Hanoi for the food-inclined

A food stall near my hotel that served hugely popular pork meat skewers, Hanoi.

Pork meat skewer food stall in the lane around the corner from my hotel, Hanoi.

Hole-in-wall place near my hotel,  that serves a plate of food for 20,000 dong ($1.00), Hanoi.

Spring rolls and pork meat balls in soup, near Dong Xuan market, Hanoi.

Popular for meat pies, pork skewers and spring rolls a block from the hotel, Ly Quoc Su Road, Hanoi

The exquisite beef and vegetable salad, at KOTO  Restaurant, Van Mieu Street, Hanoi.

Pho Bo soup (Spicey Beef and Noodle) Hue style, at the KOTO restaurant, Van Mieu Street, Hanoi.

Classic Beef Noodle Hanoi style Pho soup, Ly Quoc Su Road, Hanoi

Divine chocolate cake with industrial strength Lipton's tea at Joma Cafe on Ly Quoc Su Road, Hanoi.

FOOD IN HANOI ran the gamut from street fare to the elegant. Often times with the former, one sat on tiny plastic stools. For sidewalk fare one typically hunkered down over a bowl of steaming Phở bò (Beef noodle soup) or Bún gà (Rice Vermicelli noodles with chicken) or even Spring rolls, but there were a myriad of other choices available, all over the city. These ubiquitous food stalls and hole-in-the-walls, were located on streets and in back lanes. Here you can jostle and rub shoulders with the Hanoians. 

Of course, with no contacts here, I was dependent on the guidebook and what I stumbled across here in city. Apart from the legendary street food, there are some winning dishes from tourist restaurants and other establishments too. KOTO with delicious food, was actually a training restaurant for under-privileged young people. The beef and vegetable salad was an absolute stand out. For the homesick tourist Joma, a block from my hotel, provided porridge with yoghurt and maple syrup. There were also excellent brownies but marginal Naniamo bars and bagels. It will come as no surprise that one of the owners was Canadian.

Not sure if this link will work but here is some added info:
http://www.vietvisiontravel.com/vietnam/Travel_guide/hanoi_city/street_food/