Best Restaurants in Hoi An: Hidden Gems, Tourist Traps, and Everything in Between

Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/best-restaurants-in-hoi-an-guide/

After three days of eating my way through Hoi An’s narrow alleys and tourist-packed streets, I’ve developed a complex relationship with this UNESCO town’s food scene. While Hoi An’s Ancient Town charm is undeniable — those swaying lanterns and crumbling yellow walls make for incredible photos — the culinary landscape here tells a different story than what you’ll find in Hanoi or Saigon.

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My meticulously curated Google Maps Location Pins was born from countless hours wandering these ancient streets. I’ve mapped every must-visit spot from this guide (plus dozens of hidden gems I couldn’t squeeze into the article), pinpointing precise locations of those easy-to-miss temple entrances and local-favorite restaurants. After testing this across multiple trips, I swear by this digital companion—simply tap any pin and let Google Maps guide you seamlessly between Vietnam layers. Skip the typical first-timer frustrations and navigate like an insider, with all my hard-won research right in your pocket.

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I discovered that Hoi An isn’t about variety. Instead, it excels in a handful of hyperlocal specialties you won’t find anywhere else in Vietnam. While Hoi An doesn’t match the dizzying variety of Hanoi or the cosmopolitan spread of Saigon, it offers something entirely different: a handful of dishes you simply can’t find anywhere else in Vietnam.

Best Restaurants in Hoi An: Hidden Gems, Tourist Traps, and Everything in Between

Helpful Tip: Skip the tourist-packed restaurants along the riverside during sunset hours. The best meals in Hoi An are often found in narrow alleyways or family-run establishments that close when they run out of food.

what to eat in hoi an

The Complete Roster of Hoi An food guide

Before diving into specific restaurants, understanding Hoi An’s signature dishes is crucial. These aren’t just menu items — they’re edible history, each telling a story about this former trading port’s unique cultural position.

The Essential Three Hoi An Foods To Try

1. Cao Lau: The Dish That Demands Local Water

  • Origin: Ancient Chinese-Japanese influence
  • Key elements: Distinctive yellow noodles, xa xiu pork, fresh herbs
  • What makes it unique: Noodles must be made with water from the Ba Le well
  • Price range: 30,000-45,000 VND

After tasting cao lau across multiple establishments, I found its charm lies in the noodle texture — distinctly chewier than typical Vietnamese noodles. The dish isn’t mind-blowing on first bite, but its complexity grows on you. While I wouldn’t book a flight just for cao lau, skipping it would mean missing a crucial piece of Hoi An’s culinary DNA.

2. Banh Mi: Hoi An’s Crown Jewel

  • Distinguished by: Exceptionally light, crispy bread
  • Key components: Pate, cold cuts, fresh herbs, secret sauces
  • Price range: 20,000-35,000 VND

I’ve eaten banh mi throughout Vietnam, but Hoi An’s version stands apart. The bread achieves an almost impossible balance — shattering crisp exterior giving way to cloud-like interior. Local bakers attribute this to recipes left by French colonials, though no one knows for sure.

3. Com Ga (Chicken Rice): The Unexpected Star

  • Origins: Hainanese influence via traders
  • Distinguishing features: Shredded chicken, turmeric rice, herbs
  • Local twist: Includes papaya, Vietnamese coriander, mint
  • Price range: 35,000-50,000 VND

During my visit, com ga emerged as the dark horse of Hoi An cuisine. Unlike its Singaporean cousin, Hoi An’s version comes loaded with fresh herbs and features more assertive flavoring. The best versions include traditional elements like congealed blood and various offal — though tourist-oriented spots often omit these.

Hidden Gems & Local Specialties in hoi An old town 

4. White Rose Dumplings (Banh Bao Banh Vac)

  • Secret recipe owned by one family
  • Translucent white dough filled with spiced shrimp
  • Topped with crispy shallots
  • My discovery: The texture is unlike any dumpling I’ve encountered
  • Price: 40,000-60,000 VND

5. Mi Quang

While technically more associated with Da Nang, mi quang has found a strong foothold in Hoi An. The dish features wide rice noodles in minimal broth with a protein (usually pork or shrimp), peanuts, and rice crackers. During my exploration, I found it served as a lighter alternative to cao lau.

  • Wide rice noodles in minimal broth
  • Served with pork, shrimp, quail eggs
  • Distinctive yellow color from turmeric
  • Local insight: While better in Da Nang, Hoi An’s version holds its own
  • Price: 25,000-40,000 VND

6. Hen Tron (Baby Clam Salad)

  • Minced clams with fresh herbs
  • Served with rice crackers
  • Found primarily on Cam Nam Island
  • Price: 30,000-45,000 VND

7. Banh Dap (“Smashing Rice Paper”)

  • Crispy and soft rice paper layers
  • Requires “smashing” before eating
  • Served with various dips
  • Price: 20,000-35,000 VND

8. Banh Beo

These small steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp originated in Hue but have evolved distinctly in Hoi An. Local versions often include crispy cao lau noodles as a topping — a uniquely Hoi An twist I discovered during an afternoon street food hunt.

