QUAN BA KY Crawfish Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in Houston

Tucked away off the beaten path in Houston, Quan Ba Ky is a no-frills Vietnamese restaurant that delivers traditional flavors at an unbeatable value. It’s the kind of place that feels like a homey, Mom-and-Pop operation—complete with worn tables, Vietnamese TV shows playing in the background, and a karaoke machine tucked away in the back. There's something undeniably charming about the unpretentious atmosphere, and honestly, what's not to like? It feels authentic, welcoming, and, most importantly, focused on the food.

We visited on an early Saturday evening, and initially, the place was quiet. But as we neared 6-7 PM, the dining room began to fill with a steady stream of Vietnamese patrons, always a good sign that the place is beloved by those who know best.

We started with a round of Viet Cajun-style crawfish—a seasonal treat when fresh, but since it was off-season, the crawfish were frozen. Still, they were flavorful, and you could tell they’d be even better if we’d hit them at peak season. The seasoning was on point, with just the right amount of spice and buttery richness, though the crawfish themselves weren’t as tender as they might have been if fresh. No complaints, though—it's clear the place does its best to provide a taste of a regional specialty even when it’s not in full swing.

The real standout, however, was the Bún Sườn soup. This dish has been getting attention on social media, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The broth was rich and flavorful, the perfect balance of savory and umami, and it came packed with an assortment of seafood, noodles, and herbs that made every bite exciting. Whether you’re a fan of seafood or just enjoy a hearty bowl of noodle soup, this dish is a must-try. It’s the kind of comforting, satisfying food that makes you want to come back for more.

We also decided to try one of their limeade drinks, which was refreshing and tart, making it the ideal pairing with the spicy, seafood-heavy soup. The cool drink provided a nice contrast to the warmth of the broth and helped cleanse the palate between bites.

The service was also top-notch. The owner, who served us, was kind and attentive throughout the meal, offering helpful recommendations and ensuring we were well taken care of. There’s something genuinely warm about the experience, which adds to the overall appeal of the place.

And the best part? The total bill for two people came to just around $30—an incredible value for the quality and quantity of food we received. In a city full of trendy spots, Quan Ba Ky’s combination of great food, generous portions, and affordable prices is a real standout.

If you’re looking for traditional Vietnamese food with a homey feel and a focus on quality, look no further than Quan Ba Ky. It's not flashy or trendy, but it’s authentic, delicious, and an excellent value. Highly...

A few months ago, I was craving bun suong and looked for a place in Houston that served it. I found a different restaurant and tried the other restaurant. It was good but didn't hit the spot. So when I saw a post on instagram about the bun suong at Quan Ba Ky, I knew I wanted to try it. We went for dinner on a Sunday evening. When we arrived, there was one large party with about 8 people and one other couple in the restaurant. No one had food yet.

When we arrived, the waiter called out to us and told us to seat ourselves at one of the booths. He was busy making drinks for the other customers. I don't think he had any help. Luckily, each table had 2 menus so we were able to review the menu while we waited. The waiter was very nice and took our food order and suggested nuoc mat (drink) so I ordered it to give it a try.

The food took a while to come out. The nuoc mat came out first and it was very sugary and didn't have the flavors we expected but it wasn't bad. It semed like they had coffee jelly in it. I ordered a large bun suong ($14.99) since it was only $1 more than the medium. My husband ordered the pho ga la chan (chicken pho with lemon leaves). We had never had pho ga la chan before. I wasn't sure what to expect but my mother in law seemed to know what it was. She tasted the broth and said it didn't have any of the lemon leaf flavor. Regardless, the pho was very good - not your typical chicken pho flavor, a little sweet, but very good. I would definitely go there for that dish again.

As i mentioned earlier, when I had the bun suong at the other place, it was good but it wasn't really what I was looking for. As soon as I had a spoon of this broth, it was exactly what I was looking for. The shrimp balls were very flavorful and nice and chewy. The portion size was good. I ended up needing a to-go container for most of it.

Atmosphere - typical VN restaurant. It was clean but not very aesthetic.

Service - slow but the waiter was very nice and seemed to do as bst he could by himself.

Food - was really good and we will...

I wanted to give this spot a try since I saw it on Instagram and the dishes looked absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I came in on a Sunday night so we were seated right away. We decided to order what the guy on instagram ordered which included the Cha Gio Tom Thit (Shrimp and Pork Eggrolls), Bun Suong Ba Ky (Suong Noodles), Tom Mi Toi (Shrimp Garlic Noodles- the guy on instagram ordered the lobster but I’m not balling like that yet lol), and the Taro Cake.

The eggrolls came out first and I have to say, although I didn’t exactly love the taste of the pork filling, the exterior was exceptionally crunchy. This ended up being my boyfriend’s favorite dish of the night. Next up, we had the Shrimp Garlic Noodles. The dish leaned more towards the sweeter side and the shrimp was delicious but it cost $20 which is pretty darn steep for some noodles. I would probably skip this dish the next time I come visit. My favorite was the Suong Noodles. The soup was light yet flavorful, there were plenty of toppings, and the noodles were cooked well. The shrimp ball topping was my absolute favorite as they were savory and had that bouncy texture. I will come back just to eat this. Last but not least, the Taro Cake! This is a classic Vietnamese dish and it reminded me of when I’d visit my Vietnamese friend’s house and her mother would cook this. It was perfectly fried and paired with the dipping sauce, it was a savory & delightful experience.

Overall I’d give this spot a 4.5/5. The food was great, the service was fine and I’d totally come back to try new dishes!

Note: If you have a peanut allergy, I would definitely let the staff know and be cautious because this restaurant uses a lot of peanuts in...