After a full day exploring the temples, golden bridges, and alpine coasters of Ba Na Hills, we returned to Da Nang with one mission: find the best dinner in the city. An Thoi had been on our list since planning began, a Michelin-listed Vietnamese restaurant earning rave reviews for its take on Central Vietnamese classics. It did not just meet our expectations. It became the single best meal of our entire five-day Vietnam trip. Here is everything you need to know about dining at this Da Nang gem.
Overview:
- Location: 114 Bạch Đằng, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
- Price Range: $$ (Mid-range, excellent value)
- Our Bill: 1,230,000 VND for 7 people (approximately SGD 65 / €44)
- Best For: Modern Vietnamese cuisine, fresh seafood, family-style sharing
- Reservations: Walk-in only, arrive early to queue
Table of Contents
Why An Thoi Is a Da Nang Must-Visit
An Thoi translates loosely as “just eat” in Vietnamese, which perfectly captures the spirit of the place. No pretension, no theatrics, just well-executed Vietnamese cooking that happens to be Michelin-listed.
The restaurant sits right on Bạch Đằng, Da Nang’s riverside boulevard, with the Han River just across the road. The crowd is a healthy mix of locals and in-the-know travellers, and the queue outside before opening tells you everything you need to know. We arrived after a long day at Ba Na Hills, tired and genuinely hungry, and the moment the food hit the table, the exhaustion disappeared entirely.
🗺️ See our 5-Day Da Nang & Hoi An Itinerary here!
What We Ordered & Full Review
Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Crispy wrappers with a well-seasoned filling, served with fresh herbs and a tangy dipping sauce. The skin had a good crunch without being greasy, and the filling was fragrant and properly seasoned. A solid, crowd-pleasing start to the meal.
Grilled Scallops with Scallions and Peanuts ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fresh scallops arrive in the shell, topped with scallion oil and crushed peanuts, grilled to just the right point where their natural sweetness comes through cleanly. The combination of briny scallop, savoury scallion oil, and roasted peanut is a classic Central Vietnamese pairing and this version was very well done. One of the highlights of the table, and one we would order again without hesitation.
Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We ordered two portions for seven people. The rice was fragrant and wok-charred, with generous pieces of seafood throughout and a touch of sweetness from the pineapple that balanced the savoury base well. Each grain was properly separated with good wok heat throughout. Hearty and satisfying, it anchored the table well without feeling heavy.
Lemongrass Pork Skewers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Minced pork shaped around lemongrass stalks and grilled until nicely caramelised on the outside. The lemongrass fragrance comes through in a pleasant way without being overpowering. Served with rice paper, herbs, and vermicelli for wrapping, it is an enjoyable, interactive dish that the whole table got involved with.
Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Simple and well-executed. The morning glory (rau muống) was stir-fried over high heat with plenty of garlic until just wilted, still carrying a good crunch. Clean, punchy flavour with no excess oil. A fresh, green contrast to the richer dishes on the table and a smart order for any group.
White Rose Dumplings ⭐⭐⭐
A Hoi An specialty: translucent rice flour wrappers folded into the shape of a white rose, filled with seasoned shrimp, and steamed until soft and yielding. An Thoi’s version was decent, properly made and clean-tasting, though it was not the dish that stood out at our table. Worth trying if you have not had it before, but know that the definitive version awaits you in Hoi An itself.
Shrimp in Garlic Sauce ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best dish of the night. Large, fresh shrimp wok-tossed in a deeply savoury garlic sauce with a slight caramelised edge that gave it real depth. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, tender and clean-tasting, and the sauce was bold without being heavy or overpowering. We ended up using the leftover sauce to finish the fried rice, which was arguably the best decision of the evening. If you order nothing else, order this.
Prices & Value for Money
Our Total Bill: 1,230,000 VND (Approximately SGD 65 / €44 for 7 people)
| Item | Price (VND) | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls | 135,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Grilled Scallops with Scallions & Peanuts | 139,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice ×2 | 278,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Lemongrass Pork Skewers | 135,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic | 75,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| White Rose Dumplings | 109,000 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Shrimp in Garlic Sauce | 259,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
For seven people, 1,230,000 VND works out to under SGD 10 per person for a Michelin-listed meal with fresh seafood and Central Vietnamese classics. Exceptional value by any measure, and one of the most affordable quality dinners we had across the entire trip.
Practical Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 114 Bạch Đằng, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam |
| Reservations | Walk-in only, no reservations accepted |
| Opening Hours | Daily: 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM |
| Getting There | 2-min walk from the Han River waterfront; easily reached by Grab |
💡Pro Tip: An Thoi does not take reservations, so arrive early and expect a queue, especially at dinner. It moves quickly, but getting there before the rush makes a real difference.
What to Order: Our Recommendations
At An Thoi, everything arrives together in classic Vietnamese sharing style. Order generously, let the table fill up, and work through the dishes as a group. Here is what we recommend:
Must-Order Items:
- Shrimp in Garlic Sauce — The best dish of the night, non-negotiable
- Grilled Scallops with Scallions & Peanuts — Fresh and well-executed; a clear table highlight
- Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice — The table anchor; order at least one per three to four people
- Lemongrass Pork Skewers — Aromatic and satisfying, great for wrapping
- Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls — A reliable, crowd-pleasing start
- Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic — Simple and essential for balance
💡Pro Tip: Order family-style and share everything. Five to six dishes is plenty for four people at these portion sizes.
Final Verdict
Overall Rating: 9/10
An Thoi was the best meal of our five-day Vietnam trip, and the whole family agreed. The shrimp in garlic sauce was the clear star of the night, the scallops were a genuine highlight, and the overall spread was consistently good across the table. Nothing disappointed, and the dishes that shone really shone.
What makes An Thoi special is not reinvention. It is the confidence to take Vietnamese classics seriously and execute them with care. The Michelin recognition is entirely deserved.
At under SGD 10 per person for this quality, this is one of the best value meals you will find anywhere in Southeast Asia.
Would we return? Without question. Next time, we would go on Day 1 so we could come back again before leaving.
Best For: Families, groups of any size, and anyone who wants to eat well in Da Nang.
Have you dined at An Thoi? Share your experience in the comments below!
Planning your Da Nang trip? Bookmark this review and get there early. The queue is worth every minute.
Found this review helpful? Share it with fellow travellers heading to Central Vietnam!
Leave a Reply