Cơm gà Hội An
Turmeric-yellow rice cooked in chicken stock, topped with hand-torn poached chicken.
A Hoi An speciality: rice cooked in chicken broth and turmeric until golden and fragrant, topped with shredded poached chicken, a tangy herb-and-onion salad, and a side of chilli and a small bowl of broth. Lighter and more aromatic than it sounds — the rice is the star, not the chicken.
How to eat it well
- Mix the herb salad and chilli through the rice; sip the broth alongside.
- A great cheap, light lunch in between heavier Hoi An specialities like cao lầu.
- Look for the long-running family spots near the market over the polished tourist restaurants.
Where it’s best
Hoi An old town — Cơm Gà Bà Buội is the famous name, but several family stalls match it.
Chicken-based; the rice itself is cooked in chicken stock, so not vegetarian.
Eat next
Saigon’s plate of broken rice with grilled pork chop — the city’s default lunch.
Chả cáTurmeric dill fishHanoi’s theatrical table-grilled fish with turmeric, dill, and a mountain of herbs.
Bún thịt nướngGrilled pork vermicelliA cool bowl of vermicelli, smoky grilled pork, herbs, and pickles you dress yourself.