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 Hanoi food and Dining

Most of Hanoi international restaurant are found in the Hoan Kiem District , as are many places serving Vietnamese cuisine . Local specialties, such as banh cuon ( a rice pancake with savory stuffing ) and mi xao( Xhinese egg noodles), can be found on Ngo Cam Chi Street ( off Hang Bong Street) in the Old Quarter . Goat meat is the specialty of Lang Ha Street , south of the U.S embassy , and dog meat ( if you’re really adventurous eater) is served in restaurants on Nghi Tam Road between West Lake and the Red River
Tong Duy Tan Street, where the king’s food was cooked in ancient times , and the junction of Dien Bien Phu and Hang Bong streets is busy with noodle shops serving  seafood dishes and ga tan, a chicken soup cooked with eight Chinese herbs ,including lotus seed ; it is considered especially good for women’s health. Men may want to try pin tan, the same soup made with bull parts, instead. Toasted bread soaked in honey is served with the soup- you are charged by the slice. Make sure to avoid dishes with “ scallops” ; they are actually tough , bitter view of the street – and the inside of someone’s house.
Another excellent food street, known as “ Xoi Alley”, tees off Tong Duy Tan Street towards Trang Thi Street. Xoi, or sticky rice, is a glutinous grain served with sausage , boiled egg ,dried shredded pork , or cucumbers and fish sauce . Here you can find sticky rice, fried noodles , or pho any time of day and late into the night . The “ fast food” advertised in café windows actually means cheap rice, omelettes, and noodle dishes.
Keep in mind that Hanoi’s dining scene is in constant flux . Though the establishments listed below have staying power , it is recommended you call before heading out to a particular restaurant, as places may close as suddenly as they open . In addition, it’s not uncommon for owners and managers to change , transforming the whole restaurant for better or worse.

Fast Food

• Cock-A-Doodle-Doo Fried Chicken
  38 Le Thai To St Tel: 8288520 *
• Pepperoni's
  71 Mai Hac De St Tel: 9760088 *  

 Chinese

• First Restaurant
  12 Trang Thi St Tel: 8240060 *
• Galaxy Hotel
  1 Phan Dinh Phung St Tel: 8282888 Fax: 8282466
• Green Lake
  Lake Side Hotel 6A Ngoc Khanh Rd. Tel: 8350111; Fax: 8350121
• Hanoi Hotel
  D8 Giang Vo St Tel: 8452270
• Lee Man Fong Restaurant Gallery
  Hanoi Horison Hotel 40 Cat Linh St Tel: 7330808 Fax: 7330888
• Paradise
  19 Han Thuyen St Tel: 8247697
• Quan Gio Moi.The best part about this plain-looking restaurant is its perfect location overlooking a lake in Lenin Park . The food is good, though not superb. Try the hot-and-sour soup, the chili prawns, or the sweet-and-sour chicken. Eat here if you’re in the area, but it’s nor worth a special trip. Add: 63 Le Duan St., Hai Ba Trung District, Tel: 04/822-9839. No credit cards.
• Sampan
  125A Lo Duc St Tel: 8214138
• Silk Road
  Hanoi Daewoo Hotel 360 Kim Ma St Tel: 8315000 ext: 3230  

 Czech

• Hoa Vien
  8 Doe Ngoc Ha St Tel: 7330333

French

• Club Opera
  59 Ly Thai To St Tel: 8268802 - 8246950
• Gustave Eiffel
  17 Trang Tien Tel: 8250625 Fax: 8240933
• Le Beaulieu
  Hanoi Softel Metropole 15 Ngo Quyen St Tel: 8266919 Ext 8028
• Le Bistro
  64 Nguyen Luong Bang St Tel: 8514070 Fax: 8564845 *
• Le Coq D'Or
  130 Le Duan St; Tel: 8524713 *
• L'Elegant
  66 Hue St Tel: 8267639 *
• Hanoi Gourmet
  1B Ham Long St Tel: 9431009
• President Garden
  14 Tons Dan St Tel: 8253606 Fax: 8269730
• Restaurant Bistro
  34 Tran Hung Dao St Tel: 8266136
• Le Splendide
  44 Ngo Quyen St Tel: 8266087
   

