Why go
Cơm tấm, broken rice with grilled pork, is the plate Saigon eats for breakfast and lunch, and nearly every street has someone selling it. Cơm Tấm Nguyễn Văn Cừ is the one our editor would send you to first.
The shop takes its name from its street. It stands at number 74, in the old District 1, under a big blue sign that reads “Since 1989”.
From our visit
Our editor, Pixer, lives in Vietnam and came away calling this the best cơm tấm in Ho Chi Minh City.
The one warning from that visit matters more than anything else on this page: by around 2pm the ingredients are almost gone. Go early.
The pork is cooked right out front. A charcoal grill stands on the pavement beside the door, under a steel hood with a tall chimney and a big fan pushing the smoke away, so you can see where lunch comes from before you walk in.
Inside, it is a plain, busy dining room with dark wooden chairs, framed pictures and masks on the walls, and big air coolers standing near the front.
What to order
The shop keeps to one thing. Its website describes the plate as broken rice with a grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin (bì), steamed egg meatloaf (chả trứng) and a sweet and sour fish sauce made to a family recipe.
Atlas Obscura singles out the size of the pork chop as what sets this shop apart, and notes that it costs more than a typical neighbourhood plate.
Getting there
The address is 74 Nguyễn Văn Cừ. It is a short Grab ride from the Bến Thành area.
Look for the blue sign with yellow letters, a striped awning below it, and the grill on the pavement. A blue plate by the door marks number 74.
Tips for your visit
Treat this as a morning or early lunch stop. The sign at the door and the shop’s website both give hours of 7am to 3pm, but the food tends to run out before closing.
Expect a full room around lunchtime. On our visit the tables were packed.
If you want a second local meal nearby, Bánh Canh Cua Bà Ba, a crab noodle stall on Nguyễn Biểu, is in the same part of town and we liked it too.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cơm Tấm Nguyễn Văn Cừ worth visiting?
Our editor, who lives in Vietnam, calls it the best cơm tấm in Ho Chi Minh City. It is the place to go if you want to try the city's signature rice plate at a long-running specialist.
What time should I go?
Early. Our editor's advice is that the ingredients are nearly gone by around 2pm, even though the shop lists a 3pm close. A morning visit or an early lunch is the safe choice.
What are the opening hours?
The sign at the door and the shop's website both give 7am to 3pm, and the sign says Monday to Sunday.
What is on the plate?
Cơm tấm is broken rice. The shop's own website describes grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg meatloaf and a house fish sauce.
Where is it?
At 74 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, in the old District 1. Look for the large blue sign with yellow letters and the charcoal grill on the pavement.
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