Vietnam is a country considered a melting pot of culture as you can greatly see the influences of various countries on its customs and traditions. That’s why a lot of tourists make sure that they get to visit Vietnam as one of their tourist destinations when traveling in Southeast Asia. If you visit Hanoi, Vietnam, you’ll see a lot of local coffee shops on every corner of the street. However, you won’t only get to see the typical coffee recipes you’ve seen or tasted elsewhere. The egg is usually used as a side dish or food ingredient. But here, it is also mixed in your coffee! Yeah, you heard that right. Eggs as part of your coffee! It may sound absurd initially, but hey, it’s a unique experience you wouldn’t miss.
This is why Quan Cafe curated a list of cafes where you can surely grab this Vietnamese Egg Coffee Hanoi that should be part of every tourist’s must-try drinks! Since Hanoi is filled with countless coffee shops that sell egg coffees, we compiled the top cafes where you can have the best egg coffee in Hanoi.
1. Cafe Giang – Creator of the first ever original egg coffee in Hanoi
Number one on our list is Cafe Giang which was founded by Mr. Nguyen Van Giang in 1946. The shop’s name serves as proof of the legacy of the famous godfather of egg coffee in Vietnam. The background story of the making of this sought-out beverage is not all rainbows and butterflies. It was made as a symbol of perseverance during the war with France. There was a shortage of supply of fresh milk as the popularity of coffee with milk rose to fame. To prevail over such an issue, Mr. Giang invented the first ever Vietnamese Egg Coffee in Hanoi by using egg yolks as a substitute for milk. After several trials and errors in finalizing its final recipe, Cafe Giang has been using the original recipe used from the early days up to this moment.
To get to this original egg coffee in Hanoi, go to the Old Quarter on Nguyen Huu Huan street, number 39. It’s easy to miss this because it is located in a narrow alleyway, so make sure to search for the direction pointing towards the shop’s name. Go through the corridor, and you will see the cafe’s small entrance. The egg coffee is served in a cup, and you’ll instantly notice the yellow custard on top of the coffee. You won’t get disappointed with this popular egg coffee Hanoi Old Quarter!
Cafe Giang is open daily, from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, so make sure to drop by during this time! You may also visit their official website for more info.
2. NeoCafe – Smart cafe with the best egg coffee in Hanoi made from fresh ingredients
Another shop that tops our list is NeoCafe which is also famous for its signature Egg Coffee. NeoCafe boasts its innovative and instagrammable location but without abandoning that classic feel from the coffee industry that Vietnam is known for. When ordering the best egg coffee in Hanoi, make sure to look for the word “Trứng,” which means an egg, and “Cà phê trứng,” which literally translates to Egg Coffee. Although they offer an English menu, it is still good to familiarize yourself with such words for a much more local experience.
What makes NeoCafe’s Vietnamese Egg Coffee in Hanoi quite unique from other competitors is that it is suitable for people, even those with sensitive taste buds. There’s a subtle taste of yolk, but it doesn’t overpower the whole coffee experience. It is a tinge of creaminess and sweetness that will surely make you sip for more. Not only that, the bitterness of the coffee truly compliments the egg custard.
Besides egg coffee, NeoCafe also serves a lot of delicious drinks, which your taste buds will surely give it a pass. Suppose you’re going for a more dominant flavor of the coffee. In that case, you should go for their Vietnamese Specialty Coffee because you won’t be disappointed with the richness of its taste. The high quality of its coffee is because it’s wholly made from 100% natural ingredients. It also has no chemical flavor and preservatives.
On the other hand, if you don’t feel like drinking a hot drink, you can never go wrong with a cold brew! NeoCafe’s Coldbrew Cam Sả or Lemongrass Orange Cold Brew Coffee is a must-try for its complementing taste between coffee, lemongrass, and orange. You shouldn’t miss trying this drink once you go to Hanoi!
There are currently three branches of NeoCafe in Hanoi, and they are open from 7 AM to 11:00 PM daily. You can taste the best egg coffee in Hanoi at any of their stores. You may also visit their official website for more info.
3. Cafe Dinh – Explore the taste of traditional egg coffee
Since Cafe Giang was previously mentioned in the list, we can’t miss out on this cafe which is particularly related to each other. Cafe Dinh is owned by the daughter of Mr. Giang, who founded Cafe Giang and started the Vietnamese egg coffee mania. Because Cafe Dinh is strongly linked with Cafe Giang, their versions of egg coffees are made from the following ingredients: coffee, egg yolk, and condensed milk. The only distinction between these two coffee shops is that each has a particular concoction for making egg coffee. So, if you plan to try egg coffee when visiting Hanoi, it would be awesome to taste its roots in these two renowned cafes.
