What to eat in Hoi An? The question seems simple but is very difficult to answer. Hoi An is not only famous for its old street corners that look like they just came out of a movie but is also known as a Vietnamese culinary paradise. It isn’t easy to choose your favorite food in Hoi An because each dish has its unique flavor. In that case, let Yourvietnam.org tell you 13 Hoi An specialties you cannot miss when coming to the old town.
Famous Hoi An Delicacies
1/ Food in Hoi An – Cao Lau
It’s not an exaggeration to say that if you haven’t eaten Cao Lau, it’s as if you’ve never been to Hoi An. Cao Lau noodles have a bright yellow color because the flour is mixed with cajuput wood ash to create a unique flavor. Cao Lau is often eaten with shrimp, pork, char siu, and raw vegetables. The broth is small but rich in flavor, creating the “soul” of the dish, which is considered representative of the old beauty of the old town.
It is not too difficult to find a store selling “standard” high floors in Hoi An. But if you have to choose, please visit the Cao Lau Lien store – located at 16 Thai Phien. Starting from a small street vendor, the store has existed for more than 30 years but has always had customers.
Some Other Hoi An Cao Lau Shops You Should Consider
- Ong Hai Restaurant: 6A Truong Minh Luong, Hoi An
- Auntie Hat Restaurant: 81 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An
- Cao Lau Thanh: 26, Thai Phien, Hoi An
- Cao Lau Hong: 18, Thai Phien, Hoi An
2/ Hoi An Quang Noodles
If you come to the Central region, you must definitely eat Quang noodles. Rustic, simple, yet sophisticated, Quang noodles have become a favorite name among gourmets. Quang noodles are opaque, white, soft, and chewy. The fragrant rice flavor of the noodles blends in the rich, fatty broth eaten with raw vegetables, roasted peanuts, shrimp, meat, and soft-boiled eggs… it is truly perfect. It’s genuinely authentic when eaten with crispy rice paper.
Besides the traditional version, there is also a unique Quang frog noodle dish. Surely, #teamYourvietnam.org will be very excited to mix noodles with frogs in a fragrant ceramic bowl.
Tips for Delicious Hoi An Quang Noodle Shops:
- Ba Minh Quang Noodles: Cam Ha, Hoi An
- Hoi An Green Space: 687 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
- Miss Quang Noodles Born: 170/5, Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoi An
- Quang Ong Hai Noodles: 6A Truong Minh Luong, Cam Chau, Hoi An
- Kitchen Frog Quang Noodles – many branches in Da Nang
3/ Food in Hoi An – Gleaning Water
If Saigon is proud of its decadent cups of coffee, and Hanoi is famous for its excellent sidewalk iced tea, then Hoi An brings visitors the charm of a fragrant cup of Mot tea with an aromatic herbal scent. In each drop of water, there is a mix of lemon, ginger, lemongrass, chrysanthemum, dried lotus leaves, green tea leaves, and honey – a “miracle” mixture that helps purify the body.
Each cup of tea is carefully decorated by talented bartenders with lotus leaves and lotus roots, making it impossible for visitors to take their eyes off the cup of Mot in their hands. Undoubtedly, it is not only delicious but also very “satisfying” for the eyes.
- Mot Restaurant: 150 Tran Phu
4/ Hoi An Clam Porridge
Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight touch the peaceful river, Hoi An wakes up in peace. On beautiful small streets, clam porridge shops start a new day, like a gentle breeze blending with the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient City.
In Hoi An clam porridge, simple ingredients such as porridge, clams, ginger, green onions, Vietnamese coriander, and spices blend harmoniously. The sea clams are fresh and delicious, making each piece of clam chewy and delicious, like a raw bite in the diet. Fresh ginger and savory green onions contribute to a rich, delicate flavor that you will find hard to resist.
- Co Gio Clam Porridge: Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam An, Hoi An
5/ Spicy Chicken Feet
Hoi An spicy chicken feet is a dish that will “burn” your palate with its passionate, pungent taste and seductive aroma. The chicken feet are carefully processed, and the meat is soft and smooth, absorbing the spices and flavor of the spicy sauce. Spicy spices are carefully selected, including chili, garlic, onion, and other spices, to create a charming mixture of color and aroma. The passionate, spicy taste of Hoi An spicy chicken feet is the main highlight, guaranteed, and it is not “tongue-ripping” spicy without charging money.
