Bun cha in Hanoi is a renowned specialty, famous throughout the land of Hanoi. It has the honor of being voted by National Geographic as one of the top 10 most delicious street foods in the world. Despite its simple ingredients, creating a perfect bowl of bun cha requires meticulous and intricate preparation from the chef at every stage. Let DanangPrivateCar.com’s guide you to explore the top 10 famous bun cha restaurants!
Introduction to Hanoi Bun Cha
Origin of the Time-Honored Specialty
Similar to many dishes in Hanoi, such as Pho Bat Dan, Cha Ca La Vong, Banh Da Ke, and others, no one exactly knows when Hanoi Bun Cha originated. What is known is that from one generation to the next, this dish has become an indispensable part of Hanoians’ daily life. Comprising three main components—vermicelli, grilled pork, and dipping sauce—this specialty possesses an irresistibly captivating and enticing flavor. It harmoniously combines the richly marinated grilled meat, the chewy and fragrant vermicelli, and the irresistible sweet and tangy taste of the dipping sauce. When enjoyed with various fresh vegetables, this dish becomes an enduring delight for those who savor it. Indeed, Bun Cha represents a culinary cultural heritage of the capital!
Elevating Vietnamese Cuisine with the Hanoi Bun Cha Recipe
On June 15, 2022, the British Embassy worldwide collaborated to include numerous delicious recipes in a cookbook celebrating the 70th reign of Queen Elizabeth II, including the Hanoi Bun Cha recipe compiled by Chef Do Thi Hai Ly. This humble dish, often served at street-side eateries, captured the heart of the British Ambassador, Gareth Ward, with its fragrant aroma and irresistibly delicious flavor. Before being featured in the cookbook, this delightful Hanoi dish had received acclaim from global media outlets such as National Geographic and CNN. Former U.S. President Obama and renowned chef Anthony Bourdain also enjoyed Bun Cha and beer at a local eatery in Hanoi during Obama’s official visit to Vietnam in 2016.
Top 10+ Famous Bun Cha Restaurants in Hanoi
Bun Cha Tuyet 34 – Irresistibly Delicious Hanoi Bun Cha Restaurant
- Address: 34 Hang Than, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Opening hours: 8:30 – 17:30
- Price range: 35,000 – 55,000 VND per serving
As one of the long-standing bun cha restaurants in Hanoi, Bun Cha Tuyet 34 carries a unique and unforgettable taste. With a traditional recipe, the dipping sauce for the vermicelli is perfectly balanced with a mouth-watering, salty-sweet flavor enhanced by a hint of spiciness from ground pepper. A bowl of vermicelli includes three superb types of grilled pork: minced, sliced, and pork wrapped in betel leaves. Not to be missed is the marinated and grilled pork, charred to perfection, accompanied by the freshest and cleanest raw vegetables.
Bun Cha Huong Lien
- Address:
- Branch 1: 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
- Branch 2: 14 Alley 59 Lang Ha, Dong Da District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 19:00
- Price range: 40,000 – 60,000 VND per serving
Honored by the visit of U.S. President Obama to savor Hanoi bun cha, Huong Lien Bun Cha is increasingly attracting visitors, proving its excellent taste. Compared to other Hanoi bun cha restaurants, Huong Lien offers additional delicious spring rolls such as crab spring rolls and seafood spring rolls. The broth is meticulously prepared, pleasing to the palate, ensuring you won’t be disappointed.
Bun Cha 41
- Address: 41 Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 10:30 – 20:00
- Price range: 20,000 – 50,000 VND per serving
Opening around noon, Bun Cha 41 is a perfect choice for your lunch. A mixed plate costs 50,000 VND, a bit higher than other bun cha places, but it includes more vermicelli, grilled meat, and spring rolls. During peak hours, the tables are often occupied, so it’s advisable to arrive early to avoid a long wait.
Bun Cha Alley 74
- Address: Alley 74 Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 14:00
- Price range: 20,000 – 45,000 VND per serving
For food enthusiasts, Bun Cha Alley 74 is a familiar address. The grilled meat here follows a traditional recipe passed down through generations. The meat is tender with a crispy exterior, paired with fish sauce and sour papaya, creating a memorable flavor. The grilled pork is evenly cooked, preserving the sweet aroma of fresh meat, and the crispy pork skin is not tough, making it easy to eat. Additionally, you can order refreshing iced kumquat juice to quench your thirst and eliminate the lingering taste of fish sauce.
Bun Cha Bat Su
- Address: 23 Bat Su, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 7:00 – 22:00
- Price range: 35,000 – 80,000 VND per serving
Bun Cha Bat Su is a renowned spot for Hanoians and international tourists alike. Situated in the Hoan Kiem Lake area, the restaurant attracts hundreds of customers daily. A serving of bun cha here is generous, allowing you to fully enjoy and appreciate the exquisite taste of this dish.
