Bun Bo Nam Bo @ Nha Hang 67 Hang Dieu

Just like Malaysia, Hanoi is a food paradise with plethora of food to choose from. Most of the best food in Hanoi is found on the sidewalk, with dishes that features the usual suspects such as, fish sauce, fresh herbs, rice noodles and beef. Nha Hang 67 Hang Dieu is a well known Bun Bo Nam Bo street kitchen that has been around since 1988. 

One thing I learned in Hanoi is not to worry about the language barrier. Most of the restaurant will know what you want. All you need to do is order the portion and find a place to sit. 

The restaurant is long, deep and narrow with stainless steel communal tables and wooden benches filling up the empty space.

Bun Bo Nam Bo (50,000 VND ~ RM7.33), which literally means "Southern Beef Noodle" is a concoction of rice noodles, topped with sliced beef, peanuts, dried onions, bean sprouts, green papaya, coriander and basil leaves - all drenched in a small portion of sweet savory fish sauce.

Like any bowl of noodles, mixing is essential before digging in. The tangy broth at the bottom of the bowl was exceptional, harmonizing all the ingredients together. The bowl of noodles was full of flavors, making each mouthful complex and intriguing.


Verdict : TOTALLY SMITTEN

Nha Hang
Address: 67 Hang Dieu, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84 4 3923 0701
Opening Hours: 7am- 1030pm

Pho 10 @ Old Quarter, Hanoi

If you are looking for a cleaner establishment to savor the national dish, hop right into Pho 10. Here you will find proper tables and chairs instead of tiny stools and wooden tables. The laminated menu was easy to read with English translation for all the 10 different varieties of beef Pho.

Pho 10 is located at 10 Ly Quoc Su Street, opposite Nguyen Sinh.

The kitchen windows were fogged up by the steam from the vats and bubbling stock. I can't imagine how hot is it to work inside the enclosed kitchen area.

Limes are often used in Vietnamese dishes to accent the food flavors. Never forget to squeeze an entire wedge of lime into your Pho. 

These serrano chili have a "delayed fuse" as it takes a moment to fully kick in when it hits the palate. Add a few slices of serrano chili if you enjoy spicy Pho. 

Tai Nam (35,000 VND ~ RM5.11) - To avoid over cooking the beef, always order half done beef and submerge any beef that are still pink. This bowl of half done flank beef was flawless. The broth was sweeter than Pho Gia Truyen, but I much preferred the noodles there, as it is silkier than Pho 10. Don't forget to hop over to Nguyen Sinh when you are done with your meal! 


Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN


Pho 10 Restauarant
Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hanoi
Tel: 43- 828 4455

Nguyen Sinh Pate @ Hanoi

Nguyen Sinh looks and feels like a typical Vietnamese shop. But the resemblance stops there. Founded in 1950, Nguyen Sinh has successfully kept alive the art of baking bread and cooking French food. At first glance, the menu was confusing with the abundance of choices and foreign languages. But once we gathered our composure, we knew what we wanted.

Nguyen Sinh is located right opposite of Pho 10. 

This reasonably priced deli was the cause for carnivorous jubilation.

Baguette (5,000 VND ~ RM0.72)

Pate Foie Gras (50,000 VND ~ RM7.2) - The spreadable pate had a subdued liver flavor with an unctuous texture. The photo may not do justice, but believe me, the pate was out of this world!

Assorted Cold Cuts (70,000 VND ~ RM10) -  A beyond reasonable RM10 landed us with an  assortment of fresh salami, precooked sausage, beerwurst, bologna and pate. The smooth pate coupled with some cold cuts was simply delicious when spread on a warm baguette.

Pate Omelette (70,000 VND ~ RM10) - The fatty pate was lightly seared then tossed onto a sizzling pan with eggs. The texture of the pate changed when cooked, but it was equally tongue tingling. Each bite was delicious, pleading for a bottle of Hanoi beer. 

The warm baguette and fresh pate had us coming back for more. We were back the next day and we actually bought additional pate to bring back to Malaysia. This is by far the best pate I've tasted.  =D

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Nguten Sinh, Hanoi

Address: 17-19 Ly Quoc Su, Hanoi

Tel: 04-38265234

Operating Hours: 7am to 10pm

Pho Gia Truyen @ 49 Bat Dan (Old Quarter), Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter is the beating heart of the city, with more than 2000 years of history and development. This is where you will find the most authentic Vietnamese food and family owned restaurant. At Pho Gia Truyen, you will only have 2 opportunities a day to get hooked: at breakfast or at brunch. By noon, everything will be sold out!

The fixtures of the restaurant was rather old and tired, with tiny wooden stools and communal tables filling up the empty space. This may not be the most hygienic stall in Hanoi, but it sure does live up to its culinary standard.