 Indian

• Khazaana Indian Restaurant
  1C, Tong Dan Str., Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
  Phone 3934 3513
• Moca Cafe
  14 - 16 Nha Tho St Tel: 8256334 *
• Tandoor
  24 Hang Be St Tel : 8245359; Fax: 8251905 *

 Indonesia

• Asian Village
  11B Tran Hung Dao St Tel: 8253188

 International

•   Al Fresco. This colorful south –of – the – border-cum-pizza restaurant /bar a block south of Hoan Kiem Lake gets high marks from exparts and travelers. Run by a friendly Aussie, the eclectic East-meets- West dining with avocado and chicken, are highly recommended . Al Fresco’s may be the most popular foreign restaurant in Hanoi because of its jumbo portions of ribs , pasta, T-bone steak, Mexican salad, and pizza .Add: 23L Hai Ba Trung St., Hoan Kiem District. Tel:04/826-7782.No credit cards.
• Allante Restaurant
  Sunway Hotel Hanoi 19 Pham Dinh Ho St Tel: 9713888 ext 400
• Cafe Promenade
  Hanoi Daewoo Hotel 360 Kim Ma St Tel: 8315000 ext: 3039
• Cafe Rendezvous
  Capital Garden Hotel 48A Lang Ha St Tel: 8350383
• Club opera. One of Honoi’s top all-around restaurants, Club Opera servers both Western ( downstairs) and Vietnamese food ( upstairs) . The imported Australian beef tenderloin or T-bone steak, grilled salmon, and New Zealand lamb chops are excellent, as are such Vietnamesse dishes as the “ steamboat” , a boiling pot of meat-and- vegetable soup, and the shrimp compote served on a stalk of sugarcane. Mr. Son , the manager , is proud of his collection of jazz , and the atmospheric bar is one of the best places in town to hear recordings from the ’40s through ’60s .Add: 59 Ly Thai To St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel : 04/826-8802(downstairs), 04/824-6950(upstairs) n. AE,MC,V.
•  Five Royal Fish.The shaded , second-floor outdoor terrace overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, and the food and people-watching make up for the unremarkable décor . Homesick Westerners enjoy pizzas, sandwiches, and hamburgers, but there’s also a good Vietnamese menu. Barbecued perk, beef , chicken, and seafood are served , though you should skip the curry . Add: 16 Le Thai To St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/824-4368. No credit cards.
• Galleon Steak House
  50 Tran Quoc Toan St Tel/Fax: 8228611
• Ho Tay Club
  10 Tay Ho St Tel: 7184076 Fax: 7180931*
• Hot Rock Cafe
  11 A1 Giang Vo St Tel: 8445661
• Le Mayeur Coffee Gallery
  Hanoi Horison Hotel 40 Cat Linh St Tel: 7330808 Fax: 7330888
• Madison’s .Under the discerning eye of Australian manager Joshua Quinn, Madison’s has established itself in Hanoi’s nascent fine-dining scene. In Madison’s Hotel , this understated restaurant manages an elegant blend of Continental cuisine and Asian flavors . The décor is upscale and refined , like a British gentlemen’s club. The menu, which changes periodically, includes he highly recommended chicken schnitzel, crab soufflé, and pork medallions with mango chutney . Every dish is special, but Director’s crab is a hit. The wait staff is attentive but not overbearing. Sample the fine selection of Australian wines, Add: 16 Bui Thi Xuan St., Hai Ba Trung District, Tel: 04/822-8164.AE,DC.
• Miro
  he Amerian-run Miro’(named after the painter- prints of his work covers the walls ) is Hanoi’s most fashionable and stylish restaurant . Bryce Lamb, the American chef, cooks up impressive contemporary cuisine, including ginger chicken with sesame seeds, and a fruit-filled filo –dough pastry for dessert. The staff , however, can be overattentive, and drinks are too expensive. Add: 3 Nguyen Khac Can St., Hoan Kiem District,Tel: 04/826-9080. MC,V.
• Moca Cafe
  14 - 16 Nha Tho St Tel: 8256334 *
• My Wife's Place
  Asean Hotel 41 Chua Boc St Tel: 8529108 Fax: 852912
•   Press Club.Morden Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines are served at this elegant restaurant evoking the 1930s. Eat inside in the tasteful dining room or outside on the terrace surrounded by palms . Be sure to sample the calamari appetizer and the moussake, if available . Don’t be upset if they don’t have the wine you wanted ; every bottle needs to be inspected by customs officials  ; if they don’t do it, the wine can’t be sold. Add: 59 Ly Thai To St., Hoan Kiem District. Tel: 04/934-0888.MC,V.
• Richard's Court
  82 Ly Thuong Kiet Tel: 8240607*
• Sampan
  125A Lo Due St Tel: 8214138 *
• Soho Cafe/Deli
  57 Ba Trieu St Tel/Fax: 8266555
• Tapastry
  40 Hang Da St Tel: 8243075 Fax. 8253187
• The Plaza Grill
  14C Tang Bat Ho St Tel: 8210927 *
• The Pub
  52 Ly Thuong Kiet St Tel: 8243504
• The Restaurant
  3/F The Press Club 59A Ly Thai To. Tel: 9340888 Fax: 9340899
• The Spices Garden
  Sofitel Metropole Hotel 15 Ngo Quyen Tel: 8266919 ext 58;
• Verandah Cafe
  The Verandah.This English-run restaurant and pub offers tasty meals and a chance to wind down in style . Housed in a villa near the center of town, the Verandah has an attentive staff , high ceilings , and minimal but elegant décor. The chicken in green curry is deliciously tender , and green-pepper quiche with the accompanying salad and zingy dressing makes a good meal. The best reasons to dine here , however, ate the rich potato-and-leek soup and the fries Camembert with walnuts. The namesake verandah provides for pleasant al fresco dining , and at night the cozy bar area is crowded with expatriates sipping gin and tonics. Add: Nguyen Khac Can St., Hoan Kiem District,.Tel: 04/825-7720. AE,V.

