13 casual dining worth the trip across Vietnam, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Vietnam guides.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn ★ 4.6 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan in Hanoi is a Michelin Bib Gourmand pho kitchen on Bat Dan, run by the same family for five decades with daily queues from 06:00.
Tip: 100% self-service: order, pay and collect at the counter. Closes between 10:00 and 18:00; arrive early for breakfast.
Phở Thìn Lò Đúc ★ 4.5 · Hanoi
hai-ba-trung · 13 Lo Duc, Pham Dinh Ho, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Pho Thin Lo Duc in Hanoi is the Lo Duc kitchen where Nguyen Trong Thin invented the stir-fried beef pho in 1979, with a richer, garlic-and-onion broth.
Tip: One dish only. Stainless-steel tables, fast turnover; if it's full, wait two minutes and a seat opens.
Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư ★ 4.5 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for a clear, traditional Northern beef pho across the Old Quarter from St Joseph's Cathedral.
Tip: Original branch only; beware imitations on Ly Quoc Su using the same name. Multiple floors; ground floor for the queue, upstairs for groups.
Phở Gà Nguyệt ★ 4.5 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 5B Phu Doan, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Ga Nguyet in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for chicken pho on Phu Doan, plated with tender free-range chicken in a delicate, almost-clear broth.
Tip: Late-night service until midnight makes this the only Bib Gourmand pho counter open after the Old Quarter shuts.
Phở Bò Lâm ★ 4.4 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 48 Hang Vai, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Bo Lam in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for traditional Northern beef pho served from a tiny Hang Vai shophouse, family-run for three generations.
Tip: Closes for two hours mid-afternoon. The Hang Vai branch is the original; if it's closed, the family runs two other counters in the Old Quarter.
Bánh Cuốn Bà Hoành ★ 4.4 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 66 Tho Xuong, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh in Hanoi is a Michelin-listed banh cuon counter near St Joseph's Cathedral, plating hand-ground rice rolls with shiitake and wood ear.
Tip: Breakfast and lunch only. The rolls are steamed to order over a cloth-stretched cauldron; ask to watch the work at the front.
Xôi Yến ★ 4.4 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Xoi Yen in Hanoi serves Hoan Kiem's favourite breakfast sticky rice from a corner shophouse on Nguyen Huu Huan, with caramel pork or Chinese sausage on top.
Tip: Ground floor is the open kitchen; head upstairs to sit. Bowls 20,000-50,000 VND; open from 05:00 for breakfast.
Tuyết Bún Chả 34 ★ 4.3 · Hanoi
ba-dinh · 34 Hang Than, Nguyen Trung Truc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Tuyet Bun Cha 34 in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for charcoal-grilled bun cha infused with lanceleaf blumea, served at six tables on Hang Than.
Tip: Lunch only 11:00-15:00 and tables spill onto the pavement. Cash only at this branch.
Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương ★ 4.3 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 73-75 Hang Dieu, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Bun Bo Nam Bo Bach Phuong in Hanoi has served one dish since 1986 on Hang Dieu: rice noodles topped with stir-fried beef, herbs, peanuts and crispy shallots.
Tip: Long communal metal tables fill with locals and travellers; share a table. The 73-75 branch a few doors down is run by relatives.
Phở Tiến ★ 4.3 · Hanoi
ba-dinh · 103 Nguyen Truong To, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Pho Tien in Hanoi is a Michelin Selected pho counter in Truc Bach, plating a delicate Northern beef broth from a Nguyen Truong To shophouse since 2010.
Tip: Sit at street level for the open kitchen; upstairs is air-conditioned. Closed mid-afternoon.
Bún Chả Đắc Kim ★ 4.2 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 1 Hang Manh, Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Bun Cha Dac Kim in Hanoi is a Michelin Selected bun cha kitchen on Hang Manh that gave the street its reputation for charcoal-grilled pork since 1966.
Tip: Lunchtime queues spill onto the pavement; share a table. Closes by mid-afternoon if the pork runs out.
The Hanoi Social Club ★ 4.2 · Hanoi
old-quarter · 6 Hoi Vu, Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
The Hanoi Social Club is a 1920s French colonial villa serving Old Quarter all-day brunch, jazz nights and a vegetarian-leaning menu on Hoi Vu lane.
Tip: Live music several nights a week; check the Facebook page. Wi-Fi and power outlets make this a popular remote-work room before 18:00.
Bún Chả Hương Liên ★ 4.1 · Hanoi
hai-ba-trung · 24 Le Van Huu, Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Bun Cha Huong Lien in Hanoi is the Le Van Huu kitchen where Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared bun cha in 2016, with the original table preserved in glass.
Tip: The table Obama and Bourdain sat at is encased in glass on the second floor; the lunchtime queue is the slowest 12:00-13:00.