Hu Tieu Nam Vang — Restaurant in Houston

Hu tieu nam vang: Vietnamese dish name for Phnom Penh rice noodles. A marriage of Cambodian, south viet, and Chinese cooking in the form of a bowl of noodle soup. You can choose dry noodles or a hot noodle soup. Ingredients include rice noodle mixed in a soy sauce based sauce, peeled shrimp, chicken pieces, sliced and ground pork, and liver which can be excluded upon request. Toppings include garlic, jalapeño, lettuce, cilantro, green onions, bean sprouts (request blanched if you’d like) and whatever else you desire to add for your palette.

Hear me out, this place is nothing fancy. To me this place is a precious gem hidden in dirt over the course of time. 10-year old me begs you to walk through those old double glass doors, sit down, and give this place’s bowl of hu tieu nam vang a try, at least once in this lifetime of yours. It may hit better as a soup on a cold winter day. And if it bothers you, just ignore the old outdated decor around you, it shouldn’t affect how the noodles taste in your mouth.

It offers a great namesake (Hu Tieu), decent prices now with inflation, and humble service from what seems like a lean staff at 7pm on a cold Wednesday winter night. None of those fancy decorations and absorbent prices just like I like my Asian food. What more do you need?

This place has provided me with great meals and decades of fond memories with my family over Sunday brunches as a Vietnamese person. Family time is the best time and is even better with good food. I’ve been coming to this place since before I was a teen in 2005 and everything pretty much still looks and tastes the exact same. I can’t say if it’s still the same owners, but the large bowl of #8 (I believe is the dry hu tieu nam vang with rice noodles, and I requested no liver) had the same exact effect on me that it did in 2005 just like I remember. That’s what I always order, 20 years worth. I always add the vinegar’d garlic slices, fried garlic bits, red vinegar, soy sauce and chili oil to my bowl. The garlic bits I have not found offered at any other restaurant elsewhere with the same dish, so I savior every scoop of it into my bowl here.

My parents used to wake me up at 8am for brunch on Sundays before they opened their nail salon for the day. And this place was known by word of mouth between the north Houston viet community. So the fact that this place still exists unchanged baffles me and also heals my inner child every time i step foot through the door and look around.

If you end up liking this place as much as my now fiancé who I’ve introduced them to, please give them a good tip and spread the word/review so this place continues to live on. For my 10 year old’s memories sake. And bring a...

Great Pho at Great Prices

Located at the corner of a strip mall so it's easy to miss, the restaurant definitely meets the asian hole in the wall category with the normal inattentive service (pretty much the only reason it didn't get a 5). It's fairly large on the inside, with plenty of room between the tables. There is a dessert fridge to keep an eye out if you're a fan of vietnamese desserts.

The menu is very straightforward - a few different appetizers, some rice plates, and Pho. Definitely not something full of variety, but hey - you're here for the Pho anyways. Every bowl comes with the standard accouterments (Bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime, and thai basil leaves). Even better, stop by the fridge and pick up the pickled jalapenos - they're amazing and unbelievably spicy.

I got a large pho with the well-done flank, brisket, and one other meat. Definitely worth the price ($7.50), this is a heaping bowl full of broth, noodles, and meat. The broth was very flavorful (almost too sweet) but still something you can drink endlessly if wanted.

Also got the fresh spring rolls - they're decent, nothing amazing but still a good starter. Though maybe hold off if you're eating a large pho.

Got a red bean dessert as well, this was served with ice and was very delicious. A great end to the meal.

Friend got an avocado smoothie, they also...

If you looking for a Vietnamese restaurant close by George Bush Airport area, this place should be on your wishlist.

I always order the #8 / hu tieu kho / dry rice noodles and my friend order the #16 / banh mi bo kho / french bread with beef stew. The food here is really good, and I love when they have a lot of condiments on the table, as well as the fried garlic. The toppings in my #8 are really full, with good quality.

But one thing that makes me and my friend come back here is the service. There is one Hispanic man's working here (I don't know his name) is the best. He always attentive, positive, polite, welcoming, and smile every time. He truly knowledge about the menu, so if you're not Vietnamese and curious about the menu items, he will explain for you entire thing.

I think this business has been opening for more than 10 years so the restaurant has the traces of time, but It really clean inside. I feel really bad for them because they at the hidden corner so not too many people know about them. There are a lot of stuffs on the menu that me and my friend want to try, and we want to support them.

Overall, if you're not too strict about flavor, give them a try. I can't qualify they have the authentic and 100% exact flavor that you like, but I can confirm you would love...