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    Khoi Barbecue

    4.0 (41 reviews)
    Closed • Closed

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    Emma D.

    Finally got to try this place out! It's been on my list for months but you have to plan ahead and get there early. They do a Saturday and Sunday service most weekends but check their social media for updated days. We ordered a variety of food. My favorite was definitely the brisket pho. The broth is sooooo yummy and you don't need to add anything to it like you would with normal pho. Other top item was definitely the bok choy and the curry. We also tried the Saigon spares which were very well seasoned and tasty but hard to eat. I prefer my ribs a little juicier. The lemongrass beef sausage was decent. The brisket was super moist and flavorful. Overall was generally impressed with everything. It's a cool place set up in a backyard with a tent and a bunch of tables. But it was good vibes and they are good about checking on everyone even though you order at a register.

    Ribs
    Jacquelyn C.

    Got here a little later in the morning so they were out of a few things that I had wanted to try, but we were able to try most of what we wanted. The pho was good, but the broth is a bit on the sweeter side which I'm personally not a huge fan of--I tend to prefer mine more on the savory end. The curry was my favorite--it had nice spice and was super flavorful, and the meat was perfectly smokey and tender. The beef rib was also good, but a little bit tough to get off the bone. Overall, pretty solid meal.

    Beef curry
    Michael T.

    What an awesome bbq joint! We enjoyed the flavorful smoky barbecue here. The air is filled with smokey bbq goodness. The brisket was my highlight. I over ordered previously and got my Oder just right this time but regrettably I didn't get to bring any of the brisket back home for lunch. Over ordering at this bbq joint is a requirement :) The friendly staff are awesome and orders are taken very quickly.

    David T.

    Holy smokes!! This concept is insanely good. Hats off to these guys for creating this. Pho - 9/10 Bun bo hue 9/10 Banh xeo 9/10 La lot sausage 10/10 Curry rice 9/10 Ribs 8/10 Brisket 9/10 Must try for sureeeeeeee!!

    receipt and prices
    Josh P.

    I'd been hearing the hype about this place for awhile so you know we had to check out their pop-up when we went to Houston. We ordered online in advance and I made my hungover self go to pick them up on Sunday morning. There was a pretty long line for pickup that moved quickly but then you still had to wait for your food for another 20 minutes or so. Overall, it was probably close to an hour of waiting which isn't out of the norm for good tx bbq but was a little surprising given it was ordered in advance. We were hanging with a few friends and wanted to try everything so we got: lb of brisket, lb of spare ribs, 1/2 lb of pork ribs, sausage, magenta sticky rice, vietnamese slaw, broken rice hash, and beef rib curry. The beef rib curry was far and away the star of the show. It was so good and there definitely weren't any leftovers like there was with everything else. The brisket and ribs were both 4/5 stars for me but I could see them getting to 5 starts if they start cooking every day like most bbq spots. The sides were decent but not a requirement imo. Overall, I was mostly happy with the visit and would put them in top 25 texas bbqs but probably not in my top 5.

    Dino beef rib
    Chris V.

    Would recommend showing up early so they don't run out of anything you might want. Showed up to the backyard pop up at 9:30am and was first in line, the owner even let me borrow one of his camping chairs (would recommend bringing a chair of your own if you plan to come early as well +/- sun umbrella). While observing the crew setup production my appetite just kept growing as I smelled the delicious BBQ to come. Food - 5/5 Brisket amazing, fatty, juicy, tender, delicious. Dino beef rib, my personal favorite. Massive and literally fell off the bone when I tried to pick it up. Beef back ribs better than pork ribs in my opinion, but nonetheless they were also both delicious. Love their take on some viet-tex fusion dishes as well that I saw people ordering, but I could only eat so much, another time. Value - 4/5 But that's most BBQ in general and this place is on par with the price range of most other popular BBQ joints, just expect to shell out the big bucks. Follow them on IG for updates and news on their next pop up! They open up shop about 1-2 weekends per month.

    Pork ribs
    Quan N.

    I heard about Khói barbecue after seeing a review on Instagram, which piqued my interest. The mixture of Texas barbecue and Vietnamese influences really did speak to me, being Vietnamese myself. I first tried Khói at one of their pop ups, and enjoyed the flavors. The smokiness of the txbbq far outweighs the Viet flavors, which is probably the biggest misconception. Essentially, you're getting BBQ with Viet sides. My most recent experiences with Khói has been at their HQ on Hardy. They used to have Sunday Service, which has now expanded to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Services once a month. The setup is minimal. A few communal picnic tables are setup. You can bring your own camping chairs. They have a canopy at the front for ordering or presale pickup. The line gets long well before they open the gates, so plan accordingly. Overall, just a good vibe. Good BBQ with unique sides and flavors. If you visit on a Sunday, get the whole hog banh xeo.

