Hoi An Restaurants

The Hoi An Patisserie is in the same building as the Cargo Club Restaurant in one of Hoi An's well restored heritage buildings in the heart of the old town. It's a fine place to rest your feet and stock up the sugar levels when you're in town.

Favorite Dish: The mango cheesecake was particularly enticing!

The Banana Leaf Restaurant was a night to remember. It is on the bank of the river and beautifully decorated with fairy lights and open windows - it's a pretty upmarket looking place, but the vibe is casual.

We enjoyed a set menu of interesting fusion food. There was the banana leaf fish you get to know and love in Vietnam and a number of Western style dishes made with Vietnamese flavours, like nachos and pancakes.

They also have a goood cocktail list. You can buy a bucket of your favourite which is literally a bucket!

Come to the Banana Leaf for upmarket food and service in a relaxed setting.

Favorite Dish: Chicken Nachos - made with fried rice paper instead of corn chips and a delicious spicy chicken topping.

Quan Tam Ro was the true find of Hoi An when it came to food. We had already tried and been disappointed with the city delicacy, cao lau but this place’s version reaffirmed our faith in seeking out not only local foods, but truly authentic eating places to try them. We happened across it one afternoon walking just on the edge of the old town when we wanted to have a snack. Don't be put off by the simple exterior or interior, the food is great and the people who run it authentically welcoming.

Favorite Dish: Cao lau is a Ho An specialty of flat doughy noodles mixed up with bean sprouts, assorted greens, deep fried wonton dough and sliced roasted pork. We had tried it just the day before but this one put our first exposure to shame; it was just fantastic. We also discovered the best place in town for ice coffee and this lead us to having breakfast here every morning too. The prices were great and the owner was very friendly. Why not, we seemed to go there at least once a day and generally twice once we discovered his strange but tasty version of banana pancakes. Prices are very reasonable too. A breakfast of baguettes, eggs and ice coffee for two was 45,000 dong (less than three dollars). Banana pancakes with ice coffee for two was 27000 dong (less then two dollars. Cao lau was not much more.

Sometimes people ask me how I got so lucky when they meet Doreen and I generally smile and say it’s my cooking. It’s an inside joke between us but there is some truth to all good jokes. One thing she loves about me is my passion for trying local foods and our first trips together were filled with lots of what we call “snacking around.” What this entails is walking around as any traveler does, taking photos and enjoying the sights but always with our eyes (and noses) open for culinary offers. This place was just a few tables and chairs outside someone’s house. We noticed some young girls having a snack so we asked if we could try some too. They gladly obliged.

Favorite Dish: What we had we later found out was called banh dap. It was a crispy rice wafer on the outside with a gluey rice crepe of sorts on the inside. You dipped the tasty morsels into a fiery chili squid sauce that had roasted garlic on prominent display. It was yummy and came with free tea too. It was only 4000 dong (25 cents) for enough for the two of us.

This local institution has become a bit of a tourist attraction and though it might mean you are not the only non-Vietnamese in the place, it does mean someone speaks English so ordering is a lot easier than the old point and eat. The interior is quite nice in an old world sort of way and its Old Town location is quite convenient when out sightseeing.

Favorite Dish: When in Hoi An you should try both fried wontons and white roses and these local delicacies are reasonably priced here. The fried wontons are not the deep fried variety you get in the States but a nicely sautéed version more akin to pot stickers and very tasty indeed. The white roses are shrimp wrapped up like dumplings in dough and steamed. I found the shrimp a bit small but they were nonetheless yummy. The food and a beers came to 68,000 dong (a little over $4).

This photo is of Take in our favourite pho shop in Hoi An. I wish we remembered it's address or where it was but we don't. It was a hollow space with a few tables and no menus. The old man and woman who ran it were lovely and so friendly. The pho itself was delicious and all for about a dollar (less probably).

Favorite Dish: Fresh, hot and with lime to add a bit of zing pho is a perfect meal (with a 333 beer along side).

other people on VT recomended this place so thats why we went. its very nice and very clean. great service and if your lucky enough you can have a seat out on the balcony over looking the narrow street below.
they have a nice range of cocktails and the wine was reasonably priced.

Favorite Dish: i had tuna pasta while my mate got stuck into a T bone steak

One of the perennial favourites of Hoi An. Found on the main road just behind the market, its a delightful open-fronted cafe/restaurant. Casual, easy going, menus have the pictures to help you decide. Not easy because they all look delicious! Great for lunch or a very atmospheric dinner (candles on the tables)

Favorite Dish: Generally went for seafood, although all was good that we tasted here!