Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
The best Ha Noi dishes are inexpensive yet tasty treats that can be found within Ha Noi Old Quarter’s narrow alleyways and bustling street markets. Compared to other cities in Vietnam, Ha Noi food tends to be on the sweeter side and utilises freshwater ingredients such as prawns, squids, shrimps, crabs, clams, and mussels.

And your trip to Ha Noi is not complete without sampling its traditional delicacies, here is a list of the top must-try dishes in Ha Noi.

Cha Ca La Vong

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
You think you have read about this name somewhere and yes, you are right. Cha ca La Vong is listed as one of the top 100 things you must try before you die by many cuisine experts. It is exquisitely grilled fish served with bun, peanut, green onions, dills and shrimp paste. The fish is carefully chosen so that there are not too many bones and fishy smells. A glass of bia hoi or tra da will definitely give your meal more flavour.

Bun Cha

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
Bun cha, is one northern Vietnamese food that quickly became our favorite. It is one of the best Ha Noi food specialty not to be missed.

The dish consists of grilled pork strips and balls or cha served over a bed of rice vermicelli noodles or bun. It typically comes with a plate of fresh Vietnamese herbs and a bowl of dipping sauce.  Pickled vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, onion or green papaya served with additional meatballs on the side. The sauce is made of the famous Vietnamese fish sauce or nuoc mam combined with vinegar, lime, sugar, garlic and chili.

Bun Thang

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg and pork can be enjoyed at any time of the day. The clear yet flavourful broth is made with 20 ingredients, including dried shrimp, squid, shrimp paste, spring onion, coriander, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, sugar candy, and vinegar.

It is also a particularly attractive Ha Noi dish as the noodles, chicken, eggs, pork slices, and a dollop of shrimp paste are carefully arranged to resemble a flower.

Banh Tom

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
Banh tom is a shrimp patty specialty original from the area around West Lake (Ho Tay) in Hanoi. First, the dough is made with wheat flour, cornstarch, fresh water, egg, salt, pepper, turmeric powder and sweet potato. This is dipped into cooking oil and the shrimps are placed on top.

The whole thing is deep fried for about 5 minutes until the shrimp pancakes become golden brown. The patty is usually served with fish sauce. You will find this specialty at Banh Tom Ho Tay.

Xoi Xeo

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
Image Anh H
You will encounter this dish in almost every outdoors market. There are even two restaurants dedicated fully to this dish in the Old Quarters. Xoi xeo is sticky rice topped with ground de-hulled mung bean and fried onion. Sometimes it can be served with eggs or steamed chicken breast on request. The serving is really filling and it is good for any time of the day but most Vietnamese have it for breakfast or lunch.

Read more: Top 7 best coffee shops in Ha Noi

Pho Xao 

Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi
Pho may be best known as rice noodles served in soup, but you can also enjoy it in the form of pho xao, which is stir-fried with onions, beef slices, and assorted greens. The flat noodles are usually crisp on the outside with a smooth glutinous texture, and most restaurants sometimes add fried eggs and chili sauce to this simple yet satisfying dish. Thin is a family-run restaurant within Hai Ba Trung District, where you can savour pho xao for only VND 50,000.

Source Internet

Friday, 26 October 2018

Bun Cha, specialty of Ha Noi

In Ha Noi, capital of Vietnam, you can find many delicious local dishes, especially- Bun Cha. This simple dish is a great combination of savory and fresh, it has vibrant colors and the harmony of the meat and vegetables makes this dish special.
Bun Cha, specialty of Ha Noi
So, what makes Bun Cha so special and become a must-try dish when visiting Vietnam?


Find out about Bun Cha

Bun cha is a local dish originally from Ha Noi, the capital of Vietnam. Throughout Vietnam you can find a lot of dishes that has the same formula as bun cha (like Bun Thit Nuong in Saigon), however, Ha Noi’s Bun Cha is very different.
Bun Cha, specialty of Ha Noi
It does not matter if you eat bun cha in a restaurant or a small cart on the the street, you will be served by a plate of vermicelli (bun), a bowl of broth with grilled pork and a basket of fresh greens.

Bun, the vermicelli noodles, is served on a plate. To make a decent bowl of bun cha, the the vermicelli has to be thin, soft and chewy. Cha is the meat part of this dish, served in a bowl. The meat is made from pork and cooked in 2 styles: cha vien (ground pork) and cha mieng (grilled thin slice pork). It is served with the broth. Without vegetables and herbs, Vietnamese dishes are not be complete. In the big basket of greens on the table, you will find fresh lettuce, Thai basil, cilantro, fish mint, banana flower and coriander.


The way people eat Bun Cha

Bun Cha, specialty of Ha Noi
The way you eat Bun Cha is also quite simple. Just dip an amount of rice noodle directly into the meat sauce. Add chilies and fresh herbs according to your preference. And then slurp your yummy bowl. The rice noodles will soak up the broth, the fattiness coming from the pork and the natural aroma of uncooked vegetables. All in one mouthful. Like any other noodle dishes, Bun Cha is meant to be eaten with chopsticks. So remember to leave your knife and folk at home.

Bun Cha can be found in every corner of Ha Noi, from small street vendors to fine-dining restaurants. But if you want to eat like a Hanoian, come to the Old Quarter. Maybe start with a strong shot of vodka first to prepare your stomach. And then get ready to eat in places that in your home country would not pass any food hygiene regulations. Believe me or not, you would not regret it.


The places to enjoy Bun Cha

Bun Cha, specialty of Ha Noi
Ha Noi
Bun Cha Tuyet: 34 Hang Thang
Bun Cha Dac Kim: 1 Hang Manh
Bun Cha Lan Beo: Alley 74 Hang Quat (opens from 10 am to 2 pm)
Bun Cha Huong Lien (Bun Cha Obama): 24 Le Van Huu street

Saigon
Bun Cha Ho Guom: 135 Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 6, District 3

Source Internet