Rau Ơi Eatery - Vegan Food and Cooking Classes — Restaurant in Hội An

My bad. I was recommended by two locals to come for my birthday meal. The restaurant is only one year young. I should have read all the bad reviews first before coming.

It was a big disappointment! Might be acceptable to those who were new to Vietnamese or vegan food.

Ordered ‘main course’ #19 vermicelli noodle (Chinese glass noodles) bowl with imperial rolls - Bún Trón Hoáng Gia. ‘Imperial rolls’?? Basically they thin sliced a small piece of each ingredient and laid them out. First of all, It was ridiculous in portion for VND 130,000. Definitely NOT a main course dish. Found it misleading. They served a piece of small spring roll, cut it into half. As seen on photos, 3 thin sliced veg sausage in triangle shape. When 3 slices combined together, it equivalent to half a piece of that big sausage. Plus a piece of mushroom and a small piece of tofu in total. The vermicelli was a joke. Not only small but all stick together. Clearly they had no idea how to cook and serve them well.

Two dipping sauces. One was extremely salty made out of Maggie seasoning sauce! Second one tasted like diluted sesame sauce. In addition, the waitress brought a small plate of chili sauce and a jar of soy sauce (inside was Maggie again). Shocking! Maggie is full of MSG and artificial flavour and enhancers. It says a lot about this ‘vegan’ place.

Fresh coconut was safe. Originally planned to order dessert. After the so called ‘main dish’, I got put off. Didn’t want anything else from them.

The place had no AC. There were two foreigners doing their cooking dinner class inside the restaurant which was a bit odd.

3% surcharge for card payment. The service at the restaurant was okay.

They have a shop next door selling tourist nuts. Cinnamon incense, oil and tourist items etc. Not everything was priced. I had to ask the staff back and forth for prices. She was busy in playing her phone. When I brought an item to pay, she was a bit abrupt. ‘Only ONE item? Card 3%!’

Would AVOID coming here altogether. Food didn’t taste good, at least what I ordered. Tiny portion. Overpriced. Fans only, no AC.

Suggestion to owner: Either increase the portion or decrease the price in half or change the ‘main course’ to ‘starter’ on menu. Improve the flavour please.

P.S. The bottle of virgin coconut oil with lemongrass purchased from their shop gave me a terrible red rash on my whole body immediately after one application. In the end, had to wash it off and luckily skin calmed...

Rau Ơi Eatery in Hoi An is not just a restaurant or a cooking class; it's a full-spectrum experience of joy, energy, and culinary magic, led by the incredibly talented and passionate Chef Vang. From the moment you step in, you're met with an atmosphere buzzing with excitement, where food is more than just nourishment—it's a vehicle for higher vibrations and pure delight.

Chef Vang is a force of nature, dedicated to excellence and fun in equal measure. Her energy is infectious, and her expertise shines through every step of the class. Learning from her was an absolute pleasure, and I left not only with new skills but also a profound appreciation for the artistry behind Vietnamese plant-based cuisine.

One of the highlights of the class was making fresh rice rolls from scratch. The process was mesmerizing—from watching the delicate rice sheets being formed to rolling my own perfect wrap with vibrant, fresh ingredients. The result? A dish that was not only delicious but visually stunning and deeply satisfying on every level.

The vegan pho was another showstopper. I've always admired the depth and richness of a great bowl of pho, and Chef Vang revealed all the secrets behind creating that complex, aromatic broth. Every ingredient had a purpose, every step added layers of flavor, and the final dish was nothing short of extraordinary.

And then came the Hoi An "chicken" rice—a plant-based masterpiece. We used a special grain of rice, infused it with turmeric and coconut water, and created the perfect texture with tofu skin and mushrooms. The flavors were exquisite, capturing the essence of the traditional dish in a wholly unique and satisfying way.

Beyond the cooking itself, the introduction to the local farm was a beautiful touch. Connecting with the farmers, seeing the fresh ingredients we'd later use in our dishes, and understanding the journey from soil to plate made the experience even more meaningful.

Whether you're a professional chef, a passionate home cook, or simply someone looking for an unforgettable cultural experience, Rau Ơi Eatery is a must-visit. Chef Vang doesn’t just teach you how to cook—she invites you into a world where food is a celebration, a connection, and a joy. Highly, highly recommended!

As a traveling plant-based chef with a passion for food science and flavorology, I’m always on the hunt for culinary inspiration. Check out my other reviews on Google Maps for more plant-based insights and...

Rau Oi offers more than just food, but that is what I will be reviewing here. The food is amazing. You get what you pay for and Rau Oi is definitely among the priciest in town. I've gotten delivery a few times and the packaging is great. They lose one star for the dine-in service I experienced last month, which was terrible. The staff kept staring at us and interrupting our meal to point at things we were eating, even though we were just trying to enjoy ourselves and discuss something in private. Additionally, I saw an elderly foreigner walking by who stopped to take a look at the menu out front. The staff immediately sprinted out to try to pull the older lady into the restaurant. Naturally, she became furious and shouted "LEAVE ME ALONE," which was the proper response to such aggressive, impolite behavior on the part of the staff. I blame the restaurant and management, not the staff, for the poor service. I will continue to order delivery from time to time, but I won't dine-in until they improve their staff training. It's outrageous that they charge such a high price for such low quality service. I get better service at the local tạp hóa.

*Edit, thank you for your thoughtful reply. I changed my review to 5 stars and am looking forward to coming back to dine-in...