill, peanuts, and fresh herbs. The unique turmeric taste of Cha Ca distinguishes it and gives the meal warmth and vivid color.

Found right in the Old Quarter, Cha Ca La Vong is the most well-known location for Cha Ca. Serving the meal for more than a hundred years, this establishment is credited with invented it. Cha Ca Thang Long is another fantastic choice and also presents a wonderful variation of this famous meal.

Xoi – Sticky Rice Dishes

Try Xoi, or Vietnamese sticky rice, for something really different. Breakfast, lunch, and even a snack can call for Xoi. It’s substantial, tastes great, and provides a window into the daily life of the residents. Usually presented alongside a range of toppings, Xoi is sweet to savory. Xoi Man is a savory variation topped with meats like pork, chicken, or sausage; Xoi Xeo is topped with mung bean paste and fried shallots, therefore creating a wonderful combination of textures and tastes.

See Xoi Yen, a well-known Old Quarter venue, if you want to sample some Xoi. From fried eggs to luscious pork, this location is well-known for its generous amounts and extensive selection of toppings.

Bun Thang – A Delicate Noodle Soup

Bun Thang is another locally beloved noodle meal in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter. Though less well-known than Pho, this meal is equally good and worth sampling. Made with chicken, pork, egg, and mushrooms, Bun Thang is a light yet savory soup. Prawn paste, fish sauce, and a range of additional spices season the broth to create a subtly sophisticated depth of taste.

Visit Bun Thang Ba Duc, a little restaurant in the Old Quarter with generations of providing this cuisine, for the greatest Bun Thang. Every mouthful clearly shows the attention to detail they provide their broth and ingredients.

Egg Coffee – Ha Noi’s Signature Drink

When in Ha Noi, you really must sample egg coffee. Strong Vietnamese coffee is combined in this unusual variant with a creamy, frothy topping created from condensed milk, sugar, and whipped egg yolks. Working in the Metropole Hotel, Nguyen Van Giang developed egg coffee in the 1940s. He used egg yolk instead of milk to make a creamy, frothy drink that has since become a local favorite.

See Cafe Giang, the café that started the real egg coffee experience. Another place to check out Cafe Dinh, which presents a contemporary interpretation of this famous beverage

Thit Kho Tau – Braised Pork with Eggs

Try Thit Kho Tau if your taste is for something substantial and consoling. This meal has hard-boiled eggs cooked in a thick, caramelised sauce alongside pig belly. Though consumed all year long, Thit Kho Tau is typically connected with the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The sauce is sweet, salted, and rather delectable; the pork is slow-cooked until it is soft.

Visit Com Tam Ba Ghien to really enjoy this cuisine. Locals especially love this restaurant since it is well-known for its classic tastes and substantial amounts.

Lesser-known Delicacies of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter

Ha Noi’s Old Quarter also features some less well-known cuisine that would be well worth trying if you’re feeling brave.

Thit Xien Nuong (Grilled Meat Skewers)

An Old Quarter street dish that is rather common in Ha Noi is grilled pork skewers, or thit Xien Nuong. Marinated in a concoction of garlic, sugar, fish sauce, and lemongrass, these savory skewers are grilled to perfection over hot coels. The meat comes out as soft, smokey and incredibly flavorful.

Though you can find these skewers at several street food sellers in the Old Quarter, for the greatest experience go to Hang Bong Street, where vendors cook the meat right in front of you, tantalizing smells filling the air.

Oc Luoc (Boiled Snails)

Boiled snails, or Oc Luoc, are a must-eat meal for more daring foodies in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter. Boiled snails are presented with a tart dipping sauce combining lime, fish sauce, and ginger. Popular late-night snack, it tastes best with a cold drink.

The dipping sauce gives the ideal burst of taste; the snails are soft, somewhat chewy. Although some may find this dish odd, it’s a popular street meal in Ha Noi and a fantastic way to really engage yourself in the local cuisine scene. See one of the well-known snail locations in the Old Quarter, Oc Lan Beo on Ta Hien Street, for the tastiest boiled snails. Locals are gathered here savoring their snails among pals.

Com Ga (Chicken Rice)

Com Ga, or chicken rice, is another consoling meal in Old Quarter Ha Noi. This dish calls for delicate poached chicken accompanied by a serving of sour dipping sauce and fragrant, turmeric-infused rice. Though it’s a basic recipe, Com Ga is bursting with taste. The chicken is moist and delicious; the rice is nicely seasoned and provides a filling and consoling dinner..

See Com Ga Hoi An, a location well-known for providing some of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter’s greatest chicken rice, to sample this meal. To provide further layers of taste, their rendition of the meal calls for fresh herbs and crispy fried shallots.

Tips for Exploring the Old Quarter’s Food Scene

• Street Food Etiquette: Examining the food scene of the Old Quarter requires awareness of local norms and etiquette. At street food vendors, bargaining is really frequent; hence, don’t hesitate to work on the price. Additionally traditional is tipping a little bit for excellent service.
• Finding Hidden Gems: Discover the little lanes and backstreets; the Old Quarter is full of hidden treasures and you shouldn’t hesitate to stray off the main road. There may be some of the greatest cuisine in the city here.
• Safety and Hygiene Considerations: One should give safety and hygienic issues first priority while selecting a restaurant. Seek for places with good reputation and cleanliness. Steer clear of food from sellers handling food improperly.

With a wide spectrum of mouthwatering and real Vietnamese cuisine, the Old Quarter in Hanoi is a foodie’s dream come true. Discovering the little streets and eating the regional cuisine will help you to set off a gastronomic journey that will create lifelong memories.