Hanoi Pillow Cakes - An Unforgettable Flavor from Street Food

Hanoi Pillow Cakes - An Unforgettable Flavor from Street Food

When it comes to Hanoi’s street food, one cannot miss the pillow cake - a “street highlight” in the capital’s cuisine. Join BDATrip to discover the unique flavor and must-visit pillow cake spots in Hanoi in the following article.

Hanoi Pillow Cakes - A Blend of Unique Flavors

Pillow cakes are a popular snack in Hanoi’s cuisine, known for their crispy crust and rich filling. This dish has become a favorite choice for many people’s snacks. Particularly outstanding with a crispy outer crust, each pillow cake is a delicate blend of carefully selected ingredients and spices. Inside, the filling is a harmonious mix of fragrant pork, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, delicate glass noodles, and a variety of spices, offering a rich and unforgettable culinary experience. Pillow cakes not only satisfy the taste buds but also offer a way to explore and enjoy the richness of Hanoi’s street food.

Top 10 Must-Try Famous Pillow Cake Shops in Hanoi

Pillow Cake at the Banyan Tree of Ly Quoc Su

Located at 52 Ly Quoc Su Street, in Hang Trong ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, the Ly Quoc Su pillow cake shop is open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM daily, with a price of only 10,000 VND per piece. Not far from the famous Hanoi Cathedral, the shop is easily recognized by the shade of an ancient banyan tree, creating a cool and relaxing space.

Each restaurant will have its own unique recipe for making pillow cakes
Each restaurant will have its own unique recipe for making pillow cakes

Upon entering the shop, customers are greeted by a variety of food items from pillow cakes, savory doughnuts, to shrimp cakes, each dish attractive and full of flavor. The famous pillow cakes here are known for their thin, crispy, golden crust, with a filling that harmoniously combines minced meat with wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage, and a hint of spicy pepper, creating an irresistible taste sensation.

Pillow Cake at Hien Hao

Located at Alley 9, Hoe Nhai Street, in Nguyen Trung Truc ward, Ba Dinh district - a corner of ancient Hanoi filled with stories, Hien Hao shop welcomes customers from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. With a price of only 10,000 VND per pillow cake, the shop attracts not only with its affordable prices but also with the quality and special flavor of the dish.

Hoe Nhai is known not only for its fragrant steak houses but also as a treasure trove of rich cuisine, among which Hien Hao pillow cake shop is a must-mention. Here, pillow cakes are not just a dish, but a work of art with a filling full of delicious meat, the richness of quail eggs, and what makes the difference - a crispy crust that makes it hard for customers to resist.

Pillow cake is often stuffed with salty filling
Pillow cake is often stuffed with salty filling

For those who prefer a milder taste, the cakes at Hien Hao may be a bit bland, but the presence of sweet and sour dipping sauce pleases even the most demanding taste buds. Notably, besides pillow cakes, the shop also serves bean curd with pearls and yogurt - two side dishes warmly received by the online community, often receiving high praise from the youth.

Thanh Linh Pillow Cakes

Located at 112K Thai Thinh, in the bustling area of Dong Da district, Hanoi, Thanh Linh Pillow Cakes welcomes guests from 3:00 PM to 10:30 PM daily, with a diverse menu of delicious items priced from 5,000 to 30,000 VND. Despite its modest space, the shop is clean and comfortable, attracting many food lovers.

Pillow cake is a very popular dish in Hanoi
Pillow cake is a very popular dish in Hanoi

Thanh Linh is famous for its rich menu, including many traditional Vietnamese cakes such as pillow cakes, banh loc, and dried beef salad rolls. The pillow cakes here are particularly loved for their thin, crispy, golden crust. The filling is a harmonious combination of minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, glass noodles, accompanied by a spicy sour dipping sauce and an addition of papaya and carrot salad, offering a diverse and rich flavor experience.

Pillow Cakes at Co Hoa

Located at 111B3 Vinh Ho, in the heart of Dong Da district, Hanoi, Co Hoa’s shop opens from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy famous pillow cakes at an extremely reasonable price, ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 VND. This address has become a familiar spot for those passionate about old town cuisine, including the most discerning guests. At Co Hoa’s shop, the pillow cakes are not only praised for their large size but also for their crispy crust that is not too thick, along with a rich, flavorful filling, creating an unforgettable culinary experience. Each pillow cake here is a perfect blend of the sweetness of the meat, the crunchiness of the wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles, served with a signature sweet and sour dipping sauce and pickles, bringing a sense of both familiarity and novelty.

Wrapping pillow cake requires meticulousness so that the filling does not fall out
Wrapping pillow cake requires meticulousness so that the filling does not fall out

The shop also makes a strong impression on guests with its savory doughnuts, a distinctive flavor that adds to the list of reasons why you can’t miss visiting Co Hoa’s shop.

Phuong’s Shop (Mom Rabbit’s Kitchen Corner)

Stepping into 104A Kim Hoa Street, at Phuong Lien ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi, Phuong’s Shop is also affectionately known as Mom Rabbit’s Kitchen Corner, a familiar spot for many local diners. The shop is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, with prices ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 VND, serving a variety of distinctive Hanoi snacks.

Among the most beloved dishes here, the pillow cakes and fried fermented pork rolls are two “stars” not to be missed. Each pillow cake at Mom Rabbit’s Kitchen Corner is a work of art with a thin, crispy crust, filled with a generous amount of minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, quail eggs, and Chinese sausage, attractively shaped and appealing to the eye.

