When you find a restaurant with a sign that says ‘Cheap and Cheerful Restaurant’ plus a photo of a funny-looking gecko, you just have to check it out, right? Right! That’s exactly what Mike and I did while walking around the streets of Hanoi on the first day of our ‘Hanoimoon’ last year. Looking for a place to have dinner, we stumbled upon Gecko Café in Hang Bong Street, just a few blocks away from our hotel, Meracus Hotel 2. It quickly became one of our favorite eating places in the city!
Gecko Café serves Vietnamese, American, European, and Australian specialties, as well as a wide assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. If you don’t know what you feel like eating or drinking at the moment (or if you feel like eating or drinking everything), this is the place to be because their menu is so diverse that you’ll most likely find something that will suit your liking. Craving for Hanoi-style spring rolls? They have it! Had enough of Vietnamese fare and looking for American burgers or Italian Napolitana pizza? They’ve got you covered! Fancy a marg or a mojito? Look no further!
These are what we ordered from their extensive menu:
Bart Simpson (VND 49,000 / PHP 109.04) – Fresh coconut, pineapple juice, ice cream, and milk
‘Gecko’ (VND 49,000 / PHP 109.04) – Apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine
Both drinks were refreshing and delish! I could have easily had another glass!
Bun Cha (VND 139,000 / PHP 309.32)
This popular Vietnamese dish, which is made with grilled pork balls with vermicelli and a mix of vegetables, blew us away. It was so tasty and fresh, and it filled us up in no time! Everything, when mixed and eaten together, blended perfectly well with the tangy dipping sauce.
Grilled Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce (VND 115,000 / PHP 255.91)
Okay, I’ll be honest here. I don’t remember if this is indeed Grilled Pork Chops! (Sorry, it took me an entire year to write about this, so I forgot already!) All I remember is that we were satisfied with all the food, so if you do end up ordering this one, you won’t hate me for recommending this dish to you because I know you’ll like it! 😉
Hanoi Beer (VND 28,000 / PHP 62.31)
You’ve never really been to Hanoi if you haven’t tried Hanoi Beer!
The food was really good! Gecko Café sure made our first night in Hanoi a pleasurable one since their dishes and drinks did not disappoint. Did I also mention that the restaurant has this really hip and cool Asian-inspired vibe?
Gecko Café shows its fun side by posting handwritten notes from happy and satisfied customers from around the world under the glass on the tables. So much love for Gecko Cafe! Just by reading the letters, you can tell that these guests really had an incredible experience at the restaurant!
With the great service, funky ambiance, and good food, it’s no wonder that it’s such a popular hangout — both for the older folks and the young ones!
So, did Gecko Café really live up to its tagline of being a ‘Cheap and Cheerful Restaurant’? Cheap? It definitely was! For the quality and quantity of everything we ordered, we only spent VND 380,000 (PHP 845)! Cheerful? The staff served us with a smile, and we also left there with a smile! If I could, I would come back here in a heartbeat!
Gecko Café
Address: Số 2 Hàng Bông Hà Nội Việt Nam, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84 166 567 1111
Website: http://geckogroup.com.vn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gecko-Cafe-231727016890372/
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