Bun Cha Hanoi To Hieu
- Address: 102 B8 To Hieu, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 21:00
- Price range: 20,000 – 40,000 VND per serving
With an affordable price starting from 30,000 VND, the bowl of bun cha at To Hieu comes with all the accompaniments: vermicelli, pickled sweet and sour vegetables, minced pork patties, sliced pork, and well-marinated grilled meat with aromatic spices, cooked over a red flame.
Bun Cha Sinh Tu
- Address: 316 Pho Vong, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 6:30 – 21:30
- Price range: 20,000 – 39,000 VND per serving
At Bun Cha Sinh Tu, you’ll be pleased with the friendly, cheerful, and agile service of the staff. A serving of bun cha here is plentiful, with a well-balanced and tasty dipping sauce, perfectly cooked grilled meat ensuring a tender texture. Additionally, the papaya salad and fresh vegetables are sourced from reputable and clean markets.
Bun Cha Ton Duc Thang
- Address: 44 Alley 221 Ton Duc Thang, Dong Da District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 15:00
- Price range: 30,000 – 50,000 VND per serving
Despite being a small eatery tucked away in a deep alley, Bun Cha Ton Duc Thang always attracts a crowd of customers eager to savor its offerings. A serving of bun cha here costs around 30,000 VND but is complete with accompaniments such as minced pork patties, grilled spring rolls, and grilled meat. The minced pork patties are wrapped in betel leaves, providing a special fragrance, and the broth, although slightly strong in flavor, can be adjusted to your liking with a bit of vinegar, garlic, and chili.
Bun Cha Mai Hac De
- Address: 114 Mai Hac De, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 21:00
- Price range: 40,000 – 50,000 VND per serving
Bun Cha Mai Hac De knows how to please its customers, making you instantly addicted after just one bite. The meat is seasoned with spices, expertly cut into small, easy-to-eat pieces, and grilled over a red-hot charcoal flame. Particularly noteworthy is the large, flavorful minced pork patty, slightly charred on the outside and tender inside, stimulating your taste buds.
Bun Cha Dac Kim
- Address: 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Opening hours: 8:30 – 21:00
- Price range: 20,000 – 150,000 VND per serving
It can be said that the price of a bowl of Bun Cha Dac Kim is relatively high, but it’s worth every penny. The spring rolls have a crispy and crunchy shell, filled with plenty of meat and various vegetables, preventing any sense of heaviness. Moreover, the dipping sauce is richly flavored, and a serving of bun cha is quite generous, ensuring you leave the restaurant fully satisfied and content.
Traditional Hanoi Bun Cha Recipe, Authentic Hanoi Flavor
Ingredients for Making Hanoi Bun Cha
- 500g pork belly
- 500g pork shoulder
- Green papaya, carrots, fresh accompanying vegetables
- Fresh vermicelli
- Lemongrass, shallots, chili, garlic, lime
- Vinegar, sugar, broth powder, fish sauce, shrimp paste, food coloring, seasoning or MSG
How to Make Traditional Hanoi Bun Cha:
Step 1: Prepare Vegetables:
- Peel and thinly slice lemongrass, then grind and squeeze for juice.
- Grind or finely chop shallots.
- Peel carrot and green papaya, then soak in diluted saltwater. Julienne them, drain excess water, and mix with sugar, vinegar, broth powder, lime, and chili. Adjust the taste to achieve a sweet and sour flavor.
Step 2: Prepare and Marinate the Meat:
- Clean and slice pork belly into large thin pieces.
- Clean pork shoulder and grind or finely chop it.
- Marinate sliced pork belly in a bowl with 1.5 teaspoons of broth powder, 1.5 teaspoons of sugar, 1.5 teaspoons of MSG, add ½ teaspoon of food coloring, ½ teaspoon of shrimp paste, and some shallots ground with lemongrass juice.
Step 3: Grilling the Meat:
- Shape the ground pork shoulder into small, bite-sized meatballs.
- Arrange the marinated meat on the grill, lightly oil the surface to prevent dryness during grilling.
- Grill the meat until cooked and fragrant, then transfer to a plate.
Step 4: Prepare Dipping Sauce:
Mix 5 tablespoons of warm water, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, ½ tablespoon of sugar, chopped chili, and sliced garlic to create a moderately sweet and sour mixture. Adjust saltiness or acidity to taste. You can use warm water or filtered water after mixing the spices and bring it to a boil.
Step 5: Assemble:
Place vermicelli, fresh vegetables, and grilled pork on a plate. A common way to enjoy is to dip the grilled meat and pickled vegetables into the sauce for enhanced flavor.
Step 6: Finished Dish:
Arrange the grilled meat, vermicelli, and fresh vegetables on a plate and enjoy. Adding carrots and green papaya for a touch of acidity will make the dish even more perfect.
Above is the list of the top 10 Bun Cha restaurants in Hanoi and how to make Bun Cha Hanoi that DanangPrivateCar.com’s would like to introduce to you. Quickly plan a one-day itinerary in Hanoi with your friends and family to enjoy the delicious eateries of Hanoi! Don’t forget to use our private car service with drivers in Hanoi for the safest and most convenient trip.
