CUAXANH Restaurant

Cuaxanh sits above street level with an open-air upper floor that catches the breeze and lets you watch the street below. The seafood is the main reason to come – fresh prawns, whole snapper, and what several people call the best fish and chips in Hoi An (Vietnamese-style, which is the better version anyway). It’s close to the beach, so you’re not dragging sand through the old town to get here.

Binh and the team are the kind of staff who actually pay attention to you, and the owner is hands-on in a way that makes a difference. Cold beer in a cold glass is treated as a non-negotiable here, which puts it ahead of half the restaurants in town.

Vegans and vegetarians are not an afterthought. The spicy aubergines and crispy spring rolls have their own fans among people who never touched the seafood menu. Prices are low enough that you can eat well and come back the next night without doing the math.