16 Spots to Try Street Food in Hanoi in 2025

Street food in Hanoi (or Hà Nội) is a staple of Vietnamese culture bursting with flavor…if you know where to look. Like street food in most cities, it can be life-changing or it can be extremely disappointing. Hopefully this Hanoi street food guide to budget-friendly eats will increase your odds of trying life changing street food in this bustling Vietnamese city!

Keep reading for the best street food in Hanoi and yummy Vietnamese dishes you can’t leave without trying – like pho, banh mi, bun cha, egg coffee and cháo gà.

🍲 The Top 5 Ranked

The Best Vietnamese Street Food in Hanoi

I had the BEST foodie experience in Vietnam. Since I had a nasty foot injury the whole time I was in Hanoi, trying out new restaurants was the extent of my sightseeing abilities. Although I was bummed I didn’t get to write an all-inclusive Hanoi travel guide, I hired Grabs left and right and made it my mission to try the best restaurants in Hanoi – street food style.

Try out the places below…and let me know if I succeeded. 

Some of these spots can be difficult to find. To help you on your journey to eat the best street food in the city, I’ve linked Hanoi street food locations in many of the descriptions.

1. Banh Mi 25

Let’s start out with a sandwich we can all get behind, the world famous banh mi. In this delectable creation, a crispy french baguette is stuffed with pate, pork, an assortment of veggies and fresh coriander.

When you search “best banh mis in Hanoi” one sandwich shop will show up time and time again…introducing Banh Mi 25. As one of the best Hanoi Old Quarter street food establishments, Bánh Mì 25 Hà Nội serves a mix of strictly traditional and drastically modernized Vietnamese sandwiches. I decided to try a twist on the original banh mi and ordered a version that included avocado. Let me just say… chefs kiss.

This HUGE banh mi and a bottled water only set me back about 55,000 VND or $2.35! I would definitely call that budget-friendly street food in Hanoi Old Quarter.

(My favorite traditional banh mi in Vietnam was actually in Ho Chi Minh City).

Location: 25 P. Hàng Cá, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Open daily from 7:00AM – 9:00PM

2. Bamichao – Vua Banh Mi Chao

Although they are insanely delicious, at a certain point in my Vietnam trip I found myself needing a break from banh mis. Enter the perfect alternative – Banh Mi Chao.

Banh Mi Chao (a.k.a. bread with combo pan) is a delicious alternative to the traditional banh mi sandwich. Vua Bánh Mì Chao is an adorable little restaurant that I discovered directly across the street from my hostel.* I enjoyed it so much that I went back not once, not twice but three times during my stay. It was definitely some of my favorite food in Hanoi!

This dish (Bánh Mì Chao Thâp Câm) consists of pork, meatballs, ham, cheese, sausage, eggs and fresh coriander served hot in a tasty sauce with a crispy baguette on the side. It was absolutely delicious and very filling. However, I have on good authority from the hostel staff that this dish is the only thing Vua Bánh Mì Chao does really well. I ordered a traditional banh mi from them once and it wasn’t anything to blog about.

*If you’re in search of accommodation in Hanoi, I cannot recommend the Central Backpackers Hostel highly enough. I stayed there a week after they reopened, after being closed for two years during the pandemic. The staff was very sweet and helpful, the room was spacious and clean and you can’t beat free beer EVERY NIGHT on the rooftop bar from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.

Location: Across the street from the Central Backpackers Hostel at 16 P. Thanh Hà, Đồng Xuân, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

3. Bun Cha Ta

Moving on to something I had never heard of until I wandered into this little restaurant, Bun Cha Ta, serving “street food at its finest.” Bun Cha is a Vietnamese dish consisting of grilled fatty pork and vegetables marinating in a delicious broth. The dish is served with vermicelli rice noodles, fried spring rolls, herbs and dipping sauce and the idea is to combine everything into one bowl. If you’re looking for yummy street food in Hanoi – this is it baby.

The whole combination was incredibly filling and only cost me 150,000 VND ($6.50) including a Saigon beer!

Location: 21 P. Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Open daily from 7:00AM – 10:00PM

4. Bún ChA Dac Kim

While we’re on the topic of bún chả, I’d be remiss not to recommend a stop at Bún Chả Dac Kim on your tour of the best street food in Hanoi. This little spot serving delicious bún chả gives off a more traditional Vietnamese street food vibe. That means communal tables, tiny plastic stools, and unbeatable prices!

If you love bún chả and can’t get enough, I would also encourage you to try out Bún chả Hương Liên. Although I (sadly) didn’t get the chance to try it out myself, it’s known to have some of the best bún chả in Hanoi.

