Central Vietnam SpecialtyChicken DishDinner Food

    Hoi An Chicken Rice

    Cơm Gà Hội An

    4.7₫35k-70kBest at lunch or early dinner while chicken is freshly poached and warm.
    Quang Nguyen Vinh
    Overview

    Hoi An's iconic turmeric rice with free-range chicken — a 1950s-born local institution

    Cơm gà Hội An is one of the most beloved everyday dishes of the ancient town — deceptively simple yet deeply flavorful. The rice is cooked in chicken broth with turmeric and pandan leaves, giving it a beautiful golden color and a fragrant, slightly nutty flavor that sets it apart from any other chicken rice in Vietnam. The chicken itself is free-range (gà ta) — firmer and more flavorful than farm-raised birds — poached gently until just cooked, then shredded or thinly sliced by hand. It is dressed with a mix of fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, Vietnamese coriander), thinly sliced shallots, a squeeze of lime, and sometimes a light sesame-soy dressing. The plate is accompanied by a small bowl of the clear chicken poaching broth with green onions, plus several dipping sauces. The result is a dish that is light, fragrant, and balanced — everything that defines Central Vietnamese cooking philosophy.
    Gallery

    Photos

    What's in it

    • free-range chicken
    • turmeric
    • pandan leaves
    • chicken broth-cooked rice
    • fresh mint and vietnamese coriander
    • shallots
    • lime
    • sesame oil
    • fish sauce
    • chili sauce
    • clear chicken broth (side bowl)
    When to eat

    Best moments to enjoy it

    LunchDinner

    Best at lunch or early dinner while chicken is freshly poached and warm.

    The story

    Origin & history

    Cơm gà Hội An was born around the 1950s in Hoi An, developed by local cooks who adapted the Chinese Hainanese chicken rice tradition with distinctly Vietnamese and Quảng Nam flavors. Where Hainanese chicken rice uses plain steamed rice, the Hoi An version uses turmeric-infused broth-cooked rice — a uniquely Vietnamese touch. The dish became a staple of the ancient town's daily life and has been served by family-run restaurants for three generations. Bà Buội is widely regarded as the original and most-celebrated address, with a line of locals and tourists forming daily outside her small restaurant.

    At the stall

    How to order & pay

    Ordering

    Order một dĩa cơm gà (one plate of chicken rice). Ask for thêm nước (extra broth) on the side. The shredded version is more traditional; sliced is slightly more premium. Don't skip the dipping sauces — they complete the dish.

    Paying

    Cash preferred. Bà Buội often has queues — arrive by 11:30 for lunch.

    Good to know

    Allergens, nutrition & health

    Allergens

    Contains chicken; fish sauce; sesame; some spots add soy-based dressing (gluten)

    Nutrition & benefits

    Lean protein from free-range chicken; anti-inflammatory turmeric in rice; low-fat cooking method (poaching)

    Health notes

    Very clean, fully cooked dish. Safe for most diets. The free-range chicken is firmer — chewing is part of the texture experience.

    Where to eat it

    Best spots in Hoi An

    • Cơm Gà Bà Thuận

      4.7

      110 Trần Cao Vân, Cẩm Phô, Hội An

      Hours
      10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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    • Cơm Gà Bà Buội

      4.8

      22 Trần Phú, Minh An, Hội An

      Hours
      10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
      View on map
    From the Journal

    Stories about Hoi An