Com Tam Ma: A 30-year-old restaurant that attracts Saigonese at night

Hidden in an alley, Huyen broken rice restaurant is famous for its 'ghost' nickname and secret honey grilled ribs, becoming a familiar meeting place in Saigon after 12 midnight.

A 30-year-old broken rice restaurant in a small alley in Saigon.

Amidst the bustling life of Ho Chi Minh City, Huyen's broken rice restaurant, nestled in an alley on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, has become a familiar destination for the past 30 years. Without a fancy sign, just a glass display case and a few simple plastic tables and chairs, the restaurant remains brightly lit and bustling with customers from evening until dawn, when the whole neighborhood is asleep.

Huyen's broken rice restaurant is located in a small alley but is always bustling with customers eating late into the night. Photo: Ha Nguyen

Mr. Tam (63 years old), the current owner, said that the restaurant was opened by his sister, Ms. Huyen, around 1994-1995. After her death, he and his wife took over and kept the original name. Although the official name is Huyen's Broken Rice, customers are accustomed to calling it by a strange and slightly eerie name: "ghost broken rice".

The origin of the nickname 'ghost broken rice'.

According to Mr. Tam, this unique nickname stems from several reasons. Partly because of the restaurant's unusual operating hours, staying open all night and being busiest between midnight and dawn. Additionally, the name is associated with an interesting story from many years ago.

He recounted: "Previously, there was a famous late-night broken rice restaurant nearby called Mai. Unfortunately, the letter 'I' fell off their sign, leaving only 'Ma'. Over time, people started calling it the 'Ma' broken rice restaurant. After that restaurant closed, my restaurant was the only one still open every night in this whole area, so customers started calling mine the 'Ma' broken rice restaurant."

The allure of our secret grilled ribs recipe.

However, what truly keeps customers coming back isn't just the unique name, but the flavor of the food, especially the famous grilled ribs. Large, meaty pork chops are marinated with a rich, traditional recipe, then coated with a glossy layer of honey before being placed on a charcoal grill.

The golden-brown, juicy, and fragrant grilled ribs are the highlight of the restaurant. Photo: Ha Nguyen

When cooked through, the ribs turn a golden brown, emitting a fragrant aroma. The outer layer is slightly charred and crispy, while the meat inside remains tender, juicy, and retains its natural sweetness. Besides grilled ribs, side dishes such as grilled chicken, pork skin, and egg patties are also highly praised by diners. In particular, the sweet and sour fish sauce, prepared according to a special recipe, is also a memorable element.

A familiar meeting place for Saigon residents at night.

The restaurant is open from 4 PM to 4 AM the following morning. The busiest times are from 8 PM to 9 PM and from midnight onwards. The clientele is very diverse, ranging from night shift workers, factory workers, and small traders from nearby markets to artists and young people out late at night.

As night falls, the restaurant attracts more and more customers. Photo: Ha Nguyen

Minh (born in 2002), a regular customer of the restaurant, shared: “I especially like the tender, juicy texture of the grilled ribs and the salty, sweet, and spicy flavor of the dipping sauce. When eaten with broken rice, the flavors blend together very deliciously.”

To meet customer demand, the restaurant uses 3-4 bags of rice daily. Broken rice is soaked beforehand and cooked in large pots to ensure the grains are evenly cooked, soft, and fragrant. The price for a plate of rice ranges from 40,000 to 80,000 VND depending on the dish. Currently, in addition to selling all night, the restaurant is also open for lunch.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/com-tam-ma-quan-an-30-nam-tuoi-niu-chan-nguoi-sai-gon-ve-dem-398259.html