The best places to eat in Hoi An are set within the Ancient Town, where the charming ambiance and excellent service, combined with local and international delicacies take your food cravings to the next level. Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracting hordes of visitors each year giving way to more dining options that cater to budget levels at both ends of the spectrum. A trip to Hoi An would be incomplete unless you have sampled its traditional delicacies especially cao lou noodles, com ga or the chicken rice, and banh bao vac or the white rose dumplings.

It is easy to decide where to eat in Hoi An, as the city is teeming with restaurants and bistros owned by expats, serving western delicacies too like French pastries or some unique fusion dishes, and homemade ice cream. The city has everything to offer be it a local joint by the roadside or fuss-free stylish dining options overlooking the historical sites of the city.

1. Aubergine49

A perfect Eurasian cuisine, exquisite wines, and delicious homemade desserts await you at the Aubergine49 restaurant at the Ly Thai To Street. The master chef of the restaurant is Nguyen Nhu Thinh, a famous chef who has worked in other world-renowned restaurants in Tokyo. Aubergine49's a la carte option include the delicacies of miso-glazed seabass, duck liver parfait, roasted rack of lamb, stuffed squid, and pistachio-crusted goat. You shouldn't leave the restaurant until you have tried their banoffee pie with brandy snap, dark chocolate delice, and Dalat yogurt sorbet.

2. Miss Ly Cafe

A legendary dining spot at the Nguyen Hue Street, around the corner of the Fujian Assembly Hall, is a family-run restaurant, Miss Ly Café that has been in operation for over twenty years. The restaurant serves authentic Hoi An dishes from their reasonably priced menu like the thick rice noodles with barbecued pork, greens and croutons, and thit noung or grilled pork. But their amazing choice of delicacies is not just what attracts the foodies and travelers to the place; their beautiful set up among the shop houses of the colonial era, warm lighting and ceiling fans, vintage paintings, and wooden furnishing combined with traditional music taking up the ambiance is what lures everyone.

3. Quan Dau Bac

Another local establishment famous for its authentic yet reasonably-priced Vietnamese delicacies is Quan Dau Bac. The restaurant is a cramped and set in open-air with low tables and chairs facing the road. The restaurant is a few minutes walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge. Before exploring the Ancient Town of Hoi An, a definite stop should be reserved for the restaurant for its signature meatless Vietnamese Testing Plate. It contains the delicious tastes of rice noodles, deep fried tofu, fresh herbs, cucumber, served with pungent shrimp dipping sauce.

4.  Orivy Hoi An

Looking for an escape from the busy streets of Hoi An Ancient Town? Head straight to the secluded garden setting of Orivy Hoi An, a ten-minute walk from the Hoi An Central Market at the Cua Dai Street. The restaurant offers traditional Vietnamese delicacies at affordable prices with the standout dishes being papaya salad with shrimp and pork, com ga, glutinous rice cake, and last but not the least, mi quang noodles. The family-run restaurant also offers set menus offering an appetizer, main course with rice dessert and soft drinks.