Hanoi Restaurant Tips by leffe3

Restaurant Name: Tamarind Cafe

Western style vegetarian cafe/restaurant - comfy surrounds (lots of cushions!), decent music, great coffee. Usually had brekafast here (didn't eat main meals so cannot pass judgement).

Also has the enormous advantage of being the office for Handspan Adventure Travel - check their brochure while eating breakfast, compare notes with other travellers, then go book your trip. Handspan come highly recommended - a little more expensive than some, but high in quality and also tend to be smaller groups.

Favorite Dish: Muesli was excellent.

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Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 80 Ma May
Directions: Old City

Restaurant Name: Little Hanoi

Extremely popular (one of the highlights in Lonely Planet, so everyone heads for it!) - so much so that they have now opened a second restaurant across the street from the original.

Small, dark, eclectic furnishings, approx 10 tables (with 2 mote to be found on the mezzanine overhanging the bar at the back) - it really is pot luck if you are lucky enough to get a table. "Come back in 15 minutes" is a frequent comment! (Although I think the kitchen in the overflow Little Hanoi is not as good as the original - a much lighter, open upstairs room literally across the alley)

But the popularity hasn't diminished the quality of the food - its good, wholesome, straighforward Vietnamese food and very reasonaly priced.

Favorite Dish: There's a set menu or 'a la carte' and we managed to get a table for 6 (sheer luck lol), so were able to try a wide range of foods (and on return visits). Chicken and cashew/prawn with cashew to be highly recommended (the noodle dishes are a bit uninspiring, but at less than US$2 a plate, is this surprising?). Vegetarian spring rolls are excellent as are the 'make your own'. And plates of Morning Glory with garlic.......

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: P Ta Hien
Directions: (note that this is the original Little Hanoi - the editor of Hanoi pages has flagged up the address of 'Little Hanoi 2' - which is completely different and is a fancy sandwich shop)

Restaurant Name: Bobby Chin Restaurant

The best meal we had in Vietnam by a very long way. A holiday-treat experience (this was close to western prices) but worth every penny (or Dong).

Seriously stylish place which would fit easily in New York, London, Sydney etc. Two huge picture windows look out onto the street, linened-tables placed at each (one great aspect of the restaurant was that there were only 4 tables to be found at this two windows - no cramming them in!. Central to all this was a large and well stocked bar. Running down the sides of the bar were more tables, but these were separated from the 'corridor' by hanging sheer silks, thus creating a reasonably private environs.

At the back you discovered that the bar is a full circle and there are more tables, discretely lit and positioned. Separated on a slightly higher terrace by more sheer silks are a whole series of cushions and overly comfy chairs - this acts as a bar and smoking area.

Chin himself is something of a celebratory chef.

Favorite Dish: The food is imaginative and extraordinary. Entrees are all $5, main courses from the air ($9), sea or land ($11). Seared pesto encrusted salmon on wasabi mash (yum) was a favourite.

But they also have superb wines and a cocktail list longer than your arm.

Its a great experience - do it once!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 934 8577
Address: 1 Pho Ban Trieu (corner of Hang Khay)
Directions: South West corner of Hoan Kiem Lake
Website: interview with Chin http://www.asiafood.org/bobbychinn.cfm

Restaurant Name: Tandoor

Whilst hardly the most atmospheric place to eat, this made a more than decent change if you have a craving for something different from noodles and SEAsian rice dishes.

Divided into two parts, the front of the restaurant is more informal and doubles as a cafe/bar. the rear, non-smoking room is simple two rows of tables with little (lunchtime admittedly) atmosphere. But the food is pretty good and the price low.

Favorite Dish: You can get a 'set lunch' of curry of choice, dhal, rice, rhaita, nan and vegetables for less than US$6 - decent serving, decent tastes!

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Theme: Indian
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 24 Hang Be Street, Old Town