Hanoi: Where we ate
Happy Wednesday!
I hope you are having a great week so far.
The Vietnam adventure continues and today we are going to Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and has a population of almost 8 million. We spent most of our time in Hanoi and we completely fell in love with this city. For my Ho Chi Minh City and Halong Bay guides, I described where we stayed, what we did, and where we ate. I’m going to split the Hanoi guide into different posts because there is so much I want to share. This one is all about where we ate.
Tj looks up places and then saves them on a Google list. Then, while we are out, wherever we end up, he can look on Google Maps and see which places are near our location. Most of these places don’t have websites, so where possible I linked the Tripadvisor page which also has the address. And these are only the ones that Tj would go back to, not everywhere we ate. Only the best places made the cut haha.
Where we ate
The best eating trip of Tj’s life started in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi did not disappoint. We started off the mornings with the hotel’s breakfast buffet. Then we would explore, eat, drink and repeat.
Here are Tj’s top recommendations for eating in Hanoi:
Phở Thìn — Tj was talking about this place for days! Best Pho he's ever had. If you try one place on this list, I would suggest this one, solely based on his reaction to eating here.
Cafe Đinh — This place is tucked between some shops on a busy street. You have to go down a hallway and up some sketchy stairs. I wasn't sure where Tj was taking me, but it was very busy. We even saw a walking tour group come in for a drink. Tj loved it so much he ordered a second drink. Try the egg coffee.
Quán Ốc Nóng Hà Trang — I think I was having a nap when Tj came here to try the snails.
Little Bowl — Come here for dessert! This place was super cute and colourful and the desserts were really pretty. Great to eat and if you are into taking pictures of your food haha.
Chả Cá Thăng Long — We came here so Tj could try the Cha Ca, which is a dish from Hanoi. This spot was so popular that they expanded and have two locations across the street from each other.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn — More pho! Tj loved this place too. I think this is another one he went to when I was napping because I don’t have more pictures and I definitely didn’t take this picture of the meat haha.
Phở Gà Đặc Biệt - I couldn’t find a website or Tripadvisor link for this one, but you can Google it and get the location. It’s not too far from the Pho place above.
Chè Bốn Mùa — another dessert spot! We sat on the little stools in the street and people watched.
Bún Bò Nam Bộ — Another place Tj snuck off to while I napped haha (did I mention I was sick and that’s why I slept so much).
Pizza 4Ps — Sometimes a girl just wants her pizza. And this pizza was terrific! The restaurant gets very busy, even for lunch, so make reservations if you go. Aside from the pizza which was delicious, try the ginger ale. You mix ginger and syrup with the soda water and it was really good (don't add all the ginger at once - I learned that lesson the hard way). Tj thought picture was hilarious because we have so many pictures of him eating and only one of me eating pizza of all things haha.
I don’t have any photos for these last few recommendations:
Bún Chả Hương Liên — Obama ate here with Anthony Bourdain. Tj said the Bún Chả was really good!
Cafe Tạ Hiện — try the Vietnamese coffee
Just writing all this is making me hungry! Vietnam is known for street food and now I see why... Tj still has a whole list of other places he didn’t have time to try. I am so excited to show you more of our trip.