How To Spot A Real Street Food Gem:

A Locals Guide!

When someone mentions Hanoi to you, what is it that comes to mind? It isn't the museums, monuments, the weather or a famous bridge. Perhaps it's the endless rows of huge steaming pots serving up hot Pho soup. Or the local Vietnamese crouched over on their tiny plastic stools slurping away at their breakfast. Or maybe it's Street food on every corner, the Bun Cha, the Banh Mi, well, it's more than likely Vietnamese food!!

But, with so many thousands of street food stalls to choose from, which one is the real deal. Which is the authentic family restaurant with a secret recipe passed down through generations?

Well, funny you should ask! You can now find details on how you can choose the right place & the right meal on your Vietnam holiday. Whether you are on a two or three week itinerary with Travel Agent Hanoi. We will show you how to find the real street food gems in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and all over Vietnam.

1. The Plastic Stool Rule!

Some people in Vietnam say the shorter the stool, the better the food. Of course that is a tongue in cheek thing to say, but a good starting point. The reason being is that the better street food vendors do offer you the minimum of class and quality. Your seating or dining furniture would have been found at the absolute minimum cost. Some places may offer a stool with a tray on top as a makeshift table. Cute and practical...pretty much sums it up.

Look out for a sign that says "Quán" (small eatery) where you will see lots of locals slumped over their bowls of soup. If you see a busy place with a lot of local people, you can generally say this is a good one. Only good places attract the locals!

Peak times are 7am at breakfast, around 11.30am for lunch and 6pm for dinner. If you visit at those times, you may need to eat fast and go...service is hard and fast without a smile!!

Sometimes at these particular places, they won't wait around for you to make a Tik Tok video of the food. And don't ask for a freebie to help bring customers...they don't need you!

2. Look out for Món Gia Truyền!

The best street food stalls tend to offer just the one dish and have done so for generations. They have had years to perfect the dish, the taste and the business. The sign to watch out for is Mon Gia Truyền or simply Gia Truyền, this means family recipe. Dishes at these family restaurants may be Bun Cha, Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Banh Xeo or a simple Banh Mi. But find a place with that name and you will have found a real street food gem.

3. Some Must Visit Stalls in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City

To help you start off on the right foot. We will show you a couple of street food gems today. Here are a couple from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for you to try while you are on holiday in Vietnam.

• Hanoi - head to Dao Duy Tu in the old quarter and walk half way down. Opposite the hotel, before the cafes, on the right hand side you will find a lady. This little food stall sells Bun Cha Phu Ly. Never heard of it...well let's say you are in for a treat.

  Bun Cha, you may well know, but how about adding Banh Cuon to this hearty dish? Craziness right there folks. Check out a video I did a few years ago here...food to die for.The next real street food gem in Hanoi we would recommend would be the Banh Tom lady. She is situated on the corner near Dong Xuan Market. This is a very busy place and you may struggle for a seat here at peak meal times.

  This dish can be eaten as a take away so no issue. She offers a few dishes with tiny shrimps inside...check out this video for more details!

• Ho Chi Minh City - A couple of choices for you to try but they aren't in the Bui Vien area of District 1. You will most likely need to take a Grab bike or taxi, but for an authentic experience, why not try.

  The first is Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa, a famous baguette which has been around for many years. Or, if you fancy trying the spiritual home of Oc, why not try sea snails & shellfish in District 4! Locals eat here in the evenings and enjoy tasting the spicy, buttery garlic seafood.

4. The Foodie Roadmap of Vietnam

As you move between cities, from north to south on your holiday with Travel Agent Hanoi perhaps! The food and its flavours tends to change slightly from region to region & identifying the gems can be more of a challenge.

• North (Hanoi) - with subtle & balanced flavours, you want to look out for a speciality called Bun Cha. Look out for plumes of smoke on the pavement side. Here, someone will be sat over a charcoal grill, a fan blowing behind them, with meat patties and belly pork sandwiched between a meshed grill cooking away. These are tremendous places to stop and eat at. Sometimes they offer Nem Ran, which are fried spring rolls.
• Centre (Hue, Danang & Hoi An) - Think spice & texture for this region. An ancient well is used for the water in a dish called Cau Lau, famous speciality in Hoi An. If there isn't any chilli oil on the table, try the next place. It's a staple spice for eating at real authentic street food venues in central Vietnam. A favourite of mine is My Quang, a soup with amazing ingredients which offer a blend of spices and taste only associated with central regions.
• South (Ho Chi Minh & Mekong Delta) - bold and sweet is the go here in the southern palate. Hu Tieu or Com Tam (broken rice) are specialities in this region. An authentic street food venue will usually have a glass case with all their herbs pork rinds, steaming meatloaf & other ingredients in full view.

5. Trust The Kitchen

Don't be afraid of the chaos that surrounds a gem of a real street food stall. These people know exactly what they are doing and for generations, they are a well oiled machine. Normally, preparation work is done in plain sight, so you can see the magic unfold right in front of you. Do they have mountains of fresh herbs ready to place on your table...that's a good sign.

6. Let Travel Agent Hanoi lead the Way

Finding such gems can be a tough ask, especially if it's your first time in Vietnam and not know your way around. The best way not to miss a single bite of these delicious street food gems, is to book a package with Travel Agent Hanoi. Our itineraries can be designed with the foodie in you in mind. Take you to the hidden locations in back streets and alleyways of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Take you to where the locals eat and experience a real Vietnam culinary journey.

7. The Conclusion

Finding the right gem of a street food stall in hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, is all about intuition. Follow your nose and the locals and you will find some amazing foodie places you can write home about. When you find the right place, you realise how cheap it is to eat here. You could very easily eat for about 150k VND (less than $6) a day eating only street food. Now that's a bargain!!