I finally got the opportunity to try this place after it's been on my list for probably a few years now. I had always heard about the chicken pho as the dish to try, but the person I went with also recommended some other things. So we actually ended up with three dishes and I got to try a lot of great stuff. Of course I tried the chicken pho, which lived up to the expectation of being the Vietnamese comfort soup. Another dish was like a catfish in a sauce in a clay pot. I quite enjoyed the fish in the sauce, but beware it does have bones! The third dish was a mix of different proteins and mushrooms and rice. You can see a picture of it but I can't remember what it's called. I enjoyed the variety of what was in this dish and the rice had kind of a toasted vibe as it got stuck to the metal bowl by design. Despite all of these being small bowls, it was too much food for just two people. We kind of knew it would be but I wanted to try some new dishes, and I'm glad that I did! My only complaint is that after getting our food we never had a server come by again, so I never got more water. read more

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I was surprisingly not as impressed with their pho ga. I think I preferred the pho ga I had in Virginia. But overall, chicken was good, soup was fine, noodles also fine. Banh knot was fine too. Crispy and fresh. def felt that they freshly made it. Wings are good too, friends cleaned up the dish really fast read more

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Picture this: You walk into Dakao, and it's like Santa decided to set up shop in a Vietnamese kitchen. The place is decked out with holiday vibes and a ceiling so whimsically painted that you half expect a reindeer to fly by. And the staff? Let's just say they're the elves of efficiency--our food came out in record time, like they've got a hotline to the North Pole's kitchen. Now, onto the feast! I got the special chicken rice for the kids. Imagine tender dark chicken meat, a little adventure with livers and gizzards, and a cabbage salad that adds a crunch of holiday magic. As for the seafood clay pot--well, let's just say it was more like the elves accidentally got a bit mushroom-happy. It wasn't bad, just not the star on top of the tree. Mostly mushrooms and a few seafood bits playing hide-and-seek. Next time, I'll stick to the popular dishes that Dakao clearly nails--like that chicken rice or maybe the shaking beef my friend's kids were smart enough to order. In short, if you want a holiday meal where Santa's Vietnamese elves serve up a sleigh-full of options at lightning speed, Dakao's your spot. Just be ready for a menu longer than Santa's gift list and a few hits and misses if you go too off the beaten path. read more

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Came here a 2nd time. The meat quality and portion was small but again the prices are unbeatable for an overall portion size for their com dac biet. The food came out warm and not hot was my concern. read more

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Their chicken pho did not disappoint! The soup broth was delicious and full of deep flavors. The customer service was good. All of the dishes were made with fresh ingredients and executed well. It was very busy on a Monday evening, so they must be serving up some amazing cuisine. We will definitely be back to try other dishes we saw locals were ordering. read more

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The Dakao experience hasn't always been smooth sailing, but there is no denying its status as one of the most beloved spots in Bellaire's Asiatown. Known especially for their signature chicken dishes, Dakao has built a loyal following and remains a standout in the local Viet dining scene. Most restaurants are easy to miss along Bellaire Blvd, but their massive signage ensures that most don't. The dining area is spacious enough to accommodate large groups, but it's also consistently busy, especially during peak hours and weekends. Waiting is almost certainly a given, but a little patience and strategy (later on weeknights) are key. The decor is a bit all over the place, but frankly, that's part of the charm. Their menu has to be one of the most extensive I've seen. While it might be tempting to stick with familiar Vietnamese dishes, I'd strongly recommend focusing on what they do best: all things chicken. Their pho ga (chicken pho) is one of the best in the city. The broth is rich and flavorful and the meat portions are generous -- offering a hearty mix of dark and white cuts. The dry version (pho ga kho) comes with a bowl of the broth, which is utterly divine. The fish sauce wings are also a hit, which often come perfectly fried and are full of flavor. Equally impressive is the chao ga (chicken congee), a simple dish that is executed exceptionally well. It arrives with a thin, fragrant layer of chicken fat glistening on the surface of the porridge, adding depth and texture. It's topped off with fried garlic, onion, and fresh cilantro and remains to be one of my favorite items on the menu. Their beef offerings are decent but don't quite measure up to any fo the chicken dishes. The bo luc lac (shaking beef), bo ne (beef sizzle platter), bo xao (stir fried beef) are serviceable, but better versions can be found at other places. Speaking of service, this is where they tend to get in trouble with others. The large staff is everywhere, but the miscues can vary on the individual. I've had excellent service and equally poor service, and it's sometimes a gamble especially during their busiest service. In the end, Dakao isn't perfect, but it excels at what it's known for. With fair prices, an eclectic vibe, and seemingly some of the city's best chicken dishes, it's a spot that fans of Vietnamese comfort food (especially chicken lovers) should prioritize for a visit ASAP. read more