    BBQ Banh Xeo
    William L.

    I was excited to try this one, went out of my way to pre-order and picked-up. I was expecting something of a fusion Vietnamese take on Texas bbq - I found the BBQ to be very Texas standard and forced into Vietnamese dishes. The price is the major downside, as you can get much better viet food and bbq for what you're paying here. Banh Xeo was not flaky at all, BBQ was quite tasty but again standard Texas fare at double the price. I found the dessert tart my favorite of the order. Food alone was not bad at all - just not worth the troubles and price Would I Go Out of My Way to Try? No Would I Return? No Food Taste- 7/10 Value- 5/10

    Bo La Lot link, 1/2 lb Saigon Squares of Beef back Rib, 1/2 lb Brisket
    Candy C.

    Per-order definitely worth it... 2 different lines walk-ups and pre-order... Service was friendly. You can eat ther or get it to go. I opted to go so I could stay dry and get messy. Tasty Q with a casual backyard BBQ feel. Ordered the following... Whole hog garlic rice - garlicky rice with succulent whole hog meat... so yummy Beef Rib Curry - the curry had a nice kick, good flavor wish there was more sauce and more meat 1/2 pound of brisket - Smokey, moist and tender 1/2 pound Saigon Squares of beef back rib - really good flavor but not much meat on the bone. Bo La Lot - different but in a good way, now I wish I had ordered more links. Broken Rice Hash - flavorful comfort in a bowl - does this come in a bigger size? Street parking... pay attention to the signs I will be back there are still other things to try.

    AJ H.

    Do the pre-order, that'll save you some time waiting in line. You'll still need to wait though while they're putting your order together. Location is literally in a backyard of a Houston neighborhood. Was fortunate to find parking on the street. Friendly staff, and they provide bottle water for folks waiting Food was great! The brisket pho, the banh Xeo, and the standard bbq items were quite good! Can't wait to see when they open up their brick and mortar location

    Brisket Pho, Broken Rice Hash, Vietnamese Salad, Curry Beef Short Rib
    Kacee T.

    Backyard Barbecue literally! This small Asian owned family business brings Texas Viet fusion to barbecue! Everyone was SUPER nice especially once the crowd died down. The food was just as good as any bbq spot but what set it apart was the sides and rice dishes that accompanied the classic melt-in-your mouth bbq. I LOVED the Bo La Lot sausage if you're a fan of the traditional Vietnamese meat. The Brisket Pho was your standard pho (just as good as the ones you get in Chinatown) but the slab of brisket on rib was so succulent. The Broken rice hash is amazing especially if you're a fan of Com Tam - it just compliments the gravy so nicely when you parent with an order of Dino rib or brisket. The Short Rib Curry was definitely the winner in terms of dishes but I wish it came with more meat. Finish your meal with the Ca Phe Sua Da Tart if you love coffee. It's rich creamy and has the perfect balance of sweetness. I will have to come again for sure! With that being said - all of their dishes doesn't come with a lot of meat so I would get meat by the pound and order the dish you want so that you can add more meat to it especially if you're sharing. Notes on when to arrive: I showed up 40 minutes before opening and waited in my car because no line had formed and the gates were still closed as they were setting up. Turns out 8 other people were also in our car and people who didn't have the luxury of parking in front of the house had to walk back and forth to see if a line had formed yet. At around 15 minutes before everyone simultaneously lined up and there were about 10+ people right away. By opening time there was definitely 30 people in line and it took about an hour until that line died down.

    Tekoah J.

    Found this spot on instagram & decided to drop in! I came for the bok choy and got everything but the bok choy!!! ‍ I ordered it but never received it! I'm not complaining though because everything else was delicious!!!! The beef rib was so tender & seasoned through & through! The pork ribs were delicious as well, they had a slightly crispy crust which I loved! The whole hog rice was good as well, very flavorful & garlicky! And the sausage....wow the lemongrass really gives it a great flavor!! The service was great! Everyone was so friendly and polite! I was able to sample some of their sauces. And I would've stayed to eat as they do have some outdoor seating but I had somewhere else to be! I'll definitely be back because I have to have my bok choy!!!

    Andy N.

