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My constant desire to devour new food might be the reason I have an insatiable wanderlust. I am the type of person who thinks about the dishes I am going to eat the night before, and thinks of ‘breakfast’ in terms of ‘the meal 4 hours before I get to eat lunch’.
When I find a destination that allows me to be the foodie I am, but also allows me to not go bankrupt from eating out every meal, I stay awhile. Hence why we’ve decided to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam for 4 months straight. The food in Hoi An is delicious, fresh and best of all… dirt cheap! It's one of the last places on Earth where it's cheaper to eat out than it is to grocery shop and cook for yourself at home.
After living in Hoi An for a little while, I have developed a circuit of my favourite places, visiting them all multiple times a week. I am still leaving a few slots open for exploring new places, but my favs are so good they have me coming back constantly.
Here is my list of the best (and cheapest!) restaurants in Hoi An:
NostaLife
If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food and you only have a few bucks in your pocket, NostaLife is going to be your new best friend. Hands down, without a doubt, the BEST value in all of Hoi An. I’m talking about large, filling and flavourful dishes for less than you ever thought possible. Plus, it’s family run, which always makes us feel at home. We’re actually starting to feel like permanent fixtures at this restaurant because we eat there so much.
It’s located in the An Hoi district of Hoi An (the island with the night market) and tucked in behind two other (more expensive and less cool) restaurants off the main street. The restaurant is set up around a trendy tiki bar with fresh fruits on display, twinkling string lights above the tables and one of the best soundtracks in town. Great vibe, check!
Vegetarian Spring Roll
Veggies in a deep fried rice roll with an amazing sweet soy sauce
45,000 VND – $1.94 USD
Chicken Rice
Yellow rice with onions, chilis, greens, chicken, shredded carrot and green papaya
35,000 VND – $1.50 USD
Pork Skewers & Cau Lao
Pork on a stick served with cucumber, greens, rice paper rolls and homemade peanut sauce
50,000 VND – $2.15 USD
35,000 VND – $1.50 USD
Nostalife Info:
33/1 Đường Nguyễn Phúc Chu, An Hội
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
Open all week 1:00pm-9:00pm
Rosie's Cafe
Can a person overdose on smoothie bowls? Because I might be headed down that road with the sheer amount of them I eat at Rosie’s. I just can’t help myself!
Rosie’s is open for breakfast and lunch and my go-to spot for getting something healthy and packed with vitamins into my body. We visit at least 4 times a week, so Rosie and the girls have gotten to know our order and have it made for us when they see us arrive! Now that’s service!
We’ve come to love the vibe and the work ethic of the staff, but also appreciate the beautiful simplicity of the healthy dishes they create. Rosie’s is amazing and people have caught on. It's commonly full of expats and European tourists during peak times, but you can always ask to share a table. It's a great place to hang out, have a coffee and meet other like minded travellers.
UPDATE July 2019– They have recently moved from ancient town to a new location.
‘Dear Sweetie' Smoothie Bowl
Base of strawberry and coconut milk, bananas, shredded coconut, chia seeds, granola with nuts and peanut butter
70,000 VND – $3 USD
Vegan Chocolate Cake
I have no idea what’s in it, but it’s moist and delicious!
40,000 VND – $1.72 USD
Crispy French Toast
With seasonal fruit, jam and maple syrup
70,000 VND – $3 USD
Rosie's Cafe Info:
02 Đường Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Cẩm Sơn
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
• Visit Rosie's Instagram
Open for Breakfast & Lunch, Monday to Saturday
Nourish Eatery
I’ll tell you a story about how amazing the food at Nourish is. My husband Trevor is a steak and potatoes kind of guy. His ‘go-to’ meals are usually chicken wings, fatty burgers and a good rib eye. The fact that I could get him to put Nourish’s ‘Wauw’ veggie burger in his mouth and say “Yum! This is awesome!”, was a miracle in itself. I still can’t believe I have been able to get him to go back and enjoy vegan food there on 5 different occasions.
In all seriousness, Nourish Eatery is the best place for a delicious, filling and healthy meal in Hoi An. (And their new location is prime!) The owner Frank is from Holland and has a serious passion for making incredible food that his guests will throughly enjoy. He also sells his incredible butters (tahini, cashew, and peanut) by the jar to take home, which I suggest everyone does!
