Cafe Hanoi

Fusion Vietnamese restaurant about 7 blocks from the cruise terminal for those coming off cruise ships which I was. The grilled Hanoi pork was the best entree we had with perfectly grilled and marinaded pork served with lettuce and pork medallions served with vermicelli in a mild nuoc nam sauce. The shrimp cutlet was a generous entree of 9 shrimps pankoed and fried. The grilled octopus was grilled cut up pieces and I wish the serving for this was more generous given the price. The rice rolls were serviceable but as such were also overpriced. The popular jackfruit salad was photogenic but for me a miss, with the featured jackfruit lacking in flavor sufficient to anchor the dish. Interestingly the restaurant has a limited menu of cold diet drinks with the only soft drinks from local karma brand. Its diet cola did not compare well to Diet Coke or Coke Zero. A sugar-free iced tea or an indulgent iced milk tea would be welcomed additions to the menu.

Great place to eat that was well priced for the quality of food. Around $100 per person with two drinka each. Food was over all outstanding with the octopus being a stand out. Friendly and helpful staff that where more than welcoming to questions and advice on what a good quantity of food was good to start with. Highly recommended to anyone thinking about trying it. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

Had the set menu, overall great place for an intimate work lunch, service was good and they allocated a dedicated wait staff for us, which was great. Portions were great, we were all very full by the end of the meal. Dessert platter was the highlight. The only downer of the meal were My colleagues commented that the dishes was too heavily salted such as the shiitake and water chestnut spring rolls, chicken curry, the fish in the rice noodle dish and stir fry vege, I also find those dishes quite salty.

Great first dinner in auckland! It's a little hidden but not too hard to find. It's modern vietnamese food. We got a few starters and mains to share and enjoyed them all. We didn't have a reservation but were able to be seated at the counter watching the kitchen when we walked in. We enjoyed watching the preparation of each meal and enjoyed our food!

Ventured to Cafe Hanoi for a special dinner date and opted for this month's $75 per head special course menu. The evening began on a high note with the shiitake and water chestnut netted spring rolls; they were delicious, especially when paired with the accompanying sauce and lettuce. The chargrilled NZ octopus didn’t fall behind, offering a unique and satisfying flavor. However, as we ventured further into the menu, the flavors began to challenge our palates. The standout Bun Cha was a great treat, well complemented by lettuces and rice noodles. The poached organic chicken salad, reminiscent of coleslaw, was an interesting mix of sweet and sour. Conversely, the tofu cooked in tomato sauce felt out of place, coming across as another sour dish rather than a fulfilling main. Additionally, the rice didn't seem to complement any of the mains. The dessert, Coconut sago with white chocolate yogurt, while new and intriguing, didn't quite hit the mark for us. While some flavors felt unfamiliar, possibly owing to our limited experience with Vietnamese cuisine, what truly stood out was the restaurant's inviting ambiance and friendly service. All in all, a worthwhile experience for the ambiance and starters, but the main courses might benefit from some tweaking.

I have got to say I am a little bit disappointed as Cafe Hanoi has a very high reputation. Vibes are good, staff are friendly and restaurant was busy. We tried the set menu for Restaurant Month, which I do not recommend, the Octopus dish is AMAZING, but the rest is just OKAY. Should’ve ordered the prawn, seafood, or green curry instead. Desert coconut sago is directly out of fridge, doesn’t match a good restaurant’s level