• 5
• My favourite 'Chay' restaurant in Hoi An, if not Vietnam!

I'm lucky enough to be living just around the corner from this place and have visited numerous times. I'm a vegetarian who's been living in Vietnam for over 3 years so I've tried many of the fantastic vegetarian restaurants in Hoi An, Da Nang and elsewhere and believe me, this is one of the best! It may not be the fanciest of places, but it is the real-deal; an authentic Buddhist chay (vegetarian) place that caters to local Buddhists. The selection of dishes on offer is fantastic and includes local must trys: - Cao Lau (udon-type noodles soaked in a sweet-smoky broth, with mock pork and crunchy wontons). - Mi Quang ( rice noodles in a turmeric-flavoured broth, topped with veg, tofu, mock meat, rice crackers, coriander and peanut). All noodle dishes are just 15,000vnd (less than $1!) Also on offer for breakfast is 'Bun' (vermicilli-type rice noodles in a tomato broth, lots of mock meat); and a really yummy selection of dishes that you choose at the counter (highly recommend the yellow, turmeric noodles; and savoury jackfruit). The com chay (dishes of the day and rice) selection is always vary varied and includes plenty of very convincing mock meat options as well as pure veg dishes. For 20,000vnd they'll pile your tray up with about 5 different things and you'll get a big serve of rice and a bowl of soup as well. For 25,000 you can get 7 different servings on your tray. If you're lucky enough to visit on a day when they're offering Banh Xeo (crispy savoury pancake), be sure to try it! You'll get a very generous serving of Banh Xeo served alongside a piled-up plate of fresh, fragrant greens; rice paper to roll it all in (the friendly staff will show you how) and a dipping sauce. Very filling, only 30,000vnd and the best Banh Xeo I've tasted! On the days that it's on the menu they will write in on the board at the front of the restaurant. They don't usually serve it much later than noon. If you visit on one of the full or half-moon days this place will be packed with locals, especially in the evening. They do special dishes on these days, one of the stand-outs is the Chicken Rice (Com Ga). The staff are friendly and speak English (some more than others) and tourists/travellers/expats pay exactly the same as locals. There are no menus, so just look and point, or practice saying dish names in Vietnamese if you dare :) A great choice even for non-vegetarians, my boyfriend is an avid carnivore, yet he loves this place! Updated from previous review on 2016-09-28