If there is one interesting moment that grasped the attention of the shutterbugs in 2016 it was Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain eating the Bun Cha in Hanoi. After all, it’s not every day that the President of the USA enters a nondescript restaurant with a swashbuckling celebrity chef to enjoy a bowl of the dish. Tucked in the south of Old Quarter, Hanoi, the Bun Cha Huong Lien, a family run restaurant works arduously to make this iconic Vietnamese wonder day after day. It’s gotten used to the attention and swells with pride at being the chosen one. The restaurant is on every traveler’s list and highly recommended for first-timers in Hanoi. After all, if two famous international personalities, Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain chose this place to have a meal, then undoubtedly, it has to be the best.
The entrance to the restaurant is nothing out of the ordinary but the former President did eat here.
An unforgettable moment captured with the former President of the USA.
Traveling in Hanoi is never an issue. There are Xe Om (motorcycle taxis), Cyclos ( bicycle rickshaws ) and taxis. Haggling before stepping into either one of them is, however, one big issue. It’s annoying and cumbersome. Much like Ola and Uber are an answer to the Indian commuters, Grab is the first phone app that any tourist must download in Vietnam. They have a wide coverage from urban to suburban areas and give a cost estimation before you take a ride. On our trip, this was our savior and we practically used it all the time. We used it this evening too when we headed off to the restaurant.
Extremely popular, the restaurant is always packed with customers.
For the ignorant, Bun Cha Huong Lien can easily be missed. There’s nothing fancy about it. In fact, it looks more like a canteen, rather drab with long aluminum tables and blue plastic stools. It’s the beaming photos on the wall that grab attention instantly. President Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain in the midst of their conversation, President Obama with Nguyen Thi Lien, one of two proud owners of Bun Cha Huong Lien and more. The restaurant definitely had its ‘crowning glory’ moment with that visit, how long it sustains the reputation lies in its food. Or as they say “The proof of the pudding lies in its eating.”
Photographs of the eventful day adorn the walls.
Despite years since Obama visited the restaurant, it continues to draw media who want to know the reason behind its popularity.
A laminated menu stuck on the wall makes it easier to glance over the meals in offing. There’s the ever-popular “Combo Obama” which is basically a bowl of traditional Bun Cha paired with some deep-fried Hanoi-style spring rolls and a bottle of Hanoi beer. One can order the Nem Hai San (Fried Seafood Roll), Bun Cha, Thit Xien (Pork Skewers) and Nem Cua Be (Fried Crab Roll ) separately as well. The “Combo Obama” is a good choice to try out all the dishes and we ordered that.
The Bun Cha is the most popular dish of the restaurant.
The menu in Bun Cha Huong Lien, Hanoi
WHAT IS BUN CHA ?
The word “Bun” basically means Noodles and “Cha” means pork – the two essential ingredients of the dish. The Bun Cha is a Vietnamese dish of squiggly rice noodle, grilled fatty pork, pork meatballs, fresh herbs, and a meticulously balanced dipping broth. Supplemented by a plate topped with fresh green leafy herbs that lend their own distinct flavor, it is one of those dishes with a smoky, lingering scent and varying levels of textures and color.
All the main components of the Bun Cha are served in separate bowls.
Served in separate bowls, the Bun Cha looks rather simple to make but it’s the intricacies involved in making each component that make it an intense dish. For one, the noodles are freshly made in the kitchens every day. Using a packaged noodle would be an inferior substitute and compromising on the taste. The dipping broth uses vinegar, sugar, chili and fish sauce primarily and the trick to making a perfect one lies in the fine proportion of these ingredients. The recipe for making the savory dipping broth is held close within families and each restaurant has their own special way of making it. The glistening, tender pork that lies in a bowl has its own story too. After a marination of salt, black pepper, and fish sauce the pork is skewered and dipped in caramelized sugar before it reaches the smoldering fire coals to sizzle.
HOW TO EAT A BUN CHA?
Freshly chopped garlic and red chilies are served with Bun Cha. The way to eat the Bun Cha is pretty simple. Add the garlic and red chilies as desired. Throw in the noodles and the spring rolls. Finally, tear the herbs and dunk them in the broth and you’re ready to go.
Add the noodles, spring rolls and herbs into the broth to enjoy Bun Cha.
In Huong Lien, eating the Bun Cha is a happy experience. Enjoy the harmony of the flavors – the tender sweet pork, the saltiness of the fish sauce, the crunchiness of the herbs and the aroma of this bowl in its entirety. This is a healthy bowl of textures, color, and flavors. When there don’t give it a miss. And if you forget the name of the restaurant don’t worry. Just say “Bun Cha Obama”. Everyone knows it.
( Disclaimer: Featured image courtesy – Mashable. )
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
This post is a part of #MyFriendAlexa challenge. It’s an endeavor to bring interesting stories, places, food and places to the readers. I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with blogchatter.
Wow. I had no idea. That’s great to know. Well written piece!
you are so lucky.
take care
Interesting post 🙂 Dipali. I’m reading it for first time about the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant and its famous visitors. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have not tried the bun cha yet, though I hope to do soon. I liked the write up and accompanying pictures. Well done.
RIP Anthony Bourdain
I would love to visit this place visited by these two amazing people.
I’ve lived in Hanoi for three weeks. And yes, I confess I didn’t come across this place… being a vegetarian I couldn’t try local cuisine at all. I am sure they would be having vegetarian options but I ate only at a south Indian restaurant. And I survived.
I absolutely loved Ha Long Bay and Vietnamese are really polite and friendly people. We visited various museum too. We have some wonderful memories of Hanoi.
An interesting and informative post. Seems like a great place. Have made a note in my travel diary.
And I agree, if Obama and Bourdain ate here, it must be worth going! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this wonderful review…
Interesting, thanks for sharing
I tasted pork just once long time back but I must say I liked it a lot. Bun Cha definitely sounds promising. I was originally a vegetarian but at some point in life I indulged in chicken and then gradually found other non-vegetarian dishes to tickle my palette. My personal favourite is Masala Prawns made in the Kerala style with plenty of onions and Masala. Your description of the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant makes me long to catch the first flight to Vietnam…
Looks like a great place that serves the best dish to satisfy the taste buds.
Cheers
MeenalSonal
WOW! Must have been a thrilling experience! Sadly, looks like it’s not a place for vegetarians like me.
Gosh… I had no idea. If ever I visit Hanoi I will surely make it a point to visit this restaurant.
Some cherished memories and tantalising foods. #mommyinmereads #myfriendalexa
Always good to read something new & interesting!
You know what, reading your blog is like going on a journey itself. So Lively. Loved every bit of it, and now subscribing to it.
Quite an informative post written in a consistent flow.
I remember reading about this Obama visit a few years back. Obama combo – just sounds fantastic.
I may not eat the most popular dish on the menu, but it would be enthralling to visit a simple place where Obama and Bourdain had been.
Beautiful Post. I just loveddd the images. very well written post. Very informative!!! SUPERB!!!!
Wow! That was indeed a revelation. And you found yourself being a part of that esteemed restaurant. So good.
Interesting note. We had our own PM and Singapore PM eating at one such peoples hotel in Singapore.
Never thought that such incident can be a prompt for such a nice post! Great.
This proves that one does not need all the fancy stuff to make it in the food industry, they have to be true towards their work and it will speak for itself. Loved reading this piece 🙂
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome! I read so many travel and food blogs everyday but never came across this gem! Vietnam is at the top of my bucket list and I will definitely try and check this out when there
This is the best post I’ve come across this season of My Friend Alexa! It is outrageously amazing.
The name of the place is so interesting and so is the title of your post.
I think an aspect of this visit of Obama and Bourdain that isn’t talked about is the political one. It was only 4 decades back that American troops were withdrawing for South Vietnam and Hanoi was the most fortified city on planet Earth. To have an American President dining in Hanoi is a huge political statement in my view
I remember eating Vietnamese food with a colleague and was blown away by the delicate flavours. Can totally relate to what you said about the food. And Obama Combo – sounds so cool!
It does look like a place one can easily miss as you mentioned, so I’m glad I came across this post. Will keep it in mind if I ever get a chance to visit Hanoi.
This pic went viral when Bourdain passed away. Only then I get to know that Obama and Bourdain hung out here. 🙂 I detest soupy noodles, attribute it to one really bad kaukswe i had in my life, but I would be willing to risk it for BunCha but only if it’s from this place.