Purple Lantern Restaurant

Purple Lantern sits in an alley just back from An Bang Beach, which means no beach-road noise and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. The lantern-lit space is family-run and it shows – the staff remember returning customers and will happily point you toward things to do after dinner (one server apparently single-handedly saved someone’s last night in Hoi An with an A O show recommendation).

The food is the main event. Order the table BBQ beef, the charcoal-grilled mixed seafood, and the shallot eggplant if it’s on. The snapper gets consistent praise, the scallop topping is worth the trip alone, and somehow they’re one of the only places at An Bang putting mushrooms on the menu (a Russian reviewer noticed, and she was right to).

This is the kind of place where large groups can book ahead without panic and birthday surprises actually arrive. The caramel sauce dishes are a recurring obsession in the reviews, so follow that instinct when you’re ordering.