Bún Bò Nam Bộ Hàng Điếu

Bún Bò Nam Bộ Hàng Điếu is a street-food restaurant at 67 Hàng Điếu in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam. It serves bún bò Nam Bộ, a southern-style dish that has become a popular lunch among Hanoi locals. Bún bò Nam Bộ means southern-style beef vermicelli. The dish is a bowl of rice vermicelli topped with stir-fried beef, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, bean sprouts and pickled vegetables, and dressed with a sweet fish sauce rather than served in a broth. The result is a cold-and-warm mix of textures, with crunchy peanuts, soft noodles, fragrant herbs and savoury beef. Diners toss the ingredients together before eating so that the dressing coats the noodles evenly. Nem rán, crisp fried spring rolls, are the other signature item and are often added to the bowl or eaten on the side. Because the dish is southern in origin, it offers a contrast to the northern noodle soups that dominate Hanoi's street-food scene, such as phở and bún chả. The dining room is casual, with simple tables and quick service, and there is no dress code. The atmosphere is bustling at lunchtime, when local workers stop in, and quieter in the afternoon. Noise is moderate. Prices are low, with a typical meal costing about 55,000 to 80,000 VND per person. There is no wine programme; iced tea, soft drinks and beer are the usual drinks. Hours are approximately daily 8AM to 9PM. Reservations are not taken, and diners find a seat and order. Visitors can time a visit slightly before or after the midday rush to avoid crowds. The location on Hàng Điếu, close to the Old Quarter's main streets and a short walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, makes it an easy stop on a walking food tour, and it is a good option for visitors who want a lighter, herb-heavy dish that is not a hot soup.