Burgers joints have been growing in popularity all around Asia and Hanoi has made no exception.
When I arrived in Vietnam more than 15 years ago, only a few options were available for people looking for quality burgers.
Today, choices are no longer lacking: Dozens of restaurants have opened in recent years, experimenting with concepts and recipes with varying degrees of success. This trend has not been slowed down by the simultaneous development of international fast food chain networks such as Burger King or McDonald’s.
So where should you go to eat burgers in Hanoi?
We have listed below the places that we tried and liked, in no particular order. We visited all of them, some in fact even multiple times… Yes – I do like burgers.
1. Ngoặm
Earlier we said our list was in no particular order, but if we’re being honest, there’s one place that stands above the rest for us in Hanoi: Ngoặm.
Founded by two young Vietnamese who returned home after studying abroad, this restaurant has clearly raised the bar on what you can expect from a burger joint in Vietnam’s capital.
This has already been widely acknowledged by the foodie community. And if you are wondering – yes, booking is a must if you want a seat.
For us, the success of Ngoặm comes from several things:
- Excellent burgers: We tried their more traditional “Double Smash” burger and a more fusion burger “Yin and Yang” – both were clearly successful in all aspects (bun, sauce, patty).
- Their ambition is to offer something more than traditional comfort food. This can be shown not only in their “fusion” burgers but also in the seasonal menu that includes original ideas (but not always successful ones, for example the “Bánh Tây Hồ Tôm” – a twist on the traditional Hanoian Shrimp Cake – is a little weird).
We like:
- The burgers (very much)
- The aim to push their concept beyond the classic comfort food
Info:
- Address: 19 Chân Cầm, HN
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hD39SrU6K73uvjFK7
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ngoamhanoi
2. SunKat’s
SunKat’s is another institution in the Hanoi burger scene. They offer perhaps the most complete burger experience in the capital.
On top of a fairly large burger menu, Sunkat’s also allows you to create your own with a choice among several buns, fillings, and sauce options…
The sides are also notable – we particularly like the homemade rosemary garlic fries. We have also heard good things about their salads which are reasonably priced.
The best option for Vegan / Vegetarian Burgers in Hanoi?
An additional remarkable part of SunKat’s offerings is its vegan / vegetarian burgers. We want to mention it even if we haven’t tried them because they offer three different kinds of vegan buns (Mushroom / Beetroot / Tofu & Beans).
Their original venue is located on Yên Phụ Street, but their success has allowed them to open a second branch in October 2023.
We like:
- Ability to customize your burgers
- Real options for Vegans / Vegetarians
Info:
- Addresses: 172 Yên Phụ, HN / B3 Làng Quốc Tế Thăng Long, HN
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jTPfJ1q97QbKcgMz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunKatsBurgers
3. Mischief & Mayhem
Opened by bike enthusiasts, Mischief & Mayhem is located in a small lane behind the Tay Ho flower market.
The location may be slightly difficult to find for people not familiar with the area, but you won’t be disappointed by the burgers served.
The quality of the burgers is not the only notable thing about Mischief & Mayhem. Among all the places listed in this article, it is likely the one offering the best value for price:
- Burgers start at VND 100K including fries
- Drinks are also well-priced, especially beers.
- Happy hours and promos are also regular features.
We like:
- (Very) Good value for price
Info:
- Address: Đầu ngách 21 Nước Phần Lan kéo dài,Tứ Liên,Tây Hồ, HN
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5xmtK9gpJFHgutQ47
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mischiefandmayhemburgers
4. Hanoi Cider
Hanoi Cider is not exactly specialized in burgers but more in chicken and cider (homemade). They aim to offer comfort food in a lively and cozy setting along with a large variety of drinks. They have a large selection of craft beer on tap, which we have previously mentioned in another article about Top 9 venues for Craft beer in Hanoi.
The venue is particularly suited for large groups and even children, with a playground space on the ground floor.
We want to mention them in this list for two reasons:
- Chicken burgers: Since the place specializes in chicken, their chicken burgers are great.
- Smash Burgers: Not all burgers need to be fancy. Hanoi Cider’s Smash Burgers perfectly encapsulate what you would expect from a comfort food Smash Burger – just what you would want, nothing more but done right.
To be noted: Hanoi Cider’s owners have opened a second restaurant named Hummingbird closer to the center. You’ll find the same food there but in a different setting – the vibe is more of a restaurant & cocktail bar. They have a nice daily happy hour and live music on Fridays (check their Facebook for the most up-to-date info).
We like:
- Comfort food in a cozy and lively setting
- The more convenient location, happy hour and regular live music on Fridays at Hummingbird
Info:
- Address: 278 Nghi Tam, Tay Ho (Hanoi Cider) & 56B Tran Quoc Toan, Hoan Kiem (Hummingbird)
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rwPfhvP5db91H1sg6
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hanoicider
5. GoodTime Vietnam
GoodTime Vietnam is a local take on fast food burger franchises. From the service, branding, and packaging, everything is done to emulate the experience you may have from international brands such as In-N-Out Burger.
This concept can sound interesting on paper but is hard to execute, especially in Vietnam. Impressively, GoodTime Vietnam has managed to pull it off, and the overall experience provided is pretty good.
On top of that, their Truc Bach branch also has a bar area that serves beers, cocktails, and hosts regular events – something you’ll hardly find in a regular fast food joint.
To be noted: GoodTime Vietnam has also now a stall inside Lotte Mall West Lake and new branch in the Old Quarter.
Read our full review: GoodTime Vietnam – Local Fast Food Made Well
What we like:
- A cool concept, well executed.
Info:
- Address: 01 Nam Tràng / Lotte Mall West Lake, 683 đường Lạc Long Quân / 67 Bát Đàn
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gZw4eRkNK3XosMRu6
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodtimevietnam
6. Chops
Chops is a name always mentioned when talking about great burgers in Hanoi, and this for years. The success of this long-standing brand has allowed them to open multiple branches in the capital. At the time of writing, Chops now has six restaurants.
The risk for a brand expanding itself that much beyond its original venue is a potential drop in quality. We did in fact have an experience below their usual standard in one of their newer venues, but this single experience cannot erase all the much better ones we’ve had (especially at their original branch in Tay Ho).
Chops also keeps in mind that in Vietnam, not everybody is interested in “western sized” portions. All of their burgers can be enjoyed in a mini-version. These sliders that can be ordered with a soft drink and fries at a price of VND 99K minimum are perfect for a smaller appetite and good value.
What we like:
- The sliders (especially with the 99k minimum combo)
- Several branches in other districts: Great for people living outside of the expats’ / Tay Ho area (though we did in fact have a less good experience in terms of food at Trieu Viet Vuong branch)
Info:
- Address: See all branches addresses here Chops location
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChopsVietnam
Interested in more Happy Hours? Check our list: 50+ best Happy Hours in Hanoi
Additional recommendations
- RICO Steakhouse has a 3-course lunch menu (Monday – Friday) priced at VN299K that can include a burger. Although we haven’t tried their burgers specifically, we’ve been to their previous venue several times in the past for steaks and always had a good experience with both the food and the service. Therefore we believe suggesting them here wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Please keep in mind that this list is a personal selection. We did not try all the places in Hanoi with burgers on the menu. Feel free to suggest additional entries.