One of the best parts of Nourish is they will deliver to your hotel or villa. The delivery fee is only 10,000 VND ($0.43) so it's a no brainer! Check out their menu online
‘Wauw' Veggie Burger
Veggie patty (rice, black beans, roasted beetroot, mushroom, pumpkin seeds and rosemary), roasted tomatoes, veggies, tahini mango chutney on rye, w/ veggie crisps and vegan mayo.
110,000 VND – $4.74 USD
Nourish Falafel Bowl
Homemade falafel, quinoa, middle east salad, roasted beetroot with rosemary, pickled red cabbage, tofu feta cheese and a homemade tahini dressing
120,000 VND – $5.17 USD
Fresh Me Up Juice
Pineapple, pear, cucumber, celery, morning glory and lemon juice
50,000 VND – $2.15 USD
Nourish Eatery Info:
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
• Visit Nourish's Website & Instagram
Open from 9am to 4pm, only closed Monday.
Nū Eatery / The Sea Shell
Nu and Sea Shell are two different restaurants, but owned by the same people and share menu items. Nu Eatery is one of the highest rated restaurants in a prime location of town and because of that, can be overflowing with people at peak times. One day we tried to get a table, but since they were full they suggested we try their ’Sea Shell’ location just a few blocks up.
To our surprise Sea Shell has EVERYTHING on the menu that Nu does, but has even more options. Now we usually just head to Sea Shell so we know we’ll always have a seat.
The menu is fun, bursting with flavour and has a unique spin on traditional Vietnamese dishes. The smell of their steamed buns literally makes my mouth water every time I walk by.
Pork Belly Steamed Buns
Pork belly, pickled cucumber and spicy mayo in a fresh, soft steamed bun
35,000 VND – $1.50 USD
Tofu Steamed Buns
Braised tofu, thick peanut butter sauce and shredded green papaya (only at Sea Shell)
35,000 VND – $1.50 USD
Fresh Rolls
Jicama, tofu, coconut, toasted peanuts and lettuce in rice paper roll with dipping sauce
45,000 VND – $1.94 USD
Nū Eatery Info:
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
The Sea Shell Info:
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
•Visit them on Facebook
Open from 12pm to 9pm, Monday to Saturday
Burgers Plus
Never before in my life have I been able to sit down at a restaurant and get a tasty veggie burger with fries and a Diet Coke for under $3. How is this a thing? Well, at Burgers Plus it’s the real deal. For all the days that we’ve felt like we can’t possibly eat another spring roll or Cau Lao, Burgers Plus has become our Western refuge.
It’s a tiny hole in the wall restaurant with jaw dropping prices, friendly family-run service and really good burgers! It's always a risk trying veggie burgers in new places, but this one is right up my alley. It's the perfect spot for some familiar comfort food.
Veggie Burger & Fries
Veggie burger patty made with pumpkin and sweet potato, with onions and tomato
50,000 VND – $2.15 USD
Beef Burger & Fries
Juicy beef burger with BBQ sauce, tomato and onions
79,000 VND – $3.40 USD
Burgers Plus Info:
22 Đường Phan Bội Châu, Cẩm Châu
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
•Visit them on Facebook
Open from 10am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday
The Noodle House
I’ll start by saying the service at the Noodle House is far from perfect, but the insane value and flavourful dishes keep us coming back anyway.
Cau Lao is a region noodle and pork dish that’s famous in Hoi An and available everywhere you look. However, they certainly look different from place to place. Trevor has tried some Cau Lao that was more like a watery soup with some wilted lettuce and pork bits thrown in. On the flip side, he’s found hearty and savoury versions of Cau Lao at places like The Noodle House who truly take pride in making a heavenly noodle bowl.
A rich pork gravy sauce sliding down thick chewy noodles, topped with spicy fresh greens and tender pieces of meat – this is the Cau Lao he needs in his life.
While I don’t eat pork or beef, the Noodle House still has something for me. They make a great Pho, made with chicken pieces as well as a chicken broth, instead of the typical beef version.
Cao Lau
Thick noodles with slices of pork, local greens and crispy croutons and a homemade sauce.