Address to Eat Delicious Spicy Chicken Feet in Hoi An
- Spicy chicken feet: 238 Ly Thuong Kiet, Son Phong, Hoi An, Quang Nam
- A Bang milk tea chicken feet: Group 4, Tan Thanh block, City. Hoi An
- Nep Nep: K35 Ly Thai To, City. Hoi An
6/ Food in Hoi An – Tofu
Wandering around every corner of Hoi An, near and far, are the loving voices of aunts and uncles carrying pho, a dish that is like a sweet gift from childhood.
Each bowl of tofu carries within it a “soul” of Hoi An, rich in the flavor of childhood and the rustic aroma of natural ingredients. Soft and smooth pieces of tofu, soaked in sweet sugar water, combined with traditional cake flour and diverse toppings such as red beans, green beans, shredded coconut…
In the twilight on Hoi An Street, the call “Here’s Tofu, Here’s Tofu” rings out like a familiar song, bringing us back to our childhood, full of memories in the peaceful land. Hoi An tofu, like a dear gift, is indispensable in the memories of the people of the old town.
Address to Eat Delicious Pho in Hoi An
- Co Mai Tea: 1 Nguyen Hoang, City. Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Ba Tho Tea: 1 Nguyen Hue, City. Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Cao Pho Binh: 36 Phan Chu Trinh, City. Hoi An, Quang Nam
==> Read more: Travel Hoi An A-Z: Top 9 meaningful Hoi An souvenirs
7/ Bun Mam Nem Hoi An
There is no need to be luxurious or beautiful on the menu like the famous Cao Lau or Mi Quang; noodle soup with fish sauce only exists quietly in street vendors and small roadside shops but still captures the hearts of diners in Hoi An thanks to its generosity. Simple, rustic. Here, you will find a simple set of tables and chairs and a small cabinet, or even just a small basket filled with fresh and rustic ingredients.
Bun mam seasoning doesn’t need any fanfare because it has sophistication in every spoonful of flavor. Rich fish sauce is perfectly combined with the aroma of garlic, chili, shrimp, and many other fresh ingredients. Besides, the noodles are soft and smooth, absorbing the flavor of fish sauce and creating a feeling of comfort and full flavor.
Address To Eat Delicious Hoi An Seasoned Noodle Soup
- Noodles with fish sauce Street: 06 La Hoi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Street vendors in the Old Town
8/ Hoi An Red Rice Porridge
Deep in the small alleys of Hoi An, a simple but beautiful dish still exists. Although it was born a long time ago, red rice porridge (brown rice porridge) is still unknown to many tourists. Most of the regulars here are “locals” of the old town.
Enjoying brown rice porridge; you will feel the warmth, lightness, and sweetness slowly filling your body. The porridge is the quintessence of the dish, cooked from brown rice served with fragrant stock and thoroughly cooked with chili and fresh green melon, creating a rich and attractive flavor. The combination of the sweet, spicy taste of braised fish and the freshness and crunch of chili and melon creates a flavor that many people miss.
- Co Ngoc Restaurant: Nguyen Truong To, City. Hoi An
- Miss Lien red porridge: 8 Truong Minh Luong
9/ Food in Hoi An – Banh Canh
A familiar dish in many regions, Hoi An noodle soup is still something that “captivates” many diners every time they travel to the old town. The fragrant sticky rice cake fibers blend with the rich, sweet broth, captivating even the most demanding “cultists.”
Address to Eat Delicious Hoi An Banh Canh
- Hoi An Banh Canh Ba Quyt: 51 Thanh Hoa, Tan An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Ms. Luon’s Banh Canh: No. 276 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Minh An, Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Banh Canh Ba Trang: Group 2 Tan Thinh, Cam An, City. Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Co Xuan Banh Canh: Opposite No. 6 Ngo Si Lien Street, Tan An Ward, City. Hoi An, Quang Nam
10/ Hoi An wontons
Although it is a delicious dish originating from China, Hoi An wontons still possess a very pure Vietnamese flavor. The golden wonton skin, soft and chewy, hugs the plump shrimp and meat filling and is served with pork liver, chives, soft-boiled eggs… If you don’t like water, you can choose crispy fried wontons dipped in a little chili sauce for “so much more and more.”
