Nine years of continuous service in the whirlwind that is Hanoi's restaurant scene is enough to make you an institution by default. Add to it a beautiful setting and a signature cuisine and it's not hard to understand why the Brother's Cafe is one of the best known places in the city.
Originally opened by Mr. Khai in 1997, the restaurant is currently operated by his brother and co-owner Mr. My. Their restaurant occupies a truly unique space in Hanoi. While some might be inclined to think that the Brother's Cafe was built anew to resemble traditional structures of the past, the building is actually a restored Nguyen family temple that was acquired by the brothers after a bank foreclosed on the original owners. While time is taken every year to renew the decorative flair of the space or to develop some complimentary buildings, the basic layout of the restaurant has gone unchanged.
Another element that has gone unchanged has been their approach to dining. Claiming to be the first daily offered buffet in Hanoi, they have built an enviable level of success around this formula. Selections are changed daily, as regular customers can attest, but at no time will you arrive there and find anything other than their renowned buffet. Add to this classical music on Friday and Saturday evenings, and it is easy to see why so many veteran expats of Hanoi keep the Brother's Cafe in their restaurant rotation.