Com Tam Thien Huong | Menu Prices Hours and Locations Guide

If you have driven through San Jose’s Little Saigon around lunchtime, you have probably seen a line forming outside a busy corner restaurant with steam rising off the grill. That is almost certainly Com Tam Thien Huong.

This restaurant has built a loyal following among Bay Area diners who want honest, generous, and flavorful Vietnamese food without any pretense. The menu centers on com tam, Vietnamese broken rice, a dish with deep roots in Southern Vietnam and a reputation for turning simple ingredients into something people crave weekly.

This guide covers everything you need to know before you go. That includes the menu, prices, hours, locations, what to order, and why com tam thien huong has earned such a devoted following across Vietnamese communities in the United States.

What Is Com Tam Thien Huong

Com Tam Thien Huong is a Vietnamese restaurant chain with multiple locations across California, including several spots in San Jose, one in Sacramento, and one in Milpitas. The name itself tells you what to expect. Com tam means broken rice, and Thien Huong roughly translates to heavenly fragrance, a fitting name for a kitchen built around the smoky aroma of pork grilling over charcoal.

The restaurant specializes in com tam plates loaded with classic Vietnamese proteins like grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg cake, and grilled shrimp on sugarcane. Beyond broken rice, the menu also covers pho, hu tieu, bun (vermicelli noodle bowls), and Hainanese chicken rice, so there is plenty to explore even if broken rice is not your first choice.

Reviewers consistently point to two things that set Thien Huong apart from other com tam spots. First, the portions are large, often described as some of the biggest in the South Bay. Second, the flavors stay close to what you would find in Saigon rather than a watered down American version.

Where to Find Thien Huong Restaurant Locations

Com Tam Thien Huong operates several locations, so it helps to know which one is closest to you before you head out.

San Jose, Story Road
909 Story Rd, Unit 100, San Jose, CA 95122
Phone: (408) 275-6650

San Jose, East Capitol Expressway
1759 E Capitol Expy, San Jose, CA 95121
Phone: (408) 274-8188

Sacramento
6835 Stockton Blvd, Ste 430, Sacramento, CA 95823
Phone: (916) 476-4258

Milpitas
41 Serra Way, Milpitas, CA 95035

(Image placement: insert a photo here showing a full Com Tam Thien Huong plate with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and a fried egg over broken rice.)

If you are searching for com tam near me or Vietnamese food near me, the Story Road location in San Jose is the original and busiest branch, sitting in the middle of a plaza filled with Vietnamese eateries and boba shops. It is worth checking Google Maps directly for the most current directions and any temporary hour changes before you drive over.

Com Tam Thien Huong Hours

Across most locations, the restaurant follows a split schedule rather than staying open straight through the day. A typical weekly pattern looks like this:

Monday through Sunday: 10:00 am to 2:45 pm, then reopening from 4:00 pm to 7:45 pm

This split schedule catches some first time visitors off guard. If you show up at 3:30 pm expecting a mid afternoon com tam, you will likely find the doors locked until 4 pm. Since hours can shift around holidays or due to staffing, it is smart to call the location ahead or check their listing on Google or Yelp the same day you plan to visit.

The Thien Huong Menu Breakdown

The menu at Thien Huong is extensive, but it is organized in a way that makes ordering fairly simple once you understand the categories.

Com Tam (Broken Rice Plates)

This is the heart of the menu. Diners can build a plate around individual proteins or order one of the combination plates that mix several toppings together. Common options include:

Suon nuong, the grilled pork chop plate, marinated and charred over an open flame
Bi, shredded pork skin mixed with roasted rice powder
Cha, a steamed pork and egg cake with a custardy texture
Tau hu ky, fried shrimp cake wrapped in bean curd skin
Chao tom, grilled shrimp mousse wrapped around sugarcane
Suon bi cha, a combination plate pairing grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and egg cake together on one dish

The restaurant’s specialty combo, often listed as the dac biet or special plate, piles on nearly every topping at once, including pork chop, shrimp cake, pork skin, egg cake, and grilled shrimp on sugarcane. Regulars often recommend this sampler plate for first timers because it lets you taste the full range of textures and decide what to order again on your next visit.

Pho and Noodle Soups

Beyond broken rice, the restaurant serves a full pho menu with beef options ranging from rare steak to well done brisket, flank, tendon, and tripe. There is also hu tieu mi, a Southern Vietnamese seafood and pork noodle soup that blends Chinese and Vietnamese influences.

Bun (Vermicelli Bowls)

For a lighter option, the bun selections pair rice vermicelli noodles with grilled pork, egg rolls, or grilled shrimp, all topped with fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and a side of nuoc cham dipping sauce.

Com Ga Hai Nam

Hainanese chicken rice is another standout, featuring poached or roasted chicken over fragrant rice, a dish with roots in Chinese Hainanese cuisine that became a beloved comfort food across Southeast Asia.

