Fried wonton (Hoanh thanh chien) is one of the specialty foods in Hoi An Ancient Town. Introduced by Chinese communities, it’s a crispy wheat cake topped by shrimp and tomato sauce. So, it’s different from other variations of wonton across the Southeast Asia region. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will tell everything about Hoi An fried wonton and reveal the best places to try it.
You may also like: Specialty Food in Hoi An, Vietnam
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Hoi An Fried Wonton
– Name meaning: wonton means ‘stuffed dumpling’ in Chinese, literally means ‘irregularly shaped dumpling’
– Other name(s): hoanh thanh chien
– Origin: China
– Ingredients: (see below)
– Where to find: (see below)
– Pronunciation:
– Served for: lunch, dinner
– Price: from 50,000 VND per dish
– Gluten free: no
– Vegetarian: yes available
– Foodie guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/fried-wonton-hoi-an-vietnam/
– Fact: fried wonton is a Chinese food in Hoi An
Ingredients of Hoi An Fried Wonton
Here are ingredients of fried wonton (hoanh thanh chien) in Hoi An:
+ the wonton
Wrapper: square wonton wrappers (made from flour, water, and often egg) that are deep-fried until very golden brown and crispy.
Filling: the filling is usually a savory mix of ground meat and seasonings, which is thinly spread or placed inside the wrapper before frying.
Protein: commonly ground pork and/or shrimp (minced or ground).
Seasonings: typically include:
Minced onion or shallot
Minced garlic
Fish sauce
Oyster sauce
Pepper
A binder like cornstarch or tapioca starch
Sometimes a little sugar for balance
+ the topping
The most defining feature of the Hoi An version is the generous topping of fresh, colorful ingredients that create a sweet and sour flavor profile.10 The exact ingredients can vary by restaurant, but typically include:
Tomato (diced/sliced)
Shrimp (cooked and often diced or whole)
Onion (sliced or diced)
Pineapple (diced, for a tropical sweetness and tang)
Bean sprouts (for crunch)
Green onion or Cilantro/Coriander (for garnish and fresh flavor)
+ the sauce
The topping is coated in a simple, light sweet and sour sauce that ties all the flavors together. Key ingredients for the sauce include:
Stock (chicken or vegetable)
Sugar
Vinegar or Lime juice
Fish sauce
Thickener (like cornstarch slurry)
The final dish is a balanced combination of textures: the crispy wonton, the savory meat filling, and the fresh, tangy, crunchy topping.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Make Hoi An Fried Wonton
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make fried wonton (hoanh thanh chien) in Hoi An:
Part 1: Make the wonton filling
Prepare the protein:
Finely chop or mince your protein (typically shrimp and/or ground pork).
Mix the filling:
In a bowl, combine the protein with finely minced onion/shallot, garlic, and seasonings (common seasonings include fish sauce, oyster sauce, pepper, sugar, and a little cornstarch or tapioca starch to bind the mixture).
Mix everything thoroughly, often by hand, until it becomes a cohesive paste.
Tip: Some recipes recommend chilling the mixture for about 15-30 minutes to help the flavors meld and make it easier to handle.
Part 2: Wrap and fry the wontons
Prepare to wrap:
Lay out your square wonton wrappers. Keep the remaining wrappers covered with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.
Have a small bowl of water or lightly beaten egg white ready for sealing.
Wrap the wontons:
Place a small amount (about 1 teaspoon) of the filling in the center of a wrapper. Do not overfill as they will burst when frying.
Moisten the edges of the wrapper with water or egg white.
The common Hoi An fold: fold the wrapper diagonally into a triangle. Press the edges firmly to seal.10 You can also bring the two long corners of the triangle together and pinch them to create a hat/purse shape.
Fry the wontons:
Heat about 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a wok or deep pan to about 175ºC
Carefully slide the wontons into the hot oil in small batches.14 Do not overcrowd the pan.
Fry for about 1–3 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are deep golden-brown and crispy.
Remove the fried wontons with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
Part 3: Make the topping
Sauté aromatics:
In a pan, heat a little oil and sauté minced garlic and shallots until fragrant.
Add topping ingredients:
Add diced ingredients like tomato, pineapple, and sliced onion. Sauté for a few minutes until they soften slightly.
Prepare the sauce:
Pour in a sauce liquid (like a little stock or water) and season it with fish sauce, sugar, and a touch of lime juice or vinegar for the characteristic sweet and sour taste.
For a savory-sweet kick, some versions use sweet chili sauce or tomato ketchup as a base.
Thicken and finish:
Mix a little cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Stir this into the sauce and cook until it thickens to a light, glossy consistency.
Finally, stir in your cooked protein for the topping (often pre-cooked and diced shrimp).
Part 4: Assemble and serve
Plate the wontons:
Arrange the crispy fried wonton shells on a serving plate, often on a base of fresh lettuce and sliced cucumber.
Add the topping:
Spoon a generous amount of the warm, savory-sweet salsa/topping over the crispy wontons.
Garnish:
Garnish with fresh coriander/cilantro and thin slices of chili (optional).
Serve Immediately:
Enjoy while the wontons are still hot and crispy!
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Eat Hoi An Fried Wonton Like a Local
Fried wontons are served on a plate, together with tomato slices, cucumber slices, and coriander leaves to garnish. People will use the hand to pick one wonton cake and then use the mouth to eat. No chopsticks are needed! If like a more savoury taste, Hoi An local chilli sauce (a type of sauce made by fresh chilli, tomato, garlic, more) is spread on the cake. Likewise, use lime to add sourness, fresh chilli sauce to add spiciness, and fish sauce or soy sauce to add saltiness.
