The Running Bean

The Running Bean
22 P. Nhà Thờ, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

https://www.facebook.com/therunningbeansg/

TRB Bò Né / Cow (VND ₫165,000)

Energetic Cafe That Links The Past And Future, With Tasty Fusion Dishes

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about VND ₫370,000 / SGD $21 per person.


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Founded in April 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, but only opening in January 2022 in Hanoi, The Running Bean is a casual modern cafe known for its great coffee, quirky relaxing ambience, and contemporary Vietnamese food. I stumbled upon The Running Bean while exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and because their name had immediate resonance with me, I stopped to visit The Running Bean.

Ambience at The Running Bean is true to their theme, combining the past with the future. The facade retains the monolithic arches and well-worn brick walls. Within, industrial steel beams prop up blue glass panels, meant to evoke a 'frozen' look. The warmly lit place is contrasted by natural light, illuminating the bare concrete floor, exposed brick walls, and modern furniture of regular height. There's 3 levels of seating, but it's often crowded.

Service at The Running Bean is young, energetic, and friendly. The relatively young staff can converse in English, and the menu has helpful English translations paired with pictures. Staff take orders quickly, which are fulfilled after a short wait of no more than 10 minutes. I note they demonstate good menu knowledge, and also clean up quickly when diners are finished. I do wish they'd more proactively top up water glasses though.

Food at The Running Bean is contemporary modern Vietnamese cuisine, think traditional dishes but given a twist. Quality of dishes is passable. Prepared to order, staff will guide you in how best to consume each dish when they serve it. Portions are sized for individuals, but can be shared. Prices are higher than other Vietnamese cafes though, budget about VND ₫370,000 / SGD $21 per person for a meal with drinks here.


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The Running Bean Exterior

The Running Bean Interior

Seating Level 1

Seating Level 2

Seating Level 3

Glass-Enclosed Stone Staircase

Coffee Blends

Coffee Plants

Ice Cube Bench

I appreciate the helpful English translations and pictures on The Running Bean Menu 2023.

The Running Bean Menu 2023

The Running Bean Menu 2023

A refreshing Glass Of Water to wash away the heat of the day. Nicely thirst-quenching.

Glass Of Water

With The Cloud (VND ₫85,000), a 36-hour coffee cold brew is blended with cascara and earl grey foam, finished with a garnish of roasted coffee bean. The visually pleasing layers ought to be stirred before drinking, and the beverage carries pleasant toasty earthy floral sweet flavour. Good!

The Cloud (VND ₫85,000)

The Cloud

The refreshing Yuzu Cascara Longan Honey (VND ₫80,000) features a blend of yuzu juice, cascara, longan juice, honey, and mint leaves, garnished with a wobbly yuzu infused jelly. With bright floral fruity herbal sweet flavour, this was incredibly refreshing. Good!

Yuzu Cascara Longan Honey (VND ₫80,000)

Yuzu Cascara Longan Honey

Think of the quirky TRB Bò Né / Cow (VND ₫165,000) as a deconstructed Bánh Mì Bò Pate Trứng / Beef, Pork Pate, And Egg Sandwich. This features a medium sized crisp flaky soft baguette bread, which you fill with carved slices of sizzling chewy beef sirloin steak, soft pork pate, bouncy chicken egg, tender sauteed white onions, crisp micro-greens, and gooey camembert cheese. Bite in, and you get a combined smoky meaty vegetal bready earthy savoury salty eggy sweet milky cheesy toasty flavour. Rather filling too. Good!

TRB Bò Né / Cow (VND ₫165,000)

TRB Bò Né / Cow

TRB Bò Né / Cow

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