Bún Chả Đắc Kim

Bún Chả Đắc Kim is a bún chả house at 1 Hàng Mành in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam. Bún chả is a northern speciality of grilled pork served in a sweet, tangy broth with rice vermicelli, and this shop is best known for its sliced grilled pork and patties floating in a broth with slices of green papaya. The bowl is eaten with a basket of fresh herbs and the vermicelli is dipped into the broth a little at a time. The shop also serves nem cua bể, crab spring rolls, which are a popular addition, and a bún chả thập cẩm, a mixed version combining different cuts of pork. The flavour is balanced between smoke from the grill, sweetness from sugar and tang from vinegar and fish sauce. The dining room is basic and bustling, with simple tables and quick service typical of Hanoi's local eateries. There is no dress code and no formal service, and the room can be noisy and crowded around midday. Because the shop is in the heart of the Old Quarter, it draws a mix of local office workers and travellers exploring the surrounding streets. Prices are low, with a typical meal costing about 60,000 to 100,000 VND per person, and extra spring rolls or mixed bowls add a little more. There is no wine programme; beer, iced tea and soft drinks are the usual accompaniments. The shop is open daily from 8AM to 8:30PM, and lunch is the peak time for this dish, as bún chả is traditionally a midday meal. Reservations are not taken, and diners simply find a seat and order. Arriving slightly before or after the noon rush usually gives a shorter wait. The location, close to Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter's main streets, makes it easy to fit into a walking food tour of central Hanoi.