Searching for great food is sometimes difficult if you’re travelling. Trawling through Google can result in dozens of results and a myriad of mixed reviews, so it can be difficult to identify a reliable source of delicious local eats. Sometimes, the best method is really just reverting back to the origin of recommendations: asking a local.

In the case of one evening when we were looking for dinner around our area we thought to contact our AirBnb host. We were very quickly supplied with a short but commendable list. Let’s be honest, in some cases even local recommendations can be hit-and-miss. However, we have noticed that the ones who respond quickly and with restaurants outside of the guidebooks and blogs really have something to say about them.

This restaurant – if you can call it such – is one of those examples. Comprised of a street cart and a couple of tables with stools, it’s easy to miss Cơm cô Bắc51 as a proper establishment. Even its name is seemingly unofficial, referring to its location. Still, it was close by, and we were nothing short of convinced as we watched their supposed chef grilling glossy slabs of meat over a charcoal fire at the front.

Their menu consists of grilled meat and side dishes served on broken rice with a side of nước mắm pha (mixed fish sauce) or nước chấm (fish sauce dressing) and pickled vegetables. However, their specialty is cơm gà, chicken on rice. If in doubt, simply indicate the number of dishes you’re after, and it’s likely that this will be served to you as default.

They might not have such a big selection, but you won’t be disappointed. Despite being cooked over a charcoal grill, the chicken was tender and not at all dry, instead smoky, sweet, salty, and savoury all at once, and especially moreish when accompanied by the fish sauce dressing. The rice was almost sweet against the charcoal-grilled meat, and the pickles added a great crunch and sweet sharpness to the dish.

Their pork chops are delicious as well, but hardly as memorable as the chicken rice. It was one of the best meals we ended up eating in Ho Chi Minh City. We would highly recommend it, especially as it’s only a couple of minutes from the central tourist area of the city.

Order one each. You won’t regret it, especially as it will only set you back ₫30,000 per plate.

Cơm cô Bắc51
51 Cô Bắc, Phường Cầu Ông Lãnh, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam