Top 10 Best Hoi An Food You Must Eat

By Ngoc Tu Dinh - November 28, 2024
Top 10 Best Hoi An Food You Must Eat

Hoi An is not only famous for its ancient Buddhist architecture, streets full of lanterns, and precious museums but also for its diverse collection of Hoi An food.

There is a saying that “The shortest way to one’s heart is through the stomach” and Hoi An cuisine is the physical evidence of it. Many tourists came here and could not resist the authentic Hoi An specialties. Follow IZITOUR to discover the iconic dishes of Hoi An!

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1. Cao Lau Noodle Soup (Cao Lau Hoi An)

Cao Lau Noodle Soup stands as a quintessential dish in Hoi An. It is made with a type of pure rice from the land of Quang Nam; therefore, the strands have a color of dark yellow.

hoi an food cao lau

Cau Lau is served with shrimp, savory char siu, an array of fresh herbs such as bitter herbs, basil, and crown daisy, a little broth, and a few types of grilled rice cakes. The flavor of Hoi An Cao Lau is is a harmonious blend of aromatic, spicy, bitter, and astringent notes, making it a culinary masterpiece. Now, this dish is becoming more and more popular in Hoi An's finest restaurants ranging from luxurious to affordable.

Where to try the best Cao Lau Hoi An:

  • Cao lau Khong Gian Xanh: 687 Hai Ba Trung, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Cao lau Hoi An Trung Bac: 87 Tran Phu, Hoi An
  • Cao lau Lien Hoi An: 16 Thai Phien, Hoi An

2. Quang Style Noodles (Mi Quang)

Besides Cao Lau, Quang Style Noodles, Quang Noodles, or Mi Quang, is also an icon of not only Hoi An foods but also the cuisine of Quang Nam. You can find many Quang noodle restaurants in Vietnam, but Hoi An is the place that preserves the original taste of it. Accordingly, tasting Mi Quang is without question, one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

Quang Noodle is a dish made from rice noodles, eggs, and bouillon, served with raw vegetables, pork, shrimp, chicken, banana flowers, roasted peanuts, and red peppers.

can tho quang noodle mi quang

Hoi An has a long menu of Quang noodles; the items include chicken noodles, shrimp noodles, crab noodles, fish noodles, jellyfish noodles, etc. The chicken used for chicken noodles is Quang Nam's authentic species, and Hoi An fish noodles are made with fresh fish from the Thu Bon River. 

Where to try Mi Quang Hoi An:

  • Mi Quang Di Hat: 81 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An
  • Mi Quang Ong Hai - Mr. Hai Noodles: 6A Trương Minh Lượng, Cẩm Châu
  • Mi Quang Hat: 4 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An

3. Hoi An Crushed Rice Cracker (Banh Dap)

Hoi An Crushed Rice Cracker or Banh Dap Hoi An, is a rustic food of Hoi An and can be found in small alleys or on the roadside. It has a simple recipe but the taste would tell a different story. The cracker is made from rice flour and is a combination of steamed rice paper and baked rice paper.

hoi an food banh dap

A popular way to eat this Hoi An dish is steaming a piece of rice paper and putting a piece of baked paper on top when the former is still hot, then grilling them one more time and folding them to eat. The locals always dip the rice cracker in their Hoi An-style secret sauce and often eat it with stir-fried mussels, boiled meat, and other herbs.

Where to try Hoi An crushed rice cracker:

  • Banh dap Cam Nam Hoi An: 679 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
  • Banh dap Ba Gia Hoi An: Cam Nam, Hoi An
  • Banh dap Hoi An Co Ngay: Nguyen Tri Phuong street, Cam Nam, Hoi An
  • Banh dap Dung Van: Luong Nhu Bich street, Cam Nam, Hoi An

4. Hoi An Chicken Rice

One thing we can all agree about this Hoi An dish is that it’s the only one on this list that tastes like chicken. The ingredients seem to be common across the country, however, what makes Hoi An Chicken Rice stand out is the chicken and the rice.

hoi an food chicken rice

They use chicken species raised naturally in Tam Ky land, weighing at least 1kg; their meat is strangely aromatic, soft, and greasy. The rice is the sticky rice grown by the Thu Bon River and is boiled in chicken broth with coconut leaves. This Hoi An food is often served with a bowl of chicken broth, eggs, and a special sauce

Where to try Hoi An chicken rice:

  • Ba Buoi chicken rice: 22 Phan Chau Trinh street, Hoi An
  • Xi chicken rice: 47/2 Tran Hung Dao street, Hoi An
  • Ty chicken rice: 25-27 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An
  • Ba Nga chicken rice: 8 Phan Chau Trinh street, Hoi An

5. Mussel Rice/Baby Basket Clams Rice (Com Hen)

Mussel Rice or Baby Basket Clams Rice or Com Hen, is one of the Hoi An foods that you should not miss when planning to travel to Hoi An. Once a rural food, this dish has now become a specialty of Hoi An thanks to its geographical advantage.

hoi an food mussel rice

Sand dunes and tributaries of Thu Bon River brought an enormous number of fresh and yummy mussels - the main ingredient of this dish. To make mussel rice, the chef puts the mussels in a boiling pot, then separates the flesh and stir-fries it with spices. When the mussels are ready to go, they will be served with rice.

