12 Best Restaurants and Places to Enjoy Cuisine in Hanoi

The Vietnamese capital is not only renowned throughout the world for its historical monuments, its magnificent cultural sites and its bustling traffic, it is also known for its varied gastronomy adapted to everyone's taste, needs and budget. We invite you to follow us for a discovery of original cuisine followed by the top of the best restaurants in Hanoi.

Written by Thu Giang (Local Expert) Updated on 27-11-2024

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Top 12 best restaurants in Hanoi 

1. Quan An Ngon - 18 Phan Bội Châu Street, Hoàn Kiếm District

Off the beaten track of traditional restaurants, Quán Ăn Ngon is a unique restaurant very familliar to Hanoians. So well installed in a colonial architectural setting, this restaurant gives the impression of immersing yourself in the world of yesteryear's books where the food stalls make us salivate at first glance. Quan Ngon is actually a buffet with traditional dishes from the three regions of the country. You can take a tour of the culinary art of Vietnam by simply choosing a dish from the region that you like! 

2. Maison Sen - 61 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hoàn Kiếm District

Situated at 61 Tran Hung Dao Street in the center of Hanoi, Maison Sen Buffet is the perfect place to enjoy a luxurious buffet experience. Maison Sen Buffet offers a very large selection of food to patrons (over 200 different dishes), featuring seafood, Asian, and Western cuisine, in a cozy and elegant setting.

3. Chả Cá Anh Vũ - 120-k1 Giảng Võ Street, Đống Đa District

Chả Cá Anh Vũ is famous for its grilled fish dishes with a rich and authentic flavor, carefully prepared by Mr. Vu. With more than 20 years of experience in gastronomy, he always focuses on a refined menu with high quality foods. Chả Cá Anh Vũ is a spacious and airy place with traditional Vietnamese architecture, where you can enjoy a variety of dishes that showcase the essence of Hanoi cuisine. All of the customers all ask for one and the same dish: Grilled fish! The pieces of fish are presented in a pan with oil, and then served with fresh rice noodles, peanuts and aromatic plants. 

4. Tầm Vị - 4b Yên Thế Street, Đống Đa District

Located in a dead end near the Temple of Literature, Tầm Vị is a restaurant dedicated to the authentic style of home cooking from northern Vietnam, especially old Hanoi. From the wooden entrance to its tiled roof, the two stone dog statues sitting outside or the rough wall reminiscent of traditional houses from North Vietnam.

Ultimate reward, Tam Vi has recently been honored by being named one of the first four Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam by the Michelin guide. This recognition reflects the delicious quality of its cuisine and the excellence of its customer service. You can therefore expect an exceptional gastronomic experience, where each dish is prepared with passion and skill, highlighting the refined flavors of Vietnam.

5. Chay Vị Lai - 67 Lý Thường Kiệt Street, Hoàn Kiếm District

Chay Vị Lai is a vegetarian dining restaurant boasting 5 floors with distinct themes and a serene ambiance, making it a favorite among vegetarian food enthusiasts. This restaurant offers a variety of dishes, drinks, and desserts crafted from fresh and healthy ingredients, providing a true feast for the senses. Moreover, it prides itself on its attentive and friendly staff, who warmly welcome customers.

6. Gia - 61 Temple of Literature Street, Đống Đa District

Located next to the ancient temple of literature, Gia harmoniously combines modernity and tradition in a warm and elegant setting. Awarded a Michelin star, its 12-course menu evolves with the seasons and is inspired by Vietnamese culinary heritage. Gia's unique dishes, prepared with quality ingredients, offer a tasty combination of flavors, acidity, and textures. Discover a creative and exclusive culinary experience at Gia that highlights Vietnamese cuisine.

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7. Một Buổi Sáng- 86 Hai Bà Trưng Street, Hoàn Kiếm District

Một Buổi Sáng Restaurant offers an affordable dining experience, with prices starting from just 2 euros, in the heart of Hanoi. This small restaurant offers a selection of traditional Vietnamese dishes, including Bun Thang (a traditional Hanoi dish), Xoi (a family dish loved by all Vietnamese, especially for breakfast), Hu Tieu (a famous dish in Southern cuisine), and many others. If you are looking for a restaurant in the heart of central Hanoi where you can enjoy authentic local cuisine, Một Buổi Sáng is the perfect place.

