[Review] Home38: Hanoi breakfast kings

Home38 is, as the name suggests, a homey café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located on a popular street for restaurants and bars near a small park overlooking the West Lake, this low-key restaurant features the sort of wicker chairs your grandma might have out on her porch for family dinners. There is a quant seating area outside in the back. The open air atmosphere here means things can get hot as you eat your avocado wrap on a summer’s day, but there are plenty of fans to help cool you down.

Although Home38 serves throughout the day, they are perhaps most well-known for their epic breakfasts, which they are happy to serve up morning, noon and night, with each table including a solid lineup of condiments, including Heinz ketchup, BBQ sauce and Tabasco. They offer a magnificent English breakfast (120,000 VND) of the type you might get served at a greasy spoon in the UK, including sausage, egg, bacon, beans, hash browns and thickly sliced buttered bread or toast, but be warned, eat one of these bad boys and you might not be able to move much for the next few hours.

The full Canadian breakfast (120,000 VND) is a symphony of great North American food, including two thick tasty pancakes, eggs, bacon and a side of excellent maple syrup. If such options are too much, you can always opt for the light breakfast (70,000 VND) or mix and match to order exactly what you want on your plate. The breakfast burger (95,000 VND) includes sausage, bacon and eggs in a fluffy bun with hash browns on the side. There is also a great full vegetarian breakfast (110,000 VND) for those not meat-inclined

The dinner options are an array of comfort-food classics such as shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and beef and onion pie (all 120,000 VND). Chào highly recommends the deluxe chicken sandwich complete with cranberry sauce and gravy.

They offer classic Vietnamese as well as fresh French press coffee (35,000 VND) and English breakfast tea (25,000 VND), with cream and sugar if desired. Those needing the hair of the dog might prefer a crack at a large Hanoi beer 25,000 (VND) or a particularly well-mixed Bloody Mary with a zingy, spicy kick (65,000). Speaking of dogs, Home38 sits opposite a local park which is much loved by local dog-walkers, and the restaurant even offers fresh water in a dog bowl at the front of the café, so your furry friend can have a cooling drink too.

With its simple yet well-done comfort food, outdoorsy atmosphere and laid back vibes, it is easy to feel at home at this great little Hanoi restaurant.

38 Quang Ba, Tay Ho
+84 (0) 93 631 72 40
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday-Sunday