Cumulus - Ha Noi

It is not easy to find; and it is a gate and up some steps, but what is a sound of this place. we came as a group of three families who had just returned to trekking in sapa to hanoi. what a great meal we all had. delicious, fresh and authentic. the environment is minimalist, but eating was incredible. so many aromes and with explanation and direction from the owner, whose history so my h added to our meal. in our three weeks in vietnam this was my most unforgettable meal.

William invited me over Instagram and we decided to call in as we were staying nearby. He was a great host, we read his story and he taught us some phrases and gave us tips where to visit. The food was big portions and delicious. It is hidden through an alley between shops so look carefully for the small signs! (see photo)

Travelling in Vietnam is full of unexpected delights. The Cumulus restaurant didn't disappoint. We turned off a main street down a dark side alley, up some stairs and into a brightly lit room, quiet and away from the busy streets below. Our hosts, a husband and wife team, were extremely welcoming and the food came in extremely generous proportions. The rice wine flowed in equal measures. There is a great back story to the place. It involves a rise from poverty, Bill Clinton and a social contribution but you will have to visit to get the full story. The food was good and authentic and the experience was unique, enjoy the hospitality.

Super friendly atmosphere，truly homemade food with no ketchup and other artificial add-ons. Authentic flavor and fantastic taste. You get free extra portions of rice and vegetables. Strongly recommend!

Friendly people. Go for the feel-good factor but not for the food. It is over-priced, below average quality, and you may end up eating it in the gutter with the rats. William is a nice guy with what is probably a similar story to half the people in Hanoi struggling from impoverishment 30+ years ago to make ends meet. He is one of few who enthusiastically advertises that fact, and now has a thriving business as a result. You pay 20% more than at a proper sit-down restaurant to get a seat on the street with no fan (because there you have maximum visibility to other potential customers), getting blasted by the fumes and horns of passing bikes. The ladies who cook are earnest but the result is generic flavourless food, including Maggi instant noodles which you could make in your hotel room with a kettle, sold for 79,000vnd with a name like stir fried noodles'. (Edit: using rank instant noodles for stir fry' dishes is apparently a common Vietnamese practice, so recommend avoiding). Lastly, while hygiene is rare in any developing country, I saw a rat sniffing around 2 metres from my seat (directly behind another customer), next to a place where a semi-homeless guy was sorting waste on the sidewalk, and also next to the place where the cook was setting pans down (on the floor of the establishment). I also saw the cook sniffing at old rice to see if it had gone bad yet William was there and waived it through without checking. The semi-homeless guy with black hands came to collect money for something from them (presumably for taking away their waste) and the cook was grumpily trying to fob him off with as little cash as possible.