Revealing the Extremely Popular Co Gio Clam Porridge Shop by An Bang Beach

Co Gio clam porridge shop is not a luxurious restaurant, but a rustic eatery closely tied to life along An Bang coast. The owner is Ms. Tran Thi Gio, now 54 years old, with over 20 years of experience cooking clam porridge. This dish was passed down from her mother – a family tradition dating back to the old days when fresh clams harvested from Hoi An sea were the main livelihood of local people. Ms. Gio shared that the secret lies in preserving the traditional cooking method, using firewood instead of electric cookers so the porridge retains its natural, rich, and sweet flavor.

The shop started from a simple three-wheeled pushcart, and to this day still maintains the rustic, generous spirit of Hoi An people. Without flashy advertising, but thanks to its quality, the eatery became famous through word of mouth and social media reviews. If you love culinary stories connected to local history, this is the place to experience.

The shop is located on Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, right near the Hai Ba Trung - Vo Chi Cong intersection (or Nguyen Phan Vinh according to some sources). This is an ideal location, just about 100m from An Bang Beach and about 5km from Hoi An Ancient Town, making it very convenient for tourists to combine swimming with a stop for food.

How to get to the shop:

• From Hoi An Ancient Town: Follow Hai Ba Trung Street towards An Bang Beach, go past the traffic lights, turn left and walk another 100m; the shop is on the right-hand side.
• From An Bang Beach: Just a 1-2 minute walk from the beach, or if Ms. Gio is pushing her cart to sell street-style, you might spot her at the intersection corner near Cua Dai Beach around 4 PM - 5 PM.
• Tip: Use Google Maps with the keyword "Chao nghêu Cô Gio" for accurate positioning. The shop is open from around 10 AM - 11 AM until 5 PM - 6 PM, but often sells out early, especially on weekends.

The coastal location not only brings a refreshing atmosphere but also guarantees fresh ingredients caught directly from An Bang sea and Thu Bon river.

The menu at the eatery is quite simple, focusing on clam porridge made from fresh ingredients:

• Basic clam porridge: Price around 30,000 VND/bowl, cooked soft from rice and mung beans, topped with plump fresh clams, fragrant fried shallots, Vietnamese coriander, ginger, pepper, and chili.
• Clam porridge with pork bones: 35,000 VND/bowl, adding meaty pork ribs or pork trotters to enhance natural sweetness.
• Variations: Some days have pork bone porridge separately, but clam is always the "star". Clams are thoroughly cleaned, free of sand while retaining their plump, sweet richness.

The flavor of the porridge here is characteristically smooth and creamy, naturally sweet from mung beans and fresh seafood, paired perfectly with bread or crispy fried dough sticks. Compared to other places, Co Gio clam porridge stands out because it is cooked over firewood from early morning (7-8 AM), allowing ingredients to absorb the flavor deeply.

To not miss out on an authentic, delicious bowl of clam porridge when visiting An Bang, you should keep a few tips in mind:

• Ideal time: You should visit from 2 PM – 4 PM to avoid running out of porridge. On chilly days, eating hot porridge feels even more delicious and comforting.
• Combining itineraries: Best enjoyed after swimming at An Bang beach or stopping by before heading back to Hoi An Ancient Town.

Weekend note: The eatery is very crowded on Saturday and Sunday, so Ms. Gio has to prepare more than usual. Some regular customers even come directly to her house to buy porridge from around 2:30 PM, so going early will give you peace of mind.

Co Gio clam porridge is not the kind of place that dazzles people at first sight, but it is enough to retain diners with its balanced flavor and heartfelt service. A hot bowl of porridge, fresh clams, seasoned gently, leaves you feeling light and comfortable. For many, visiting An Bang and having such a meal is enough to make the trip feel warm and memorable.