Discover the art of making delectable homemade broken rice and explore the most popular broken rice restaurant in Saigon.

Broken rice, a quintessential dish when it comes to Saigon cuisine. This is the go-to choice for many when pondering what to eat today. Despite its simplicity, broken rice holds within it countless intriguing and unique qualities. Join Mytour Blog in unraveling the origins of broken rice and the foolproof method to create an 'unbeatable' broken rice dish that could kickstart a restaurant.

Origins of broken rice with ribs

Broken rice has a long-standing history, known as a humble dish intertwined with the lives of rural people in the Mekong Delta region. During times of scarcity, people utilized broken rice – fragments of rice left over from milling, transportation, or drying – to cook meals. This was an easily accessible ingredient, always available, and most importantly, it helped stretch meals for a longer period.

This rice dish has gradually evolved over time. In the 20th century, as Vietnam began urbanizing, this dish quickly became popular and a favorite across the Southern provinces, including Saigon. With the changing times and tastes of the people, this rice dish has transformed into a diverse dish with various ingredients and flavors, from grilled ribs, eggs, meatloaf to shredded pork skin.

Undergoing numerous transformations, from a humble dish to a street food icon, broken rice has firmly established its importance in Vietnamese cuisine and left a distinctive mark in the hearts of every diner.

The basic components and accompanying dishes create the distinctive flavor of broken rice

The basic components of broken rice

Accompanying dishes in broken rice

• Ribs – the main ingredient that defines the 'soul' of broken rice
• Meatloaf – adds flavor
• Eggs – nutritional addition
• Shredded pork skin – adds flavor
• Pickled vegetables – enhances flavor
• Other accompanying dishes (braised pork belly, stuffed tofu, fried fish, chicken, vegetables, stir-fries, etc.)

Guide to marinating delicious, juicy grilled ribs

Ingredients:

• Pork ribs: 500g
• Garlic: 40g
• Shallots: 20g
• Lemongrass: 3-4 stalks
• Orange: 1 fruit
• Seasoning powder: 0.5 tablespoon
• Marinade for grilling: 1 tablespoon
• Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce: 0.5 tablespoon
• Condensed milk: 1 tablespoon
• Agave syrup/ honey: 1.5 tablespoon
• Sugar: 0.5 tablespoon
• Five-spice powder: 1/3 teaspoon
• Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
• Garlic water: 2 tablespoons
• Syrup coloring: 0.5 tablespoon
• Canola oil coloring: 1 tablespoon
• Fried garlic oil: 4 tablespoons

Instructions:

• Firstly, finely chop garlic and shallots. Place them in a mortar to crush, then squeeze to extract the juice and discard the pulp.
• Pound lemongrass and cut into pieces.
• Cut the orange into small pieces.
• Wash the pork ribs with salt to clean, then drain. Tenderize the meat with a mallet or the back of a knife to soften the meat and cut the tendons around the meat to prevent it from shrinking during grilling.
• Next, marinate the meat mixture by combining all the prepared ingredients. When marinating, follow the order to avoid missing any ingredients.
• Once the marinated mixture is evenly mixed, place it in a bag with the meat and marinate for at least 3-8 hours in the refrigerator. Add lemongrass and orange to the marinating bag.
• After marinating, grill the ribs over charcoal until the meat is cooked, fragrant, and beautifully browned.

Secrets to making delicious grilled ribs

• During grilling, you can brush the remaining marinated sauce onto the meat to prevent it from drying out.
• Using garlic water will impart a richer aroma. Leaving the whole garlic while grilling may cause bitterness to the meat.
• Canola oil coloring helps the meat to have a better color.
• Agave syrup or honey will give the ribs a unique sweet aftertaste.

This is the recipe for grilled ribs in broken rice dish. You can adjust the quantity of ingredients according to your portion size and adjust the marinating flavor to your preference. Good luck with your dish!

