Ranking of The 15 Best Breakfast Food in Hanoi: A Local Foodie’s Guide

Hanoi's cuisine is famous for its delicious, unique, and very characteristic breakfast dishes. Up to 70% of international visitors choose pho as the best breakfast dish when visiting the capital. However, Hanoi's cuisine is not limited to that, let's explore the list of breakfast dishes that will captivate diners with Joytime Travel Agency!

Overview table of delicious breakfast dishes in Hanoi

1. Pate Banh Mi (Banh mi pate)

Hanoi's pate banh mi has many similarities to a sandwich, but the flavor and form are more distinctly Vietnamese. The dish was born from the cultural exchange between Vietnam and France. If you're looking for the best breakfast in Hanoi, this iconic dish is a must-try, offering a perfect blend of savory pate, crunchy bread, and fresh vegetables to start your day.

• Ingredients & form: A banh mi consists of a golden, crispy baguette on the outside and a generous filling inside. The filling combines various ingredients, mainly thick pate with a buttery, milky, liver scent. Diners can choose various fillings to accompany. Besides pate, traditional banh mi is often served with cold cuts, fresh vegetables, and sauce.
• Flavor: When enjoying, visitors feel the fragrant, crispy taste of the bread combined with the pate melting on the tip of the tongue, the salty taste of cold cuts, and the freshness of raw vegetables. The crispy exterior and soft interior create a perfect balance of taste. In particular, a slight spiciness from chili sauce and the richness from mayonnaise will make visitors unable to resist.

A Vietnamese banh mi provides enough energy for visitors throughout the day.- Photo Source: Freepik

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

2. Chicken Pho (Pho Ga)

Chicken pho is a testament to the sophistication and refinement of Hanoi's cuisine. The dish is associated with the childhood memories of many locals. Visitors should choose long-standing, family-run eateries to fully enjoy the traditional flavor.

• Ingredients & form: Chicken pho is made from soft white pho noodles, boiled chicken cooked just right, and bone broth. A hot bowl of pho shines with sweet, golden broth. Shredded chicken pieces are white and tender, dotted with fresh green onions, making it appealing.
• Flavor: The broth is naturally sweet, fragrant with ginger, cinnamon, and herbs. The chicken is soft and sweet, retaining its juiciness. Diners enjoy the soft, chewy pho noodles while they are still hot and don't forget to squeeze some lemon and a few slices of fresh chili.

Hanoi's breakfast culture cannot be without chicken pho. - Photo Source: Freepik

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

3. Kebab Rice Noodles (Bun Cha)

Bun cha is a famous specialty, associated with the lifestyle and culinary culture of Trang An people. From roadside eateries to luxurious restaurants, the dish is always a top choice on the menu.

• Ingredients & form: Bun cha consists of 3 main components: fresh vermicelli, grilled patties, and dipping sauce. The patties are made from pork belly or shoulder, marinated with rich spices and grilled over charcoal until golden brown, emitting an appealing aroma. The dipping sauce is meticulously mixed, harmonizing the sourness of vinegar, sweetness of sugar, mild saltiness of fish sauce, and faint spiciness of fresh chili.
• Flavor: The dish is fragrant with the rich flavor of grilled patties. Diners dip the vermicelli in the fish sauce. Fresh raw vegetables add freshness and reduce greasiness to the dish.

A serving of bun cha at a popular eatery. - Photo Source: Facebook Nguyễn Yến

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

4. Vietnamese Sticky Rice with Mung Bean (Xoi Xeo)

When visiting Hanoi, it is not difficult for visitors to come across images of rustic sticky rice vendors on the streets and corners, or the numerous spots to find the best cafe hanoi old quarter. The seductive aroma from the sticky rice wafts through the air, just passing by is enough to make people's hearts flutter. For those seeking the best breakfast in Hanoi, this traditional dish is a perfect way to start the day, offering a warm, comforting taste of local flavors.

• Ingredients & form: Xoi xeo is steamed from glutinous rice with golden flowers - a special type of rice with outstanding aroma and stickiness. After steaming, the rice grains are shiny, non-sticky, and soft. The highlight of the dish is the layer of steamed mung beans, mashed and shaped into balls, thinly sliced and placed on top of the hot sticky rice. Crispy golden fried shallots and a little chicken fat are sprinkled evenly over the surface.

• Flavor: The flavor of xoi xeo is somewhat unfamiliar to foreign visitors. Fragrant sticky rice, buttery mung beans, and appealing crispy fried shallots. Lightly fatty chicken fat soaks into each grain of sticky rice, making the dish rich without being too greasy. Just a small portion of sticky rice is enough to fill visitors up and energize them for the morning.

