LES BA'GET Vietnamese Cafe — Restaurant in Houston

Les Ba'get in Houston brings a fresh, fun take on traditional Vietnamese cuisine, blending modern fast-casual dining with creative twists on beloved dishes. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is immediately inviting. The restaurant’s interior cleverly merges retro Vietnamese aesthetics with sleek, modern amenities. It’s a playful yet chic atmosphere, setting the stage for an exciting meal.

The ordering process is streamlined and efficient: you place your order at the counter, and they give you a number to bring to your table, where servers will deliver your food. It’s a simple yet effective system that keeps the focus on enjoying the food without unnecessary fuss. While there’s no full-service waitstaff, the attentive team ensures your experience is still polished.

On our recent lunch visit, my companion and I tried a couple of standout items from the menu. First, we ordered the beef bone marrow appetizer—a generous, flavorful portion that truly hit the spot. The marrow was rich and savory, perfectly complemented by the crispy, warm baguette slices on the side. It's a dish that elevates comfort food into something special and satisfying.

Next, we dug into the butter chicken banh mi. The sandwich was expertly crafted, with a soft, yet crisp baguette, tender chunks of butter chicken, and a savory balance of umami flavors. The chicken was rich, but not overwhelming, and the freshness of the herbs and pickled vegetables added the perfect amount of brightness. Both dishes were impeccably presented, which is not something you often see in a fast-casual environment.

Aside from the food, Les Ba'get offers a compact but thoughtful bar program. They have a selection of beer, wine, and a few cocktails, including a creative take on the classic pho michelada—a refreshing and flavorful drink that complements the bold flavors of their menu.

Les Ba'get excels at offering elevated, modern Vietnamese food in a relaxed yet stylish setting. If you're in the mood for inventive takes on traditional dishes, all served with impeccable flavor and presentation, this spot is a must-try. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a casual dinner, Les Ba'get strikes the perfect balance between fast-casual convenience and thoughtful...

Stepped through the doors and I can already smell the homey pho broth in the air. The restaurant’s decor was done nicely as it is industrial chic with modern flair and a splash of Viet cultural references. Loved the framed pictured in the bathroom that portrays Vietnam, especially gangsta grandma with a jack in her mouth.

Now onto the food!

Floppy Belly Spring Rolls had a good balance of tender meat, veggies, and noodles. Side of nuoc mum (dipping fish sauce) was a perfect balance of sweet and salty. These were some very big rolls so I felt like I got my money’s worth.

Pho with Meatballs had a depth of smokey flavor I’ve never encountered before. Normally, pho places surely have that distinct pho flavor but never smokey and they try to achieve a clear broth. Albeit the broth here was not cloudy but the color was darker than the normal. It added to it’s appeal for me. I really enjoyed it here and look forward to having this dish again.

Lemongrass Bone Marrow was an exciting option on the menu! It looked fantastic when it came out. I think the bone marrow may have lost it’s own flavors among the lemongrass and the baguette was extremely buttered. I would have liked less of it.

Steak and Eggs, which I was looking forward to was everything I had hoped it to be. The steak was seasoned well and was not over done, it still held it’s tenderness. The eggs were sunny side up with a crispy edge, who doesn’t love crispy edges on their eggs?! The shishito peppers were charred, soft, and a great compliment to the steak. These also had no heat, so don’t be afraid to eat them. Get that vitamin C, ya’ll~ Tomatoes were full of juice and flavors. It’s like having a small portions of yummy tomato soup bombs in your mouth. There was also sweet Vietnamese sausage which was an interesting appearance.

Puffy Beef Tendon Chicharron are like fancy pork rinds except they were lighter and made of beef. They were salty and I think I’ll skip them next time.

Overall, it was a fun place to try Vietnamese cuisine that has been brought up a notch with it’s artistic plating, deep flavors, and...

“It’s OK, I’ll just take the leftovers home, and it’ll turn into multiple meals,” I whisper to my wife as she frantically tries to stop me from ordering half the menu. “The math works out,” I assure myself while adding an order of bone marrow I know she won’t like, meaning more for me. The cashier glances behind me, expecting a family of six. I redirect her attention by inquiring if I should order two bone marrows, “you know, just in case my wife wants more.”

Let’s start with the dishes I didn’t like: Nothing. Moving on.

Tastiness ranking:

1: The beef belly banh mi. Tender, flavorful, and packed with enough veggies to make a rabbit jealous.

2: Egg rolls. So good we resorted to rock-paper-scissors for the last one. I won… which meant she got the last one, apparently.

3: Vermicelli. Solid. Not life-changing, but generous portions boosted its score.

4: Bone marrow. Loved it but sadly during the same meal I was told that my understanding that it was cartlidge and therefore had zero fat in it was absolutely incorrect. Sort of killed the vibe.

5: Spicy butter noodles. A tasty filler dish with A+ portion size.

I black out. Next thing I know all the food is gone. My wife built a menu wall between us to shelter from the war zone. Fantastic spot with massive portions and sturdy to-go boxes that I’ll be sure to review next time… assuming I don’t have...