Here are some suggestions for diners during the early days of winter.
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| Egg coffee:This is a specialty that many foreign visitors love and are curious about because of the combination of whipped eggs and coffee. This drink has been sold in Hanoi cafes since the 1940s. Those who don't drink coffee can also order egg cocoa - a variation of egg coffee. This drink can only be found in old cafes like Giang Cafe, Old Quarter Cafe... |
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| Snail:Late autumn and early winter is the best time to eat snails, and it's no coincidence that the famous "October snails - Hanoi people" brand is well-known far and wide. This is when the snails are at their fattest of the year. With the cool weather at the beginning of the season, many people prefer to stop at roadside stalls, inhale the steam rising from huge pots of snails, and enjoy them with a sweet, sour, salty, and spicy dipping sauce. |
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| Sticky rice dumplings in a sweet sauce:Each bowl always contains two glutinous rice balls, one with black sesame and one with mung bean. The special thing about this dish lies in the preparation of the ginger syrup. The sugar used must be cane sugar, with a strong sugarcane aroma and a reddish-brown color. The sweetness of the sugar dissolves in the hot ginger slices, bubbling on the stove, then poured over the hot rice balls and sprinkled with roasted peanuts – enough to warm the body after coming in from the cold outside. One of the best places to buy glutinous rice balls in Hanoi was the family of the late artist Pham Bang on Hang Giay Street. However, that shop has closed down. |
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| Pork rib porridge with fried dough sticks:On colder days, Huyen Alley and Ly Quoc Su Street become more crowded than usual as many people flock to the sidewalk stalls selling pork rib porridge. Some popular places for pork rib porridge among Hanoi residents include those inside Dong Xuan Market or Co La's pork rib porridge stall. |
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| Cassava dessert:According to the experience of many Hanoians, it would be a shame to finish eating pork rib porridge without having a bowl of cassava sweet soup sold nearby. Finely chopped cassava, cooked with sugar and ginger water, warms the stomach and can instantly ward off the early winter chill. |
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| Chicken noodle soup:In the past, the Old Quarter had a large Chinese population, bringing with them many aspects of Chinese cuisine such as wonton noodles, sesame paste dumplings, glutinous rice balls, and mung bean curd. One of the dishes that has survived to this day is stewed dishes with mugwort, most notably chicken stewed noodles. Located along the street of traditional medicine shops, the chicken stewed noodle shops on Hang Bo and Thuoc Bac streets always offer medicinal herbs to boost health. These days, the chicken stewed noodle shop at the corner of Hang Can and Luong Van Can streets is always packed with customers. Even though they have to sit right next to the busy road, no customer seems bothered, just waiting for their steaming hot bowl of chicken stewed noodles to be served. |
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| Frequency:Blood pudding is a dish that may not appeal to everyone due to its unattractive appearance. However, it's a favorite among many long-time residents of Hanoi. The small eatery at the corner of Cha Ca and Lan Ong streets is one of the rare places that sells it. Without a sign inviting customers or ample parking, and despite not being overly crowded, the small shop has never had a day without customers for many years. The busiest days are the rainy and cold winter months. The neatly cut, smooth, hot pieces of blood pudding, combined with the slightly bitter and fragrant aroma of mugwort leaves, will warm you up instantly. |
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| Roasted corn and potatoes:Although sold almost year-round, winter is when traditional dishes like roasted potatoes, boiled corn, grilled corn, or boiled cassava truly shine. These rustic foods evoke memories of the clear, ringing calls of street vendors at night, and of a time that was both difficult and full of emotion. |
According to Ngoisao