Cafe Dinh can be found on the second floor of a simple two-story building on the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake. Even though this cafe may not appear the most extravagant, you can be assured of the quality of their egg coffee. It gives the most authentic taste with its strong flavor of coffee mixed with the sweetness of condensed milk. Apart from that, it is served hot, making it perfect for chilly weather. What completes the drink is the creamy soft egg froth set on the top. Hooray! You can now have a thick and sweet Vietnamese egg coffee on hand!
However, based on its reviews, the place is mostly crowded with tourists, whereas locals rarely go to it. When even the locals get a buzz out of a coffee shop, it can only mean one thing – the satisfaction they get here is not enough to come back over and over again. So, if you want a trusted cafe with a richer and more flavorful egg coffee because it’s made in pure natural ingredients, it would be best to try NeoCafe. Despite being new compared to earlier cafes, many people have already recognized the quality that it serves.
This yummy egg coffee Hanoi’s address is at 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam. They are open from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
4. Café Lâm – One of the oldest coffee shops in town
Next on our list is known for being among the top three oldest cafes in the city. Despite the notability of running strongly since 1956, it wasn’t a straight triumph right from the start. Instead, it began as a humble stall on the sides of the street, which eventually became a small single-room among the bustling Nguyễn Hữu Huân. Another distinct feature of Café Lâm is its art collection displayed on the walls. In the olden days, Mr. Nguyen Lam, the cafe owner, welcomed multiple artists and provided them drinks in exchange for art. Now, all of these have become a prized possession for Mr. Lam.
Apart from the creative vibe that the cafe radiates, it also gives a nostalgic feeling just by being inside one of the oldest cafes. Likewise, seeing antique oil paintings can reflect what former Vietnam is from the artist’s point of view. So, if you are someone who appreciates the beauty of art or history, you will surely love coming to Café Lâm. The pieces of Vietnamese art are shown off inside the cafe, filling the place with a vibrant backdrop. It somewhat became similar to an art museum. Yet, the more beautiful part here is that you can enjoy drinking a cup of coffee inside!
Being established for many decades has given them the recognition of serving traditional Vietnamese coffees. Among their drinks, it is recommended to try their Egg Coffee. You’ll get to savor the rich taste of Vietnamese coffee topped with meringue-like froth made with whipped egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk. What an exciting combination, right? This egg coffee Hanoi Old Quarter is indeed a must-try because you won’t be disappointed in its decadent taste! Just a tip if you’re drinking egg coffee for the first time, I suggest that you won’t stir it up because if you do, the egg foam will only end up blending with the coffee below it. Instead, you should drink it entirely from top to bottom. In this way, you are allowing your palate to explore the interesting and mouthwatering taste of the famous egg coffee Hanoi.
Café Lâm can also accommodate you if you wish to try other drinks. You can try their version of Ca Phe Sua Da, translated into English as Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It is based on traditional Vietnamese coffee mixed with condensed milk. So, you can still taste the strongness of coffee amidst the sweetness running through each sip!
This tasty egg coffee Hanoi’s address is at 60 Nguyen Huu Huan Old Quarter, Hanoi, Vietnam. They are open from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
5. Café Pho Co – Indulge in a fantastic view of the Hoan Kiem Lake on the rooftop!
Before getting more detailed about this cafe, the first thing you need to know is that since it is located on the rooftop, you should be familiar with the direction of entering the cafe. It can be a little tricky since it requires going inside a silk clothing shop and using the stairs to go up to the rooftop. Is all the hassle worth it? Surely, yes! The energy you consume will be replenished once you try their egg coffee. Apart from this, the beautiful view of Hoan Kiem Lake will make you feel relaxed more than ever!
Once you get a taste of their distinctive way of making the traditional Vietnamese egg coffee Hanoi, you can determine if it’s truly a strong match with Café Dinh. Then, see if it is the same as what many people were saying. It may look like a typical foamy latte, but the difference is that egg white is one of its ingredients. Despite having a lot of setbacks when imagining yourself drinking something with an egg in it, you will not get disappointed the moment you sip on your cup because of how foamy and creamy it is. Then, as you drink it from top to bottom, you’ll get to explore the taste of mixing this creamy sweetness with the compelling flavor of brewed coffee.
It is a lovely place to stay, especially if you are into a nature-like and ancient atmosphere. You can immediately feel the peacefulness of the place as you are surrounded by old-fashioned interiors and a ‘chunky’ cat with a view where you can just get lost in the moment. As if you just wanted to disappear in this hidden coffee shop behind Hanoi’s old buildings for a while.
Café Pho Co is located on the 4th floor of 11 Hang Gai, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Since this is the last cafe on the list, it would be nice to have them on a checklist for your next trip to Hanoi. As you get to try the famous egg coffee Hanoi from every coffee shop afterward, it lies in your personal judgment and preference whether among them will earn the title of the best egg coffee in Hanoi. That’s all! We hope this list helps you plan for your next Hanoi coffee trip!
