Xôi Yến

Xôi Yến is a street-food restaurant at 35B Nguyễn Hữu Huân, in the Lý Thái Tổ ward of Hoàn Kiếm district, on the southern edge of Hanoi's Old Quarter in northern Vietnam. It has built its reputation on a single staple, xôi, or sticky rice, served in generous bowls with a choice of toppings. There is no chef-driven concept or Michelin context here; the appeal is a fast, filling, inexpensive meal of the kind Hanoi residents eat for breakfast, as a midday snack or as a late supper. The house signature is xôi thập cẩm, a mixed bowl in which glutinous rice is topped with shredded chicken, pâté, pork floss, fried shallots and egg. Other regular orders are xôi gà, with chicken as the main topping, and xôi xéo, the northern style in which rice is tinted yellow with mung bean and finished with crisp fried shallots. Portions are built around the rice, so a single bowl usually counts as a full meal. The dining room is casual and informal, with simple tables and stools, quick turnover and the ordinary noise of a busy Hanoi eatery. Dress is unimportant, and the pace is brisk rather than leisurely. The kitchen has no wine or cocktail programme; drinks are limited to basic soft drinks, tea and similar staples typical of the category. The price band is the lowest tier, with a typical meal costing roughly 30,000-60,000 VND per person, or about US$1.15-2.31. Listed hours are daily from 6AM to 10PM, which makes the restaurant useful both for an early start before sightseeing and for a late meal after the evening. Reservations are not taken, so diners simply walk in and order. At peak breakfast and lunchtime hours a short wait for a seat is possible, but service is quick and queues tend to clear fast. The location within walking distance of the Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake suits visitors staying in the centre who want a cheap and authentic northern Vietnamese meal without planning ahead.