Places Added by Dan Q. Dao

Venture from downtown Houston to the suburb of Katy for stellar Malaysian food.

At Houston’s longest-running restaurant, find a classic oyster stew beloved by a former U.S. President.

Houston’s oldest continuously-operating Tex-Mex restaurant has been a community hub since 1941.

Look no further than this local institution for the best East Texas–style barbecue.

Originally brought to Texas by Czech settlers, these sweet and savory pastries are an essential local breakfast staple.

Viet-Cajun is a true hybrid cuisine that evolved in Houston and at this Asiatown mainstay, there’s more to it than just crawfish.

This South-by-South-Asian restaurant serves up Indian-spiced Southern fried chicken and a Desi-style pastrami.

Some of the best Chinese-Vietnamese fusion can be found at outposts of this homegrown empire.

Cantonese comfort food is on the menu at this Asiatown mainstay.

West African flavors shine at this unassuming strip mall spot in southwest Houston.

This time-honored eatery near Hoàn Kiếm Lake serves the classic pairing of rice vermicelli soup and savory sticky rice.

This steamed rice crepe specialist has been rolling up its namesake dish for over 30 years.

For true northern-style phở with broth as clear as consommé, hunt for this restaurant hidden within a residential home.

Don’t miss the local staple of rice vermicelli with charcoal-grilled pork patties and pork belly.

Order your phở stir-fried, sans soup.

For a taste of Vietnamese gastropub culture, look no further than this convivial seafood joint that stays open till midnight.

This crab paste noodle soup specialist has been doling out its namesake dish for more than four decades.

Vietnam’s everyman “broken rice” dish is given one major upgrade at this humble institution.

A refugee returns to his homeland to open Ho Chi Minh City’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.

Order your coffee crowned with salted whipped cream or blended with coconut and ice.