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The Best Vietnamese Food in Houston

From the James Beard–finalist Viet-Cajun crawfish joint Anthony Bourdain put on the map to the Bib Gourmand pho counters of Bellaire's Asiatown.

By Dim Hour · Updated 2026-07-06 · 6 verified picks

Houston has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the United States, and its capital is the Bellaire Boulevard "Asiatown" corridor. The signature here is Crawfish & Noodles — the James Beard–finalist Viet-Cajun spot Anthony Bourdain featured on Parts Unknown, where garlic-butter crawfish meets fish sauce — but the depth runs from Michelin Bib Gourmand pho rooms to a Heights pho institution and the city's best banh mi. These are the picks worth the drive, each scored and verified by Dim Hour.

A note on the canon: pho (beef noodle soup), bun bo Hue (spicy Hue-style noodle soup), banh mi (the baguette sandwich), and the Houston-born Viet-Cajun crawfish boil are the dishes to chase. Most of these are walk-in, cash-friendly, and worth the trip out to Bellaire.

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The Picks
1

Crawfish & Noodles

Vietnamese-Cajun · Chinatown / Bellaire · $$ · Dim Hour 93
🏆 James Beard Finalist

The Viet-Cajun landmark in the Bellaire/Asiatown corridor and a James Beard Award finalist, made nationally famous by Anthony Bourdain. Garlic-butter crawfish, garlic noodles, salt-and-pepper crab, and a serious bun bo Hue. Walk-in; expect a wait in crawfish season.

Order: Viet-Cajun Crawfish · Garlic Noodles · Salt & Pepper Crab · Bun Bo Hue
📍 11360 Bellaire Blvd #990, Houston, TX 77072 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
2

Annam

Vietnamese / French · Upper Kirby · $$$ · Dim Hour 89
🏆 Michelin Bib Gourmand

A more upscale Vietnamese-French room in Upper Kirby with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The fish head with fish sauce, lobster-asparagus soup, shaking filet mignon, and pho show the refined end of Houston Vietnamese. Book on Resy.

Order: Fish Head with Fish Sauce · Lobster Asparagus Soup · Shaking Filet Mignon · Pho
📍 480 Milvid St, Houston, TX 77006 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
3

Nam Giao

Vietnamese · Chinatown / Bellaire · $ · Dim Hour 87
🏆 Michelin Bib Gourmand; James Beard Best Chef (Ai Le) 2023 (semifinalist)

A Bellaire/Asiatown specialist carrying a Michelin Bib Gourmand, with chef Ai Le a James Beard Best Chef semifinalist. The bun bo Hue is the order, alongside spring rolls and vermicelli bowls. Walk-in.

Order: Bun Bo Hue · Spring Rolls · Vermicelli Bowl
📍 6938 Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77072 Full listing on Dim Hour →
4

Pho Binh

Vietnamese · Heights · $ · Dim Hour 89

A Heights pho institution — pho dac biet (the loaded house bowl), bun bo Hue, banh mi, and Vietnamese iced coffee, done right and cheap. A neighborhood pho counter that locals default to. Walk-in.

Order: Pho Dac Biet · Bun Bo Hue · Banh Mi · Vietnamese Iced Coffee
📍 2916 White Oak Dr, Houston TX 77007 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
5

Di An Pho

Vietnamese / Pho · Chinatown / Bellaire · $ · Dim Hour 89
🏆 Texas Monthly Best New Restaurants 2026

A Bellaire/Asiatown pho-and-banh-mi counter named a Texas Monthly Best New Restaurant for 2026. Clean, well-built pho and bun bo Hue plus Vietnamese coffee. Walk-in.

Order: Pho · Bun Bo Hue · Banh Mi · Vietnamese Coffee
📍 12934 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77072 Full listing on Dim Hour →
6

Roostar Vietnamese Grill

Vietnamese Sandwiches · Midtown · $ · Dim Hour 87

The banh mi specialist, in Midtown — chargrilled-pork and lemongrass-chicken sandwiches on crackly bread, plus garlic fries. The fast-casual, lunch-friendly pick on this list. Walk-in.

Order: Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi · Chargrilled Pork · Garlic Fries
📍 1400 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77019 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Vietnamese food in Houston?
The top Vietnamese picks in Houston include Crawfish & Noodles, Annam, Nam Giao. Each is scored and verified by Dim Hour; see the full ranked list with signature dishes above.
What is Viet-Cajun food and where did it start?
Viet-Cajun is a Houston-born style that boils crawfish in garlic butter and fish sauce instead of (or alongside) classic Cajun spice. Crawfish & Noodles in the Bellaire/Asiatown corridor is the landmark — a James Beard finalist made famous by Anthony Bourdain.
Which Houston Vietnamese restaurants have a Michelin Bib Gourmand?
Annam in Upper Kirby and Nam Giao in Bellaire both carry a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Where is the best pho in Houston?
Pho Binh in the Heights is a longtime pho institution, and Di An Pho in Bellaire (a Texas Monthly Best New Restaurant for 2026) is one of the newer standouts. Nam Giao is the move for bun bo Hue specifically.
Where is the best banh mi in Houston?
Roostar Vietnamese Grill in Midtown is the banh mi specialist — chargrilled pork and lemongrass chicken on crackly bread.
Where is Houston's Vietnamese food neighborhood?
The Bellaire Boulevard "Asiatown" corridor southwest of downtown is the heart of it; these picks cluster in Chinatown / Bellaire, Upper Kirby, Heights, Midtown.
Do Houston Vietnamese restaurants take reservations?
Most are walk-in (Crawfish & Noodles, Nam Giao, Pho Binh). A few of the upscale rooms take reservations (Resy).
How expensive is Vietnamese food in Houston?
Most of it is budget-friendly — pho, bun bo Hue, and banh mi run in the $ range. Viet-Cajun crawfish (sold by the pound) and the upscale Vietnamese-French rooms move into $$–$$$.
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in Houston?
Dim Hour curates 704+ restaurants in Houston, each scored and verified.
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Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all Houston restaurants →