Foreign tourists share nine things to eat and drink in Hoi An
VOV.VN - The South China Morning Post (SCMP) of Hong Kong (China) has published an article highlighting Hoi An Ancient Town as a great place to visit, noting nine things travelers must eat and drink when visiting the central city.
Author Kylie Knott stated that after participating in a cooking class with local people she was inspired to explore the unique dishes of Hoi An.
White rose dumpling (Bánh bao bánh vạc) was the first food which impressed the writer. The shape of the dish appears like roses, and it is found at the White Rose Restaurant at 533 Hai Ba Trung in Hoi An.
These translucent rice paper pouches are filled with pork or shrimp and are lightly steamed in order to create a crimped edge, with the delicacy being a regional specialty, Knott wrote.
Served with fish sauce for dipping and then topped with crispy onion, the dumplings are a delight, if a tad oily. The author watched a group of women at the back of the restaurant expertly roll their hearts out making them add to the experience.
The article recommended Cao lầu as the city’s most famous dish which comprises of noodles topped with slices of barbecue pork, bean sprouts, and a bunch of fresh herbs.
Cao lầu, literally meaning “high storey” in Vietnamese, dated back to the 17th century when it was served to posh diners on the upper floors of restaurants. Thankfully, these days the dish is widely available throughout the city.
The following foods were highlights of Knott’s visit to Hoi An. Mì Quảng (Quang noodles) topped with pork, shrimp, quail egg and garnished with peanuts and a rice cracker and then washed down with a fresh passion fruit drink (chanh dây tươi), all of which was a treat for just VND60,000, equal to US$2.50.
Chicken rice (cơm gà) is a popular dish in Hoi An, that was introduced to the city by Chinese traders. Cơm Gà Bà Buội at 22 Phan Chu Trinh Street is an ideal place to try it.
Cơm Gà Bà Vân at 21B Phan Chu Trinh Street is a good suggestion to taste Phở, a noodle soup bursting with herbs and meat which is considered the national dish.
SCMP also mentioned Bánh Mì Phượng at 2B Phan Chu Trinh Street. The bread was made famous by the late chef Anthony Bourdain, who featured the shop in his TV show No Reservations, describing its Bánh mì as a “symphony in a sandwich”. The author noted that, “He was right. The baguette was crunchy on the outside and fluffy inside.”
Another dish popping up on menus around the city is deep fried wontons (hoành thánh chiên), a cup of Vietnamese coffee, served hot or cold, with or without condensed milk.
Furthermore, mango cake (bánh xoài) is a popular street snack and Vietnamese artisan chocolate Alluvia are also available in Hoi An.
