Some of the best things to eat in Central Vietnam are right in the heart of Hoi An. The ancient town is peppered with local restaurants and street food vendors offering the best Hoi An food. Best of all, eating in Hoi An is affordable and solo dining is common.
If you are spending a few days in Hoi An, trying all the local food specialties is possible. Some restaurants combine a few specialties and create a platter so you can try several things in one sitting. And portions are generally smaller, so you can eat more and try more food.
During my last trip to Hoi An, I ate as much as possible so I could compile a list of the best food in Hoi An and all the best places to eat. So whether you are a first-time traveller or have been to the ancient city before, I hope you will find this food guide helpful for creating your own culinary experience in Hoi An.
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Travel tips for eating the best food in Hoi An
Before trying some of the famous food in Hoi An, check out these eating tips:
- Eating in Hoi An is very affordable, especially if you are eating street food. Meals can be as cheap as 25,000 VND ($1 USD).
- Some street vendors will have prices printed. But if they do not, ask for the price before you order your food, or you could end up paying “tourist prices”
- Most restaurants in Hoi An accept cash only – many small shops and food stalls on the street offer cheap meals, and cash is the only form of payment.
- Some Hoi An restaurants can accept credit card payments. However, some may add 3% to your overall bill.
- Check the hours of operation. Some local restaurants are open for breakfast and/or dinner, and some are open throughout the day.
- Download Google Translate, an app that can translate Vietnamese to English. Although many restaurants in Hoi An have English menus, most restaurant owners speak a bit of English.
- Tipping is not required in Vietnam.
Best Hoi An Food: What to Eat in Hoi An
In this section, I put together a summary of the best food to try in Hoi An. This is a quick guide for you when searching for what to eat in Hoi An.
When you scroll down, I include a more extended explanation for each Hoi An food and where you can find the local food.
Famous Food in Hoi An
- Cao Lau – Hoi An’s signature dish: pork rice noodles
- Mi Quang – Quang noodles
- Banh Beo Banh Vac – White rose dumplings
- Hoanh Thanh Chien – fried wontons
Hoi An Local Food
- Banh Mi – Vietnamese baguette sandwich
- Com Ga – Hoi An chicken rice
- Banh Beo – steamed rice pancakes with shrimp and braised meat
- Banh Xeo – stuffed shrimp pancake
- Thit Xien Nuong – grilled pork skewers
Where to Eat in Hoi An: 25 Best Restaurants
Below is a list of the best places to eat in Hoi An, Vietnam. All the food in Hoi An mentioned above can be found at these restaurants.
To find the address for each location, click on the restaurant name, and it will bring you to the location on Google Maps.
Best Restaurants in Hoi An Vietnam
- Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ (11am-9:30pm Monday to Friday; 7:30am-9:30pm Saturdays & Sundays) – they specialize in cao lau but also serve other Hoi An traditional food.
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An (3-10pm) – a local restaurant in front of An Hoi Bridge that serves many local dishes.
- Miss Ly Cafe (x) – established in 1993, Miss Ly still cooks in the kitchen. They are now the longest-running restaurant in Hoi An, serving many classic Hoi An dishes.
- Pho Xua (9am-8:45pm) – small local restaurant serving Hoi An specialties and other traditional Vietnamese food.
- Com Linh (9:30am-9:30pm) – they specialize in roast duck and pork, but they have a large selection of Hoi An food and traditional Vietnamese food.
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes (9am-10pm) – besides ordering Hoi An food on the menu, they also have a wide variety of dishes, including grilled fish, grilled combo platters and other classic Vietnamese food. A bit pricier but still affordable.
- Morning Glory (11am-10pm) – they have several locations and this is the original. Food is tasty but pricier than most restaurants.
- Hoi An Central Market (6am-8pm) – many food stalls offer Hoi An local food listed in this post.
Restaurants in Hoi An specializing local specialties
Cao Lau, Mi Quang
- Quán Cao Lầu Thanh (7am-7pm) – recommended by several locals. They only serve small or large cao lau bowls and will close early when they run out of noodles.
- Trung Bac Restaurant (9am-9pm) – a small local restaurant serving different types of cao lau, white rose dumplings and other local food.
- Mr. Hai Noodles (7:30am-9pm) – their mi quang is yummy and affordable. They also cau lao on the menu.
- Mì Quảng Hát (6-11:45pm) – eat cao lau or mi quang at this roadside stall that only opens when the sun sets. Also, ask for the price before ordering. They charged me 50,000 VND, but many people online said it was 30,000 VND.
- The Noodle House (10am-10pm) – try the classic cao lau or mi quang or their special stir-fry cao lau with seafood and stir-fry mi quang. They also have a tasting plate with fried wontons, white rose dumplings and spring rolls.
