Hoi An

Dubai's only Vietnamese restaurant is a hit on Sheikh Zayed Road 11 Reviews

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Hoi An is an elegant restaurant with a stately vibe. Diners can relax comfortable chairs placed in an intimate setting. The low lighting and slowly moving ceiling fans add to the effect, with waitresses dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothing. The food lends to the atmosphere by being authentic, especially the classic pho. Other dishes from their menu are also prepared with the same degree of originality and fresh ingredients. Each item also has a very distinctive flavour that leaves you wanting more. However the waitresses, while friendly, aren’t very efficient. The menu is a bit overwhelming to choose from with a wide variety of choices, and has two popular set menus: Hue and Saigon. Perfect for a quiet dinner, the impeccable taste of Hoi An’s food is enough to overlook any other quibbles visitors may face.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 22 March 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 10 April,2013- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 23 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 24 March,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 01 March,2010- reviewed by Daisy Carrington
  • 30 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 26 September,2007- reviewed by TimeOut Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 31 May,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 01 March,2004- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 01 August,2003- reviewed by Rob Orchard

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Hana on 25 Jul ' 12 at 20:25

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I dine at Hoi An regularly.
Its one of my favourite restaurants in Dubai.
Food is nice. Service is also nice too.
Very tasty and also nicely decorated.

Just a bit expensive and everything is in small portion.
For example,a bottle of local water,which is sold less than 2AED outside is sold 27 AED here.
It should not be more than 20 AED.

Although its expensive,we will come back here again.

Posted by: cyndicato on 17 Jul ' 12 at 06:51

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

great service and probably the only closest Vietnamese resto in dubai you can get! for Arabs i feel they don't feel this as we have different appetite as Asians. me being asian this by far is the best!

Posted by: Jennifer on 15 Aug ' 11 at 07:25

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I went to this restaurant last night with my fiance for dinner.
We both love the foods there and the environment.
The foods was beyond expectation and the service was very good.
Only the grass noodle was disappointed me.

I would suggest this restaurant for business lunch or family's dinner.

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 30 May ' 11 at 15:31

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Dissapointed on several counts when dined here with my wife on the 27th of May. First, the the quiet and quaint ambience of the previous visit was missing. The place had a busy buzz to it and is now more lit up but the revamp has robbed the place of it's old world charm.
The customary fish cracker was delivered while we pondered as to what to order. Settled on the Vietnamese national soup divided in two and lobster ravioli for starters. Both the dishes were satisfying. Raspberry sorbet as palate cleansers before we were served the main dish of sizzling prawns with steamed rice, an unappetising fare and wok-fried lobster which was just alright.
The total bill including a Breezer, draught beer minus tip came to DHs. 425.
Having booked through roundmenu we were entitled to a 20% discount which was not honoured on a premise which was wrong. However, on registering my complaint, Hoi An has admitted its mistake, apologised and offered a 50% discount for the next visit. Still wondering if it's worth it. Perhaps, for old time's sake.

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 04 Apr ' 11 at 14:13

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Dined here on the August 15th. Was the lone diner when I trooped in at 11PM.
The attending staff were very nice. Since the lighting was dim the menu card came with it's own light source. Prawn crackers were served with sweet and sour sauce as dip as also a drink made of apple and passionfruit as complementary. Magazines made available while munching on the crackers. Then came the lemon sorbet as a palate cleanser. Went for the traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of beef flat noodles and vegetables. For the main course had the seabass wrapped in leaf with steamed rice served separately in a bowl and a bottle of Amstel to go with it.
After a 20% discount for the Gulf News voucher the final bill came to Dhs.165. An pleasant experience best enjoyed as a couple.

Posted by: betsy on 03 Apr ' 11 at 13:29

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Good - but not what I was looking for. This restaurant came highly recommended to us, but I was disappointed in the high end decor/ambience. The food was delicious and the service was very good as well. However, I could have been anywhere - in any hotel. I didn't feel any ambience as the restaurant could have been a French or Italian. Didn't feel authentic. I'm longing for an authentic, joint where I can get a great bowl of pho without paying a fortune.

Posted by: Ng Nyung on 23 Mar ' 10 at 02:27

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I been to many of the restaurants in dubai but this restaurant is the best i ever had in dubai.The food was amazing,all the staff were very friendly.Hightly recommended.

Posted by: bader kt on 22 Mar ' 10 at 17:53

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbience

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

i didnt like the food was very sweet it was no ambience i will never back

Posted by: Mrs Brown on 22 May ' 09 at 19:56

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Lovely staff,friendly & helpful.....Excellent menu

Posted by: Stephen Back on 05 Jan ' 09 at 04:05

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

too frenchified Vietnamese restaurant - sizzling beef with french
fries somewhat difficult to take. Too dark to identify clearly the
robust amount to pay (needed an elegant little pen lamp),

Posted by: Edmond on 30 Dec ' 08 at 07:37

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Tried spring rolls, foie gras, sliced duck breast, signature lamb skewer and seafood fried rice. Food are exceptionally good, especially duck breast and fried rice. However the sliced duck is very bad cooked, which doesn't really match with the overall standard of other dishes. Services are excellent, and the restaurant is good for a romantic night.