What to Eat in Hoi An? 24+ Famous, delicious specialties & must try food in Hoi An

May 21, 2025

What to eat in Hoi An? Have you enjoyed all the delicious Hoi An specialties, must try food in Hoi An? Let us tell you about the delicious and famous Hoi An dishes.

Hoi An cuisine | must try food in Hoi An

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 seem to have just stepped out of a movie, but is also known as a culinary paradise of Vietnam. It is difficult to choose a favorite Hoi An specialty because each dish has its own unique flavor. So let us tell you about the Hoi An specialties that you cannot miss when coming to the old town.

Must try food in Hoi An: Cao Lau Hoi An – “True Love” Hoi An Specialty

It is not an exaggeration to say that if you have not eaten Cao Lau, it is as if you have never been to Hoi An. Cao Lau noodles are bright yellow, because the flour is mixed with cajuput wood ash, creating a special flavor. Cao Lau is often eaten with shrimp, pork, char siu, raw vegetables, etc. The broth is small but rich in flavor, creating the “soul” of the dish, which is considered typical of the old beauty of the old town.

cao lau hoi an cao lau hoi an noodles vietnamese street foods (1) — Cao lau noodles, one of the best foods to eat in Hoi An | must try food in Hoi An

Cao lau noodles, one of the best Vietnamese street foods | must try food in Hoi An

It is not too difficult to find a shop selling “standard” Cao Lau in Hoi An. However, if you have to choose, visit Lien Cao Lau – located at 16, Thai Phien. Starting from a small street vendor, the shop has existed for more than 30 years but has never been without customers.

Some Other Hoi An Cao Lau Shops You Should Consider:

Ong Hai Restaurant: 6A Truong Minh Luong, Hoi An
Aunt Hat Restaurant: 81 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An
Thanh Cao Lau: 26, Thai Phien, Hoi An
Hong Cao Lau: 18, Thai Phien, Hoi An

Mi Quang Noodles – Hoi An’s Famous Central Specialty

Mi Quang Quang noodles vietnamese street foods (1) — | must try food in Hoi An

When coming to the Central region, you must definitely eat Quang noodles. Rustic, simple but sophisticated, I don’t know since when, Quang noodles have become a favorite name of 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, soft-boiled eggs… it’s truly delicious. Eating it with crispy rice paper is truly authentic.

Mi Quang noodle, must eat in Hoi An | must try food in Hoi An

Besides the traditional version, there is also a unique frog Quang noodles dish. Surely you will be very excited when mixing the noodles with braised frogs in a fragrant ceramic pot.

Suggest Some Delicious Mi Quang Noodle Shops:

Mrs. Minh Quang Noodles: Cam Ha, Hoi An
Hoi An Green Space: 687 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
Co Sinh Quang Noodles: 170/5, Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoi An
Ong Hai Quang Noodles: 6A Truong Minh Luong, Cam Chau, Hoi An
Trang Frog Quang Noodles – many branches in Da Nang

Mót Hoi An Drink – Refreshing, Cooling, “Loved by Thousands”

If Saigon is proud of its strong cups of coffee, and Hanoi is famous for its cool sidewalk iced tea, Hoi An brings visitors the charm of a cup of Mot tea with fragrant herbal scents. In each drop of water, mixed together are 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 with lotus leaves and lotus roots by talented bartenders, making it impossible for visitors to take their eyes off the cup of Mot in their hands. It is certainly not only delicious but also very “eye-catching”.

Mot shop: 150 Tran Phu street

Hoi An Clam Porridge – Specialty for Rainy Days

Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight touch the peaceful river, Hoi An awakens in peace. On the pretty little 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. Fresh sea clams make each piece of clam chewy and delicious like a raw bite in the serving. Fresh ginger and pungent green onions contribute to creating a rich, delicate flavor that is hard to resist.

Places for Delicious Hoi An Clam Porridge:

Ms. Gio Clam Porridge: Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam An, Hoi An

Spicy Chicken Feet – Hoi An Snacks That Catch Your Taste

Are you ready to experience a Hoi An street food that will make your taste buds “burn”? Hoi An Spicy Chicken Feet is an “addictive” dish that you cannot miss!

