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Discover the 10 best dishes to eat in Hoi An, Vietnam, plus where to try them and how Explore Vietnam can take you there.
Top 10 Must-Try Foods in Hoi An
A Local’s Guide to Vietnam’s Culinary Capital
Hoi An is famous for its glowing lanterns, yellow heritage walls, and cobbled Old Town streets. But ask any traveler what they remember most about this UNESCO World Heritage town, and food is almost always on the list. Shaped by centuries as a trading port, Hoi An’s cuisine blends Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese influences into dishes you genuinely cannot find anywhere else.
Lonely Planet has called Hoi An a “global food paradise”, TripAdvisor ranks it among the world’s top 25 culinary destinations, and the World Association of Chefs has named it Vietnam’s food capital. In short, if you’re visiting, you should plan your itinerary around your appetite as much as your camera roll.
Below is our local guide to the 10 dishes worth building a day around: where they come from, what makes them special, and exactly where to try them.
- Cao Lầu (Hoi An Pork Noodles) – Hoi An Food Tour
If you only eat one dish in Hoi An, make it this one. “Cao Lầu” is often described as “Hoi An in a bowl”, and it’s the closest thing the town has to a signature dish, largely because it genuinely cannot be replicated elsewhere. Local lore says the name, meaning “high floor”, dates to the 17th century, when wealthy merchants ate it upstairs in trading-house restaurants.
What makes it unique is the noodles: made with calcium-rich water drawn from the centuries-old well and ash from Cham Islands trees, giving them a thick, chewy bite closer to Japanese udon than typical Vietnamese rice noodles. They’re topped with slices of char-siu-style pork, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and crispy pork crackling, then finished with a small ladle of broth, chili, and lime.
Where to try it:
- Quán Cao Lầu Thanh – 26 Thái Phiên, Minh An
- Morning Glory Original – 106 Nguyễn Thái Học, Minh An
Budget tip: expect to pay roughly 30,000–45,000 VND (about $1.20–$1.80 USD) at local eateries.
- Bánh Ướt Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork Rolls) – Hoi An Food Tour
This is one of the more interactive dishes on the list, at many stalls, you assemble it yourself. Pork is marinated and grilled on lemongrass skewers, then stacked with fresh herbs, cucumber, and star fruit, and wrapped in soft, wet rice paper. The whole roll is dipped into a rich peanut-soybean sauce. The result is a satisfying mix of smoky char and cool, crunchy freshness.
Where to try it:
- Bale Well Restaurant – 45/51 Trần Hưng Đạo, Minh An
- Mì Quảng (Quang Noodles) – Hoi An Food Tour
Named for Quang Nam province, this turmeric-infused noodle dish sits somewhere between a soup and a salad. Wide, chewy rice noodles are topped with a protein of your choice: pork, chicken, shrimp, beef, or quail egg, then finished with just enough broth to moisten (not drown) everything, along with rice crackers, roasted peanuts, and fresh herbs for crunch.
Where to try it:
- Mì Quảng Ông Hai – 6A Trương Minh Lượng, Cẩm Châu
- Bún Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork Vermicelli) – Hoi An food Tour
A cooling, refreshing dish that’s perfect on a hot afternoon in the Old Town. Think of it as a southern-Vietnamese cousin of Hanoi’s “bún chả”: grilled pork, rice vermicelli, and fresh greens, all tossed together with a thick, satay-style sauce rather than served with a dipping bowl on the side.
- Cơm Gà Hội An (Hoi An Chicken Rice) – Hoi An Food Tour
Locals joke you haven’t truly visited Hoi An until you’ve eaten chicken rice. Likely descended from Hainanese chicken rice brought by Chinese traders, the Hoi An version has its own identity: shredded (rather than sliced) poached chicken, fragrant turmeric rice cooked in chicken broth, a side of chicken soup, and a tangy shredded papaya salad. It’s a simple, balanced, one-plate meal that rarely disappoints.
Where to try it:
- Cơm Gà Bà Buội – 22 Phan Chu Trinh
- Cơm Gà Bà Nga – 09 Phan Chu Trinh
- Bánh Xèo (Savory Vietnamese Pancake) – Hoi An Food Tour
A crispy, turmeric-yellow pancake filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, “bánh xèo” is found across Vietnam, but every region makes it a little differently. In Hoi An, you’ll typically tear off pieces, wrap them in rice paper with fresh herbs, and dip the whole bundle into a sweet-savory sauce. Fair warning: it’s delicious, but it’s messy, go in with your sleeves rolled up.
- Bánh Bao – Bánh Vạc (White Rose Dumplings)
Named for their delicate, rose-like folds, these steamed dumplings are made from the same mineral-rich well water used in “cao lầu”, filled with minced shrimp and pork, and topped with crispy fried shallots. The recipe is famously guarded by a single family, now in its third generation of making them, which is why you’ll see “White Rose” on menus all over town, even though only one kitchen makes the originals.
Where to try it:
- White Rose Restaurant – 533 Hai Bà Trưng, Cẩm Phô
- Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich)
You’ll find “bánh mì” stalls on nearly every corner in Vietnam, but Hoi An holds a special claim to fame: the late chef and travel journalist Anthony Bourdain once called “bánh mì” at Bánh Mì Phượng the best in town – a review the shop has (understandably) never let anyone forget.
Where to try it:
- Bánh Mì Phượng – 2B Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu
- Madam Khanh (The Banh Mi Queen) – 115 Trần Cao Vân, Minh An
- Bánh Xoài (Mango Rice Cake)
Despite the name, this chewy sweet treat contains no mango at all, it’s simply shaped like one. Made from glutinous rice flour, crushed peanuts, and brown sugar, it’s often compared to Japanese mochi or Chinese tang yuan. A perfect way to end a day of eating your way through the Old Town.
- Chè Xí Mà (Black Sesame Sweet Soup)
A thick, glossy black sesame dessert soup with roots in the town’s Chinese-Fujianese community, “chè xí mà” is one of Hoi An’s oldest street snacks. Black sesame seeds are toasted, ground, and slow-simmered into a smooth, almost pudding-like soup, traditionally served warm. It’s mildly sweet rather than sugary, with a deep nutty aroma, and locals swear by it as a cooling, health-boosting treat in Central Vietnam’s humid heat.
Where to try it:
- Chè Mè Đen Ông Thiều – opposite 118 Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Hội An (open mornings until around 9am)
At Explore Vietnam, our half-day and full-day Hoi An food tours take you to family-run kitchens (including several on this list) with a local guide who knows the owners, the history, and the best time of day to visit each stop. We also run hands-on cooking classes where you’ll learn to make “cao lầu” or “bánh xèo” from scratch, starting with a walk through Tra Que Vegetable Village to pick your own herbs.
Planning a trip to Hoi An? Explore Vietnam offers custom itineraries, guided food tours, and cooking classes across the Old Town. Contact us to start planning your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most famous dish in Hoi An?
“Cao lầu” is considered Hoi An’s signature dish, since it’s made using local well water and ingredients that can’t be replicated outside the town.
- Is Hoi An food spicy?
Most dishes are served mild, with chili and sauces added separately so you can adjust the heat yourself.
- How much does street food cost in Hoi An?
Most dishes cost between 25,000–50,000 VND (roughly $1–$2 USD), making it easy to sample several in one day.
- Is it safe to eat street food in Hoi An?
Yes, provided you choose busy stalls with high turnover. Joining a guided food tour is also a reliable way to eat safely while trying local favorites.
Tags: Hoi An food tour, food tour in Hoi An