Houston has one of the largest and most diverse Vietnamese food scenes in the US — with 211 restaurants in our directory alone. To help you narrow it down, here are 8 standout picks covering everything from rare specialty dishes to gastropub twists, with what to order at each.
The most-reviewed pick on this list, and known for dishes that are harder to find elsewhere in the city: bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls) and mì Quảng (turmeric noodles from central Vietnam). Also BYOB, which is a nice touch for a group dinner.
The highest-rated pick on this list, with reviewers specifically calling out the oxtail pho and banh xeo. A strong choice if you want to try a less common pho variant beyond the standard beef or chicken.
As the name suggests, this is the spot to go for banh xeo (sizzling crepe) — reviewers also point to banh khot (mini savory pancakes) and a sizzling beef steak dish. A good pick if you want to branch out from pho for a visit.
Known specifically for bánh canh — thick, chewy tapioca-rice noodles in a heartier broth than pho. It’s a dish that’s easy to miss on a menu if you don’t know to look for it, and this is one of the more reliable spots for it in the city.
The name nods to both phở and bò lúc lắc (shaking beef), and reviewers highlight both the broth and the bún bò Huế — a good stop if you want to compare Houston’s take on the spicier, central-Vietnamese noodle soup against a classic bowl of pho.
A gastropub take on Vietnamese food — reviewers specifically call out the shaking beef, a solid craft beer list, and a patio, making it a good pick for a more casual, drinks-included dinner rather than a quick bowl of pho.
The most upscale pick on this list — reviewers mention oysters, bone marrow, and a proper cocktail program alongside the Vietnamese menu. Worth choosing if you want a sit-down dinner rather than a fast, casual bowl.
Despite the name suggesting rice plates, reviewers point to both cơm tấm (broken rice) and a well-regarded bánh mì sandwich — a solid stop if you want to try something beyond noodle soup.
Houston has one of the largest Vietnamese-American populations in the US, with restaurants concentrated historically around Houston’s Chinatown district along Bellaire Boulevard, though good options are spread across the metro today — from strip-mall noodle shops to gastropub-style spots serving shaking beef alongside craft beer.
It depends what you’re after. For a highly-rated bowl of oxtail pho, Pho Con Bo stands out. For rarer specialty noodle dishes alongside pho, Huynh Restaurant is a strong pick. See our full picks above for more options.
Historically around Houston’s Chinatown district along Bellaire Boulevard, though good Vietnamese restaurants are spread across the metro area today.
Our directory currently lists 211 Vietnamese restaurants in Houston, Texas.
New to pho? Start with our guide to what pho is and how to pronounce it.