65,000 VND – $2.80 USD
The Noodle House Info:
13 Bạch Đằng, Cẩm Châu
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
•Visit them on Facebook
Open all week from 9:30am to 10:00pm
Banh Mi Phuong
Totally overhyped, but still worth the visit. This place was made famous by Anthony Bourdain eating one of their Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches and proclaiming to the camera “this is the best sandwich in the world!”. If Anthony likes it, we knew we would too. We lined up in the only queue you’ll find in tiny Hoi An and waited for our turn to order our Banh Mi.
I got the chicken, while Trevor opted for pork with added cheese. Was it the ‘best sandwich in the world”? Hardly, but I can see why Anthony loved it so much. It’s more of a cultural immersion than anything. The experience came from us enjoying a French baguette stuffed with indescribable meats, flavours and pastes, all while sitting on miniature plastic stools while motorbikes zoomed past us.
It’s just something you need to do at least once. We went about 6 times.
Banh Mi
The chicken, or pork and cheese, Banh Mi sandwich. French bread, pate, meat, and fresh greens.
30,000 VND – $1.29 USD
Banh Mi Phuong Info:
2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
Open all week from 6:30am to 9:00pm
MIX
Feta, hummus, tzatziki, oh my! MIX is the hotspot for authentic and incredibly mouth-watering Greek food. They couldn't get higher TripAdvisor reviews if they tried and it's not hard to see why. The food is well-priced, fresh, delicious, and the service is SPOT ON. The manager treats every guest like family and always makes you feel like you've pulled up a chair at home. MIX has quickly become one of our regular eateries. (We also get GRAB food to deliver MIX to us at home if we feel particularly lazy.)
At only 50,000 VND, their souvlaki pita wraps are a spectacular bargain that will keep you coming back for more. We also loved the (free!) mini desserts that come after the meal. It's a delectable concoction of chocolate, crackers, and what I think is condensed milk. Whatever it is, it's heaven in a jar!
The menu is vast and covers all the Greek favs. Just go, you'll be glad you did.
Chicken or Pork Souvlaki
Fresh and fluffy pita bread stuffed with tzatziki, pork or chicken and french fries
50,000 VND – $2.14 USD
Mix Restaurant Info:
05 Trần Phú, Phường Minh An
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
• Visit them on TripAdvisor
Open all week (except Wednesdays) from 11:00am to 10:00pm
Mia Coffee
Hoi An has a great cafe culture, but many places in the ancient town are overpriced and too crowded. Mia Coffee is just a quick 5 minute walk outside the crazy centre of town and has better prices, amazing coffee and a relaxed vibe. It’s actually a favourite hangout among expats and long term visitors because of it’s laid back atmosphere and high quality coffee.
Mia is the kind of place you could bring your laptop to get some work done, a book for some chilled out reading, or to meet up with friends.
Panini
Kashlee gets the egg, cheese, onion and tomato. Trevor gets the ham and cheese.
58,000 VND – $2.50 USD
Cappuccino
Extra hot and sugar on the side
37,000 VND – $1.59 USD
Affogato
Warm espresso with a scoop of ice cold coconut gelato on top.
40,000 VND – $1.72 USD
Mia Coffee Info:
20 Đường Phan Bội Châu, Cẩm Châu
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
• Visit them on Facebook
Open all week from 7:00am to 5:00pm
Eat Thai
Oh how embarrassing. I’ve been here multiple times, always ordering the same dish, but have never managed to get a picture of it. I think that says something about the taste! The moment the dish hits the table, I am face down on the plate.
The owners are Spanish and Thai and they make a MEAN authentic Pad Thai. Trevor doesn’t eat seafood, so we always ask them to make it with chicken instead and they are more than happy to oblige. We were thinking of spending a few weeks in Thailand this year just for the food, but it seems we can get the taste of Thailand right in Hoi An!
They were formally known as ‘Thai Kitchen' and had a somewhat hidden location. As of Feb 11th 2019, they have changed their name to ‘Eat Thai' and have moved to a bigger and brighter location.
We took a tour through the kitchen and let me tell you…. CLEANEST kitchen in all of Hoi An. It's gleaming and sparkling. It's hard to find a local restaurant that has such HIGH food safety standards, so we were so happy to have found this place!
