Rice noodle day in Banh Hoi Chau Doc, Bellaire
Vietnamese places usually don’t appear on the web, why? Because they already paid for ads on Vietnamese newspapers and radio station. Of course the ads are in Vietnamese. There are a little over 30,000 Vietnamese in Houston. It’s amazing how such a small community can sustain its numerous restaurants, with customers primarily themselves. I think I’ve said the word “Vietnamese” enough times for the month. But let me say it one more. Vietnamese must really like to eat out.
So we found a new address in one of the newspapers. We arrived past lunch time, so it felt as if we rented out the whole place. The hostesses seem to be enjoying their leisurely afternoon snack as well, they sat at a nearby table watching TV with us. A flat screen on the wall with documentary films about Vietnam.
Anyway, let’s start with an appetizer.
This is for 3 people to share. Each bánh bèo (water fern bánh) is like a really thin mini rice-pancake, steamed instead of fried, topped with dried shrimp powder, scallions, and guess what, mung bean paste (once again, Mr. Mung Bean won the competition and became Paste of Choice). The final and most important touch is the nước mắm (fish extract sauce). Bánh bèo, like other Central Vietnamese dishes, cannot go without nước mắm. I’m not exactly sure what the coconut milk is doing there. The thinner the pancake is, the harder it is to eat with chopsticks, or any kind of utensils you can think of, because it’s slippery and fragile like jello. But only the thinnest kind is the best kind. Too thick, and all there is is a block of utmost boring rice pudding. So, I’d say these were above average. Onto the main course.
Bánh tầm bì thịt nướng (bánh tầm with shredded pork skin (bì) and grilled pork). I’m confused by the Vietnamese naming system sometimes, there’s not much “bánh”-ness about this cold udon-like noodle. Authentically it should be shorter and fatter. They really gave us a behemoth bowl here, filled with noodle, peanuts, sliced pork skin (bì), and veggie, but only one skewer of pork! A little blackened. Good pork though. Can crispy-edge grilled pork ever not taste good?
Bánh canh cua (bánh canh with crab). Yet another rice noodle variation, strangely named “bánh”. I think this restaurant uses the same type of noodle for the soup and the grilled pork dish above. The orange color is from gạch cua (something under the crab shell whose English name I know not). The mysterious substance supposedly is stirred in frying pan until gooey and gives the broth a natural sweetness. I’m not big on sea crawlers. My mom likes it.
Bánh hỏi thịt nem nướng (bánh hỏi with grilled pork and grilled nem – a kind of pork sausage). It’s among the more expensive dishes in Saigon and the abroad, but cheap in the provinces where it was first made. The intricate nets of rice vermicelli gives the tongue a fun texture. Chopped scallions swiftly stir-fried with olive oil and a tad salt gives the sleek taste. Generous sum of sliced cucumber, bean sprout, pickled carrots and the backyard herbs counterbalances the carcinogenic charred and brined meat. Nước mắm is also a must. This plate rightfully makes the restaurant’s name.
Bánh hỏi Châu Đốc
Lunch for three: Bánh bèo tôm cháy: 4.95, bánh canh thịt cua: 6.95, bánh hỏi thịt nem nướng: 9.95, bánh tầm bì thịt nướng: 7.95. Total: $29.80.
Address: 10800 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072.
If I recall correctly, the menu does have brief English descriptions, and the young waiter seemed more comfortable speaking English than Vietnamese.
Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Aided me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
1Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the excellent work!
2Some really wonderful information, Sword lily I discovered this.
3We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
4hi!,I really like your writing so so much! percentage we keep in touch extra about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this house to unravel my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to see you.
5Some really nice and utilitarian info on this web site, too I conceive the style and design contains great features.
6Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
7Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My website covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Awesome blog by the way!
8I don’t normally comment but I gotta say appreciate it for the post on this special one :D.
9Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for information approximately this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you certain about the source?
10An attention-grabbing discussion is value comment. I believe that you must write extra on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject however typically people are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
11I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
12Good day I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the great job.
13An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
14Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.
15Whats Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its aided me. Good job.
16I am always thought about this, appreciate it for posting.
17Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I’m experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting equivalent rss drawback? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
18I am so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
19Thanks , I have just been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
20I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I certainly enjoy reading everything that is posted on your website.Keep the aarticles coming. I enjoyed it!
21That is the right blog for anybody who wants to find out about this topic. You notice a lot its virtually arduous to argue with you (not that I really would need…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
22I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you place to make this sort of magnificent informative site.
23Hey there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
24Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say great blog!
25Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all significant infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
26hey there and thanks for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did on the other hand experience a few technical points the usage of this web site, since I skilled to reload the website a lot of times prior to I may just get it to load properly. I had been brooding about in case your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, however sluggish loading instances instances will often affect your placement in google and can harm your quality rating if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you replace this once more very soon..
27It’s really a great and useful piece of information. I am happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
28Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appeal. I must say you have done a great job with this. In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Chrome. Excellent Blog!
29I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!
30Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I would like to look more posts like this .
31Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
32I besides think hence, perfectly pent post! .
33excellent issues altogether, you just gained a new reader. What may you suggest in regards to your put up that you just made a few days in the past? Any sure?
34The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
35I really appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
36I got what you intend, appreciate it for posting.Woh I am thankful to find this website through google. “It is a very hard undertaking to seek to please everybody.” by Publilius Syrus.
37We are a group of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable information to paintings on. You have done an impressive activity and our whole group might be thankful to you.
38I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again!
39Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would definitely benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Many thanks!
40I went over this site and I conceive you have a lot of fantastic info , saved to favorites (:.
41My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog. He used to be entirely right. This publish truly made my day. You can not consider just how so much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
42naturally like your website however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I’ll surely come back again.
43Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
44Utterly written content material, thankyou for selective information.
45Thank you for any other informative website. The place else may I get that type of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I’m simply now working on, and I have been at the glance out for such info.
46Some really superb info , Gladiola I detected this. “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” by Jalal ud-Din Rumi.
47It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
48Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
49I’ve been surfing online more than three hours as of late, but I by no means found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is lovely price sufficient for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you did, the net will probably be much more useful than ever before.
50