1. Hot rice cake
When it comes to Hanoi street food, it would be a mistake to miss out on hot banh duc - a rustic yet charming snack, especially ideal for chilly afternoons. The cake is made from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour, creating a characteristic softness. Add to that the rich minced meat stir-fried with wood ear mushrooms, pour in a hot fish sauce to taste, sprinkle with golden fried onions and fresh coriander for a complete flavor.
Although hot banh duc is sold all year round at many street vendors or small roadside shops, the most heartwarming feeling is still when enjoying it on a winter afternoon in Hanoi. Sitting on the sidewalk, inhaling each spoonful of steaming cake, you will clearly see the "essence" of Hanoi's sidewalk cuisine - simple but attractive, ordinary but unforgettable.
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Although hot banh duc is sold all year round at many street vendors or small roadside shops, the most heartwarming feeling is still when enjoying it on a winter afternoon in Hanoi. Sitting on the sidewalk, inhaling each spoonful of steaming cake, you will clearly see the "essence" of Hanoi's sidewalk cuisine - simple but attractive, ordinary but unforgettable.
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1. Hanoi - Yen Tu - Ha Long Bay - Ninh Binh - Bai Dinh Pagoda - Trang An Tourist Area
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2. Rib porridge
As one of the dishes that has been loved by the capital's people for generations, rib porridge is not only an ideal choice for a light breakfast but also an indispensable part of the Hanoi street food map. No matter which small alley or market you visit, you can easily see the image of steaming pots of porridge coming from simple roadside stalls.
The characteristic that makes Hanoi rib porridge different is that the porridge is cooked from finely ground rice, creating a smooth consistency and a natural sweet taste. The cartilage ribs are simmered until soft, chopped, served with minced meat, savory dried shrimp and indispensable crispy fried dough sticks. Enjoying a bowl of hot rib porridge in the cold weather or in the rush of the afternoon, people seem to find a bit of the warmth and simplicity that is very unique to Hanoi.
3. Bun Cha
It is impossible not to mention Hanoi street food when talking about bun cha - a culinary symbol imbued with Vietnamese soul in the heart of the capital. This dish easily conquers diners from a light breakfast to a cozy dinner thanks to the harmony between aroma and taste.
The highlight of Bun Cha is the meat that is carefully marinated and grilled over hot coals, fragrant and fatty. The grilled meat will be dropped into a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce - the dipping sauce is considered the soul of the dish. When eaten with fresh noodles, raw vegetables and crispy pickled papaya, all create an attractive culinary experience.
4. Donuts
Fried cakes have long been one of the most popular street foods in Hanoi, especially on chilly afternoons. Made from fragrant sticky rice flour and sweet green bean filling, these small cakes have an unimaginable appeal. Many long-standing bakeries in the Old Quarter still maintain the traditional recipe and sell thousands of cakes to both locals and tourists every day.
The two most popular versions are the sugar donut – covered with a layer of sweet, crunchy crystallized sugar, and the honey donut – soaked in a layer of fragrant, thick honey. In addition, diners can also enjoy many other equally attractive types of cakes such as: savory donuts with vermicelli and meat filling, crispy fried dumplings, sweet potato cakes, fried banana cakes – flavors that evoke nostalgic memories of Hanoi childhood.
5. Egg coffee
As one of the typical representatives of Hanoi street food, egg coffee has long become an indispensable symbol in the capital's culinary culture. With a smooth golden egg cream layer on a rich coffee background, this drink conquers even the most demanding customers thanks to the perfect blend of fatty, sweet and bitter flavors.
Although it may seem simple at first glance, to make a cup of egg coffee with the right Hanoi flavor, the brewer needs to have skillful egg-beating techniques, along with sophistication in choosing coffee and adjusting the temperature. This is not just a cup of coffee – it is a taste experience that bears the mark of time, bringing the drinker back to the small, ancient shops in the heart of the old town.
Enjoying egg coffee is one of the must-try experiences when exploring Hanoi cuisine. Whether you visit a long-standing coffee shop or a small roadside shop, this drink still brings a warm and familiar feeling – true to the rustic yet sophisticated spirit of Northern cuisine.
6. Bread
When it comes to Hanoi street food, it is hard to ignore the alluring taste of banh mi – a culinary symbol that is both familiar and unique. Crispy loaves of bread, grilled hot on the spot, filled with char siu, fatty pate, fresh green vegetables and poured with rich sauce make everyone exclaim.
For tourists, this is not only a fast food, but also an indispensable cultural experience in the journey to explore Hanoi. Many people have exclaimed that the bread here is delicious beyond expectations – more than what they have ever heard.
7. Rice rolls
As one of the traditional street foods of Hanoi, Banh Cuon has become a familiar choice of the people of the capital every morning. The thin, soft and hot cake crust is made from rice flour, rolled inside a minced meat filling mixed with finely chopped wood ear mushrooms. When eating, sprinkle with golden fried onions and pour in a rich fish sauce - a harmonious combination that creates an unforgettable flavor. Banh Cuon is not fussy about spices, but diners can add lemon or chili to taste. This is not only a breakfast dish, but also an indispensable part of Hanoi's sophisticated cuisine.
8. Shrimp cake
As one of the most prominent street foods in Hanoi, shrimp cakes not only attract local people but also fascinate many foreign tourists. The dish originates from the West Lake area, where shrimps are caught fresh every day, bringing a characteristic sweet and rich flavor.
The cake is fried until golden brown with a crispy outer layer, topped with bright red shrimp, creating an eye-catching appearance and unforgettable flavor. When eating, people often roll the cake with raw vegetables such as lettuce, basil, perilla, etc., then dip it in a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce with green papaya and thinly sliced carrots. Each crispy, fragrant piece of cake blends with the flavor of vegetables and dipping sauce, creating an irresistible culinary experience.
9. Chicken noodle soup
Among the favorite street foods in Hanoi, stewed chicken noodles impress with their rich flavor and high nutritional value. The main ingredients are usually firm domestic chicken or nutritious black chicken. After being pre-processed, the chicken will be stuffed into empty beer or soft drink cans, adding mugwort and many herbs such as astragalus, codonopsis, and wolfberry - famous in Oriental medicine for helping to nourish the body. Then, everything will be stewed for many hours to make the meat tender and the broth have a characteristic aroma.
The dish can be served with the stewed chicken alone, or combined with noodles to increase the filling and attractiveness. In the cold weather of Hanoi, a hot bowl of stewed chicken noodles is both delicious and good for your health, the perfect choice for both locals and tourists who want to explore traditional cuisine.
Walking around Hanoi, you will realize that you don’t need to go to a fancy restaurant, just stop by a sidewalk stall or a small cart, you can also enjoy unforgettable culinary quintessence. Each Hanoi street food is a vivid piece reflecting the lifestyle, culture and people here. Don’t forget to save the list of typical delicacies to make your Hanoi discovery more complete and richer – not only in the scenery, but also in each flavor.
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Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-duong-pho-ha-noi-v17524.aspx
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