Nam Giao is the go to place for banh beo chen or "steamed mini rice pancakes." I've been coming here for years, but they recently got awarded a bib gourmand by the Michelin Guide. Very much well deserved! Nam Giao specializes in Hue style food specific to Central Vietnam. Each little banh beo is perfectly steamed and topped with pork, shrimp, and chives. Dipping them in fish sauce is a must especially with some of their chopped fresh chilis for a kick. Service wise, the food comes out here QUICK. They are pros at making Viet food so expect high quality food fast. Ambiance wise, it's just causal. Be sure to try the rest of their menu as well, everything is great! 10/10 would recommend! Enjoy!

Great food, I definitely recommend the following items: - Banh Beo Chen - Banh Nam - Banh Bot Loc La - Banh Quai Vac - Banh Ram it - Cha Hue - Ban Cahn Ca - Banh Hoi Bo Cuon La Lot I don't think there is any dessert here but I definitely recommend trying the Vietnamese Coffee which is made fresh for you.

I enjoyed trying a couple traditional Vietnamese dishes here for the first time. The prices are reasonable, although I will say because the food is on the lighter side the portions seem a bit small however the flavors and textures are really good and the food is very fresh. The inside is clean with a good amount of seating. Service is a little slow, but overall, I had a good experience and I would come back and try some other dishes.

I love this place because they give Serrano on the side to add into our spring roll dipping sauce. It makes the sauce more flavorful and spicy, which makes the rolls yummier to eat. My favorite is the crispy grilled pork roll, there is a crunchy filling with just veggies and meat, super light and fresh. We got the Vietnamese style egg rolls too, very crispy and variety of filling, taste meaty and flavorful too. The charcoal steak my boyfriend ordered was interesting flavor and texture, it's wrapped in a leaf. I like the smoky taste though. Overall, fast and friendly service, ample seatings, great for family gathering too. Plus great authentic viet foods, I will come back for some quick eats anytime!

This is still my fav Vietnamese restaurant in Houston. And I'm so happy to see it got a Bib Gourmand!! I usually make the appetizers my meal here. I always order the combo appetizer #5, crystal dumplings (#6, my all-time fav here...so chewy), and then I really enjoy their fish udon soup (#24). So many unique flavors and textures you don't get in a typical Vietnamese restaurant. You can't sleep on this place. The service is quick and the atmosphere is super casual, but you can totally bring a big group here!! Parking situation: on-site

Finally made a stop to try Nam Giao after they got a Bib Gourmand! We felt bad coming in an hour before closing but the service was so friendly, and we were promptly seated. As someone who grew up around restaurant-quality homecooked Vietnamese food from my mom and grandma, I consider myself a tough critic. That said, I was not blown away by anything we ordered. The banh xeo was crispy but somewhat greasy and underwhelming. The filling of the banh uot was very rich, and the crispy rice cake underneath was also greasy. The banh canh with fish was lacking in flavor - had to add a lot of chilli oil to enjoy it. We did enjoy the bo la lot (beef wrapped in grape leaves), but there could've been more meat given to balance the amount of vermicelli. Our favorite was the banh beo! No complaints there. Overall I'd come back for the banh beo and to try the banh khoat!

Parking is plentiful, service was awesome and the food is super fresh. The bun Bo hue broth was very tasty and not spicy so add some chili sauce. the Nem nuong was crunchy and the peanut sauce was very light. The banh beo chen and banh nam were so nice and fresh. Our kids loved the mango and strawberry smoothies!

My go to spot now for hue (central Vietnam) food! I absolutely loved the variety of different appetizers that you can pick from, that aren't at normal Vietnamese/pho restaurants. My favorites are the banh beo, banh ram it (crispy mochi), and banh bot loc! They serve everything with a side of fish sauce and chilis that were very spicy and absolutely delicious in everything! We also ordered the bun bo hue and grilled pork vermicelli, which were both also very delicious. The bun bo hue itself was not very spicy, but they did have a container of chili oil on each table to adjust the spice to your liking. With the additional chili oil, I thought that this was one of the better bun bo hues I've had, and I really liked the texture of the noodles. The grilled pork vermicelli was also very delicious and fun to eat, as the vermicelli was served in little rolls and came with a side of lettuce where you can make some lettuce wraps. Overall, this place has great food, and the place was nice for anyone who wants to sit, eat and talk for a while! The place was not busy when I went, but it still felt very welcoming.

If you are in Houston and you want a break from barbecue, check out this delicious Vietnamese restaurant. We came on a Saturday around lunch time with a group of about 12 people. They were able to seat us quickly and took our very large order. We ordered a variety of dishes for the table, including ban beo, banh ram it, banh bot loc la, ban xeo, bun bo hue, and others. Feel free to check out my menu pictures for a description of each of these dishes. Vietnamese cuisine may not be for everyone, but if you are feeling adventurous or you are missing or craving some authentic Vietnamese food, then the variety on this menu will fulfill that craving. Bar party enjoyed all of the food that came out. I wanted to give a shout out to the banh beo, which was pretty good. They also do large party trays if you want to cater it out. Overall, this was a needed stop on our trip to satisfy that Asian food craving! Definitely come by and try this place out!

Nam Giao is one of the only places in Houston (#1) that specializes in Central Vietnamese cuisine. Unlike the many Viet places in Bellaire Asiatown that has pho, banh mi, com, or banh cuon as a niche, Nam Giao has a whole region of items that have made them a popular destination. The vibe is very casual and usually very quiet. It's likely my terrible timing, but I haven't been here on any days where there's a significant crowd. There are so many tables and even an adjacent room almost looks like the place is abandoned. I think anyone who comes here looking for a group for 12 will have zero problems finding seating for everyone. Also, a slight thumbs down on the bathroom situation. Food wise, there's a lot to appreciate. I'm a sucker for banh beo, which is already very hard to find but these pillow steamed rice cakes with pork cracklin on are fabulous. I also love the banh ram it, which might be tough for the texture snobs, but perfect for me. I also like the banh bot la, a pork + shrimp combo crystalized steam along with the cha oc (sausage w/periwinkle) and cha hue (hue style sausage). When in doubt, just order the combo platters and it'll be great. They also have noodles, such as the super famous bun bo hue and the slightly lesser known my quang, a tumeric based wide noodle with a number of ingredients. They also have banh canh, a Vietnamese style udon that is best with crabmeat and shrimp. If not, the rice platters (com) are popular, even if it's not their best product. The service can be on the slower side, but that hasn't deterred me from coming. I've brought out-of-towners, curious friends, and hungry family members and have walked out satisfied every time. I am already looking forward to many more tasty adventures with Hue style foods. _________ (#1) And likely, the country.