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Londonderry

Europe

United Kingdom

Nestled in the vibrant streets of Londonderry, OA ComTam offers an authentic Vietnamese dining experience that captures the essence of traditional flavors with a modern twist. This cozy restaurant is renowned for its rich, aromatic dishes and warm, welcoming atmosphere, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike.

OA ComTam: A Vietnamese culinary gem in Londonderry

Explore the flavors of Vietnam at OA ComTam

Visit OA ComTam today for an authentic Vietnamese experience

OA ComTam is celebrated for its authentic Vietnamese dishes that excite the palate with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The restaurant's signature grilled beef bun, wrapped in betel leaves, offers a perfect balance of smoky, savory, and subtly sweet notes, complemented by a mild crunch from the noodles. Another standout is their traditional pho, simmered to perfection with aromatic herbs and tender slices of meat, providing a warming, flavorful experience that transports diners straight to Vietnam.

OA ComTam's journey began with a passion for sharing authentic Vietnamese cuisine with the Londonderry community. The chefs behind the scenes meticulously prepare each dish, ensuring that traditional recipes are preserved while incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients. An interesting fact is that the restaurant's signature grilled beef is wrapped in betel leaves, a technique that enhances the flavor and aroma, showcasing the chef's dedication to authenticity and culinary artistry.

OA ComTam is best known for its authentic Vietnamese broken rice dishes, especially the grilled beef bun wrapped in betel leaves and their flavorful pho.

To enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a cozy setting, experience the vibrant flavors, and support a local business dedicated to culinary authenticity.

OA ComTam is conveniently located near Londonderry's bustling city center, with easy access to local shops, parks, and cultural sites, making it an ideal spot for a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner after exploring the area.

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Went with some friends to OA ComTam after a badminton sesh and ordered the following:

- Grilled Beef Bun

If I could give this three and a half stars I would, it does the job but just lacks a bit of star quality overall. With that said, the beef is very impressive coming wrapped in betel leaves with just the right amount of chew and a well judged sweetness to cap off its aesthetic qualities.

The rest of the bowl is slightly underwhelming though with the noodles the main culprit. It feels like if some of the basics were covered, they would have been fine but they were cooked a touch too long to rob them of that pleasing mild crunch you often get with these dishes and they came mildly warm as well. Eating them cold would have hit the spot for this particular customer. It is nitpicking on my part but I just feel these two minor adjustments would have elevated the meal.

Three stars sounds harsher than is meant and I would actually go back after another couple of hours chasing a shuttlecock around a court. A decent bite to eat with a strong Vietnamese coffee near the station; perfect recovery routine.

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Good Vietnamese food! Fresh ingredients and nice staff.

Its quite rare to find banh khot in Vietnamese restaurants so I had to tried them. They could ve done with a few seconds morw cooking but they were very tasty and the mix chicken and prawn was very good I recommend this.

I had the bun (rice vermicelli and not the Chinese bun style) with char-grilled goat and it was very tasty.

I would definitely comeback if Im in the area

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One of my favourite Vietnamese restaurants in London, and right around the corner from me!

Their pho is superb, and would place it in my top 3 of London, and their other dishes are just as good if not even better! Try their papaya salad for a fantastic and fresh dish, or their namesake Com Tam is also great! You can smell the bbq pork when they cook the dish when you walk along the street and it is SO GOOD! 

I'm always keen to support local businesses, and OA Comtam makes me proud and keen to do so! They have a fair few tables in there, but try to reserve as it can get quite busy inside! 

P.S theyre also on Deliveroo!

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I want to make something clear right from the start: were I assessing the quality of food alone, I would grant this place four stars. On the couple of times I've been there, what I have eaten has been very tasty, and while I have no real knowledge of Vietnamese food, does seem broadly authentic. Similarly, the service has always been very warm and efficient, and merits a better score. 

The problem I have with this place is what you get for your money. 

The first time in there I ordered a caramelised pork and egg com tam to take away. Com tam, a traditional Vietnamese dish referring to the "broken rice" that accompanies the meat, is their signature dish (as the name suggests). But when opening the box at home, my main thought was that there simply wasn't enough of it. The pork was delicious. The rice was well cooked and just the right flavour. The fish sauce, provided in a separate pot to pour over the top of it all was lovely. But while I was certainly not hungry when I'd finished it, I wouldn't have said I was exactly full either. The same was true when I went back and tried their bahn mi. 

In a way they'd nailed on the head exactly how much the meal they sold was worth. At £5.80 for that com tam box, I felt I had received precisely what I had paid for. No more, no less. However, the funny thing about consumer economics that this is not what you're after. A happy customer is one who feels that they have received *more* than what they paid for.

