I’ve heard lots of people talking about street food in Asia and I decided I just had to try it out for myself. You really can’t come to Asia without falling in love with the food. Though if you head away from the tourist areas, language barriers make it a bit harder, especially when you have dietary restrictions. Being vegetarian isn’t a thing in Asia but I learned to tell the humans I was Buddhist and they understood well. However, I recruited a local guide to help me find the best spots for veggie food in the town. This was one of the best things I did because she took me to some locations that I would have never dreamed of trying on my own. A food crawl is definitely recommended because there are so many good eateries in Hoi An and I’m sad I couldn’t try them all. I’m hoping to return to Hoi An in the future so that I can try out some more of the delicious central Vietnamese cuisine.
Breakfast
Bahn mi is one of my favourite Vietnamese foods, who doesn’t love a hot sandwich, but that is the British dinosaur coming out of me. All of the staples of Vietnamese foods are easily made vegetarian or even vegan. Cao Lau is another delicious food that I would eat for every meal of the day if I could.
However, my favourite breakfast food in Hoi An was the loquats, dragon fruit, green oranges and pastries. The French influence comes through and the croissants are incredible.
Street food
I don’t think you can visit Asia without trying street food, there is something about sitting on a tiny plastic chair eating on a table with strangers. The staple chicken rice has to be tried once, but I did change mine to egg, tofu and rice. Sadly, it wasn’t for me as I had hyped it up too much in my furry blue brain. I found the dish to be really bland. However, it didn’t help that I spotted the world’s biggest cockroach outrunning a lizard on the wall next to my table.
The remainder of my street eats were supervising the humans trying the different foods, until we made it to dessert …
Restaurants
Bear Garden Restaurant is hidden down a small back street hidden away from the lanterns. It is well worth getting lost for, I would never have found this place had it not been for the local guide I was with. The restaurant has a small menu with a few vegetarian options. Cao Lau is the most delicious noodle dish and can be seafood, pork or tofu. I think we all know which one I went for. The tofu was cooked to perfection and paired well with green leafy vegetables, thick noodles and a soy-based sauce. My favourite part was the sesame crisps. Vietnamese food has the perfect balance which makes everything taste delicious.
Trung Bac Restaurant is a small 100 year old restaurant in the old town, ran by a small family. I really enjoyed the vegetarian wontons and spring rolls.
Hotel restaurants are a bit boring and, I wouldn’t normally put a hotel restaurant on a places to eat post. However, Le Pavillion hotel broke the mould and I would have happily eaten there again (if I had enough time). It was the only place in Vietnam where I found meat substitutes to allow me to enjoy eating Hoisin.
Vegan eats
Hoi An has not one but 2 really delicious vegan restaurants. Peanuts is a simple vegan restaurant with a small but delicious menu. The location was ideal because it was within a stones throw from my hotel.
V vegan restaurant is a central restaurant with a delicious menu. I love how the menu was filled with vegan versions of really delicious Vietnamese dishes. The Cao Lao was my favourite dish. Definitely a restaurant that I am excited to return to next time I am in Hoi An.
Desserts
I headed into the night market with the noble aim of finding dessert. I don’t have an overly sweet tooth, OK that might be a lie (cake is life). The banana pancakes were delicious and I opted to eat mine without the covering of Nutella chocolate. Each pancake was made freshly in front of you by a man with a tiny stall at the beginning of the market.
Opposite this stall was a delicious rolled ice cream vendor. Sadly, the crowds proved too much for me and my photographer I am sure there are lots more delicious food stalls further into the market.
On a healthier note, the fruit was so delicious and so fresh. My photographer turned into a dragonfruit during the trip and I discovered the smallest and most delicious fruit; loquats. They are definitely worth spending the time to peel the fruits because they taste like a combination of lychee and apple.
Coffee
Honestly, I could write a book and fill it with all of the amazing coffee spots in Vietnam, but Hoi An had one place which stood out by far as the best. Moments is located on a crossroads in the old town, in a building covered in vivid pink bougainvillea. The café is open from day to night and the ambience went from a bustling coffee spot, perfect for people watching. On an evening it changed into a laid back bar with great live music. The decor was relaxed and the wicker chairs provided the best place to escape the heat of the afternoon sun.
I loved the salted cream iced coffee and the iced coconut coffee, I couldn’t pick a favourite. All of the drinks were insta-worthy and looked delicious, I only wish I had time to try one of the cocktails.
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