RESTAURANTS
Bun Bo Hue Co Do II: Momand-pop restaurant specializing in bun bo Hue and dishes from Central Vietnam. 14901 Texas 249, Suite 109, 346-316-1974
Bun Bo Hue Duc Chuong: Minichain that serves only bun bo Hue. No menus. They will ask you if you want a small or large bowl. 11415 Bellaire, 832-351-2622 (and several other locations)
Bun Mang Vit Thanh Da: Charming restaurant where the specialty is bun mang vit. Order it with the salad on the side. The egg rolls and flan also are fantastic. 11526 Bellaire, 281-495-9039; bunmangvitthanhdahouston.com
Bun Viet Son: Mom-and-pop restaurant known for bun bo Hue and bun rieu. 6796 Synott, 281561-5800; bunvietson.com
Cafe TH: The bun rieu at this Vietnamese neighborhood cafe in EaDo is among the best versions in the city. 2108 Pease, 713-225-4766; cafeth.com
Com Ga Houston: Known for chicken and rice, the secondmost popular item is mien mang ga. Order it with side salad of banana blossom and cabbage. 11505 Bellaire, 832-230-0065
Crawfish & Noodles: Though crawfish is No. 1 here, owner Trong Nguyen’s noodle dishes are formidable. Try his Southernstyle hu tieu. 11360 Bellaire, No. 990, 281-988-8098
Hu Tieu Hong Phat: The most proper version of hu tieu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh style) noodle in the city. Try the “kho” version for broth served on the side. 11360 Bellaire, Suite 380, 281564-4233
Huynh Restaurant: Popular BYOB Vietnamese cafe in EaDo. The duck salad, or goi vit, is excellent. Bun mang vit and bun bo Hue are also very good. 912 St. Emanuel, 713-224-8964; huynhrestauranthouston.com
Mai’s Restaurant: Houston’s oldest Vietnamese restaurant offers plenty of choices for noodle soups. Opt for hu tieu, mi bo kho, bun bo Hue or banh canh. 3403 Milam, 713-520-5300; maishouston.com
Pho and Crab Restaurant: With two locations, this restaurant’s extensive menu offers everything from pho to banh xeo and tamarind dungeness crab. The hu tieu do bien and bun rieu are solid. 11660 Westheimer, 832598-2063; phoandcrab.com
Pho Dung: Hole-in-the-wall tucked in a strip mall near My Tho Market. Their bun suong is the best in the city. 13211 Bellaire, 281-530-7722
Pho Ngon: Easy to spot on the main Bellaire Boulevard drag near Wilcrest, Pho Ngon’s mi vit tiem is outstanding. 10780 Bellaire, 281-564-8887; phongonhouston.com
Pho Saigon Midtown: Twenty-eight years later, this OG pho shop still delivers the goods. Its mi bo vien is stickto-your-ribs delicious. 2808 Milam, Suite D, 713-524-3734; phosaigonnoodlehouse.com
Pho Tan Loc: This pho shop has the best bun cha Hanoi in the city. It also serves very good bun bo Hue and is the only restaurant to serve Northern Vietnamese specialty bun oc. 11603 S. Texas 6, Sugar Land, 281-9803460; sites.google.com/site/photanlocsugarland
Thim Hing Sandwiches: One of the most popular banh mi shops in Alief, the mi vit tiem also is recommended. Cash only. 10905 Bellaire, 281-564-1692
Two Bowls Bun Bo Hue: Trendy new cafe specializing in bun bo Hue, where drinks are served in Capri Sun-style bags. 13080 Bellaire, Suite A, 832-672-3961
Viet Huong: Inexpensive spot inside the Hong Kong Mall IV that makes dishes from all three Vietnamese regions. Try the bun rieu. 11209 Bellaire, Suite C-3, 832-351-3655