Bun Cha, Hanoi

Back to the street that houses the infamous kem caramel today, I can feel it's gravitational pull as we walk down the street, it's quite hard not to just break into a run, crossing the street and feeding the sugar monster again but we have a purpose .. we're here for bun cha, a Northern lunch time specialty of grilled pork in a fish sauce served with rice noodles and the usual (but unusual) plate of fresh vegetation.

The place is a recommendation brought to us by the friendly folk at Cafe Hue. We tried bun cha recently and when we told them where we had gone the response was something like 'well that's ok if your into average food, but where you really want to go is....' so here we are. The place is full which is always a good start, as soon as we show interest a table and stools are produced on the side walk, it always seem to be of great amusement to the locals to see a 194cm guy trying to sit at these tiny street places and many double takes are done by passers by.



Two bun cha is soon arranged as well as a side of nem (Saigon spring rolls) which is the traditional accompaniment.

The bowl came generously full of two types of grilled pork, one marinated slices the other minced and wrapped in a leaf before being grilled, and all swimming in the garlicky, sweet sour fish sauce, (which also double as a dip for the nem). The pork is charred well, so little flakes wash off into the sauce adding an exquisite smokiness. Next to the pork is a huge pile of fresh noodles, a bowl of fresh cut chill and the herbs, oh the herbs, there is morning glory, Thai basil, lettuce, bean sprout, mint and half a dozen others we have no idea what they are.

You take some of the noodles and herbs and dip them into the sauce before eating with some of the pork. It's delicious! Our friends recommendation was right on the money this was a far superior bun cha than previously experienced. The nem are super crispy and full of pork, crab and noodles. All washed down with a cold beer this is one of the best lunch's we've ever had, every day Vietnam is fast climbing the list towards favorite county, now about that caramel......

Conviniently located opposite Kem Caramel
34 Hang Than
Hanoi

In Love, Hanoi

Have we told you we love Vietnam yet? It's incredible the hustle, the bustle, the way food is not just a fuel but a way of life. You can't go five meters without seeing some sort of eatery even if it's just a few charcoal pots and a piece of sheet metal set on some tiny plastic chairs, which is where we found our selves today.

Just behind the puppet theatre (which is very cool, people) the empty sidewalks suddenly fill as if by some magic signal around 4pm grills and woks are dragged out, produce produced, seats thrown down and whammo your standing in the midst of a street long food court.

Of course we can fit a wee snack, it would be rude not to. So we go for some saigon rolls .. a spring roll filled with mushroom, vermicili, pork mince wrapped in a fresh rice paper wrapper and deep fried. Yummy!

This little place is the does a sideline in fresh pork, just sitting out next to the rolls, but you know it wil all be gone in a few hours with a fresh batch sitting there tomorrow and still healthy and kicking repeat customers coming back for more.

Often makes me wonder about the highly sanitised place 1st world law makers want us to live in.

Snack in hand we grabed a seat at a beer hoi stall on the corner and watched the locals enjoying their favorite past time.

So in love ....