[Independent Review] *Hà Nội – Vietnamese / Asian Restaurant
Concept
Low-key restaurant in the heart of the Old Quarter and specialized in duck dishes
Address
29 P. Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Impressions
The Michelin Guide’s first selection in Vietnam raised many eyebrows, including ours.
We even wrote an extensive article questioning their choices.
However, a few months later, we must admit the guide introduced us to some excellent restaurants that were completely off our radar.
Don Duck is one of them. This low-key restaurant is tucked away in the heart of the Old Quarter and specializes in duck dishes. The concept is simple yet well executed.
Don Duck does not pretend to be something it’s not – it’s a place to enjoy quality, reasonably priced duck.
We tried:
- The roasted duck breast. It was tender, juicy and well cooked. The accompanying fried potatoes and steamed vegetables were also excellent. For us, duck breast is often overlooked and we usually prefer it over low quality beef filet. This dish was again a confirmation of that.
- Braised duck with galangal and “bún” (rice noodles): The exact name of this sauce in Vietnamese is “giả cầy,” which literally means “fake dog meat”. It’s a very flavorful sauce/broth prepared from many different spices such as turmeric, lemongrass, galangal, and shrimp paste… that traditionally goes with dog meat. Since fewer people are eating dog meat these days, you will find many other recipes prepared with this sauce, especially pork. It suits duck meat perfectly as well.
We also heard great things about the roasted whole duck, but did not get a chance to try it ourselves.
An extra plus was the attentive service by both the staff and the owner (?). We were even offered complimentary mini duck nem.
Finally, we were lucky to sit at the small stable overlooking the bustling street. This added a lot to the experience. If you book in advance, we recommend asking for this table.
Do not mistake us – this is a simple place – it does not pretend to offer something similar to the multiple upscale restaurants of Hanoi. But they offer something original and well executed in every aspect. It was more than enough to make us happy…
Practical information
📍 Address: 29 P. Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
⏰ Opening Hours: 10 am – 11Pm
💵 Price: 250K-500K per person
🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048287334968
🗺 Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wScB4HztM2FFmTzn9
All the places reviewed on this website have been personally tested by us and we paid for our meals. We are committed to informing readers clearly if there is any form of sponsored content.
