Although Hoi An ancient town is small, there are hundreds of tasteful dishes which you can enjoy. Here are 10 typical delicious dishes of the city that we would like to suggest to you.
1. Cao Lau
It is said that Cao Lau has been in Hoi An since 17th century, when the court opened Hoi An, allowed foreign traders go to Hoi An. That is may the reason why Cao Lau is mostly affected by Chinese cuisine and partly influenced by Udon of Japanese. However, Hoi An still has its own feature that only Hoi An can make the best Cao Lau.
Address: It is easy to eat Cao Lau in Hoi AN, from street vendors to restaurants on Tran Phu street, the most famous one is Ba Be shop. Other is Trung Bac, almost over 100 years old, which is also delicious and highly rated.
2. Banh Dap
Every pieces of Banh Dap are crispy, perfectly matched with sautéed mussels, which creates an extremely attractive dish in Hoi An.
Address: Go through pretty Cam Nam bridge (but 45 seats car cannot pass) about 100m, the road suddenly bends to the left, past this bend, in front of our eyes are many shops which are close together, and a list of specialties written on the boad, such as "corn tea, banh dap, sautéed mussels". There are more than 10 shops selling only 3 listed dishes.
3. Chicken rice
Chosen rice must be good, aromatic and sticky, mixed with spices, then put in to water of boiled chicken and pandanus by coal. Chicken must be young, thin skin but good meat. After being boiled, people ripped chicken into small pieces, mixed with onion, fried onion, pepper and coriander. Finally, they prepared rice, put chicken above and enjoy with onion, sour papaya, Tra Que vegetable, sauce and chili sauce. Besides, there is a soup of chicken heart and liver. With all the sophisticated preparation, Hoi An people have created such a unique chicken rice that it has become a well-known dish called: Hoi An chicken rice.
Address: Some famous places as Mrs Buoi chicken rice (26 Phan Chau Trinh), Mrs Huong – Kiet Sica, Mrs Minh chicken rice, etc.
4. Banh beo
In order to make banh beo, people choose good rice, filler mostly made from local food like shrimps, meat, etc. When guests come into shop, the boss will lay many bowls in the trap, put the filler in, add oil, chili sauce, onion and then put them on the table. You must use “bamboo knife” – which is a bamboo piece in knife shape - to eat Banh beo. It is a creative way to attracts more guests, and also a significant difference of banh beo in Hoi An compared with other rice dishes. It depends on each taste that you can choose to add fish or chili sauce.
Address: Banh beo are everywhere in Hoi An, but many of them are some places near the center as Cam Chau, Cam Nam… with small shops.
5. Banh xeo
Banh xeo is the most well-known specialty of Hoi An. The main ingredients are rice, shrimps, and meat which are filler. People who cook banh xeo have to sit next to the heater, which is very hot. Therefore, the most suitable time for enjoying and cooking banh xeo is from October to December.
Address: Giếng Bá Lễ (Phan Chu Trinh), Bale Well (quá Bà Lệ) – 45/51 Trần Hưng Đạo.
6. Banh uot
It is partly the same as Banh cuon in Hanoi. Instead of thin cover and wood ear filler as Banh cuon, Banh uot has shrimp, mix with onion oil and eat with lean pork paste.
Address: Cuisine street next to Hoai river.
7. Hoanh Thanh
It is a dish of Chinese, but has been in Hoi An for a long time. So we can consider it as a specialty of Hoi An. Hoanh Thanh has many types, such as Hoanh thanh soup, Hoanh thanh noodle, fried hoanh thanh, etc. and each of them has smaller types like pork, chicken, shrimp, etc. That looks like it will take you a lot of time to tray all types of Hoanh thanh. According to the experience, Hoanh thanh pork and chicken is easily to eat, Hoanh Thanh shrimp is more aroma and sweet, and fried Hoanh Thanh is somehow fat.
Address: Van Loc food on Tran Phu street, other shops in 26 Thai Phien street.
8. Mi Quang (Quang noodle)
It is also a famous dish of Quang Nam region. People often think it is Cao Lau. But when you try, you would find out they are totally different. Quang noodle usually eat with shrimp, meat, and so on. Grilled banh trang and vegetable are suitable for Quang noddle.
Address: Quang noodles are everywhere in Hoi An, from street vendors to restaurants, but it is interesting when sitting in street vendor, next to the old quarter.
9. Sweet corn pudding
It is a local food but famous in Hoi An which made from Cam Nam corn. The pudding has sweet taste, elegant smell of new corn. Unlike the South pudding, Hoi An sweet corn pudding is cook with coconut water, which remains the taste of corn. Cam Nam corn season is from March to September.
Address: as in the second part.
10. Banh bao – banh vac
Banh Bao – Banh vac are 2 nearly the same, and are often enjoyed in one plate. The main ingredients of these dishes are rice which is white, sticky, and aroma. The filler is shrimp mixed with pepper, garlic, onion, chitronella and other secret spice. The filler made from thin pieces of pork, mushrooms and onion, fried with that secret spice. Maybe due to the secret spice that creates delicious Banh bao – Banh vac in Hoi An.
Address: White Rose restaurant in Nhi trung street. You not only eat Banh bao – Banh vac, but also watch the process of making them.
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