Golden, crispy-fried eel served with a clear vermicelli broth, or tossed into a rich, mixed vermicelli bowl — eel comes in many forms across Hanoi, and this shop, open for more than 40 years, is the one singled out by the Michelin Guide. For Taiwanese travelers, it's a surprisingly approachable advanced pick to add to the collection.
What eel vermicelli is
Miến lươn puts eel front and center, and Hanoi has many ways of preparing it — clear broth (miến lươn nước), tossed/mixed (miến lươn trộn), porridge, and stir-fried versions among them. This particular shop is known for its crispy-fried eel served with a clear vermicelli broth: the eel is deboned, coated, and deep-fried until crisp, then paired with a broth simmered from eel bones and pork bones. The vermicelli is silky, and the eel's aroma comes through rich and clean, without any fishiness.
This dish has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation since 2024; according to the official write-up, the shop has been passed down for more than 40 years, and VnExpress has also run a feature on it. It's one of the few dedicated eel specialists in Hanoi's Old Quarter, and it remains on the 2026 guide as well.
How to eat it like a local
The anchor shop and other essential stops
Miến Lươn Đông Thịnh (Hàng Điếu Street) is Hanoi's representative eel vermicelli shop, passed down for more than 40 years and awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand — one of the few dedicated eel specialists in the 2024 guide, also featured in a VnExpress profile of its history.
Eel preparations in Hanoi come in many forms — beyond clear-broth and mixed vermicelli, there's also eel porridge and eel soup. If you're curious about this ingredient, it's worth trying a few different preparations during your trip rather than sticking to just one.
Local know-how
Prices and hours (verified July 2026)
- Clear-broth eel vermicelli (miến lươn nước) runs about 45,000 VND, the mixed version (miến lươn trộn) about 55,000 VND; other porridge dishes run about 30,000–65,000 VND.
- Opening hours run roughly 6:00–22:30, with lunch peak 11:30–13:00 and dinner peak 19:00–20:30 drawing the biggest crowds.
- A phrase to order with: 'Cho tôi một bát miến lươn trộn.' (One bowl of mixed eel vermicelli, please.)
Tips before you go
- Eel is a less familiar ingredient for some Taiwanese travelers — start with a small portion to gauge how you feel about it before ordering more.
- This small shop has limited seating at peak times — best to avoid arriving right at the lunch or dinner rush.
- To compare preparations in one visit, split a clear-broth and a mixed-version order with a friend.
Crispy-fried eel with a clear vermicelli broth shows just how deeply Hanoians can develop an overlooked ingredient — a fitting, advanced pick for well-traveled food lovers.