🌍 Hidden Treasures in Hanoi - Food coma approaching 🍽

Hanoi is full with hidden corners, dark alleyways, small door ways and little gems that are so easy to walk past or overlook due to their crumbling appearance.

State run food shop

State run food shop is one of these little gems. For 3 months I have lived 5 minutes walk from this wonderful place. I have walked past it on a regular basis. Each time I have gone past it hasn't even registered on my radar.

Paint peeling from the walls. Water stains all over the walls. Crooked door ways and the long dark tunnel not letting you really see what is going on inside!

Post badminton food fest

After a few hours of badminton our group of friends decided to go to the state run food shop and boy was I glad we followed. The next two hours were filled with some of the best food I have had yet!

Food I hadn't even tried, food that was so Vietnamese that it wasn't available in every location. Local food, cooked from the heart and with total honesty.

Crispy rice thing

An upside-down bowl of crispy rice! Oh my! delicious goodness. Attacked with chopsticks to break it down into manageable chunks. This bad boy can be dipped in any sauce or liquidy thing floating around your table. It can also be enjoyed on its own! No idea what it is called in Vietnamese but totally worth it!

Tofu - we order this again and again

Yes, we actually asked for more tofu. I have never in my life asked for more tofu. The tofu was so fresh it has no chewy, squeaky texture. Soft, fluffy and holding onto the delicious sauce. I'm going back just for the tofu!

Fried pumpkin

Heaps of garlic, a good coating of fresh oil from the pan and some fish sauce make this a warming and yummy treat.

Banana Flower Salad

Banana flower salad is quite common in Thailand, so this is a dish I am familiar with. Generous servings of sesame oil and fresh lime juice onto the crunchy fresh banana flowers help this become a great refreshing salad. This salad also had some freshly grated carrot and some greens herbs to enhance the freshness.

Spring rolls - of course!

What more can be said. Spring rolls are always good. These did not disappoint!

Look at all those empty dishes

All those empty dishes speak for themselves. Part of the charm of this restaurant is the metal plates and mugs. Chipped and dented from years of service. There is no hidden agenda in a place like this. Full on honesty.

Hot green tea and a chipped metal vessel

Beautiful wall decorations

The roof is covered with the bamboo baskets

There are definitely rats here by the way! This is Hanoi. This restaurant cooks the food freshly, if you sit at the back you can see it being cooked. I had no concerns about the hygiene of my food. I did however give my bowl a quick wipe before I ate out if it.

The outside - it is easy to miss

This has so far been the best meal I have had in Hanoi. I know that I will be back many times and I will be sharing it with friends.

!steemitworldmap 21.045728 lat 105.840534 long Staterun Food Shop d3scr