Best Cơm Hến in Chicago

Cơm hến — baby clam rice — is a specialty of Huế, the former imperial capital of Central Vietnam. Unlike most rice dishes that are served hot, cơm hến is served at room temperature: a bowl of steamed rice topped with sautéed baby clams, crispy pork fat (tóp mỡ), roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, banana blossoms, star fruit, and a drizzle of clam broth. The result is a complex, multi-textural dish thats simultaneously savory, sour, salty, and refreshing. In Chicago, cơm hến is a rare find — available at only the most authentic Vietnamese restaurants with Central Vietnamese specialties.