Hanoi was our last destination in Vietnam and the city was hectic. Couldn’t expect differently when visiting a capital which is also the second largest city in Vietnam, after Ho Chi Minh City. The streets were filled with eateries that have small tables and chairs outside. Since the city felt so stretched out me, you practically could go anywhere to find a place to eat.

~ Lobster queen

I remember reaching this place was quite a walk from where we were staying. We underestimate that 20 minutes walk is slightly more challenging in the streets of Hanoi. When we arrived at Lobster queen, there were no other visitors. Normally, that wouldn’t be a good sign, but luckily Lobster queen prove us wrong. Their most favourite menu is the lobster roll that comes with pumpkin soup and salad. It was a tasteful combo. Other than lobster, they also serve scallops and prawn rolls. The selection on the menu was limited, but your visit here should be for one thing only: The Lobster queen.

Price: $ – $$
Suitable: lobster and prawn fans

~ Lifted coffee & brunch

We visited Lifted coffee & brunch for a brunch. The day we visited this place, it was quite packed. Lots of tourists came to have brunch as well. This place has different things on the menu, such as toast, sandwiches, bagels, bowls, eggs, mostly western style brunch. For drinks they serve healthy smoothies, but also frappes’s, all kind of milkshakes and of course coffee. I took a simple cheese sandwich and juice. Not much should go wrong with this order, so I was good.

Price: $ – $$
Suitable: vegetarian

~ Cafe Dinh

We got to know this cafe because we took the walking tour in Hanoi. A special thing about this cafe is that they serve egg coffee. This place is now owned by the daughter who invented this egg coffee. Milk was scarce back in the time, so this ingredient got replaced by whisked egg yolks. Honestly, I was too scared to try egg in my coffee, but my husband did and he did not like it too much. Nevertheless, they also have black coffee and some other drinks. It is still nice to see this authentic place with all the small wooden tables and chairs.

Price: $
Suitable: beverages only

~Bancong cafe & restaurant

This cafe/restaurant is located at the heart of the old quarter, which is a neighbourhood you might want to visit in order to grasp the Hanoi local experience. Also in this area you will see the eateries on almost every street, where small plastic chairs and tables are lying around across the pavements. Nevertheless, if you want to experience a little more fancy but not paying too much, you might want to visit Bancong cafe & restaurant. They serve western food, including pasta and pizza, but also some Vietnamese dishes (not halal nor vegetarian) and quite some desserts. I ordered pasta pesto and some chocolate cake, it was good.

Price: $$
Suitable: vegetarian menu available

~ Chayfood

As mentioned earlier, Hanoi knows quite a number of purely vegetarian/vegan restaurant and I visited one of them. Chayfood serves few western but also Asian/ Vietnamese dishes, like the spring rolls, bhan mi sandwich, and other dishes that comes with rices or noodles. I wouldn’t say I had the best vegetarian meal but it was ok for me to mention the place for you to try yourself as well.

Price: $ – $$
Suitable: vegetarian, vegan, halal