Location: 1 P. Hàng Mành, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (hours may differ)

5. Bách Phuong Restaurant – Bún Bò Nam Bo

If you like beef and you like noodles…you’re going to want to make room in your Hanoi itinerary for Bách Phương Restaurant and a heaping bowl of their Bún Bò Nam Bộ. Also known as Vietnamese beef noodle salad, this dish consists of stir-fried beef, vegetables, and fresh herbs served on a bed of soft vermicelli rice noodles.

Paired with a cold Bia Siagon, it was the perfect stop for authentic Vietnamese cuisine in Hanoi and some of the best food in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Location: 73-75 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 7:30 AM – 10:30 PM (hours may differ)

6. Pho Su’ong

Now it’s time to talk about another timeless Vietnamese favorite: pho or Vietnamese noodle soup! Pho, alongside Vietnamese spring rolls and the banh mi, is some of the best local food in Hanoi. It’s a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of flavorful broth, rice noodles, fresh herbs and meat. Although you can find pho made with chicken and pork, it’s most commonly made with beef.

If you’re wondering where to eat in Hanoi, add this pho spot to the top of your list.

Phở Sướng is a bit of a famous spot since it’s rumored to be the site where Anthony Bourdain claimed he tasted the best pho of his life. I’m not 100% sure it was the best pho of my life…but it was definitely the best pho in Hanoi Old Quarter. Paired with banh dau chao quay (deep-fried breadsticks) it was the perfect last dinner in Hanoi.

Location: Ng. Trung Yên/24B P. Đinh Liệt, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 5:30 AM – 12:15 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM (hours may differ)

7. Pho 10 Lý Quoc Su

When the Vietnamese locals working at the hostel give you a suggestion for delicious pho in Hanoi…you listen! The mountain of fresh coriander on top paired perfectly with the savory broth definitely earned Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su its place on my list of the best street food in Hanoi.

Don’t forget to ask for banh dau chao quay on the side!

Location: 10 P. Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (hours may differ)

8. Pho Gia Truyen Bát Dàn

Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn was actually the site of my very first bowl of pho in Vietnam! Trust me when I say it was almost a religious experience. I’m not sure if my judgement was clouded since it was my first bowl, or if it was just THAT good – but this bowl of pho was life-changing.

This is some Hanoi street food you don’t want to miss! Add some of those spicy peppers and you’ve got yourself a delicious and filling Vietnamese lunch.

Location: 49 P. Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM (hours may differ)

9. Nha Hang Mr. Bay Mien Tay

I was introduced to my firstfirst-ever ever crispy pancake when I visited Hoi An. Although this dish is more commonly found on Vietnam’s central coast, I was able to track it down in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Also known as bánh xèo or Vietnamese crepe, this dish is a savory and crispy fried pancake filled with ingredients like pork, shrimp, green onion and bean sprouts. You’re supposed to eat it by cutting it into pieces, rolling it into rice paper and dipping it in sauce. DIY spring rolls with a crunch!

If you haven’t tried bánh xèo, I definitely recommend stopping by Nha Hang Mr. Bay Mien Tay for your first introduction to the dish. Paired with a cold Bia Hoi, it’s the perfect addition to my list of the best street food in Hanoi.

Location: 79 Hàng Điếu, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM (hours may differ)

10. 47 P. Ly Quoc Su for Cháo Gà

I’m not much for sweet breakfasts, so when I learned about Vietnamese Cháo Gà I knew I had to try it out for myself. This savory take on rice porridge is commonly eaten for breakfast around Vietnam and consists of rice cooked in chicken stock with ginger, onion and seasoning.

I had little luck finding a good spot for Cháo Gà on Google, so I turned to the hostel front desk for help. They recommended this little restaurant tucked away with a view of St. Joseph’s Cathedral of Hanoi.

Location: 47 P. Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

Sweet Food in Hanoi

Now that we’ve covered the savory, it’s time to move on to the sweet food in Hanoi. Full disclosure…I didn’t try as many desserts as I would have liked in Vietnam. A lot of the traditional sweets seem to be gelatin based or similar in texture and that’s not where I would normally choose to use my calories. Instead, I hunted down something a little more chocolate-based…

11. King Roti Hanoi

If your street food Hanoi tour is missing a little chocolate, then look no further than King Roti. This delicious dessert comes in a variety of flavors including chocolate, vanilla, matcha, and something called salty cheese coffee. Not sure about that last one, but I can definitely get behind the first three!

The chocolate roti was a soft, sweet bun filled to the brim with ooey, gooey melted chocolate. Definitely ask for a few napkins, cause that shit is messy.

