Lemongrass Halal Kitchen — Restaurant in Hà Nội

Lemongrass Halal Kitchen Hue Alley Hanoi

Before leaving Hanoi we decided to try an exotic halal restaurant which combines two distinct flavours of Asia. Lemongrass is operated by a Vietnamese lady using nusantara recipes from different regions of South East Asia mixed with Indian flavours of Saffron, managed by her Indian husband. The result was an interesting variation of the original. We ordered Vietnamese fish cakes to start, a Thai Green curry for me, Chicken Rica Rica (a dish initially from Sulawesi) for Yusup and Fried morning glory. What struck me about all dishes was that coconut oil was used to prepare the dishes and whilst it was tasteful, it departed from the main flavours of the original dishes. For me the coconut oil simply does not work in a Thai Green chicken curry and left an oily coconut after taste in my mouth. Yusup was happy with his Rica rica. As for the morning glory, it was a coconut oil overkill entirely for me. The Vietnamese fish cake was perfect and the best. The ambience of Lemongrass-Saffron was very nice, the couple very friendly. Notwithstanding my comments above, Lemongrass-Saffron is probably the best halal restaurant in Hanoi so make a point to check it out if you are there but tell them to hold back the coconut oil unless you like it....

I found this halal restaurant when I was exploring Google maps in the area. I ordered rice ayam rendang, fresh spring rolls, and stir-fry garlic kangkung (water spinach, not in the picture). My favourite was the stir-fry garlic water spinach, it tasted soooo good. The rice itself also tasted good (I think it was jasmine rice that they used). For the rendang, the level of spicy and salty was perfect, but I think it could use some improvements, as I tasted it had Indian curry taste in it (it should not have, I am an Indonesian). The staff were very nice and attentive, and the vibe of the restaurant was also really calm. I think the price is very good compared to other halal restaurants I have visited in Hanoi and Sapa. It's a new restaurant they said, so people, come there before it gets too famous...

Lemongrass & saffron are two concepts on 2 floors in one building - originally I wanted to go for the Indian saffron but it wasn’t available without prior booking so it seems they only run it by demand maybe also due to the relative fresh opening it is less visited. However the dinner out of the lemongrass kitchen was good and well performed to a reasonable price. Staff were attentive and friendly this restaurant deserves to be more popular and I hope that both concepts perform well so that both kitchens in this building are open...