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The concept at Quan An Ngon is a one stop shop for Vietnamese street food of every region and variety. Quan An Ngon is designed with seating in a spacious courtyard surrounding a giant central tree, with food stalls on all four sides cooking the food to order so you can also browse the stalls and simply point at what piques your interest to order. While each item is not as excellent as you might find if you go to a place specializing in that dish, it’s a great introduction to many of the dishes mentioned in the Street Food Primer. While the selection is exhaustive, all items on the menu are translated into English and the names of dishes describe quite literally the ingredients and method of preparation. This is a favorite haven for tourists who want a safe and easy introduction to the local street food in a boisterous and fun setting, but the place is also packed from morning to night with mostly Vietnamese clientele. When eating at Quan An Ngon, your approach should be to browse the menu or circle the stalls, and sample as much as possible. The menu is simply organized into categories of food such as noodle soups, dry noodles, salads, and wraps (akin to the Street Food Primer).
Coordinates: Quan An Ngon is located west of Hoan Kiem Lake, one short block south of Hai Ba Trung (further west than Hanoi Towers) at 18 Phan Boi Chau. The restaurant entrance is on the southwest corner of Phan Boi Chau and Nam Ngu. Look for the massive motorbike parking that wraps around the corner at this intersection. Quan An Ngon opens early and closes late, so if you want to avoid the crowds, go at off hours. Tel: (04) 942 8162/8163 |
Recommended dishes: Try as much as you can, but here are some dishes they do particularly well: Banh Cuon (rice flour pancakes with mushrooms and minced pork), Muc Xien Nuong (fresh grilled squid skewers), Bun Bo Thit Nuong (a grilled pork variation on bun bon nam bo) and Salat Xoai Xang Hai San (seafood and green mango salad). Quan An Ngon is also one of the few places where you can get a decent taste for southern street foods, such as