40 cheap eats rooms in Hanoi, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Hanoi: the places editors actually return to. All Hanoi food.
Cafe Đinh ★ 4.8
old-quarter · 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tip: Six seats on the narrow balcony overlooking the lake; arrive before 09:00 to claim one.
Reng Reng Café ★ 4.7
old-quarter · Room 101, Tap The A1, 12B Ly Nam De, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Reng Reng Café in Hanoi is a Lý Nam Đế specialty roaster known for the Bà Nà signature drink and a meditative quiet-only policy with no Wi-Fi.
Tip: Closed Mondays. No Wi-Fi, no loud chatter; bring your own cup for a discount.
Bia Hơi Corner Ta Hien ★ 4.7
old-quarter · Ta Hien at Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
The Bia Hoi Corner in Hanoi is the pavement crossroads of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen, where unpasteurised fresh draft pours at 10,000-15,000 VND per glass.
Tip: Crowd starts at dusk and spills across both streets by 19:00. Cash only; cheapest beer in any Asian capital.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn ★ 4.6
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.
Banh Mi 25 ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 25 Hang Ca, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi has been the Old Quarter's busiest banh mi counter since 2014, with two pork, three chicken, two beef and four vegetarian options.
Tip: Three counters on the same block (25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca); the largest seating is at 30 across the road.
Café Giảng ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Café Giảng in Hanoi is where egg coffee was invented in 1946, served down a narrow alley off Nguyen Huu Huan in the Old Quarter by the founder's descendants.
Tip: Down a narrow alley off Nguyen Huu Huan; the cafe is at the back of a small courtyard. Egg coffee 35,000 VND.
Loading T café ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 8 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Loading T café in Hanoi occupies the second floor of an 8 Chan Cam French villa from the 1930s, with original geometric tiles and olive-green shutters.
Tip: Five minutes from Hoan Kiem Lake and two from St Joseph's Cathedral. Climb past the family shrine on the way up.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan in Hanoi is the Old Quarter's queuing Michelin Bib Gourmand pho counter on Bat Dan, family-run for five decades and self-service.
Tip: Order, pay and collect at the counter. Closes between 10:00 and 18:00 daily; arrive 06:30 to beat the breakfast queue.
Banh Mi 25 ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 25 Hang Ca, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi is the Old Quarter's most-photographed banh mi stall, baking baguettes daily and assembling sandwiches across three counters on Hang Ca.
Tip: Three counters at 25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca. Cash or card; sandwiches 30,000-40,000 VND.
Bia Hơi Corner Ta Hien ★ 4.6
old-quarter · Ta Hien at Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
The Bia Hoi Corner on Ta Hien is Hanoi's loudest post-dark pavement bar, with fresh draft at 10,000 VND a glass and grilled snacks until 23:00.
Tip: The cops clear the pavement at 23:00 sharp; the crowd then walks to bun dau or pho counters that stay open later.
Tranquil Books & Coffee ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 5 Nguyen Quang Bich, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tip: The attic loft is the quietest seat; reach it via the ladder near the back wall. Wi-Fi works on every floor.
Bia Hơi Corner Ta Hien ★ 4.6
old-quarter · Ta Hien at Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Hanoi's Bia Hoi Corner at Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen is one of Asia's cheapest beer junctions, with fresh draft at 10,000-15,000 VND on plastic stools.
Tip: Bring small notes. The corner closes at 23:00 when police clear the pavement; the bia hoi crowd then walks to bun dau or pho.
Banh Mi 25 ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 25 Hang Ca, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi serves the Old Quarter's most-photographed banh mi at 30,000-40,000 VND, with two pork, three chicken, two beef and four vegetarian.
Tip: Three counters at 25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca. Card accepted; eat on the pavement benches.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn ★ 4.6
old-quarter · 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan in Hanoi is the Old Quarter's Michelin Bib Gourmand pho house, with bowls at 60,000-80,000 VND and self-service from queue to seat.
Tip: Closes mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Cash only; carry small bills.
Miến Lươn Chân Cầm ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 1 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Mien Luon Chan Cam in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for one dish: glass noodles with crisp-fried river eel, served wet or dry on Chan Cam street.
Tip: Counter seats only and the kitchen sets up on the pavement. Closes when the eel runs out; arrive by 13:00 for lunch.
Phở Thìn Lò Đúc ★ 4.5
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
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
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.
Cafe Phố Cổ ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 11 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Cafe Pho Co in Hanoi is the rooftop egg-coffee balcony hidden behind a silk shop on Hang Gai, reached through a corridor, courtyard and home staircase.
Tip: Enter through the red-fronted silk shop at street level, then follow the corridor to the courtyard and climb to the roof.