Drinks and Desserts

The menu rounds out with Vietnamese cafe sua da, the classic French style condensed milk coffee, along with sinh to fruit smoothies and che, traditional Vietnamese puddings served warm or over ice.

Com Tam Thien Huong Menu Prices

Pricing varies slightly by location, but based on published menus, here is a general sense of what to expect.

Single protein rice plates like tau hu ky or bi cha tau hu ky typically run between $13 and $14.50
Two protein combinations, such as suon nuong with tau hu ky, land around $14.25 to $14.75
The larger combination plates with four or five proteins, including the special dac biet plate, range from roughly $17.50 up to $22 depending on the location and whether beef short rib is included
Coffee and drinks start around $3.75

Keep in mind that menu prices are always subject to change, and the most accurate numbers will come directly from the restaurant or its current online menu. Some locations also apply a small surcharge, often a few percent, for credit card payments, so bringing cash can save you a little money if that matters to you.

What Makes Com Tam Suon Nuong So Popular

The grilled pork chop, or suon nuong, deserves its own explanation because it is the anchor of the entire com tam tradition.

The pork is marinated in a mix that typically includes fish sauce, garlic, lemongrass, and a touch of sugar, then grilled over charcoal until the edges char slightly and the inside stays juicy. That smoky char is what people mean when they talk about authentic Vietnamese grilled pork rice. It is not just seasoning, it is the cooking method itself that creates the signature flavor.

According to Vietnamese culinary sources, com tam originated as a practical dish made from broken rice grains that were considered too fractured to sell at full price during milling. Farmers in the Mekong Delta kept these broken grains for their own meals rather than letting them go to waste. Over decades, what started as a humble farmer’s meal evolved into one of the most recognized dishes in Southern Vietnamese cuisine, according to Wikipedia’s entry on Cơm tấm.

By the mid 20th century, com tam had become a staple across Saigon, sold by street vendors and eventually restaurants throughout the day rather than just as a breakfast item.

Tips for Ordering at Thien Huong

Come hungry. Portions run large, and the combination plates especially can easily fill up two people if you also order a soup or appetizer.

Try the sampler plate first. If you are new to com tam, the special combination plate gives you a taste of nearly every protein on the menu in one sitting.

Pour the fish sauce generously. Many diners under season their plate by skipping the nuoc cham. This sauce ties the whole dish together and is meant to be poured over the rice, not just dipped into.

Expect a wait during peak hours. Lunch and early dinner get busy, particularly on weekends. Some locations use a waitlist sign in sheet at the door.

Bring cash if you can. A handful of locations tack on a small credit card surcharge, usually a few percent.

Check hours before heading over. Because of the split lunch and dinner schedule, calling ahead avoids a wasted trip during the afternoon closure window.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming it is open all day. The 3 pm to 4 pm gap trips up a lot of new visitors. Always check the current hours for your specific location.

Ordering without trying the sides. The small bowl of canh, a light clear broth with garlic chives, is meant to cleanse the palate between bites and is easy to overlook.

Skipping pickled vegetables. The pickled carrots and daikon that come alongside com tam are not just garnish. They cut through the richness of the grilled pork and add acidity that balances the plate.

Comparing prices across locations without checking the current menu. Since Thien Huong operates several branches, prices and even specific menu items can differ slightly from one location to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Com tam is Vietnamese broken rice, a dish made from rice grains that fracture during milling. It is typically served with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg cake, and a fried egg, all topped with fish sauce.

Yes, most locations offer both takeout and delivery through third party apps as well as direct pickup orders. Availability can vary by branch, so it is worth checking the specific location’s current delivery options online.

Yes, the casual, fast paced atmosphere works well for groups. The combination plates are also easy to order family style so everyone can try a bit of everything.

Suon bi cha refers to a plate that combines three proteins together, grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and steamed egg cake, over one serving of broken rice. It is one of the most popular combination orders because it hits three distinct textures in a single plate.

Some locations offer tofu and vegetable based dishes, though the menu is heavily centered on pork, chicken, beef, and seafood. If you have dietary restrictions, it is best to call ahead and ask directly.

A single protein rice plate generally falls in the $13 to $15 range, while the larger combination plates with multiple proteins run from about $17.50 to $22, depending on the location.

Final Thoughts

Com Tam Thien Huong has earned its reputation the old fashioned way, through consistent, generous plates of grilled pork, fragrant broken rice, and sauces that taste like they came straight from a home kitchen in Saigon. Whether you are craving a classic suon nuong plate or want to sample everything on the special combination, this restaurant delivers an experience that feels authentic rather than adapted for American tastes.

If you are searching for Vietnamese food near you and want a plate that fills you up without emptying your wallet, Thien Huong is worth the trip. Just remember to check the hours before you go, bring a little cash, and come with an appetite.

Com Tam Thien Huong Brings San Jose the Ultimate Vietnamese Broken Rice Experience