Com Tam
The broken rice plate of Ho Chi Minh City, and what to ask about the grilled meat.
Com tam is a Vietnamese plate of broken rice, served with grilled meat, egg and pickled vegetables. It is a southern staple, easy to find in Ho Chi Minh City, and a filling lunch or dinner.
How will you meet it on the trip?
You will meet it at street stalls and small restaurants, at lunch and dinner. The plate comes with a small dish of sauce to spoon over the rice. Order by pointing at the toppings or saying which protein you want.
Prices change by season and by place, so the trip budget builder lets you plug in today’s quotes for meals.
What should Muslim travellers ask?
The default topping is grilled pork, so a plate is not safe to order without checking. Ask whether chicken is available and whether the grill is shared with pork. Never assume a stall is halal, and look for a displayed certificate and its issuer.
Our meal and prayer checks list the questions to ask.
Which related terms will you see?
- Nuoc mam: fish sauce, the base of the dipping sauce.
- Banh xeo: a crisp savoury pancake.
- Goi cuon: fresh rolls, a lighter order.
For flights into the south, see KL to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. More food guidance sits in Food and daily travel.
If Ho Chi Minh City or the south is on your route, tell us who is travelling and what you can and cannot eat, and we will help you plan meals you can verify.
Common questions
What does broken rice mean?
Com tam means broken rice: grains that cracked in milling. They were once the cheaper grains, but now the soft, slightly crumbly texture is the point. It is served as a plate with a main topping, a little sauce and fresh slices on the side.
What comes on a com tam plate?
The classic plate has rice, a grilled meat, a fried egg or steamed egg cake, pickled vegetables and a small dish of dipping sauce. Most stalls let you point at the toppings you want, which makes ordering simple.
Can Muslim travellers eat com tam?
The classic topping is grilled pork chop, so ask before you order. You can request chicken or egg, but the grill, sauce and shared utensils may still involve pork. Look for a displayed certificate and its issuer, and check the kitchen as well as the topping.
Keep planning
If Ho Chi Minh City or the south is on your route, tell us who is travelling and what you can and cannot eat, and we will help you plan meals you can verify.