The chicken feet are meticulously processed, each piece of meat is soft and smooth, soaked in spicy, fragrant spices that will make you “fascinated” from the first bite. The secret lies in the unique sauce recipe, a harmonious combination of chili, garlic, onion and special spices, creating an attractive, irresistible flavor.

Shops for Delicious Hoi An Spicy Chicken Feet:

Spicy chicken feet: 238 Ly Thuong Kiet, Son Phong, Hoi An, Quang Nam
An Bang Milk Tea Chicken Feet: Group 4, Tan Thanh Block, City. Hoi An
Nhap Nhep: k35 Ly Thai To, Hoi An City

Hoi An Tofu – A Delicious Dish For Sweet-toothed People

Wandering through every corner of Hoi An, near and far, you can hear the familiar cries of the tofu vendors, 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 flavors of childhood and the rustic aroma of natural ingredients.

Soft and smooth tofu pieces, soaked in sweet sugar water, combined with traditional cake flour and diverse toppings such as red beans, green beans, shredded coconut… In the afternoon breeze on Hoi An street, the call “tofu here, tofu here” resounds like a familiar song, bringing us back to our childhood, full of memories in this peaceful land. Hoi An tofu, like a dear gift, is indispensable in the memories of the people of the old town.

Places to Eat Delicious Tofu in Hoi An:

Che Co Mai: 1 Nguyen Hoang, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
Che Ba Tho: 1 Nguyen Hue, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
Tao pho Binh: 36 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An City, Quang Nam

Bun Mam Nem Hoi An (Vietnamese fermented fish noodle soup with pork) – Hoi An’s Delicious Dishes for Gourmets

No need to be luxurious or beautiful on the menu like the famous Cao Lau or My Quang, bun mam nem only exists quietly in street vendors and small roadside shops, but still wins the hearts of diners in Hoi An because of its simplicity and rusticity. Here, you will find a simple table and chair set and a small cabinet, or even just a small shoulder pole, but full of fresh and rustic ingredients.

Bun mam nem does not need to be ostentatious, because it already has the sophistication in every spoonful of flavor. The fish sauce is rich, 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 the fish sauce, creating a comfortable and complete feeling.

Shops to Eat Delicious Bun Mam Nem Hoi An:

Bun Mam Nem Pho: 06 La Hoi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Street vendors in the old town

What to eat in Hoi An: Hoi An Red Rice Porridge – A Simple Dinner

Deep in the small alleys of Hoi An, somewhere still exists a simple but extremely attractive dish. Although it has been around for a long time, red rice porridge (brown rice porridge) is still not known to many tourists, most of the regulars here are “locals” of the old town.

Enjoying brown rice porridge, you will feel the warmth, gentleness and sweetness slowly filling your body. The porridge is the essence of the dish, cooked from brown rice and eaten with fragrant braised fish sauce, cooked thoroughly 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 crunchiness of chili and melon, creates a flavor that many people remember.

Places to taste Delicious Hoi An Red Rice Porridge:

Ms. Ngoc’s Restaurant: Nguyen Truong To, Hoi An City
Ms. Lien’s Red Porridge: 8 Truong Minh Luong

Hoi An Thick Rice Noodle Soup

If you ask Hoi An people which dish reminds them of their hometown the most, the answer will definitely be rice noodles. Each strand of white, smooth, chewy rice noodles blends with the rich broth and full toppings, creating a rustic yet irresistible dish.

There are two popular types of rice noodles in Hoi An: rice flour noodles and tapioca flour noodles. The toppings of rice noodles are also very diverse, depending on each person’s preferences. Examples include: roasted pork, fish cakes, raw vegetables, seafood… Hoi An rice noodles are often eaten with green chili, chili sauce and garlic chili fish sauce to enhance the flavor.

