When visiting Hoi An, amidst sightseeing and exploration, don't forget to indulge in the delightful flavors of street food. Known as a snacker's paradise, the street food in Hoi An captivates travelers not only with its taste and colors but also with its budget-friendly prices. With just 5000 dong, you can savor a variety of tempting street snacks in this city.
Grilled Skewered Meat
While strolling through the ancient town, if you suddenly catch a whiff of delicious aroma and see smoke rising in a corner, you're likely approaching a grilled skewered meat stall – a specialty of the Hoi An tourist destination. To prepare this dish, the stall owner marinates pork with spices such as five-spice powder, salt, pepper, sugar, lemongrass, chili, garlic, and more. The meat is then grilled over charcoal until golden brown. This method is similar to other types of skewered meat.
However, what sets the grilled skewered meat in Hoi An apart is that it is enjoyed with rice paper and various fresh herbs like cucumber, coriander, and lettuce. The dipping sauce is also crafted with a special recipe, consisting of soybean sauce, crushed peanuts mixed with a bit of chili sauce. When customers indulge, the vendor adds a sprinkle of sesame seeds to the sauce bowl.
The rich sweetness of the grilled meat, combined with the refreshing taste of fresh herbs, and a hint of impressive spiciness from the dipping sauce, delights the taste buds of diners. This is why many travelers in Hoi An seek out this enticing delicacy. The price for one skewer of meat is 5,000 dong.
Pork Skin Cake
Pork skin cake is among the most favored dishes in Hoi An. You can spot pork skin cakes in small stalls or mobile vendors run by local women along the streets of the ancient town – the premier dining spot
The gentle and charming colors of Hoi An's Pork Skin Cake resemble a work of art. For food enthusiasts, indulging in this dish reveals the meticulous craftsmanship of the chef.
Imitating the colors of a rainbow, the eye-catching delightful dish, Pork Skin Cake, captivates with vibrant and enticing hues, as well as the delicately thin and moist layers stacked skillfully. Hoi An's Pork Skin Cake has a slightly chewy texture, with a sweet and mild taste, accompanied by the fragrant aroma of glutinous rice and the rich creaminess of coconut essence. Just with one bite, travelers experience the distinctive scent of the local grassy fields. The price for one Pork Skin Cake starts from 2,000 dong.
Mango Cake
Apart from the Pork Skin Cake, Mango Cake stands out as one of Hoi An's delicious specialties that attract tourists. Despite its name, this cake is primarily made with glutinous rice flour, peanuts, and sugar.
After steaming to perfection, glutinous rice flour is finely ground, wrapped around a filling of crushed peanuts and sugar. With skillful hands, the baker takes a bit of dough, adds a portion of filling, and expertly shapes it into a mango-like form. The finished mango shapes are evenly rolled in a bowl of pristine white glutinous rice flour, resembling a dusting of fragrant powder, serving both to prevent sticking and enhance appeal.
While rice crackers are known for their firm and crispy texture, Mango Cakes are incredibly soft and delicately moist, providing a smooth experience for diners. Moreover, unlike typical snacks available year-round, Mango Cakes only grace the scene in the autumn season when the weather begins to cool.
Therefore, if you happen to be traveling to Hoi An during the autumn transition, don't forget to relish this unique snack. The price for one Mango Cake is a mere 2,000 dong.
Tube Ice Cream
The ranking of Tube Ice Cream as one of the delicious treats in Hoi An for tourists is no coincidence. This popular ice cream is molded into charming small cylindrical tubes, just slightly larger than a fingertip. Those who have tasted Hoi An's Tube Ice Cream are sure to appreciate the refreshing sensation and the gradually melting sweetness on the tongue. The light and pleasant sweetness avoids any sense of overwhelming indulgence.
Tube Ice Cream typically comes in three flavors: chocolate, coconut milk, and energy drink, with coconut milk being the favored choice. Beyond being a childhood memory for locals, these ice cream sticks are now considered a Hoi An delicacy in every traveler's culinary notebook when exploring the ancient town. Each ice cream stick is priced from 2,000 to 3,000 dong.
The tempting snacks in Hoi An mentioned above allure travelers far and wide with their delightful and budget-friendly flavors, priced at only around 5000 dong. If you have the chance to visit Hoi An, make sure to savor these delectable treats.
Explore more:
- Where to Enjoy Cao Lau in Hoi An?
- Best Places for the Tastiest Hoi An Chicken Rice
- Tea Mót – the Simple Charm of Hoi An's Tourist Street