Cafe Giang Hanoi: Original Egg Coffee Near Hoan Kiem Lake

Hey there, fellow explorers! 🐥

It's Chori, ready to share another incredible travel gem with you.

Today, we're diving into the legendary world of Cafe Giang in Hanoi.

While coconut coffee often steals the spotlight in Vietnam, Hanoi boasts its own iconic brew: egg coffee. And if you're looking for the original, authentic experience, Cafe Giang, nestled near Hoan Kiem Lake, is the place to be. We recently visited, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

[ Cafe Details ]

📍 Address: 39 P. Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

⏰ Operating Hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

💸 Payment Info: Cash only (card payment not accepted ❌)

[ Inside the Cafe ]

Finding the entrance to Cafe Giang can be a bit of a treasure hunt! It's a small, unassuming doorway on the right, so subtle you might wonder if you're in the right place. Don't be fooled by its humble facade – step through that door, and you'll find the first-floor space where you can place your order and pay.

Venture further inside, and you'll discover a staircase leading up to the second floor.

Once upstairs, you'll find seating on both sides. A friendly staff member will bring a menu to your table.

Fair warning: the chairs and tables are quite low, which can be a bit uncomfortable, especially for taller visitors. It might feel a little cramped if you're on the larger side.

On the bright side, tables can be easily pushed together, making it a great spot for groups to gather and enjoy their coffee together!

However, with its popularity, the atmosphere is more lively and bustling than quiet and relaxing. It's a place to soak in the local energy!

[ Menu ]

Beyond their famous egg coffee, Cafe Giang offers a variety of teas, black coffees, soft drinks, and juices. So, if you're not a big coffee drinker or are traveling with kids, there are plenty of other refreshing options to choose from!

Considering its long-standing tradition and reputation, the prices are incredibly reasonable. Most drinks, including the signature egg coffee, are around 35,000-45,000 VND, which is roughly $1.40-$1.80 USD – a fantastic deal for such a unique experience.

[ Our Order ]

I ordered both an Iced Egg Coffee and a Hot Egg Coffee to experience both variations.

Both drinks feature a rich espresso base topped with a luscious egg cream made from egg yolks – and this cream is truly the star of the show! There's absolutely no hint of an eggy smell; instead, it's wonderfully nutty with a subtle, delightful sweetness. The cream isn't light and airy like whipped cream; it's dense and rich, leaving a lingering, satisfying flavor on your palate.

When your coffee arrives, I highly recommend savoring a few spoonfuls of the cream on its own before stirring it into the coffee.

With the hot coffee, the unique flavor and texture of the cream are even more pronounced. However, I found that when I mixed the cream and coffee together, they tended to separate slightly, not fully integrating.

The iced coffee, on the other hand, felt a bit plain when I tasted the cream by itself. But once I stirred the cream and coffee together, the sweetness of the cream beautifully balanced the rich bitterness of the espresso, creating a much more harmonious and enjoyable flavor profile.

If you want to fully appreciate the intense, authentic flavor of the cream, go for the hot version. But if you prefer a perfectly balanced blend of coffee and cream, the iced egg coffee is your best bet!

This sweet yet subtly bitter harmony is what makes Hanoi's signature egg coffee so captivating!

I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing it at Cafe Giang – it's a taste of Hanoi you won't forget! 💕