Hoi An eating guide

An independent selection of the best eateries from fine dining to street food in Hoi An, from Rusty Compass. No paid endorsements.

Hoi An eating guide

Introduction

| 22 Sep 2023
Last updated 22 Sep 2023

Hoi An is the birthplace of some of Vietnam's most delectable local specialties. Cao lau is a favourite. There are many others. This is a very good place to eat. The local food scene continues to flourish - even after the pandemic. The international dining scene was smashed by COVID and is still recovering. Do some exploring. Hit the atmospheric alleys for a delicious bowl of cao lau or mi quang. For dinner take a seat in a heritage gem. Mix it up. Make sure you venture beyond the epicentre of tourist eateries around the Japanese Bridge. The cafe scene is booming. You won't have trouble finding a coffee in a cool Hoi An space - we have a guide for that too (see below). Get a hit of local seafood on An Bang Beach 5kms away. Like most tourist towns, sifting through the plethora of options, and finding the right ones, is the challenge. We've been a trusted reviewer of Hoi An's food and travel scene for 10 years - though COVID has tested our updates too. It's been a sad process removing so many restaurants, but things are bouncing back. As always, be sure to do your own culinary exploration beyond the recommendations of this and other travel guides. Let us know if you find something really special. 
Everything here is handpicked. We only list the places we think you should know about.

An Bang Beach eating guide - Hoi An

Our independent guide to the restaurants and local eateries of An Bang Beach, around 6kms from Hoi An. An Bang Beach is now Hoi... Read more

Coffee culture - Hoi An's best coffee

Hoi An's coffee scene has been transformed over the past few years. You won't need to search far for a great cup in a cool... Read more

Quan Chay Dam vegetarian restaurant, Hoi An

Madam Dam has been serving up her vegetarian buffet down this alley for a long time. She’s the star at her friendly family run... Read more

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Quan Chay Dam vegetarian restaurant, Hoi An
71/20 Phan Chu Trinh Hoi An - between Le Loi and Hai Ba Trung

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Streets of food - best streets for foodies in Hoi An

Hoi An’s old town has been colonised by tourist eateries. Some of them are good. Many are mediocre. Make sure you also head... Read more

Ba Le Well Restaurant, Hoi An

An old favourite that’s just holding on to its character in the face of fast growing popularity and an expanded space. This... Read more

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Ba Le Well Restaurant, Hoi An
38 Phan Chu Trinh St Hoi An - in a small alley nearby Ba Le well that runs off no. 38.

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Com Ga Ba Buoi, Hoi An

One of the oldest eateries in town, this simple, family run chicken rice spot is a gem - though it’s now on the busy side. Read more

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Com Ga Ba Buoi, Hoi An
22 Phan Chu Trinh St, Hoi An

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Mango Mango Restaurant, Hoi An

American Vietnamese chef Tran Duc first made a name for himself in Hoi An more than a decade ago serving contemporary Asian... Read more

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Mango Mango Restaurant, Hoi An
45 Nguyen Phuc Chu
, Hoi An, Vietnam
+84 235 3911 863

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Morning Glory Restaurant, Hoi An

Classic Vietnamese cuisine and cooking classes in a lovely building in the centre of town. Things are getting very busy here -... Read more

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Morning Glory Restaurant, Hoi An
106 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An, Vietnam
+84 (0510) 2241 555

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Bazar Cafe, Hoi An

Bazar is one of the nicest of Hoi An’s old town cafe restaurants. Have a chat with co-owner Federico, an Italian archaeologist... Read more

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Bazar Cafe, Hoi An
36 Tran Phu
 St Hoi An, Vietnam
+84 510 39 11 229

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Com Ga Huong, Hoi An

One of Hoi An’s legendary street stalls, this place has been serving up some of Hoi An’s finest com ga (chicken rice) for... Read more

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Com Ga Huong, Hoi An
On the street at 58 Le Loi St, Hoi An

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Soul Kitchen, An Bang Beach

Soul Kitchen's a bohemian style lounge and restaurant on An Bang Beach outside Hoi An - pleasant by day and night. Getting busy... Read more

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Soul Kitchen, An Bang Beach
An Bang Beach 5kms from Hoi An town

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Central Market food hall, Hoi An

Hoi An's downtown market is the easiest place to sample the town's delicious culinary specialties - cao lau and mi quang as well... Read more

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Central Market food hall, Hoi An
Cnr Tran Phu and Nguyen Hue Sts, Hoi An

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Banh My Phuong, Hoi An

Banh My Phuong is a delicious Vietnamese sandwich stall in Hoi An, that’s been catapulted into the limelight by an endorsement... Read more

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Banh My Phuong, Hoi An
2B Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An

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The Hill Station, Hoi An

A little deli outfit that started in Sapa, owned by a local Hmong girl and two Danes, now arrives in Hoi An in a superb old... Read more

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The Hill Station, Hoi An
321 Nguyen Duy Hieu St, Hoi An

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Mia Cafe, Hoi An

Mia Cafe opened in 2012 and was the first place in town to win the loyalty of Hoi An’s growing contingent of expat coffee... Read more

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Mia Cafe, Hoi An
20 Phan Boi Chau St, Hoi An
+84 90 555 20 61

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The Espresso Station, Hoi An

Hidden away down an alley, The Espresso Station has been a favourite with Hoi An’s coffee loving expats since opening in late... Read more

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The Espresso Station, Hoi An
28/2 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
+84 90 569 11 64

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Mai Fish, Hoi An

Tran Duc is one of our favourite Vietnam chefs. We’ve been big fans of his restaurants, Mango Rooms and Mango Mango, for a long... Read more

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Mai Fish, Hoi An
45 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Hoi An
+84 235 3925 545

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Good Morning Vietnam Italian restaurant, Hoi An

The Good Morning Vietnam people have a strong presence serving Italian food in tourist spots across the country. Italian owned... Read more

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Good Morning Vietnam Italian restaurant, Hoi An
11 Le Loi St, Hoi An

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Pho Lien, Hoi An

With seven decades of service under its belt, Pho Lien may the best place to grab a bowl of Vietnam’s favourite noodle soup,... Read more

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Pho Lien, Hoi An
25 Le Loi St, Hoi An

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Le Cabanon, Hoi An

A refreshingly simple, friendly, French owned eatery on the fringe of Hoi An's old town. Read more

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Le Cabanon, Hoi An
13 Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa, Hoi An, Vietnam

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Faifo Coffee, Hoi An

Faifo Coffee is the only serious specialty coffee shop we know in the heart of Hoi An's old town. And it happens to be in one of... Read more

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Faifo Coffee, Hoi An
130 Tran Phu St, Hoi An - in the old town

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Phin Espresso and Drip, Hoi An

Great coffee, handsome garden space and Phin Espresso and Drip is also plastic free. Love the classic Vietnamese house too. They... Read more

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Phin Espresso and Drip, Hoi An
132/7 Tran Phu, Minh An, Hoi An

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