The UNESCO world cultural heritage site that is Hoi An is globally renowned for its timeless charm and visual beauty. But it’s increasingly being recognized for its culinary treasures, too.

Hoi An cuisine is well-known for a good reason, thanks to its traditional and mouth-watering delicacies. Especially, Hoi An street food, which is teeming with rich flavors and appeals to adventurous appetites, will sneak its way into your list of favorite foods in no time.

Cao lầu (pork rice noodles)

If you’re going to try just one dish, this is ‘Hoi An in a bowl’. It’s unique to the town and made from local ingredients according to a secret recipe. The name (“high storey’) apparently harks back to the 17th century, when it was served to wealthy people who ate upstairs at restaurants. What’s special about it? Firstly, the noodles. They’re said to be made with calcium-rich water from the 10th-century Ba Le well. Wood ash from Melaleuca trees on the nearby Cham islands is mixed into this water. The resulting noodles are big and firm, with a unique texture resembling Japanese Udon. These are topped with pork-belly slices (think Chinese char siu), bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and dry pancake. This is finished off Vietnamese-style: with a spoonful of broth, chili, and lime. Superb!

TRY: 

  • Cao Lầu bà Bé: 1 Trần Phú, Cẩm Châu
  • Quán Cao Lầu Thanh: 26 Thái Phiên, Phường Minh An
  • Morning Glory Original: 106 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An
  • Ong Hai (Mr. Hai Restaurant): 6A Trương Minh Lượng, Cẩm Châu

Chicken rice - A delectable Hoi An specialty

Craving rice rather than noodles? Your go-to should be chicken rice, available all over Hoi An. (In fact, some quip that you haven’t really been to Hoi An if you haven’t tried its cơm gà.) Since it’s similar to the chicken rice from countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, it’s believed to have originated from the Hainanese dish imported by Chinese immigrants. But in Hoi An, the chicken comes shredded. Plus, the fresh sides are distinctly Vietnamese. The fragrant yellow pilaf rice is flavored with chicken broth and turmeric. Alongside the poached chicken, you’ll get herbs, a bowl of chicken soup, and a sour papaya salad. All in all: a well-balanced meal.

TRY: 

  • Cơm Gà Bà Buội: 22 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An
  • Hoi An chicken rice: 47/2 Tran Hung Dao

Banh mi - The world-famous Vietnamese street food in Hoi An

Banh mi - The classic Vietnamese street food that has become a global sensation (Source: collected)

Banh mi, meaning “bread,” is a Vietnamese version of a French baguette with balanced ingredients and scrumptious local tastes. Banh Mi is thin and crunchy bread stuffed with various fillings, generally pork, fried eggs, pate or chicken, and homemade tangy sauce. The classic Hoi An Banh Mi is distinctive in that it has a lot of vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumbers, pickled carrots, and coriander. Every bite into a Banh Mi consists of a perfect combination of spicy, salty, sweet, and crispy textures.

Banh Mi has unarguably gained worldwide popularity and local preference thanks to its exquisite flavor, cheapness, and convenience. As the favorite Hoi An street food, Banh mi is found on every street corner in the town. One of the most reputable Banh Mi shops is Banh Mi Phuong, which has obtained approval from food reviewers and travel journalists, notably celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

Average costs: 15.000 ~ 40.000 VND/ a Banh Mi

TRY: 

  • Bánh Mì Phượng: 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City

Bánh xèo (savoury Vietnamese pancake)

The Hoi An Banh Xeo has an eye-catching yellow color and melt-in-your-mouth textures (Source: collected)

Visitors to Vietnam are easily enamored by the savory ‘pancake-spring roll’ you can get all over the country. Why? First, it’s another dish you assemble yourself (note: it can get messy!). Second, the pancakes differ from place to place (try as many as you can!). Third, it’s the perfect combo of fried food with fresh food. Once your pancakes are served, slice them up and roll them with herbs and greens into the dry rice paper provided. Then dip away in the sauce.

TRY: 

  • Bánh Xèo Cô Anh, Sông Hoài: 59/32, 18/8 Phường Minh An
  • Bánh Xèo Minh Tú Chợ Hội An: Chợ ẩm thực, Old Town

Wonton - A signature dish in Hoi An style

Hoi An fried wonton can make a yummy appetizer or a beer snack (Source: @c.k.travels)

Wonton, known as Hoi An Pizza (Hoanh Thanh Chien in Vietnamese), was first introduced by Chinese traders and adjusted to local taste. The Hoi An Wonton features unwrapped deep-fried wontons topped with some salsa-like mix of shrimp, husked pork, minced onions, vegetables, and different spices. The richness of the dumplings is softened by dipping them with a mixture of chili sauce, soya sauce, and vinegar.

TRY: 

  • Average costs: 40.000 ~110.000 VND/ a plate of Wontons
  • Where to eat Wontons: Van Loc Restaurant – 27 Tran Phu Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City

Bánh ướt thịt nướng (grilled pork spring rolls)

A full appetizing tray of Banh Uot Thit Nuong is served at street restaurants in Hoi An (Source: collected)

This is a dish you may get to assemble yourself. Fun! The main ingredient is marinated pork cooked on lemongrass skewers over a charcoal grill (‘thịt nướng’). The meat is removed and stacked with raw ingredients (typically salad, herbs, cucumber, and star fruit). Then it’s all wrapped in wet rice paper (bánh ướt). Finally, the rolls are dipped in a sauce, usually made from soybean paste, peanuts, sesame, fish sauce, and chili. The result? A delicious combo of smokey and fresh tastes and textures.

TRY: 

  • Bale Well Restaurant: 51 Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường Minh An
  • Sidewalk stalls next to Kazik Park: 13 Trần Phú, Cẩm Châu
  • Bà Hường: 31 Tiểu La, Phường Minh An

Quang noodle - The best street food Hoi An you cannot afford to miss

Mi Quang, a must-eat Hoi An street food, features yellow rice noodles, meat toppings, and vegetables (Source: @austinviet)

Variations of this ‘soup-salad’ dish can be found across Quảng Nam province. Quảng noodles are flat, chewy rice noodles often infused with turmeric. These are placed atop fresh ingredients and tossed with proteins including pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, or quail eggs. A yummy ladle of broth is added. Rice crackers, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, and chili add crunch and pops of flavor.

TRY: 

  • Mì Quảng Dì Hát: 81 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An
  • Mì Quảng Ông Hai – Mr. Hai Noodles: 6A Trương Minh Lượng, Cẩm Châu
  • Mì Quảng Hát: 4 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An