Nom Nom - Nam

At Juni’s Kitchen, you can try a seriously delicious selection of Indonesian food. You can eat what you want separately, or you can do it the Indonesian way and have a bit of nasi campur. Nasi means rice, and campur means mixed, so it’s a mixed rice, not unlike “com rang” here in Vietnam.

You choose your “base” - noodles or rice, fried or plain. Choose your protein from a mixture of meat dishes and vegetarian options. And choose a side - sautéed veggies, delicious tempeh (crispy soybean cake), veggie lumpia (deep-fried spring rolls), etc. Mix it all together or eat it separately, up to you! No matter which way you eat it, it’s going to be full of delicious flavors and interesting textures.

Now that they’ve partnered with Red River Tea Room, you can also be assured that there will be excellent beer and wine pairings.

Juni’s Kitchen: Open for lunch from 11am, and open for dinner from 4pm. [They don’t serve on Mondays]

Red River Tea Room: Open daily from 11am - 11:30 pm.

There are two reasons I love Pow Pow Snow - apart from the name of course.

1. The ice cream 2. The comics

1. I find their variety of ice cream comforting, I know that whatever mood I'm in Pow Pow will always be able to give me exactly what I need. There's soft serve American-style with a choice of flavours, a harder scoop that features especially in their floats, and (my personal favourite) Korean "snow" ice cream. Pow Pow was my first experience of that little piece of melt-in-your-mouth heaven and I have never looked back. They have several toppings so whether you're a chocolate fiend or prefer the healthy option, like granola, they've got it all.

2. The comics, or rather I should say graphic novels. On the second floor you'll find a great selection of graphic novels and coffee table books. Most are in English and if you're going to be communally anti-social on social media, might as well be anti-social with your nose in a comic. I've got my bookmark in Paying For It, so don't lose it!

Pow Pow Snow 166E Doi Can, Ba Dinh

Ly Van Phuc, known locally as Chicken Street, is littered with restaurants all selling the same thing. The menu from place to place might change slightly but they all have the basics: perfectly grilled chicken, grilled honey bread, spicy sauce*.

Your meal with always start with some lightly pickled cucumbers. Eat them! Dip them in the spicy sauce! Dip e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. in the spicy sauce! You should also order grilled potato wedges, sweet potato [khoai lang] if they’ve got them. And dip them in the spicy sauce. Get your chicken. Pull out the massive torture device, or “skewer”, and dip it in the spicy sauce. Lastly, you get your bread. Definitely dip that honey goodness in the spicy sauce.  

If you don’t speak Vietnamese, you might have trouble at many of these restaurants. You can go the old route of pointing to different body parts to get what you want, or you can go to the place with an English menu. Once you get to the start of chicken street, the first restaurant on the left has an English menu (as well as Russian and Korean).

Chicken Street - Ly Van Phuc, Ba Dinh Hours: open daily until 11pm.

Bo Bia is a dessert sold by women on bicycles who ride around Hanoi in the afternoons looking to tempt your sweet tooth. If you’ve got two minutes and a few thousand dong, all this can be yours. The woman assembles the wrap right in front of you, so you get to see the weird bunch of ingredients in all their glory.

The best place to find this tasty treat is on the road stretching between Truc Bach Lake and West Lake, Thanh Nien Street; but you can sometimes find them in the old quarter as well. Just look for a bicycle with a white box on the back sporting “Bò bía” in red lettering.

A word about language: Bò bía is the dessert we are all talking about.However, in Vietnamese, Bò (with the upward tone) means “beef”, and Bia (with no tone) means “beer”. Although the words are spelled with the same letters, the accent marks give the words different meaning. Therefore, many newcomers, myself included, imagine Bò bía is some combination of beef and beer. While that would probably also be awesome, this is an entirely different thing.

