Tam's - Garden Grove

We ordered com tam and it was just average. There are definitely better options for com tam in the area.

Let me keep this brief: the food is excellent, the service is outstanding, there's no wait time, and the atmosphere is family-friendly—perfect for kids and families. Plus, you're supporting a family-owned business!

The food portion sizes are insufficient, and the quality of the food leaves much to be desired.

My mom opted for com tam bi cha thit nuong (broken rice, grilled pork, pork skin, and egg cake). The grilled pork was thin and flavorful but could have benefitted from a longer grilling time; it tasted more like it was cooked on a pan rather than a grill, resulting in a lack of char. The egg cake was almost dry, and while the flavor was acceptable, the bi (pork skin) was quite disappointing. Many places skimp on the meat with an 80% skin to 20% meat ratio, but this restaurant had a full 100% skin! You can see just how white it is in the photo—completely unacceptable. Additionally, they charge $1.50 for a bottle of water. I noticed there was only one cook and one person handling all other tasks, along with a robot; so patience is necessary. They also add an automatic service fee for parties of six or more. Personally, I wouldn't return to this restaurant since there are many other options to explore. However, I truly admire their participation in the California Restaurant Meals Program, which allows those who are homeless, disabled, or over 60 to use EBT to enjoy a hot meal. Kudos to them for serving the community. Aside from food, they also sell dry goods.

When it comes to chao, I always pay attention to the quality of the nuoc mam, and unfortunately, I didn't find it satisfactory here. Overall, I'm not sure I would return. On a positive note, the atmosphere was calming, relaxed, and clean, though the restroom could have used some improvement in cleanliness.