This place is hard to get into! And it's made harder by the fact you can't actually book a table... But if you can muscle your way in, it's definitely worth it.
Located in the fancy and face-lifted Britomart in downtown Auckland, Café Hanoi specialises in Vietnamese deliciousness.
I can recommend the pickled shrimp open wontons, shaking beef and the grilled minced beef wrapped in perilla with chilli, ginger and peanut sauce. But it is the grilled pork with nuoc cham soup and fragrant herbs that is my especially special favourite. A gorgeous bowl of steaming soup with noodles and two different types of grilled pork is made heavenly by plonking in the pile of fresh herbs that accompanies the dish. It really is a flavour sensation. Deeeee-lish!
And along with these standard menu delicacies, they always have a few daily specials that will undoubtedly taste as good as they sound.
If you're not full after stuffing your face with CH's shared plates (even if you do have to share them) then I heartily recommend indulging in one of their desserts. Oh man, the lime curd ice cream, soft meringue & butter shortbread is a combination TO DIE FOR. If you are a citrus fan, you can't go past this. It is really, really up there.
The service is polite and speedy enough - but to be honest, the food is so tasty I don't really feel the need to critique the waitstaff...
If you love good South-East Asian cuisine - or gourmet cuisine at that - then you will love Café Hanoi. Don't be disheartened if you can't get in the first time around, it is most definitely worth the wait.