The way of eating fried wonton cake is kind of similar to grilled black sesame rice paper. Local people will top this crispy cracker with salads (such as banana flower salad, papaya salad, dried squid salad, pig skin salad, etc) or stir fried baby clams. So, we can understand that communities at Hoi An localized Chinese fried wonton cake.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Where to Eat Best Fried Wonton in Hoi An?
Here are the best places to try fried wonton (hoanh thanh chien) in Hoi An:
– White Rose Restaurant on Hai Ba Trung St, a restaurant owned and run by a local family. Besides fried wonton, it serves white rose dumplings (banh vac, banh bong hong trang) too, because the family is one of two families that keep heirloom recipes to make them. For that reason, the restaurant is named after the food.
– Food court of Hoi An Central Market
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Best Food Tours in Hoi An Vietnam
Here are the best food tours with local guide in Hoi An Vietnam:
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride & Night Market
– Hoi An Night Walking Food Tour (Best Food Tour in Hoi An)
– Hoi An Night Market Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride
– Hoi An Morning Walking Food Tour with Local Market
– Hoi An Street Food Walking Tour
– Hoi An History & Food Tour – Famous Landmarks & Specialty Dishes
– Hoi An Food Tour by Motorbike
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Other Foods to Try in Hoi An
Besides fried wonton (hoanh thanh chien), visitors will see these dishes in Hoi An: Mi Quang noodles, Vegetarian Mi Quang, White rose dumplings, Hoi An style Banh Mi sandwich, Vegetarian Banh Mi, Hoi An style chicken rice, Cao Lau noodles, Vegetarian Cao Lau, Fried wonton, Hoi An style Pho (beef noodle soup), Vegetarian Pho, Banh xeo (crispy rice pancake), Vegetarian Banh Xeo, Banh xoai (mango cake), Banh uot thit nuong (Hoi An grilled pork), Nem lui (Hoi An pork skewers), Banh dap (smashing rice paper), Stir-fried baby clams with rice cracker, Banh beo (steamed rice cake), Banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper or rice paper pizza), Chuoi nep nuong (grilled banana sticky rice), Hoi An banana pancake, Che (sweet soup), Black sesame soup, Kem cuon (ice cream rolls), Dau hu (tofu pudding), Bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf), Bun thit nuong (grilled pork noodle), Bun mam nem (fermented anchovy rice noodle), Banh canh (thick noodle soup), Chao ngheu (clam porridge), Banh trang cuon thit heo (rice paper rolls), Banh bot loc (tapioca cake), Banh da lon (pig skin cake), Banh it la gai (Ramie leaf rice cake), Banh to (ancestor cake), Green/Mung bean cake, Banh can (mini pancake), Banh cam (fried sesame balls), Banh tieu (hollow donut), Banh phu the (husband and wife cake), Banh bo (cow cake), Banh u tro (Lye water rice dumpling), Mot herbal tea, Da tron (pig skin salad), Banh khoai mon (taro cake), Xoi (sticky rice), Com tam (broken rice), Bun dau mam tom (rice noodle, shrimp paste and fried tofu), Bun cha ca (fish cake noodle), Banh chung (square sticky rice cake), Banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake), Trung lon (fetal duck egg or balut),…
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Better to Know about Eating Local in Hoi An
– Local family-run restaurants always serve better local foods than tourist restaurants. Places inside small alleyways potentially are hidden gems. The price is even more affordable at these lesser known spots.
– Restaurants where you can see a queue or crowds, food or drinks there are absolutely better or safer than others. Vietnamese people also avoid places without people eating, such as roadside eateries.
– Hot foods are often safe to eat for non-Vietnamese people. Refuse cold food (especially ones sold on the street, markets) or things you don’t see people cooking.
– Make sure that you learn some basic Vietnamese words or sentences to order foods, such as xin chao (hello, hi), cho toi mot (something) (I want one…), toi an chay (I am vegetarian), khong cay (no spicy), cam on (thank you), tam biet (goodbye) or numbers (mot/one, hai/two, ba/three, bon/four, nam/five, sau/six, bay/seven, tam/eight, chin/nine, and muoi/ten).
– Ask any local people you know (tour guide, driver, hotel receptionists, bellmen, etc) to receive their recommendation for good places to eat local.
– Raw vegetables are popularly used in local dishes, such as noodles or noodle soup or sandwich. They are often washed by tap water or unwashed. If can not drink tap water, remove or refuse them. Likewise, in most iced drinks (such as coffee or herbal tea), people add ice made by tap water also.
– On the 1st day and 14th-15th days of each lunar month, Hoi An citizens eat vegetarians. Many local restaurants and street businesses will be closed by that.
– If you don’t eat pork or beef, due to diet or religious restrictions, be careful when want to try local food here, if don’t see the ingredient description. Pork and beef are very popular meats, so they will be in numerous dishes. Street vendors may say ‘no pork’ or ‘no beef’ for better business, but please check before buying!
– Consider joining a food tour guided by locals who know much better about dishes in the city, including things never mentioned in guidebooks or on the internet.
– If have an allergy (milk, egg, peanut, wheat,…), ask anybody you know before trying or search for ingredients on the internet. By the way, fish sauce is popularly used to marinate Vietnamese foods, so make sure that you know this information if you’re fish allergic.
– Food portion (or size) here is often not really big (locals prefer eating with their family at home). You may try double or some different dishes for main meals.
– If don’t see the price on the menu, please ask in advance to avoid overcharging, especially when you are not a local. In Vietnamese, how much is bao nhieu.
– Most popular cutleries are chopsticks and spoons. To know how to use it, browse here
Photos, Videos about Fried Wonton in Hoi An
Here are beautiful photos, videos about Cao Lau noodles in Hoi An:
