The best restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter offer an array of dishes that bring out the best of Vietnam!
Considered as the business district and a main tourist hub in the city, the Old Quarter also known as Hoan Kiem district is home to the best restaurants in Hanoi.
XOI YEN
Xoi Yen is popular for its specialty – Xoi Xeo. With this dish, it garnered a reputation of being one of the best restaurants in Hanoi, Old Quarter.
Xoi xeo is a bowl of sweet sticky rice topped with various meat, bits of shallots, and bean curd. Xoi Yen is located at Hanoi Old Quarter and occupies a three-story building in a corner along the Nguyen Huu Huan street. Being perfectly nestled in the streets of Old Quarter, the restaurant is usually flocked with customers.
Its interior is nothing but ordinary with low stools and tables. Expect a crowded night at Xoi Yen thus some customers would prefer takeaways.
A simple bowl of the famous xoi xeo costs approximately 17,000 VND – technically less than $1. For a fancy bowl with toppings, it’s between 17,000 and 70,000 VND.
Cha Ca Thang Long
Cha Ca Thang Long in the Old Quarter is one of the best restaurants in the Hanoi Old Quarter to enjoy “cha ca” – a unique Hanoi dish.
The Cha Ca dish comprises white fish fillets sprinkled with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and dill – an infusion of flavors. You can enjoy a sizeable bowl for 120,000 VND.
The restaurant staff will then assist in assembling and cooking the ingredients on a sizzling hot pan right on your table!
Aside from your bowl of Cha Ca, you will also get a bowl of rice noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, parsley, fish sauce, and red chili slices. These are then tossed together with the bold, fired, turmeric-flavored fish.
Bun Cha Huong Lien
Popularized by the meal bun cha dish eaten by the late food enthusiast and culinary expert Anthony Bourdain and President Obama. Bun Cha Huong Lien became one of the best restaurants in the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Your visit to the Hanoi Old Quarter is never complete without even tasting the dish offered in this restaurant.
The interiors and facade of the place may not be as inviting as it may seem to one’s eye however, what catches anticipating customers are the food it offers.
Bun Cha is a simple dish in a large bowl with grilled pork belly and ground pork patties. It is then mixed with light rice noodles. Sprinkled with fresh herbs and pickled papaya along with crab meat rolls. Best eaten with the signature Hanoi beer – Bia Hoi.
Pane e Vino
Pane e Vino is an Italian restaurant in the Hanoi Old Quarter. It is known for its modern and cozy interiors divided into two levels.
The first and second floor depicts an infusion of Italian and Vietnamese style while a hint of Vietnamese interior has been added through its notable wooden tables and chairs, dark wood cabinets.
The third floor serves as an ancient citadel. The restaurants offer an authentic Italian cuisine with over 200 fine wines to taste.
Pane E Vine is also considered the oldest Italian wine distributor and importer in the country – thus, the restaurant is deemed highly significant.
It also offers special events from intimate gatherings to grand commercial parties.
