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11 Best Hoi An Food Showcasing The Ancient Town’s Fusion Heritage

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4 weeks ago

Out of all the Vietnamese cities and towns, Hoi An’s cuisine is my ultimate. With its Chinese, Japanese, and French influences, you’ll notice a fusion of dishes, ingredients, and flavor profiles. 

I lived in Hanoi, and when comparing the traditional food in Hanoi to Hoi An, I personally am more of a fan of Central Vietnam’s offerings. Thanks to beachside positioning, seafood is also a star of many dishes. If I had to choose between meat and seafood, I always sway toward the latter, so maybe that’s why. But I also find the cuisine and street food in Hoi An fresher and not as chilli/coriander-heavy

If you’ve traveled the country before, you might have noticed that whilst each destination has its own specialty dishes, some Vietnamese foods cross over into other cities. 

That being said, this list of the best Hoi An food is solely the dishes that originated in Hoi An

If you’re planning on passing through Hoi An en route to another Vietnamese city, you’ll want to check out our two-week Vietnam itinerary for major inspiration.

1. Cao lầu

The quintessential Hoi An dish; this is one of my all-time favorite things to eat in Vietnam. 

It’s the perfect example of the town’s fusion flavors and comprises yellow noodles (which interestingly get their coloring from ash made from the cajuput plant), prawns, pork, fresh raw vegetables, leafy greens, bean sprouts, and a kind of five-spice-soy sauce. It’s usually topped with crispy wontons for texture. 

Like many other Vietnamese foods, this one goes down a treat with a squeeze of fresh lime and fresh chilis. I usually skip out on the chili, so as not to overpower the other fresh flavors, but that’s just my personal preference. 

Try it at: Cao lầu Không Gian Xanh

2. Mì Quảng Hội An (Quang noodles)

Quang noodles or Mì Quảng Hội An is another local hero to try from the best Hoi An food list originating right here in the terracotta wonderland. 

The yellow-ish noodles give it a bit of a chewy texture, and the pork bone broth just covers the bottom of the bowl — so it’s not like a soup vibe, similarly done to cao lầu.

Meats include pork, chicken, and prawns. It’s topped with a sliced boiled egg, fresh local leafy greens and herbs, spring onions, and roasted peanuts (but not all places serve it with peanuts) and the finishing touch is a Vietnamese sesame rice cracker for some crunch! 

By the way, these rice crackers are soooo yummy and are called bánh tráng mè. You’ll find them all over the country and they double as a delicious little snack. 

Try it at: Mì Quảng Cô Sinh or Mr. Hai Restaurant 

3. Banh Beo (Water fern cake)

Forming part of the best street food in Hoi An, banh beo are steamed rice flour cakes that almost look like a little pudding. This is probably because they’re served in dainty little bowls, but don’t be fooled, they’re savory, not sweet. They’re actually steamed in these little bowls, too. 

This bouncy rice cake is topped with a cooked ground prawn and pork mix, and red spices (giving it a vibrant orange color), along with spring onions, dried shrimp paste, and my favorite bit — crispy pork rinds

The serving sauce is mainly fish sauce, chili, and garlic. Simply scoop out (or slurp back) the cake and enjoy! You’ll spot them all over, even sold on the street side, like from Aunt Bay’s Banh Beo

Try it at: Bánh Bèo Bà Bảy

4.  Hoanh Thanh (Fried wonton) 

I had hoanh thanh served with a ceviche — and it was out-of-this-world. I even went back a second time and ordered the exact same dish. I’m terrible like that, as much as I want to try something new, if I stumble across a food or dish I love, I always order the same thing. 

Although it’s just one component, it’s frequently added to wet and dry noodles, or some restaurants serve it as I first tasted it; used as a base at some of the fusion-style restaurants. The ceviche I ate was added on top of the deep-fried wonton

It’s another classic example of Hoi An’s Japanese influences. For a Chinese take, restaurants change it up with a sweet and sour vibe. 

Some argue it’s classically Japanese, others Chinese. Whatever the case, it’s damn delicious! 

Try it at: Cargo Club Cafe & Restaurant

5. Bánh ướt cuốn thịt nướng (Grilled pork with rice paper rolls)

The last time I visited Hoi An with my in-laws was the first time I tried bánh ướt cuốn thịt nướng and cannot believe it took me that long to much down on these meat skewers wrapped in a steamed rice roll (often coated with sesame seeds)! 

The typical meat used is pork done with Chinese five-spice seasoning, but you might come across some spots that serve other variations. 

How to eat this dish? Basically, you take the meat off the stick and then place it on top of the rice roll. Then, add your leafy greens, wrap it up, and munch away! You’ll want to have second, thirds, and fourths but it’s the type of dish where you can eat even fifths as it’s light yet filling! 