Where to Sell Delicious Wontons in Hoi An:
- Nguyen Loi wonton noodles: 78 Tran Hung Dao Street, City. Hoi An
- Mr. Dung: 14, Ba Trieu, Hoi An
- Thanh Thanh, 152, Tran Phu, Hoi An
- Hoang Ky noodle shop: 67 Tran Phu Street, City. Hoi An
- Cam Pho Cuisine Restaurant – at the foot of Chua Cau, Hoi An Ancient Town
11/ Stir-fried Mussel Cake in Hoi An
Stir-fried mussel cake is a famous food in Hoi An that #teamYourvietnam.org should try at least once in their life. Fresh mussels are stir-fried with spices, coriander, onions, fried onions, peanuts, chili sauce, etc. until fragrant. Then, eat with banh dap or banh dap and add sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Although the ingredients and preparation methods are simple, it is difficult to find a store that sells stir-fried mussels with rice paper that has a delicious, rich flavor that meets the standards of the old town. The price of this tasty dish is also quite “soft,” only 20,000 VND.
Below are some places that sell delicious stir-fried mussel cakes in Hoi An:
- Banh Dap No. 9: Cam An, Hoi An
- Ba Gia stir-fried mussel restaurant: village 1, Cam Nam, Hoi An
- Cam Nam Shop: 679, Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
- Yes Instant Restaurant: Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam, Hoi An
12/ Food in Hoi An – Mussel Rice
Many Korean tourists jokingly say that mussel rice is Vietnamese bibimbap. The mussels are stir-fried with mussel juice, shrimp paste, pork rinds, crispy fried noodles, colored chili, and peanuts… then mixed and eaten with rice and herbs. Mussel rice is a famous food in Hoi An. Not sophisticated or high-class, mussel rice “captivates” visitors with its simple yet rich, unforgettable flavor.
Where to Buy Delicious Mussel Rice in Hoi An:
- Cam Nam Restaurant: 679 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An
- Co Ngan Restaurant: Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam commune, Hoi An
- Quan Cuong: 01, Nguyen Hoang, Hoi An
- Hue Hoi An: 21A, Tran Cao Van, Hoi An
13/ Wet Cake Rolled with Hoi An Grilled Meat
An entire portion of wet cake rolled with grilled meat includes charred grilled meat skewers sprinkled with peanuts, damp cake, raw vegetables, and sweet and salty dipping sauce. You add raw vegetables and meat and a soft, wet layer of Banh Banh, roll it up, and enjoy it with a decadent dipping sauce.
This dish is sold a lot at street stalls next to the Hoai River, “causing nostalgia” for many tourists and local people. Meat skewers are usually grilled on the spot, so they are always hot and priced at only 5,000 VND/skewer. Many #teamYourvietnam.org have to eat the 4th or 5th skewer to feel “good.”
Where to Sell Delicious Grilled Meat Buns in Hoi An:
- Ba Huong Restaurant: 31 Tieu La, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
- Ba Le Well Restaurant: 51 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
- Co Loi grilled meat wet cake Hoi An: No. 03 Nguyen Hue, City. Hoi An
- Ms. Suong: Kazik Park sidewalk
==> Read more: Travel Hoi An A-Z: Revealing interesting things about Hoi An
14/ Food in Hoi An – Cauldron Cake
On rainy afternoons, there’s nothing more poetic than enjoying a plate of hot cauldron cake and watching the streets light up. Each pure, white cake is skillfully shaped, genuinely worthy of the nickname “white rose cake.”
The cauldron cake crust is made from wheat flour and filtered over and over again until it reaches a certain clarity. The soft and chewy cake dough hugs the salty meat and shrimp filling. Add a little fried onion and spicy chili garlic fish sauce, and you’ll have a delicious Hoi An specialty.
