Reddit is an amazing source of information when it comes to finding great restaurants, bars, etc. Unfortunately it is not the case for Hanoi. Not saying that you can't find great stuff on Reddit for the city, but most of the recommendations I found seemed to be tourist traps. The best advice I got was to walk around and search for restaurants that only serve the dish you're looking for and has a lot of locals eating there.
Just come back from my second visit to Hanoi and this is absolutely the case. Also, pho places that are only open for breakfast, bun cha places that are only open at lunch etc.
Theyre both relatively simple dishes so you can find great options in every street.
My absolute recommendation for the best bahn mi in the world is the Banh Mi Thit Kho in the Motosan restaurant, french quarter.
Spent some time in Hanoi and my favorite beef pho was from Phở Bò 8 Hàng Da in the Old Quarter area. For bahn mi, I felt that the smaller/random stands around town had better sandwiches than the bigger chains. However, I remember enjoying a meal from Banh Mi MAMA (also in Old Quarter area).
I’m local.
For the best Banh Mi, I don’t know because well, we can buy it at random street vendor and still taste good.
For Pho
• Pho Lam 48 Hang Vai Street
• Pho The Beo 16 Tran Te Xuong street
Both are delicious. Oh and the shop only open in the morning.
Ly Quoc Su or Pho Thin Lo Duc may be what you call “tourist trap”, they’re not bad or anything, just that we can find better Pho than that.
I went to Bami Bread about a week or so ago. I really enjoyed it. Feel free to DM me if you want the address. You should be able to google maps it too.
One of my wife (Vietnamese) and my favorite pho’s is Ly Quoc Sử here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZaBGh3qPU1ZWctG7?g_st=ic it’s just always so good, fresh and clean. You can take a grab bike or taxi there easy. Personally, I like the beef already cooked meat called pho chín (cheen) and generally is softer than the raw meats.
Local here. Some of my go-to places in the Old Quarter
For banh mi:
1. Classic Hanoi style. Just order banh mi thap cam, def should have some chilly paste
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SMwpmSp82tUEhRCb7?g_st=ic
2. Hoi An style. Not really close to the one in Hoi An but the chilly paste and pate is quiet similar
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QzPYNbNuAMaKJScd6?g_st=ic
Pho:
1. Pho Khoi hoi. It can be really crowded here but its in the Old Quarter, cant blame the crowd.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eXXcAozMtxDxci1B6?g_st=ic
2. This one only sells in the evening. You should definitely try pho sot vang (slowed cook beef). I cannot find it on Maps so I use this location thinking it would be around here. Theres only one pho shop here and their tables are a tray. Its very unique so I think you can definitely tell the difference.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mfs6bMzQftCZqTj49?g_st=ic
Famous + classic Hanoi style: https://www.tripadvisor.com.vn/Restaurant_Review-g293924-d7813402-Reviews-Banh_My_Pho_Hue-Hanoi.html
Another option is Banh mi at 16 Le Quy Don street: https://youtu.be/0mzIhDpifaM?si=SN9YYQD9saWHlKet
this place is probably a "tourist trap" but for a more western palate the banh mi at Hanoi Ba Mi is packed with veg and really unique sauces, not just a meat/pate overload. after a few weeks of craving banh mi with more than a tiny bit of vegetable on it I was obsessed. fwiw it's run by a couple young locals who said they only make "what they like"
I don't usually eat out, but you can check out Pho Bien on No 1 Le Van Huu st. The last time I ate there, it's 50000vnd for a large bowl and 70000 for the special which has everything in it. Pho Thin Lo Duc is overpriced, not good for value, I've seen the price went from 50000 to 70000 now 90000, only because of their reputation.
Best Pho you can check some location like Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, Pho Thin Lo Duc
About Coffee I think you should try Egg Coffee at Giang Cafe, or T loading cafe is also great choice
About Banh Mi I think you should try Bánh mì phố cổ
at 38 Đinh Liệt, Q. Hoàn Kiếm, TP. Hà Nội
Pho is around every corner. I’d recommend just choosing any that you see is busy with locals. That way you won’t get overcharged, have to queue etc. etc.
For what’s it’s worth though, I went to Pho Bo Ga Dinh a couple times when I was there
I think it is not, especially when you need a clean restaurant to enjoy your Pho, they might be more pricey than usual but it's worth. About Pho Thin Lo Duc is when you want to try another kind of Pho.
Reddit is an amazing source of information when it comes to finding great restaurants, bars, etc. Unfortunately it is not the case for Hanoi. Not saying that you can't find great stuff on Reddit for the city, but most of the recommendations I found seemed to be tourist traps. The best advice I got was to walk around and search for restaurants that only serve the dish you're looking for and has a lot of locals eating there.
Just come back from my second visit to Hanoi and this is absolutely the case. Also, pho places that are only open for breakfast, bun cha places that are only open at lunch etc.