Cafe Đinh ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Cafe Đinh in Hanoi was opened in 1987 by Cafe Giang's daughter Mrs Bich, with a tiny upstairs balcony over Hoan Kiem Lake and the original 1946 recipe.
Tip: Up an old staircase above a travel agency; the balcony has six seats. Iced 35,000 VND, hot 30,000 VND.
Miến Lươn Chân Cầm ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 1 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Mien Luon Chan Cam holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for one dish: glass noodles with crispy fried river eel, served wet or dry at a Chan Cam kerb counter.
Tip: Counter seats only; closes when the eel runs out, usually mid-afternoon. Cash only, 60,000-80,000 VND.
Phở Thìn Lò Đúc ★ 4.5
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 stir-fried beef pho in 1979, with a richer broth than any other pho house.
Tip: One dish only. Stainless-steel tables and wooden benches; fast turnover, no waiting list.
Phở Gà Nguyệt ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 5B Phu Doan, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pho Ga Nguyet in Hanoi is the only Michelin Bib Gourmand pho counter still serving after midnight, plating tender chicken pho on Phu Doan in the Old Quarter.
Tip: Closes at 00:30; the post-bar crowd from Ta Hien fills the stools by 23:00.
Cafe Phố Cổ ★ 4.5
old-quarter · 11 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tip: Look for the red-fronted silk shop on Hang Gai marked 'Silklike'. Egg coffee 50,000 VND.
Phở Bò Lâm ★ 4.4
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
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
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.
Banh Mi Hang Gai ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 46 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Mi Hang Gai in Hanoi has been a pavement banh mi stall on Hang Gai since 1979, baking baguettes in a custom oven for the dawn breakfast queue.
Tip: Breakfast only, 05:15-10:15 daily. Run by Linh since her mother-in-law passed in 2014; the family started the stall in 1979.
Tranquil Books & Coffee ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 5 Nguyen Quang Bich, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tranquil Books & Coffee in Hanoi is a literary cafe opened in 2015 by poet Nam Lu, with bookshelves of thousands of volumes and specialty Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Four branches in Hanoi: Nguyen Quang Bich is the flagship. Strong Wi-Fi and quiet at weekends.
All Day Coffee ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 37 Quang Trung, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
All Day Coffee in Hanoi roasts its own arabica-robusta blends daily and runs two cafes in Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh, with a menu explaining each origin's profile.
Tip: Two locations: 37 Quang Trung (Hoan Kiem) and 55 Hang Bun (Ba Dinh). Beans by the bag at the counter.
Xôi Yến ★ 4.4
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, pate and Chinese sausage.
Tip: Ground floor for the open kitchen; upstairs to sit. Bowls 20,000-50,000 VND; open from 05:00 for breakfast.
Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 14 Hang Ga, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Cuon Gia Truyen in Hanoi has steamed silky rice rolls over a cloth-stretched cauldron on Hang Ga since 1973, with pork and wood-ear mushroom filling.
Tip: Breakfast and lunch only; closed by mid-afternoon. The rolls are made to order at the front of the shop.
Xôi Yến ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Xoi Yen in Hanoi runs from 05:00 to 01:00 on Nguyen Huu Huan, plating sticky rice with caramel pork or pate to dawn risers and post-bar wanderers alike.
Tip: Upstairs to sit; takeaway parcels wrapped in banana leaves. Cash only, 20,000-50,000 VND.
Miến Lươn Chân Cầm ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 1 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tip: The dry version (mien luon kho) with crispy eel and fried shallots is the dish to order.
Xôi Yến ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Xoi Yen in Hanoi sells turmeric sticky rice with savoury toppings for under 50,000 VND on Nguyen Huu Huan, open from dawn to 01:00 the next morning.
Tip: Cash only and small bills work best. Takeaway parcels wrapped in banana leaves.
Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền ★ 4.4
old-quarter · 14 Hang Ga, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Cuon Gia Truyen in Hanoi plates silky rice rolls with pork and wood-ear mushroom for 40,000-60,000 VND on Hang Ga, steamed to order since 1973.
Tip: Breakfast and lunch only; closed mid-afternoon. Cash only, plates run 40-60,000 VND.
Hiệu Lực Canh Cá Rô Hưng Yên ★ 4.3
old-quarter · 39 Hai Ba Trung, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Hieu Luc Canh Ca Ro is a Michelin Selected single-dish kitchen on Hai Ba Trung, serving Hung Yen's countryside climbing-perch broth with rice noodles.
Tip: Lunch only crowd; arrive 11:30-13:30. Air-con on the upper floor if Hanoi heat is unbearable.
Tuyết Bún Chả 34 ★ 4.3
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
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
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.