Best Hoi An Restaurant in Vietnam: Pause and Enjoy

If you’re looking for a memorable Hoi An restaurant, this is one I’d happily recommend. On my last trip to Da Nang, I spent a few days in Hoi An and ended up having one of my favorite meals at Pause and Enjoy.

It’s the kind of place that works whether you want a casual dinner near the night market or just need a break from wandering the Old Town in the heat. Good food, friendly service, and one very unexpected power outage later, it became one of the meals I still remember most from Vietnam.

Where to Eat in Hoi An, Vietnam Near the Night Market

Pause and Enjoy is on the small island area across the bridge from Hoi An Ancient Town, close to the night market. It’s an easy stop if you’re already exploring the lantern-filled streets and looking for where to eat in Hoi An without straying far from the action.

We made it to Pause and Enjoy right around dinner time.

There are outdoor tables if you want the lively street atmosphere,

plus indoor seating with air-conditioning, which felt amazing after walking around in the humidity.

There was also a staircase leading upstairs, so it looks like there may be more seating on the second floor, though we stayed downstairs.

Pause and Enjoy Menu: What We Ordered

After looking through the menu, we went with a mix of house specialties and dishes we were already craving. The restaurant is especially known for its fried wonton, so ordering that felt non-negotiable.

We chose the Pause Special Starter, which included the fried wonton along with a few other appetizers. We also ordered bánh xèo, the crispy Vietnamese savory pancake, plus morning glory and a garlic stir-fried shrimp dish.

Drinks to Start

We started with a Saigon Beer and a Coke Zero while we waited for everything to come out.

What It’s Like to Eat at Pause and Enjoy

Then, right in the middle of dinner, the power went out.

I’d heard that brief outages can happen in Hoi An from time to time, so it wasn’t exactly shocking, but once the AC stopped, the room definitely got warm fast. Still, it somehow didn’t ruin the meal. If anything, it made the whole night feel even more memorable.

Blackout or not, the kitchen kept things moving.

The garlic stir-fried shrimp arrived first, with rice and sauce on the side.

The morning glory also came with rice. Portions here were definitely generous.

The staff were ready for the outage and brought out flashlights, so it never got too dark to keep eating.

My camera struggled in the low light, but even so, those shrimp looked seriously good.

Best Dishes at Pause and Enjoy in Hoi An

Next came the Pause Special Starter.

It included fried wonton and other fried appetizers, making it a fun sampler if you want to try a few things at once.

This is the famous fried wonton everyone seems to order here, and I immediately understood why. It almost looked like a Vietnamese take on loaded nachos: crispy wonton wrappers topped with savory ingredients and plenty of texture.

It’s crunchy, salty, a little messy, and incredibly easy to keep eating.

At some point while we were eating, the electricity came back on, which honestly felt like perfect timing.

Last up was the bánh xèo.

Even looking back at the photos now, it still looks fantastic. The pancake was crisp and golden, and it came with the usual fixings for wrapping and eating it properly.

Gloves on,

then wrap it up with the herbs and fillings. Fresh, crisp, and super satisfying.

Fried wonton ended up being the winner of the night.

It was so good that the portion in the starter wasn’t enough for us, so we ordered extra on its own.

We noticed a lot of other tables ordering it too, which felt like a good sign. If you’re deciding what to get at Pause and Enjoy, I’d absolutely put this at the top of the list.

Between the two of us, this was a lot of food, and we definitely over-ordered. That said, Vietnam has a way of making you do that. Prices are reasonable, everything sounds good, and suddenly the table is full.

Service, Dessert, and Final Thoughts

Even though we were already completely stuffed, they brought out beautifully sliced fruit for dessert at the end.

It looked so fresh and pretty that I wished I’d saved more room. Learn from my mistake and pace yourself a little.

There’s also ice cream available in the fridge near the entrance if you want something extra after dinner.

All in all, Pause and Enjoy was a really solid pick for dinner in Hoi An, Vietnam. The staff were kind, the portions were generous, and the food hit the spot—especially the fried wonton and bánh xèo.

If you’re searching for the best restaurant in Hoi An near the night market, this is absolutely one to put on your list.