24 Best Restaurants in Hanoi, Vietnam

Bancong means "balcony" in Vietnamese (from the French balcon), and this multistory 1940s art deco mansion has plenty of them. The outdoor spaces overflow with flowers and pot plants, and make good spots to watch scenes of the Old Quarter unfold below. The menu is rather muddled, but the Vietnamese dishes, from bun cha to bun bo nam bo, are reliably good. So is the ca phe cot dua (iced coconut coffee), a Hanoi specialty.

The outdoor area of this French-influenced venue is an ideal place for some very romantic dining and expat gatherings. The interior is equally convivial with stripped pine tables and wooden furniture. The food is a mixed bag of European dishes prepared and served with flare. They've also opened two more locations at 58 Dao Tan and 19 Doan Nhu Hai.

The main draw here is the convivial, bohemian atmosphere. Housed in a stunning 1920s French-colonial villa in a quiet part of the Old Quarter, the café is rustic and warm, with original tiles, wooden furnishings, and high ceilings. The menu has undergone quite an improvement in recent years, with fabulous breakfast and brunch options (the laksa is particularly good). An adequate list of wine and beers and regular music and art events make the café a decent bet in the evenings, too.

Now gracing a French-style villa in West Lake (the restaurant used to be next to the Temple of Literature), this place can get packed with tour groups. The flavors here—from baked fish in banana leaf to bamboo beef—are bold and brilliant, and the menu is a mix of creative dishes. The fact that Koto (an acronym for "know one, teach one") is a charity restaurant that benefits street youth, is just the icing on the lemon cheesecake.

Little sister to Hanoi institution The Hanoi Social Club, Ma Xo is the place to go for coffee, cocktails, and quick bites. The menu features home brunch comforts and innovative creations, such as fresh spring rolls with duck, a modern take on the neighborhood's favorite dish. A pretty lakeside location only enhances the experience.

This beautiful bohemian villa serves up excellent food and an impressive farm-to-table ethos. They own two farms, one in Sapa and one in Soc Son, so all produce is carefully grown and selected. Vegetarian options abound, from goat cheese omelettes to vegan burgers, and the menu changes regularly to stay seasonal. Try one of their specialty coffee blends or a chai tea charger as you take in the views of the park opposite.

At this authentic Indian restaurant, the owners import herbs and spices directly from India. Flatbreads like paratha and naan are cooked in a genuine clay tandoor oven, and the impressive cone-shape dosa pancake stands 2 feet tall. The kebabs are grilled to perfection with spices and lime.

Vegans and vegetarians descend on this hole-in-the-wall ramen joint for their tofu, tempeh, and other meat alternatives, but the rich broth will likely tickle omnivores' taste buds, too. Fewer than ten seats face the Japanese ramen chef, so you can watch him meticulously prepare your meal before slurping it up.

Serving high-quality northern Vietnamese food to a loyal following of locals (and the occasional tourist from the attached De Syloia Hotel), Cay Cau has a broad menu of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. The tofu is particularly tasty.

With three always-full locations, Chops is becoming a staple in Hanoi’s foodie community. Their slogan, "Hops, Wheat, Meat," says it all. All Chops burgers are made fresh daily from imported Australian beef and lamb and they bake their buns in-house every morning. They’ve got seriously good service and excel at keeping it simple.

This restaurant has plenty of gluten-free options and specializes in cooking classes. They operate two farms near Hanoi and grow most of their own food. They have a special vegetarian menu, and the setting is cozy, with exposed brick and bamboo furnishings. It's a nice place to sit down and enjoy a break from the frenetic pace outside.

The Japanese equivalent of your friendly neighborhood diner, this cozy restaurant is a longstanding favorite of older and affluent Hanoians. Reasonable prices encourage overindulgence in sushi or sashimi; the lunch specials are good value at around 200,000d. Seating is in small private rooms or at a long polished bar on the ground floor.

This all-day cafe serves up some of West Lake's best coffee, with freshly baked cookies, cakes, and croissants to match. Tuck into overnight oats and fresh juice for brunch or peruse a small but thoughtful selection of sandwiches for lunch.

Aimed more at tourists than at local clientele, this restaurant within a renovated French villa provides a good introduction to Vietnamese cuisine. Just bear in mind that portions of the tasty and beautifully presented dishes, such as beef in coconut milk, can be disappointingly small.

Popular with tourists and native Hanoians alike, this is one of the few restaurants in the Old Quarter that manages to unite the two demographics. There is an à la carte menu as well as set menus, but locals usually prefer to go for the "popular" dishes, which involves pointing at steaming vats containing things such as noodle soup, eggplants with salt, and fried pork ribs. The food is freshly cooked and regularly replenished, and is reliably delicious whichever way you order.

This burger joint is a hit with worldly locals, who sit in the trendy dining rooms and chomp on artisanal French fries and what are probably Hanoi's best burgers. Ngoam loosely translates as "to open your mouth as wide as possible" and is therefore a fitting name for a place that serves tall burgers packed with delicious add-ons.

Down a hidden alley in the Old Quarter, this quirky, three-tiered Hanoi hot spot has a rooftop terrace popular with travelers. Choose from a variety of coffees, teas, cocktails, and small bites. Antiques blended with hip decor give this bar plenty of character day and night.

Open around the clock, Puku is nothing if not convenient. The international fare served won't have gourmands forming an orderly queue, but the quality is decent. While night owls appreciate the generous opening hours, the restaurant's forte is probably its breakfast options, which include a full range of eggs (Benedict, Florentine, Royale) and a hearty full English. Sports broadcasts, occasional live music, and movies add to the venue's appeal.

Known among Hanoi locals for its vast menu, this eatery has specialties from northern, central, and southern Vietnam. It's almost as popular for the old courtyard setting as for the decent food. The restaurant has additional branches in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in Hanoi.

Quan Cu means "old restaurant," which is a misleading title for this clean, efficient, and well-organized Vietnamese restaurant. The staff speak little English but an attractive picture menu makes ordering easy; try the grilled chicken, any dish with tofu, and the fresh morning glory stir-fried with garlic. Strangely, the dish for which Quan Cu is most famous for is bun thang (a chicken noodle soup dish different from pho), and yet it is decidedly mediocre.

This is the place for comfort food, with a fabulous brunch menu, crunchy salads, tasty burgers, and good coffee, all in relaxed and convivial setting. The restaurant is staffed by youthful locals, many of whom are students, who speak good English and know how to deliver natural, personable service.

This West Lake institution serves some of the best Japanese food in Hanoi. The city has a sizeable community of Japanese expats, which means that this venue is reliably packed with homesick salarymen looking to sample an authentic taste of home.

Australian dumpling chef Gabby Redmond opened this trendy evening spot in 2021. With a smart selection of dumplings (steamed, pan-fried, or deep-fried), a stellar wine menu, and a cozy balcony with views of West Lake, The Grumpy Dumpling caters to young expats and hip locals. The deep-fried cheeseburger dumplings are particularly sinful.

This modern restaurant serves traditional cha ca (pan-fried fish with rice vermicelli) to multi-generational tables of lively locals. Reservations are almost essential, but if you can't get a table confirmed you can find a handful of other Vua Cha Ca locations across the city.