Restaurant recomendations for Hanoi and Hue.
Jan 25th, 2012, 12:44 PM
#4
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Not sure about Hue, but check out this recent thread for Hanoi recommendations:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-399029-2.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-399029-2.cfm
Jan 26th, 2012, 12:09 AM
#6
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HOI AN
Brothers Cafe - http://www.brothercafehoian.com/
Easily the best restaurant in Hoi An. Great Vietnamese food and a superb location overlooking the river. They have a big a la carte menu and good set menus – (good idea to ask for recommendations). We were there on new years eve for the lantern festival where they float hundred of lanterns down the river – magical! I have a feeling that they also do this on a full moon so you might like to check this out.
Song Hoai, The Saigon Times Club
A fine dining restaurant (i.e. silver cutlery, fine china white tablecloths etc.) again down by the river, second only to Brothers, this one is a bit more formal but still great and elegant Vietnamese food. Upstairs tables are best as they have better views of the river.
Miss Ly’s Cafeteria
On Nguyen Hue Street, this is a basic restaurant, short on atmosphere but fantastic, freshly cooked food and a basic restaurant but level up from other “hole in the wall establishments”. Good place for lunch – we went back several times.
Thi Nhan
At least I think that is what it is called! It is mid way between the old town and the beach. One of the best places I have eaten seafood anywhere – huge prawns, crabs etc.
HUE
Lac Thien
This is a favourite place in Hue. Nothing to look at from the outside and certainly not luxurious but really great food, freshly cooked. The place (and the two either side) are run by a deaf and dumb family. The main man Trung is an amazing character and surprisingly easy to communicate with – he tried to sell me a motorbike tour of the imperial tombs. I wish I had taken him up on the offer as he would certainly have done a better job than most speaking guides I have met! – You have to buy one of his trademark bottle openers as a souvenir (a piece of wood with a bolt through it – it works!
Ancient Hue http://www.ancienthue.com.vn/
Not sure how authentic it is but a good place to sample the Hue Imperial cuisine. Good buffet and set menus in a nice setting. Downside is that it is sometimes frequented by tour groups.
La Carambole - Pham Ngu Lao St
This gets rave reviews but really, I can’t see why. I was disappointed but probably the place to go if you feel the need for western food
Mandarin Cafe
Not far from the Saigon Morin hotel. A budget, one dish type of place but good for lunch. The owner sells his photos of rural Vietnamese life which make nice souvenirs.
La ResidenceHotel - www.la-residence-hue.com/
I would not normally recommend a hotel restaurant but this is such a special hotel I will make and exception. Built in Art Deco style it was once the French ambassador’s residence. Beautiful surroundings – having a drink in the bar is like stepping back to the 1930’s. Excellent a la carte and buffet menus and great view as it is right on the perfume river. They also do dinner cruises on the river.
Brothers Cafe - http://www.brothercafehoian.com/
Easily the best restaurant in Hoi An. Great Vietnamese food and a superb location overlooking the river. They have a big a la carte menu and good set menus – (good idea to ask for recommendations). We were there on new years eve for the lantern festival where they float hundred of lanterns down the river – magical! I have a feeling that they also do this on a full moon so you might like to check this out.
Song Hoai, The Saigon Times Club
A fine dining restaurant (i.e. silver cutlery, fine china white tablecloths etc.) again down by the river, second only to Brothers, this one is a bit more formal but still great and elegant Vietnamese food. Upstairs tables are best as they have better views of the river.
Miss Ly’s Cafeteria
On Nguyen Hue Street, this is a basic restaurant, short on atmosphere but fantastic, freshly cooked food and a basic restaurant but level up from other “hole in the wall establishments”. Good place for lunch – we went back several times.
Thi Nhan
At least I think that is what it is called! It is mid way between the old town and the beach. One of the best places I have eaten seafood anywhere – huge prawns, crabs etc.
HUE
Lac Thien
This is a favourite place in Hue. Nothing to look at from the outside and certainly not luxurious but really great food, freshly cooked. The place (and the two either side) are run by a deaf and dumb family. The main man Trung is an amazing character and surprisingly easy to communicate with – he tried to sell me a motorbike tour of the imperial tombs. I wish I had taken him up on the offer as he would certainly have done a better job than most speaking guides I have met! – You have to buy one of his trademark bottle openers as a souvenir (a piece of wood with a bolt through it – it works!
Ancient Hue http://www.ancienthue.com.vn/
Not sure how authentic it is but a good place to sample the Hue Imperial cuisine. Good buffet and set menus in a nice setting. Downside is that it is sometimes frequented by tour groups.
La Carambole - Pham Ngu Lao St
This gets rave reviews but really, I can’t see why. I was disappointed but probably the place to go if you feel the need for western food
Mandarin Cafe
Not far from the Saigon Morin hotel. A budget, one dish type of place but good for lunch. The owner sells his photos of rural Vietnamese life which make nice souvenirs.
La ResidenceHotel - www.la-residence-hue.com/
I would not normally recommend a hotel restaurant but this is such a special hotel I will make and exception. Built in Art Deco style it was once the French ambassador’s residence. Beautiful surroundings – having a drink in the bar is like stepping back to the 1930’s. Excellent a la carte and buffet menus and great view as it is right on the perfume river. They also do dinner cruises on the river.