The inside of the cake includes many different types of ingredients
The inside of the cake includes many different types of ingredients

The accompanying dipping sauce is also a highlight not to be overlooked, with a balanced sweet and sour flavor, and a hint of spicy chili, providing a satisfying and enjoyable culinary experience. In addition, Phuong’s Shop also scores points with dishes like savory doughnuts, pig’s ear salad rolls, and chicken cakes, each meticulously prepared, containing delicious, rich flavors, promising to captivate any diner upon tasting.

Pillow Cakes at Le Dai Hanh Hanoi

Located on the bustling street at 25 Le Dai Hanh, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi, the pillow cake shop at this address opens from 2:00 PM to 10:30 PM, offering a range of traditional snacks with prices ranging from 20,000 to 55,000 VND. It’s an unmissable destination in your journey to explore the old town’s cuisine in Hanoi. With a long history, the shop has become an integral part of the local culinary scene, where dishes like pillow cakes, shrimp cakes, boiled snails, fried fermented pork, and quail egg balut are beloved by patrons.

The cake is served with raw vegetables and sweet and sour dipping sauce
The cake is served with raw vegetables and sweet and sour dipping sauce

Each pillow cake here is a culinary masterpiece, carefully fried until golden and crispy on both sides and drained of oil, ensuring you won’t feel overwhelmed while enjoying it. The rich filling with wood ear mushrooms, glass noodles, quail eggs, minced pork, and shredded greens creates a distinctive, unforgettable flavor. With each cut of the cake, the fragrant aroma spreads, stimulating all senses.

Pillow Cakes at Oanh Oanh

Located at alley 50, lane 612 De La Thanh, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, Oanh Oanh pillow cakes welcome guests from 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM every day, with a price of only 8,000 VND per cake. Although the shop is modest in size and tucked away in a small alley, the quality of the food and the crowd of customers that visit daily prove its reputation.

The golden color of the cake is extremely eye-catching
The golden color of the cake is extremely eye-catching

The pillow cakes at Oanh Oanh impress guests with their thin, crispy outer crust and the soft, rich filling inside. The owner skillfully adjusts the seasoning for the filling, creating a balanced flavor that doesn’t feel too rich. An unmissable highlight is the “extremely top-notch” dipping sauce with an enticing sweet and sour taste, which, when paired with fresh vegetables, makes each tasting a delightful experience.

Pillow Cakes at Thieu Hue

Located right opposite 15 Nguyen Quy Duc, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, Thieu Hue pillow cake shop is famous as one of the unmissable culinary spots for local residents, especially students. The shop opens from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily, with a price of only 12,000 VND, offering a rich menu of favorite snacks such as tofu pudding, sausages, pillow cakes, savory doughnuts, West Lake shrimp cakes, along with a variety of delicious, refreshing beverages.

The cake is wrapped in a plump round shape
The cake is wrapped in a plump round shape

The pillow cakes at Thieu Hue particularly attract guests with their large size and the filling brimming with an excellent combination of glass noodles, vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, quail eggs, and minced meat. Each cake is meticulously seasoned, creating a rich flavor that awakens all senses. When fried, the cakes turn a golden brown, drawing all eyes, and are kept oil-free, ensuring that each bite is crispy and not overwhelming.

Pillow Cakes and Fried Dumplings at Hang Bo

Located at 57A Hang Bo, in the bustling Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, this pillow cake shop opens from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily, with affordable prices ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 VND. It is known as a must-visit spot for snack lovers, where you can enjoy delicious, budget-friendly pillow cakes. Each cake, though not too large, is packed full of flavor with a generous filling, served with a rich dipping sauce and fresh vegetables, creating an authentic Hanoi culinary experience.

The cake is deep-fried in oil to create an even crispiness
The cake is deep-fried in oil to create an even crispiness

The shop doesn’t just stop at traditional ingredients like minced meat, vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles; it also refreshes the palate of customers with the addition of Chinese sausage, bringing an interesting, unique flavor. The dipping sauce here is a highlight not to be missed, with a perfect balance of sour, salty, and sweet flavors, enhanced by the crunchy contribution of papaya, making every meal incredibly delicious.

Fried Spring Rolls and Pillow Cakes at Sister Tuyet’s

Tucked away in the C9 collective housing on Luong Dinh Cua Street, Kim Lien ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi, Sister Tuyet’s pillow cake shop opens from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, with extremely reasonable prices, only 10,000 VND per piece. This is one of the culinary destinations not to be missed when looking for pillow cakes in Hanoi, having built a reputation over many years with a diverse menu of traditional snacks.

Pillow cake with crispy crust
Pillow cake with crispy crust

Sister Tuyet’s pillow cakes attract guests with their crispy, golden crust, carefully fried by the owner until both sides are fragrant and vibrant. One taste, and you’ll be instantly captivated by the crispy crust and high-quality, distinctive filling, each piece of cake drenched in flavor, harmoniously combined with cool fresh vegetables and a soaked sweet and sour fish sauce, providing an interesting and unforgettable culinary experience.

Hanoi pillow cakes are not just a dish, but also a part of Hanoi’s street culture. When in Hanoi, don’t forget to enjoy pillow cakes to fully appreciate the flavor and culinary essence of the capital.

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