8. La Badiane - 10 Nam Ngư Street, Hoàn Kiếm district 

Situated on a quiet street between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter, La Badiane is a renowned restaurant for its French cuisine with a fusion of flavors. With over 10 years of excellence, chef Benjamin Rascalou, a former student of Alain Ducasse, creates exquisite dishes with fresh and organic ingredients. La Badiane, awarded a Michelin star in 2023, offers a cozy and elegant setting with a touch of nature.

9. Fabrik - 16 Trấn Vũ Street, Ba Đình District

Located at the corner of Truc Bach Lake, Fabrik is famous for its European dishes carefully prepared by French chef - Olivier Génique. With more than 20 years of experience in gastronomy, ex-chef of the Hanoi Metropolis, member of the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, he always focuses on the refinement menu with high quality foods.

10. Luk Lak Vietnamese Restaurant - 4A P. Lê Thánh Tông street, Hoàn Kiếm district

Situated very close to the Opera House, LukLak is famous for its Vietnamese dishes with a fusion of flavors, carefully prepared by Madame Binh. With more than 25 years of experience in gastronomy, ex-chef of the Hanoi Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, she always creates a wow menu with fresh and organic ingredients. LukLak is a cozy and elegant place with modern Indochine architecture, where you can enjoy a variety of dishes that combine the best of traditional and modern Vietnamese cuisine.

11. Chao Ban Vietnamese Restaurant - 98 Tô Ngọc Vân Street, Tây Hồ district

By using a familiar Vietnamese greeting as the name of the restaurant, Chào Bạn wants to bring customers a new yet familiar experience with a menu of simple, delicious dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and homemade flavors. Perfect for any occasion, our satisfying meals are sure to leave you wanting more. Come experience the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality at Chào Bạn!

12. Le Beaulieu - 15 Ngô Quyền street, Hoàn Kiếm district

Open since 1901, Beaulieu is a renowned French restaurant in the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel, which is considered the first French restaurant in the city. This restaurant is renowned for its gastronomic excellence, impeccable service and exceptional wines - perfectly crafted in both flavor and presentation. The menu highlights contemporary French haute cuisine, offering traditional French flavors while emphasizing seasonality and sophistication.

The Best Places to Enjoy Street Food in Hanoi

Going to Vietnam without trying street food would be missing out on a fascinating experience. Food prepared on the street offers the opportunity to enjoy an outdoor meal in a friendly atmosphere. This is a great opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the daily life of the Vietnamese and taste the traditional dishes of the thousand-year-old capital in the most authentic way. In addition to the restaurants mentioned previously, we highly recommend checking out the street stalls in Hanoi, which offer a complete dining experience.

1. Hang Buom Street (old quarters of Hanoi)

In the Vietnamese capital, you can find excellent addresses almost everywhere, particularly in the old neighborhoods. Known as the gastronomic district, Hang Buom Street is undoubtedly home to one of the largest concentrations of food stalls. And to make sure you don't miss anything, grab small portions from different stalls and carts as you explore.

On site or to take away, the street food stands offer all the best of local cuisine such as Phở, bánh mì (a bread stuffed with vegetables, pork, or beef and spices), cháo sườn (rice soup with pork chops), bánh đa cua (rice vermicelli with crab), bun cha (rice vermicelli soup with grilled pork), xôi (steamed sticky rice), nộm đu đủ (green papaya salad) and so many other typical dishes…

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2. Dong Xuan Market and Dong Xuan Lane

In the old quarters of Hanoi, also very popular with locals, the Dong Xuan market is the temple of street food. It is in Dong Xuan alley that you can taste the most sought-after dishes, such as Bun rieu, Bun cha, Chao suon, and many others. Visit the walking street around the market in the evening for exceptional street food, including fried noodles, grilled kebabs, ice cream and a wide variety of desserts.  

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3. The “beer street” of Ta Hien

Besides, if you really want to experience cultural immersion, Vietnamese beer and its places of consumption with the locals will also offer you the opportunity. A tall glass of "Hanoi bia hoi" with a little white foam perched on top, served with ice can really quench your thirst and wake up your taste buds especially in the Hanoi summer heat.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience of refined Hanoi cuisine, we have prepared for you a small list of our favorites. Each of these carefully selected restaurants promises to satisfy your taste buds while respecting your budget. Hope you have a delicious meal! Or if you wish to visit one of those restaurants or any other sites in Hanoi, you can contact us to plan ahead for your trip.

>>> See also: 

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• Train Street in Hanoi: Complete Guide by Locals
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