Top 9 Hoi An Street Foods That Will Arouse Your Palate

Hoi An cuisine is one reason that makes Hoi An the top destination in Vietnam. The traditional and delicious treats are the hallmark of Hoi An dishes. In particular, Hoi An street foods, which is bursting with robust flavors and satisfies the appetites of those with an adventurous spirit, will make its way into your list of favorite meals in no time at all. Let's explore the top 9 Hoi An street foods you shouldn't miss when visiting here.
Cao Lau
Cao Lau is a well-known noodle dish that was invented in Hoi An. It is a delectable combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines. This iconic Hoi An meal is comprised of Japanese-style udon-like noodles, barbecued pork similar to Chinese Char Siu, fresh greens, bean sprouts, crispy croutons, and a Hoi An-style special sauce. Cao Lau has frequently flavored Hoi An street foods with lime juice, Vietnamese chili sauce, and fresh chili slices.
The secret recipe to make Cao Lau is water from an ancient, enigmatic spring - Ba Le well. In addition, forest wood ash from the Cham islands and organic herbs from the Tra Que gardens are the secret ingredients. Therefore, Cao Lau is the reason why you should not miss out on Hoi An.
The origin of Cao Lau's name also piques the interest of gourmands. Cao Lau means "high story" in Vietnamese because, in the 17th century, it was a meal offered only to the aristocratic classes, who dined in restaurants on the top levels. The social structure has been eliminated in current times, but its name is still used to identify Hoi An street foods.
Price: 25.000 ~ 44.000 VND/ a bowl
Where to eat: Ba Be Cao Lau - Central Market, 19 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City
Hoi An Chicken Rice
Why is Com ga Hoi An renowned and unique? The origin of Hoi An chicken rice is linked to the famous Hainanese chicken rice brought to Quang Nam Province by Chinese immigrants. Hoi An natives utilized seasoned pilaf rice and shredded poached chicken as the primary components and complemented the dish with green papaya, carrots, onions, and herbs.
In addition, chicken rice works well with rubbery egg yolk, chicken broth, soy sauce, and chili jam. The aromatic rice is cooked over a wood burner with poached chicken broth, turmeric, and pandan leaves, giving it an alluring golden hue.
Price: 35.000 ~ 40.000 VND/ a plate
Where to eat: Com ga Ba Buoi - Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
>>> Read more: Top 10 Vietnamese Street Food That You Have To Try Once
Quang Noodle
Mi Quang (Quang-style noodles) is a unique Central Vietnamese noodle dish that originated in Hoi An's home province of Quang Nam. A basic bowl of Mi Quang includes flat rice noodles, a little amount of bone broth, pig, beef, or chicken pieces, shrimp, and quail eggs. The meal can be ordered with rice crackers, fresh vegetables, and herbs such as basil, peanuts, mint, and coriander to balance its characteristics.
Some individuals may be hesitant due to the yellow hue of the noodles in Mi Quang. However, it derives from turmeric and is entirely healthful. A bowl of steaming Mi Quang is a wonderful way to start the day in Hoi An city.
Price: 30.000 ~ 45.000 VND/ a bowl
Where to eat: Gieng Dinh, 16B Phan Chu Trinh Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
Fried Wonton
Wonton, also known as Hoi An Pizza (Hoanh Thanh Chien in Vietnamese), was imported by Chinese merchants and adapted to local preferences. The Hoi An Wonton is comprised of unwrapped, deep-fried wontons topped with a salsa-like mixture of shrimp, husked pork, chopped onions, veggies, and other seasonings. By dipping them in a combination of chili sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar, the richness of the dumplings is diminished.
Price: 40.000 ~110.000 VND/ a plate
Where to eat: Van Loc Restaurant - 27 Tran Phu Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
Banh Mi Hoi An
Banh mi is a Vietnamese baguette with well-balanced ingredients and delightful local flavors. Banh Mi is a thin, crispy baguette filled with a variety of contents, typically pork, fried eggs, pate, or chicken, and a handmade sour sauce.
