Top 5 must-try dishes of Hanoi Old Quarter

A walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter with street food tour is an activity not to be missed by visitors when coming in Hanoi.

If you don’t know the basics, below are some ideas for your street food tour in Hanoi : Top 5 must-try dishes of Hanoi Old Quarter.

1. Pho

Any foodie worth their weight couldn’t rightfully compile such a list and leave off Hanoi’s ubiquitous bowl of steaming rice noodle soup- the world famous pho.

Melt-in-you-mouth rice noodles swim in a lightly spiced transparent broth, flavored with wafer thin slices of beef (or chicken) and a mix of fresh local greens on the side. Kick it up a notch with some tiny (but very, very spicy!) chilies, a squeeze of lime, and some fish sauce.

2. Bun cha

Though hardly received recognition like the famous Pho, Bun cha is one of the must-try dish. This dish is especially eaten during lunch time. You will never have to guess where can it be found, just let your nose guide you to the tempting scent if sizzling frilled pork. You can see the cook fanning away the pork over smouldering embers, with the sound of fat burning away. Once you eat the BBQ pork with fish sauce broth, cold noodles, you will get hooked.

3. Banh cuon

This dish exemplifies the Northern Vietnamese cuisine philosophy: a balance of different flavors and texture. Banh cuon is a silky-soft steamed rice pancakes. It wraps around minced pork and black mushrooms filling. The dish is eaten with fried shallots and fragrant herbs. From the look of the tiny street kitchen, one could have overlook. The dish is warm and light, perfect to start the day right.

4.  Egg coffee – Ca phe trung

Egg coffee is proudly considered as one of the signature drinks of Hanoi.

Egg coffee is prepared by beating egg yolks with sugar, condensed milk, and black liquid coffee. It is served inside a bowl of hot water in order to retain its temperature, or else the texture changes. The frothy and yolky layer is simply delicious and will remind you of a crème Brulee. There is no better way to get your day started.

5. Pho cuon (rolled noodles)

Apart from the renowned Hanoi pho noodle, pho cuon is not less delicious and its genuine taste can only be found in Hanoi.

Fried beef and herbs are rolled in the rice paper cake and then the roll is dipped into a sour and sweet sauce which is added with slices of pickle.

To enjoy this dish, tourists should visit the restaurants on Ngu Xa or Quan Thanh Street.