Top 8 Places to Eat Pho in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (Authentic & Highly Rated)
If you are planning to visit Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, and are curious to try their national dish called Pho, you must check out the best places to eat Pho in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. In this guide I’ve rounded up top 8 restaurants to try Pho for a local experience.
Pho is more than just a meal-it’s an emotion of Vietnamese people. They love Pho, and that’s exactly why you will find some of the iconic Pho restaurants in Hoan Kiem, Hanoi where Old Quarter is located.
CONTENTS
Why Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the Best Place to Eat Pho
Pho is a dish which originated in northern Vietnam, likely in beginning of the 20th century. Hanoi being the oldest continuously developed city, naturally become a center of this dish.
Top 9 Vietnamese Food Spots in Hanoi: Culinary Secrets Revealed
The old Quarter have many Phở shops that are generations-old. Some of them operating for over 40 years. Here you can try northern-style preparation, which is less sweet than southern-style Pho. Tourists love trying Pho in Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem.
Best places to eat Phở in Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Hoang’s Restaurant – Vegan-friendly phở + high tourist praise
Located in a historic structure from the French colonial era, the restaurant offers authentic Vietnamese cusine prepared with fresh ingredients. They also offer imported alcohol range like wine and cocktails. You will find yourself in a relaxed environment with good soft music. Cooking classes available specifically for foreign visitors.
- Type: Traditional phở with chicken, beef, and vegan options
- Vibe: Traditional, soft-music, relaxed, tourist-friendly.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.9 stars from 20,000+ reviews”
- Address: 54 P. Hàng Buồm, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 10am to 10:30pm
- Pro Tip: No need for reservations, walk-in welcome here.
Hong Hoai’s Restaurant – Local taste + consistent reviews
- Type: Extensive variety of Veitnamese food including phở with Vegan options.
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style, modern, tourist-friendly.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.9 stars from 17,000+ reviews”
- Address: 20 P. Bát Đàn, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
- Opening hours (including local tip if it’s busy)
- Any reservation tips or queue info
Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư – Famous spot with strong local following
Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư maintains the traditional method of cooking pho, each bowl of pho contains the sweetness but without the use of MSG. The broth is rich with spices and herbs because they use traditional method of cooking Phở. This restaurant is famous in the Backpacker’s community as well and you can see lots of tourists slurping their Phở here.
- Type: Traditional Beef Phở /Phởwith blanched corn.
- Vibe: Traditional, tourist-friendly.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.1 stars from 9400+ reviews”
- Address: 10 P. Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 6 am–10 pm daily.
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn – Historic, intense flavor, queuing culture
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn also know as Pho Bat Dan is a classic Pho shop, often has long queues because of popularity among locals. Like most eateries in the Old Quarter, the cleanliness was not so great but the taste of Pho they serve is amazing. They serve only Beef Pho. There are 3 options of beef cuts available; tai (medium rare), tai nam (medium rare flank), and chin (well done).
The add-on could be a poached chicken egg or some Vietnamese fried donuts. Hanoians enjoy their Pho without much of herbs but just use some green onions, which is rice noodle, stock, thin sliced beef, and some green onions. Put some vinegar and chili sauce to enhance the flavors. Soaked the donuts into the pho’s soup. The space was noisy, lack of seats, and long queue most of the time.
- Type: Beef/Poached Egg.
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.3 stars from 5,000+ reviews”
- Address: 49 P. Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 6am-10am, 6pm-8:30pm
MẸT Vietnamese restaurant & Vegetarian Food 1
The MET restaurant is serving traditional Vietnamese food for over a decade now. It is spacious and feel luxurious as compared to other local Vietnamese restaurant. It also offers Vegal options.
- Type: Chicken/Beef/Vegan
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style, modern, tourist-friendly, etc.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.9 stars from 22,000+ reviews”
- Address: 29 P. Hàng Trống, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 11000, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 10am-10:30pm
PHO INN – SUPER BOWL – Big portions + modern twist
Pho Inn is famous for its generous portions of Pho. Though located about 2 km away from Hoan Kiem, it’s well worth it a short trip. The place is clean serve delicious Pho with good quality beef. If you are in Hanoi and craving for a big bowl of Pho then it is a must try. The place is clean with friendly staff.
- Type: Beef/Modern.
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style, modern, tourist-friendly, etc.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.9 stars from 2,000+ reviews”
- Address: 2C P. Thái Phiên, Lê Đại Hành, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội 10000, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 6am-10pm
- Phở Sướng – Underrated spot for balance of meat and broth
Nguyễn Văn Ty founded Phở Sướng in 1930s, one of the oldest Phở shop in Old Quarter. It was started as a street cart but later during the Vietnam war, the stall tempororily closed but thanks to Nguyễn Văn Ty’s children, the shop was open again in the year 1986.
- Type: Beef Pho speciality.
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style, modern, tourist-friendly, etc.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.4 stars from 2,000+ reviews”
- Address: 24B Ng. Trung Yên, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 5:30 am–12 pm, 5–9:30 pm
Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ – Smoky, stir-fried beef — very Hanoi-style
Pho Thin Bo Ho was founded in 1955 and is considered as one of the oldest Pho restaurants in Hanoi. You can find it in a small alley 61 P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng opposite of Hoan Kiem Lake. The taste was preserved for decades and provide a classic flavor of Pho.
- Type: Beef/Chicken
- Vibe: Traditional, street-style, tourist-friendly, etc.
- Google Rating + Review Count: “4.2 stars from 2,900+ reviews”
- Address: 61 P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
- Opening hours: 6:30 am–10 pm
- Pro Tip: No need for reservation.
Also read: Ultimate Hanoi Travel Guide, Vietnam
