Bun Cha Huong Lien

Bun Cha Huong Lien is the most famous bun cha restaurant in Hanoi, thanks to a single meal. Former US President Barack Obama and the chef and writer Anthony Bourdain ate here together, reportedly because Bourdain wanted to show the president the kind of everyday food that Hanoians actually eat. The table where they sat is now preserved upstairs in a glass case, complete with the bowls, plates and beer bottles from the meal.

Despite the fame, the restaurant remains a straightforward neighbourhood eatery. It is spread over several floors and fills at lunchtime mostly with locals grabbing a quick meal, alongside a steady flow of visitors who come to see the table.

Bun cha is the dish to order. It is one of Hanoi's great specialities: charcoal-grilled pork patties and slices of pork belly served in a bowl of light, slightly sweet dipping broth, with cold rice vermicelli and a plate of fresh herbs on the side. You dip noodles and herbs into the broth with the meat and eat everything together. The so-called Obama combo adds a fried seafood roll and a bottle of Hanoi beer to the standard bowl, and optional extras include fried vegetable rolls and pork skewers. A crisp fried roll adds welcome crunch. The classic bun cha on its own is the lighter option if you are not hungry enough for the full combo, while a pork skewer adds more for bigger appetites. Eat the grilled pork promptly, while it is still warm from the charcoal.

The restaurant is open every day from 8am to 8pm. Lunch is the traditional time for bun cha in Hanoi, and it is busiest around midday, so arriving a little before or after the peak gives you a better chance of a table. Prices are low, and it is easy for solo diners and families alike.

The restaurant is at 24 Le Van Huu Street in Hai Ba Trung district, a long walk from the centre of the Old Quarter; a short taxi or ride-hailing trip is easiest in the heat. It can be combined with a visit to the Vietnamese Women's Museum, south of Hoan Kiem Lake.