[Independent Review] *Hanoi – Western Restaurant – Michelin Bib Gourmand 2023
Concept
Cosy cafe by day – Bistro serving Western food by night
Address
4 Ng. Phan Huy Chú, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Impressions
Habakuk is a Western restaurant located in a small lane in the center of Hoan Kiem District. We have known the place for a long time and kept returning.
The venue is a specialty coffee shop during daytime which turns into a bistro in the evening.
The place is relatively lowkey and with its small setting, we were often eating along with only a pair of other customers.
Our thoughts after finishing our meal were always something like “I hope this place will remain open. “
After a few months without going there – we had almost completely forgotten about Habakuk as the place is not very active on social media and rarely mentioned in food groups.
So we were pleasantly surprised to see them receive the Bib Gourmand award in the first selection of the Michelin Guide Vietnam.
We decided then to pay them a visit again and we were happy to see that they even decided to extend their food option.
Among the dishes we have tried during our last visit:
- Grilled pork cheeks with apple purée and coriander sauce. This dish is a fixture on their menu and one of our favorites ( we’ve been ordering it every single time as far as I can remember)
- Tandoori grilled chicken on skewers. This was the first time we tried this dish. It was a clear success. The chicken was very tender and accompanied by Tzatziki sauce and a soft roti freshly made.
- Chorizo salad: This was the more questionable “dish”. The salad itself was decent without anything remarkable but the chorizo left us perplexed. We were expecting a red and spicy cold cut (that was what we had in mind when ordering) but what we got was more what in France is called saucisson ( but maybe there is some variety of chorizo we do not know about). To be clear this did not ruin at any point the dish as the orange yogurt sauce put the overall together well.
- Desserts: Although the selection is limited – the chef also clearly made an effort on this side. We do like their Panna cotta ( ordered several times). The Rose Ice cream is also interesting even if we felt the rose flavor slightly overpowering at the end.
Drinks promo: On the day we came they had a promotion on Craft beers (Furbrew in bottle) – buy one get one free.
About the venue: The space is quiet and cozy, very suitable for dates or small groups. Service is also great – the staff would always ask in advance when we make the booking whether the customers have any allergies.
We thought that the pricing was fair considering the quality, the location (very close to Hanoi center), the service… and what you would normally be charged in other Western restaurants of the same standard. Perhaps this is why they made the Bib Gourmand list.
Lunch: We did not have the time to try it yet but it’s worth mentioning. Habakuk now has a special lunch and brunch menu that includes Panini, salads & lasagna… We’ll update this article when we find the time to try it.
Update Nov 2023: We have tried the brunch menu – the Vegetarian Panini (80k) and the Prawn Salad (150k) but unfortunately, they were only average and not up to their dinner food standards.
It’s still a great coffee shop though – the coffee is good, the venue is relaxing and the staff are nice. But for food, follow our honest advice and just stick to dinner!
Practical information
📍 Address:4 Ng. Phan Huy Chú, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
⏰ Opening Hours: 8 am – 10.30 pm (Mondays only until 6 pm)
💵 Price: ~500K per person (for dinner)
🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HabacoffeeBistro
🗺 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.
