Hanoi Old Quarter — Restaurant in Garden Grove

Late-night gem in Little Saigon, Hanoi Old Quarter hits the spot!

Love, love, love everything about this place. We were hangry after a late flight into John Wayne Airport and drove straight here at 11 PM for a bite before our cousin’s wedding weekend. Thankfully, they’re open until midnight, what a lifesaver!

After a bit of confusion locating them (they’re in the back lot of the plaza, parallel to Brookhurst St, not facing Westminster), we called and the staff were so kind and helpful. They confirmed they were still open, took note of our party size, and welcomed us. We got there around 11:25 PM, and food came out quickly after we ordered.

What we ordered: Xôi Gà (Chicken Sticky Rice), $14.95 So, so, so delicious! Perfect seasoning, tender chicken, and just all-around comfort food. First time trying it here and it blew us away. We even wanted to order more to bring home but the kitchen had closed. We’ll definitely return just for this dish alone! Nem Cua (Crab Rolls), $11.95 Loved the crispiness of the rice wrapper, light, crunchy, and satisfying with every bite. The filling was balanced with herbs and texture. A beautifully executed appetizer. Miến Gà Trộn (Dry Chicken Glass Noodles), $16.55. We especially loved that it came with chicken intestines (liver, heart, gizzard), such a treat. The sauce was a bit sweet for our taste, but we easily balanced it with fresh lime juice.

And speaking of limes: This place deserves 5/5 rave from me just for how they cut their limes! Juicy wedges, not stingy little slivers, such a small thing, but it really shows care and thought. Most places don’t get this right, and it makes a big difference. The only weak spot? The broth served on the side, very bland and forgettable. Canh Bún, $16.55: Overall a solid dish with flavorful broth and noodles, but the huyết (pork blood jelly) had a very strong “hôi” smell, a sign of poor storage and or prep. It turned us off a bit. Next time, we’d ask for the dish without it.

Good to know: Open 7 days/week from 10 AM – Midnight (Last order taken at 11:45 PM) Tables set for both small and big groups in relatively small space Plenty of parking in the back lot No toilet seat covers (just a heads-up)

We’re so grateful this place was open late, and we’re already planning to return. Hanoi Old Quarter is a gem for homestyle Northern Vietnamese comfort food, especially if you’re out late or want something...

I randomly saw Hanoi Old Quarter on IG and little red note and decided to check it out. It is tucked behind the Mall of Fortune and right next to OC & Lau 2.

The vibe’s chill, and I noticed the menu is loaded with noodle options, since I’m a noodle lover so naturally… my friends and I went on a noodle spree.

Here’s what we tried: ▶️ Bun Thang (Combo Noodles) – $15.95 A Northern Vietnamese classic that’s usually a Lunar New Year special as I learned, but they serve it year-round here. Comes with a pretty tiered “terrace field”-style presentation. Thin yellow noodles, and the broth was rich and flavorful. Super comforting.

▶️ Nem Cua Bể (Fried Crab Spring Rolls) – $11.95 Crispy, crabby, and solid. Not mind-blowing, but definitely enjoyable.

▶️ Banh Canh (Udon) – $15.55 Thick udon-style noodles with shrimp, crab, and a giant slice of fish cake. Broth had a subtle curry kick, which was interesting. Fish cake was a bit dense though.

▶️ Bun Gia Cay (Grilled Pork Leg Soup) – $16.55 A hearty pork leg soup—broth was actually the highlight here! If you toss in thin noodles, it turns into a kind of Vietnamese pork noodle soup. That said, the pork leg wasn’t as tender as I hoped.

Portions were pretty decent, and it was fun trying all the different noodle styles. Regarding taste-wise, I’d say it was okay overall and nothing too crazy, but the soups are where this place shines in my opinion.

And just a heads up that this restaurant advertised various payment methods available but we were advised to pay either cash or use Zelle/Venmo only which was not very honest.

📍Hanoi Old Quarter 9902 Westminster Ave Suite B, Garden...

This is the best Northern style Vietnamese food restaurant I've tried so far!!! It is hard to find a decent Northern style restaurant around here and the one I usually go to is going down in terms of flavor, so I decided to give this place a try since it is marked as a hot new business. And it came out not disappointing at all.

I ordered bun dau mam tom and bun moc nam huong since the server said those two are their signatures. Bun dau came with a variety of toppings, and what blew me away was their shrimp sauce. It was exactly like the one I had in Hanoi, Vietnam. It might be the soul of the dish, I would say. Don't forget to squeeze 2 pieces of lemons to have the best taste. Also, bun moc nam huong was very delicious with flavorful broth coming along with chicken, pork balls, and mushrooms. The soup bowl looked pretty small though, yet I ended up being so full. I also ordered nem chua ran for the appetizer, and it was good too.

The place's clean space and friendly ambiance was a plus. The service was amazing. Our server asked if it was our first time there and recommended us some of their bestsellers. She also asked after our meal if we liked the food and if we had any suggestions to improve it. And yes, the only thing I could say was "so goooood."

I definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have authentic Viet Northern food. Will come back later to try the...