Quan An Ngon and Ngon Garden are among the few Vietnamese restaurant brands in the capital to have been included in the Michelin Selected category every year since the Michelin Guide entered Vietnam.
Located on Phan Boi Chau Street in Hanoi, Quan An Ngon occupies a century-old French colonial villa that retains many architectural features typical of the city in the early 20th century. More than 100 years after its construction, the property still preserves much of its original structure, including its courtyard, garden, fencing and a mature mango tree within the grounds.
Even before peak dining hours, most tables are occupied. Staff move constantly between dining areas while chefs prepare dishes in open kitchens visible to guests.
One of the restaurant’s most popular stations serves banh xeo, the crispy Vietnamese savoury pancake. Diners often stop to watch chefs spread a thin layer of batter across a hot pan before adding shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. The aromas of freshly cooked food, herbs and dipping sauces contribute to an atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional Vietnamese street-food market.
Among the diners was Dirk Frohberger, a visitor from Germany, who was enjoying fresh spring rolls with his family.
“We came because we saw the restaurant listed by Michelin,” he said. “What impressed us most was the atmosphere. We can sit in a historic villa, watch the chefs prepare the food and enjoy very traditional Vietnamese dishes.”
Pham Thi Bich Hanh, founder of the Quan An Ngon and Ngon Garden restaurant chains and director of Phuc Hung Thinh Company, said the restaurants aim to offer more than food.
“We want to tell a story about culture, people and places,” she said.
“Being recognised by Michelin for four consecutive years is a great honour, but it also brings significant pressure. The challenge is not simply remaining on the list, but ensuring that every guest receives an experience worthy of that recognition.”
Another customer, Pham Minh Chau, a 30-year-old Hanoi resident, paused to take photographs beneath the villa’s old verandas and windows before joining her family for lunch.
Within the restaurant grounds, Pham Minh Chau, 30, from Hanoi, dressed in ao dai and paused to take a few photographs by the old eaves and window frames before dining with her family.
“My family has been coming here since 2007 because it offers a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes suitable for both adults and children,” she said. “When I learned that it had been included in the Michelin Selected list for four consecutive years, I was not surprised because it has maintained a loyal customer base for many years.”
While Quan An Ngon recreates the atmosphere of a traditional Vietnamese food market within a heritage villa, Ngon Garden offers a more contemporary interpretation of Vietnamese dining.
The restaurant continues to focus on traditional Vietnamese cuisine while incorporating selected Western dishes to cater to both domestic and international guests.
Like its sister venue, Ngon Garden occupies a restored historic villa. The property combines preserved architectural elements with contemporary Indochinese design and marble flooring. Private dining rooms are named after Vietnamese destinations such as Hoa Binh, Long Bien and Sapa, creating a distinctly local character while accommodating business and diplomatic gatherings.
Operating under an all-day dining model, Ngon Garden overlooks Thien Quang Lake and sits within a nearly 3,000-square-metre garden setting. Average spending ranges from VND 400,000 to VND 500,000 (approximately USD 15-19) per guest.
The restaurant’s entrance is redesigned almost every month, using fresh flowers and greenery to create a changing visual experience for visitors.
Dining and Cooking