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One of my go to favorites for Viet food. They've got a super wide selection and definitely something for everyone! I love their pho ga kho (dried chicken pho), that's my most ordered dish for sure. Everything from pho to family style dining dishes like canh chua and stir fries, Dakao has it all. I HIGHLY recommend this place and honestly everyone who I've taken here has enjoyed the food as well! read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Pho Ga Kho (dried chicken pho) + add side of trung non (young egg) - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love this place, my stable restaurant. They have a wide variety of dishes. My favorites are com tam and com ga hai nam. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Visited with relatives and they recommended this place. I was told they are known for their pho ga and I did see pho ga kho (dry version) and gave that a try. I would say the sauce isn't similar to represent pho ga besides what goes into it. However, it was still delicious. Service was decent, fairly busy around 1/2 on Friday. Very spacious inside too. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Visiting here from California and I was craving some Vietnamese food. My uncle suggested this place down the street for some family style dinner. The restaurant was cutely decorated and very spacious. Plenty of seating and kind customer service. Ordered: the ca canh chua, rai muong, ca kho tau, and goi ga I've had better but it was still good and great pricing. read more

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Came in around 11:30 on a Saturday, and the place was already packed. We waited by the door for a bit before a server came over to add us to the waitlist--about a 10-15 minute wait. The space is huge with lots of seating, and the interior is nicely done. The menu is massive--18 pages with lots of photos--so it took a while to go through everything. Unfortunately, the waitstaff were pretty pushy--three different people came by within the span of a few minutes asking if we were ready to order. We ordered a lot, but really only the chicken soup was a home run. We got the chicken noodle soup with dark meat, gizzards, and livers. The broth was flavorful, the noodles had a great texture, and the whole bowl came together really well. The Bo Ne had great pics on Yelp, and the food was good, but in the end, it felt like a dressed-up DIY steak and spam banh mi. Not bad, just not sure it was worth the $17. We also got a jellyfish and shrimp salad, which was light and refreshing, but there were only a few thin slices of shrimp, and I couldn't find any jellyfish. This place is known for having amazing chicken dishes, and I wholeheartedly agree with that. They'd be 5 stars if the rest of their food matched the quality of their chicken soup. read more

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Despite the mixed reviews about the chicken pho, I wanted to give it a shot because it was mentioned in a few reviews. I thought it was good! The chicken, well, tasted like chicken! It wasn't dry and had a nice touch of ginger (I think). The broth was nice to drink by itself and tied it all together. Bonus points too that my youngest son enjoyed it. I did really enjoy the egg roll here. Great flavor and has a nice crispy bite without the burnt edges. The service was decent. No major complaints. Some of our orders were mixed up and they tried to bring something we didn't order, but no big deal. Interior seemed clean and has an attempt to be trendy. I just came for the food. Go pho it! read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Chicken Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

