Hanoi guide · Where to eat
Places to eat in Hanoi, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Hanoi's food is centred on pork, rice noodles, herbs and fish sauce. Bun cha, grilled pork with rice vermicelli and a dipping sauce, is regarded as a Hanoi dish; the restaurant Bun Cha Huong Lien became famous after President Obama ate there in 2016. Almost all street food and local restaurants use meat, fish sauce or shrimp paste, so strict vegetarians should not rely on stalls.
The good news is a strong plant-based scene. Buddhist vegetarian cooking is a long tradition, and directories list dozens of vegan places in the city, many in or near the Old Quarter. This guide lists five that directories describe as fully vegan: Katze, Dana Vegan House, Bao An Vegan Street Food, Veggie Castle and Loving Hut Hoa Binh. For most, we relied on a directory listing rather than the restaurant's own site, so confirm with staff when it matters.
We did not find a verified fully Jain restaurant, and no page we opened shows a restaurant is pure vegetarian beyond the vegan places. Indian restaurants such as AMY, Masala Art and Dalcheeni are listed with the Indian tag, but their Jain and egg-free claims need confirming with staff. Jain travellers should carry snacks, ask hotels in advance about no onion, garlic or root vegetables, and expect to explain this clearly. Indian restaurants do exist in the city, but check menus and reviews yourself. Dress modestly where a place of worship is involved, and keep to bottled or boiled water.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
10 Hang Thiec, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem
A small North Indian restaurant on Hang Thiec in the Old Quarter, listed by Spinach Guide for Punjabi dishes such as dal, chana masala and aloo paratha, with many vegan options.
109 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem
A vegetarian buffet at 109 Tran Hung Dao in Hoan Kiem, reported to offer up to 60 dishes including vegetarian pho, bun rieu and house-made meat substitutes.
277 Van Chuong Street, Dong Da
A local vegetarian restaurant on Van Chuong street, near the Temple of Literature, listed by Wikivoyage as a typical Vietnamese vegetarian place open from early morning.
Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem
A small family-run vegan food stall on Tran Hung Dao with banh mi, pho, fried spring rolls and sweet che, listed as fully vegan.
1 Hang Manh, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem
A bun cha restaurant at 1 Hang Manh in the Old Quarter, listed for grilled pork patties and large crab spring rolls, with a second branch on Duong Thanh.
24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District
A bun cha restaurant at 24 Le Van Huu, south of the Old Quarter, named by several guides for its charcoal-grilled pork with noodles and fried rolls.
21 Nguyen Huu Huan, near Hoan Kiem Lake
A bun cha restaurant at 21 Nguyen Huu Huan, near Hoan Kiem Lake, named by Wikivoyage and HungryGoWhere, which also mentions vegetarian versions of its dishes.
6B Duong Thanh, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem
A cha ca restaurant at 6B Duong Thanh, serving turmeric-marinated grilled fish with noodles and herbs; named by VietnamNet and HungryGoWhere.
Dang Tat, Ba Dinh
A Vietnamese vegan restaurant in Ba Dinh that its directory page says serves an entirely vegan menu, including spring rolls and pho.
79A Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem
A vegetarian restaurant on Tran Hung Dao street, listed by Wikivoyage for vegetarian food including mock-meat dishes and open daily from morning to evening.
100 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho
An Indian restaurant on Xuan Dieu in Tay Ho, by West Lake, listed for tandoor dishes and a strong vegetarian section, with all meat halal.
Dong Thai, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem
A modern Vietnamese vegan restaurant on Dong Thai, in the Old Quarter, with soups, salads, mains and desserts built on traditional rice dishes.
71 Dao Tan, Ba Dinh
A vegan restaurant at 71 Dao Tan in Ba Dinh serving a daily-changing set menu, with dishes such as Hanoi spring rolls and stir-fried pho listed by one guide.
261 Xa Dan, Dong Da
A Vietnamese vegetarian buffet at 261 Xa Dan in Dong Da with 100 or more dishes, including mock-meat items, at a fixed price per adult.
14 Hang Than, Hoan Kiem
An upscale vegetarian restaurant at 14 Hang Than in Hoan Kiem, with a Buddhist-inspired setting and dishes such as betel leaf rolls and lotus leaf steamed mushrooms.
Cau Go lane, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem
A Vietnamese restaurant in an Old Quarter alley that HappyCow lists as fully vegan, serving local dishes with plant-based substitutes for meat and fish.
9 Nha Tho Street, Hoan Kiem
A contemporary Indian restaurant and bar on Nha Tho street near St Joseph's Cathedral, which describes itself as serving halal, vegetarian, vegan and Jain-friendly dishes.
61 Dinh Tien Hoang, near Hoan Kiem Lake
A beef pho shop at 61 Dinh Tien Hoang near Hoan Kiem Lake, named by VietnamNet and Vietnam Airlines for its rare-beef pho.
18 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hoan Kiem
A restaurant on Phan Boi Chau street serving dishes from across Vietnam, which Wikivoyage warns can involve a wait.
4B Yen The Street, Hanoi
A restaurant on Yen The street serving Northern Vietnamese home-style cooking, with reservations now essential according to Wikivoyage.
87 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem (other branches exist)
A vegan buffet restaurant listed at 87 Ly Thuong Kiet in Hoan Kiem, with other branches elsewhere in Hanoi. Useful for vegan families who want a sit-down meal rather than street food.
Yen Ninh, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh
A small vegan buffet restaurant near Truc Bach lake that serves a daily lunch and dinner spread of salads, tofu, noodles and mushroom dishes.
99B Alley 275 Au Co, Tay Ho
A vegan cafe at 99B Alley 275 Au Co in Tay Ho serving Asian and European dishes, including bento rice, vegetarian pho, soba, tacos, pizza and pasta.
