Hanoi is a street-food capital built around noodle soups, grilled pork and steamed rice rolls eaten on plastic stools. The Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 awards four one-star restaurants alongside the city's Bib Gourmand street eats.
Hanoi at a glance
What to eat
Pho bo; Bun cha; Cha ca; Egg coffee; Banh cuon and Old Quarter street food.
When to go
Best: October–December. Also good: March–April. Hardest: June–August.
Top tables
This guide lists 7 award-winning restaurants, starting with ONVIT, Gia, Hibana by Koki and Tầm Vị.
Where locals eat
Local favorites off the prestige lists include Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Xới Cơm, Phở Gà Nguyệt and Phở Tiến.
New places change fast. “Provisional” means a guide or directory lists it as new but we have not confirmed the opening date. Check hours and book ahead before you go.
Memorable breakfasts in Hanoi
The top pick here; the rest are on their own page.
Phở Thìn Lò Đúc
Hai Bà Trưng
Order: Stir-fried beef pho
Garlicky beef and aromatic broth distinguish this Hanoi institution.
Picks come from romantic-dinner lists on booking and review sites. Confirm dinner service, menus and availability before you book.
Hot right now in Hanoi
We have not verified a current craze in Hanoi yet. We only list one once it has been reported in the press.
The Hanoi food map
Every place in this guide, pinned. Tap a pin to see what to order, then add it to your trip.
Open the full Hanoi food map: every place on our lists too (pizza, ice cream, romantic, where locals and the famous eat, cooking classes), searchable by dish.
· 14 of 15 dish places are pinned; the rest appear in the lists below. Pins are placed by address or name and can be a little off; always confirm in your maps app.
Plan my days in Hanoi
Tell us what you like and we will line up the places on this page into a day-by-day plan. Only places from this guide, never anything else.
What to eat in Hanoi, and where
Each dish comes with the places that do it best. Tap Add to my trip on the ones you want, or find them on the map above.
Phở
beef or chicken noodle soup, Hanoi's northern style
Travel Vietnam (updated Dec 2024): Oct-Dec optimal (20-25C, lower humidity, little rain), Mar-Apr mild spring (15-23C); May-Aug/Sep hot and humid, 32-40C, June showers, July hottest, August frequent rain; Dec-Jan(-Feb) cool, 10-20C, can drop below 10C. The source's season boundaries vary between sections, and its page metadata refers to Da Nang. Month numbers and 'avoid' are our mapping of the prose. Tet (Lunar New Year, expected 6 Feb 2027) causes major closures; see closures. Only one main source for weather.
In season
Banh chung after Tet (pan-fried leftovers)Jan–Feb
Banh troi / banh chayMar–Apr
Fresh spring herbs (perilla, Vietnamese coriander, fish mint)Mar–Apr
Bun rieu cua (paddy-crab noodle soup)May–Aug
Che sweet soupsJun–AugJune-August, Old Quarter pavement vendors
Lychee (Hung Yen)May–Jul
LonganJul–Aug
Com lang Vong (young green rice)Sep–Nov
Food events
Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)Feb
Banh Chung Boiling NightFebTet eve; public boilings at Tran Vu Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda
Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn)Sep25 Sep 2026; 2027 not listed (Penang page gives 15 Sep 2027 for Mid-Autumn, same lunar date, my inference for Hanoi); lanterns and masks on Hang Ma
Hanoi Craft Beer FestivalOctMid-October, 2 days, Furbrew Tay Ho; year not stated
Hanoi Beer FestivalNovMid-November, 2 days, HABECO at Quan Ngua Sports Palace; year not stated
Closures to plan around
Tet: Travel Vietnam says many businesses close up to a week; TableJourney says many street stalls close, book hotel restaurants. Vietnam Tourism (2026 dates) advises assuming everything is closed 14-22 Feb 2026: smaller
Hot, humid summer (May-Aug) with heavy showers; no sourced food closures
No weekly closing days sourced; pho and bun cha shops typically operate mornings/lunch - not confirmed in sources
Meal costs and tipping (VND)
Casual: pho bo 50,000-80,000; bun cha 40,000-70,000; banh mi 20,000-40,000; banh cuon 30,000-50,000; cha ca 80,000-150,000; bia hoi 5,000-10,000
Mid-range: local eatery 80,000-150,000 per person; mid-range restaurant for 2 with 3 dishes 400,000-800,000; Western food 120,000-200,000; steak 350,000-700,000
Tasting menus from: No separate fine-dining tier; 4-star hotel dinner 600,000-1,200,000; Sofitel Metropole signature dinner from 2,000,000
From published guides and tourism boards. Months are our mapping of how guides describe the seasons; 2027 event dates are expected, not confirmed. Prices come from single sources of varying age, so treat them as a rough guide. Compare cities by month
The best of Hanoi, by category
The top pick in each, then every place on its own page with what to get and a map.
Locally loved places that are not on the big prestige lists.
family-run
Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư
Hoàn Kiếm (Old Quarter) · $
Order: Phở bò tái or chín; ten beef combinations on the menu
A tiny corner shop with the kitchen visible through glass, serving a clear, delicate northern broth with tender beef. Bring cash, and watch for lookalike shops nearby.
Awards come from the guides named on each listing (Michelin Vietnam 2026). Researched October 25, 2026. Restaurants change; confirm hours, reservations and current stars before you go. Some addresses, phone numbers and websites come from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), so call ahead to confirm. Local favorites are editorial picks, not rankings.
Chef Amazing’s lists for Hanoi: where locals eat, new openings, romantic dinners, ice cream, cooking classes and more, each place with what to order. Cooking classes in Hanoi: who teaches, what you cook, how long and how to book.
