In the Northern part of Vietnam, there is a city where the cuisine is able to express itself the most out of it: Hanoi! Hanoi’s cuisine has become a unique cultural attraction for tourists visiting the city for the first time. All of the dishes have different scented flavours. Take a look at these top 6 chosen list of food from lunch to dinner and make sure to taste it at least once.
1. Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)
A delicate and soft dish coming straight from the steamer are the Steamed Rice Rolls. It is a perfect detox food, because of its lightness and yet is very flavorful. The crepe is actually thin and the reason for this is the process of how it is made. First a scoop of the rice flour mix is put on the steamer, then covered with a lid for a few seconds and carefully transferred onto a tray with a flat bamboo stick. From there, the crepe will be filled with ground pork or chicken and minced mushrooms and it is served together with grilled onions, ham, cucumber and fresh herbs.
Address: 71 Hang Bo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (only open from 5:00 PM)
2. Bun Cha (Noodles with Pork)
Simply a dish containing noodle soup with pork. The dish is served with a plate of rice noodles, basket of fresh herbs and a bowl of cold broth with grilled pork. What makes it so unique are the broth and grilled pork. The broth is combined with fish, sugar and vinegar sauce making up for a sweet and sour taste. Usually, carrot and pickled radish are also put in the broth. There are no difficulties with this dish, it is easy to know what to do. The next step is to dip everything in the broth and enjoy the harmony of fresh herbs sweet pieces of grilled pork.
Address: Alley 2 Hang Khoai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
3. Bun Thang (Noodles with Chicken, Egg and Pork)
Following Bun Thang which also has rice noodles as ingredients, though this dish gives you more different tastes simultaneously. The cooking process goes through many sophisticated stages to have a true flavour. The bowl consists of noodles, shredded chicken, fried egg and Vietnamese ham in a chicken and pork broth. Thanks to this, the taste is both light and sweet and the broth should be clear to reflect its purity. Then the shredded ingredients are perfectly placed side by side to make the bowl visually stunning.
Address: 1 Hang Trong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
4. Cha Ca La Vong (Tumeric Fish with Dill)
Have not got enough of rice noodles yet? Here is another special dish to restore your energy, namely Tumeric Fish with Dill. First, a portable gas stove and small frying pan are served on the table then the preparation can begin. The fish is already grilled beforehand, you only have to fry it shortly again. It comes together with dill and green onions and can also be placed into the pan. It takes about 5 minutes of cooking and after that is ready to be served. The combination of ingredients makes up for an intriguing taste.
Address: 21 Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
5. My Van Than (Wonton Noodles)
Originally from China imported to Hanoi are the Wonton Noodles which can be found all over the capital. The dish includes boiled egg and vegetables, Chinese barbeque pork, shiitake mushrooms and not to forget wonton (Chinese dumpling). When you translate wonton it literally means ‘tasting the cloud’ in Chinese, because of its shape resembling the cloud. The preparation of this is made by wrapping the dough over the filling of minced pork and shrimp. All the ingredients carry a load of nutrition. However, the broth is the key to a successful bowl.
Address: 19 Hang Chieu Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
6. Pho Chien Phong (Fried Pho Noodle)
Usually, travellers are going for a bowl of Pho Noodle Soup when they are in Vietnam, but did you know that Pho has other varieties? Though it is simple to explain, Fried Pho Noodle is actually far from modest. The pho noodles are cut into squares and slightly larger in size than a post stamp. Then they are thrown into a wok of bubbling hot oil and fried. Since the rice paper is light, it is able to balloon up until the stacks have risen about ten-fold height. As a result, they turn crispy golden and look like puffy pillows. It is served together with vegetables, stir-fried beef and its thick sauce slowly soak through the bottom bringing a wonderful texture contrast.
Address: 19 Ngu Xa Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
Hanoi is a wonderful city where delicious and healthy food are always available. Besides, what is better than having impressive dishes in a daily meal and not have to be afraid of gaining weight. In addition to this, your skin keeps healthier and stronger than ever.
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