surprises, but read above for good choices...oh btw, you will be there 1st, but probably will want to pay the high prices at Sofitel ONLY

It's been three months in Hanoi for me so far and I am still discovering new dishes but here's a short list of my favourites till date: Pho Bo, Banh Cuon, Pho Cuon, Bun Cha and Bun Rieu. Seems like everyone has their favourites on where to find the best version of these dishes but I recommend you sign up one of the street food tours offered by many companies in Hanoi. :)

Best food? EVERYTHING!!!!! Eating with the locals was fabulous. I loved all the little places. We never ate at the hotel (Metropole)

Woa!
I desire Hanoi Cuisine very much.
I love "Pho Bat Dan" the most.
After that, you should try eating "salad roll" in Ngu Xa street (near West Lake).
Moreover, you should walk around The Old Quarters to discover local Hanoi food as street-bread, mix dry noodle, mix salad, etc.

thanks all

Our favorite food experience was the Street Food Tour with Mark Lowerson...

http://streetfoodtourshanoi.blogspot.com/

These are the places we hit and none were duds.

As promised, some links to places we visited:

Bun rieu cha: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...-rieu-cha.html
Banh cuon: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...time_luck.html (different vendor at 68 Hang Cot St)
Creme Caramel: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...6/03/post.html
Fermented Wild Rice w Yoghurt:http://streetfoodtourshanoi.blogspot...l#comment-form
Market: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...t_meanderings/ (different market)
Pho Tiu: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...are_not_e.html
Egg Coffee: http://streetfoodtourshanoi.blogspot...gg-coffee.html
Bun ca: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...fish-dish.html
Cafe Duy Tri: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...a_artista.html
Banh gio: http://stickyrice.typepad.com/my_web...-giò.html

You should go to Old Quarter. The best street food of Hanoi is served there. :).

I add a original cake in Hanoi. Its name is Gia Trinh cake in Phung Hung street. It is a traditional transparent which often use in Vietnamese wedding.

fyi, this is our 3rd trip to hanoi

Bob, when are you going to be in Hanoi? 90% certain we will be there on our way back fro Australia in Oct/Nov would be nice to meet up for a beer if the dates coincide.

clive, we will be in Hanoi from nov 23-29 and in hoi an nov 29-dec 2.

we will be travelling with the hawaiianTravellers. they love vn food so it would be fun for us to share a meal at one of your favorite places..

let me know.

bob

Quit it, you two guys! You're making me jealous!!

Bob, sadly we arrive mid October and head out in Early November so will miss you and the HTs. A GTG would have been great.

We plan on spending a few days in Hanoi either side of a trip to the far north so will try and scout out a few new eating places and will report back with anything interesting- It's a hell of a job but someone has to do it! :-)

Cheers
Clive

Forgot to add, just spent a while in Hoi An after a 15 year absence ( boy has it changed!) . Had some great food there, notably Mermaid ( the best stuffed squid ever), Miss Ly's - really excellent Hoi An specialities, Morning Glory was also pretty good but exceptionally busy. They also have a cooking school place across the river Kitchen Garden which does an all you can eat buffet for 450k dong from "street stall" inside the school. Didn't try it but it looked very interesting.

Bale Well is an institution in town a fixed menu of Ban Xeo, spring rolls, grilled pork all rolled up with salad in rice papers. Quite an experience, especially as the waitresses insist on showing you how to do it properly.

Marking this so I can find it back.

I often went to a beef steak restaurant in Hoang Hoa Tham str. I forgot its directly address, but you can ask for local to know.
Moreover, I like the kinds of noodle of Vietnamese. It is very easten for the first time.

Two I hope to try in Hanoi next month:
Chim Sao
Home Restaurant

Bob, just ate at Net Hue on Hang Bong St http://nethue.com.vn/en/home.html . Excellent food - will be returning - which doesn't happen often! Not sure where you are staying but they have several places around the city. Great sharing plates, especially if there are a group of you.

thanks, will try

leaving monday

looks yummy....can't wait! Wish we were leaving Monday but see you soon!

Aloha!