Address selling delicious Banh Vac in Hoi An:
- White Rose Restaurant: 533 Hai Ba Trung, Cam Pho, Hoi An
- Trong Com Restaurant: 92 Bach Dang Street, Minh An Ward, City. Hoi An
- Trung Bac Restaurant: 87 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
- Street vendors in the old town and Hoi An market
15/ Hoi An tea
There is no doubt that Hoi An is authentic “a paradise of tea.” If you’re not careful, those with a sweet tooth will definitely “get lost” among countless delicious types of sweet soup, from black sesame sweet soup (chi ma Phu), water-dried sweet soup to lotus seed sweet soup, corn sweet soup, pine sweet soup, and bean sweet soup. Green, green bean tea… Prices start from only 5,000 VND for a cup of hot, sweet tea. Want to enjoy delicious sweet soup rich in national spirit? Just head straight towards Hoi An.
Here is a little tip for #teamYourvietnam.org: In Hoi An, there is also a unique sweet soup dish. That is a sweet soup with pork juice. It looks like an average sweet soup, but the filling of the ball is rich pork, and you can eat it forever without getting bored. You can enjoy this delicious Hoi An sweet soup at Ba Muoi floating sweet soup shop, No. 4, Hoang Dieu Street.
List of delicious sweet soup shops in Hoi An:
- Ba Nam lotus seed sweet soup: 01, Hoang Van Thu, Hoi An
- Co Le sweet soup: 69, Cua Dai, Cam Chau, Hoi An
- Ba Muoi floating tea: 04, Hoang Dieu street, Hoi An
- Che Xiu Ma (black sesame tea): street vendor on Nguyen Truong To Street, Hoi An
- Co Suong mixed tea: 57, Tran Cao Van, Hoi An
- Co Lien Tea: 03, Nguyen Hue, Hoi An
16/ Banh Beo Hoi An
If Hanoi people like pho, Saigon people like noodles, then Hoi An people are very fond of banh beo. Hoi An banh beo is not only famous for its soft dough that melts in your mouth but also for its variety of hearty toppings, with dried shrimp, fish cakes, peanuts, and crispy pork rinds… served with sweet and sour dipping sauce. A bowl of banh beo only costs 2,000 VND. #teamYourvietnam.org doesn’t have to worry about the question “What do you eat in Hoi An?” somewhere.
Where to Eat Delicious Banh Beo in Hoi An?
- Ba My Restaurant: end of Tran Phu Street, bordering Phan Chau Trinh, City. Hoi An
- Banh Beo 17: 17 Dinh Tien Hoang, City. Hoi An
- Ba Bay Restaurant: 02, Hoang Van Thu, Hoi An
- Banh beo Chen: 48, Tran Phu, Hoi An
- Co At Banh Beo: Hoi An post office
- Co Tu Banh Beo: Phan Dinh Phung Street, alley next to Pacific Hospital
17/ Food in Hoi An – Banh Xeo
Unlike Southern banh xeo, Hoi An banh xeo – or Quang banh xeo – is about the size of a hand. The filling is made from bean sprouts, shrimp, and meat… rich in seafood flavor, surrounded by a crispy golden crust. The cook will pour the pancakes while diners are eating to ensure the hotness and deliciousness of the pancakes.
Hoi An pancakes, if eaten alone, are very easy to get bored of. Gourmets will roll the cake in raw vegetables and enjoy it with sweet and sour dipping sauce. A person sometimes has to eat 4-5 cakes to satisfy their cravings.
Delicious Banh Xeo Shop in Hoi An:
- Ba Le Well: 45/51, Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
- Hoai River: 59/32, August 18, Hoi An
- Hai Dao: 160, Ly Thai To, Cam Chau, Hoi An
- Miss Anh Hoi An: Thoai Ngoc Hau, Hoi An
- Banh Xeo Dung: 38, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An
18/ Phuong Banh Mi Hoi An
Located at 2B, Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An, Phuong bread was once commented by famous chef Anthony Bourdain as “the best bread in the world.” Unlike its flashy reputation, Phuong’s bakery looks very rustic at first glance, with only a bread cabinet and a few tables for diners who want to eat on the spot.
