Combo Obama

In addition to Ho Chi Minh, another great leader has a rather unique shrine here in Hanoi, former US president Barack Obama. At the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant one particular table is encased in a plexiglass cube, the table where President Barack Obama and chef/travel host Anthony Bourdain shared a meal in 2016. In addition to the table shrine the walls are covered with numerous photographs of that special day. And now to commemorate the event, the menu features a meal consisting of 1 Bun Cha, 1 seafood roll and 1 Hanoi beer, known as the Combo Obama.

Well, what could we do but order 2 Combos featuring the signature dish, Bun Cha. The Bun Cha is a bowl of broth containing slices of pork and spiced pork patties, to which one adds rice noodles, salad greens, chopped garlic and chilies. This Bun Cha lived up to the hype. The broth had a great depth of flavor and the grilled meat paddies were tender and well seasoned. No wonder Chef Bourdain chose this restaurant for his Hanoi CNN episode of Parts Unknown to dine with president Obama. 

Despite the international attention, the restaurant continues to deliver great quality food for locals, curious tourists and those missing the Obama years.

The current cost of the Combo Obama is 120,000 Vietnamese Dong or just under 5 US Dollars!