    I'm so glad to finally try it!!! I've been waiting for years but always missed it whenever they popped up. Yesterday was finally the day! Located in this home lot. Outdoor bbq pits and seating. Felt the Houston sun shining down on me. I had to try everything! This is Viet-Tex! Texas style bbq with hints of Vietnamese in it. The ba bot lot sausages has the flavors I remember eating with my parents. The pho brisket was insane! The broth just soaks into the beef and melts away in your mouth. The smoked pork ribs were delicious. The red curry over beef ribs was beautiful. They even had a Vietnamese coffee tart. And I loved it even though I'm not even a coffee person. Pitmaster Don is really putting on for the Vietnamese community. So happy I finally got to try this masterpiece Recommendation: Order everything! Get a spread of food

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    7 years ago

    BBQ was cold and sub par and for the 2 and a half hour wait for food, definitely not worth it.

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    Best bbq in TX! Not traditional but that only makes it better. I had a lot of bbq in Houston but I dream about this one.

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    Chocho Hot Pot Premium All You Can Eat - Dim sum bar

    Chocho Hot Pot Premium All You Can Eat

    4.3(135 reviews)
    24.9 mi
    •$$$

    Went here for some birthday lunch, they have some cool deals and discounts like cheaper prices…read moreafter 9pm, senior discounts, and birthday discounts for the whole week, so you don't even need to try and show up the day of. The meats were very tender, especially the ribeye. You also have the usual selection of raw seafood and veggies in the center buffet line. They also have a side line for hot foods and jelly desserts. Service was excellent. Our waiter Jun was very attentive and friendly, explaining every detail to us during our first visit and always coming by to check on us. They had some technical difficulties with my cooker, so they even gave me a 20% discount just because it was taking a bit longer to boil at first. I would definitely come here more often if I didn't have to drive to the opposite side of town.

    Such a limited selection for AYCE and the cost is not worth…read more But good for people who don't want to feel overwhelmed on choices, this would be a good starter to be in the ayce hotpot. . And offers Halal meat, They veggie/boodle station they don't have it filled, and i would come back and a random item would appear. Pork Broth was ok, the spicy pork is very mala Szechuan spice. The meat quality was terrible, my child wasn't chew and digest it. He had to spit out the 3 pieces he tried. It's not thin or thick. A lot things we saw advertised online when they first opened is no longer available, like the ice cream. Just a lot going on for this jelly dessert? Candy bar? Indian food? Random dim sum items. And the premium menu is confusing to do add ons.

    Photos
    Chocho Hot Pot Premium All You Can Eat - This cool way to the restrooms.

    This cool way to the restrooms.

    Chocho Hot Pot Premium All You Can Eat - Soft serve ice cream

    Soft serve ice cream

    Chocho Hot Pot Premium All You Can Eat - Pricing as of 06-21-25

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    Pricing as of 06-21-25

    Cutting Board - Sea-Urchin (Uni) pasta

    Cutting Board

    3.8(54 reviews)
    13.4 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown
    •$$

    When we came in we noticed a $1/fresh oyster deal happening so we took advantage of that right…read moreaway. The place is somewhat small, only one waiter attended to all tables. A bit on the pricier side but there are plenty of not-as-budget-breaking options. We ordered 2 dozen oysters. They were very fresh. We also ordered a New England Clam Chowder, a Seafood fra Diavolo, a Fatty Beef Creamy Rice, and a Curry Pork Katsu omelette rice. We definitely needed a to-go bag but we wanted to try a lot! I'd go back again to try some new options. Overall pretty solid place with nice service, and food came out piping hot and quickly.

    Not sure what happened. The quality of the food and has really gone down since my last visit. We…read moredropped in for a late lunch, party of 2. We ordered: Hong Kong milk tea - good, no complaint Chicken wings - arrived after our entrees. It looks delicious but was bland, really lacking flavor and undercooked. Uni pasta - I loved it the last time I had it. This time, not so much. The noodles were still al dente but the sauce was too thick and sea urchin was overcooked. I didn't really get to enjoy this dish! Sizzling Steak - we asked for the sauce on the side. But the dish was not sizzling and the plate wasn't even hot. The steak was tender, noodles al dente, but the sauce lacked flavor as well. I couldn't really tell what sauce I was dipping into. Service is fine, considering there was only one waitress and only two other small parties while we dined. Unfortunately, I think this would be my last trip here, considering that the one dish I crave from here, sea urchin pasta, no longer tastes right. So sad.

