The Vietnamese culinary scene in Prague has long moved beyond cheap phở soup.
The newly reopened Vietnamese restaurant Taro has high ambitions (possibly even Michelin-level), and at Anděl in Prague you’ll find Pho 100, which strives to perfect this most famous Vietnamese soup. Also popular is the Vietnamese bistro Nhà hai hành led by chef Tomáš Cibulka, who spent six years at La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise ⭐.
The Rice Field restaurant also offers a well-thought-out concept based on traditional Vietnamese communal dining, mâm cơm.
Mâm cơm is a Vietnamese term referring to traditional home dining, where several different dishes are served at one table. Literally, it means “food tray” or “dining tray”. Mâm cơm represents the basic way of serving meals in an ordinary Vietnamese household.
A typical mâm cơm consists of several types of dishes enjoyed together. Most often, it includes steamed rice as the base of every meal, soup, a meat or fish dish (stewed meat or fish), a vegetable side, and often pickled vegetables or other small sides.
Individual dishes are served in small bowls or plates and placed in the center of the table. Each family member helps themselves from these shared dishes onto their own bowl of rice, and everyone eats together.
Mâm cơm has a strong symbolic meaning in Vietnamese culture, representing family gatherings and the sharing of food. Traditionally, it is also a sign of care and respect among family members. On festive occasions or family gatherings, mâm cơm is more abundant, offering a greater variety of dishes.
Rice Field builds its concept on the mâm cơm style of dining.
I visited the restaurant with my closest friends, whom I have known since 2001. They became my first friends after coming to Prague for university, fate gave us a shared dorm room, and I am glad our friendship has endured.
Together we tasted crispy pork belly with rice (380 CZK/15.20 EUR per set), duck legs and breast with galangal (380 CZK/15.20 EUR per set), soup with minced meat, sautéed zucchini, pickled eggplant, mango and shrimp salad (190 CZK/7.60 EUR), and calamari with mango sauce (200 CZK/8 EUR). Of course, rice was not missing. I chose dragon fruit and mango lemonade to drink (115 CZK/4.60 EUR).
The star of the evening at our table was the mango and shrimp salad, which was excellent, and we all agreed we would love to try this dish again. The soup with minced meat and the calamari were also great; the pickled eggplant disappeared from the bowl in no time and it was a pity the portion wasn’t larger. The duck and pork belly were not exactly to my taste, but my friends praised them, so it was more about my personal preferences, perhaps influenced by my frequent visits to Sapa Praha. The dragon fruit and mango lemonade was very refreshing on a hot summer evening and I found the price very reasonable.
The service at Rice Field is very fast, friendly, and happy to explain everything. You can also pay by card.
If you love Vietnamese cuisine and Sapa in Prague is hard to reach for you, or if you prefer dining at a higher level, Rice Field is a place you should not miss.
Bon appétit!
For more information about Vietnamese restaurant Rice Field, click on the map link:
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