25 Hanoi Street Foods: A Visual Checklist for Your Trip

If you want one page to save before a Hanoi trip, this is the broad list. It is not a ranking and it is not a promise that you need to eat all 25 dishes. Think of it as a visual checklist of the different directions Hanoi food can take you: noodle soups, rice dishes, fried snacks, grilled food, sweets and seasonal specialties.

25 Hanoi Street Foods: How to Use This Checklist

Choose a few dishes that match the time of day and your appetite rather than chasing a fixed number. Breakfast foods may disappear before lunch, afternoon snacks come alive after school and work, and some evening stalls only make sense once the streets cool down. The most useful food plan in Hanoi is flexible.

Top 25 Hanoi street food not to miss for first time travelers

1. Bún chả

2. Bún riêu cua

3. Bánh cuốn nóng

4. Nem rán

5. Gỏi cuốn

6. Phở cuốn

7. Bún thang

8. Miến lươn

9. Bún cá

10. Bánh đúc

11. Xôi

12. Chả cá

13. Bánh tôm

14. Thịt xiên nướng

15. Nộm thịt bò khô

16. Cháo sườn

17. Bánh mì

18. Bánh giò

19. Bánh khoai

20. Bánh gối

21. Bánh chuối

22. Bánh rán

23. Cốm

24. Chè

25. Tào phớ

Do Not Treat the List Like a Scorecard

A better trip is not the one where you tick off the most dishes. It is the one where you notice why one bowl appears only in the morning, why another snack smells better beside a charcoal grill, or why a tiny shop has regulars ordering before they even sit down. Use this list to notice possibilities, then follow the city rather than the checklist.

For deeper planning, start with Where to Eat in Hanoi Old Quarter, then use our Hanoi breakfast guide and Hanoi afternoon snacks guide.

You do not need to complete all 25 dishes, if you would rather let a local narrow the city down to a manageable route and explain what you are eating along the way, our Taste of Hanoi walking street food tour is designed for exactly that: less time researching, more time understanding and eating.

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Dung (Emma) Co-founder of Beyond Vietnam

Xin chào! I’m Dung, but many travellers call me Emma. I grew up on the outskirts of Hanoi, and no matter how far I travel, this busy and slightly chaotic city still feels most like home.

I’ve explored Vietnam on my own and with the people I love, while also spending years volunteering and joining community projects. Along the way, I’ve collected plenty of stories, local tips and unforgettable moments. I share them here to help you feel closer to Hanoi and Vietnam, hopefully even before you arrive.

You can also find me on Facebook. Come and say hi!