Guide to the Best Restaurants in Hoi An
Vietnamese cuisine is appreciated all over the world. It would be difficult to find a major city without a Vietnamese restaurant. But what about in Vietnam itself? Hoi An is fighting for its place as a culinary destination of choice in Asia, attracting gourmets from around the world. This charming town is home to some of the best restaurants in Vietnam.
We generally think of the capital Hanoi or the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City when we talk about Vietnamese cuisine. This is not wrong, these two cities are gastronomic paradises. But Hoi An is also a culinary paradise in Vietnam.
It is not just the vibrant atmosphere and the seductive aesthetics that make Hoi An a culinary paradise. Indeed, Hoi An is teeming with high-end restaurants serving a variety of dishes from around the world. Whether you’re looking for a glass of red wine with a pizza or fresh seafood, the best restaurants in Hoi An will satisfy you.
They are also pushing the boundaries of modern Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurants in Hoi An literally have something to please everyone.
Can You Trust Trip Advisor ?
The competition is fierce in Hoi An and TripAdvisor is the kingdom of fake reviews even more so than in other regions. There are several companies, particularly in Da Nang, where you can buy fake reviews, and many restaurants in Hoi An buy them.
In other words, the fact that an establishment in Hoi An has numerous reviews does not necessarily mean it is worth visiting.
Where to Eat in Hoi An?
For many people, traveling is as much about culinary discovery as anything else. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure creating good memories. That’s why I have tasted, researched, and explored countless restaurants to compile this list of the best ones in Hoi An.
No matter what you’re craving, this list has you covered! Whether it’s cheap and delicious roadside dishes or a high-end unforgettable culinary experience, check out my list below of the best restaurants in Hoi An and follow the guide.
So, where to eat in Hoi An? Follow the guide.
1. Madame Hien Restaurant (formerly Co Mai)
- Address: 02 Nguyen Thai Hoc – Hoi An
- Opening hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
- Price range: 130,000 – 400,000 VND
Madame Hien Restaurant is one of the most bold and traditional restaurants in Hoi An. It is run by Didier Corlou, one of the most famous chefs in Vietnam and Asia. You have surely tried one of his restaurants in Hanoi (La Verticale, Madame Hien, or Porte d’Annam).
Besides being located in a 200-year-old house recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage, this restaurant offers exceptional cuisine.
The unique feature of this restaurant is the combination of many flavors, including spices, vegetables, fresh herbs from the Tra Que vegetable village, and seafood brought directly from the Hoi An beach. Therefore, the food here is more attractive and fresher than in other places.
That’s why Madame Hien Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Hoi An, which will surely bring you new experiences on flavors.
2. Nu Eatery
- Address: 10A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai – Hoi An
- Opening hours: 12 PM – 9 PM, Monday to Saturday
Nu Eatery is an innovative restaurant that pushes the boundaries of traditional Vietnamese cuisine with its bold culinary creations. Located near the Japanese Bridge, in the picturesque heart of Hoi An’s old town, this popular establishment is committed to using fresh and high-quality ingredients, assembled with remarkable inventiveness.
Housed in a small traditional home, this venue benefits from a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere. The food, both simple and fresh, plays a crucial role in this ambiance. The interior layout, elegant and comfortable, provides an ideal setting for a meal while focusing on the culinary experience. From the balcony seating area, one can admire the view of the old town. Here, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the streets, one can watch the sunset illuminating the rooftops and filtering through the foliage.
Almost becoming a cult spot, Nu Eatery is extremely popular. It is not uncommon to see queues forming in front of its door.
Although the menu at Nu Eatery is relatively limited, it is abundant with exceptional Vietnamese flavors, enhanced with little surprises and modern reinterpretations. The restaurant is notably renowned for its pork bao, a steamed bun filled with pork meat, purportedly the best in town.
Thus, if you are in search of Vietnamese flavors and textures but desire a slightly offbeat culinary experience while retaining familiar tastes, Nu Eatery undoubtedly deserves a place on your list of places to visit.
3. Morning Glory Original
- Address: 106, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An
- Opening hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
- Prices: 113,000 VND – 455,000 VND
Morning Glory Original is the most renowned restaurant in Hoi An. This gastronomic establishment is a true institution, praised for its contribution to the preservation and promotion of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
The restaurant is named after the “morning glory” or “rau muống” in Vietnamese, an aquatic plant that is omnipresent in local cuisine, symbolizing the simplicity and authenticity of Hoi An’s culinary traditions.
As soon as you step through the door of Morning Glory Original, you are immediately enveloped in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The decor is elegantly traditional with a modern twist, perfectly reflecting the restaurant’s philosophy of merging the past with the present.
The menu offers an impressive array of traditional Vietnamese dishes, prepared with care and expertise. The ingredients are fresh, local, and seasonal, ensuring a high-quality culinary experience. Among the most popular dishes are “Cao Lau,” a noodle dish specific to Hoi An, and “Banh Xeo,” a crispy crepe stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts.
Morning Glory Original is more than just a restaurant. It is a place where visitors can connect with Vietnamese culture through food, and where the passion for traditional cuisine is palpable with every bite. Whether you are a traveler in search of new flavors or a local eager to rediscover traditional dishes, Morning Glory Original in Hoi An is a must-visit destination.
