1. Cao Lau
This is a distinctive and unique dish of Hoi An, made from yellow noodles mixed with pork, shrimp, fresh vegetables, and a special broth. The noodles are cooked in ash water, giving them a yellow color and a delicious chewy texture. The broth is simmered from pork bones, spices, and fish sauce, giving it a sweet, clear, and fragrant taste. Cao Lau is served with crispy rice crackers, roasted peanuts, and aromatic herbs, creating a harmonious and unique flavor.
2. Com Ga (Chicken Rice)
This is a very famous dish in Hoi An and is loved by many tourists. Hoi An’s chicken rice features fragrant, sticky rice cooked with chicken broth and peanut oil. The chicken used is free-range, with firm, sweet meat, marinated with ginger and fish sauce, then boiled. Chicken rice is served with fresh vegetables, cucumber, chili, and a special dipping sauce. Chicken rice has a sweet, rich, fragrant, and soft taste. You can enjoy chicken rice at places like Ba Buoi’s Chicken Rice, Ba Nga’s Chicken Rice, or Ty’s Chicken Rice.
3. Mi Quang
This is a popular dish in Central Vietnam, but each place has its own way of preparation. Mi Quang in Hoi An has thick, chewy noodles cooked with a broth made from pork bones, shrimp, and spices. There are many types of Mi Quang such as chicken Mi Quang, shrimp Mi Quang, mixed Mi Quang… Each bowl of Mi Quang has a small amount of broth, eaten with fresh vegetables, green onions, rice crackers, peanuts, and chili. Mi Quang has a sweet, spicy, sour, salty taste, very appealing.
4. Wonton
This dish originated from China, but has been adapted to suit the Vietnamese palate. Wontons have thin wrappers, filled with pork, shrimp, mushrooms, wood ear… steamed or fried crispy. Wontons are eaten with a rich broth, fresh vegetables, fried onions, and chili. Wontons have a sweet, rich, fragrant, and crispy taste.
5. Banh Beo
This is a common, easy-to-find dish in Hoi An. Banh Beo is made from rice flour, steamed in small bowls, then topped with minced shrimp, fried onions, pork fat, and Vietnamese coriander. Banh Beo is eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce, with added sugar, garlic, chili, and lemon. Banh Beo has a soft, chewy, sweet, and fragrant taste. You can eat Banh Beo at places like Ba Bay’s Banh Beo, Ba Con’s Banh Beo, or Ba Gia’s Banh Beo.
6. Banh Xeo
This dish is made from rice flour, coconut milk, turmeric, and salt, fried in a pan until crispy. Banh Xeo has a filling of shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and mushrooms, eaten with rice paper, fresh vegetables, and sweet and sour fish sauce. Banh Xeo has a crispy, rich, sweet, and fragrant taste. You can eat Banh Xeo at places like Ba Duong’s Banh Xeo, Ba Le’s Banh Xeo, or Ba Hoa’s Banh Xeo.
7. Banh Mi (Bread)
This is a world-famous dish, highly rated by many food magazines. Hoi An’s Banh Mi has a crispy crust, soft inside, stuffed with various fillings such as pork, Vietnamese sausage, pate, char siu, eggs, cheese… Banh Mi also has fresh vegetables, cucumber, tomato, onion, chili, and a special sauce. Banh Mi has a crispy, rich, sweet, spicy, and fragrant taste. You can eat Banh Mi at places like Phuong’s Banh Mi, Madam Khanh’s Banh Mi, or Ba Lan’s Banh Mi.
8. Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Steamed Rice Cake with Grilled Meat)
This is made from Banh Uot, a thin, soft, white layer of rice flour, steamed hot. It’s filled with pork, marinated with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili, and lemongrass, then grilled over charcoal. It’s served with fresh vegetables, cucumber, peanuts, and a special dipping sauce. You can enjoy it at places like Ba Nam’s, Ba Tu’s, or Ba Dao’s.
9. Banh Dap (Cracked Cake)
This simple, rustic dish is made from two types of cakes, rice paper and steamed rice cake. The cakes are cracked together to create a crispy, soft, chewy layer. It’s eaten with fermented shrimp paste, pork, dried shrimp, and fried onions. You can try it at places like Ba Giai’s, Ba Diem’s, or Ba Thom’s.
10. Che Bot Loc (Clear Dumpling Sweet Soup)
This delicious, cool dessert is made from Bot Loc, pure rice flour, cooked and shaped into small, round balls. It’s filled with green beans, cooked with sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. It’s served with ice and has a sweet, rich, soft, and fragrant taste. You can enjoy it at places like Ba Ty’s, Ba Nhi’s, or Ba Lien’s.
Hoi An is not just an ideal tourist destination with unique cultural, historical, and architectural features, but also a culinary paradise with delicious, diverse, and rich dishes. You can enjoy traditional dishes characteristic of Hoi An as well as famous Asian dishes like Banh Mi, or delicious, cool desserts like Che Bot Loc. Come to Hoi An and explore the wonderful flavors of the cuisine here.
Wishing you happy travels with family and friends!
