In Hanoi, there are many interesting cultural features that not everyone has discovered. In contrast to the bustling appearance on the street, there are still beautiful features hidden deep in the "small alleys, small streets, my house is there". Especially, we must mention the Hanoi cuisine that is hidden in the alleys, a characteristic of Hanoi that few places have.
The restaurants with popular dishes, even though located deep in the alleys, still attract many customers. That is why gourmets in Hanoi often tell each other that if you want to eat well, you have to go into the alleys.
Pho Bung Hang Trong
In the past, pho bung was sold right at the intersection of Hang Trong Street. At rush hour, the pho shop was packed with customers. Customers lined up to order, brought their hot bowls of pho, and quickly found an empty chair to sit and enjoy. Because there were no tables, they ate with one hand, one hand picking up the other, and their mouths exclaiming. That's why people called this place "Hang Trong pho bung".
Pho Bung Hang Trong has no tables so when eating, people hold food in one hand and pick it up with the other.
Since the city started clearing the sidewalks, pho restaurants have moved indoors. To find the once-famous pho restaurant, diners must go into a small alley, just wide enough for two people to pass each other, about 6-7 meters deep. Then, follow the signs to the second floor, through an old spiral staircase. The restaurant's space is only about 10 meters wide.2, located on the second floor of an old townhouse. A corner of the owner's living room is used to place 4-5 plastic tables. The third floor balcony is 3-4 m wide.2There are not enough tables, so diners still keep the same habit as when they sat on the sidewalk.
The most distinctive feature of a bowl of pho is the clear, fragrant broth, completely devoid of the strong smell of meat or beef bones. The restaurant only sells one type of well-cooked pho, the beef is boiled to perfection, with lean fat interspersed, thinly sliced. The pho here is a bit light, not too rich but just right. On chilly autumn or early winter days in Hanoi, the pho restaurant welcomes quite a lot of diners at rush hour.
Address: Alley 8, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 3pm to 8pm
Chicken Pho with Nha Chung Sauce
Located deep in a small alley on Nha Chung Street, opened for more than 35 years, the dish that made the restaurant famous is pho ga cham. Different from the usual pho, the pho noodles are cut into rectangles, about 3-4 cm. The chicken is boiled and beautifully presented on a plate. The broth, or more correctly the dipping sauce and the dried bamboo shoot broth, are seasoned to taste, with a sweet and sour taste that is intoxicating to the heart. The pho cham dish will have the pho noodles rolled out separately and rolled with chicken and vegetables, then dipped in the unique dipping sauce.
“Pho with dipping sauce” makes many people curious and they do not hesitate to decide to go to the restaurant to try it once.
“Pho with dipping sauce” makes many people curious and do not hesitate to decide to try the restaurant once. That is why the Nha Chung chicken pho restaurant is always crowded with customers.
Address: Alley 40, Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 7am to 2pm (except Sunday)
Nhan duck vermicelli in Trung Yen alley
Trung Yen is one of the “culinary alleys” that cannot be missed in the culinary map of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. In this small alley where two motorbikes have to skillfully avoid each other, there is famous fish noodle soup, squid vermicelli, and Nhan duck noodle soup. Located at the end of the alley and also the most crowded restaurant among all the restaurants here is Nhan duck noodle soup.
Nhan duck noodle stall under a 7 meter wide porch2of the beverage shop. As a duck vermicelli shop ranked among the best in Hanoi, it is not surprising that when you come to Nhan to enjoy a bowl of vermicelli, you will have to patiently stand in line. The bowl of vermicelli here is meticulously prepared by the owner in every detail. From the broth simmered with duck bones and dried mushrooms, to the fatty, soft, sweet duck pieces. The accompanying bamboo shoots are also well-simmered dried bamboo shoots, with fresh meatballs that are both chewy and crunchy.
Located at the end of Trung Yen alley and also the most crowded restaurant of all the shops here is Nhan duck noodle soup.
Address: Trung Yen Alley, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 9am to 3pm
Bun Cha Hang Quat
In the heart of the old town, there is a bun cha stall nestled in a small alley only 1 meter wide and 30 meters deep on Hang Quat Street. At the beginning of the alley hangs a simple sign, if you don't pay attention, few people will notice.
Bun Cha Hang Quat has been around for 25 years, only serving lunch from 10am to 2pm. During opening hours, customers come and go in and out of the restaurant, lining up from the beginning to the end of the alley. At the beginning of the alley is the cooking area with tables displaying ingredients, a meat grill, a spring roll frying area and an iced tea stall. Customers' tables are arranged indoors and in the yard at the end of the alley. The special thing that makes Bun Cha restaurant still crowded for a long time is thanks to its traditional Hanoi flavor.
Bun cha Hang Quat has existed for 25 years, only serving lunch from 10am to 2pm.
Address: Alley 74, Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 10am to 2pm