Pad Thai
I stole a photo from Eat Thai, because as I mentioned above, I can never get one because I eat it too fast! We sub shrimp for chicken and absolutely love this dish!
115,000 VND – $4.95 USD
Eat Thai Info:
228 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Cẩm Châu
→ Get Directions on Google Maps
• Visit them on Facebook
Open for lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday
The Night Market
I mainly go to the night market to indulge my sweet tooth, but let me tell you, it’s a real street foodie wonderland. I’ve seen everything from the normal noodle dishes, right up to full sized frogs on a stick. Anything goes here.
My personal favourite treats are the Nutella drizzled banana pancakes and the freshly made ice cream rolls. Both desserts are about 30,000 VND ($1.29 USD) and are a great evening treat. I had to put a limit on how much I get them because I still want to able to fit into my clothes while living here.
Nutella Pancake
Pancake mixture with smashed bananas, grilled hot in front of you, then cut into pieces and smothered with Nutella.
30,000 VND – $1.29 USD
Night Market Info:
An Hoi island of ancient town
Open around 4:00pm to 10:00pm nightly
No added ‘tax and gratuity' on bills
One of the most amazing things about Hoi An is they do not add tax and gratuity to the bill! We came to Vietnam from Bali and there it wasn’t uncommon to see a 10% tax and 10% added gratuity to each cheque. 20% certainly adds up over time, especially with the rising costs of food there.
Coming here, we saw that at almost ALL of the restaurants (with the exception of some overpriced touristy ones), brought the bill with no extra charges built onto it. No hidden surprises. It makes dining out in Hoi An even more affordable than it already is.
That being said, it’s always a good idea to tip when you have great food or service. I am just NOT a big fan of automatic tips being built into cheques for no reason, as that completely takes away what tipping is supposed to be about!
Tourist Trap Restaurants
Like ANY tourist destination on Earth, Hoi An also has its fair share of ‘tourist trap’ restaurants. They are places that have sprouted up in high traffic areas that have designed their menus to be anywhere from 2x’s to 5x’s the price of other establishments. Some people might not even notice, because even at these overpriced places, the cost still might be less than you pay at home. None the less, a trap is what they are. I am not naming any names, but we have tried about half a dozen of these restaurants, just to see if their food or service was living up to the big prices they charge. In each case we found the food to be on par with places that were a fraction of the price. As for service levels, we actually felt the tourist trap restaurants to have worse service than the cheaper options in town.
We are still going to try out a few more and see if any can pass the test and be added to this list. For now, none of them have had good enough food, service or value to mention them in this post.
Need Food Delivery in Hoi An?
If you don't want to go out and need food delivery to your hotel or homestay, here is: How To Get Food Delivery in Hoi An
(with menus, prices, restaurants and how to get easy delivery!)
Pin For lAter
Mark
Wednesday 22nd of February 2023
Thanks. Have been to Nosta Life, Sea Shell and Mia Coffee - all fabulous!
Feji
Wednesday 15th of January 2020
This has to be the best blogpost on food in Hoi An. I was at Rosies and Nourish! Excellent recommendations!
Kashlee Kucheran
Thursday 16th of January 2020
Yum! Nourish and Rosies are the BEST! So glad you feel the same way as we do!
Courtney Geolat
Saturday 11th of January 2020
Thank you for this amazing list, Jennifer! My husband and I are currently in Hoi An and were looking for good restaurants to try that didn't break the bank - your recommendations are perfect! Can't wait to try all these delicious foods over the next 10 days. :)
Kashlee Kucheran
Sunday 12th of January 2020
This is so great! I know you will have such a great time! Happy eating!
Jennifer Ambrose
Monday 18th of February 2019
We loved Hoi An and all the great restaurants! We missed quite a few of these places, though - I guess we'll have to go back. ;)
Fiona Mai
Saturday 16th of February 2019
I love this detailed post! As a Vietnamese I always opted for cao lau, mi Quang and other traditional items every time I visited Hoi An. Never thought there'd be such yummy-looking burgers and pads Thai in this beautiful town. I'll definitely try dishes from your list next time!