Bún Bò Nam Bộ Hàng Điếu

Bún Bò Nam Bộ Hàng Điếu is a one-dish shop at 67 Hàng Điếu in the Cửa Đông ward of Hanoi's Old Quarter, Vietnam. It serves bún bò Nam Bộ, a southern-style dry beef noodle salad that has become a fixture of Hanoi's everyday eating. The dish consists of stir-fried beef over cold rice vermicelli with bean sprouts, herbs, peanuts and fried shallots, dressed in sweet fish sauce rather than served in broth. The signature offering is the bún bò Nam Bộ bowl itself, with an extra beef portion available for larger appetites, and iced jasmine tea is the usual accompaniment. The cuisine is Southern Vietnamese in origin and served in a Northern setting, and the appeal is speed and simplicity: bowls arrive within a minute of ordering, and the flavours are sweet, sour, herbal and nutty in one mouthful. The dining room is casual and functional, with shared tables spread over two floors, no dress code and a steady stream of local lunchtime customers. Noise is moderate to loud when busy. There is no wine programme; drinks are tea and soft drinks. Hours are approximately 8:00 to 21:00 daily. The shop does not take reservations, and the practical approach is to arrive at an off-peak time and share a table. Prices are low, around 55,000 to 80,000 VND (USD 2.10 to 3.10) per person. The Hàng Điếu location in the northern part of the Old Quarter is a short walk from the main trading streets. The bowl is meant to be tossed so that the dressing coats the noodles, herbs and beef before eating. It is a good option for travellers who want a lighter, non-broth meal on a hot day.