Chasing the Chungs

restaurant

“Cafe Giang is the place that started it all. I didn't think it was this busy, but when I came in, it's just packed with people. Rightfully so, this is the OG where they started egg coffee. There is no egg taste. So, you would think that there they have there's some egg taste to it, but it's very velvety and soft and creamy. And because it mixed with the coffee, it's kind of almost like a tiramisu, I would say. Very thick and very creamy foam.”

experience

experience

“We're at the famous Saint Joseph Cathedral. It was built in the 1880s. It had the neo-Gothic architecture that resembles the Notre Dame in Paris. We just finished up. We went inside and saw the beautiful architecture. It was really refreshing to see a Catholic church since we've been seeing so many Buddhist temples. Yeah, this is our first church in months. We quite enjoyed it.”

experience

“We're here at the Hanoi Train Street. This one looks much cooler than the one in uh Thailand. I think cuz we came at night time, so the vibe is very different. It is lined with coffee shops. When we were in Thailand, it was all like selling souvenirs and trinkets, but this is all coffee shops. And they've got seats lined up along both sides of the tracks. And some even have a second floor balcony, so you can also watch it from a top down view, which is pretty cool. It's a very cool vibe. There's lots of neon lights. So, it's cool to check out.”

restaurant

“Tam Vi, one Michelin star dinner for $25 USD. Our verdict, is Hanoi still the world's best food city? Very reasonable price for a Michelin star restaurant.”

restaurant

“Our first official banh mi in Vietnam. So, this place is a chain, apparently, right? They've got like 70 locations across Vietnam, and it was recommended to us from our travel agency. And the reviews are great, so I think they're pretty well established. So, this is what it looks like. Ooh. It looks great. So, this is their special banh mi. What kind of meat is in there? Chicken and cashew. And it was 50,000 dong, which comes out to around 250 Vietnamese dong per sandwich or so. Pretty good deal.”

cafe

“Cafe Giang is the place that started it all. I didn't think it was this busy, but when I came in, it's just packed with people. Rightfully so, this is the OG where they started egg coffee. So, I'm curious to see how different it is. Can we get one hot, one cold egg coffee? There is no egg taste. So, you would think that there they have there's some egg taste to it, but it's very velvety and soft and creamy. And because it mixed with the coffee, it's kind of almost like a tiramisu, I would say. Very thick and very creamy foam.”

experience

“We just arrived at Hoan Kiem Lake and it's located in the center of the city. It's kind of similar to Central Park, I guess you can see it, because it's right in the heart of Hanoi City. So, if you want to actually go and walk the lake, you have to get tickets, which is 50,000 per person. So, for the both of us, we paid 100,000. This is a really popular area for people to come and take pictures. Locals and tourists alike.”

restaurant

“This place, it's in the Michelin guide, so it's very popular. It's only 5:00 right now, and it's packed. The place is packed, so we shared a table with another couple. Once we were seated, we both went for the brisket and flank pizza. The broth was clean and deeply flavorful. The beef was tender, the noodles springy, and they garnished it with sliced white onion, which is rare in Vietnam. One more surprise. We ordered Chinese donuts on the side, which is perfect for soaking up that amazing broth. We just finished and it was good. To me, it was the best bowl of pho I've had in my life.”

cafe

“Oh, when I was doing my research, um a lot of people recommended this coffee shop, Hanoi 1990, and they said that you can actually DM them on Instagram, and they'll tell you the train schedule, and they'll also let you reserve seats. Ah. So, you don't have to actually be here to reserve seats. You can tell them, "Hey, I want two seats." And then show up when it is. Yeah, we just had a lot of time, so we came early and we're just waiting. But, if you're tight on time and you want to make sure you have seats available, then it's a good place to do that.”

restaurant

“Bun cha, the dish Obama and Bourdain made famous.”

experience

cafe

“Modern Middle Eastern desserts with a Malaysian twist, crispy, buttery, and unforgettable.”

restaurant

“Each pot cooked over charcoal for that perfect rice crust and deep, smoky flavor.”

restaurant

“Wow. This place is really good. What would you give the rating? I think 4.5. I agree. What's missing from it being five? It will probably be five if we go. Yes, we have it in person.”

restaurant

“I can understand why they got the Michelin s or Michelin three years in a row. It's that good and it's unique enough. I've never had anything like it before.”