 Italian

• A Little Italian
  78 Tho Nhuom St Tel: 8258167 *
• Bat Dan Cafe/La Dolce Vita
  10 Bat Dan St Tel: 8286411
• Da Tano Restaurant
  Da Tano.Let the friendly patron, Paulo, welcome you to this charming, no –frills trattoria where the checkered tablecloths carry you to Mediterranean. The attentive staff serves up a good lasagna and noteworthy ravioli. Other pan –regional pasta dishes are cooked to al dente perfection, and the Italian chef also rolls out a delicious thin-crust pizza. Add: 10 Hang Hanh St., Hoan Kiem District,Tel: 04/828-7936.No credit cards.
•   Edo.People go out of their way to this place in the Hanoi Daiwoo Hotel, the most expensive restaurant I Hanoi and also the best. Have the $12 lunchbox , try the especially good grilled salmon, or go all out with the extravagant $110 “ Swellfish Course.” Add: Hanoi Daewoo Hotel. 360 Kim Ma St., Ba Dinh District, Tel: 04/831-5000.AE,MC,V.
• II Grillo
  116 Ba Trieu St Tel: 8227720
• II Padrino
  II Padrino Wine Bar and Delicatessen. This peppy , Italian-run eatery is a pleasant spot to cool down and fuel up . Floor-to–ceiling windows face Hoan Kiem lake and at night allow you to look inside to see the socializing foreigner eating here. After having an espresso brewed on the Rizenerazione machine, you may feel up to seeing all of Hanoi’s sights in a day . The iced coffee, yogurt, good-sized sandwiches, tasty pasta carbonare, and the midnight closing time may keep you coming back. Add: Le Thai To St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/828-8449.Ae,V.
• La Paix
  Hanoi Daewoo Hotel 360 Kim Ma St Tel: 8315000 ext: 3245
• La Primavera
  The American chef here creates very good contemporary Italian-American dishes. Sample the excellent grilled sirloin of tuna with mushrooms and pesto or the shrimp and lobster fra diavolo . For dessert try the fruit with ice cream combo or a crepe with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Finish off your meal with a cup of good , strong coffee. Add: 12 Pho Hue St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/826-3202.MC,V.
• La Terrazza
  125 Trieu Viet Vuong St Tel: 9780622
• Mediterraneo
  Really delicious, reasonably-priced Italian food is served in a California-like atmosphere at Mediterraneo. The spinach pie is surprisingly good, as are an interesting array of home-made grappas-try licorice or peach. Add: Nha Tho St., Hoan Kiem District.Tel: 04/826-6288.MC,V.
• Pepperoni's
  71 Mai Hac De St Tel: 9760088 *

