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Offering a delightful collision of flavors, Hoi An has everything from classic Vietnamese restaurants and noodle shacks to gourmet delis and charitable cafés. There's no shortage of eateries in the Old Town, where menus lean heavily on Vietnamese fusion with reasonable prices, considering the location. Cross over Thu Bon River to experience Hoi An Peninsula where an outcrop of trendy restaurants and bars add life to Nguyen Phuc Chu Street. Bordering the Old Town is the central market, packed with vendors selling everything from fish and noodles to flowers and produce. This is the best place to try local dishes like cao lau (rice noodles topped with pork and herbs) and banh bao vac (rose-shape steamed dumplings). For a more in-depth look at Hoi An's cuisine, try a cooking course or culinary tour.
This exemplary French bistro with welcoming owners is a popular spot for visitors and expats in Hoi An. Don't expect much in the way of culinary bells and whistles, but the daily-changing menu of classics and other dishes like pizza as well as the fine selection of wine make this a reliably convivial option.
Fusing art, music, history, and cuisine, this 19th-century house in Hoi An's Old Quarter has been beautifully restored and offers silver service at remarkable prices. Slightly overshadowed by the setting, the menu is Vietnamese-meets-modern cuisine with such dishes as bean sprout dumplings, mango and lotus salad, caramelized pork, and wok-fried noodles.
Well established as one of the town’s preeminent dining venues is Morning Glory, where menu highlights include roast duck leg served with a five-spice dressing and crunchy tofu coated in young sticky rice. This is where local food celebrity Miss Vy originally made her name, and standards have barely slipped over the years with tourists and visiting gourmands flocking to the venue for authentic local dishes prepared with passion and skill.
Local families who come in droves to this popular no-frills diner make out-of-town visitors feel warmly welcome, even if you don't master the art of rolling the perfect banh xeo. There’s no menu; just pull up a stool and within minutes you’ll be presented with pork skewers, crispy pancakes stuffed with bean sprouts, deep-fried shrimp spring rolls, rice paper, various greens, a satay-style dip, and an array of condiments. Go hungry; portions are large.
This traditional Italian restaurant is a popular spot in the Old Town center for those looking for a break from the standard Vietnamese fare. During the day, the welcoming, homely environs make for a quiet rest stop, where you can enjoy a good Italian coffee or a light bite from the second-floor balcony overlooking the streets.
Clay-oven pizza, pasta, antipasti plates, and fine wines, all sourced from Italy, can be enjoyed on a tropically planted beachfront garden, or, on wintery days, holed up in a cozy corner by the kitchen. The sesame-coated tuna with salad, Pecorino cheese, and olives are to die for, as are the Italian homemade desserts.