Xoi xeo is a typical breakfast dish when Hanoi enters autumn. - Photo Source: Facebook Địa Chỉ Ăn Ngon Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

5. Thanh Tri Rolled Rice Pancake (Banh Cuon Thanh Tri)

With thin, soft layers of cake, Thanh Tri banh cuon has become a refined symbol of Vietnamese cake-making art. The cake-making process is simple, but creating perfect batches of cake requires skillful hands and extensive experience from skilled artisans.

• Ingredients & form: The cake is made from finely ground rice flour, thinly spread on a steamer to create transparent, soft white layers. Unlike many other places, Thanh Tri banh cuon has no filling, but is neatly arranged in layers on a plate, sprinkled with golden fried shallots. When eaten, the cake is often combined with cha que (cinnamon-flavored pork sausage), gio lua (lean pork pie), and the indispensable special dipping sauce.
• Flavor: The cake layers are soft, thin as silk, and have a light, buttery aroma. The dipping sauce is well-balanced, with a blend of salty and sweet flavors, along with the delicate aroma of cha que. Each piece of cake leaves a subtle, unforgettable aftertaste.

In traditional markets like Dong Xuan market, visitors can easily find small eateries selling traditional banh cuon. -  Photo Source: Facebook Ken T. Nguyen

2 addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

6. Pork Bone Congee (Chao Suon)

A hot bowl of pork bone congee takes visitors back to a time of ancient, familiar Hanoi. The hot aftertaste of the porridge is perfect to enjoy on mornings when the streets are still chilly in the early morning mist. For those looking to try authentic Hanoi breakfast food, this comforting dish is a must, offering a taste of the city's traditional flavors to start your day.

• Ingredients & form: Pork rib congee is cooked from finely ground rice, stewed until tender with pork ribs. When served in a bowl, the porridge is sprinkled with pork floss, chopped fried dough sticks, and a little ground pepper. Some eateries may add chopped green onions and chili powder for diners who like a mild spicy taste.
• Flavor: Pork bone congee has a sweet taste from stewed ribs, combined with the rich taste of pork floss and the crispy texture of fried dough sticks. Each spoonful of smooth porridge melts on the tip of the tongue, helping the body temperature become warm and comfortable.

Huyen Anh pork rib congee is delicious, but the shop only sells in the late afternoon and evening. - Photo Source: Facebook Địa Chỉ Ăn Vặt Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

7. Glass Noodles Soup with Swamp Eel (Mien Luon)

Glass noodle soup with eel contains many nutrients that are good for health such as protein, iron and beneficial minerals. In particular, the dish also provides a lot of natural collagen, which is good for skin and joints.

• Ingredients & form: Glass noodle soup with eel usually includes 2 versions: noodle soup and mixed noodles. Transparent glass noodles are lightly chewy, blanched just enough to keep them crispy. After being cleaned, swamp eel is fried until crispy golden or stir-fried until soft. The bowl of noodles is presented attractively, with a layer of eel on top, dotted with crispy golden fried shallots, Vietnamese coriander, herbs, and a little chili.   
• Flavor: The dish is memorable for its rich, sweet broth with a deep flavor. Chewy noodles soaked in broth, eaten with pieces of crispy, fatty, fragrant eel. Accompanying spices such as garlic vinegar, fried shallots, and fresh chili make the dish more unique, awakening all the senses of diners.

Image of a complete bowl of eel glass noodle soup. - Photo Source: Facebook Địa Chỉ Ăn Ngon Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

8. Vietnamese Pyramid Rice Dumpling (Banh Gio)

Banh gio is a rustic, simple snack but contains the unique cultural beauty of Hanoi capital. Visitors can find banh gio at street vendors, roadside eateries or in traditional markets.

• Ingredients & form: The cake crust is made from soaked, ground plain rice flour, mixed with bone broth to create a smooth texture. The filling consists of minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, fragrant fried shallots, seasoned to taste. The cake is wrapped in layers of green banana leaves, shaped into cute, rustic pyramids.   
• Flavor: Banh gio captivates diners from the first bite with its soft, smooth, white crust. When opening the cake, diners peel each layer of banana leaf, feeling the rustic, natural fragrance. The rich minced meat filling blends with the crunchy wood ear mushrooms and a little spicy pepper. Diners can add chili sauce, pickled vegetables, cha que (cinnamon-flavored pork sausage), and gio lua (lean pork pie) for a unique breakfast.

A childhood banh gio eatery of many generations of "Hanoians". - Photo Source: Địa Chỉ Ăn Ngon Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

9. Noodle and Tofu with Shrimp Sauce (Bun Dau Mam Tom)

Bun dau mam tom attracts diners with the delicate combination of familiar ingredients to create a new, unique flavor. The dish originates from northern Vietnam, where there are vast rice fields and people's lives are closely associated with tofu and shrimp paste.

