Highway4 Hàng Tre

Highway4 Hàng Tre is a restaurant at 5 Hàng Tre in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam, that serves specialities from the mountainous north and is known for its rượu tasting flights. Rượu is traditional Vietnamese rice spirit, and the restaurant infuses it with fruits, herbs and other ingredients to produce a range of flavoured spirits, which visitors can sample in a tasting set. The cooking draws on the food of northern highland provinces rather than the noodle-soup traditions of the lowland capital. Signature dishes include cá nướng, grilled fish, and chả rươi, a seasonal patty made with rươi, a type of marine worm that appears in the northern delta in autumn and is treated as a delicacy. The rượu tasting set is the third emblematic item and is often ordered as a shared starter. The dining room is rustic, in a wooden interior that suggests a highland house, and the mood is lively rather than formal. There is no dress code, tables are set close together, and evenings can be noisy when groups gather for food and spirits. It suits travellers who want a more adventurous menu than the standard noodle shops. Prices are moderate, with a typical meal costing about 120,000 to 250,000 VND per person, depending on the number of dishes and whether the tasting set is added. Beverages centre on the infused rượu, and beer and soft drinks are also available; there is no conventional wine programme. The restaurant is open daily from 10AM to 10PM. Reservations are recommended for evenings, when the room fills with groups. Lunch is generally quieter, and it is a practical time to try the food without the evening crowds. The location on Hàng Tre, close to Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter's main streets, makes it easy to add to an evening walk or food tour.