Travel

A Taste of Tradition: Phan Dinh Phung’s 30-Year-Old Com Tam Cha Bac Thao Egg Feast

Located on Phan Dinh Phung Street in Phu Nhuan District is a well-known rice restaurant, Com Tam Co Rom, that has been serving delicious meals for over 30 years. What sets this eatery apart is their signature dish of cha bac thao (northern-style pork sausage) and tram egg, a unique and mouthwatering combination that has made it an iconic food establishment in the area.

Administrator

2 August, 2024

For fans of com tam suon bi cha, a famous Saigon delicacy, the name “Com Tam Ba Rom” is nothing new. Famous for its unique flavor and secret wet marinade, especially the cha bac thao trung muoi (a type of sausage with salted duck egg), this small food stall owned by Mrs. Suong and her husband has attracted diners for over 30 years. Let’s explore together!

1 Introduction to Com Tam Co Rom on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District

Introduction to Com Tam Co Rom on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District

Address: 55 Phan Dinh Phung Alley, Ward 17, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: 14:30 – 20:30

Price Range: VND 40,000 – 45,000/set

Phone Number: None

Website: None

Facebook: None

Delivery: Available (Shopee Food)

Menu: Com suon cha, suong trung op la, suong, bì, xiu mai, bì cha, cha xiu mai, bì op la, bì xiu mai, cha op la, etc.

Signature Dish: Com suon cha bac thao trung muoi

Pros: Well-known delicious restaurant with over 30 years of experience, diverse menu, clean food preparation.

Cons: Pricier compared to other street food stalls. You have to pay an extra VND 10,000 for soup, which is usually free at other com tam restaurants.

The highlight of this place is their exceptional grilled pork chop. The large pork chop is marinated in a special blend of spices and honey, resulting in a tender and aromatic masterpiece when grilled over charcoal. The pork chop has a perfect balance of lean meat and fat, ensuring it doesn’t dry out, and is best enjoyed with fluffy white rice and a generous drizzle of savory fish sauce.

In addition to their famous grilled pork chop, the restaurant also offers a variety of mouthwatering dishes, attracting diners with their diversity and uniqueness, especially the cha bac thao trung muoi.

Although the restaurant is small and only has a few tables along the alley, it is always bustling with customers. Diners usually opt to eat in, despite the somewhat cramped and inconvenient space.

The highlight of this place is their exceptional grilled pork chop.

2 What Makes Com Tam Co Rom on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District, So Enticing?

The Fascinating Story Behind the Restaurant’s Name

Com Tam Ba Rom attracts diners not only with its unique flavors but also with the interesting story behind its name. The couple who owns the restaurant, affectionately known as “Co Rom” and “Chu Rom,” have small and slender physiques, which led their regular customers to affectionately nickname them “Rom,” hence the name “Com Tam Ba Rom” or “Com Tam Hem 55.”

The Fascinating Story Behind the Restaurant’s Name

The Star of the Show: Grilled Pork Chop

The large grilled pork chop, the size of a palm, takes center stage at this restaurant. Marinated in a secret family recipe that includes honey, the pork chop is incredibly tender and fragrant when grilled over charcoal. It has a perfect balance of lean meat and fat, ensuring it doesn’t dry out, and is best enjoyed with a tangy-sweet fish sauce.

In addition to the grilled pork chop, the restaurant also offers tender and sweet braised chicken legs with shaoxing wine, cha trung muoi bac thao, and a variety of other side dishes. However, the suon bi cha (grilled pork chop with shredded pork skin and sausage) remains the most popular choice.

According to Ba Rom, the reason they haven’t expanded their business over the decades is that “eating com tam is best enjoyed on the sidewalk, as it adds to the experience.”

Dining at this restaurant is not just about the food; it’s also about immersing yourself in the lively atmosphere of the street, the generous hospitality of the owners, and the constant buzz of people coming and going.

The Star of the Show: Grilled Pork Chop

This is the information about Com Tam Rom, located at the beginning of Alley 55 on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District. If you have the chance, come and enjoy the delicious and well-known com tam that has been consistently good for over 30 years, served by the lovely couple!

Frequently asked questions

Com Tam Cha Bac Thao is a traditional Vietnamese dish that has been a beloved staple in Ho Chi Minh City for over 30 years. It consists of broken rice served with a variety of side dishes, including grilled pork cha, shrimp paste, and a special egg feast. The restaurant is known for its commitment to traditional flavors and high-quality ingredients, creating a unique and delicious culinary experience.

The restaurant is located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It has a simple and unassuming exterior, but the interior transports you to another world with its cozy and inviting atmosphere. The walls are adorned with traditional Vietnamese artwork, and the tables are always filled with a mix of locals and tourists, all united by their love for delicious food.

The restaurant’s signature dishes include the Com Tam Cha, which is broken rice served with grilled pork cha, and the Com Tam Thao, which features a mouthwatering combination of shrimp paste and the special egg feast. The egg feast itself is a unique creation, consisting of duck eggs, chicken eggs, and quail eggs prepared in a variety of ways, such as steamed, fried, and boiled. The flavors and textures of the eggs blend perfectly with the other components of the dish, making it a true taste sensation.

The restaurant has stood the test of time due to its commitment to tradition and quality. The owner, Phan Dinh Phung, has ensured that the recipes and cooking methods have remained unchanged, preserving the authentic flavors that first made the restaurant popular. The use of fresh, high-quality ingredients and the dedication to customer satisfaction have also played a crucial role in maintaining its reputation as a must-visit culinary destination in Ho Chi Minh City.

The name ‘Com Tam Cha Bac Thao’ has a charming origin. ‘Com Tam’ refers to the broken rice, which is a common staple in Vietnamese cuisine. ‘Cha’ is the Vietnamese word for grilled pork patties, a key component of the dish. ‘Bac Thao’ literally translates to ‘northern herb’, which is used to describe the unique blend of spices and herbs used in the restaurant’s recipes, giving the dishes their distinct flavor.