Crab DishHotpotNoodle Soup

    Crab Tomato Hotpot

    Lẩu Riêu Cua

    4.5₫120k-250kGreat for lunch or dinner year-round, especially on cool and rainy days.
    Đậu Photograph
    Overview

    Tangy crab hotpot with crab paste, tomato, fermented rice vinegar, and shrimp paste — a rich northern Vietnamese classic

    Lẩu Riêu Cua is the hotpot evolution of Hanoi's beloved bún riêu — a bubbling pot of crab paste broth sharpened with giấm bỗng (fermented rice vinegar) and mắm tôm (shrimp paste), colored golden with annatto oil and enriched by xào gạch cua (stir-fried crab roe). Diners add tofu, pork ribs, tomato, water spinach, and noodles into the communal pot at the table. The broth is at once sour, savory, and deeply aromatic — a distinctly northern Vietnamese flavor profile rarely found outside Hanoi.
    Gallery

    Photos

    What's in it

    • crab paste
    • crab roe
    • tomato
    • giấm bỗng
    • shrimp paste
    • annatto oil
    • tofu
    • pork ribs
    • fish sauce
    • rice vermicelli
    • water spinach
    • shallots
    • fresh herbs
    When to eat

    Best moments to enjoy it

    LunchDinner

    Great for lunch or dinner year-round, especially on cool and rainy days.

    The story

    Origin & history

    Riêu cua has roots in the Red River Delta where freshwater crabs were abundant in rice paddies. Originally a humble noodle soup, it evolved into a popular hotpot format in Hanoi's restaurant culture, especially during autumn and winter when communal hot meals are most enjoyed.

    At the stall

    How to order & pay

    Ordering

    Ask for extra giấm bỗng on the side to adjust sourness. Bắp bò (beef shank) is a popular add-on at many Hanoi spots.

    Paying

    Cash preferred at local restaurants.

    Good to know

    Allergens, nutrition & health

    Allergens

    Contains shellfish (crab), shrimp paste; check for MSG sensitivity

    Nutrition & benefits

    Rich in protein and calcium from crab; tomato provides vitamin C and lycopene.

    Health notes

    Shrimp paste (mắm tôm) is high in sodium — use sparingly if watching salt intake.

    Where to eat it

    Best spots in Hanoi

    • Lau Hit

      Lẩu Hít

      4.3

      1 P .Nguyễn Tư Giản, Hồng Hà, Hà Nội 110050, Vietnam

      Hours
      5:00 PM - 11:30 PM
      View on map
    From the Journal

    Stories about Hanoi