1. The top signature Hoi An street foods that have gained great renown
Wonton, Cao Lau, Quang noodles, and Banh mi are the 4 most famous Hoi An street foods that you should try once when taking a trip to the ancient town.
1.1. Wonton
As a dish originating from China, wonton has gradually been modified to suit the taste of Vietnamese people and has become a well-liked dish in Hoi An. The wonton filling is diverse, it can be shrimp, pork, wood-ear mushroom, or others. Its crust, which is made from rice flour, is delicately rolled into a flat shape, where the filling is placed. Wonton can be eaten steamed or fried, depending on your preference.
Suggested places to eat wonton during your Hoi An itinerary are:
- Anh Ba wonton noodles: Alley 109, Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward
- Nguyen Loi wonton noodles: 78 Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward
- Hoang Ky wonton noodles: 67 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
Fried wonton is many tourists’ favorite Hoi An street food (Source: Collected)
1.2. Cao Lau – The best food in Hoi An
Referring to Hoi An cuisine, it is impossible not to mention Cao Lau. This dish has yellow noodles and is served with shrimp, pork, raw vegetables, and very little broth. Especially, the noodles are mixed with ash from a local tree while the broth is made of water taken from an ancient well. To add unique flavors, locals frequently mix Cao Lau with lime juice, Vietnamese chili paste, and freshly sliced chili.
Suggested places to eat Cao Lau in Hoi An:
- Hoi An Trung Bac Cao Lau: 87 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
- Thanh Cao Lau: 26 Thai Phien Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Be Cao Lau: 19 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
Cao Lau is considered the iconic dish of Hoi An cuisine (Source: Collected)
1.3. Quang noodles
Suggested places to eat Quang noodles in Hoi An:
- Di Hat Quang Noodles: 4 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward
- Ong Hai Quang Noodles: 6A Truong Minh Luong Street, Cam Chau Ward
- Ba Minh Quang Noodles: Cam Ha Ward
Quang noodles in Hoi An have a distinctive flavor compared to the ones in other Central provinces (Source: Collected)
1.4. Banh Mi
Banh Mi, often hailed as the best breakfast in Hoi An, is thin and crunchy, filled with pork, fried eggs, pate, poultry, and a unique sour sauce. The characteristic feature of the traditional Hoi An Banh Mi is the abundance of vegetables, including lettuce, cucumbers, pickled carrots, and coriander. A Banh Mi has the ideal balance of spiciness, saltiness, sweetness, and crispiness in every bite. Therefore, it is considered the best street food in Hoi An.
Suggested places to eat Banh Mi in Hoi An:
- Phuong Banh Mi: 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Khanh Banh Mi: 15 Tran Cao Van Street, Minh An Ward
- Co Lanh Banh Mi: 430 Cua Dai Street, Cam Chau Ward
Banh Mi is one of the best Hoi An street foods that you should try once (Source: Collected)
Explore: Hoi An Market: The latest and most detailed guide for your upcoming trip
2. The best foods in Hoi An to eat your fill for main meals
If you want to fill your stomach with a big meal to boost energy for your excursion in Hoi An, do not miss out on the following dishes:
2.1. Steamed thin rice pancake with grilled meat
To make a specialty dish with delicious grilled meat, the cook needs to choose fresh pork, marinate it with five spices, onions, and lemongrass, and grill it at the right temperature. Meanwhile, after being coated, the steamed thin rice pancake should immediately be put on a clean plate to cool down. Depending on the taste, the diners can sprinkle a little more fried onion to make the food more fragrant.
Suggested places to eat steamed thin rice pancake with grilled meat in Hoi An:
- Ba Huong steamed thin rice pancake: 31 Tieu La Street, Minh An Ward
- Co Hoi steamed thin rice pancake: 3 Nguyen Hue Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Le Well steamed thin rice pancake: 51 Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward
With fried onion sprinkled above, steamed thin rice pancake with grilled meat looks so attractive (Source: @mznguy3n.eats)
2.2. Hoi An chicken rice
Chicken rice is highly appreciated in Hoi An cuisine thanks to its distinctive flavor. This dish is exquisitely prepared. Specifically, the flavorful rice is cooked on a wood stove with pandan leaves, turmeric, and poached chicken broth, which gives the dish a pleasing golden color. To suit Vietnamese taste, inhabitants in Hoi An added various salads with shredded green papaya, carrots, onions, and herbs.