4. Hoa Hien
- Address: 35, Tran Quang Khai, Cam Chau, Hoi An
- Opening hours: 9 AM to 9:30 PM, daily
- Prices: 65,000 VND – 130,000 VND
Located just five minutes by bike from the heart of Hoi An’s old town, overlooking the beautiful Thu Bon River. This signature restaurant offers an authentic culinary experience. By choosing from individual plates or a set menu, Hoa Hien allows you to delve deeper into the centuries-old cuisine of Hoi An. Additionally, while catching a glimpse of the cultural show ‘Hoi An Impressions’, a colorful view of bright lights and joyful music, from across the river.
Hoa Hien’s varied menu includes all local dishes as well as other Vietnamese dishes such as salads, curries, soups, dumplings, spring rolls, grilled meats, and savory pancakes.
A great benefit of Hoa Hien is that you can simultaneously enjoy a multitude of Hoi An-centered dishes with your travel companions. This is impossible to do at food stalls because the competition is so fierce that each stall tends to specialize in just one dish. Offering convenience and very reasonable prices compared to other restaurants located in the center of the old town, Hoa Hien provides a charming glimpse into the culinary culture of Hoi An.
5. Restaurant Sông Thu
- Address: 55 Tran Quang Khai – Hoi An
- Opening hours: 8 AM to 10 PM, daily
- Prices: 150,000 VND – 500,000 VND
The Thu Bon River flows through Hoi An, and along it, you’ll find a local gem, Restaurant Sông Thu. Nestled at the end of Tran Quang Khai and more accessible by car or bike, it offers a tempting Mecca of seafood delights.
From the outside, this restaurant looks more like a local food court, with its open layout and many tables. However, the staff at Sông Thu is attentive and welcoming from the start.
Showing guests to their seats and introducing them to the aquatic delights on display. Their aquariums showcase supreme seafood such as crab, snapper, crawfish, or prawns. The extensive menu changes with the seasons and consists mainly of seafood dishes, with a few Western classics for good measure.
Simple staples such as seafood fried rice and shrimp soup are available, each for 100,000 VND ($4.30). For a big splurge, you can buy a succulent steamed crab for 900,000 VND ($38.80) per kilogram, with juicy freshwater prawns sold for 1,350,000 VND ($58.20) per kilogram. Each fish dish is offered in different styles: stir-fried, grilled, stewed, steamed, or in a Hoi Anian clay pot. If you’re in the mood to add something non-seafood to your selection, the fried frog with lemongrass and chili is a big hit, at 100,000 VND ($4.30).
6. Le Cabanon
- Address: 53, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa, Hoi An
- Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 2 PM | 5 PM – 10 PM, Monday to Friday
- Prices: 150,000 VND – 500,000 VND
Ah, Le Cabanon! When I feel the urge to find a little corner of France in Hoi An, this is where I head. Located in the heart of the old town, this place offers much more than just a meal; it’s a true immersion in the ambiance of a French bistro.
Gilles and Julien, two French expatriates, have managed to create a space that is both welcoming and typically French, a feat right in the heart of Vietnam. Their passion for cuisine and hospitality is felt in every dish and in the warm atmosphere of the restaurant.
The menu? A delight for any expatriate or tourist craving a taste of home. I can’t recommend the goat cheese cordon bleu enough, a tasty twist on a beloved classic. For those who prefer something melting, the molten camembert is a must.
But the highlight for me remains the truffle oil and mushroom camembert. It’s the kind of dish that transports you straight to France.
The restaurant is small and popular, so I recommend making a reservation if you want to be sure to dine there.
7. Mix Restaurant
- Address: 70, Le Loi, Hoi An
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Prices: 50,000 VND – 560,000 VND
If you are a lover of Greek cuisine, a visit to Mix Restaurant is absolutely recommended. Greek restaurants are still quite rare in Vietnam and in Hoi An in particular.
Mix Restaurant is run by a Greek owner, thus guaranteeing a 100% authentic culinary experience. The restaurant offers ample space and includes an interior terrace.
The quality of the food served is excellent, and dining here can be economical, especially when visiting in a group. Indeed, the portions are generous and easily allow for ordering a platter (meats, seafood, or both) for several people.
8. Ganesh
- Address: 99, Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 3 PM / 5 PM – 10 PM
- Prices: 50,000 VND – 150,000 VND
This Indian restaurant, known for its diverse menu, offers a culinary journey through India. From the north to the south of the country, Ganesh serves a wide range of traditional Indian dishes, from Chicken Curry (my favorite) to Tikka Masala, and Garlic Naan.
Each dish is carefully prepared using the freshest spices and ingredients to ensure an authentic taste experience.
For me, Ganesh is the best Indian restaurant in Hoi An and a true gem for lovers of Indian cuisine like me. A note for Muslim diners, the restaurant is Halal.
9. Good Morning Vietnam
- Address: 11, Le Loi – Hoi An
- Opening Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Prices: 100,000 VND – 250,000 VND
Forget about the so-called Vietnamese pizzas and signs proclaiming “Best Pizzas Hoi An” that you see everywhere, and head to a real Italian restaurant offering authentic Italian cuisine.
Located in an old two-story house 100 meters from the old town of Hoi An, the restaurant is managed by Luca, who oversees both the pizzeria and the kitchen. It offers a wide range of Italian dishes from pizza to spaghetti Bolognese and carbonara, not forgetting the tiramisu for dessert, among others.
The decor of the restaurant is simple but elegant, with touches of rustic wood and soft lighting that create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. The walls are adorned with photos of Italian actors, adding a touch of charm to the place.
In the evening, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the second floor, comfortably seated on the sofas.
My two favorite picks are the Calzone (a puffed pizza) and the four-cheese pizza. They are simply delicious.