David Hoffmann, a travel content creator with over 1.3 million YouTube subscribers, recently visited Vietnam for the first time in September, choosing Hanoi to experience its vibrant street food scene.  

His guide introduced him to a popular xôi xéo stall at the intersection of Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet Streets. The crowd of locals eagerly waiting to order surprised David.  

Known for its harmonious flavors, the stall offers sticky rice topped with creamy mung beans, crispy fried shallots, and rich chicken fat. In addition to xôi xéo, the vendor also serves xôi ngô (sticky rice with corn).  

The stall gained fame not only for its flavorful food but also for the vendor’s rapid xôi-wrapping technique, which even made headlines on South Korean television and went viral on social media.  

“This is so crowded!” David exclaimed, marveling at the long line of customers. Watching the vendor’s swift wrapping process, he commented, “She’s so fast! This looks like rice with mashed potatoes.”  

David’s guide explained the ingredients, and the YouTuber eagerly practiced ordering in Vietnamese: “Em ơi, cho anh một xôi xéo full topping” (“Give me one xôi xéo with all the toppings”).  

A few minutes later, his order arrived, complete with sticky rice, pork rolls, braised pork, shredded pork floss (ruốc), fried egg, and fried shallots.  

David enthusiastically tasted each component, expressing delight at the flavorful combination.  

“The xôi xéo is delicious, and the braised pork is so tender, it melts in your mouth—like pork ribs. This is such a unique dish, with various ingredients and textures. My favorite is the rich and fatty braised pork,” he shared.  

The bustling atmosphere at the stall added to David’s experience.  

“This isn’t just a food spot - it’s a lively cultural experience. You hear the vendor shouting, the staff taking orders, and the customers calling out for xôi. I didn’t understand what they were saying, but the sounds were so vibrant.”  

After finishing his meal, David admitted he was “stuffed” but highly praised the dish, calling it a must-try breakfast option in Hanoi.  

Pham Ngoc Anh, the stall’s owner, shared with VietNamNet that her family has been selling xôi at this location for 31 years. She is the second generation to run the business, having taken over from her mother 12 years ago.  

“I feel happy and proud that our small sidewalk stall has been supported by both locals and international visitors for so many years,” Ngoc Anh said.  

Ngoc Anh emphasized that all ingredients are carefully selected and handmade by her family, including frying the shallots and preparing the shredded pork floss. The pork rolls are sourced from the renowned Uoc Le village, known for its high-quality products, adding to the dish’s appeal.  

Each serving of xôi is priced between 15,000 and 30,000 VND, depending on portion size and toppings.  

Thao Trinh