Com tam (pronounced “kuhm tuhm”) is a Vietnamese dish of “broken rice” — rice made from fractured grains — served with grilled marinated pork chop, a fried egg, shredded pork skin, pickled vegetables, and a sweet-savory fish sauce. It’s one of Saigon’s most beloved everyday meals.
Cơm tấm is a southern Vietnamese rice plate built around “broken rice” — grains that fractured during milling. Once considered a humble, cheaper rice, it became the foundation of one of Vietnam’s most popular meals. The grains are shorter and a little fluffier, soaking up sauce beautifully.
The classic version, cơm tấm sườn, tops the rice with a smoky, sweet-savory grilled pork chop. From there, it’s endlessly customizable — add a fried egg, shredded pork skin, a steamed egg loaf, pickled vegetables, and a drizzle of fragrant scallion oil, all tied together with Vietnam’s ubiquitous sweet fish sauce.
Broken rice is exactly what it sounds like: rice grains that cracked or fractured during harvesting and milling. Historically it was sold cheaply because the grains weren’t “whole,” but cooks discovered it had a pleasant, soft, slightly sticky texture that pairs perfectly with grilled meats and sauce. Today it’s prized in its own right. Learn more in what is broken rice?
Cơm tấm is pronounced roughly “kuhm tuhm.” Cơm means cooked rice and tấm means broken or fractured — together, “broken rice.” See our pronunciation guide for more.
| Component | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cơm tấm | The broken rice base |
| Sườn nướng | Grilled marinated pork chop (the classic topping) |
| Bì | Shredded pork and pork skin with toasted rice powder |
| Chả trứng | Steamed egg-and-pork loaf |
| Ốp la | A fried egg |
| Mỡ hành | Scallion oil drizzled on top |
| Đồ chua + nước mắm | Pickled vegetables and sweet fish sauce |
The most popular order is the grilled pork chop version — more on that in com tam suon.
Comforting and balanced. The smoky-sweet grilled pork is the star, set against soft, fragrant rice and the brightness of pickled vegetables. Scallion oil adds richness, while the sweet-tangy fish sauce poured over the top pulls everything together. Every forkful mixes savory, sweet, and fresh.
Cơm tấm began as a practical, affordable meal for farmers and laborers in southern Vietnam, made from the broken grains left after milling. Over time it climbed from street stalls to beloved status across Saigon and beyond, and today it’s a signature southern Vietnamese dish served everywhere from sidewalk eateries to restaurants in the United States.
Cơm tấm is a balanced, protein-rich plate with rice, grilled meat, egg, and vegetables. Portions are filling, and grilled pork plus fish sauce can add fat and sodium, so it’s hearty rather than light. For the full breakdown, see is com tam healthy?
Find authentic Vietnamese restaurants serving cơm tấm near you, across all 50 US states.
Find Com Tam Near Me →Com tam is a southern Vietnamese rice plate made with “broken rice,” traditionally topped with a grilled marinated pork chop, plus add-ons like a fried egg, shredded pork skin, pickled vegetables, scallion oil, and sweet fish sauce.
Broken rice is rice made from grains that fractured during milling. Once sold cheaply, it’s prized for its soft, slightly sticky texture that soaks up sauce and pairs perfectly with grilled meat.
It’s pronounced roughly “kuhm tuhm.” Cơm means cooked rice and tấm means broken, so com tam literally means “broken rice.”
Com tam suon is the most popular version of com tam, topped with sườn nướng — a smoky, sweet-savory grilled marinated pork chop served over the broken rice.
Com tam is a specialty of southern Vietnam and especially Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), where it’s a beloved everyday meal eaten at all hours.
It’s a balanced, protein-rich plate with rice, grilled meat, egg, and vegetables, though the grilled pork and fish sauce add fat and sodium, making it hearty rather than light.
Explore more in our Vietnamese food guide, or compare other dishes like pho and banh mi.