Try it at: Thịt nướng Hường Hội An

6. Bánh hoa (White rose cakes)

The English nickname for these Chinese-inspired dumplings is so pretty: white rose dumplings, also sometimes also called “white rose cakes.” Any guesses as to why? If you think it’s because of its delicate flower shape, you’re right! 

Each curved indent resembles a petal, and these dumplings are scrumptious. One of my ultimate weaknesses is dumplings, so you best believe I always munch down on these, and I love ordering a bunch of sharing plates at the restaurants in Hoi An (my husband and I are both libras; talk about an indecisive pairing, and this is often the best solution when we can’t make up our minds with what to eat).

Bánh hoa are also called bang vac, and the rice paper wrapper is steamed. It remains a little transparent which I think is gorgeous, as you can see the filling inside. This is usually minced pork and shrimp (prawns), and the dim sum is topped with crispy shallots and spring onion. 

Try it at: Cargo Club Cafe & Restaurant

7. Cơm gà Hội An (Hoi An chicken rice) 

If you’ve frequented Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, you’ll already know just how popular chicken rice is.

First created by Chinese communities, Hoi An is the best place for chicken rice in Vietnam. In fact, it’s one of the famous Hoi An city foods, hence why it’s always referred to as cơm gà Hội An.

It’s boiled chicken that is then shredded (the chicken should be soft and just melt in your mouth), and it’s served over yellow rice (colored by turmeric). The chicken is always served with skin on and is super flavorsome because it is boiled in a chicken stock. It’s like a punch of chicken in your mouth!  

To be honest with you, I have always been a fussy eater with these kinds of things. I eventually got used to my chicken being served with skin on in a lot of places in Vietnam, but if I had a choice, it’s not for me. 

Try it at: Cơm Gà Bà Buội

8. Banh Dap Hen Xao (Clams served with smashing rice paper)

I just love the names of these best Hoi An food…From white roses to now smashing rice paper! How playful?! 

So, banh dap hen xao are clams served with smashing rice paper, but there’s absolutely no smashing of any paper involved. Instead, it refers to the crisped rice paper cake that accompanies the bowl of stir-fried clams done with ginger and chili. No utensils are needed, the rice paper acts as the spoon to pick up the unshelled clams and then enjoy them in one bite. 

Some local restaurants in Hoi An will bring two plates of rice paper. The one is the crispy rice paper sheet and the other is a wet rice paper sheet. You add one on top of the other and then scoop up the clam meat, which gives an extra texture. 

You’ll find clams everywhere in Vietnam and they are one of the most common side dishes to enjoy at a bia hoi

Travel tip: banh dap refers to the clams and hen xao is the name of the rice paper. They’re simply put together. 

Try it at: Cẩm Nam quán

Another must-try local clam dish is Cháo Nghêu Hội An, i.e., Hoi An clam porridge, and is typically sold and eaten at breakfast hour.  

9. Hoành thánh đặc sản Hội An (Hoi An specialty wonton soup)

As I mentioned earlier, hoanh thanh are wontons. You get the crispy versions, but for a soft rendition, this wonton soup is next level! The wontons are shaped as dim sum, stuffed with pork, shrimp, and wood ear mushroom (you do get just plain pork, prawn, or even vegetarian versions), and are steamed. It’s then served in a hearty clear broth with thin yellow noodles. 

Depending on where you’re eating, the soup is topped with a boiled egg, local vegetables, and sliced pork or deshelled prawns. This is yet another Hoi An street food I could live off! 

Try it at: Mì Hoành Thánh Số 5

For the vegetarian among us, you’ll want to check out this list of delicious vegetarian Vietnamese food for great meat-free alternatives. 

10. Xi Ma (Black sesame sweet soup)

A special witch’s brew, clay mask, or local dessert? Don’t be put off by the color or texture of this sweet black sesame soup

On the flip side, its striking color could be one of the reasons why it’s such an intriguing contender on our list of best Hoi An food. 

Flavor profiles include sesame and coconut, and the syrupy-looking pudding is also made with rice flour and sugar (but it’s not overly sweet). 

Also, don’t get a fright when slurping back on xi ma; it’s supposed to be served warm. Streetside vendors sell it straight out of the pot! 

Try it at: Che Xi Ma Phu

11. Mot herbal tea

Yes, yes, this is a list of the best Hoi An food, but Mot’s herbal tea is a special concoction and deserves a mention. It’s named after the tea house that produces it, Mot, so you’ll find this rendition here only. 

The locals believe it has medicinal properties, brewed from ingredients like lemongrass, ginger, lotus leaf, cinnamon, licorice, jasmine, and chrysanthemum

This gives it a slightly sweetish herbal-y taste, and it’s ultra-refreshing, not to mention a wonderful alternative if you’re not the biggest coffee drinker

Try it at: Mót Hội An


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