The East — Restaurant in Hà Nội

My family and I visited the restaurant while we were in Hanoi. We ordered a few dishes at the waiter's recommendation and everything we had was amazing. The roasted duck was definitely a standout.

On the downside, the dining experience was ruined by the chef/kitchen staff's loud shouting that was very clearly audible in the first floor's dining area where we were seated due to its close proximity to the kitchen. We also saw the chef walk in and out of the restaurant, through the main dining space, a few times. At some point, we even heard a loud sneeze coming from the kitchen, and from what I saw, none of the kitchen staff were wearing face masks. The kitchen staff also aggressively rang the kitchen bell to signal to the waiters that food was ready. This was again very clearly audible in the first floor dining area. Overall, these disturbances greatly ruined our dining experience, as well as the atmosphere of the dining hall, and deterred us from ordering more dishes. It was a real shame because the food itself was stellar and very enjoyable.

As a Michelin guide "upscale restaurant" for Hanoi standards, I hope the staff could be more mindful of the dining atmosphere that...

The East stand out visually with its simple decor, and it delivers an unforgettable culinary experience, earning its spot as my favorite restaurant in Hanoi. The food is nothing short of extraordinary, with every dish scoring nearly a perfect 9/10. The pomelo salad was a refreshing explosion of flavors, the grilled fish in banana leaf was tender and aromatic, and the traditional Vietnamese rolls were flawlessly crafted. Even the bun cha, though sweeter than I prefer, showcased the authenticity of Vietnamese cuisine.

What truly elevated the experience was the impeccable service. The staff were attentive, polite, and incredibly knowledgeable, guiding us to the perfect dishes with thoughtful recommendations. Despite the world-class quality of the food and service, the pricing is surprisingly reasonable, making it accessible without compromising on excellence.

Currently recognized as a MICHELIN Guide-listed restaurant, The East is surrounded by chic cafes but shines on its own as a culinary gem. It has all the potential to achieve multiple MICHELIN stars in the future. A must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore the true...

Another excellent Hanoi restaurant, found from its listing in the Michelin Guide.

The restaurant was really busy, but they found us a table downstairs and I'm very pleased they did. Lovely, friendly, English-speaking staff, and a great menu - too good, there were so many dishes I could have chosen. For the two of us to share, we chose:

Grilled Aubergine: Eggplant, spring onion, fried shallots, oyster sauce, honey, garlic roasted peanuts, fresh grated copra, Vietnamese herbs.

Crab Spring Rolls: Crab meat, minced pork, carrot, onion, spring onions, pepper, egg, glass noodles, wood ear mushroom, shiitake mushroom, vegetable cooking oil, taro, rice paper, served with homemade dipping sauce.

Grilled Cinnamon Pork Ribs: Marinated pork ribs, cinnamon stick, home-blend spices, peanut, sesame.

Lotus Seed Fried Rice: Northern fragrant rice, lotus send prawn, seasonal vegetables .

We were very impressed, as the food was cooked to perfection and really nicely served. Every dish was excellent, but the crab rolls were particularly tasty.

Absolutely no room for pud.

Highly recommended!

(Also posted to my food blog on Instagram...