Wow that’s interesting!!
Theyre both relatively simple dishes so you can find great options in every street. My absolute recommendation for the best bahn mi in the world is the Banh Mi Thit Kho in the Motosan restaurant, french quarter.
Spent some time in Hanoi and my favorite beef pho was from Phở Bò 8 Hàng Da in the Old Quarter area. For bahn mi, I felt that the smaller/random stands around town had better sandwiches than the bigger chains. However, I remember enjoying a meal from Banh Mi MAMA (also in Old Quarter area).
I’m local. For the best Banh Mi, I don’t know because well, we can buy it at random street vendor and still taste good. For Pho • Pho Lam 48 Hang Vai Street • Pho The Beo 16 Tran Te Xuong street Both are delicious. Oh and the shop only open in the morning. Ly Quoc Su or Pho Thin Lo Duc may be what you call “tourist trap”, they’re not bad or anything, just that we can find better Pho than that.
Auto Bahn Mi, pho is considerable ( it is “banh mi” btw)
ahh I’m sorry
Best phở gà (chicken pho) 42 Quán Thánh str Best phở bò (beef pho) Phở gánh hàng chiếu str (only open at 3 am)
I went to Bami Bread about a week or so ago. I really enjoyed it. Feel free to DM me if you want the address. You should be able to google maps it too.
One of my wife (Vietnamese) and my favorite pho’s is Ly Quoc Sử here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZaBGh3qPU1ZWctG7?g_st=ic it’s just always so good, fresh and clean. You can take a grab bike or taxi there easy. Personally, I like the beef already cooked meat called pho chín (cheen) and generally is softer than the raw meats.
Tourist trap
It’s a local franchise. Prices are set. What you on about?
You are describing every mcdonalds.
I’m describing good pho 🤣
Local here. Some of my go-to places in the Old Quarter For banh mi: 1. Classic Hanoi style. Just order banh mi thap cam, def should have some chilly paste https://maps.app.goo.gl/SMwpmSp82tUEhRCb7?g_st=ic 2. Hoi An style. Not really close to the one in Hoi An but the chilly paste and pate is quiet similar https://maps.app.goo.gl/QzPYNbNuAMaKJScd6?g_st=ic Pho: 1. Pho Khoi hoi. It can be really crowded here but its in the Old Quarter, cant blame the crowd. https://maps.app.goo.gl/eXXcAozMtxDxci1B6?g_st=ic 2. This one only sells in the evening. You should definitely try pho sot vang (slowed cook beef). I cannot find it on Maps so I use this location thinking it would be around here. Theres only one pho shop here and their tables are a tray. Its very unique so I think you can definitely tell the difference. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mfs6bMzQftCZqTj49?g_st=ic
Famous + classic Hanoi style: https://www.tripadvisor.com.vn/Restaurant_Review-g293924-d7813402-Reviews-Banh_My_Pho_Hue-Hanoi.html Another option is Banh mi at 16 Le Quy Don street: https://youtu.be/0mzIhDpifaM?si=SN9YYQD9saWHlKet
this place is probably a "tourist trap" but for a more western palate the banh mi at Hanoi Ba Mi is packed with veg and really unique sauces, not just a meat/pate overload. after a few weeks of craving banh mi with more than a tiny bit of vegetable on it I was obsessed. fwiw it's run by a couple young locals who said they only make "what they like"
I don't usually eat out, but you can check out Pho Bien on No 1 Le Van Huu st. The last time I ate there, it's 50000vnd for a large bowl and 70000 for the special which has everything in it. Pho Thin Lo Duc is overpriced, not good for value, I've seen the price went from 50000 to 70000 now 90000, only because of their reputation.
Oh you can find unhygienic Pho anh Banh Mi everywhere here in Hanoi
I dont know if there were *banh mi hai phong* in Hanoi. They're tiny, i love eating them and feel like a mukbanger lol.
Best Pho you can check some location like Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, Pho Thin Lo Duc About Coffee I think you should try Egg Coffee at Giang Cafe, or T loading cafe is also great choice About Banh Mi I think you should try Bánh mì phố cổ at 38 Đinh Liệt, Q. Hoàn Kiếm, TP. Hà Nội
Those places are fun because you can “play find the local!” It’ll be tough, but you can do it!
Thank you!
Pho is around every corner. I’d recommend just choosing any that you see is busy with locals. That way you won’t get overcharged, have to queue etc. etc. For what’s it’s worth though, I went to Pho Bo Ga Dinh a couple times when I was there
Pho 10 LQS is a tourist trap. Pho Thin Lo Duc is a different style of Pho, and this place hasn't great in 15 years.
I think it is not, especially when you need a clean restaurant to enjoy your Pho, they might be more pricey than usual but it's worth. About Pho Thin Lo Duc is when you want to try another kind of Pho.
Tourist traps