Saigon trip
For some business trips, I got Saigon yesterday. I’m gonna stay here for a while before going back to Hanoi to continue my work. I still remember last time I visited Saigon for visa procedure, I was in a hurry and couldn’t explore much about this adorable city. But this time will be the best chance for a traveler like me. I already made a list of foods to try and places to visit here. And Cơm Tấm - Broken rice is one of the best foods that can’t be missed.
The restaurant of a coincedence
I tried Broken Rice as soon as I got Saigon in the first night. My friend who has been living in Saigon for a while brought me to the restaurant that he often visits. It’s Cơm Tấm Thanh - a restaurant located at 563 Lac Long Quan, Tan Binh district.
What a coincedence that this restaurant is exactly the restaurant I noted when I was looking for the best Broken rice restaurant near my place. I didn’t tell him anything about the restaurant, he just brought me himself. I didn’t realize it until I got there and saw the name of the restaurant “why so familiar? Have I ever heard of it somewhere?” Lol.
The food
I let him order food for me, pick his favorite ones. I was waiting for food with full of expectation. It didn’t take long. We got dishes on our table just after 5 mins of waiting.
There were 2 dishes of Broken rice, a big bowl of bitter melon soup, a bottle of special drink called “Nước Sâm”.
Beyond my expectation, the broken rice was one of the best ever. “Oh my god”. That is what I said after my first bite.
The best one was a huge pork rib. The rib with meat and a bit fat was grilled impeccably. The taste came from some kind of special sauce that’s sweet and savoury.
Broken rice is a kind of rice that should not be sticky. In this restaurant, they cooked it perfectly, not sticky but not to dry either, just enough.
The fried egg was over easy that I still can feel the runny yolk coming out.
They added a bit scallion oil and some fresh pieces of cucumber, tomato above the broken rice. Everything created an awesome combination of taste.
Besides, the bitter melon soup was also fine. They added full of meat inside the bitter melon and stewed it. Even though I’m not a fan of bitter melon but I love the taste that’s both bitter and sweet of it.
The drink was cold, sweet and fresh enough. Really fit for quenching my thirst in summer in Saigon.
Price and service
We paid 3,5$ for all of that. Yeah. All of that. Too cheap for this awesome meal of 2 people. One more nice thing here is you can have ice tea and order more rice for free. Cool!
The Broken rice dish is cusstomized. There are a lot of food you can order with Broken rice beside rib and egg. There are chicken, pig skin and meatloaf,... and some types of side dish such as vietnamese pickle. Just chose your favourite. Mine is rib.
The restaurant isn’t big but really neat and clean. Service was attentive. Cheap and extremely delicious. It’s now in my favourite list.
Do not miss it when you visit Saigon. Cơm Tấm Thanh - 563 Lac Long Quan, Tan Binh district.