We had a large party on a Saturday and almost every table was full when we came. Interior is clean, welcoming, and well decorated. There is plenty of staff that attend to you. We ordered two portions of the clay pot fish (Ca Kho tho) and canh chua which the right amount for 10 ppl. All other dishes were well cooked and flavorful. Great restaurant for family style dinner! Highly recommend. read more

This was a great casual place to get a quick lunch. We were seated and served very quickly even during lunch rush. The Com Tam and Bo Ne were both pretty good, not the best of either I've had, but still high up on the list. The meats were very tender. The portion sizes weren't huge, but fitting enough for lunch. The price is also a lot more fair than other Viet places around there. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Com Tam with short rib - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food was delicious and the service was fast and efficient. We ordered the hu tieu tom thit and the Banh Hoi tom chao and nem nuong both were very good. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Hu tieu tom thit - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Nut allergy warning: Many dishes have nuts, but I had no issues with what I had here. Time - to - Food: Between 15-25 minutes generally We got here around 7:30PM on a Friday evening and were lucky enough to get two tables for 15 people relatively quickly. The chicken wings were the star of the show (4.5/5). Crispy, not too saucy, and full of meat. They do chicken tips in full here, so those are the meatiest. The drumsticks are actually not that big and so there could be a bit of improvement there. We got a lot of other dishes for the table. The Chinese broccoli was pretty standard (3.5/5). The other chicken and fish we got were in my opinion too sweet, though they were tender (3/5). The lemongrass bone-in ribs were too little meat (2/5). The canh chua was decent, but too sour in my opinion (3.5/5). Service was also a bit slow. They took a while to clear dishes and never got us water or extra napkins when we had people coming in late. Overall 3.5/5, rounding up because the wings are worth coming by. I'd come back to try some other noodle dishes like the pho or hu tieu, since that's what the majority of other diners were having while we were there. read more

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This spot is my top recommendation for people who want to try authentic Vietnamese food at affordable prices. Their menu is hugeeee and basically has all of the popular Viet dishes and more. The service is quick, but beware just like other traditional Viet restaurants, the appetizers won't necessarily come out first. We got the fish sauce chicken wings as our app, and I'd give it a 6.5/10. It was flavorful but not crispy enough. The korean beef rice platter was a steal for the price though! We always get the clay pot fish when we're here, and it's always delicious and feels like home cooking. The fried salt and pepper squid however was not my fav. The batter is more like tempura and not the typical batter used for this dish. Very casual ambience but can get quite loud with all the Vietnamese locals, which is a good sign for the food at least. read more

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Dakao is a viet town staple and a very popular vietnamese restaurant in the Houston area. It is in the same plaza as hem, garosu, and pho sapa. Their signature dishes are the chicken pho (soup and dry), but they also have beef pho, rice plates, and other appetizers on their menu. The dry chicken pho here is very comparable to pho 54's dry chicken pho (also very popular). Although I must say that the pho 54 sauce is better, I think Dakao takes the upper hand for the chicken innards and the toppings. The service is a bit hectic, but it adds to the experience. The servers will bring everyone's meals out at once and start yelling "who got this!" until someone claims their dish. Not complaining, just funny. All in all, Dakao is delicious and you should definitely give it a try the next time you are in the area. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - dry chicken pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of my friends brought us here, and I'm so glad she did because this has become my favorite go to Vietnamese lunch and catering spot! The restaurant itself is very beautiful when you walk in with modern lights and clean tables. I especially like the hustle and bustle of the weekend with full tables and love the fact that you can peer into the kitchen, which looks very organized and clean. My first time here I ordered the chicken wings coated with fish sauce (ga chien nuoc mam) while my partner ordered the chicken pho (pho ga). I absolutely love the crispiness of the batter and the sauce that came with was so addicting - truly a perfect combination of salty and sweet. I think it would be really cool if in the future, they offered a spicy alternative with Thai chilies. My partner's soup was also very delicious. It would be perfect for a cold day or if you're feeling a bit under the weather - the broth tasted very clean, and they give you a good amount of chicken and herbs, which complements the noodles and broth really well. I'm normally a beef pho person but this chicken pho was delicious! We also had a platter of their grilled pork which if you've had banh mi thi nuong, it is exactly that and had a great chargrilled flavor. This place was so good that I actually placed a catering order the next day and that process was very seamless as well. One thing to note is that their kitchen for chicken wings does not open until 11 AM and so we couldn't pick up the order any earlier than 11 AM, but that wasn't really a big issue and understandable. We also ordered the normal size for Canh Chua with Catfish which my parents absolutely loved because they give you such big portions of catfish. We also got their salt and pepper shrimp and their stuffed tofu with tomatoes. Both these dishes were pretty good, but I think they were a little bit under seasoned to my liking. Overall, a really delicious and affordable place to eat! I will definitely be a repeat customer for years to come! read more

