The best street food in Hoi An
Cao Lau Hoi An is a foremost dish from locals to serve million of worldwide travelers. Cao Lau comprises yellow noodles, pork and raw vegetable, everyone usually eat it with rice cracker. This recipe approximates authentic cao lau with easier-to-find ingredients.
Use fresh rice noodles about the same thickness of linguine. Cao Lau becomes pride of Hoi An people, you can’t miss this food in your travel buck-list
1. The origin of Cao Lau Hoi An
Cao Lau is a foremost dish in Hoi An. According to records, Cao Lau appeared in the early 17th century, during the most prosperous trading period of Hoi An port. It is not a Chinese or Japanese dish. Cao Lau in Hoi An is a mixture of different cultures in Vietnam and international countries. Cao Lau is not only delicious but also attractive; It is the pride of Hoi An people in terms of culinary culture.
2. Why is it called “Cao Lau”?
The story of Cao Lau food is interesting to discover. Hoi An was an international port for trading in central Vietnam. There were many merchants worked in the town. They chose to have lunch or dinner on the high storey restaurants to look after their shops and they usually choose this dish to eat. Cao Lau means high storey in English. This food does not taste like any other vietnamese dish because it was often used to serve foreign visitors.
3. A unique dish in Hoi An
It is cooked from yellow noodles, pork, shrimp and raw vegetables. Like Mi Quang (Quang Noodles), Cao Lau is just used with a little of broth. The special feature of Cao lau is the fresh yellow noddles which is mixed with the ash from cajuput tree from Cham Island. Cao Lau
This dish is made with noodles, pork, and local greens. Noodles of Cao Lau are carefully made from local new sticky rice. It is hand-cut and then cooked three times with firewood. It is invented by the Chinese but similar to Japanese wheat-based udon noodles. Water used to soak rice must be taken from wells in the undisclosed ancient Cham well, just outside the town.
The pork is stir-fried, marinated in star anise and cassia bark. It is sliced thin and cooked in the traditional Chinese method known as “Char siu”. Dry pancakes must be thick with much sesame on the surface. Toppings include peanuts, and bean sprouts making this dish hard to resist. This dish is eaten with lots of herbs and vegetables which greatly enhance its flavors. Cao Lau is surprisingly unique dish in Hoi An.
4. The best places to eat Cao Lau
Cao Lau is available in every corner of Hoi An. You can easily find this food in most of restaurants here. However, in this blog we are recommending some of the best places to enjoy this food locally:
4.1 Lien Restaurant: 21 Thai Phien street, Hoi An
Price: 30,000 VND/ bowl
This small family-run eatery is simply equipped with a food preparation court in front and couples of metal tables&plastic chairs just behind. When come to Cao lau Lien, watching how ladies make your noodles before take seat to enjoy is a recommendation. The restaurant opens from 6:30am to 8:00pm daily. Currently, Cao lau Lien is among the best Cao lau restaurants in Hoi An.
4.2 Khong Gian Xanh: 687 Hai Ba Trung, Old Town Hoi An
Price: 30,000 VND – 50,000 VND/ bowl
Close to Japanese covered bridge, it’s not difficult to find out Cao lau Khong Gian Xanh to try its good-tasting noodles. Unlike classic restaurants inside old houses in town, this family-run mecca offers more local vibes. If you are seeking for a place with awesome Cao lau but not too touristy, Khong Gian Xanh will be proper (take note of its convenience to reach all must-see sites in Old town). Late afternoon is the busiest time during the day here so you may have to wait out little longer than common for getting a bowl of noodles.
4.3 Trung Bac Restaurant: 87 Tran Phu, Hoi An
Price: 30,000 VND – 50,000VND/ bowl
Either local people or travelers know long-established Trung Bac restaurant by its Hoianese chefs who have talented hands in making delicious Cao lau. Consequently, there is no surprise that Trung Bac is one of the best Cao lau restaurants in Hoi An.