Guide to making caramel fish sauce

Prepare the ingredients:

• One cup fish sauce
• One cup sugar
• Two cups water
• A little garlic and chili
• A little vinegar or lime
• One teaspoon salt
• Three pieces of khóm (a type of fruit that helps the fish sauce become thick and sticky)

How to make fish sauce

• Pour two cups of water into a pot, add one cup of sugar to boiling water, then add one cup of fish sauce to the pot.
• To add sourness, you can use vinegar or lime. If using vinegar, you can add it directly to the fish sauce while cooking to make it more flavorful. If using lime, it's best to let the fish sauce cool before adding the lime.
• Add one teaspoon of salt to the fish sauce to extend its shelf life without spoiling.
• Add three pieces of khóm to the fish sauce, turn on the stove to low heat, and cook for about 15 minutes. Khóm helps the fish sauce become thicker and stickier.
• Once the fish sauce is cooked, add finely chopped garlic and chili.
• Store the fish sauce in the refrigerator, it can be used for one to two months.
• With these tips, the sweet and sour fish sauce will be thick and clear, with a balanced sweet and sour taste, perfect for serving with broken rice.

10+ Best broken rice restaurants in Saigon always crowded with customers

1. Ba Cường's Rib Rice: Delicious Rice Restaurant in District 1

Ba Cường's Rib Rice is renowned as the 'heaven of broken rice', serving hearty Southern-style broken rice dishes with fragrant soft rice, crispy grilled ribs, and crunchy pickled vegetables.

• Address: 263 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 07:00 – 21:30
• Price range: 50,000 – 90,000 VND

2. Bà Năm's Braised Egg Broken Rice

The distinctive feature of the restaurant lies in the braised egg, accompanied by fragrant and soft broken rice and evenly seasoned grilled meat that will leave a lasting impression.

• Address: 34 Tan Canh, Ward 1, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 06:15 – 12:00
• Price range: 15,000 – 40,000 VND

3. Nguyễn Văn Cừ Rice – Saigon's Most Expensive Rice Restaurant

Despite being priced higher than other eateries, Nguyễn Văn Cừ broken rice is always packed with customers thanks to the unique flavor of grilled pork ribs. For returning Vietnamese expatriates, Nguyễn Văn Cừ broken rice is often their go-to place to enjoy a taste of home after days away.

• Address: 74 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 06:30 – 15:00
• Price range: 50,000 – 150,000 VND

4. Saigon's Trash Heap Broken Rice

Despite its peculiar name, Saigon's Trash Heap broken rice is always fresh and delicious, with golden brown grilled pork ribs that are extremely eye-catching. When you bite into a piece of meat, you'll find it maintains its warmth, tenderness, and fresh flavor.

• Address: 77 Le Van Linh, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 18:00 – 03:00
• Price range: 50,000 – 100,000 VND

5. Huyền's Broken Rice: Delicious Rice Restaurant in Binh Thanh

This is a broken rice restaurant highly favored by both Vietnamese and foreign diners. The grilled pork ribs are large, tender, and incredibly flavorful. Alongside the ribs, Huyền's Broken Rice offers a diverse menu with enticing side dishes such as stewed offal, grilled pork belly, braised pork, bitter melon soup, and more.

• Address: Alley 95 Dinh Tien Hoang, Ward 3, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 00:01 – 04:00 | 16:00 – 23:59
• Price range: 30,000 – 45,000 VND

Besides the five mentioned above, there are many other enticing broken rice eateries in Saigon, such as:

• Ba Ghiền Broken Rice: 84 Dang Van Ngu Street, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Sà Bà Chưởng Broken Rice: 179 Tran Binh Trong Street, Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City (multiple branches)
• Mai Broken Rice: 129 Doan Van Bo Street, Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
• Mộc Broken Rice: 85 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (multiple branches)
• Phúc Lộc Thọ Broken Rice: 236 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (multiple branches)

So, Mytour has introduced to you how to cook broken rice as well as introduced the best broken rice eateries in Ho Chi Minh City that you shouldn't miss. Don't forget to visit Mytour Blog to update more articles and the best life experiences today!