At Hakata Ikkousha, you can truly have it your way. There are over 100 different combinations of ramen that you can experiment with at this casual establishment. You order by filling out a form and ticking what add-ons you want. You specify broth type, noodle density, and broth thickness, and then come all the extras. The add-ons range from seaweed sheets to soft-boiled eggs (highly recommended if you like a creamy ramen). You can up your veggie count by throwing in mushrooms or bean sprouts. You can double down on green onions, or go full carnivore with extra meat. The possibilities are endless. 

If you’re not a ramen lover or are traveling with someone who hasn’t yet crossed over to the dark side, fear not! There are other options. Not many, but some. There are a few rice dishes, dumplings, and fried chicken à la Japan. 

If something draws you out of the old quarter or Westlake area, this should be it. 

Hakata Ikkousha 25 Lang Ha, Dong Da Hours: Open daily from 11:00-22:30 [Last order 22:00] 

Situated on a residential street in Truc Bach, you find a glowing door with an old bicycle hanging overhead. Once you enter, you join a world from the past. The atmosphere is incredible and there is no lack of things to look at, but the food is what lingers in your mind long after you’ve left. Every dish is part of Vietnam’s traditional cuisine and each dish brings something new to the table. 

Whether you’re crunching on some crabs in tamarind sauce or chipping away at the burnt rice (Com Chay) every meal becomes a culinary adventure. No two dishes taste alike. Everything on the menu has a unique flavor. Any choice from the menu would be a good choice. Guys, the food is just that good. Oh, and they serve some of the best fresh springrolls this side of the Red River.

When the waitress comes around to take your order, she writes it out on little ration cards styled after the ones used in war times. As an added bonus, you can bring these home after the meal. Hello, free and awesome souvenier! 

KOTO* does it all! Here we look at Pots n’ Pans, their more fine-dining establishment. The food is exquisite all across the board and never lets you down. And while most fine-dining places will serve you drastically smaller portions, Pots n’ Pans will take up every bit of real estate in your hungry stomach. 

The folks at Pots n’ Pans have done us a solid with their lunch menu. While a dinner meal for two can cost upwards of 1 mil VND, the lunch menu is marginally cheaper - 2 courses for 190k or 3 courses for 210k. It doesn’t seem like the portion sizes change from lunch to dinner either. What a steal!

This is a great opportunity for travelers and expats alike to have a gorgeous meal for half the price. Some of our favorite dishes are the marinated eggplant salad, homemade potato gnocchi, and the crispy skin sea bass. And don’t forget dessert! 

Pots n Pans 57 Bui Thi Xuan, Hai Ba Trung Hours: Daily 11.30am-Late Click here for their menu!

This was definitely one of the odder desserts I've ever had. As soon as I saw it, I knew some experimental tasting was needed.

Toast - as dessert? We got three in the end - nutella, peanut butter and cinnamon & pretzel. All were well-recieved and the speed at which I saw the cleaned enamel of the plate is a testament. The bread isn't sweetened and so brings out the toppings. Although the menu drips with sweet, delectable desserts, there's no sugar overload. And the drinks would keep you satisfied for days. There was an impressive selection of all things matcha flavor, a la Japan! 

I'll be back to sample the other intriguing menu items (strawberry crumble!?) See you there!

Dragon fruit - just the name sounds insane. After getting a peek at what this exotic fruit looks like, you might say to yourself, “Yes, that is, in fact, an insane fruit. What planet did that come from?” Fear not Earthlings, I can decode this strange exotic fruit for you. 

Dragon fruit = crisp, crunchy, lightly floral-flavored, juicy, refreshing

It’s a bit like a watermelon in texture, but with a much more subtle sweet and flowery flavor. There are also white varieties that tend to be less sweet. For me, the best part is the crunch of the seeds. They are edible and small enough that you can eat them easily. They have a similar crunch to the seeds in kiwis.

Dragon fruit comes from a cactus plant that was originally found in Mexico. Because of it’s “take me to your leader” appearance, this fruit was a popular gift among explorers and royals. Now, it is cultivated in almost every corner of the world.  

It’s jam packed with nutrients and vitamins. Calcium for the bones, Vitamins B and C for your health, Fiber to keep you “regular”, and more. It is known to help ward off cancer and glaucoma, while also being low calorie [60 cal for one fruit] and low carb [8g carb per fruit].