The kitchen area 

Diners are required to order, pay and collect their Pho at the counter - It is 100% self service.

There are 3 different varieties of Pho to choose from:

Tai Nam (45,000 VND)  - Rare steak and flank

Tai (40,000 VND) - Rare steak

Chin (35,000 VND) - Well done steak

Tai Nam (45,000 VND ~ RM6.50) - The broth was clean and simple with a subtle undertones of complex flavors. The rice noodles was silky soft, unlike any other noodles I have tried before. The thinly sliced beef was accompanied by a generous amount of green onions and coriander leaves. The broth was fragrant and sweet, derived from the richness of the beef bones. Be sure to add some vinegar, red chili and hot sauce for extra flavoring!

This national dish was truly delicious and heart warming. I heart pho!

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Pho Gia Truyen  (Pho 49 Bat Dan)

Address: 49 Bat Dan St. , Hanoi, Vietnam

Operating Hours: 7am to 11am

Bia Hoi @ Old Quarter, Hanoi

Bia Hoi which means "Fresh Beer" in English, is Vietnam's version of draft beer. Each morning, large beer barrels and kegs are distributed by the local breweries such as Hanoi Brewery, Viet Ha Brewery and South East Asia Brewery to thousands of Bia Hoi outlets. 

Unlike canned or bottled beer, Bia Hoi has no additives or preservatives. Hence, it is essential to consume everything on the same day and as early as possible before the flavors begin to stray. 

Bia Hoi has an alcohol content somewhere between 4 to 4.5% and it only cost 5,000 VND per glass ( ~ less than RM1 or 72 cents to be exact! ). This might be the world's cheapest beer!

Bia Hoi Corner situated between Luong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien streets is the gathering place for beer drinkers. It is truly a luxury to sit on a tiny plastic chair, watching the world go by. 

 This unpasteurized and unpreserved brew was light, slightly bitter and had a subtle notes of malt and rice. 

After a few glasses of Bia Hoi, we were enlightened and ready to start exploring Hanoi's charms.

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Bia Hoi Corner

Address: Intersection of Luong Ngnoc Quyen and Ta Hien Streets

**Bia Hoi outlets are often nameless, so look for store with a large sign reading Bia Hoi.

Soo Kee Restaurant @ Jalan Imbi (Sang Har Mee)

In Malaysia, it's often hard to remember what time of the year it is, since is sunny all year round. But you know the holiday season is here when friends from overseas are dropping by Malaysia for a visit and what better place to bring them than the iconic Soo Kee Restaurant @ Jalan Imbi.

Happy marriages of Siu Yok and Kai Lan. The smoky Siu Yok is the perfect enhancer for the earthy Kai Lan.

The stir fried vegetables with intestines deserve a nod too. The vegetables are fresh and crunchy, while the intestines are an excellent taste of the Chinese tradition.

These deep fried paper-wrapped chicken are marinated in oyster sauce and bean sauce. Even though this is not the best paper-wrapped chicken in town, it is still worth trying.

This plate of Sang Har Mee is worth going GAGA over. The humongous prawns coupled with deep fried noodles soaked in gravy, infused with ginger is worth every penny.

Thinly sliced beef and green onions are tucked among the silky soft Koay Teow. Each bite is packed with delicious beef and ginger taste.

The Sang Har Mee at Soo Kee has long been the city's best source of noodle. Each dish offers strong flavors that stand up to the diner's expectations. Not to mention, this meal would not be complete without a few glasses of ice cold beer.

Verdict : TOTALLY SMITTEN

Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea @ Imbi Market

Optimism is sometimes a wonderful thing, but no always. On the food:

Surroundings - Imbi Market is a gem, situated near the Bukit Bintang area. This diminutive space offers a wide range of fresh products and dry food, but best of all it housed some of the most prominent hawkers stall and kopitiam in town.

Menu - Imbi market is a food paradise. To start, order the famous Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea and some steam bread / roti bakar (toasted bread). Once done, head towards to the Chee Cheong Fun and Popiah stalls which are right next to each other. If you still have a few more calories to spare, I highly recommend a plate of Wan Tan Mee, which is absolutely delicious.

Things can get quite chaotic in morning. Be ready to fight for a table =)

The famous Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea - Thick and aromatic. A great way to start your work day.

The Steam Bread are soft, warm and fluffy. Alternatively, you can opt for a Roti Bakar which is equally delicious.

This plate of Wan Tan Mee is worth all your calories. The springy noodles coupled with some Char Siu and Wanton is truly a comforting food.

Unlike the normal brown gravy, which are thick and creamy, the gravy here are thin and light. Not to mention the Yong Tau Foo here kick ass!

This place is truly a glutton's paradise....

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN