Ba Ghien broken rice, which was named Bib Gourmand by Michelin, has been around since 1995. Many locals also consider the restaurant to be the best place to eat broken rice in Phu Nhuan district. The impressive flavor and quality of the food have made this place a popular dining spot for a long time.
1 Introducing Ba Ghien Broken Rice Restaurant
Address: 84 Dang Van Ngu, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District
Business hours: 07h00 – 22h00
When talking about Saigon specialties, it is impossible not to mention the famous broken rice dish. The number of broken rice restaurants in the city is also countless, each with its own unique flavor that attracts food lovers to come and enjoy. Among the myriad of restaurants, Ba Ghien Broken Rice stands out with names such as “big broken rice with ribs”, “broken rice worth the money” because of the extremely high quality portions of rice and meat.
Ba Ghien Broken Rice Restaurant has been in Saigon since around 1995 and is always crowded from morning to night. Tourists to Saigon can easily see the charcoal grill operating at full capacity and emitting strong smoke that attracts passersby. Although it has been around for a long time, the quality of the food is still guaranteed, as evidenced by the number of regular customers that has not decreased at all.
According to the general assessment of most diners, the restaurant’s mixed broken rice dish sometimes needs 2 people to finish. Because the rice dish is full of dishes such as grilled ribs, egg rolls, fried eggs, Chinese sausage, pork skin, Chinese sausage, pickles, scallion oil… However, a minus point is that although the dish is elaborately invested, the restaurant’s fish sauce is somewhat ordinary. Moreover, the food is presented on plastic plates and is not eye-catching, but the quality of the dish is completely worth the cost.
Each portion of rice at Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant has a super large portion, challenging the appetite of diners. Photo: FB Ba Ghien Broken Rice
A full portion of rice with pork ribs, pork skin, cucumber and pickles. Photo: FB Com Tam Ba Ghien
The restaurant is always crowded at all times of the day. Photo: FB Com Tam Ba Ghien
2 Special features of Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant
2.1 The long history of the broken rice restaurant in Phu Nhuan district
Ba Ghien Broken Rice Restaurant is located right in the center of Phu Nhuan District. As soon as you step in, you can see the sign “Since 1995” and the restaurant name in LED lights standing out in front of you. According to the restaurant owner, Mr. Truong Vinh Thuy, the name “Ba Ghien” is his grandfather’s name. In the early days when the restaurant first opened, it still didn’t have a name, and customers didn’t know what to call the restaurant to introduce it to people around, so his mother suggested using his grandfather’s name as the restaurant name. At first, the name Ba Ghien didn’t sound special, but the longer you listen, the more impressive it becomes.
Especially after being honored by Michelin Guide in the Bib Gourmand category, the number of customers coming to the restaurant has increased countlessly. It seems that the meat grills always have to operate at full capacity to meet all the needs of customers for take-out and dine-in. That is also the reason why this broken rice restaurant is often on the list of broken rice restaurants to try when traveling to Saigon.
The restaurant was honored to receive the Bib Gourmand award (good food at affordable prices) from Michelin. Photo: FB Com Tam Ba Ghien
2.2 Large and quality portions of Ba Ghien Broken Rice
What makes the Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant different after many years of business is the large and thick ribs as big as a hand. According to travel experience, many diners often jokingly call the ribs at the restaurant “the biggest ribs in Saigon”. That’s why each meal here is quite expensive compared to the general level, around 75,000 – 145,000 VND (reference price).
The most popular dish at Ba Ghien Broken Rice, according to Vietnamtravelio, is mixed rice. Although the price is quite high, the portion is very large, enough for about 2 people to finish. In addition, the large, thick ribs are also what makes the restaurant’s brand, because the ingredients are carefully prepared and selected before processing. According to the restaurant owner, the most important step to ensure the quality of the dish is the meat selection.
The key is to choose large pork chops, because large pieces will not be dry when grilled and will be more delicious. At Ba Ghien Broken Rice, ribs weighing 4 to 5 ounces are not chosen. In addition, pork chops range from a small piece to a large piece, which is also the most delicious piece of pork chop.
In addition to the quality of ingredients, Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant also focuses on the marinating part. Accordingly, the ribs are usually marinated for at least 4 to 6 hours to ensure the flavor permeates every corner.
The menu of dishes being sold at the restaurant is large, clear and easy to read. Photo: Huynh Phong
In addition to the main dish, you can also order additional soup to enjoy. Photo: FB Com Tam Ba Ghien
2.3 Review of Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant space
Stepping into Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant, you will feel familiar like many other popular restaurants. The restaurant does not have a sophisticated design, just folding tables and plastic chairs are simply arranged but always ensure neatness and hygiene. The restaurant staff is also quick, serving dishes quickly as well as cleaning up continuously to ensure the space is always pleasing to all diners.
On the wall of Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant, you can see a large menu of dishes and drinks hanging for easy ordering. Broken rice is numbered from 1 to 6 with pictures and detailed prices. You can come and order a dish right away without having to waste time waiting for the staff to come to your table like many other places.
Ba Ghien broken rice has the space of a standard cheap eatery. Photo: Huynh Phong
2.4 Rate the dishes on the menu
The restaurant has about 6 different broken rice dishes, among which the most popular are the rib rice and the ribs with pork skin and sausage. Just looking at the rib rice dish, you will be impressed with the large, thickly sliced ribs that cover the entire plate of rice. The ribs here are both soft and well-seasoned, marinated according to a special recipe that attracts diners from near and far. The main reason is that the meat is grilled over hot coals to ensure it is cooked to perfection, but still soft and juicy without being too dry.
The rice is also highly rated, with loose, fragrant grains that are not dry at all. The fried egg served with it is also soft and fatty, melting in your mouth. Just sprinkle some fish sauce on top and enjoy it with other side dishes (such as braised meat, stir-fried beans, kimchi, etc.) to feel extremely satisfied. Those who do not like to eat rice without food can order additional dishes such as bitter melon soup, pickled cabbage, etc. at quite cheap prices to adjust the flavor.
In addition to the quality of the food, the service attitude at Ba Ghien Broken Rice is also highly appreciated. Although the restaurant is crowded, you can see that from the staff to the owner are always friendly to customers. Perhaps that is also the main reason why this dining place is always crowded even though it has been established for more than 30 years.
Ribs are carefully marinated before being grilled over charcoal. Photo: Michelin Guide
Bitter melon soup stuffed with meat is a favorite dish of many diners here. Photo: FB Com Tam Ba Ghien
If you are still wondering where to eat broken rice, you can visit and enjoy the special flavor of Ba Ghien Broken Rice restaurant. The large pieces of ribs and special marinade have created a foothold for the restaurant for over 30 years. In addition, you can also refer to the addresses of some delicious restaurants in Vietnamtravelio’s travel guide.