Moose & Roo is a relatively new establishment for Hanoians, having just opened in Autumn 2014; but they have quickly earned a name for themselves. While the two owners are from Canada (Moose) and Australia (Roo), the breadth of the menu includes comforts from England and the U.S. as well. Some favorites include Aussie Beef and Dark Ale Pie, Beef & Bone Marrow Burger (try it with blue cheese), and the Spicy Chicken Wings. 

Moose & Roo has got a cozy pub atmosphere with spot-on service. They also can satisfy your libation desires with a stacked menu of imported beers and ciders. If you feel particularly celebratory, go for a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa at the weekend brunch, held Saturdays and Sundays. 

Lick & Bite give you a custom-made ice cream on a stick, and for a very reasonable price [25,000 VND]. Choose your ice cream, chocolate, extra topping and you’re ready to go!

The premises is tiny but that just adds to the charm of getting up close to your fellow gelato-guzzlers. I love it!

Lick n’ Bite 150 O Cho Dua - Hoang Cau

If you prefer to drink your coffee surrounded by Vietcong Military memorabilia, Cong Caphe is for you. 

Everything about Cong Caphe fits into their motif, from the camping-style aluminum mugs and handmade red woolen coasters, to the worn, metal tables and chairs. Decor aside, their menu is sweet. Our favorite is the coconut iced coffee (Bac Xiu), but other frontrunners are the yogurt coffee with sticky rice or the yogurt and fresh fruit. And of course, the ever desirable Vietnamese Coffee with condensed milk (Cafe Sua Da) is available. 

We love Daluva. It’s no secret among our friends. Daluva is a foreigner-owned and operated restaurant in Tay Ho that focuses on western, fusion, and Israeli cuisine. It’s more expensive than eating at local Vietnamese restaurants, but it’s worth every bit of it. 

The pizzas: mini pizzas on Daluva’s own fresh flatbread with gourmet toppings; many of which are made in-house, like the Duck Pancetta and the Feta cheese (let’s appreciate how amazing that is). Right now there are seven on the menu, and some of these are seasonal: Arab Flatbread, BBQ Flatbread, Charcuterie Flatbread, Fishy Flatbread, Greek Flatbread, Fancy Pants Pizza, and Eggplant Pizza.

If you are having just one, I would recommend the Fancy Pants Pizza (pictured) or the Arab Flatbread. But you’re in luck! You don’t have to choose just one. Daluva has specials during the week. One of which is their Pizza and Beer Special on Thursdays. 

Thursday’s Pizza & Beer Special: All pizzas are only 45,000 (regular price - 90,000 VND) All you can drink GoldMalt (gold or black Czech style lager) draught beer for 150,000. 

If you’re going with a group, this is a lovely opportunity to try several (or all) of their pizzas. They’re small, but with 6 pieces each, they’re good for sharing. Grab some friends, and do Thursday night out. 

The entire menu is vegan and everything I’ve had is also delicious. With all the food options in Hanoi, it can still be difficult for strict veggies to find reliable places to go out. Everything ends up with some kind of fish sauce in it. Loving Hut is devoted to being a fully vegan restaurant, and there are several locations around Hanoi. The best value is the “office rice”. You get rice surrounded by a variety of vegetable and faux meat samplings, two soups, and a fresh spring roll for around 50,000 VND. 

Another interesting thing to try is their buffet lunch. They offer a 100,000 VND all-you-can-eat buffet lunch only on the 1st and 15th days of the Lunar Calendar (This is different than the Gregorian or Western calendar. Check your interwebs.) 

For non-vegan, non-veggie people: Be not afraid. This food is delicious. The menu is laden with faux-meat products, even faux-meat versions of typical Vietnamese dishes: Bun Cha, Bun Thit Nuong, Banh Xeo. And faux-meat is magical. Again, be not afraid. You’d never know it wasn't meat. If that sounds scary, just choose from the multitude of vegetable dishes.