Vietnamese street food is the perfect combination of spices and more diverse than just Pho. If you are planning to Hanoi on your holiday, these street food dishes are the must-try on any foodie adventure tour.
1. Banh Cuon (rolling steam cake)
Banh Cuon is one of the traditional cake made from Vietnam rice powder and water. It has both an attractive appearance and a special taste. The taste, which everyone used to eat, recall their mind the sweet of dipping sauce (nuoc mam) and the feeling of the cake gradually softens in your mouth.
Banh Cuon is made from a thin, wide sheet of steamed fermented rice batter filled with a mixture of cooked dry minced pork, Moc Nhi (minced wood ear mushroom), and served with Cha Lua (Vietnamese pork sausage).
You can eat the dish at any time of the day and never get you disappointed each time enjoyment!
Address: Bánh cuốn Bà Hoành – No.66 To Hien Thanh street, Hai Ba Trung district
2. Cha Ca
“Cha ca” is the signature dish in Hanoi, it is even considered the childhood dishes of much Hanoians memory. Especially, there is a street in the Old Quarter named after Cha Ca. Cha Ca is Vietnamese Style Fish with turmeric and dill. It was first served in French colonial time by Doan family, it is has been one of preferred dishes and being Hanoi citizen gourmet proud. It gives the best taste when it is still boiling in the vegetable oil pan. To have the best enjoyment, there are some techniques when eating this dish: grasp a piece of fish and then get some boiling oil in the pan to pour onto the piece and the eat with rice vermicelli and other herbs such as peanuts, coriander, dill, spiced fresh onion and very Vietnamese ingredient – Mam tom (fish sauce).
Address: Nhà hàng Chả Cá Lã Vọng 107 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi
3. Bun thang
Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg, and pork is among the dishes Hanoians are so proud of. The most special and flavorful part requires so much sophistication is the clear yet flavourful broth. It is made of more than 20 ingredients, including dried shrimp, squid, shrimp paste, spring onion, coriander, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, sugar candy, and vinegar. It is also served with the rice vermicelli, sliced chicken, sliced fried eggs, and a dollop of shrimp paste. All of them are skillfully arranged to resemble a colorful flower in a bowl!
Check it out at Quán Bún Thang Bà Đức – 48 Cau Go, Hai Ba Trung, district, Hanoi
4. Banh Mi
One of the dishes every time mentioned in prestigious world magazines: Banh Mi. Banh Mi, it’s an airy French baguette. It is eaten with homemade pork-live pate, chicken and pork, sliced papaya, cilantro leaves, slice cumber, chili pepper, and a light spread of mayonnaise. Bite a piece you will feel full favor in your mouth, the fat of the meat, the refreshment of the vegetables and mixture of spicy, sour and sweet.
Address: Banh Mi 25 – 25 Hang Ca Street, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi
5. Xoi xeo
“ Xoi xeo” is familiar with every Hanoians, it’s the special gift of Hanoi to all the early birds. The special ingredients to make “xoi xeo” are sticky rice, turmeric powder, mung bean, fried shallot. Xoi xeo gives you the best taste when you eat in the cold winter, the smoke from it, see the bright yellow and the liquid fat makes people warm and full. You can find it at any market around the city but don’t be late as this dish only serves for the breakfast time.
Are you a culture lover and enthusiast to dive the street food scene to be like (or with) a local, let’s get your tummy filled up with good food on culinary tours in Vietnam.