Suggested places to eat chicken rice in Hoi An:
- Ba Buoi chicken rice: 8 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Thuan chicken rice: 17/4 Hai Ba Trung Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Lam chicken rice: 51 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward
Hoi An chicken rice is highly appreciated for its flavor (Source: Collected)
2.3. Rice dumpling cake
Rice dumpling cake is another local street food that should be tried by every visitor. The steamed dumplings include luscious fillings of shrimp, minced pork, and mushrooms inside chewy rice wrappers. They will be presented tastefully on a dish with green onions and crispy shallots and served with a sauce made of fish sauce, chili, and sugar.
Suggested place to eat rice dumpling cake in Hoi An:
- Bong Hong Trang rice dumpling cake: 533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam Pho Ward
Rice dumpling cake is another Hoi An street food to enjoy in your trip (Source: Collected)
See more: White rose dumplings: A distinctive delicacy of Hoi An
2.4. Grilled pork over vermicelli
Rice vermicelli, green chilies, chopped lettuce, cucumber, basil, mint, and a peanut-based sauce are all included in the dish of grilled pork over vermicelli. The dish is then filled with grilled pork slices that have been spiced and sweetened over charcoal. Furthermore, the delicate texture of this Hoi An street food is determined by the addition of fresh herbs and fish sauce.
Suggested places to eat grilled pork over vermicelli in Hoi An:
- Ba Le Well grilled pork over vermicelli: 45/51 Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward
- Ba Huong grilled pork over vermicelli: 31 Tieu La Street, Minh An Ward
You can eat grilled pork over vermicelli for lunch or dinner (Source: @takestwoeggs)
2.5. Clams served with smashing rice paper
Clams served with smashing rice paper, or “banh dap hen xao,” features baked rice paper and steamed thin rice cakes layered together. The rice cakes are gently smashed, creating a delightful texture. This dish is typically paired with stir-fried clams and a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, onions, chopped pineapple, garlic, and green chilies, enhancing its rich and savory flavors.
Suggested places to eat clams served with smashing rice paper in Hoi An:
- Banh dap hen xao Cam Nam: 679 Hai Ba Trung Street, Minh An Ward
- Banh dap hen xao Huong: 82 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Cam Nam Ward
Mussel salad served with Dap cake is a popular Hoi An food (Source: Collected)
2.6. Water fern cake (Banh beo)
Water fern cake is a little steamed rice cake which is covered in an orange sauce made of minced pork, dried shrimp, scallions, oil, and rice vinegar. Fish sauce and salty, fried shallots are the two ingredients that complete the flavorful cake. Vendors frequently provide foodies with flat teaspoons and a round tray of five water fern cake cups so diners may easily scoop up this Hoi An street food.
Suggested places to eat water fern cake in Hoi An:
- Ba Bay water fern cake: 2 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Cam Chau Ward
- No. 17 water fern cake: 17 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Son Phong Ward
Water fern cake is a not-to-be-missed Hoi An street food in your trip (Source: @coupleofmigrants)
2.7. Grilled pork rolled with rice paper
Vietnamese spring rolls and Western BBQ are combined in this dish, and they go along beautifully. After being marinated, the grilled pork will be prepared on a charcoal barbecue. Diners need to wrap the delectable pork and vegetables in rice papers, and then dip them into the sauce. Even though the wrapping technique is very challenging, it will be a nice experience before tasting this mouthwatering Hoi An street food.
Suggested places to eat grilled pork rolled with rice paper in Hoi An:
- Chi Suong grilled pork: 138 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
- Anh Boa BBQ and hot pot: 11 La Hoi Street, Minh An Ward
Many tourists love the taste of grilled pork rolled with rice paper (Source: Collected)
2.8. Mini pancake with quail eggs
Quail egg is the major component of this dish, while the toppings consist of sausage, dried shrimp, and shredded pork. The merchants here prepare the delicacy in a skillet typically used to cook the tiny savory pancakes. First, they pour glutinous rice flour into the pan, then add quail eggs and scallions. Pre-cooked lean pork, sausage, and dried shrimp are added later. You can pick the toppings to enjoy it with.
Suggested places to eat mini pancake with quail eggs in Hoi An:
- Dung mini pancake with quail eggs: 110 Tran Cao Van Street, Minh An Ward
- Co Tuat mini pancake with quail eggs: 164 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Son Phong Ward
Try mini pancake with quail eggs in your Hoi An food tour (Source: Collected)
Read more: Hoi An restaurants: 11+ highly recommend places to enjoy food and relax
3. What to eat in Hoi An as desserts to get a sweet taste?
Below are some recommended Hoi An street foods to satisfy your sweet tooth after the main meals:
3.1. Black sesame sweet soup
Black sesame sweet soup is a well-known food in Hoi An and it is surprisingly simple to make. The basic ingredients to make this dessert are black sesame, tapioca flour, glutinous rice flour, coconut, and sugar. The food is typically sold by street sellers and is prepared in a metal kettle. The best way to enjoy this sweet soup is to have it hot.
Suggested place to eat black sesame sweet soup in Hoi An:
- Mr. Thieu Shop: 118 Nguyen Truong To Street, Minh An Ward
You can find black sesame sweet soup in many Hoi An street food markets (Source: @chupdaocungvu)
3.2. Mango cake – A must-try Hoi An street food
Hoi An mango cake strangely does not have any mango in its ingredients. The shape of this cake gives rise to its name. The cake is compared to chewy, sticky mochi from Japan. Its fillings contain sugar and crushed peanuts, which give it a soft and subtly sweet texture. You can buy mango cake from street vendors on many streets in Hoi An Ancient Town because this food is so popular.
One of the best places to eat Hoi An mango cake:
- Hoi An Market: 9 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
Mango cake is one of the best desserts to enjoy with your beloved in Hoi An (Source: Collected)
3.3. Corn sweet soup
Corn sweet soup is a common dessert in Hoi An. The main ingredient of this dessert is the best-flavored Cam Nam corns, which give the soup its naturally gently sweet flavors. Certainly, your sweet craving will be satisfied by the tasty corn soup. This dessert can be served warm or cooled and is usually covered with creamy coconut milk.
Suggested places to eat corn sweet soup in Hoi An:
- Co Nga corn sweet soup: 45 Le Loi Street, Minh An Ward
Corn sweet soup will definitely satisfy your taste buds with its sweet flavor (Source: Collected)
3.4. Mot herbal tea
Many tourists always want to try Mot herbal tea once when they come to Hoi An. The recipe for this drink is very simple, just herbal tea with a little ginger and lemongrass. Thanks to that, this tea is both refreshing and healthy. In addition, its gentle aroma can help you relieve all stress and enjoy your trip to the best.
- Address: 150 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward
Mot herbal tea is so famous that anyone to Hoi An wants to drink it once (Source: @kaleeeph)
To have a thorough journey without regret, besides exploring Hoi An street food, visitors should not skip seeing various fantastic locations. One of the most alluring destinations that can offer you a great deal of one-of-a-kind amusement experiences is VinWonders Nam Hoi An.
Harbor Corner, Island of Folk Culture, River Safari, Adventure Land, and Water World are the park’s five main subdivisions, giving it a vast scale. Here, you will have a chance to embark on an exciting journey that combines recreation, outdoor exploration, and national cultural values. Surely, it will bring to your trip tons of excitement and unforgettable moments with your companions.
VinWonders Nam Hoi An offers a great number of activities for you to explore and complete your journey to the ancient town
Book VinWonders Nam Hoi An ticket now
Above is a list of the top Hoi An street foods that you must try once in your trip to the ancient town. Experiencing these local specialties will enrich your journey and give you a deeper appreciation of Hoi An’s gastronomic heritage.
*Please note that the information and addresses in this article are for reference only. Please contact the restaurants directly for the most up-to-date information.