Bún Chả Hương Liên
Bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodle, is thought to have originated from Hanoi. Bun cha is served with grilled fatty pork over a plate of white rice noodle and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce. In 2016, Anthony Bourdain and former U.S. President Barack Obama enjoyed grilled pork and rice noodles at Bún chả Hương Liên, a restaurant known for its reasonably priced (and delicious) cuisine. That historic dining moment aired during the season eight premiere of Bourdain's show "Parts Unknown." Since then, Bún chả Hương Liên has become known to people in and outside of Hanoi as “that place where Anthony Bourdain ate with Barack Obama in Vietnam.” To memorialize their visit, Bún Chả Hương Liên has turned their table into a museum. The table is set with clean dishes and chopsticks arranged similarly to the way the former U.S. President and the celebrity chef had them, and even includes two bottles of the exact beer the duo drank during their meeting. While guests can no longer sit at the table, as it is now encased in glass, they can order a new menu item called “Suat an Obama,” which translates to "Order like Obama." The meal features crab cha gio spring rolls and bun cha noodles. And it even comes with a bottle of local Hanoi Beer.
