Egg Coffee or cà phê trúng is the unique combination of blended egg froth and Vietnamese coffee that was created in Hanoi. For egg coffees, it really boil down to Cafe Giang and Cafe Dinh in Hanoi. Both Cafe Giang and Cafe Dinh are related to the original creator of the egg coffee - Mr Nguyen Van Giang…
History and Creation of Egg Coffee in Hanoi Vietnam
When we think of egg coffee, we think of a lavish and classy version of the humble everyday drink. However, the real story is much more surreal. Mr Nguyen Van Giang originally created the egg coffee in Hanoi, 1946 while working as a bartender at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel Hanoi. In the years following the First Indochina War (or the Anti-French Resistance War) in Vietnam, there was a milk shortage. As such Mr Nguyen thought of using eggs as a substitute. Egg as a substitute for milk?! What he did was he whisked in eggs to create that frothy layer along with the fragrant Vietnamese coffee beneath and it became such a popular beverage that he opened Cafe Giang thereafter. Hence, one could really say that Sofitel Legend Metropol Hotel Hanoi is the birth place of the egg coffee while Cafe Giang is where the original egg coffee is being served today. The son, Mr Nguyen Van Dao currently runs this joint.
Then what about Cafe Dinh?
Cafe Dinh is opened by Mr Nguyen Van Dao’s sister, or the daughter of the original egg coffee creator, Mr Nguyen Van Giang. Apparently there’s a little sibling rivalry going on and in this post, we’ll share what we think about Cafe Dinh vs Cafe Giang with regard to the best egg coffee in Hanoi
About Cafe Giang - The Original Egg Coffee Hanoi
Cafe Giang is located at 39 P. Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam, just a 6 minutes walk away from Cafe Dinh. Inside, Cafe Giang exudes the old school vibe though we must say that there could be some renovation works done with the large LED TV within. The premise is relatively clean as well. As we visited during the evening after dinner, there was only 3 tables occupied outside. Inside, we were the only ones. Once inside, we made our order immediately, going for the hot egg coffee and cold egg coffee from Cafe Giang. To be honest, we had visited Cafe Dinh already on the same evening and Kate remarked that it would be good if we could follow up with a comparison while the taste and memory (aka “taste memory”) was still fresh in our minds…
We were charged 60k VND (or $3.5 SGD) for both hot and cold egg coffees. 5k more than what we were charged at Cafe Dinh (55k VND for both hot and cold egg coffee from Cafe Dinh). In terms of first impressions, we found that the hot egg coffee of Cafe Giang is actually served within a bowl of warm water. A good touch to keep the coffee warm while guests are enjoying their egg coffee. Still on presentation, there wasn’t any cacao art on top of the coffee, just the eggy froth layer. The other slight difference compared to Cafe Dinh.
How about the taste?
If you are concerned about having too much “egginess” in your egg coffee, the original egg coffee at Cafe Giang is probably, for a lack of a better phrase, your cup of coffee. There are 2 downsides to the rendition at Cafe Giang though. Firstly, we felt that the egg froth was not as smooth as Cafe Dinh’s rendition. Also, the coffee was a tad too sweet. Nonetheless, the good thing about trying out the egg coffee at Cafe Giang is that you can now lay claim to have tried the original Hanoi egg coffee. Moreover, since Cafe Giang is facing the street, you can watch passersby and traffic as we whiz pass Cafe Giang during your visit.
About Cafe Dinh - The Best Egg Coffee in Hanoi
Cafe Dinh on the other hand is located at 13 P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam. Located right next to the popular touristy destination of Hoan Kiem Lake, Cafe Dinh has no lack of visitors. Even during our visit after dinner, about 75% of the cafe was filled. To get to Cafe Dinh though, is a bit of a challenge…
First, look out for the Cafe Dinh sign that is smack right between two stalls that sells Singapore-styled ice cream. Not sure why they are so popular in Hanoi but in this stretch alone, we saw 3 stalls selling the ice cream slabs served between bread or wafer, just like what we get from ice cream uncles on motorbikes in Singapore.
Once you’ve located the entrance, you will have to follow a really narrow path that will eventually lead you up to a flight of stairs…
You will have to be careful while walking up this flight of stairs. For the typical Singaporean, you may not be used to it. Hold on to the railings (or the side of the stairs since railings are not existent), just in case.
Once you’ve conquered the flight of stairs leading to Cafe Dinh, turn left to enter Cafe Dinh. If you turn right, you’ll enter into a completely modern and hip joint - that’s where you know you’re at the wrong place.
Inside, Cafe Dinh seemed more “authentic” and had been decorated with old black and white photos. Definitely more “rustic” than the original egg coffee joint at Cafe Giang. Perhaps this was the vibe that Mr Van Dao’s sister was going for. It worked.
Once inside, choose a seat and you can head on over to order your drinks at the counter, which, is also used to make the drinks in Cafe Dinh. Besides egg coffee and conventional coffee, Cafe Dinh also offers a selection of teas and juices. English and Vietnamese drinks menu are available on the wall of Cafe Dinh. Just walk up to the menu, take your pick and head on over to the counter to order.
As mentioned earlier, the egg coffee here at Cafe Dinh are slightly cheaper than Cafe Giang. The Egg Coffee Warm (25k VND) and the Egg Coffee Kakao Ice (30k VND) came up to 55k VND, 5k VND cheaper than Cafe Giang for both hot and cold egg coffees. The egg froth on both the hot and cold egg coffees of Cafe Dinh were smooth, sweet, fluffy, light in texture and rich in taste. Even though both versions were good, we preferred the iced version. If we were to compare, the taste of the egg was a little stronger but the froth was, frothier than the rendition from Cafe Giang. Hence, the verdict?
We prefer the egg coffee from Cafe Dinh rather than Cafe Giang.
The only downside is that because of its location at the second level, everyone (except those who prefer to stand at the balcony) will not have the opportunity to “people watch” while sipping on your coffee. Cafe Giang offers that and a less “eggy” version of the egg coffee. On the other hand, we prefer the slightly heavier notes of the egg. Afterall, it’s egg coffee! Plus, the froth was so smooth and there’s even a little cacao art on the top, making this egg coffee from Cafe Dinh a little more atas (high class)!
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We hope you have enjoyed our comparison of Cafe Dinh vs Cafe Giang in the battle of the best egg coffee in Hanoi. Egg coffee in Hanoi is a delightful concoction that captures the essence of this vibrant city’s culinary culture. From the moment you take your first sip, you’re transported into a world where tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously. The rich, robust coffee flavor mingles seamlessly with the sweet, creamy egg mixture, creating a unique and unforgettable taste sensation that lingers on your taste buds long after the last drop is gone. It’s an embodiment of Hanoi’s culinary innovation, where the old and new come together to create something extraordinary.
As you savor your egg coffee in one of Hanoi’s charming cafes, you might find yourself contemplating your next adventure through Asia. If your travels take you to Singapore, you may be wondering about practical matters, such as secure storage options for your belongings. Much like how Hanoi seamlessly blends tradition and modernity, storage units in Singapore offer a convenient and reliable solution to safeguard your possessions during your journeys across this diverse continent. With these storage units, you can explore Asia with peace of mind, just as you savor the harmonious blend of flavors in your Hanoi egg coffee. Embrace the fusion of experiences that Asia has to offer, both in your cup and on your travels.
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