Food & Cuisine in Hoi An

Food info sections | Eating locally

All over Vietnam, some Vietnamese dishes, ingredients or cooking methods are universal; while others are uniquely local or regional. Hoi An cuisine is a little different. Because of the fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese over the centuries, Hoi An has many unique dishes or cooking methods. There are a multitude of Hoi An Restaurants in which to sample these.

Try some of the local Hoi An traditional dishes...and eat like a local!

For general information Vietnamese cuisine, take a look at our Vietnam Restaurants page. As you wander about doing some Shopping in Hoi An, you will notice the restaurants and cafes advertising unique Hoi An dishes. 

Hoi An Restaurant Guide

There are three main Hoi An specialties you should try during your trip:

- Cao Lau - noodles with pork slices, bean sprouts and herbs
- White Rose - steamed rice dumplings with pork and shrimp inside
- Won Ton - fried won ton, served with a salsa-like topping

As Hoi An doesn't really have an expat population, there are not many restaurants offering a specific cuisine. The ones that can be found will usually be located in the Top End hotels.

There are many restaurants offering both local Vietnamese dishes and "Western" food. The Mid Range hotels will often have restaurants offering both national and local Vietnamese dishes as well as "Western" food. Smaller Budget hotels and guesthouses will usually be able to offer at least some non-Vietnamese food, but it probably won't be "just like Grandma used to make".

We have collected the list of restaurants and eateries in Hoi An to give you a place to start. However, please keep in mind that some of the heartiest, tastiest and most nutritious food in Hoi An, and all of Vietnam, is served from nameless roadside stalls that appear on the sidewalk at around 5pm and disappear about midnight.