Com hen — baby clam rice bowl from Hue — is one of the rarest Vietnamese dishes to find in Austin. This dish is deeply tied to Hue's cuisine and requires fresh baby clams, which are hard to source in Central Texas. Only a handful of restaurants even list it. The North Lamar corridor is where you will find the few places that serve it.
Tan My top-pick
Tan My is the most reliable spot for com hen in Austin, a restaurant that consistently serves the harder-to-find Hue dishes alongside its broader menu. Their version features baby clams sauteed with oil and shallots, served over rice with the traditional accompaniments of fried shallots, shrimp paste, and fresh herbs. Ask for it specifically, as it can be overlooked on the menu.
Bep Co Tham - KN Kitchen best-value
Bep Co Tham's Hue-centric menu makes it a natural home for com hen. The restaurant's broader commitment to central Vietnamese dishes means they understand the flavor profile: the interplay of briny clams, pungent shrimp paste, and the crunch of fried shallots and roasted peanuts. Come during peak hours for the freshest version.
Pho Ha Noi Cuisine hidden-gem
Pho Ha Noi rounds out the North Lamar com hen options with a respectable version on their Northern Vietnamese-leaning menu. While not as celebrated as their pho or banh cuon, the com hen here is a legitimate order for those craving this Hue specialty. The baby clams are properly seasoned and the accompanying herbs are fresh and abundant.nnFor com hen in Austin, Tan My is the most reliable source for this rare Hue specialty.