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it's been a while since we last ate at Dakao still A+ plus food quality, but so pretty renovation we got seated right away for a party of 6 though it was packed for weekend dinner plenty of tables were available their signature is pho ga kho (dry chicken pho) it's served with a bowl of soup on the side and a salad veggie bowl lau canh chua aka hot sour cat fish hot pot (10/10) came with a lot of fish, v well-seasoned soup there was a side of vermicelli too, and plenty veggies (sprouts, tomatoes, okras, mints) bo bia made for a great appetizer and also salter pepper fried chicken tofu (my personal favorite) i love how it's very beautifully decorated now with lanterns, floras, and sky cloud mirrors solid choice for family hangout read more

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Saturday seems to be packed for lunch! Service was excellent. Multiple servers helping to make the service better. My nephew has an allergy to eggs. we asked about different dishes with no eggs and they were patient with us. They can accommodate larger parties . low music volumes. Good solid vietnamese food. Calamari we added jalepenos to be sautéed. My hubby got grilled chicken and rice . it was thigh meat! yumm! i had the wonton egg noodle soup. that was tasty as well. nuoc mam wings were not spicy but tasty. Banh Kot has a coconut flavoring with a big shrimp on top. wish the shrimp was deveined tho. all in all. we plan to visit to try their Bo Ne . read more

One of the best pho ga (chicken pho) around. Was fairly crowded on a Wednesday night, but wss seated almost immediately. Service was really good, they came and check on us every 10 - 15 minutes refilling water. I love the new modern look of viet culture. Pho was pretty good, noodles may need to be alil more bouncy. I hate some places they have It clumped. The mix salad was really good, crunchy and fresh. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Pho ga is my go to when feeling a bit under the weather, and since this place specializes in chicken pho, I thought I'd give it a try. I arrived not too long before closing and was worried about getting seated. They were accommodating though and allowed me to dine in for my meal. The chicken pho came with both white and dark meat with a lil bit of the skin still on, which is how I prefer it. The bean sprouts also came pre-cooked, which was also a bonus! The bowl was nice and hot as I requested, and the chicken broth was tasty and comforting. I wish there had been a tad more of that broth, but that's just nitpicking. I ate about half and took the rest to go as they were closed by that time. Service was typical of most Vietnamese restaurants... they bring you your food and then your bill without much chatter. Left feeling nice and full in a good way. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Pho ga - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm from NYC where the viet/pho game is not as strong and I was absolutely in love with this pho. We ordered a regular house special pho but ended up with a large by accident, mistake on the waiters part but no wonder we were absolutely stuffed! They were super generous with the meat and noodles. The soup was also super clean and flavorful, not one dimensional at all. I also like how they gave us enough sprouts and herbs for 3 people. We got the fish sauce wings on the side and they were so flavorful and juicy a great addition! Only in Texas for a bit but would love to come back. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Dakao is one of those restaurants with an extensive menu, large dining space, and decent prices. What we got: - Fish sour soup: Forgot the name of the actual dish but this was full of fish pieces and flavor. It does have a slightly sour taste to it, but according to friends, that's the authentic taste - Short rib, egg tofu, sausage rice plate: Broken rice plate with delicious protein dishes - Hainan chicken: Dark meat hainanese chicken (you can choose if you want white meat, dark meat, combo, etc.) with chicken rice This place was packed on a weekday night and its no wonder why. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Definitely worth trying among the vast number of viet restaurants in the area. read more

