In Bangkok, where Thai street food shouts for your attention left, right, and centre, I was curious about Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá, which I spotted in quite a few places.
Owned by the well-known Iberry group, it promises modern Vietnamese food in a comfortable setting that blends vintage charm with modern touches.
The name means “eat rice, eat fish” in Vietnamese, a nod that may remind some of the sister Thai restaurant “Kub Kao Kub Pla”.
A discreet entrance down Ngam Duphli Alley led me to Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá at Sathorn.
Step past the narrow lane and you enter a century‑old Indo‑Chinese residence with wooden beams, geometric tile floors and gentle natural light.
There’s a home‑grown charm here, with calming white and blue walls, classic wooden furniture, and even a cozy garden corner.
Not the usual glossy restaurant look.
You can also find Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá at various major malls such as Central World and EmSphere.
The menu covers a wide range of Vietnamese favourites, each one inviting you to try something new with every visit.
Appetisers include Steamed Rice Rolls with Pork and Mushroom (THB 280), Steamed Rice Rolls Stuffed with Shrimp and Mushroom (THB 320), and Steamed Rice Rolls with Shrimp and Pork (THB 250), all served soft and generously filled.
I decided to go for a crispy choice of Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls (THB 280).
They arrived golden and crisp, giving a satisfying crunch on the first bite. The filling of mixed pork, vermicelli, and mushrooms, all finely chopped and neatly packed. A good start, to be honest.
Noodle lovers have plenty of options, from Chicken Pho (THB 295), Beef Pho (THB 320), and Wagyu Pho (THB 485) to the spicy Bún Bò Huế (THB 380), all served with fragrant broth and generous toppings.
A head chef from Thong Smith noodle shop reportedly makes the Pho. That explains the clarity and gentle complexity behind the flavour.
Thin slices of beef arrived just tender, resting on smooth rice noodles that soaked up the broth so well.
I detected a soft essence of bone and slow‑simmered beef, but no heavy spice or aggressive seasoning. While this pho might feel understated for some, I enjoyed how clear yet flavourful the broth was.
Great for those who like their soup straightforward, fragrant, and not overly complicated.
On the side, you’ll find the usual suspects including fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime, and chilli, so you can adjust the flavours to your liking.
For something more filling, there’s Vietnamese Fried Rice with Nem Nướng (THB 285), which comes with smoky grilled pork sausage.
While I wasn’t expecting too much, this turned out to be my favourite dish. The rice was fluffy, lightly oily, very flavourful, but not greasy.
Bound to this was grilled ground pork seasoned with garlic, shallot, fish sauce and a balanced dose of fat.
And for those after lighter plates, the Pomelo and Shrimp Salad (THB 320) and Banana Blossom Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing (THB 300) offer a refreshing break.
Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá is a comfortable spot to enjoy Vietnamese classics, prepared carefully and presented in a lovely old house (or mall).
Next time, I will try the more adventurous street food dishes on the menu, hoping to find a bit more edge.
Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá
58 Ngam Duphli Alley, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Ăn Cơm Ăn Cá
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