• Ingredients & form: The dish includes vermicelli cut into neat squares, crispy fried tofu, sliced soft boiled meat, young rice nuggets, fried pork intestine, and herbs such as perilla, kinh gioi (Vietnamese balm), and cucumbers. Everything is arranged on a bamboo tray lined with banana leaves, bringing a rustic, familiar feeling.
• Flavor: The soul of the dish comes from a special dipping sauce. After fermentation, shrimp paste has a dark purple color and an appealing pungent aroma. This dipping sauce will bring diners new and unique experiences that cannot be found in other lands.

The flavor of shrimp paste is an interesting challenge for international visitors. - Photo Source: Facebook Bún đậu mắm tôm QUÁN NO 26/24/24 Đỗ Quang Đẩu Q1 - 0936426768

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

10. Wonton Noodles (Mi Van Than)

Wonton noodles originated from Chinese cuisine, introduced to Vietnam through cultural exchange over many generations. The dish has been skillfully modified and creatively adapted to Vietnamese culinary style, while still retaining its original quintessence. As a popular choice among locals, it’s a great example of Hanoi breakfast food, offering a delicious and satisfying start to the day with its savory broth and tender wontons.

• Ingredients & form: A full bowl of wonton noodles will include yellow egg noodles, shrimp and meat wontons, soft char siu, pork liver, and green vegetables. The clear broth is simmered from chicken bones and dried shrimp. After pouring the broth over the noodles and filling, the owner may lightly garnish with a few slices of fried shallots, chives, and crispy fried garlic.
• Flavor: Wonton noodles are a blend of many layers of flavor, both simple and novel. The broth is clear, sweet, and faintly fragrant with dried shrimp. The golden noodles are chewy, eaten with soft meat-filled wontons, the thin crust melting as soon as you bite. The char siu is fragrant and sweet, combined with fresh crispy vegetables, creating a perfect balance.

Eating wonton noodles for breakfast at street stalls provides many memorable experiences - Photo Source: Facebook Địa Điểm Ăn Ngon Hà Nội 

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

11. Snail Rice Noodles (Bun Oc)

From street vendors by the windy West Lake, snail rice noodles have gradually become a hallmark of Hanoi's street food. The dish is made from rustic ingredients, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste for anyone who tries it.

• Ingredients & form: A standard bowl of snail noodles will be full of white tangled vermicelli, boiled snails (stuffed or twisted), red tomatoes, green onions, perilla, herbs, and fried tofu. The broth is simmered from pork or fish bones combined with giấm bỗng (fermented vinegar from rice residue after distilling alcohol). After completion, the bowl of noodles is beautifully presented, harmonizing many colors.
• Flavor: The snail noodle broth has a slightly sour taste from giấm bỗng, faintly fragrant with perilla and fried shallots. The snails are chewy and crispy, the tofu is fatty and buttery, and the soft vermicelli blends gently. When enjoying it, diners should not forget to add a little spicy chili and squeeze a fresh lemon.

Famous Snail Noodle eatery in Dong Xuan market area. - Nguồn ảnh: Facebook Món Ngon Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

12. Balut (Trung Vit Lon)

Balut is a unique, nutritious dish of Vietnam, often making tourists curious when they see it for the first time. This is a duck egg with a developed embryo, thoroughly boiled. The dish may be a challenge for some people, but it is truly an interesting experience, enriching the colorful street food of Hanoi.

• Ingredients & form: Balut is selected from mature eggs, inside which the duck embryo has developed just enough. The eggs are boiled, with a light brown outer shell. When peeled, the egg white is soft, the yolk and embryo are clear. The eggs are placed in a small bowl or plate, served with some typical vegetables and spices.
• Flavor: The egg yolk is fatty and buttery, soft and smooth, the egg white is slightly chewy. The embryo is rich, with a slightly crunchy texture. Vietnamese coriander, salt, pepper, and lemon have a harmonious sour and spicy taste, making the balut flavor more attractive than ever.

A novel dish, challenging foreign visitors - Photo Source: Facebook Hiếu Trang 

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

13. Thang Noodles (Bun Thang)

Bun thang captivates diners thanks to the sophistication in each flavor and ingredient. The dish is famous for its elaborate processing, showing the talent and ingenuity of Hanoians.

