Giau cau — Vietnamese pork ham from the Cau River region — is a highly specialized dish that requires knowing where to look in Austin. Unlike the more common cha lua, giau cau is a coarser, more rustic pork preparation rarely featured as a standalone dish at restaurants. In Austin, it is most reliably found at Vietnamese market delis and restaurants that make their own deli meats in-house.
Hanh's Homemade Mekong Delta Cuisine top-pick
Hanh's specializes in Mekong Delta cuisine and makes many items homemade. Their steamed meatball skewers and pork preparations reflect the rustic, from-scratch cooking style of the Mekong Delta region, making them the most likely Austin restaurant to offer authentic giau cau or similar regional pork ham preparations. Call ahead to check availability.
MT Supermarket Deli Counter best-value
MT Supermarket's deli counter carries a wide selection of Vietnamese pork products including cha lua, cha bo, and other regional specialties. While giau cau is not always available, this is the best place in Austin to find it when it is — the deli regularly stocks items sourced from Vietnamese producers. Check the refrigerated deli section near the front.
Tan My Restaurant hidden-gem
Tan My is one of Austin's oldest and most traditional Vietnamese restaurants, known for its extensive menu that goes beyond pho to include regional specialties. Their pork and shrimp spring rolls feature house-made Vietnamese pork products, and the kitchen has a reputation for preparing traditional items that other restaurants do not bother with.nnFor giau cau in Austin, Hanh's Homemade is the most likely destination for this rare regional pork ham specialty.