Egg Coffee in Hanoi: Taste and Where to Try
A sweet, creamy coffee for anyone who finds black coffee too harsh.
Egg coffee is a Hanoi drink made by whisking egg yolk, sugar and condensed milk into a thick cream and floating it over strong coffee. It tastes like a coffee-flavoured dessert, and it suits anyone who finds black coffee too harsh.
How is it made?
A cook whisks egg yolk with sugar and condensed milk until the mixture turns pale and thick. The cream is poured over a small cup of strong, hot coffee. The cup can sit in a bowl of hot water to stay warm.
You spoon the cream first, then sip the coffee beneath, or stir them together. The sweetness balances the bitterness.
What does it taste like?
Think of tiramisu in a cup. It is sweet, creamy and rich, with coffee in the background.
The egg is not a flavour you taste in a sharp way. The whisked yolk becomes custard-like. If the smell bothers you, ask for the drink warm and stir gently.
For readers who find black coffee too strong, it is a gentle step into Vietnamese coffee. For a wider view of how to order, read how to order Vietnamese coffee.
Is it safe to drink?
The cream is made from egg yolk, and some cooks serve it lightly cooked. If you are pregnant, travelling with young children or simply want to be careful, ask the staff how the cream is made, or choose another drink. This is your call, and nobody will mind the question.
If you want another sweet coffee without the egg, try coconut coffee in Vietnam.
Where should you try it?
Cafes in and around the Old Quarter are the easiest place to try egg coffee, because the cafes sit within walking distance of each other. Our Hanoi city guide and the Old Quarter page show how to place yourself near them.
Choose a busy cafe with a clean counter and a menu that lists the drink. Confirm opening times before you walk, because small cafes close at different hours. Our street food hygiene guide lists what to check.
How do you fit it into a day?
Plan it as a mid-morning or afternoon pause. A cup is rich, so one is enough, and it sits well between a morning of walking and a late lunch. If you travel with children, order a small cup to share, and add a plain drink for each child.
Browse more drinks and dishes under food and daily travel, and message us to arrange your Hanoi days around cafe stops.
Tell us how many cafe stops you want in Hanoi and who is travelling, and we can help you fit them around a calm Old Quarter day.
Common questions
What does egg coffee taste like?
It tastes like a sweet, creamy dessert with a coffee base. A thick whisked cream of egg yolk, sugar and condensed milk sits over strong coffee. It is closer to tiramisu than to a latte. You spoon the cream, then sip the coffee beneath. The bitterness is softened.
Does it taste of egg?
You may not notice the egg as a flavour. The yolk is whisked until pale and sweet, so the result tastes of custard and condensed milk. If you worry about an eggy smell, ask for it warm, and stir gently.
Is egg coffee safe to drink?
The cream is made from egg yolk, and some cooks serve it lightly cooked rather than fully cooked. If you are pregnant, travelling with young children or want to be careful, ask the staff how it is made or choose another drink. This is a personal choice.
Where should I try it?
Look for cafes in the Old Quarter and the streets around it, where you can watch the cup being prepared. Choose a busy cafe with a clean counter and a menu that lists the drink. Confirm opening times before you walk, because small cafes close at different hours.
Keep planning
Tell us how many cafe stops you want in Hanoi and who is travelling, and we can help you fit them around a calm Old Quarter day.