Why Com Tam deserves more attention

Com Tam rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The subtly sweet and spiced complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using lemongrass correctly takes real skill.

Vietnamese cuisine shows French colonial influence alongside traditional Southeast Asian techniques. I encountered it first in a street banh mi counter and that context helped me understand it properly. bia hoi draught beer is the natural accompaniment and the combination makes the case for the dish. If you haven't explored this cuisine seriously, Com Tam is the dish to start with.