Mr Bảy Miền Tây - Bánh Xèo — Restaurant in Hà Nội

The mission for our final night in Hanoi was to find an authentic bánh xéo to complete our set of must try dishes according to a "top 10" article selected from a hasty Google search.

I am pleased to report that this is exactly the place to go to fill your tourist meter. The restaurant has been elevated from the street food standard of stainless steel tables and plastic stools which may appeal to some western sensibilities. Luckily, this is no tourist trap as you will find reasonable prices and the reassuring presence of locals enjoying their evening meal.

The bánh xéo was beautifully crispy and the filling was meaty and satisfying. There is a nice staff member who speaks excellent English and lets you know how to enjoy the dish properly if you missed the instructional leaflet on the wall. We also got spring rolls which surprisingly arrived with some bun noodles.

There are many great dishes to try on the menu which is appealing for those who haven't been indiscriminately shovelling up Vietnam's street food all day. Enjoy with a bia ha noi for...

I decided to come back for a second visit after my first experience, where a new staff member forgot our order. Despite that hiccup, we wanted to give it another chance—and I’m so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious, and the Banh Xeo was worth the wait. It was perfectly crunchy, the meat tender, and the prawns fresh.

The restaurant does get crowded, so the wait can be a bit long, especially for the Banh Xeo. We arrived around 6 p.m. and enjoyed the “Nem Lui” as an entrée while we waited. It’s served with rice paper wraps and salad, which kept us satisfied while the Banh Xeo was being prepared.

We also found out they have an upstairs area, which explains the longer wait time—it’s a popular spot! But I’m really happy we came back because the food was fantastic, especially the special dipping sauce. The service was lovely too, and the staff, particularly the lady who spoke excellent English, made us feel...

Michelin Bib Gourmand Selection for 2024!

Arrived from my Halong Bay trip late in the night and this was the only place in my list which was still open.

And omg... the Banh Xeo was superb! The place was small and really easy to miss and I would have not found it if not for pictures of the front posted on Google.

The owners spoke very good English and me being the glutton wanted to order a side of spring rolls as well but was stopped by the lady saying it's too much food. 😂😂😂. So I just ordered a set of the Banh Xeo

The set came with a huge platter of fresh vegetables. Very fresh and not wilted and browned. It also came with about 6 pcs of rice paper which I had 3 pcs.

The pancake was hot, crispy and full of meat, seafood and bean sprouts. Ate it the way recommended and when dipped in sauce, the mix of flavours all came together perfectly.

Highly, highly recommended for those looking for a...