Hanoi has many seasonal dishes that appear when the weather changes. As soon as it gets a bit chilly, many people plan to go out and eat. These are mostly snacks sold on sidewalks from afternoon until late night.
Fried Square Sticky Rice (Bánh Chưng Rán)
Fried square sticky rice starts to appear on street vendors' stalls as the weather cools down. They are usually small and thin. They are only fried until both sides are slightly crispy and are served with a bit of soy sauce and pickled vegetables. This dish has a rich, aromatic flavor without being too greasy.
Fried square sticky rice in Hanoi
Hot Plain Rice Flan (Bánh Đúc Nóng)
Unlike the traditional dense and smooth rice flan, hot plain rice flan is sticky and flows when scooped up. The main ingredient is rice flour, cooked until thick and viscous. A perfect pot of hot plain rice flan will have a fragrant rice smell, without lumps or sticking to the pot. The filling is made from minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. When served, the seller scoops it into a bowl, adds the filling, pours in hot bone broth, and tops it with fried shallots and herbs.
Hot plain rice flan in Hanoi
Hot Crullers (Quẩy Nóng)
Hot crullers are often considered a windy day snack, commonly found at sidewalk eateries in Hanoi. Made from flour, eggs, salt, and baking powder, the dough is kneaded, left to rise, then divided into bite-sized pieces. When customers order, the vendor fries the dough strips in hot oil until golden and crispy. Hot crullers are served with sweet and sour fish sauce and pickled papaya and carrot.
Hot crullers in Hanoi
Grilled Corn and Sweet Potatoes
When Hanoi's weather turns chilly, grilled corn and sweet potato stalls start to appear all over the sidewalks. All it takes is a small charcoal stove, a fan, a few small stools, and a basket of corn, sweet potatoes, or eggs to attract customers. The vendor pre-grills them, then finishes cooking them when there are buyers. Young sticky corn, when grilled, becomes particularly sweet and delicious.
Grilled corn and sweet potato in Hanoi
Hot Sweet Soup (Chè Nóng)
Hot sweet soup varieties like cassava pudding, black bean sweet soup, and hot ginger syrup sweet soup are winter favorites, replacing the cold versions enjoyed in summer. Among them, cassava pudding is often the most loved. Fresh cassava, peeled, soaked to remove sap, cleaned, boiled with salt until cooked, then sliced into bite-sized pieces. The thick, sticky broth is made from sugar mixed with flour and poured over the cassava. Toppings usually include fresh coconut or coconut milk.
Hot sweet soup in Hanoi
Rice Dumplings in Ginger Syrup (Bánh Trôi Tàu)
These rice dumplings are sold at street vendors, sidewalks, or small shops. The aroma of ginger draws customers who might be just passing by. Made from glutinous rice flour, kneaded with water into soft dough, then divided into small balls. The filling is usually black sesame and mung beans. The syrup is made from cane sugar, with a spicy ginger flavor. Each bowl contains 2-3 dumplings, topped with shredded fresh coconut, black sesame, and crushed peanuts.
Rice dumplings in Hanoi
Pork Rib Congee (Cháo Sườn)
Hanoi's pork rib congee isn't made from whole rice, but from rice flour cooked with pork rib broth until smooth. Once the congee is soft, shredded pork rib meat is added and stirred in. Pork rib congee is typically served with crullers, pork floss, fried shallots, a pinch of pepper, or chili powder. Each spoonful melts in your mouth, with the sweetness of the broth and the aroma of rice. It can be eaten as a main meal or a snack.
Pork rib congee in Hanoi
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