There are two solutions to this problem. Either keep the price the same and include more food, or put the price down. In the case of their com tam dishes, the first option seems entirely workable. Two or three more chunks of meat, two egg halves instead of one, a slightly larger portion of rice, and the entire situation would change, and probably not cost them a massive amount more to make. Unfortunately the bahn mi would probably have to be priced down, unless they can find a source of slightly larger baguettes. I appreciate would be a pain to do on account having to change all the publicity material, but might be necessary. 

They also seem to have had the misfortune to land a rather difficult location. The shop is tiny, with only enough room to fit three two-person tables, and I don't think eating there would be that comfortable unless you're ok with being right under the noses of the staff. They don't appear to offer a delivery service, so it seems most ideally geared towards the lunchtime take-away market. On that basis, it seems absolutely crazy that they're open until 10 every night.* If you can't sit in, and it's not suitable delivery food, I have no idea who their evening customers are going to be. In addition, it's completely obscured by the railway bridge when you come out of Holloway Road tube, so unless you're always heading north you could easily never know it was there. If you do go north from Holloway Road station, you'll probably find that you're on the wrong side of a very busy road.

I really would like this place to succeed, as they do make nice food. They are obviously very new, and few things are perfect right from the beginning. However, they will need to make some changes to become very good. The location is obviously fixed for now, but they can aim for a more suitable market, and certainly change price/quantity ratios. If these issues are addressed, then they will have every right to four- or even five-star reviews.


*It has since occurred to me that this might have something to do with the student residence just across the road.

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I've been to OA Com Tam a few times now and it's been better each time. Originally the main focus of the menu was Com Tam, Vietnamese broken rice with a range of fresh meat, fish and veg options like King Mackerel with pineapple and stuffed Calamari. There also offered Bahn Mi baguettes with various fillings and a couple of sides including some excellent Prawn Summer Rolls for just £1.80.

With winter approaching and after lots of customer requests the menu has been expanded to include beef, chicken of tofu Pho and Bun Bo Hue - Hue's version of Pho in a lemongrass and chilli soup. I had the Beef Bun Bo Hue (£6.20), last time I visited and it was awesome! A lovely warming broth with silky noodles, good quality ingredients and the right amount of heat.

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First time visting and was impressed. Summer rolls were great. Special noodles also very good. Prices reasonable and good service. The ambience is light and neutral and clean and I like the cool look of the staff. Another great addition to the Holloway road food scene.

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Perfect spot for a study break! Situated next to London Met, offering fresh Vietnamese! Try the Pho or the spicier version like I had! Delicious! Perfect on a chilly day!

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Food is excellent! It's very affordable, the staff are polite and the food doesn't take long to come. Perfect

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This place! I've only ever ordered takeaway and always the same dish but rarely have I wolfed down a meal so quickly. It's so good! I always order the chicken curry, fried rice & prawn crackers. Once I tried noodles but prefer the rice. The staff are very pleasant and accommodating. The food is so flavoursome and great portion sizes. Highly recommended. I live close by so it's a regular stop off on my way home.

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I used to love this place however things have indeed soured. Food is good but they've gone through a few changes for the worse, especially regarding delivery. I live within their website's stated area of delivery but when tried to place an order they said I lived too far. They said it was 1.5 miles away and that there delivery area was a maximum of 1 mile. I however live exactly 1 mile away. Also, a while back they changed their prices but did not yet change their take away menus to reflect the new prices. I asked for an updated menu when they delivered my food but instead got a fancy laminated menu, the type they use for in house dinner service. Anyway, they have lost a customer due to their inflexible and contemptuous behaviour.

OA ComTam: Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine Near Holloway Road, London

Nestled on Holloway Road in London, OA ComTam offers a true taste of Vietnam with its vibrant and authentic menu. Whether you're a local or a traveler seeking genuine Vietnamese cuisine, this restaurant promises a delightful culinary journey.

explore the authentic flavors of oa comtam

Dive into a menu packed with Vietnamese favorites, from starters to desserts, all crafted with fresh ingredients and traditional techniques.

Start your culinary adventure with a selection of appetizers like summer rolls and flavorful noodle dishes, perfect for sharing or a light bite.

For mains, indulge in hearty dishes like grilled beef bun, pho, and bun bo hue, each bursting with authentic Vietnamese flavors and spices.

End your meal with traditional Vietnamese desserts or refreshing drinks to complete your culinary experience.

Enjoy a variety of traditional Vietnamese beverages, including strong coffees and refreshing iced drinks, perfectly paired with your meal.

Whether you're craving a quick lunch or a cozy dinner, OA ComTam's menu offers a genuine Vietnamese dining experience right in the heart of London.

Discover OA ComTam in London for authentic Vietnamese flavors. Savor delicious dishes in a cozy setting and spice up your culinary journey today!

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