Big Roy

Com Tam CALI – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Usually I would do lots of research before my trips on the best places to eat or visit. To be honest, this HCMC trip, I didn’t do a lot of research. Hence I was actually going around without any knowledge of the cuisines I was about to try… which I kinda like! Haha!

So I was walking around the Ben Thanh Market area in search for local food when I came across this aircon place which looks like a higher class street food to me. I went in nevertheless ‘cos there were many people eating inside. The place has a mezzanine level as well but I chose to sit downstairs as my knee was still hurting very badly from my trip to Perth. I managed to get a seat on the side which I was able to take a picture of the whole restaurant. Found out later that ‘Com Tam’ actually means broken rice in Vietnamese. It is a typical meal farmers in Southern Vietnam would eat together with some pork or BBQ ribs, fried egg and vegetables. Hence Com Tam CALI is in essence, bringing simple local Vietnamese food to their customers in a more conducive ambience so that they can enjoy their dining experience in their establishments.

Signage
Signage
Inside the restaurant... You can just look at the pics on the wall and order. Most of the good stuff are featured there!
Inside the restaurant… You can just look at the pics on the wall and order. Most of the good stuff are featured there!
Com Tam Moc does a lot of charity to help the less fortunate... Just like Care Givers Group! (caregiversgroup.org)
Com Tam Moc does a lot of charity to help the less fortunate… Just like Care Givers Group! (caregiversgroup.org)
My coconut... flesh is damn hard but the water is sweet and refreshing
My coconut… flesh is damn hard but the water is sweet and refreshing
Pumpkin soup... I spotted MSG in the soup so can miss.
Pumpkin soup… I spotted MSG in the soup so can miss.
Their specialty rice set... Forgot the name cos in Vietnamese... haha... Pretty ok actually but not filling... Vietnamese size... Even the eggs below is quails'!
Their specialty rice set with 7 side dishes… Forgot the name cos in Vietnamese… haha… Pretty ok actually but not filling… Vietnamese size… Even the eggs below is quails’!
Pho with BBQ chicken
Pho with BBQ chicken
Pho which is eaten with very little soup.
Pho which is eaten with very little soup.
Typical Vietnamese spring rolls
Typical Vietnamese spring rolls
Bill... With drinks for 2, around S$16.
Bill… With drinks for 2, around S$16.

Rating: 4.5/5. Actually a 4 but ‘cos they do charity, so a ‘0.5’ more!

Taste: It was pretty alright actually. Kinda like the ‘ngoh hiang’ thingy on the top right of the special rice set. So ordered extra. The BBQ meat is nice.

Portion: Below average.

Service: Not bad. Language barrier!

Ambience: Aircon… can’t go wrong!

Price: Around S$16… A lot more expensive than road side definitely.

RTE (Return To Eat): Maybe can slot into one of my meal slots when I’m back cos many items in the menu haven’t tried!

Location & Contacts: 235 Le Thanh Ton, District 1. Tel: (08) 3842 8922. (Same row as Lavendar Hotel, towards the left if you face the hotel.) Total 6 outlets in HCMC alone.