Places to Eat Delicious Hoi An Noodle Soup:

Ba Quyt Hoi An Noodle Soup: 51 Thanh Hoa, Tan An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Ms. Luon’s Noodle Soup: No. 276 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Minh An, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Ms. Trang’s Noodle Soup: Group 2 Tan Thinh, Cam An, Hoi An City, Quang Nam
Ms. Xuan’s Noodle Soup: Opposite No. 6 Ngo Si Lien Street, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam

Hoi An Wonton – Chinese Cuisine in the Heart of the Old Town

Although it is a delicious dish originating from China, Hoi An wonton still possesses a very pure Vietnamese flavor. The golden, soft wonton skin hugs the plump shrimp and meat filling and is eaten with pork liver, chives, soft-boiled eggs… If you don’t like the soup, you can choose crispy wontons, dipped in a little chili sauce, which is also “very special”.

Where to Buy find Wontons in Hoi An:

Nguyen Loi Wonton Noodles: 78 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An City
Anh Dung: 14, Ba Trieu, Hoi An
Thanh Thanh, 152, Tran Phu, Hoi An
Hoang Ky Noodle Shop: 67 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An City
Cam Pho Cuisine Restaurant – at the foot of the Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An Ancient Town

Stir-fried Mussel with Sesame Rice Cracker

Fried mussels with rice crackers is a famous Hoi An specialty that #teamKlook should try at least once in their life. Fresh mussels are stir-fried with spices, Vietnamese coriander, onions, fried onions, peanuts, chili sauce, etc. until fragrant. Then, eat with rice paper or rice crackers and add sweet and sour dipping sauce. Although the ingredients and preparation are not too complicated, it is difficult to find a shop selling fried mussels with rice crackers with delicious, rich flavor according to the old town standards. The price of this delicious dish is also quite “soft”, only from 20,000 VND.

Here are some places that sell delicious fried clam rice cakes in Hoi An:

Banh dap number 9: Cam An, Hoi An
Ba Gia fried clam restaurant: village 1, Cam Nam, Hoi An
Cam Nam shop: 679, Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
The Co Ngay restaurant: Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam, Hoi An

Hoi An Mussel Rice

Many Korean tourists jokingly say that mussel rice is the Vietnamese bibimbap. Mussels are stir-fried with mussel water, shrimp paste, pork rinds, crispy fried noodles, chili, peanuts… then mixed and eaten with rice and herbs. Mussel rice is a famous specialty of Hue but is also loved by Hoi An people. Not sophisticated or high-class, mussel rice “captivates” tourists with its simple but unforgettable flavor.

Where to find Delicious Mussel Rice in Hoi An:

Cam Nam Restaurant: 679 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An
Restaurant Available Right Away: Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam Commune, Hoi An
Cuong Restaurant: 01, Nguyen Hoang, Hoi An
Hue Dishes in Hoi An: 21A, Tran Cao Van, Hoi An

Banh Uot Cuon Thit Nuong Hoi An (Grilled pork wrapped in steamed rice sheets and dried rice paper)

A full portion of banh uot cuon thit nuong includes grilled skewers with a little peanut sprinkled on them, banh uot, raw vegetables and a sweet and salty dipping sauce. You add raw vegetables and meat to the soft wet rice paper, roll it up and enjoy with a rich dipping sauce. This dish is sold a lot at street stalls along the Hoai River, “causing nostalgia” for many tourists and locals. The skewers are usually grilled on the spot so they are always hot, priced from only 5,000 VND/skewer. Many of you have to eat until the 4th or 5th skewer to feel “satisfied”.

Where to Find Delicious Wet Rice Paper Rolls with Grilled Meat in Hoi An:

Ba Huong Restaurant: 31 Tieu La, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
Gieng Ba Le Restaurant: 51 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
Co Loi Grilled Meat Rice Paper Rolls in Hoi An: No. 03 Nguyen Hue, Hoi An City
Ms. Suong: sidewalk of Kazik Park

Banh Vac Hoi An (white rose dumplings)

On a rainy afternoon, there is nothing more poetic than enjoying a plate of hot banh vac and watching the city lights up. Each white, clear cake is skillfully shaped, worthy of the nickname “white rose cake”. The cake crust is made from wheat flour, filtered over and over again until it reaches a certain transparency. The soft, chewy dough embraces the savory shrimp and meat filling. “Add” a little fried onion and spicy garlic and chili fish sauce to have a delicious Hoi An specialty.

