Bún chả Hương Liên

This was my second time dining here, although I never got around to reviewing my first visit three years ago. I came back because of Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain, two people I truly admire. We ordered the bún chả and the fried crab rolls. The bún chả was clean, flavorful, and I especially loved the grilled pork patties. While I’ve had even better bún chả from local street vendors in Hanoi, this one is still worth trying. The fried crab rolls were crispy, savory, and absolutely delicious. The prices are affordable and the experience is worth it. We arrived around 12:45 PM, and although there was still a small crowd and a short waitlist, we were seated within five minutes. The restaurant has three floors, so the line moves quickly. Definitely a must visit when in Hanoi.

✅️ You have to visit Bún cha Huong Liên while in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is the spot where Anthony Bourdain took President Obama for dinner back in May 2016 while filming Parts Unknown, and it's been a legend ever since. Bourdain famously picked up the bill himself, and it only came to about $6 for the two of them. That single meal turned a quiet family-run noodle shop that had been open since 1993 into one of the most talked-about restaurants in the city. You can still see the exact table where they sat. It's on the second floor, sealed in a glass case with the original stools, dishes, and chopsticks left just as they were that night. Photos of the two of them are all over the walls. If you want the full experience, order the "Combo Obama". It's their most requested item and comes with a bowl of bún chả, a fried spring roll, and a cold bottle of Hanoi beer, all for around 100-130k VND (roughly $4-5). Bún chả itself is a Hanoi specialty: grilled pork patties and pork belly served in a warm, slightly sweet fish sauce broth, alongside a plate of cold vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs that you mix in yourself. 💪 😋 🇻🇳 🍜 I loved the little elevator that brings the food from the kitchen downstairs to the upper floors!! ✅️ Please follow @bouncingplaces on YOUTUBE It helps support the channel so I can continue sharing amazing places like this to eat and fun adventures as I travel the world full time 🌎 🙏 Keep on Bouncing Baby 😎❤️👍💯

The is amazing I just dont like seafood roll Not my taste but The bun cha was amazing. I tried IT for The first Time but not The last. The waiters are really nice and helpfull. 💯% recommend when u will be on Hanoi IT must be on your bucket list.

Visited Bún Chả Hương Liên (aka “Bun Cha Obama”) mostly out of curiosity. The place has a fun, touristy atmosphere, and it’s interesting to see the preserved table where Barack Obama dined—feels a bit like a mini attraction inside a local eatery. The bun cha is good: flavorful grilled pork, a slightly sweet and tangy dipping sauce, fresh herbs, and soft rice noodles. Everything is well-prepared and comes out quickly, but it doesn’t quite stand out compared to other spots in Hanoi that feel more local and less hyped. Overall, it’s worth stopping by once for the experience and the story behind it, but if you’re chasing the best bun cha in Hanoi, you’ll likely find better elsewhere.

[see menu in photos] overall great experience a bit far from the usual spots in old quarter but still ok to go to with the intention to try bun cha in the restaurant where obama previously ate. This place is always overflowing with foreign customers because of the same reason, but they have lots of tables across several floors so you'd likely get seated immediately even at peak hours kinda pricey in comparison to other street stalls but cheaper than bun cha ta. I recommend trying bun cha in different restos since it differs, and we liked bun cha huong lien the best. Seafood roll is huge i believe you can share with another person menu is simple so you just point at what you'll order. So even though staff cannot understand english you'll be ok paid thru cash outside the restaurant, they provide a small bill for you to review your orders overall would recommend !!