What Nobody Tells You About Hoi An’s Food Scene

Before diving into specific restaurant recommendations, here are some crucial insights from my time eating through the ancient town:

  1. The Beef Situation
    • Limited beef options compared to other Vietnamese cities
    • Local cuisine heavily favors pork and chicken
    • Even pho shops tend to offer more chicken than beef options
  2. Timing Is Everything
    • Best local spots often close by 10AM
    • Many family-run establishments operate on unpredictable schedules
    • Prime dinner spots fill up quickly during sunset hours

best restaurants in hoi an 

This ancient trading port operates on its own gastronomic frequency — one that rewards those willing to dig deeper than the riverside restaurants and their Instagram-ready lantern backdrops.

where to eat in hoi an

Banh Mi: The Crown Jewel

Banh Mi Phuong

  • Location: 2B Phan Chau Trinh
  • Hours: 6:30AM-9:30PM
  • Price: 20,000-35,000 VND

During my stay, this was the culinary highlight that kept drawing me back. I initially worried it would be another tourist trap riding the coattails of Anthony Bourdain’s visit. I was wrong. The bread here achieves something spectacular — shattering into crispy shards on the outside while maintaining a cloud-like interior that no other Vietnamese city seems to replicate.

Helpful Tip: Their mixed banh mi (thap cam) offers the perfect balance of ingredients. Skip the chicken-only version — it lacks the textural complexity that makes their signature sandwich legendary.

Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen

  • Location: 115 Tran Cao Van
  • Hours: 6:30AM-7:30PM
  • Price: 25,000-40,000 VND

Her secret weapon? The sauce. While Banh Mi Phuong excels in bread texture, Madam Khanh’s proprietary sauce blend elevates every bite into something extraordinary.

Cao Lau: The Local Legend

1. Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh

  • Location: 687 Hai Ba Trung
  • Hours: 9:30AM-9PM
  • Speciality: Traditional cao lau with thick-cut xa xiu pork
  • Price: 30,000-45,000 VND
Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/best-restaurants-in-hoi-an-guide/

During my visit, this restaurant served the most generous portions of cao lau, with notably thicker and fattier cuts of pork than competitors. The noodles achieved that distinctive chewiness that comes from the Ba Le well water — though I’d argue it’s a texture worth trying rather than a flavor that’ll change your life.

best restaurants in hoi an 

Morning Glory hoi an

 When You Need a Break from Street Food

  • Location: 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc
  • Best for: Refined local dishes
  • Price point: Higher than average

Yes, it’s expensive by local standards. Yes, it’s tourist-heavy. But their cao lau offers something valuable: a refined version that maintains authenticity while elevating presentation. I ducked in here during a particularly sweltering afternoon and found their air-conditioned refuge worth the premium pricing.

White Rose Dumplings: The One-Family Legacy

The White Rose Restaurant

  • Location: 533 Hai Ba Trung
  • Hours: 7AM-8:30PM
  • Price: 40,000-60,000 VND

During my visit, I discovered something fascinating — every white rose dumpling in Hoi An comes from this single kitchen. The family’s held this recipe for three generations, and they supply every restaurant in town. The dumplings arrive at restaurants throughout the day, delivered by motorbike in wooden baskets.

Insider Tip: Skip the restaurants marking up these dumplings and head straight to the source. The texture of just-made white rose dumplings — translucent, delicate, with a subtle chew — is impossible to replicate even an hour later.

Mi Quang: The Almost-Local Hero

Mr. Hai’s Restaurant

  • Location: 6A Truong Minh Luong
  • Price: 30,000-45,000 VND

Mi Quang exists in this fascinating space between local specialty and borrowed tradition. While Da Nang claims it as their own, Hoi An’s version offers something distinctive. At Mr. Hai’s, I found the perfect balance — wide noodles swimming in just enough broth, topped with quail eggs and pork that actually tastes like pork rather than a tourist-friendly approximation.

places to eat in hoi an

Beyond the Tourist Trail

The Elusive Banh Canh Lady

One of my most memorable meals came from a street vendor selling banh canh (thick rice noodle soup) near the central market. When I tried to return the next day, she had vanished — a reminder that some of Hoi An’s best food experiences are ephemeral. These vendors operate on their own schedules, appearing and disappearing like culinary ghosts.

Hoi An’s Night Market

  • Location: An Hoi Island
  • Hours: 5PM-11PM
  • Price: Various

I’m typically skeptical of night markets in tourist towns, but Hoi An’s version surprised me. Hidden among the tourist trinkets, I found vendors selling hen tron (baby clam salad) that rivaled anything I’ve had in more “authentic” settings. The key? These vendors are actually feeding the local night market workers more than tourists.

hoi an restaurants vietnam

Com Ga: The Unexpected Champion

Long Com Ga

  • Location: 16 Phan Chu Trinh
  • Hours: 11AM-10PM
  • Price: 35,000-50,000 VND

Hidden in an alley off the main tourist drag, this place served what I consider the definitive version of Hoi An chicken rice. They don’t shy away from traditional elements like congealed blood and various offal — ingredients that tourist-oriented spots often omit. The rice achieves perfect fluffiness without being greasy, and they’re generous with both meat and organs.

Pro Tips for Eating in Hoi An

  1. Timing Matters
  • Many local favorites open oddly specific hours (like Com Ga Hien’s 6PM-8:30PM window)
  • The best morning spots often sell out by 10AM
  • Tourist restaurants in Ancient Town get packed around sunset
  1. Price Guide
  • Street food: 15,000-35,000 VND
  • Local restaurants: 30,000-70,000 VND
  • Tourist-oriented venues: 80,000-200,000 VND+
  1. Transportation Tips
  • Rent a bicycle to explore restaurants beyond Ancient Town
  • Many hidden gems are a 10-15 minute ride from the tourist center
  • Some of the best food is found in the maze of alleys behind the main streets

Helpful Tip: Most hotels offer free bicycle rentals. Use them to explore the quieter neighborhoods east of Ancient Town, where you’ll find more authentic and affordable dining options.

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