Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ (Waterfall Fried Chicken Rice)

Put a (crispy) bird on it

Vietnamese foods sometimes get weirdly active, descriptive names when translated into English, and this is one of the best (the other best one being ‘Dodging Beef,’ which I’ll get to next month). In this case, the waterfall is more of an oil-fall, where the chicken is treated to a shower or bath of hot, bubbling oil. UPDATE: I also just learned from an excellent comment that this is also because the post-frying oil is poured over the rice! (Thanks

Michellehlcn

!)

You can often choose between a leg or a thigh (thigh time, obviously), and one of the best features of this kind of chicken is it’s golden, papery-thin, delicate-but-crispy-as-hell skin covering succulent, tender, juicy meat.

The rice is usually cooked in a rich chicken stock and fried, making it a gorgeous yellow color, and includes some pickled whatevers and/or fresh veggies on the side. Use whatever sauces that are available as you like - I prefer a nice fish sauce with chilis and garlic dumped all over mine, but you do you.

Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ CÔ ĐÀO

Hours: 10am-8pm

Address: 78 Phạm Viết Chánh, Phường 19, Bình Thạnh

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DguAZZDq4N6z6RS39

Cheapest first! I used to pass through this neighborhood every day on my way to work and I’d usually take a beat to grab a meal and chill for an hour. The area is absolutely chock full of good food, relaxing cafes, and a whole bunch of little bars.

This chicken rice here is cheap and fast, and they also offer a few other dishes (see pic below), although I usually go for the main dish at any little shop that I go to. The meat is hot, juicy, well-seasoned, and perfectly crispy, and the pickles have a satisfying crunch. Grabbing a box to go is probably your best bet, as there are only a few tables and chairs, and you can quite frankly find a more comfortable cafe just steps away.

Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ 142 - Lê Văn Duyệt

Hours: 9am-10pm

Address: 26/16A Đ. Lê Văn Duyệt, Phường 1, Bình Thạnh

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eyT5BaM3j3XH96Aa7

I’ve stopped by this little gem a few times and gotten a few different dishes, but the cơm gà xối mỡ is my favorite. The skin is as crispy as it should be while not completely saturated with oil, and the rice is fragrant. It comes with some pickled mustard greens (Thanks

Rhianna

!) on the side, and the meat was very tender and flavorful.

Hương Ký Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ

Hours: 6am-8pm

Address: G28 Đ. cư xá Vĩnh Hội, Phường 6, Quận 4

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkxkcuiesejLnSdW7

And, as always, best for last. This place is absolutely incredible, if a bit harder to find. It’s tucked away in one of District 4’s little side streets, among some of the city’s older French buildings - a series of low family house rows which house all sorts of small restaurants and businesses.

The chicken here is a glistening golden brown-skinned work of art, with tender, juicy meat sitting atop a pile of perfectly fried chicken-stock rice. The skin is expertly finished, and both the xối mỡ and mắm tỏi (fish sauce and garlic) chicken dishes are divine. If you’re not into chicken, they also have a variety of beef and other dishes (but really, get the chicken).

Plus, they have a big fat golden retriever hanging around that is very friendly (or maybe just wants your chicken bones)!

This is one of Vietnam’s simplest, but most delicious, staple meals. It’s a bit unhealthy, but if you’re especially strapped for cash and need a bunch of calories for cheap without sacrificing flavor, these are some particularly tasty options.

Bok bok, mateys!

As always, if you know someone who would enjoy my content, whether they are living in Vietnam, visiting, or just like pretty pictures, please pass this along! And if you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?

-Ben