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Hoi An Ancient Town isn't just famous for its charming beauty; it has also captured the hearts of tourists with its delicious local cuisine. There are many delicacies in Hoi An, so remember to prepare an empty stomach, and this article will guide you through the must-try dishes in this enchanting city.
Nestled in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, this town used to be a bustling international trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries, so it has a combination of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cultures. This cultural fusion results in Hoi An's cuisine.
The vibrant color of Hoi An Ancient Town (Source: Crystal Bay)
Thanks to its diverse geography, Hoi An boasts a rich culinary heritage. Most dishes use ingredients from the mountains, plains, and sea. Its cuisine is a harmonious blend of central coastal flavors with a distinctive Hoi An twist.
Wake up early to start the food tour in Hoi An, nothing is more comforting than a hot bowl of Mi Quang. The flat rice noodles are topped with pork, fish, shrimp, and quail eggs. Add a flavorful broth made from pig bones, then sprinkle with some roasted peanuts and fresh herbs, and it’s ready to serve.
This dish is a symphony of textures and flavors. It's traditionally served with crispy sesame rice crackers for an extra crunch.
My Quang is considered the soul of Hoi An cuisine (Source: Luxuo.vn)
Recommended restaurants
Mi Quang Ong Hai - Mr. Hai Noodle
Mi Quang 92
Mi Quang Co Sinh
My Quang Co Sinh (Source: Internet)
The next stop of the food tour lands on the famous Hoi An Chicken Rice, which can easily catch your attention with the light golden rice cooked in chicken broth.
When the rice is done, it will be scooped into a bowl to create a nice shape, then the chef will place it in the middle of the plate and start decorating with shredded chicken, vegetable salad, and a special sauce made from chicken giblets on the side.
A delicious plate of chicken rice will leave a lasting impression (Source: VnExpress)
When enjoying, you need to pour the sauce over the rice. If you can handle a little spice, try putting on some hot sauce, then mix everything together and dig in right away. Just one bite of this and you will be hooked for life!
Recommended restaurants
Com Ga Ba Thuan
Com Ga Ba Buoi
Com Ga Ba Dien
Com Ga Ba Thuan (Source: Anh Duy Da Lat)
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After lunch, a refreshing drink sounds great. This is a very famous beverage shop that attracts both domestic and international tourists. The main ingredients of this herbal drink include lemon, ginger, lemongrass, edible daisy, dried lotus leaves, green tea leaves, honey, etc. Besides the refreshing taste, it also helps detoxify our body.
The drink is also decorated with a lotus petal and tea leaf to make it look more elegant. The store itself is also aesthetically pleasing, making this a perfect spot for your Instagram posts.
A beautifully decorated glass of Mot Tea is perfect for your Instagram post (Source: VOV)
This is the perfect snack for a chill afternoon when you are exhausted and hungry after exploring the whole city. Banh Xeo is made from rice batter mixed with water; add a little bit of turmeric powder for the color. It is then cooked on a hot pan, add fillings like bean sprouts, pork, and shrimp, then fold in half, cut into 3 or 4 slices, and serve.
To enjoy this dish the right way, you need to add a piece of pancake into the rice paper, followed by fresh herbs, pickles, and cucumber, then roll it and dip it into a special sweet and sour sauce made from fish sauce.
Banh xeo (Source: Lao Dong News)
Recommended restaurants
Gieng Ba Le Restaurant
Co Anh Song Hoai
This is another option if you’d prefer something less greasy. This dish, just like its name, has 2 main parts: the grilled pork and the “banh uot” which is made from a simple mixture of rice flour and water steamed on a specialized steamer, create a delicate and tender texture.
The pork is marinated with fragrant spices, shallots, and lemongrass, then grilled to perfection. The rice pancake is made from a simple mixture of rice flour and water then steamed on a specialized steamer, it is really delicate and tender.
Vietnamese rolls are usually served with a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs (Source: Vinwonders)
To enjoy this dish, you wrap the steamed rice, grilled pork, and fresh herbs like mint and basil in the rice paper, then dip it in the sweet and sour fish sauce. It's a refreshing and flavorful bite that perfectly captures the essence of Hoi An cuisine.
Recommended restaurants
Quan Co Dong
Quan Co Loi Hoi An
Of course, a food tour cannot be complete without a sweet treat. After savoring the crispy, flavorful Banh Xeo or a grilled meat dish, a soothing bowl of Che is the perfect choice to balance your taste buds. This Vietnamese dessert is a delightful treat, and Hoi An's Che is renowned for its diverse flavors and exquisite taste. There are so many types of Che that you can choose from, depending on your preference, such as green bean, lotus seed, mixed, black sesame, etc.
Che are so diverse that it can be a real challenge for those who are indecisive (Source: Internet)
Ong Thieu Black Sesame Soup (Source: Internet)
It is said that you should never leave Hoi An before trying this dish. “Cao Lau” in Vietnamese means “the high floor." It has this name because back in the past, when wealthy people came to dine at restaurants in Hoi An, they would sit on the upper floor, and the restaurant would serve them this “noble food” on a tray.
This dish is quite similar to Quang noodles, but the Cao Lau noodle takes more time and effort to make, the broth is thicker, and the topping of this dish is simpler with only char siu pork and Vietnamese sesame rice crackers.
Cao Lau has the umami flavor from the broth and the unique smell from the char siu sauce (Source: Foody.vn)
Cao Lau Ba Le
Quan Co Be
Cao Lau Ba Be
By exploring the local flavors, you can satisfy your taste buds and also gain a deeper understanding of the culture in Hoi An. As the saying goes, “The way to a person's heart is through their stomach." Hoi An will definitely steal your heart with its delicious delicacies.
We hope this blog will help you find the best spot to savor Hoi An cuisine. Have a wonderful trip and don't hesitate to contact Asia King Travel for more information about our tours.
Recommend for you: Hoi An Trip Half-day: Tra Que Village Cooking Class