Places selling delicious Banh Vac in Hoi An:

Bong Hong Trang Restaurant: 533 Hai Ba Trung, Cam Pho, Hoi An
Trong Com Restaurant: 92 Bach Dang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
Trung Bac Restaurant: 87 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An
Street vendors in the old town and Hoi An market

Hoi An Sweet Soup

There is no doubt that Hoi An is truly a “heaven of sweet soup”. If you are not careful, sweet tooths will surely get lost among the countless delicious sweet soups, from black sesame sweet soup (chi ma phu), floating rice balls to lotus seed sweet soup, corn sweet soup, thung sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, broad bean sweet soup… Prices start from only 5,000 VND for a hot, sweet bowl of sweet soup. Want to enjoy delicious sweet soup with a strong national flavor? Just head straight to Hoi An.

A little tip for you: in Hoi An, there is also a unique sweet soup. That is floating rice balls with pork. It looks like normal floating rice balls, but the filling of the floating rice balls is actually flavorful pork, you can eat it forever without getting bored. You can enjoy this delicious Hoi An sweet soup at Ba Muoi floating rice balls 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’s Thung sweet soup: 69, Cua Dai, Cam Chau, Hoi An
Ba Muoi’s floating sweet soup: 04, Hoang Dieu street, Hoi An
Xiu Ma sweet soup (black sesame sweet soup): street vendor on Nguyen Truong To street, Hoi An
Co Suong mixed sweet soup: 57, Tran Cao Van, Hoi An
Co Lien sweet soup: 03, Nguyen Hue, Hoi An

Banh Beo Hoi An (Hoi An Steamed Rice Pancakes) – Delicious, filling breakfast

If Hanoians love pho, Saigonese love hu tieu, Hoi An people are very “addicted” to banh beo. Banh beo Hoi An is not only famous for its soft dough that melts in your mouth, but also for its rich variety of toppings, with dried shrimp, fish cakes, peanuts, crispy pork rinds… served with sweet and sour dipping sauce. A bowl of Banh Beo costs only from 2,000 VND. You don’t need to worry about the question “what to eat in Hoi An?”

Where to eat delicious Banh Beo in Hoi An?

Ba My restaurant: end of Tran Phu street, next to Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An city
Banh Beo 17: 17 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoi An city
Ba Bay restaurant: 02, Hoang Van Thu, Hoi An
Banh Beo Chen: 48, Tran Phu, Hoi An
Banh Beo Co Tai: Hoi An post office
Banh Beo Co Tu: Phan Dinh Phung street, alley next to Thai Binh Duong Hospital

Banh Xeo Hoi An (sizzling pancake) – The Standard Taste of Banh Xeo in Central Vietnam

Unlike Banh Xeo in the South, Banh Xeo Hoi An – or Banh Xeo from Quang – is small in size, about the size of a hand. The filling is made from bean sprouts, shrimp, meat… with a strong seafood smell, covered by a golden crispy cake shell. The cook will pour the pancake while the diners are eating, to ensure the hotness and deliciousness of the pancake. Hoi An pancakes are very easy to get bored of if eaten alone. Gourmets will roll the pancakes in raw vegetables and enjoy them with sweet and sour dipping sauce. A person may have to eat 4-5 pancakes to satisfy their craving.

Delicious Banh Xeo Shops in Hoi An:

Gieng Ba Le: 45/51, Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
Song Hoai: 59/32, 18/8, Hoi An
Hai Dao: 160, Ly Thai To, Cam Chau, Hoi An
Ms. Anh Hoi An: Thoai Ngoc Hau, Hoi An
Banh Xeo Dung: 38, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An

Banh Mi Phuong Hoi An

Located at 2B Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An, Banh Mi Phuong was once commented by famous chef Anthony Bourdain as “the best banh mi in the world”. Different from its somewhat flashy reputation, Banh Mi Phuong 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 popular being pate, mixed, beef rolled with cheese, bacon… Each filling has its own flavor, blending well with hot, crispy bread.

Banh Mi Phuong: 2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cam Chau, Hoi An

Hoi An Chicken Rice

If you happen to fall in love with Hoi An’s cuisine, you will definitely remember the “everyone loves” Hoi An chicken rice dish. There are so many reasons to “like” this classic Hoi An specialty, from the fragrant, chewy, flavorful shredded chicken to the rice cooked in golden chicken broth. Add a little papaya salad and sweet and sour onions and it is truly a “human delicacy”.

Places to Buy 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: 17/4, Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
Anh Xi: 47/2, Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
Ba Minh Chicken Rice: 20 – 22, Dao Duy Tu, Hoi An

Hoi An is not only an ancient town shimmering with lanterns, but also a paradise of delicious specialties that fascinate visitors. If you are looking for meaningful and Hoi An-style gifts for your relatives and friends, don’t miss the following suggestions!

Vietnamese mung bean cake – Hoi An Specialty You Should Buy as a Gift

You may not know: Hoi An green bean cake used to be a prestigious dish, only reserved for kings in the past. To make standard green bean cake, the cook needs to carefully choose the best golden green beans. After cooking, the green beans are crushed and kneaded into dough, then mixed with fried fat; finally, put into a mold to create a beautiful shape and then dried. The green bean cake is crispy, sweet, and enjoyed with fragrant tea is absolutely wonderful. If you have the opportunity to visit the old town, buy green bean cake with meat filling as a gift. Each box costs only about 25,000 VND.

Where to buy delicious green bean cakes with meat filling 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

Hoi An Thuẫn cake

Hoi An Thuan cake is simple but rich with a unique flavor never seen before. Each piece of cake is soft and fragrant, has a little crunch, and retains the traditional flavor of the old town. Smooth flour, fresh chicken eggs and strange spices combine to create a unique flavor that can only be found in Hoi An.

Places to buy delicious Thuan cake in Hoi An:

Alley 30 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
Specialty shops in Hoi An or at 23 An Thuong 26, Da Nang

Hồng Đào wine

Wondering what to buy in Hoi An as a gift? Hong Dao wine is not a bad choice. This is a meaningful Hoi An specialty gift, with a strong Hoi An flavor, a bit spicy and a characteristic aroma. The process of making this wine is also very elaborate and meticulous. The wine is cooked from cooled cooked rice, then mixed with yeast and placed in a jar to incubate for a week.

To add more richness to the flavor, thin slices of ripe peaches are added to the wine jar and incubated for 100 days. Therefore, it is difficult for any other wine to have such a Hoi An flavor!

Mắm thính Hoi An

Mam Thinh is a typical, traditional shrimp paste of Hoi An, with a rich flavor, made from fresh, delicious flying fish and mackerel with firm meat. With its simple and rustic features, Mam thinh Hoi An has become a typical culinary cultural symbol of the ancient town. With its rich and natural flavor, fish sauce has become an indispensable part of many families’ cuisine.

Walking around Hoi An market, it is not difficult to come across small jars of fish sauce with a characteristic aroma. Although it is so simple and rustic, almost every tourist from far away “buys” a few kilos as gifts for relatives or simply to bring the flavor of Hoi An home.

Hoi An Grilled Coconut Cake

For the people of Quang Nam, grilled coconut cake is associated with childhood memories. With its crispy, sweet taste, anyone who enjoys it cannot help but be fascinated and delighted. With its golden color, coconut flavor and fragrant grilled cake, grilled coconut cake not only captivates people’s hearts, but also creates a charming harmony of sweetness and crunchiness. Although it is a popular and rich dish, it has conquered the hearts of many tourists, becoming an indispensable gift in their travel luggage to Hoi An.

Impressive cultural beauty, poetic scenery and many delicious Hoi An specialties. What are you waiting for to plan a trip to Hoi An with your family and loved ones?

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Hoi An you can refer to

Read more Hoi An guide here.