Hoi An travel guide
Best Street Food in Hoi An: Where & What to Eat
Hoi An is famous for cao lau (chewy noodles made with local well water), white-rose shrimp dumplings (banh bao vac) and banh mi — the sandwich Anthony Bourdain called the world’s best, from Banh Mi Phuong. Com ga (Hoi An chicken rice) and mi quang turmeric noodles round out the local canon.
Eating in Hoi An: what you need to know
Hoi An has its own micro-cuisine found almost nowhere else — cao lau noodles made with local well water, white-rose dumplings and some of Vietnam’s best banh mi. Eat where the plastic stools are full.
Must-try dishes in Hoi An
| Dish | What it is | Where to try it | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cao lau | Chewy rice noodles with pork, herbs and crispy crackling — the water must come from Hoi An’s Ba Le well | Cao Lau Ba Le or any Old Town stall | ₫40,000–60,000 |
| White rose (banh bao vac) | Translucent shrimp dumplings shaped like roses, topped with crispy shallots | White Rose Restaurant, the original supplier | ₫60,000–90,000 |
| Banh mi | Hoi An’s banh mi is legendarily good — crusty, stuffed, and praised by Anthony Bourdain | Banh Mi Phuong or Madam Khanh (“The Banh Mi Queen”) | ₫25,000–40,000 |
The best food spots in Hoi An
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Banh Mi Phuong · Old Town edge
Cuisine: Banh mi · Expect to pay: ₫30,000
Must order: Banh mi thap cam (mixed), with pâté
2B Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An
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Morning Glory Original · Ancient Town
Cuisine: Central Vietnamese · Expect to pay: ₫120,000–250,000
Must order: Cao lau and white-rose dumplings
106 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An
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Com Ga Ba Buoi · Old Town
Cuisine: Chicken rice (com ga) · Expect to pay: ₫50,000–80,000
Must order: Com ga — shredded chicken over turmeric rice
22 Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An
Also in vietnam
best street food in Hoi An — FAQs
What food is Hoi An famous for?
Hoi An is famous for cao lau (chewy noodles made with local well water), white-rose shrimp dumplings (banh bao vac) and banh mi — the sandwich Anthony Bourdain called the world’s best, from Banh Mi Phuong. Com ga (Hoi An chicken rice) and mi quang turmeric noodles round out the local canon.
How much does food cost in Hoi An?
Hoi An is very cheap to eat well: banh mi costs ₫25,000–40,000 ($1–1.60), a bowl of cao lau ₫40,000–60,000, and a full Ancient Town dinner ₫120,000–250,000 ($5–10). A day of excellent eating can stay under ₫300,000 ($12).
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.