Jan 26th, 2012, 11:45 AM
#7
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I loved the green tangerine in Hanoi. Bun bo nam bo at Kyoto for lunch was awesome. Little Hanoi was great for a pit stop as was cha ca la vong. La Badiane is fabulous for dinner ( if a little austere)
Jan 26th, 2012, 05:35 PM
#9
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Just there in dec. -
Hoi An
Ms Ly's Cafeteria - great local food - good place for all the Hoi An specialties
Cargo Club (107 D Nguyen Thai Hoc) - great atmosphere, great food and fabulous desserts
Hanoi
Newday(72 Ma May) - local restaurant with great food and charming waiters
Hanoi Social Club (6 Hoi Vu) - a lot of vegetarian on this menu but we are definitely NOT vegetarian and loved this place. Great salads, hamburgers and pasta. Cool atmosphere where you can sit on couches and comfy chairs.
LaBadiane (10 Nam Ngu) - fabulous french restaurant!!
Pizza 4Ps - If your're craving pizza this is the place to go
Hoi An
Ms Ly's Cafeteria - great local food - good place for all the Hoi An specialties
Cargo Club (107 D Nguyen Thai Hoc) - great atmosphere, great food and fabulous desserts
Hanoi
Newday(72 Ma May) - local restaurant with great food and charming waiters
Hanoi Social Club (6 Hoi Vu) - a lot of vegetarian on this menu but we are definitely NOT vegetarian and loved this place. Great salads, hamburgers and pasta. Cool atmosphere where you can sit on couches and comfy chairs.
LaBadiane (10 Nam Ngu) - fabulous french restaurant!!
Pizza 4Ps - If your're craving pizza this is the place to go
Jan 26th, 2012, 07:09 PM
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I'm a fan, a well-fed fan, of the Street Eats walking tour run by the Hanoi Cooking Centre. The half-day moving feast goes nose-to-nose with the ingredients in the markets, then winds from street stall to alley nook sampling wonderful, and maybe mystifying, dishes of guaranteed authenticity and sometimes suspicious hygiene. My tummy survived intact and my mind was stimulated by this street-level encounter with the cuisine that is so central to Vietnamese culture. At $55US it could be one of your more expensive Hanoi "meals" but also the one you are unlikely to ever duplicate. Info here; you should book ahead http://hanoicookingcentre.com/
Among several other cooking schools, Hidden Hanoi http://www.hiddenhanoi.com.vn/ also leads a street food tour, at a substantially lower price. I haven't tried that one but I did enjoy their hands-on cooking seminar that again stressed how much food signifies to the Vietnamese. Taking a class that includes shopping at a market will help you impress your local Asian grocer back home.
Among several other cooking schools, Hidden Hanoi http://www.hiddenhanoi.com.vn/ also leads a street food tour, at a substantially lower price. I haven't tried that one but I did enjoy their hands-on cooking seminar that again stressed how much food signifies to the Vietnamese. Taking a class that includes shopping at a market will help you impress your local Asian grocer back home.
Jan 27th, 2012, 01:17 AM
#13
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We loved the street food in Hanoi, particularly the one dish speciality restaurants and stalls in the old quarter. The Street Eats tour described by Southam sound great, if expensive by Vietnamese standards, but a great way of trying out teh diversity of Vietnamese cuisine.
Pho 24 is a chain of "upmarket" noodle soup shops, quite expensive but great quality, hygiene standards and variety - often packed out with young trendy Vietnamese.
Pho 24 is a chain of "upmarket" noodle soup shops, quite expensive but great quality, hygiene standards and variety - often packed out with young trendy Vietnamese.
Jan 27th, 2012, 01:18 PM
#15
Hanoi...loved the Green Tangerine and La Badiane.
Hue...had the Imperial Dinner feast that was part of a package offered by La Residence and it was amazing.
Hoi An....loved Mango Rooms and Hoi An's traditional cau loi soup at Tom Tom Club.
Hue...had the Imperial Dinner feast that was part of a package offered by La Residence and it was amazing.
Hoi An....loved Mango Rooms and Hoi An's traditional cau loi soup at Tom Tom Club.
Feb 28th, 2012, 04:03 AM
#20
We were just In Hoi an and Hue last week. In Hoi An we loved Morninglory. And we had a very good meal at Secret Garden. Lunch at Brothers was very good, but pricey for VN. beautiful setting. Had dessert one night at Tamarind and one night at Cargo Club. both were very good. Had a lousy meal at Sakura, but lovely place to watch the sunset.
in Hue we had a pricey meal at La Residene, but it was very good and love the art deco decor. Had a good lunch when we went out with Hue Riders at the place next to their "office." It's called Phuong Nam. thought Mandarin was just ok. Bang Me is another hole in the wall with "tapas" all glutinous rice dishes. Worth giving it a try.
in Hue we had a pricey meal at La Residene, but it was very good and love the art deco decor. Had a good lunch when we went out with Hue Riders at the place next to their "office." It's called Phuong Nam. thought Mandarin was just ok. Bang Me is another hole in the wall with "tapas" all glutinous rice dishes. Worth giving it a try.
