Stepping through the portal
Stepping through the portal
By PORTALTO Editor
21 May 2025
Step off the buzzing streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and into Tầm Vị — a place where time softens, and Vietnam’s past comes to sit with you at the table.
With its antique-filled dining room, vintage wooden cabinets, and porcelain tea sets that feel like they’ve been passed down through generations, Tầm Vị is not just a restaurant — it’s a vintage restaurant elevated to Michelin-starred dining.
In 2023, Tầm Vị earned its first Michelin star, recognizing it as a destination of “high quality cooking, worth a stop.”
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It’s rare for a place so unassuming to receive such acclaim. Yet, the Michelin inspectors were clear: the authenticity of its northern Vietnamese cuisine, rustic elegance, and soulful hospitality made it stand out among Hanoi’s culinary elite.
Tucked away on 4B Yên Thế Street in Hanoi, Tầm Vị welcomes you with a sense of quiet nostalgia. From potted plants by the entrance to the soft yellow lighting and well-worn wooden furniture, the space feels thoughtfully aged — like a memory you didn’t know you had. There’s a warmth in the details: framed vintage prints, old ceramic jars, and pieces that hint at stories from the past. It doesn’t try too hard to be charming — it simply is. More than just a place to eat, Tầm Vị feels like a home someone has loved for decades, and now, it’s yours to step into.
Take the Cá Kho Tộ, a caramelized braised fish claypot dish that's tender, savory, and rich with depth. Or the Canh Cua Mồng Tơi, a comforting crab soup with malabar spinach that’s both earthy and soothing. And of course, the classic Thịt Kho Tàu, braised pork with eggs, simmered until the flavors melt into each other — simple, soulful, unforgettable.
And when you leave, it’s not just the food you’ll remember. It’s the feeling of being nourished — not just in body, but in spirit.
