We just love Asian food. So when we planned a trip to Hanoi, I really looked forward tasting those Hanoi specials. Here’s my top 5 on how to try the best food in the Old Quarter in Hanoi.

1. Bun Bo Nam Bo

Bun Bo Nam Bo is a grilled beef noodle salad. And it’s sooooo good! You’ll find the best one at a place actually called Bun Bo Nam Bo. The photo isn’t that great, but the taste…. Trust me, it’s delicious!

The restaurant is small but long. With long, communal metal tables. It’s also very populair amongst the locals. The salad is made of beef, steamed vermicelli noodles, vegetables, herbs, fried onion, bean sprouts and chopped peanuts on top. The delicious sauce is the secret recipe of the restaurant, which makes it stand out from other Bun Bo Nam Bo restaurants. The beef will only be stirred once you’ve ordered. Which therefore keeps its tenderness, heat and richness.

This bowl of beef noodle salad, which you eat with both chopsticks and a spoon, can be eaten as breakfast, lunch or diner. It’s absolutely the best ‘street food’ you have to taste when you’re in Hanoi. We actually went two times, that’s how good it was!

Address: Bun Bo Nam Bo, 67 Hang Dieu street, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

2. Madame Hien

If you want to dine in a ‘real’ restaurant, I can really recommend Madame Hien. It’s a French Vietnamese restaurant, set in a 19th-century villa. It has a nice atmosphere, a beautiful garden to sit outside for diner and a great menu with various dishes. There’s excellent service by a friendly staff. They are happy to explain dishes if you’re not sure what to take. The food is very tasty and has a nice combination of flavors, scents and colors.

It’s certainly not the cheapest restaurant in Hanoi, but also not that expensive. Still far below the prices in Europe. It’s definitely worth the price. And a good option for but people who are a bit ‘afraid’ to eat on the street and in more local restaurants.

Address: Madam Hien, 15 Chan Cam Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

3. Egg coffee

OK, it’s not food, but still definitely something to try when you’re in Hanoi. You can get this traditional Vietnamese coffee drink at different locations, but one of the best egg coffees you’ll find at Old Town Garden Café. They also have wifi, so you can just relax here and catch up on your social media with a nice drink.

This café is a bit hard to find, because it’s pretty hidden. So you’ll have to know what to look for. The entrance is at a local shop. So just pay attention to a sign with the address on it. (Café Pho Co, 11 Hang Gai).

You’ll have to walk into the shop, go to the back of it, and then you’ll see a small corridor and you’ll end up in an indoor type garden. At the very end of it you’ll find a stairs up to the café. You’ll have to order first and then you can go all the way to the rooftop, where they’ll bring you your order and you can enjoy your egg coffee and have a look at Hoan Kiem Lake.

Address: Old Town Garden Café (Café Pho Co), 11 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

4. Banh Mi

One of the things you need to try in Hanoi is definitely the Banh Mi. This is probably one of the most known Hanoi foods. Banh Mi is a baguette sandwich and it’s a good idea at any time of the day.

It looks pretty similar to a French baguette, but the Vietnamese version is made with wheat flour and has a thinner crust. Banh Mi is a fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine. Which also is one of the reasons that it’s often called the world’s best sandwich (according by BBC Travel).

You can get them with meat (grilled beef, pork, chicken) and vegetables. But there are also vegetarian and vegan ones to choose from. You can get Banh Mi’s everywhere, so you’ll have a lot of chances to try some. And they’re really cheap!

5. Food tours

If you don’t want to figure everything out yourself, a great thing to do in Hanoi is take an organized Street Food tour. This way you’ll get acquainted with a lot of different foods which makes Hanoi’s best street food. If you do the tour on your first night in Hanoi, you’ll know enough about Hanoi food to make food choices for the rest of your stay in Hanoi.

There are so many Street Food Tour offers. I haven’t done one myself, so I can’t recommend a specific one. But I don’t think you can go wrong there. You can book them in advance of your trip, or you can book them once you’re in Hanoi. You can book them anywhere and also a lot of hotels offer food tours.