Homestay Unique HaNoi

Popular with tourists, Bun Cha Ta offers various bún chả and fried spring rolls. The classic bún chả features tender, smoky grilled pork, well-seasoned meat patties and smooth rice noodles with a balanced soup base. Among the crispy spring rolls, the seafood crab version delivers a consummate umami flavour, while the chicken is rich and meaty. They also offer rice noodles with fried tofu and tomato sauce and fried spring rolls for vegetarians.

Spread over three floors, chef Madame Binh's venture in Hanoi opened its doors in 2018. It serves a similar menu to its sister establishment in Da Nang, but with a bigger selection plus seasonal offerings. The chef excels in imbuing traditional Vietnamese fare with unique character. Try her Sapa's pork belly dipped in herbal sauce, grilled to perfection and served with mắc mật leaves that cut through the richness and enliven the flavours.

Now with a two-storey expansion and lush courtyard, English-speaking staff and a photo menu, this vintage tea house is more tourist-friendly. It retains its North Vietnamese charm with antique decor, artwork and a rustic elegance, and continues to impart the essence of Vietnamese cuisine. Highlights include chả ốc (ham with periwinkle snails) served with herbs, vegetables, vermicelli and fish sauce, and the subtle crab soup with malabar spinach in a clear broth.

This stall is famous for its bún chả (rice noodles with fresh herbs and pork), chargrilled to order. Dip the noodles in the flavoursome broth and feel free to order an extra spring roll for added crunchiness.

Tucked away in a narrow side street, Habakuk is easy to miss. By day, it's a specialty coffee shop serving single-origin brews and a small brunch menu. In the evening, it's a modern bistro featuring a concise European menu with Mediterranean influences. The dishes are confidently crafted, beautifully presented and rich in flavour; the service is warm and attentive. Try the homemade pasta with options to suit meat, seafood and vegetarian preferences.

Located near Hàng Hòm Street, this no-frills chicken phở eatery has earned loyal fans with its rich, satisfying bowls. Native fowl is gently simmered to retain a chewy tenderness, and paired with rice noodles, herbs and steaming hot broth. Xôi gà – sticky rice with chicken and extras like egg or gizzards – is also popular and often sells out early. Always buzzing, from morning to midnight, this is one of Hanoi's long-standing specialists in chicken phở.

As its name suggests, this long-standing family-run spot specialises in bánh cuốn, keeping alive a craft passed down through generations. Everything is made from scratch using traditional methods, resulting in rice rolls that are thin, delicate and soft. The family-recipe dipping sauce strikes a pleasing balance of salty, sweet and sour. Fillings include pork, shrimp and chicken, with extra toppings available. The bún thang, a Hanoi-style noodle soup with assorted toppings, is also worth trying.