New Vietnamese restaurant opens in Johnson County, moving into former chicken spot
Since moving to the United States 12 years ago, Khameew Thiphommachanh and his wife, Nhi Ngo, have dreamed of opening their own restaurant.
It took years of saving and endless hours of work, but the two finally saw their goals realized a few days ago when they opened Vietnamese restaurant Com Ga Houston in Olathe.
The sixth spot for the Texas-based concept is at 15204 W. 119th St., next to Hira’s Steak and Sushi. It moved into a space formerly occupied by Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
Com Ga has four Texas restaurants and one in Atlanta.
Thiphommachanh and Ngo franchised the Kansas spot, promising authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Com Ga Houston’s menu includes congee, udon noodle soup, beef stew and other Vietnamese dishes. And, of course, pho is available, too.
While the restaurant has a full spread of options, its specialty is its namesake: com ga.
The dish consists of rice, poached chicken, tangy fish sauce and pickled vegetables on the side. It’s served with a clear soup on the side. The chicken, served cold, is draped over a bed of warm rice cooked in garlic and ginger broth. Some customers dunk the chicken in the soup for an added flavor.
Appetizers include Vietnamese crepes and egg rolls. To drink, customers can sip on Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua), lychee refreshers and pandan tea.
The space has a few dozen tables and booths, with light wood paneling, granite countertops and houseplants beautifying the space.
Johnson County might not be known for its expansive list of Vietnamese restaurants, there are a few nearby.
Khop Jai Der (which also serves Lao food) opened more than a year ago at 11920 W. 119th St. Pho Sai Gon is south at 14861 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
Another, Pho Vietnam, is at 8602 W. 133rd St.
Com Ga Houston is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. It’s closed Tuesdays.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM.