Most people come to Hoi An for its fairytale-like sight, the loving child of rustic yet romantic architecture and a well-preserved history woven into each brick. However, many people aren’t aware that Hoi An also has a moreish cuisine derived from Central Vietnam’s culture. Here are our top picks for Hoi An street food so you won’t miss this magical side of the town.
The Best of Hoi An Street Food
Banh Mi
Nothing starts our Hoi An street food list better than banh mi – a dish that needs no introduction. It’s a stable Vietnamese breakfast with a small baguette, pâté, pork sausage, ham, vegetables, mayonnaise, and pickled carrots and daikons.
Banh mi is full of flavors: salty, sour, fatty, umami, and sweet. It’s also easy to carry around on your walk around the town. Especially at Banh Mi Phuong and Banh Mi Madam Khanh, the filling is usually twice the usual portion, so each bite grants greater satisfaction.
Our recommendation:
- Banh Mi Phuong (2B Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An): VND 15,000 – VND 30,000
- Banh Mi Madam Khanh (115 Tran Cao Van Street, Hoi An): VND 15,000 – VND 30,000
Cao Lau – Pork Rice Noodles
Even though cao lau isn’t an original Hoi An street food, it has now become an unmissable thing to do in Hoi An. It consists of pork slices, herbs, a little bit of water, and the most special ingredient—rice noodles. Rice noodles for cao lau in Hoi An are made from rice soaked with burnt wood ashes, giving them the signature yellow hue and a firm, silky texture.
Our recommendation:
- Cao Lau Ba Be (19 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An): VND 20,000 – VND 44,000
- Thanh Cao Lau (26 Thai Phien Street, Hoi An): VND 20,000 – VND 50,000
Banh Bao Banh Vac – Steamed Rice Dumplings
These are two similar dishes that are often served together. “Banh bao” means baozi, and “banh vac” goes under a beautiful moniker: white rose. “Banh bao” in Hoi An is different from the usual bao buns. Like “banh vac”, it is a dumpling-like food made from rice flour wrapping filled with shrimp or meat. When steamed, the wrap becomes milky white, almost transparent, which gives the dish the nickname “white rose”. As with cao lau, this is a Hoi An street food you can’t find anywhere else in Vietnam.
Our recommendation:
- White Rose Restaurant (533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An): VND 70,000
- Morning Glory Restaurant (106 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An): VND 85,000
Hoanh Thanh Chien – Fried Wontons
Hoi An street food is heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine; hence, don’t be surprised to taste the sweet and sour sauce on this affordable delicacy. The sauce is combined with freshly chopped tomatoes and parsley and then poured over fried wonton wrappers. Being sour, sweet, crispy, and light, fried wontons are a must-try Hoi An street food for a quick snack.
Our recommendation: White Rose Restaurant (533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An): VND 100,000
Com Ga – Chicken Rice
Again, this is another famed Hoi An street food that didn’t originate from Hoi An. Yet the locals have given it so much love and delicious changes that when we think of chicken rice in Vietnam, we think of the city. Com ga Hoi An combines rice cooked in chicken broth and turmeric, which gives the dish a yellow color, shredded chicken, and fresh herbs. Simple yet fulfilling, chicken rice will make you full without denting your wallet.
Our recommendation: Com Ga Ba Buoi (22 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Hoi An): VND 35,000
Banh Khot – Mini Rice Pancakes
Banh khot is more well-known in Southern Vietnam, but it’s also a typical Hoi An street food. Try banh khot trung cut (banh khot with quail eggs); crispy on the outside but creamy on the inside, this variation won’t disappoint your taste buds.
Our recommendation: Banh Can Co Tuat (opposite 128B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoi An): VND 10,000 – VND 50,000
Nuoc Mot – Iced Herbal Tea
Nuoc mot is an herbal tea brewed from lemongrass, cinnamon, honeysuckle, lemon, arhat fruit,…, that smells great and tastes even better. It’s also said to have detoxifying effects, and the rustic decoration looks picture-perfect! Why not this Hoi An’s sensation if you’ll get a drink?
Our recommendation: Mot (150 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An): VND 10,000 – VND 15,000
Conclusion on Hoi An Street Food
Hoi An street food is so varied and yummy that you can never get hungry! Apart from the abovementioned eateries, Hoi An has many famous food streets where you can find inexpensive yet mouth-watering treats: Thai Phien, Tran Cao Van, and Phan Chau Trinh,… to name a few.
Don’t have much time to spend in Hoi An? Look through this Hoi An 1-day Itinerary.