Where to try the best Hoi An mussel rice:

  • Cam Nam: 679/2 Nhi Trung, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Hoi An Co Ngay mussel rice: 76 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam, Hoi An
  • Ba Gia mussel rice: Village 1, Cam Nam, Hoi An
  • No. 2 mussel rice: 84 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam, Hoi An

6. Hoi An White Rose (Banh Vac)

The white rose in Hoi An was born 130 years ago by a creative Chinese family, presenting a unique culinary experience. This Hoi An dish belongs to the dim sum family, which is a must for dim sum enthusiasts. However, while dim sum can be found everywhere, the distinctiveness of the banh vac makes it a treasure exclusively available in Hoi An.

hoi an food white rose

Dumplings and Hoi An white rose are two types of dumplings that share similar ingredients and preparation methods, so they are often enjoyed together.

Where to try Banh Vac Hoi An:

  • Bong Hong Trang (White Rose): 533 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
  • Trung Bac Restaurant: 87 Tran Phu, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Hoi An markets: 19 Tran Phu, Cam Chau, Hoi An

7. Banh Mi Hoi An

For those who don’t know, Hoi An is home to the best banh mi in the world and is one of the must-not-miss foods in Hoi An. Banh Mi Hoi An’s filling varies from mixed filling, pâté, cheese-wrapped beef, bacon, burger, chicken, char siu, and more.

hoi an food banh mi hoi an

What’s special about Banh Mi Hoi An is that many bakeries in Hoi An have their own way of baking. Similarly, each store has its own sauce recipe, so you may feel that Hoi An is like a big city of banh mi with all kinds of flavors. 

Where to try the best Banh Mi in Hoi An:

  • Banh mi Madame Khanh - Banh mi Queen: 115 Tran Cao Van street, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Banh mi Phi: 88 Thai Phien street, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Banh mi Ba Bua: 57 Phan Chu Trinh street, Hoi An
  • Banh mi Bich: 51 Phan Chau Chinh, Minh An, Hoi An

8. Hoi An Water Fern Cake In A Small Bowl (Banh Beo Chen Hoi An)

Although less famous than other Hoi An specialties, Hoi An water fern cake or Banh Beo Chen is also a must-eat Hoi An food and probably the cheapest. The filling includes two main ingredients: fresh shrimp and meat.

hoi an food banh beo chen

The chef will peel the shrimp, mince the lean pork, then marinate both of them with spices and stir fry. After stir-frying, the chef adds rice flour water to thicken the filling. When eating, visitors can sprinkle a little pepper and thinly sliced ​​green onions on their bowls and must definitely add the topping of crispy fried Cao Lau strands.

Where to try Banh Beo Chen in Hoi An:

  • Banh beo Chen Hoi An: Dinh Tien Hoang and Hoang Van Thu corner, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Banh beo Ba My: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Minh An, Hoi An
  • Banh beo Co Lan: Phan Dinh Phung, Tan An, Hoi An
  • Banh beo 17: 17 Dinh Tien Hoang, Minh An, Hoi An

9. Tam Huu (The Three Friends)

As weird as it sounds, they actually meant it when they chose the name to indicate the only three ingredients of the dish: 1 boiled shrimp, 1 piece of boiled meat, and the veg. The recipe for this Hoi An food can be found in many places, but the best one belongs to one of the Hoi An craft villages - Tra Que - the land of Hoi An’s most special vegetables.

hoi an food tam huu three friends

The defining factor of Tam Huu lies in the making of the dipping sauce. Commenting on this dish, some chefs said that it was easy to prepare a complicated dish and make it delicious, but it took a lot more to prepare a simple one and make it good.

Where to try Tam Huu Hoi An:

  • Rau Muong restaurant: 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An
  • Tra Que village: Tra Que vegetable village, Hoi An

10. Hoi An Sweet Soup (Che)

Hoi An sweet soup is one of the best Hoi An street foods that can be found anywhere in the city, from small alleys, main streets, and shops to street vendors. This Hoi An dish is a beloved and familiar favorite among the local residents, offering you the chance to savor exquisite varieties of desserts that are simply irresistible.

hoi an food mixed sweet soup

Where to try the best Hoi An sweet soup:

  • Che Ba Muoi: 4 Hoang Dieu, Hoi An
  • Che Co Sau: 18 Nguyen Tat Thanh street, Tan An, Hoi An
  • Che thung Co Le: 369 Cua Dai, Cam Chau, Hoi An
  • Che Ong Thieu: opposite to 118 Nguyen Truong To, Hoi An
  • Che Co Hiep: 24 Le Loi, Minh An, Hoi An

Our travel blog about "Top 10 Hoi An food" has come to an end. We hope the information mentioned above is helpful to you. If you have any requirements or further questions about tours to Hoi An, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us directly via email: sm@izitour.com or WhatsApp: +84 382 536 266 for instant assistance.

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Ngoc Tu Dinh
Travel Expert
I'm Ngoc Tu Dinh, a local travel expert from Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Exploring Vietnam has been my passion for years, and I've spent 10 years as a tour guide throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. I hope that my understanding of Vietnamese culture, allow me to offer a unique perspective in this blog. Currently, I am based at IZITOUR. If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, I'm here to help you make the most of it! Feel free to leave your comments at the end of the article. Your feedback is important, and I look forward to responding to you.

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