Banh Bao, Banh Vac
Also known as “white rose dumplings”. The dumpling skin is made from rice flour, sweet and rich in flavor, white, thin, and smooth. The filling of Banh Vac is made from finely chopped shrimp along with pepper, onions, lemongrass, and spices, while Banh Bao is made from pork, onions, and finely chopped wood ear mushrooms.
Banh bao, banh vac in Hoi An
These two types of dumplings are usually served together on a plate, accompanied by salty dipping sauce and sliced chili. “Although the dish is greasy, it’s very tasty,” writes SCMP. Suggested location: White Rose Restaurant, Hai Ba Trung Street.
Chicken Rice
Chicken rice is a traditional dish in Hoi An that originated from Chinese merchants and has gained a lot of popularity in the city. The dish is made of rice that is cooked in chicken stock, chicken pieces that are shredded, and a salty sauce that is served with green papaya and carrot strips. The chicken should be soft, the rice should be sticky and smooth, and the sauce should be flavorful, which makes the dish appealing. Recommended place: Ba Buoi’s Chicken Rice, Phan Chu Trinh Street.
Hoi An Chicken rice
Banh mi
The banh mi is a popular street food in all provinces of Vietnam. In Hoi An, guests can see many shops selling this dish. The bread crust is crispy, the inside contains pate, char siu meat, shredded pork, Chinese sausage, cotton pork, and sausage served with sweet and sour raw vegetables. Phuong Banh Mi is a suggested destination, where famous chef Anthony Bourdain once visited and introduced on his program “No Reservations”.
Hoi An banh mi
Pho
"It would be a big culinary mistake to leave Vietnam without enjoying a hearty bowl of pho, topped with herbs and meat. The clear pho broth, tender beef is what makes the dish attractive to tourists. Guests can eat Hoi An pho at Ba Van’s Chicken Rice shop located on Phan Chu Trinh Street for 40,000 VND.
Pho in Hoi An
Crispy Wonton
Another dish on the list is crispy wonton with a crust made from wheat flour. After frying until crispy, the chef will pick them up to the plate and cover them with a layer of fresh shrimp, sweet and sour mango salad. A place selling this dish highly rated by SCMP is Anio Boutique Hotel located on Le Dinh Tham Street.
Crispy Wonton in Hoi An
Quang Noodles
Quang noodles is the next dish mentioned. The noodles are flat, chewy, topped with a layer of thinly sliced pork, shrimp, quail eggs along with peanuts, served with sauce. One of the eateries loved by international guests is Mr. Hai’s Quang Noodles, Truong Minh Luong Street.
Quang noodles in Hoi An
Cao Lau
The dish consists of noodles and grilled pork, bean sprouts along with herbs, which appeared in Vietnamese cuisine in the 17th century to serve prestigious guests on the high floors of restaurants. Today, the dish is widely sold throughout Hoi An. “Cao Lau is special because its noodles are made with water from a thousand-year-old well in the city, rich in calcium and extremely pure,” the Hong Kong newspaper’s travel expert wrote. Suggested location: Miss Ly Cafe, Nguyen Hue Street.
Hoi An Cao Lau
Coffee
Coffee lovers certainly cannot leave Hoi An without a cup of coffee made in the style of the Vietnamese in hand. It could be brown or black coffee, served by adding ice or drinking it hot.
In addition, guests can enjoy juice or a traditional herbal drink, including lemon, sugar, lemongrass, or added licorice, jasmine, chrysanthemum, and lotus leaves, ginger. One of the suggested addresses is Mot Hoi An located in the old town area.
Mot Cafe in Hoi An
Snacks
If you like something light, visit the roadside stalls in the old town to buy mango cake, tea, or nine-layer cloud cake. These are rustic dishes, widely sold in the old town area.
Hoi An mango cake
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