Com Tam

Saigon's soul food — broken rice served with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg and fish sauce.

Com tam — broken rice — is the definitive street food of Ho Chi Minh City, a dish born from poverty that became a beloved institution. Broken rice consists of grains that broke during harvesting and milling — it was cheaper than whole grain rice and became the food of the urban poor. Saigon's street vendors discovered that broken rice had a unique texture — slightly stickier and more absorbent — that complemented grilled meats exceptionally well. The pork chop must be marinated overnight in lemongrass, fish sauce and garlic, then grilled over charcoal for the caramelised char that makes the dish. Com tam stalls in Saigon operate from early morning through late night, serving hundreds of plates daily.

The broken rice gives a unique texture that whole grain rice cannot replicate. The pork chop must be marinated overnight and grilled over charcoal. The nuoc cham must be freshly made.