Hoi An ancient town is small but the food culture is extremely rich. Whether go sightseeing the entire town, you can hardly enjoy all of special local food in here. Golden Buffalo Travel would like to introduce Top 7 Hoi An local foods you should taste when coming Hoi An.

Hoi An food is a one of the most delicious styles of food in Vietnam, its style and taste shares slight similarities with its near neighbours (China, Japan) yet the food of Hoi An is distinct and original. Hoi An supplies a far superior cuisine than any other city. Yet here the list of top 7 foods you cannot miss when in Hoi An.

1. Chicken rice


The best cooks use free-range chickens raised in countryside gardens, not the industrial factory-style birds. Poultry raised in the gardens is stronger and more springy, with a far richer flavor than the soggy stuff produced in “industrial agriculture” facilities. While westerners often prefer fattier, more tender chicken meat, Vietnamese birds considered the best for eating are often smaller with dense, muscular meat. The trick of the recipe is to skilfully make the chicken pieces smell fragrant and spicy without loosening the meat.

The towns of Hoi An is the best place to try the dish. Hoi An even has its own cooking style that varies slightly from other central-region styles.

Where to try Chicken rice in Hoi An?

- Ms Buoi 22 Phan Chau Trinh
- Ms Ty 27 Phan Châu Trinh
- Ms Thuan 17/4 Nhị trưng

2. Quang noodle


This is the popular country dish in Hoian and Quang Nam. The noodle is yellow or white in color and made from rice flour. It is mixed with shrimp, pork and vegetables, and topped with grilled rice paper and spices. Similar to rice noodle and chicken or pork soup (Hu tieu), My Quang is a variety of Pho (rice noodle soup), because the noodles are made from rice and covered with soup as serving.

3. Pho


Pho (pronounced variously as /fʌ/, /fə/, /fər/, or /foʊ/;[1] Vietnamese: phở, pronounced [fəː˧˩˧] is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, linguine-shaped rice noodles, a few herbs, and meat. It is a popular street food in Vietnam and the specialty of a number of restaurant chains around the world. Pho is primarily served with either beef or chicken. The origin of pho and its name is a subject of scholarly debate.

4. Cao Lau

Cao Lau is the foremost traditional food in Hoi An. Visitors to Hoi An always remember Cao Lau, which was considered by the Quang Nam people as a special symbol representing Hoi An. Cao Lau does not taste like any other Vietnamese dish, but nobody can really recognize it as being comparable to Chinese or Japanese cuisine. Despite its Chinese-like appearance, the Chinese people don’t consider it to be Chinese food. Until now, the origin of Cao Lau is still enveloped mystery.

5. Fresh Rice Paper in Cam Nam


How to get to Cam Nam Village? Across the Cam Nam Bridge and turn left.

Banh dap ( Rice Cracker): 8,000VND

Che bap (corn sweet soup/pudding): 5,000VND

Hen tron (minced clams): 20,000VND

Cam Nam Village, just a stones throw from the heart of Hoi An’s Old Quarter, typifies the sort of gastronomically experience available to people not afraid of straying from the uninspired menus of the lollipop cute cafes dotting the river’s banks.

6. Banh Xeo


“Banh xeo” is eaten hot in the cold season. Walking along this street, people cannot help hearing the joyful sound of the cooking and the flavor of this dish coming out of the restaurant kitchens, which makes it hard to resist the temptation of walking into one of the restaurants along the street to enjoy this delicious banh xeo.

7. Sea foods


Hoi An is heaven place to try fresh sea food. Vietnam is a country that is criss-crossed with rivers and streams, tributaries and deltas as well as being bounded by the South China Sea. Sea food in Hoi An is very fresh. You can try sea food at An Bang Beach – local’s favorite beach.

Where to try seafood in Hoi An

1. Chinh Seafood Restaurant

Add: 54 Cua Dai Road, Hoi An

The restaurant is easily reached by bicycle, about 20 mins riding from Hoi An. The ride is pleasant past lagoons ringed by coconut trees and with fishing boats making an idyllic scene. There are little riverside cafes where you might stop for a cold beer and snacks.

2. Hai San Restaurant

Add: 64 Bach Dang St

Dail: 9 am-10pm

Location: Center

Main courses: $3-$20

Phone: 0510 3 861-652

3. Thi Nhan Restaurant

Address: 128 Cua Dai, Cam Chau, Hoi An

If you intend to try tasting seafood, you are suggested to get yourself to Thi Nhan Restaurant during your stay in Hoi An. It is located on half way from Hoi An Ancient Town to Cua Dai Beach. Two famous sea foods can be listed in the restaurant menu such as grilled tiger prawns and crab in tamarind sauce.

4. Banana Leaf

Add: 84 Bach Dang Street, Hoi An, (at the Harbour front)

Daily 08.00am-10:30pm

Pleasant riverfront cafe-restaurant offering Vietnamese seafood, western dishes, sandwiches & pastries plus a wide range of refreshing fruit juices, shakes and cocktails. Soothing views across the river, well-designed space in a converted shop house.

5. La Plage

Relaxing restaurant/bar offering food, drinks they provide activities like free yoga, movies and different fundraisers for disabled people

Directions from the center of Hoi An : Find “Hai Ba Trung” street and head out of town. When you get to the big road cross it and you’ll be at Cam An Beach. It’s about 2.5 kilometers – passing through rice paddies. Park on the left at “Good Parking” and walk over to La Plage on the far right. See you soon.

6. Hong Chau Restaurant

Add: Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An,

This is a beachfront restaurant and serves delicious seafood dishes and other local specialities in a relatively stylish and comfortable setting right on the beach.
Do you want to try all of above foods? So what are you waiting for, let's start planning your trip right now. Booking tour here.