    Photos
    Cutting Board
    Cutting Board - 10.Grilled Calamari Salad

    10.Grilled Calamari Salad

    Cutting Board - 9.Cb Mussel

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    9.Cb Mussel

    Asian Fusion - Fried Rice Lo Mein General Tso's Chicken Mapo Tofu Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup Crab Puff

    Asian Fusion

    3.9(145 reviews)
    27.1 mi
    •$$

    After countless times coming, I've been meaning to make a review about this place. Everything in…read moretheir menu is something great, with some of my personal favorites being the Homestyle Trio with Eggplant, their Mapo Tofu (off menu, no gatekeeping), their Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup (a wee too spicy for me personally, but I love the simplicity of it), and the General Tso's Chicken. The eggplant dish mentioned is very rich and flavorful, with the eggplant cooked to be soft and almost mushy (but in a good way), nicely complimented by particularly the beef. Their lo mein is a little watery on various occasions, but still maintains a great and very nice flavor. Their fried rice is one of my favorites in the area and is always very well made no matter the time of day. The fried chicken wings, crab puffs, and crab bomber appetizers are both just such standouts in what is often an overlooked part of the menu by many restaurants. I have nothing but praise about how this place handles food. The staff is all really nice and welcoming from entrance to walking out the door. They are very good with order additions or food/allergy restrictions and the dishes always come out in a timely (but not rushed) manner, no matter whether it is a weekday morning or a busy dinner crowd. I'd recommend the lunch special for anyone coming around that time, as the deal of egg rolls, soup, and an entree or 2-3 sushi rolls for a low price is a steal. The ambiance nice for sure and the tables are clean, though I do sometimes get disoriented by the wallpaper they use (I think it's just me though). Whenever this place first opened, I was very disappointed in the restaurant. Meals were salt with a side of meat and rice and was just overall underwhelming. But now, it is one of my family's go to places whenever we need quality food in a short distance. Definitely worth a try, even over other restaurants in the area that serve a similar menu.

    Our go-to home delivery! The food is always top shelf!…read more Always flavorful, warm and ready to eat! They are very patient with our order. Questions are answered and so helpful and friendly We order sushi, stir fry and try something new every time. We have not been disappointed! The order is always delivered before the time they promised The restaurant is on my favorite list too. We have a "gang" from 4-88 years. They accommodate everyone's needs. Even parking is close by! Try it out. Right across from HEB.

    Photos
    Asian Fusion - 40. House Special Lo Mein

    40. House Special Lo Mein

    Asian Fusion - 89. Orange Chicken

    89. Orange Chicken

    Asian Fusion - Black pepper steak

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    Black pepper steak

    Hu's Cooking

    Hu's Cooking

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    6.8 mi•West University, Braeswood Place
    •$$

    5 Stars - Authentic Szechuan that absolutely nails the classics…read more During our short trip to Houston, as a custom, we were determined to find real Szechuan food, and luckily we found Hu's Kitchen. The location is a bit unassuming, and parking is definitely tough (the spaces are very shallow), but the second we walked through the doors and smelled the Szechuan peppercorns, I knew we were in exactly the right place. I generally judge a Szechuan restaurant by their 夫妻肺片 (Fuqi Feipian)--which they cleverly name "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the menu. They completely nailed it. The beef, tripe, and tendon were incredibly cohesive together, yet you could tell each component was prepared and marinated in a slightly different way to perfectly highlight its specific texture. The chili oil was right on the spot. We went through a massive bowl of rice just eating this dish alone. Honestly, if I weren't feeding a family of four, I could have just ordered that and been perfectly happy. While the Fuqi Feipian proves their skill with dry dishes, the 水煮魚片 (Fish in Szechuan Hot Chili Oil) proves their skill with wet ones. It's another must-order. The execution was flawless--we didn't just finish the tender fish chunks, we ate every last piece of cabbage soaked in that incredible chili broth. For my two daughters who can't handle the heat, we ordered the fried rice, garlic pork ribs with onion, and the 紅燒獅子頭 (Giant Meatball with Cabbage). The giant meatball was spectacular. The kids completely devoured it on their own, but I managed to steal a bite, and it instantly brought back childhood memories of exactly how this dish is supposed to taste. We also had the Dan Dan Noodles, which were great and rounded out the meal perfectly. I loved all of the dishes we tried. Should we ever find ourselves in Houston again, we will absolutely be revisiting this hidden gem.

    My mom wanted steamed fish with ginger, scallions, and that light sweet soy sauce. Hu's Cooking…read moredelivered! When we ordered, they mentioned it'll take about 20 mins but it came out in 10. No complaints here since we were starving from an 8 hour road trip. The Dan Dan Noodles...I had high expectations but sadly this dish fell short. I recommend Hu's Cooking to use a bigger bowl and more sauce because it was difficult to mix the noodles and the sauce wasn't...saucing, unfortunately. I wish there was more flavor in this dish. The Scallion Pancake was super over-fried and oily. See image in my review. The outer parts of the pancake were fried to a crisp and only a small circumference in the center stayed chewy. I know Chinese tends to be oily but this pancake soaked up way too much oil. Half a Peking duck: super great price for so much meat. The difficulty when eating this dish is gnawing the meat off the sharp bones of the duck. Mapo Tofu with white rice: pretty easy staple, no complaints here. Dinner on a Saturday was packed but we got seated quickly and food arrived fast.

