Bao An Vegan street food — Restaurant in Hà Nội

A simple poster hanging on a gate read - 'Vegan Banh mi' with an arrow pointing in the direction of the bylane. Walking through the narrow path got us to a humble restaurant on the ground floor of the owner's home. My eyes lingered on the wholesome posters that adorned the rustic walls.

As we browsed through the menu, a lil girl in her school uniform welcomed us with joy while her mom was in the kitchen area. She very adorably took our order and we got talking! We asked about her school, friends and hobbies. She answered every question in detail and was curious to know where we were from, which places we visited in Hanoi and if we were vegan too; all while playing with ice cubes and bursting into laughs in between! (it was quite hot that day).

We dug in as soon the order came and oh! How flavourful it was! I deeply savoured each bite as we continued our conversation. She shared how her family is vegan and how she created the poster from waste material along with her mom and elder sister to decorate the space.

She recommended that we must visit a Buddhist Pagoda nearby (where her family goes every week) and was quick to offer putting it on Google maps for us. As I walked inside the Pagoda with full tummy and full-er heart, I was brimming with joy and gratitude to have met this wholesome lil human and for having found this...

The falafel banh mi at this place was absolutely incredible and easily one of the highlights of my entire trip. I loved it so much that I went back every single day while I was in town, and even now, months later, I still find myself thinking about it. It was honestly the most delicious banh mi I tried anywhere in Vietnam, perfectly balanced in flavor and texture. I truly wish I had the recipe so I could make it at home and enjoy it again.

What made the experience even better was the atmosphere. The shop is family-run, and the owners are some of the kindest and most welcoming people I met during my travels. Every visit felt warm and personal, and you could tell that they put a lot of care into what they do. It is a simple place, but it has so much heart, and that makes it even more special.

If you are in town, this is a place you absolutely have to visit. It is not just a quick meal but an experience that stays with you long...

This place is a small, home-run business led by the mother of the household and strongly supported by her older daughter Dee (she is just nine). She usually helps the mother by translating between English and Vietnamese as well as practices English with the guests. She has strong views on protecting the environment and veganism - so we can all definitely learn a thing or two from the little one.

Coming to the food, I had both the Banh Mi's on the menu. This was my first experience eating Vegan Banh Mi so I have no comparison. I felt the bread was a bit dry vs. the other Banh Mi's I have tried as well as the options of sauces for the Banh Mi a bit limited.

I am so tempted to rate the place a 5 for its service and 4 for its food - but Google doesn't allow me to separate both the ratings. Definitely a must go if you're vegan...