Banh Beo Banh Vac, Hoanh Thanh Chien
- White Rose Restaurant (7:30am-8:30pm) – they only serve white rose dumplings and fried wontons. And they make all the white rose dumplings and supply them to all the restaurants in Hoi An.
Banh Mi
- Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen (6:30am-7pm) – out of all the places I had banh mi, this was the best one. Try the Mixed Banh Mi (vegetable, pork, bbq pork, chicken, ham, eggs, pate, egg sauce, papaya and cucumber).
- Banh Mi Phuong (?) – this 30+ year resto was closed for a while but is open again. Order a banh mi that Anthony Bourdain raved about, or order one of the Hoi An specialties like cao lau, com ga, or banh xeo.
- Bánh mì Phố Cổ (6-10:30am & 2-11pm) – a banh mi stand at the corner of the intersection but makes really good pork and paté banh mi.
- Banh Mi Sum (6am-9pm) – the Mixed is similar to other banh mi restaurants and is also really yummy.
Com Ga
- Com Ga Nga (11am-10pm) – they serve com ga, variations of dishes with chicken and some classic Hoi An dishes like mi quang and cao lau.
- Cơm Gà Bà Buội (10am-2:30pm & 4-8pm) – order com ga or other chicken dishes.
- Long Cơm Gà Chicken Rice Restaurant (11:30am-10pm) – similar to the restaurants above, you can get com ga and other chicken dishes at this local restaurant.
Banh Beo
- Bánh Bèo Bà Bảy (12-5:30pm) – a street vendor selling banh beo and banh bot loc (a specialty from Hue).
- Bánh Bèo Bà Mỹ (6am-6pm) – try banh beo or banh cuon (steamed rice flour pancake) at the oldest banh beo shop in Hoi An.
Banh Xeo, Thit Xien Nuong
- Bale Well Restaurant (10am-10:30pm) – the set meal includes banh xeo, ram cuon (spring rolls), thit xien nuong, and nem lui (grilled lemongrass pork satay). Cao lau is available, too.
- Bà 9 Restaurant (9:30am-9:30pm) – try banh xeo (a portion comes with five pancakes), thit xien nuong and other specialties at this local restaurant in a narrow alley. Very affordable.
- Miss Anh’s Banh Xeo (10am-9pm) – local restaurant that serves cheap banh xeo, thit xien nuong, nem lui and spring rolls.
- Co Thu BBQ Restaurant (10:30am-6pm; closed Saturdays and Sundays) – they specialize in thit xien nuong.
Famous Food in Hoi An
1. Cao Lau
What is Cao Lau: a bowl of cao lau noodles starts with yellow udon-like rice noodles, a bit of broth, then slices of marinated pork, fresh vegetables, bean sprouts, herbs and crunchy croutons are added on top. Add lime juice, chilli paste, and other condiments for extra flavours. This is Hoi An’s signature dish, so have at least a bowl or two.
Best places to eat Cao Lau in Hoi An:
- Quán Cao Lầu Thanh
- Trung Bac Restuarant
- Mr. Hai Noodles
- Mì Quảng Hát
- The Noodle House
- Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An
- Miss Ly Cafe, Pho Xua
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
- Banh Mi Phuong
- Com Ga Nga
- Hoi An Central Market
- Bale Well Restaurant
2. Mi Quang
What is Mi Quang: a typical bowl of Quang noodles has ingredients like slices of pork, shrimp, hard-boiled quail egg, flat yellow rice noodles and some flavourful bone broth. It is served with fresh vegetables and herbs (either in the bowl or on the side) and big pieces of rice crackers on top. It originated from Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam, and you can find a bowl anywhere in Hoi An and Hue.
Best restaurants to eat Mi Quang in Hoi An:
- Mr. Hai Noodles
- Mì Quảng Hát
- The Noodle House
- Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
- Hoi An Central Market
- Com Ga Nga
3. Banh Beo Banh Vac – White Rose Dumpling
What is Banh Beo Banh Vac: steamed minced shrimp and pork dumplings that are made in the shape of a rose, hence, the White Rose. Before serving, fried shallots are sprinkled on top. It is eaten with a unique dipping sauce. One family in Hoi An holds the secret to making these white rose dumplings; they make them and supply them to all the restaurants in Hoi An.
Best restaurants to eat Banh Beo Banh Vac in Hoi An:
- White Rose Restaurant
- Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An
- Miss Ly Cafe
- Pho Xua
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
- Hoi An Central Market
4. Hoanh Thanh Chien
What is Hoanh Thanh Chien: unwrapped wontons are kept flat and deep-fried. Then, a tomato-based sauce with shrimp, pork, onions and vegetables is poured on top. Add chilli sauce, soy sauce and vinegar for taste.
