Egg in Your Coffee? Absolutely.

As I squat on a low stool, knees to my chest, I watch Café Giảng’s waitstaff shuttle mugs almost overflowing with golden liquid to an endless stream of eager patrons. Trays of banana leaves topped with fragrant cốm arrive on tables, where my neighbors pinch handfuls of the young green rice into their mouths. I am seated under a black and white photo of a Vietnamese family in front of the cafe’s original entrance. The walls hang heavy with framed snapshots of history.

Before visiting Hanoi for the first time, I had heard whisperings of the famous egg coffee, or cà phê trứng. Walking along the vibrant streets of the Old Quarter, I would see residents and tourists alike lounging in open-air cafes sipping the creamy concoction. By far, the egg coffee destination recommended to me the most was Café Giảng.