The traditional Hoi An Banh Mi sandwich is distinguished by its abundance of veggies, including lettuce, cucumbers, pickled carrots, and coriander. Each mouthful of a Banh Mi contains the ideal blend of spicy, salty, sweet, and crunchy sensations.
Banh Mi has achieved international appeal and local preference due to its excellent flavor, affordability, and ease. As the most popular street cuisine in Hoi An, Banh mi can be found on every street corner. Banh Mi Phuong is regarded as one of the most respectable Banh Mi establishments by culinary critics and travel writers, including celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.
Price: 15.000 ~ 40.000 VND
Where to eat: Banh Mi Phuong - 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
>>> Read more: Banh Mi Viet Nam: Everything You Need To Know
Steamed Rice Water Fern Cake
Banh Beo, also known as Water Fern Cake, is a Vietnamese dish consisting of a steamed rice cake that is topped with an orange sauce made of minced pork, dried shrimp, scallions, oil, and rice vinegar. The flavorful cake is completed with fish sauce and shallots that have been cooked until they are crispy. The Banh Beo cake and the flat teaspoons that are provided to clients by the vendors are often presented to them on a circular tray in the form of a set.
Price: 2.000 ~ 5.000 VND/ a cup
Where to eat: Aunt Bay's Banh Beo - 2 Hoang Van Thu Street (on the corner of the old wall), Hoi An City
Hoi An Crispy Pancakes
Banh xeo pancakes are a popular Vietnamese delicacy, and although their precise history is unknown, it is widely agreed that they originated in Central Vietnam.
Banh xeo is a sophisticated delicacy available across Vietnam, but its Hoi An variation has a distinctive flavor. Banh Xeo is a savory crepe consisting of rice flour that has been deep-fried, coconut milk, and turmeric spice powder. The pancake is then frequently topped with pork, shrimp, sliced onions, bean sprouts, garlic chives, and mushrooms.
Wrapping a Vietnamese pancake in rice paper with lettuce leaves and herbs before dipping it in fermented peanut sauce or fish sauce is the right method to consume it. The smaller size of Hoi An Banh Xeo compared to previous variations makes it simpler to roll. In Hoi An, the crepe may be found at roadside food stands, local markets, and street eateries.
Price: 30.000 ~ 40.000 VND/ a plate
Where to eat: Banh Xeo Co Anh - 59/32, 18/8 Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City
Xi Ma (Black Sesame Sweet Soup)
This delicacy might not look very appetizing at first glance, but its flavor more than makes up for its appearance. Xi Ma is a hot, thick syrup that is often dark in color due to the primary component that it contains (black sesame seeds). It is typically offered as a snack in the middle of the day by street sellers, and it is believed to have powerful curative abilities. In most cases, the price of a bowl will be close to 10,000 VND.
Price: 10.000 VND/ bowl
Where to eat: Old man small street vendor, 02 Nguyen Truong To Street, opposite Hoi An Catholic Church.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls
If you are a fan of Vietnamese street food, you are definitely familiar with spring rolls (goi cuon). This Hoi An street foods included rice vermicelli, slivers of meat, shrimp, and vegetables that have been rolled in soft rice paper. When eating this you should dunk it in fish sauce or peanut sauce.
Vietnamese spring rolls are healthy food for an appetizer because they do not use oil for this dish, the taste refreshing.
Price: 10.000 ~ 20.000 VND/ a roll
Where to eat: Ram Spring Roll Restaurant - 33 Cua Dai, Hoi An City
>>> Read more: The Appealing Vietnamese Rolls
Final Thoughts
The city of Hoi An is renowned for both its rich traditions and its superb food, which combines elements of both native and foreign cuisine. There is an overwhelming selection of restaurants in Hoi An, each serving delicious meals with a variety of options. We hope that our list of the nine mind-blowing Hoi An street foods that can be found as well as the finest spot to eat them will be of use to you during your gastronomic adventure in the cultural city of Vietnam.