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I had heard a lot about the Pho Ga at Dakao so I decided to stop by and give it a try. What I got was a refreshing and simple Pho with a very unique broth. The Pho Ga has one of the most aromatic broths I have tried. Compared to traditional beef pho, this chicken pho was a lot lighter fresher. I don't know what combination of herbs and spices they used to make this broth but I was unlike anything I had before. It satisfies a certain type of craving, one for freshness and delicacy, and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't say that I would always choose this over other places though, but in if I'm in the mood, this is a pho that I would order again. Dakao is worth trying just for how novel their Pho Ga flavor profile is. 8/10! read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food was very good but the presentation was bad, when brought to the table, the compressed rice was broken. The staff is really reprehensible: 1. Making noise, joking with each other is very unprofessional 2. Lack of service style 3. Communication does not respect the customer Because I already come inside, so I had to stay. Honestly, if the owner could training and selective the service team, the quality of the restaurant will be better. Thức ăn rất ổn nhưng trình bày tệ, khi mang ra đến bàn thì cơm nén đã vỡ ra. Dàn nhân viên thực sự rất đáng chê trách: 1. Làm ồn, đùa giỡn với nhau rất thiếu chuyên nghiệp 2. Thiếu tác phong dịch vụ 3. Ngôn phong không tôn trọng khách hàng Vì đã lỡ vào rồi nên đành phải ở lại. Thực sự nếu đào tạo và sàng lọc lại đội ngũ phục vụ, chất lượng quán sẽ khác read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Cơm Gà Hải Nam - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've been going here for almost 20 years, since I moved to Houston, so the prices have definitely increased quite a bit and the decor is a lot nicer. I've recommended this place almost to everyone that comes and visit as they have a variety of options to choose from. My favorite has always been the dry Pho that comes with a side of pho broth. Check them out! read more

Food - surprisingly good! Came for the beef pho but they were out of beef broth so all beef pho was not available. So we got the rice plate instead- the beef particularly stood out, good marination and tender! the pork (average) and the pork sausage (don't recommend). The chicken broth is above average. The fish sauce chicken wings are decent as well. Service - fast attentive friendly Ambiance - chill, clean, casual, nice decor read more

They were out of beef soup so I got their chicken pho on the side... $2 only and so so worth it. Soup was amazingly flavorful with hints of ginger coming through. The fish sauce chicken wing was a must get classic. What really stole the show was their broken rice plates wish a variety of meats and sides to choose from-- would recommend the egg loaf along with the grilled pork chop. I will definitely be back next time! read more

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Tastes like home, maybe even better. I absolutely adore this place and the variety of authentic dishes it offers. Don't be afraid to venture away from the pho and single serving dishes. When my mom took me here, we opted to order a mix of meats, soups, and veggies, enjoying it all family-style. Personally, I thought it took the restaurant up a level. The fish that comes in a clay pot is to die for; full of umami flavor. I will say some dishes are absolutely delicious and some are okay. The banh koc fell short for me as I felt like there was too much breading. Be prepared for a bustling crowd, especially during brunch and dinner on weekends. The place tends to get busy, but trust me, the wait is worth it. Just plan ahead, and you're in for a treat. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great Vietnamese food! The menu is quite extensive here as you can order so many different types of dishes including pho (soup), com (rice plates), bun (noodle plates), hu tieu (noodles with gravy), banh hoi (flat rice noodles) etc. Pho- good depth of flavor and rich broth. 5/5 Rare beef salad- One of my recent favorite dishes. So fresh and refreshing with the lemon sauce on top of fresh vegetables that include celery which I never usually eat. The rare beef also gives it a different texture and flavor to balance out the dish. Give it a try if you haven't ever tried it. 5/5 Nem nuong- ok but missing the crunch of a brodard nam nuong. 3/5 Place can get busy and the service is par the course for an Asian restaurant which means you may need to flag someone down at times to get assistance. read more

