Taeki Chan After a long day of exploring, eating, and shopping around Ho Chi Minh City, we were ready to wind down and grab dinner. Instead of heading to a restaurant, we decided to keep things simple and try some street food near our hotel — and that turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
The moment we stepped outside, we were greeted by the irresistible aroma of smoky barbecue. Just a few steps from our hotel, a small street-side stall was busy grilling marinated pork over charcoal.
The smell alone was enough to stop us in our tracks — we didn’t even need to think twice. This was going to be our dinner. You can know by looking at the photo of my mum and brother already sat down beside the street LOL!!
As it turns out, we had stumbled upon a well-known local spot called Cơm Tấm 182, a popular street food stall in Ho Chi Minh City famous for serving one of Vietnam’s most iconic dishes — cơm tấm, or broken rice.
We ordered the classic cơm tấm sườn bì chả, which comes with a generous serving of broken rice paired with a beautifully grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin (bì), and Vietnamese meatloaf (chả). The dish is topped with fragrant scallion oil and drizzled with a sweet and savory fish sauce. It’s also served with a fried egg, fresh cucumber slices, and tomatoes, making it a complete and satisfying meal.
The grilled pork chop was undoubtedly the highlight. It had a slightly charred exterior from the charcoal grill, giving it that smoky flavor, while the inside remained tender and juicy. The marinade brought out a delicious balance of sweetness and savoriness, with just a hint of caramelization.
The broken rice itself was light and fluffy, and it absorbed the fish sauce perfectly, enhancing every bite with a subtle umami richness. Mixing in the runny egg yolk added another layer of flavor and made the dish even more comforting.
The shredded pork skin added a unique, slightly chewy texture that contrasted nicely with the softness of the rice, while the meatloaf was rich, smooth, and packed with flavor.
What makes this dish so special is how everything comes together — the smoky pork, the fragrant rice, the savory sauce, and the mix of textures all create a simple yet incredibly satisfying meal.
Sometimes, the best travel experiences aren’t the ones you plan in advance, but the ones you stumble upon by chance. This unplanned dinner right outside our hotel ended up being one of our most memorable meals in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you ever find yourself in the city, don’t overlook the small street stalls — you might just discover something amazing.
Cơm tấm 182
182 Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Opens daily from 7pm – 12am
