Top 7 Best Com Tam in Saigon: Cheap and Delicious

If you’re in search of the best com tam in Saigon, buckle up, because I’m about to take you on an exciting ride through this bustling city’s tastiest hidden gems. Whether you're a food lover, a budget traveler, or just curious about one of Vietnam’s most iconic dishes, you're in for a treat. This Saigon staple is everywhere, from hole-in-the-wall eateries to places featured in the Michelin Guide, and today, we’ll uncover some of the best spots to indulge in this beloved dish.

1. Top 7 Picks for Cheap and Delicious Com Tam

Com Tam Ba Ghien

Address: 84 Dang Van Ngu Street, Phu Nhuan District
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Price: 40,000 - 66,000 VND

Probably one of the most well-known restaurants for com tam in Saigon should be Com Tam Ba Ghien. This lowly eatery has been in business since 1995 and recently received acknowledgment from the Michelin Guide! Their grilled pork ribs are huge and perfectly caramelized to a burn, placed on top of a bed of fragrance-broken rice. The to-die-for dish of this restaurant is sườn bì chả, or pork ribs with broken rice, shredded pork skin, and steamed egg meatloaf. It's a local favorite, and once you take one bite, you'll know why.

Com Tam Ba Muoi

Address: 294/35 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District
Opening Hours: 6:30 PM - 4:00 AM
Price: 20,000 - 30,000 VND

If you get a craving for com tam late at night, Com Tam Ba Muoi is the spot. This extremely reasonably priced restaurant is indeed the gem in Binh Thanh District. The highlight of this place has got to be the grilled pork, beautifully marinated, with a fried egg and crunchy pickles. The no-frills dining experience, but the flavors are rich and unforgettable.

Com Tam Bui Saigon

Address: 100 Thach Thi Thanh Street, Tan Dinh, District 1
Opening Hours: 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Price: 30,000 - 55,000 VND

Nestled right in District 1, Com Tam Bui Saigon offers a cozy and rustic dining experience. Though it's popular with locals, itnướng grilled still feels like a bit of a secret to most visitors. Smoky, tender sườn nướng-grilled pork lines the plate alongside fluffy broken rice, all topped with a fried egg and a side of shredded pork skin. Add some fish sauce and enjoy a real experience, a delicious dish you will want to go to every country of Vietnam food to taste for yourself.

Com Tam 114

Address: 114 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 3
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Price: 30,000 - 60,000 VND

Try Com Tam 114 for something a little different. This lesser-known restaurant serves an unforgettable bo kho com tam with tender, perfectly cooked chunks of beef. Just as delicious are their pork ribs, and with generous servings, another great value entry in local restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.

Com Tam Ba Ha

Address: 389 Hung Phu Street, District 8
Opening Hours: 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Price: 35,000 - 70,000 VND

Located in District 8, Com Tam Ba Ha holds a special place in the hearts of the locals for its cha trung muoi, or salted egg meatloaf, adding flavor to the already well-renowned cha. Perfectly complementing the grilled pork, when combined with a fried egg and shredded pork skins, this dish becomes a delightful medley of flavors and textures. This is truly a hidden gem for those who want to try something different.

Com Tam Ba Rac

Address: 77 Le Van Linh Street, District 4
Opening Hours: 6:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Price: 50,000 - 100,000 VND

Com Tam Ba Rac is where you go for those late-night cravings; one of the better-known places that open really, really late into the night for Saigon's owls. Well-known for juicy grilled pork chops and generous portions, this com tam will surely fill any com tam enthusiast. The pork was tender, well-marinated, and came with pickled veggies and fried egg on the side. A bit more expensive, yes, but worth it in flavor and amount.

Com Tam Moc

Address: 85 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh, District 1
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Price: 40,000 - 75,000 VND

Com Tam Moc provides the best venue for those who want to dine on their com tam in a neat and aesthetically appealing space. It presents it more exquisitely, with perfectly grilled pork, and rice served in a square mold surrounded by pieces of pork ribs, egg meatloaf, and fresh cucumber slices. Delicious flavors and textures combined.

2. What Makes Com Tam So Delicious?

The Flavorful Grilled Pork

At the heart of a good best com tam in Ho Chi Minh City experience lays the pork, which is also usually well marinated with a mixture of fish sauce, garlic, lemongrass, and sugar until everything is perfectly grilled. The grill does that beautiful char, giving it this smoky, caramelized exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender in every single bite full of flavor, due to such a tedious process of marination and grilling.

Fluffy Broken Rice

Com tam is rice made from grains broken mainly in the process of milling. These minute, fluffy grains are light and airy, just what is needed to soak up that fish sauce and juicy pork. The texture of the rice is also very critical; it has to be soft yet non-mushy to present you with a perfect base for all the toppings.

The Sides and Accompaniments

An excellent plate of com tam is never complete without its bright, colorful side dishes. The typical accompaniments include:

• Shredded pork skins (bi), for a chewy texture and a savory taste.
• Fried egg, with that crispiness in the edges and runny yolk, gives richness to the dish.
• Pickled vegetables; daikon and carrots, offer a nice sour contrast.
• The scallion oil and rendered pork fat, lend a subtle richness to the dish.

The Dipping Sauce

And of course, there is the topping-no dish is complete without fish sauce or nuoc mam. This was a dipping sauce comprising fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili combined. It tied the whole deal together, and a drizzle of this on top of the pork and rice rounded out the entire dish by balancing the savory, sweet, and sour.

3. Tips for Finding Cheap Com Tam in Saigon

Explore Local Markets and Street Food Stalls

Some of the best places for com tam at cheap prices are the local street food stalls and markets. These modest eateries are where locals eat, and a delicious, authentic meal is available for a few dollars. Markets, especially Ben Thanh or Binh Tay, are teeming with food vendors serving up plates of grilled pork and a fried egg atop perfectly cooked broken rice.

Look for “Quan Com Binh Dan”

If you want to eat like an absolute local, then look out for signs that say "quan com binh dan", which is the term for popular eateries selling moderately priced meals to the common worker. You can be assured of no-frills dishes served in record time, with generous servings of grilled pork ribs, shredded pork skins, and fried eggs at very reasonable prices. The atmosphere is always buzzing, and the food is first-class!

Go During Off-Peak Hours

Recommended are visits during off-peak hours for these com tam spots by avoiding the crowds and favoring the best deals. THINK mid-morning or late afternoon. Most places offer slightly lower prices during this time, and you'll get both faster service and fresher food as the grills are hot and ready for action.

4. Beyond Com Tam: Other Budget-Friendly Saigon Eats

While com tam is undisputedly one of the highlights of Vietnamese food, there are certainly enough other affordable dishes to try on in Ho Chi Minh City. Here are a few favorites to put on your food itinerary :

• Banh Mi: A Vietnamese famous sandwich loaded with grilled pork, pate, and fresh herbs piled into a crispy baguette.
• Pho Hanoi: A fragrant noodle soup with tender beef or chicken and fresh herbs in a rich clear broth that will surely leave one feeling well satisfied.
• Banh Xeo: A savory Vietnamese pancake stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts is mainly shared among friends.

For more information about these delicious dishes, you can have a look at our other articles on Vietnam’s best street food!

5. Conclusion

Discovery of the best com tam in Saigon will be one of those things that you will always remember, from the sizzling sounds of grilled pork on the streets to the aromatic rice marinating in the rich flavor of fish sauce, this dish epitomizes the heart of Vietnamese cuisine. Com Tam is more than a meal, an integral configuration of Ho Chi Minh City whether you have it from the lowly street market stall to the highly-recommended place in the Michelin guide, Com Tam Ba Ghien.