    Photos
    Hu's Cooking - Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Hu's Cooking - Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Hu's Cooking

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    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar - *Sesame Rice Noodles*

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

    4.2(195 reviews)
    5.9 mi•West University
    •$$

    Food - 10/10 Seriously, everything was good. I took everything home cause I just wanted to try it…read more Not shown is the melon salad and that was super refreshing and spicy. I'd say the thing that was at the bottom was the salmon dip just because I couldn't taste much salmon. But everything was seriously really good. The Rendang red beans and rice was absolutely top tier. It's their coconut rice with Rendang beans and holy crap was it good. Service - 10/10 the servers were great. Victoria was serving me about halfway through my meal and she was lovely. Ambiance - 8/10 it's on the loud end just because it's hard surfaces everywhere but it's still pretty. That modern tone to everything. I wish there was more regular seating instead of a huge bar but it's not bad. I'll come back because I love Loro. The servers are always lovely and I never have a bad time.

    I finally made it over to Loro Asian Smokehouse, and overall, this visit was about a 3/5 for me…read more I started with the Frozen Espresso Martini, which was probably the highlight. I'd give it a 4/5. It was smooth, refreshing, and definitely something I'd order again. For food, I tried the Thai-style smoked wings. These were a 3/5 for me. They weren't bad, but I was expecting more flavor, especially more seasoning and SMOKE! When I hear "smokehouse," I want to taste it! The crispy potatoes were a 4/5. They were super crispy and tasty, and honestly, probably the closest thing to a French fry on the menu. Lol! I'd definitely get those again. Overall, nothing was terrible, but nothing really wowed me either. Maybe I caught them on an off day. I might double back and give Loro another try at some point...but it'll probably be a minute.

    Photos
    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar - Outdoor seating area

    Outdoor seating area

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar - #YelpElite #Yelp #wings

    #YelpElite #Yelp #wings

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar - Blackberry Thai Margarita (NA) and Mexican Martini

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    Blackberry Thai Margarita (NA) and Mexican Martini

    The Rice Box - Sesame Tofu, really good!

    The Rice Box

    3.8(1.1k reviews)
    3.2 mi•The Heights
    •$$

    The Rice Box on 20th is a solid option if you're looking for quick, very Americanized Chinese food…read morein the Heights. It is very much a chain restaurant, and it has that polished, standardized feel to it. I've eaten here a number of times, and while I wouldn't say the food stands out above some of the other Chinese restaurants in the area, everything I've had has always been good. I've never gotten anything that tasted bad or had an order come out wrong. It's just consistently solid. One sleeper hit on their menu, though, is the lava buns. They're warm egg custard buns like you'll sometimes find at dim sum places, and they are really good. Honestly, they're probably one of my favorite things here. I've even stopped by after already having dinner just to get an order to take home for dessert. They're definitely best hot, so I'd recommend eating them pretty quickly. The design of the restaurant is probably more memorable than the main food. They really committed to a specific industrial, techno-chic look with neon signs, animated menu boards, exposed metal, acrylic panels, textured wall details, and movies playing by the bar. The theme is carried throughout the whole place really well. At the same time, all of the metal and harder surfaces can make the inside feel a little cold and unwelcoming. There isn't much traditional indoor seating. Most of the seating inside is at the bar, with additional tables outside under some shade. Because of that, it's probably not my first choice for sitting down for lunch during a hot Houston day, but it works really well as a pickup or takeout spot. The staff has always been friendly, and they have a good system for getting people in and out. The parking lot is a little small, but since a lot of people seem to be picking up food, spots turn over pretty quickly. Overall, The Rice Box is convenient, dependable, and does what it does well. It definitely feels like a chain, but the design has a strong personality and the food is consistently good. It's not my favorite Chinese food in the Heights, but I've never had a bad experience here. And the lava buns are absolutely worth getting.

    I got the grilled eggplant and chicken egg roll and nitro Thai tea. The eggplant was super…read moreflavorful and had a nice crisp to it! I would not get the Thai tea again as it was more liquidy than creamy due to it being a nitro. I didn't love the rice as well because it wasn't fluffy or soft. Overall good flavor and good for a quick lunch

    Photos
    The Rice Box - The counter/bar area

    The counter/bar area

    The Rice Box
    The Rice Box

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    Khoi Barbecue - popuprestaurants - Updated October 2026

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