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This place gets pretty crowded on the weekends especially on Sundays. The wait isn't too bad since they are pretty quick with their service. It's located in the Tan Binh grocery store plaza. Easy parking all around. They serve all kinds of Viet food on their large menu. My favorite is the bo ne/sizzling steak and eggs and the bun cha Ha Noi. It always hit the spot if I'm craving Viet food in the area. Their bo bia and banh khot as appetizers are also my faves. It's very tempting to want to order the whole menu when I'm here because they pretty much have all kinds of Viet food. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Bo ne - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I always order the special chicken dry noodles whenever I visit Da Kao restaurant. The food is consistently delicious, and the service is excellent. I would definitely recommend it to more friends. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Special chicken dry noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Best Vietnamese restaurant in Houston! Absolutely love the interior design of the restaurant, there are traditional elements with the decor and it is very spacious. Service is very quick, servers would be walking around the restaurant and are quick to attend to our needs. Food was very flavorful and affordable (portion sizes were pretty big) - from the broth, to the fish sauce, to the protein, everything was seasoned well and was very savory. The fish sauce chicken is perfect to pair with rice and cucumbers. read more

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The restaurant was definitely busy when we came in. Bo Bia rolls (A04) - the worst bo bia I've ever tasted, the dried shrimps they had in there were too over powering to the roll. Banh khot - The shrimps on top wasn't even WARM, still a little cold. Veggies they gave to eat with this were just lettuce and cilantro. Def Wasted my money on this Clear noodles w chicken (mien ga) - this was decent but they forgot the give us the ginger sauce.. had to ask for it. read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - A04- Bo Bia. Never again. Terrrible, the worst I've eaten.. - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Seats big parties same day. Food was quick. My faves were the tiny mini egg rolls, the artichoke drink and salted plum drink Huge Parking lot. Careful under construction in some areas, it's bad. read more

Amazing food you have to try the pho and than breakfast Service is amazing and food is always fresh a delicious read more

Besides Vietnam, I thought Vietnamese cuisine was best eaten in Orange County but after visiting Houston, they're head to head in this competition. There are so much Vietnamese restaurants in Houston that you really can't go wrong with anything that you choose. My cousin took us here for our farewell dinner and she said that they frequent here so much and I can see why! They had such a wide array of dishes and everything that I tried was delicious. My favorite had to be their Banh Khot. They somehow got it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside AND they were humongous. What more can you want? This place gets super packed even though there are so many seats. I'm glad they were able to accommodate our huge party with no reservation read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Banh Khot (yum!) - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Straight up my favorite Viet meal I had on this trip. The menu, just like dating apps, did overwhelm me with the paradox of choice as there was just way too many options. Great for variety, bad for figuring out how to narrow to with just one and if it's the best one since there's limitless other fine options. Finally settled on the xa xiu noodles as I love egg noodles, if you order it dry, it comes mixed with this addictive sauce with broth on the side to sip on. So freaking good. My friend's shaken beef with fried rice looks so good also and my mom said her chicken pho dry version is also good. The meats didn't have weird after taste because it's usually a gamble with poultry especially in restaurants. The non-alcoholic drink menu was also extensive, it's rare for me to find salty lemonade anywhere since it takes a million years to ferment these lemons. Was visiting Houston with family, met up with a local friend here and asked her to bring her mom so our moms can meet and bond. What a pleasant place for Viet mom dates. HAHA. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

Dakao Restaurant And Bar - Mi xa xiu kho. Love, @eatoutthao - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas