August 10 update: Do you (or someone you know) deserve the crown for having the best homemade soup recipe ever? Until September 4, diners at Hannah Hanoi can can go into the draw to have their very own soup recipe included in the menu, with the top entry receiving a whopping $1000 voucher to spend at any of the Commune Group's venues. All you need to do is head to the link in bio over at Hanoi Hannah's Instagram page to enter, with the winner to be announced on September 7. The below review was written in 2013 and menu items are likely to have changed since then.
This teeny-tiny diner may be as jam-packed and bustling as a cheap-eats restaurant in Vietnam, but that's where the similarities in appearance end. Hannah's kitsch design steers clear of the mini plastic tables and chairs that line the streets of Hanoi. Instead it opts for exposed bricks, retro Vietnamese watercolours, empty beer cans, party lights, draped fabric and recycled furniture – bringing to mind an artfully designed student sharehouse, set to the beat of low-volume hip-hop.
The price range of Hannah's hawker-style menu fits the brief: no single item exceeds $16. A serving of prawn and pork rice paper rolls along with a fresh coconut will start you off nicely. The classic beef pho is a popular dish, and if you're sharing, they'll happily split one bowl into two for you. Chicken is cooked over charcoals and served in a bucket with a sprinkling of chilli and lemon – a Vietnamese(ish) twist on the barbecued bird. Other options include the soft shell crab and chilli mayo and a Vietnamese coleslaw with poached chicken.
Of course, no Vietnamese meal is complete without condiments. Fish sauce, ground chilli and Sriracha hot sauce are all on standby. If you've got a sweet tooth, you can finish off with their take on a Vietnamese iced coffee. If you're after something stronger, you'll find local and imported beers, wine and ciders as well as Asian-inspired cocktails.
They churn through them fast at Hanoi Hannah, so you'll know if you've overstayed your welcome. But if the rushed service at lunch and dinner is just too much, you can try your luck on a Sunday at breakfast.