Location: 34 P. Hàng Gai, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 110703, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM (hours may differ)

12. The Roti Hanoi

I actually tried The Roti by accident thinking I had made my way to King Roti. Either way, I was not disappointed. The Roti serves almost the same array of desserts as King Roti, but you can definitely taste the difference. Both desserts were incredibly sweet and filled with melted chocolate, but The Roti’s bread had a very different consistency.

Location: Next door to King Roti

Egg Coffee Shops in Hanoi

If you weren’t already aware, Hanoi is the birthplace of Vietnam’s world-famous egg coffee. Egg coffee consists of a meringue-like foam made from egg whites poured on top of dense coffee. Although I agree it sounds hella-weird, it’s actually insanely delicious and the perfect way to spend a morning in Vietnam. Make sure to try the stops below for the best egg coffee in Hanoi!

13. The Note Coffee

The Note Coffee is famous in Hanoi for being covered head-to-toe in post-it notes. The notes are all written by past customers and coat every wall, table, and window pane in the little cafe. Their egg coffee is delicious, but I should warn you it’s also very rich. I should have gone with a small instead of a large!

Location: 64 P. Lương Văn Can, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 8:00 AM – 10:30 PM (hours may differ)

14. Cafe Giang

Although you can find egg coffee all over Vietnam, Cafe Giảng claims to have invented the caffeinated treat. The cafe was founded by Mr. Nguyen Giang back in 1946 and still uses almost the same recipe for egg coffee as when it originally opened.

The chief ingredients in their delicious egg coffee are egg yolk, Vietnamese coffee powder, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cheese. Mr. Nguyen Giang came up with this recipe during a time when milk was scarce in Vietnam. He used egg yolks to replace it.

Location: 39 P. Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Generally open daily from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (hours may differ)

15. Cafe Dinh

I’m laughing as I write this because, in the notes for this blog post I wrote “sketchy entrance but some of the best egg coffee in the city.” That pretty much sums it up! Cafe Dinh is located on the second floor, but to get there you need to walk through a dimly lit, semi-sketchy hallway that was wet for some reason…

Either way, once you get there you’ll taste some of the best original egg coffee in Hanoi. And how cute is this cup?

Location: 13 P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam (near Hoan Kiem Lake)
Hours: Generally open daily from 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM (hours may differ)

16. Cong Cà Phê

Last but not least is Cộng Cà Phê! Although I didn’t have egg coffee at this cafe, Cộng Cà Phê is a very popular coffee chain in Vietnam. I’ve heard it described as Vietnamese Starbucks…but I found it a lot more charming.

I’m not 100% sure they sell egg coffee, but I tried their iced coconut cream coffee on a recommendation and it was delicious. You can find locations for Cộng Cà Phê all over the city.

Take a Cooking Class

If you’re really interested in learning the ins and outs of Vietnamese cuisine, I would definitely recommend taking a Vietnamese cooking class. This was one of my favorite experiences that I had in Vietnam and, even as a solo traveler, it was surprisingly budget-friendly. If you’re interested in adding a Vietnamese cooking class to your itinerary, I can’t recommend Chef Duyen enough!

She was nice enough to give me a private cooking lesson as well as a tour of the street food markets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. As a bonus, her adorable son, Hoang, joined us halfway through and helped us roll our fried spring rolls. To book a class, send her a DM on Instagram @duyenphanchef.

Book a Hanoi Street Food Tour

The best Vietnam foodie experiences always include a good food tour. I had both a street food tour and a cooking class on my Hanoi bucket list…but sadly, due to my badly injured foot I wasn’t able to book the tour.

The best Hanoi street food tours will include a local guide that brings you around the city (either on foot or otherwise) and shows you the best local food in Hanoi. You should also get some background on how each dish is made, where it originated and a bit about the history…as well as get the chance to sample tons of new dishes of course!

Check out some of Viator’s best Hanoi food tours linked below. 

Where to Go Out in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

During my stay at the Central Backpackers Hostel, and the many nights I spent enjoying free beer at the hostel’s rooftop bar, I got very familiar with Ta Hien Beer Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

This Hanoi food street by day and beer street by night is filled with bars selling beers, cocktails, yummy Vietnam street food and shisha. One of the best expat bars on the strip is Tôm’s Bar, which sells nitrous-filled balloons (if that’s your poison). Personally, I stuck to beer. (I also heard they reuse the balloons without cleaning them…so proceed with caution 🤮).

Tom’s Bar: 2B P. Tạ Hiện, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Old Quarter Ta Hien Corner: Tạ Hiện, P. Lương Ngọc Quyến, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

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Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you enjoyed this blog post filled with the best budget restaurants and must-try food in Hanoi! If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy my related posts linked below. And don’t forget to follow along for the adventure on Instagram @madisonsfootsteps.

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