Japanese

• Cherry Blossom Inn
  16 Le Thai To St; Tel: 8266377
• Edo
  Hanoi Daewoo Hotel 360 Kim Ma St Tel: 831500C ext 3044
• Momiji
  322 Ba Trieu St Tel: 8216033 *
• Quan Sake
  13 Le Van Huu St Tel: 8241525 *
• Sakura
  Frequented by expats, this take-off-your-shoes Japanese restaurant has clean zen décor and a good-value fixed-price lunch. Try the excellent calamari with vinegar marinade or what appears on the menu as risotto with shrimp, actually a very tasty cream rice that comes sizzling in a clay pot. Service is enthusiastic-staff yell a traditional Japanese greeting to approaching customers- if not altogether professional. Add: 17 Trang Thi St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/825-7565.MC,V.
• Show
  244 Ba Trieu St Tel: 8215701

Korean

• Han Kook Kwan
  16A Lang Ha St; Tel: 8350908/9
• Hoa Do Korean
  59B Duong Thanh St Tel: 8286779
• Le Hoa Korean
  5 Quoc Tu Giam St; Tel: 8267215

 Latin

• Latino Restaurante - Tabema
  102 - C8 Giang Vo St Tel: 8460836 *
• Redwoods
  11 B Bao Khanh St Tel: 8287207 *
• S Bar Tex-Mex Restaurant
  P112. K1 Giang Vo St Tel: 8515628

 Malaysian

• Mother's Pride
  6C Phan Chy Trinh St Tel: 8262168 *
• My Wife's Place
  Asean Intemational Hotel 41 Chua Boc St. Tel: 8528262. Fax: 8529122
   

 Sandwiches

• No Noodles
  51 Luong Van Can St Tel: 8286861 8288333 - 8288345 *
• The Deli
  18 Tran Huy Lieu St Tel: 8460007 *

 Seafood

• San Ho Restaurant
  58 Ly Thuong Kiet St Tel: 8222184 Fax: 8222611

Singaporean

• Halal Restaurant
  Heritage Hotel 80 Giang Vo St Tel: 8344727 - 8351414 Fax: 8343882
• Regency Cafe
  254D Thuy Khue St Tel: 8430030; Fax: 8236916
• Phong Lan Orchid
  218D Thai Ha St Tel/Fax: 8536495

Swiss

• Tell Swiss Restaurant
  1 Ngoc Khanh Tel: 8462069

Steak

• Galleon Steak House
  With beef imported from Australia and the U.S., the meat here can satisfy most any carnivorous hankerings. Sizzling-hot steaks and ice-cold draft beer bring customers back again and again. The Galleon was cited for the “ Best Steaks in Hanoi” by the Vietnam Investment Review two years running. The restaurant is housed in an uninspirational narrow building; inside you’ll find a nautical theme, chevron-pattern wood floors , and a lugubrious wooden bar in back . Add: 50 Tran Quoc Toan St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/822-8611.AE,DC,MC,V.