• Ingredients & form: A standard bowl of bun thang needs more than 20 different ingredients, including fresh vermicelli, shredded chicken, shredded fried eggs, lean pork pie, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, dried radishes, green onions, Vietnamese coriander, and a little shrimp paste. The broth is simmered from chicken bones and dried shrimp. The ingredients are neatly arranged in the noodle bowl, harmonizing colors and refined in every detail.
• Flavor: The broth is clear, naturally sweet, with a faint aroma of shiitake mushrooms. The soft vermicelli blends with the mild sweetness of chicken, the light fat of eggs, and the slightly chewy lean pork pie. A little shrimp paste acts as a highlight, making the flavor more rich and unique.

The refined, refreshing flavor creates the characteristic of bun thang. - Photo Source: Facebook Chuyện của Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

14. Fried Rice with Beef and Pickles (Com Rang Dua Bo)

Fried rice with beef and pickles is associated with the hectic pace of life of working people in Hanoi. The dish stands out for its quick and convenient preparation and consumption style, not too fussy.

• Ingredients & form: The dish is prepared from simple ingredients such as pre-fried cold rice, thinly sliced beef stir-fried until just cooked, pickled mustard greens, green onions, eggs, and a little seasoning (garlic, pepper, fish sauce). The mixed ingredients create an eye-catching and appealing overall look.
• Flavor: Diners experience crispy, slightly crunchy rice grains, evenly seasoned; tender, naturally sweet beef; slightly sour, crunchy pickled mustard greens, reducing greasiness. When eating, diners add a little spicy chili sauce or pickled cucumber to enhance the richness of the flavor.

To save time, diners can order fried rice with beef and pickles on apps like Shopee Food. - Photo Source: Facebook Cơm Rang Huyền Vũ

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

15. Crab Cake Soup with Red Rice Noodles (Banh Da Cua)

Banh da cua carries the distinct flavor of the sea, originally a famous specialty of Hai Phong city. However, over time, the dish has become a familiar choice for diners from all over, especially Hanoi.

• Ingredients & form: A complete bowl of banh da cua must have red rice noodles, ground and filtered crab, betel leaf wrapped pork balls, Vietnamese fish cakes, shrimp, beef, water spinach or water mimosa. The noodles used in the dish are flat, larger and thicker than vermicelli. The broth is golden with crab roe, mixed with eye-catching annatto oil. 
• Flavor: Banh da cua is attractive thanks to its characteristic seductive flavor. The broth is sweet, nutritious, faintly fragrant with fatty crab roe; the noodles are soft, chewy, and not mushy. Fillings such as betel leaf wrapped pork balls, tender beef, and fresh sweet shrimp make the dish extremely unique. 

Crab banh da is a specialty of Hai Phong, loved by Hanoians. - Photo Source: Facebook Món Ngon Hà Nội

2 Addresses to enjoy this dish in Hanoi

Tips for Enjoying Breakfast with The Hanoian’s Cultural Styles

With over 4000 years of civilization, Hanoians have created a very unique style of enjoying cuisine. Experiencing breakfast like a local will bring visitors countless unforgettable impressions and a deeper sense of connection with the city.

Choose breakfast dishes according to the season

The change of 4 seasons in Hanoi directly affects the ingredients used to prepare breakfast dishes. The capital's cuisine emphasizes sophistication, spontaneity, believing that dishes will be most complete when enjoyed at the right time.

Combine spices

Hanoi's cuisine is unique and different thanks to the accompanying spices. Fresh lemon, chili, garlic vinegar, and herbs help diners fine-tune the flavor according to their preferences, creating harmony and depth for the dish.

Experience eating at sidewalk stalls

To fully experience the atmosphere of old Hanoi, visitors should prioritize small eateries deep in the alleys or busy street corners. Places like Bat Dan Street and To Hien Thanh Street not only serve traditional specialties but also preserve the ancient features and rhythm of life of the thousand-year-old Thang Long.

On Joytime's 3.5-hour Hanoi street food tour, visitors have the opportunity to delve into every nook and cranny of the Old Quarter, enjoying countless unique dishes under the guidance of a professional tour guide. In particular, visitors will be able to visit and experience Chinatown - a bustling, vibrant neighborhood, crowded with international visitors day and night.

Enjoy the dishes slowly

Hanoians have a habit of eating breakfast at restaurants or eateries, enjoying meals slowly and gently. This is a rhythm of life that helps them start the new day with respect and gratitude. Let each layer of aroma and delicious flavor spread into the hearts of visitors gradually but unforgettably.

Enjoying breakfast in Hanoi is a great way to feel the rhythm of life and the sophistication of the capital's cuisine. From a hot bowl of pho, soft banh cuon to elegant bun thang, each dish bears the mark of a thousand years of civilization. Spending some time sitting by a small roadside eatery or joining Joytime's 3.5-hour Hanoi street food tour, visitors will understand why Hanoi's early morning cuisine is so attractive and delicious.