Vietnamese Chopsticks

Vietnamese Chopsticks does the Hoi An classics well and adds a few surprises – a beef dish that lands somewhere between bo luc lac and stroganoff (in the best possible way), eggplant braised in spicy tomato sauce, and fish or banana leaf parcels that justify repeat visits. The kitchen cooks MSG-free and makes pho from scratch without powder mixes, which matters more than it sounds when you’re eating here three times a week.

Prices are low, beer comes in frosted glasses, and the staff pace dishes properly instead of dumping everything on the table at once. White Rose dumplings and anything cooked in a leaf wrapper are the moves here.

It suits pretty much anyone passing through Hoi An old town – solo eaters, couples, small groups – without feeling like a tourist trap that’s forgotten how to cook. They also do currency exchange if you’re running low on dong.