Thai

• Hong Thoong
  12 Nguyen Du St Tel: 9431428
• Siam Corner
  Oriental Park Quang An Tay Ho District. Tel: 82912004 Fax: 8292053
• Tam Tu
  84 Ly Thuong Kiet St Tel: 8251682

Vietnamese

• Thuy Quynh 2
  41B Ly Thai To St. Hoan Kiem Dist. Hanoi
• Cha Ca La Vong
  Right in the thick of the Old Quarter is Hanoi’s most famous purveyor of cha ca( grilled boneless fish cubes marinated in dill and served with rice noodles and peanuts ). Watch out! Cha ca is dill at your table on a brazier that can send hot grease flying . ( On a warm evening, you may feel like you’re being grilled along with the fish ) . Portions are small ,but that doesn’t seem to dissuade the tourists who pack the upstairs restaurant . Fewer people sit downstairs . The grease-covered walls add to the authentic, pungent experience. Add: 14 Cha Ca St., Hoan Kiem Districk , no phone. No credit cards.
• Country Side
  9 Nguyen Cong Tru St Tel: 8219487
• Dinh Lang Thuy Ta
  1 Le Thai To St Tel: 8286290
• Ha Thanh Restaurant.Packed with locals at lunchtime, this Viernamese equivalent of a greasy-spoon diner serves tasty heaping portions of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. Add: 15A Hang Hanh St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/828-5829. No credit cards.
• Hoa Quynh Restaurant
  41 B Ly Thai To St Tel: 8241166
• Hue Restaurant.If you want the best food in Hanoi, come here for imperial Hue cuisine and other traditional Vietnamese fare in a rustic outdoor /indoor setting. Pork Pie is a poor translation for culinary nirvana-a some-assembly-required platter of sugarcane-wrapped ground pork that you roll with greens and vegetables in rice paper and dip into a delicious peanut sauce. Fof those who wince at this carnivorous frenzy, vegetarian delights are plentiful. A warning: It’s advised not to drink too much since the rest room here is essentially a sloping floor. Add: 6 Ly Thuong Kiet St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/826-4062. No credit cards.
• Indochine
  One of the better upscale Vietnamese dining establishments in town, Indochine is set back from a small street in a worn but elegant house. Antiques from the region set the mood, though interior lighting is somewhat dim. Live traditional music plays some nights , and staff members wear colorful traditional costumes. Choose from seating inside upstairs or downstairs, or outside in the small but pleasant courtyard . Favorite dishes include banana-flower salad, prawns in coconut milk, crab, spring rolls , and beef in bamboo with lemongrass . Add: 16 Nam Ngu St., Hoan Kiem District,Tel: 04/824-6097.Jacket and tie. Reservations essential. AE,MC,V.
• Nam Phuong Restaurant
  19 Phan Chu Trinh St Tel: 8240926
• Nang Tam (Com Chay)
  79A Tran Hung Dao Tel: 8266140
• Piano Restaurant & Bar. A piano-and-violin duo creates a pleasant mood, while the high-ceilinged French-colonial architecture, soft lighting , and antique yellow walls recreate turn-of –the-century charm. The food is less exceptional , though you can expect a good , traditional Vietnamese meal. Stick to the very fresh boiled crab . Don’t expect the best English skills, especially on the telephone. Add: 50 Hang Vai St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/828-4423. No credit cards.
• Quan Gio Moi
  63 Le Duan St Lenin Park Tel: 8229839
• Seasons of Hanoi
  95B Quan Thanh St Tel: 8435444
• Smiling Café. Brimming with young travelers, the Smiling Café not only serves some of Hanoi’s cheapest Vietnamese fast food nut also doubles as a tourist agency that books boat and bus day trips out of the city . As a hub of tourist activity , the Smiling is a great place to meet other travelers and exchange information over a refreshing fruit shake. Add: 10 Dinh Liet St., Hoan Kiem District, Tel: 04/828-2109. No credit cards.
• Van Xuan
  15A Hang Cot St Tel: 9272888. Fax: 9272999

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