Chả Cá (grilled fish with noodles)

Cha Ca is, without a doubt, one of the must-try dishes of Hanoi. Pre-grilled fish is stir-fried right in front of you with spring onions, dill, peanuts and a few optional slices of chili for spice (see below). The fish and vegetables is served with bún noodles for substance and fish sauce (or shrimp paste) for flavor. The end result is an assault on the taste buds that still somehow remains light and delicate. It is not particularly filling, so works excellently as a light meal to keep you going or a delicious starter to prepare you for the main meal.

A home-grown Hanoian dish, Cha Ca has no southern or central alternative so if you’re spanning the length of the country during your trip, be sure to sample this culinary treat when you’re in the capital and get the chance. Cha Ca is traditionally made with lang fish, but virtually all other restaurants have since moved onto cheaper alternatives. Cau Go Restaurant is proud to still be using the original fish that made Cha Ca so popular to begin with.

Cha Ca has become so fundamentally Hanoian that a street has even been named after the dish. Hang Son (the street selling paint) was renamed Cha Ca and can be found near Dong Xuan Market. But with wonderful views of Old Hanoi and keeping to the most original version of the recipe, Cau Go is sure to be the best place to try Cha Ca.