Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa: Cozy Family-Style Meal with Authentic Hanoi Flavors

CƠM NIÊU NGÓI XƯA

Location: LK 01-02 Lot 07, Hong Tien Ward, Bo De, Long Biên, Hanoi

Opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Price: 200.000 - 300.000/person

Hello everyone! Today, I will take you to a very special culinary spot in Long Biên: Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa (Ancient Tile Clay Pot Rice). Just the name itself evokes a sense of tradition. This restaurant is famous for its clay pot rice and its unique "đập" (crushed) clay pot rice.

The first impressive thing when we arrived was how crowded it was. A large parking lot constantly saw cars coming and going, clearly showing how much diners love this place. Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa has a distinct family-style restaurant atmosphere, creating a feeling of closeness and warmth right from the moment you step inside.

The meals here consist of up to 10 dishes, and an impressive nine are delicious. So, if anyone asks for recommendations for good family-style restaurants in Hanoi, I suggest this address. The restaurant is located in Hùng Tiến, Long Biên. Although it might seem a bit far from the city center, it's just a short trip across the Trương Dương bridge from the Old Quarter. The other day, I even timed the journey, which only took 12 minutes.

That noon, I ordered a relatively simple yet highly appealing meal:

• Thịt rang cháy cạnh (Caramelized Braised Pork): A familiar dish prepared perfectly with rich and savory flavors.

• Cá Thu kho cà (Mackerel Braised with Tomatoes): Fresh mackerel, braised to perfection, is an ideal accompaniment to hot rice.

• Rau củ kho quẹt (Vegetables Braised with Fermented Fish Dip): A rustic dish that is incredibly satisfying with rice.

• Canh hến nấu chua với chút cỏi xoài rốc tôm (Sour Clam Soup with Green Mango and Dried Shrimp): A refreshing sour soup with the sweetness of mango and shrimp, very easy to enjoy.

• Cơm nóng hổi (Piping Hot Rice): An indispensable part of a Vietnamese meal.

• Cơm niêu đập (Crushed Clay Pot Rice): The restaurant's specialty that everyone should try.

In addition, I also ordered a mẹt thịt luộc (platter of boiled pork). Notably, the boiled pork here is cut into thick slices, making it very satisfying to eat. This dish is served with the restaurant's mắm tôm chua (sour shrimp paste), which I found very delicious and more to their liking than the authentic Hue-style sour shrimp paste. This platter of boiled pork was so enticing that I had to remind each other to save room for different dishes.

I noted that prices are pretty diverse, ranging from a few tens to 100, 200, and 300 thousand Vietnamese Dong. From my experience of dining at many rice restaurants, people often have their preferred savory, bland, or sweet dishes. However, at Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa, what's notable is that every dish is ideally suited to my taste without needing any additional seasoning or dipping sauces. Whether it was the caramelized pork or the braised fish, I had the same saltiness and sweetness I love.

Enjoying hot rice with such flavorful dishes in the cool Hanoi weather is a wonderful experience. I, who isn't usually a big fan of rice, couldn't stop praising the food.

However, I didn't particularly enjoy the sweetest of the "đập" (crushed) clay pot rice because she prefers softer rice rather than something too complex. But if you like crispy rice, you will love this dish. The restaurant is only 400m from my grandparents' house, so I will bring them here to eat.

The drinks at the restaurant are also diverse, including attractive ginseng, apricot juice, and tamarind ice. With its spacious setting, Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa is very suitable for both cozy family meals and large company gatherings. The restaurant has indoor seating and a spacious outdoor balcony area.

In conclusion, Cơm Niêu Ngói Xưa is a delicious rice restaurant in Hanoi that you shouldn't miss if you want to enjoy traditional family-style dishes with authentic Northern Vietnamese flavors in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Come and experience a delightful meal at Hùng Tiến, Long Biên!