Best places to eat Hoanh Thanh Chien in Hoi An:
- White Rose Restaurant
- Quán Cao lầu Bá
- Miss Ly Cafe
- Pho Xua
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
- Hoi An Central Market
Hoi An Local Food
1. Banh Mi
What is Banh Mi: the Vietnamese baguette sandwich can be found nationwide. Hoi An’s version of the classic sandwich has a lot of fillings, including various types of meat, sausage, paté, cucumbers, slices of papaya, pickled carrots, fresh herbs and special marinating sauce. All the ingredients are packed within a crusty bun, and every bite is delicious. It is one of the cheapest things to eat in Hoi An.
Best restaurants to eat Banh Mi in Hoi An:
- Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen
- Banh Mi Phuong
- Bánh mì Phố Cổ
- Banh Mi Sum
- Morning Glory
- Hoi An Central Market
2. Com Ga
What is Com Ga: The dish originated from the famous Hainanese chicken rice from Chinese immigrants in Quang Nam Province. In Hoi An, the chicken rice is made with shredded poached chicken, turmeric rice, fresh greens, spicy laksa leaves, shredded green papaya, and raw onions.
Best restaurants to eat Com Ga in Hoi An:
- Com Ga Nga
- Cơm Gà Bà Buội
- Long Cơm Gà Chicken Rice Restaurant
- Quán Cao lầu Bá
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An
- Pho Xua
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
- Hoi An Central Market
- Banh Mi Phuong
3. Banh Beo
What is Banh Beo: rice pancakes made with rice flour and tapioca flour are steamed. Then shrimp and braised meat are added before serving. The dish originated from Hue, but Hoi An’s Banh Beo is slightly modified where deep-fried pieces of cao lau are sprinkled on top. Make sure to dip the rice pancakes in the sweet and sour fish sauce for another layer of flavour.
FYI – the picture below has Banh Bot Loc (tapioca shrimp dumpling), a specialty from Hue.
Best restaurants to eat Banh Beo in Hoi An:
- Bánh Bèo Bà Bảy
- Bánh Bèo Bà Mỹ
- Pho Xua
4. Banh Xeo
What is Banh Xeo: crispy rice pancake stuffed with shrimp and bean sprouts. The pancake or crepe is made with rice flour, water and turmeric powder. It is often served with fresh vegetables, herbs, pickled vegetables, rice paper and dipping sauce. Banh Xeo originated in Central Vietnam, and the crepe size is generally smaller than the ones in Southern Vietnam.
Best restaurants to eat Banh Xeo in Hoi An:
- Bale Well Restaurant
- Bà 9 Restaurant
- Miss Anh’s Banh Xeo
- Quán Cao lầu Bá
- Pho Xua
- Com Linh
- Morning Glory
- Banh Mi Phuong
5. Thit Xien Nuong
What is Thit Xien Nuong: pork marinated with lemongrass, pepper, shallot, garlic, rice wine and honey is placed on bamboo skewers and grilled over charcoal. Then, wrap the barbecued meat, lettuce, fresh herbs and pickled vegetables with a sheet of rice paper. When you are ready to eat, dunk the whole wrap in a spicy peanut dipping sauce.
Best restaurants to eat Thit Xien Nuong in Hoi An:
- Cao lầu Bá Lễ
- Bale Well Restaurant
- Bà 9 Restaurant
- Miss Anh’s Banh Xeo
- Co Thu BBQ Restaurant
- Quán Cao lầu Bá
- Quán Ăn Vặt Hội An
- Com Linh
- Anabas Local & Grilled Dishes
- Morning Glory
Which Hoi An food are you most excited to try?
There is plenty of Vietnamese food in Hoi An, but if you are only spending a few days in the city, it is possible to sample all the local flavours of Hoi An.
I really can’t choose which dish I like the most. But the good news is that eating in Hoi An is very affordable so that you can try many foods. And the portion is generally small, which means you can eat more.
I highly recommend trying some of the sample platters of Hoi An local food so you can try a few things at the same time. And make sure you don’t leave Hoi An without trying a bowl of cao lau and mi quang. They are sooo good!
I hope you found this Hoi An food guide helpful. Let me know in the comments which Hoi An food you are most excited to try.
Ready to plan your trip to Vietnam? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best accommodations in Vietnam on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the best tours around Vietnam.
Thank you for reading my Hoi An Food Guide
For more travel inspiration, check out my Vietnam page for posts on solo travel in Vietnam. Here are some recommended posts and other food posts:
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- 3 weeks Vietnam solo travel itinerary
- Hanoi Solo Travel: 2 days in Hanoi
- Where to stay in Hanoi: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Best food in Hanoi: What and Where to eat in Hanoi
- Trekking in Sapa as a solo traveller
- Day trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi
- Halong Bay 2 night cruise for solo travellers
- Hoi An 3 day itinerary
- Where to stay in Hoi An: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Da Nang Itinerary: Best things to do in One Day
- One day in Hue Vietnam
- What and where to eat in Hue: Best restaurants in Hue
- Things to do in Mui Ne Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh City 3 day itinerary
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