The bread here has more than 20 different fillings; the most common are pate, mixed meat, cheese rolled beef, bacon… Each type of filling has its flavor, harmonizing with the hot, crispy bread.
- Phuong Bread: 2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cam Chau, Hoi An
19/ Hoi An Chicken Rice
If you fall in love with food in Hoi An, you will definitely remember the Hoi An chicken rice dish that thousands of people love. There are so many reasons to “love” this classic Hoi An specialty, from fragrant, chewy, flavorful shredded chicken to rice cooked in bright yellow chicken broth. Add a little papaya salad and sweet and sour onions, and it is genuinely a “delicious taste of the world.”
Places to Sell Delicious Chicken Rice in Hoi An:
- Ba Buoi chicken rice: 22, Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An
- Ba Nga chicken rice: 08, Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An
- Ba Thuan chicken rice: April 17, Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
- Mr. Xi: 47/2, Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
- Ba Minh chicken rice: 20 – 22, Dao Duy Tu, Hoi An
==> Read more: Travel Hoi An and enjoy the beauty of Hoi An ancient town at night
Famous Hoi An Specialties You Should Buy As Gifts
20/ Food in Hoi An – Green Bean Cake
Maybe you need to learn Hoi An green bean cake, which used to be a prestigious dish, only reserved for giving to kings in the past. To make delicious green bean cakes, the cook needs to choose premium yellow field green beans carefully. After being cooked, mashed, and stuffed into dough, green beans will be mixed with crispy fried fat.
Finally, it is put into a mold to create a beautiful shape and then dried. Green bean cake is crispy, sweet, and delicious when enjoyed with fragrant tea. If you have the opportunity to go to the old town, buy green bean cakes filled with meat as a gift. Each box only costs about 25,000 VND.
Where to buy delicious green bean cakes filled with meat in Hoi An:
- Ba Trinh green bean cake oven: 62, Le Loi, Hoi An
- Hoi An green bean cake: 195, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Cam Ha, Hoi An
21/ Banh Thuan Hoi An
Hoi An banh chung is simple but bold with a unique, unprecedented flavor. Each piece of fragrant cake is soft and has a bit of crunch, retaining the traditional flavor of the old town. Smooth flour, fresh eggs, and exotic spices combine to create a unique flavor that is only found in Hoi An.
Address To Buy Delicious Banh Thuan In Hoi An
- Alley 30 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
- Specialty stores in Hoi An or at 23 An Thuong 26, Da Nang
22/ Hong Dao Wine
Hong Dao wine is a good choice. This is a meaningful Hoi An specialty gift with a strong flavor of Hoi An, a little spicy, and a unique aroma. The process of making this wine is also very elaborate and meticulous.
Wine is made from cooled cooked rice, then mixed with leaf yeast and placed in jars to ferment for a week. To add richness to the flavor, thin pieces of ripe peaches are added to the wine jar and aged for 100 days. That’s why it’s hard to find any wine that has the same flavor as Hoi An!
23/ Mam Thinh Hoi An
Possessing a simple and rustic character, fish sauce has become a typical culinary and cultural symbol in the old town. With its rich and natural flavor, fish sauce has become an indispensable part of many people’s family cuisine.
Walking around Hoi An market, it will be easy to come across small pots of fish sauce with unique aromas. Even though it’s so simple and idyllic, almost every tourist from far away “buys” a few kilos for themselves as gifts for relatives or simply to bring home the flavors of Hoi An.
24/ Food in Hoi An – Grilled Coconut Cake
For Quang Nam people, toasted coconut cake is associated with childhood memories. With its crunchy, sweet taste, anyone who enjoys it cannot stop being fascinated and excited. With its bright yellow color, coconut flavor, and fragrant baked cake, toasted coconut cake not only makes people passionate but also creates an enchanting sweet and crunchy harmony.
Although it is a popular dish, it has conquered the hearts of many tourists, becoming an indispensable gift in their travel luggage to Hoi An. Impressive cultural beauty, poetic landscape, and many delicious food in Hoi An are also included. What are you waiting for? Do you still need to make plans to visit Hoi An with your family and relatives? Please refer to more self-sufficient travel experiences and interesting culinary guides on Yourvietnam.org’s Blog!
