Hoi An has one of the most distinctive dining scenes in central Vietnam. The Ancient Town concentrates restaurants into a walkable area of lantern-hung lanes and French-colonial shophouses, which means you can cover a wide range of options on foot. The local specialities β Cao Lau, White Rose dumplings, and Banh Vac β are specific to Hoi An and found nowhere else in Vietnam in authentic form. Prices here run slightly higher than Danang or Hue for the same category of restaurant, but the setting adds real value.
What to Order in Hoi An
Cao Lau is the most Hoi An-specific dish: thick wheat noodles (made with water drawn from a particular local well, or so the story goes) served with sliced char siu pork, bean sprouts, and crispy rice crackers. The broth is poured sparingly rather than served as a soup. Approximately VND 45,000β70,000 at local stalls as of 2026.
White Rose (Banh Vac) are translucent steamed rice dumplings filled with shrimp, folded into a rose shape and topped with fried shallots. Delicate and genuinely local. Most restaurants in town source them from a single family workshop on Le Loi Street.
Banh Mi Phuong has become famous internationally β the banh mi here is a distinct local style with a longer, crustier loaf and more generous pate and filling than the standard Vietnamese version. Expect a queue.
Hoi An Restaurants: Our Picks
Banh Mi Phuong
2B Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An Ancient Town | Open 6:30amβ9pm
The most famous banh mi in Vietnam, consistently cited by food writers since Anthony Bourdainβs visit in 2009. The queue is real β arrive before 9am or after 2pm to avoid the worst of it. The standard banh mi with full pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, and fresh chilli costs approximately VND 30,000β45,000 as of 2026. The bread is baked on-site and has a thinner, crispier crust than typical banh mi. Order the classic version (dac biet) and eat it immediately on the nearby pavement rather than taking it back to a restaurant.
Best for: Iconic banh mi, quick breakfast or snack
Morning Glory Restaurant
106 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ancient Town | Open 10amβ10pm
The flagship restaurant of chef Trinh Diem Vy, who has spent decades documenting and cooking traditional central Vietnamese food. Morning Glory does Hoi Anβs local dishes β Cao Lau (VND 65,000), White Rose (VND 75,000 for six), and Banh Xeo (VND 90,000) β alongside central Vietnamese street food in a properly maintained shophouse setting. It is busier than comparable local spots and prices reflect the location, but the kitchen is consistent. The fried wontons (VND 65,000) are a good appetiser. Booking ahead is recommended for dinner.
Best for: Authentic local dishes, reliable quality, central Vietnamese cooking
The Cargo Club Restaurant
107-109 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ancient Town | Open 8amβ11pm
A multi-storey riverfront restaurant with a patisserie section on the ground floor and a full restaurant upstairs. The upper terrace faces the Thu Bon River β one of the better views in the Ancient Town. The menu runs from Hoi An local dishes (Cao Lau, VND 75,000; White Rose, VND 80,000) to wood-fired pizzas and Vietnamese fusion plates (VND 150,000β320,000). The French pastries and cakes (VND 45,000β90,000) are well made and the espresso (VND 50,000) is reliable. It is a good option for a long lunch or late breakfast when you want air conditioning and a view.
Best for: Riverfront setting, mixed menu, pastries and coffee
Miss Ly Restaurant
22 Nguyen Hue, Ancient Town | Open 10amβ10pm
A long-running family restaurant that has maintained its focus on central Vietnamese food through the tourist boom. The Cao Lau here (approximately VND 60,000 as of 2026) is made with handmade noodles and the broth is seasoned with more care than many competitors. The com ga (chicken rice with turmeric-stained rice and sliced poached chicken, VND 75,000) is another Hoi An speciality done well. The dining room is small and functional rather than atmospheric. Miss Ly is a local institution rather than a destination restaurant, and the quality-to-price ratio is better than most Ancient Town neighbours.
Best for: Local specialities, honest pricing, Hoi An com ga
Streets Restaurant Cafe
17 Le Loi, Hoi An | Open 7:30amβ10:30pm
A social enterprise restaurant that trains disadvantaged young people in hospitality. The food β central Vietnamese classics alongside international dishes β is cooked by students under professional supervision and the standard is genuinely good. The banh xeo (VND 85,000) and the bun bo Hue (spicy Hue beef noodle soup, VND 75,000) are highlights. Main dishes from VND 110,000β220,000. The setting is a restored shophouse with courtyard seating. Profits support the Streets International education programme.
Best for: Ethical dining, reliable Vietnamese food, courtyard seating
Nu Eatery
10A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Hoi An | Open 8amβ10pm
A small and popular spot that does modern Vietnamese cooking β the menu is not exclusively local but the kitchen takes quality seriously. The Vietnamese rice bowls (VND 95,000β150,000) with chargrilled protein and house pickles are well-assembled. The pho is good (VND 75,000). It attracts a mix of travellers and expats. Tables fill quickly at dinner so arrive early or expect a short wait.
Best for: Modern Vietnamese, good coffee, casual dining
Mango Rooms
111 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ancient Town | Open 10amβ11pm
A riverfront restaurant that does creative Vietnamese-international fusion more successfully than most. The menu changes seasonally and plays with local ingredients β expect dishes like lemongrass-cured kingfish or Hoi An-style glazed pork ribs alongside more familiar Vietnamese staples. Mains from VND 200,000β420,000. The open riverside seating is best at sunset. The cocktail menu (VND 150,000β220,000) is one of the better ones in town if you want to extend dinner into the evening.
Best for: Riverside dinner, creative Vietnamese, cocktails
Lantern Restaurant
73 Le Loi, Ancient Town | Open 10amβ10pm
Positioned on a lane that fills with lanterns from late afternoon, Lantern does central Vietnamese food in a setting that makes the most of the Ancient Town atmosphere. The White Rose (VND 70,000 for six) and the Cao Lau (VND 60,000) are both prepared with care. The grilled fish with turmeric and dill (ca nuong, approximately VND 165,000) is good for a main course. Pricing is mid-range for the area and the kitchen does not overcrowd the menu. The open-air ground floor seats fill first; the upper terrace has a better view of the lanterns at night.
Best for: Lantern-lit atmosphere, local dishes at fair prices
Practical Notes
Getting around: The Ancient Town is entirely walkable. Most restaurants listed above are within a 10-minute walk of each other.
Lantern Festival timing: On the 14th of each lunar month (usually a full moon), the Ancient Town turns off electric lights and fills with lanterns. Restaurants are busier and more atmospheric. Book in advance for this date.
Cash: Most restaurants accept cash and increasingly take card. Street stalls are cash only.
Food tours: A cooking class is one of the best ways to understand Hoi Anβs food. Book a Hoi An cooking class or food tour on GetYourGuide for hands-on experience with local specialities.
For a curated list of specific restaurants in the Ancient Town by price and style, see our best restaurants in Hoi An guide.