Still wandering around the busy streets of Hanoi, we unexpectedly came across Quay Bánh Xèo 22 Hàng Bồ, a humble roadside stall specializing in, of course, Bánh Xèo. We honestly had no plans of eating again that soon, but the irresistible aroma of freshly cooked pancakes from the lady manning several pans at once immediately caught our attention.
The stall itself was simple, with only a few tables and a very straightforward menu — Bánh Xèo, Há Cảo, Quẩy, and drinks. Seeing such a short menu made us think that they must be really good at what they serve since all their focus goes into just a few dishes.
We ordered their Bánh Xèo (VND 20,000), a crispy Vietnamese rice pancake filled with beef, shrimp, and bean sprouts according to the menu. We also tried the Há Cảo (VND 20,000), their fried Vietnamese dumplings filled with pork, wood ear mushrooms, and wrapped in wheat flour.
Watching the lady cook was already an experience in itself. She was handling multiple pans nonstop while continuously preparing fresh orders for diners. We actually didn’t have high expectations since it was much cheaper compared to other Bánh Xèo places we had seen around Hanoi.
Our Há Cảo arrived first, together with a bowl of fresh herbs, dipping fish sauce, and surprisingly, rice paper wrappers. We were confused at first because we thought dumplings were already enough on their own. Then we noticed another couple wrapping the dumplings and herbs inside the rice paper before dipping them into the sauce. We copied what they were doing — and it turned out delicious.
The dumplings tasted great whether eaten plain or wrapped with herbs and sauce, though the dipping sauce definitely elevated the flavors even more.
While waiting for our Bánh Xèo, we noticed other diners ordering other versions with more seafood and other fillings, which made us realize there were probably more options available beyond the basic one we ordered. Even though ours only had small portions of shrimp, beef and bean sprouts, it was still incredibly satisfying. The pancake was perfectly crispy while the filling remained flavorful and savory.
Another memorable food stop during our trip was Xôi Yến, a famous spot in Hanoi’s Old Quarter known for its traditional Vietnamese savory sticky rice bowls. Located along Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street, it was a bit far from where we were staying, but we still made the walk after lunch hours to avoid the usual crowd.
Since we had just finished brunch earlier, we decided to order only a few items to share — one Xôi Trắng or plain sticky rice (VND 22,000), one Thập Cẩm mixed dishes (VND 45,000), and a bottled Jasmine Aloe Vera Tea (Trà Nhài Nha Đam for VND 25,000).
At first glance, we thought the sticky rice already came with toppings included, but we later realized that the rice and toppings are ordered separately. The mixed toppings platter included a whole egg, minced pork, pork floss, a sausage similar to chorizo, liver, fried shallots, and a rectangular tofu-like meat product, all served with fermented cucumber on the side.
The serving of sticky rice looked small — about the size of a dipping sauce bowl in the Philippines — but sticky rice is filling, so we still found it shareable.
What made the dish so enjoyable was the variety of textures and flavors in every bite. The toppings balanced sweet, savory, and slightly sour flavors (from the fermented side dish), creating a combination that truly felt like a small fiesta in the mouth.
As for the Jasmine Aloe Vera Tea, it ended up becoming one of our unforgettable drinks during the trip. I usually hesitate ordering floral drinks because the aftertaste tends to linger too much for my liking, but this one was surprisingly refreshing and light, especially when served over ice.
Among the many dishes we tried in Hanoi, Xôi Yến definitely became one of the must tries. Below is their menu for your reference:
My eatsperience 
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