Vietnamese is, arguably, some of the most flavorful and interesting food in the world. Whether you like noodles or coconuts, mild and sweet flavors, or seasonings so hot your mouth will burn for days, you can probably find it in Vietnamese cooking. For some truly fabulous Vietnamese in Houston, Huynh Restaurant in one of the best in town.

Start Light

Whenever one eats Vietnamese food, it’s recommended to start off with some light and mild appetizers to warm up your palate to the meal that’s about to come. At Huynh, the appetizer menu offers crispy Vietnamese egg rolls, vegetarian spring rolls, dried shrimp wrapped in rice paper, pulled duck meat with sauce, and more. Sample at least one appetizer or split a couple for the table; you’ll love them.

Noodles or Rice?

Noodles and rice are both big staple items of Vietnamese cooking, and Huynh Restaurant provides just about every flavor combination of the two available. Some favorites are a vermicelli noodle bowl with your choice of meat; the rice plate with short ribs; seafood fried rice; wok-fried flat noodles with choice of seafood, meat, or veggies; or steamed rice paper with yummy fillings, such as ground pork.

Vietnamese Soup

While noodles and rice are certainly popular and delicious, sampling one of the soups in highly recommended. Not only are Vietnamese soups completely unique and unlike anything you’ve ever tried before, but they’re also very filling and flavorful, and act as a meal rather than just a starter. In particular, the Mi Quang soup, which is a collection of pork, shrimp, fish cakes, shredded cabbage, banana blossoms, peanuts, and fried onions all tossed in a spicy broth and served over rice noodles is suggested, or get the vermicelli noodle soup with sliced beef in a broth of chili and lemongrass. The Pho is also a good choice, and is a traditional beef noodle soup. You can choose the broth and pair it with up to four meats.

Great Drinks

If you want a truly authentic experience, make sure you choose a traditional Vietnamese drink to accompany your meal. The coconut juice is fresh and is served with real pieces of coconut, and the Vietnamese coffee is some of the best in Houston, if not the entirety of the U.S. However, this restaurant does not serve alcohol, but you can bring in your own beverage if you’d like.

Family Style Portions

While all of the dishes at Huynh are big enough to share or large enough to leave one feeling extra full, there are also some dishes on the menu that are specifically designed to be shared family style for the group that likes to sample a bit of everything.

A great place to go with family and friends, perfect for those who love both mild and extra spicy food, and reasonably priced, Huynh restaurant is definitely worth visiting if you get the chance while downtown.