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    South By Saigon

    4.5 (144 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    SOUTH BY SAIGON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Reviews With Photos - South By Saigon

    Kacy M.

    We came here after seeing it on social media. The crawfish was fresh (live, not frozen), the shaking beef was in large juicy chunks, and the appetizer rice paper pancake was flavorful (lots going on here toppings-wise). The service wasn't the best (place was packed) and we were left on our own after receiving the food. Will come back!

    Red Crawfish Platter
    Linda S.

    I'm not a very good frame of reference because I have not been to many crawfish boils. However, I thought that this place was pretty good for the pricing and also the flavor. We chose the crawfish smothered in the garlic butter. The crawfish themselves were boiled, and you had to order them by the pound so come prepared and come hungry. They came out very fast too. I have to warn you though you really have to get your full face into there to experience it. It's messy, greasy and part of the culture. If this isn't your thing, I wouldn't recommend. You have to really get in there to peel it and break the shells as well as devein them unless you're okay with eating it whole. Overall, great flavors but also by the end I'm not sure if it was the butter, but I also felt very heavy after. The restaurant provided with gloves, napkins, and water. Service was fast and easy. We ordered, ate and were out. Parking is not a problem. The interior of the story is kinda small though with only 20 people worth of seating.

    Jennifer V.

    Finally tried the crawfish here and it was so good!! Wait: About 10 minute wait during Thursday dinner in March. The crawfish took about 30-45 minutes to come out after ordering. Food: They were having a 3lb crawfish for $25 special (I think M-Th only). We got spicy with mixed flavor (garlic with traditional). It was VERY spicy, so I'd recommend going medium. The crawfish may be salty for some but I found it very flavorful! They provide gloves, but I wish they also had bibs. Free parking. Attentive and friendly service.

    Crawfish and fries
    Pauline N.

    I live in Austin. I am from the Bay Area in California and travel to Houston a lot for good eats. This is my far my favorite place to get crawfish! If you like sweet and savory Viet flavors, this is for you. The sauce is garlicky, sweet, salty, and the crawfish was super fresh. The spice levels actually have a kick. I've tried many popular crawfish places and this place takes the cake. I went on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy. The inside is pretty small for a crawfish boil restaurant so I can see that it can fill up quickly on a busy day. The service was wonderful and attentive.

    Crawfish
    Benjamin L.

    Guess what time of the year it is!!!!! Crawfish season. I went here for their crawfish and it was amazing. They had an option of garlic butter, original and mix. I got one of each a level of spicy and medium. The spicy one definitely has a good kick so be wary of it. I also order their BTN I wish I got a photo of it but it is so delicious. It it like a Vietnamese pizza and would go back for it. The service here is very attentive and amazing. As I was dying and chugging water cause how spicy the crawfish was. The staff kept making sure we had enough water. In addition, they kept checking to make sure our crawfish trash been was empty and not overflowing. In addition, the staff was very kind, friendly, and welcoming. I felt like I was eating at a family friend house. Seating is quite limited. If you go during busy hours. Definitely would recommend coming here for their crawfish and definitely want to come back and try other items on their menu.

    Jay F.

    Update 2026. Crawfish South by Saigon is a favorite. Currently about $10 a pound. Garlic butter, medium heat. Perfect lunch. First crawdads of the season for me. Let's see how big they are. They also have a lunch menu. Tender. Soft shell and super easy to peel. Thumbs up. Photo in comments. Previous Post Two places recommended by the Facebook Groups Chowdown in Chinatown Houston and Houston Chowhounds: South by Saigon and Mo City crawfish turned out to be SO enjoyable. I loved both places a lot. Get the Mo City sauce and at Saigon, go for their mix sauce. Medium spice both places was my choice. Photos below from Saigon today.

    Allison K.

    I would rate this spot a 3.3/5 stars. My friends and I went for the crawfish deal that was mentioned throughout the reviews we read (the 5 lbs for $40) but unfortunately it's no longer a thing so just a heads up! I believe it ended up being $9.99/pound. We all got 2 lbs of crawfish with the house special sauce w/corn, potatoes, and sausage. For appetizers, we got the wings (garlic parmesan and lemon pepper) and the BTN. The wings were hot, crispy, and juicy! The flavors were on the faint side but it was still enjoyable. The BTN was delicious- crispy/chewy rice paper with savory toppings (a must try)! As for the crawfish... it was unfortunately waaaay too salty. I'm usually the type to easily destroy 2 lbs of crawfish but I struggled hard to finish this one. Every bite required you to chug water and it just wasn't pleasant. The potato was undercooked, the corn was fine, and the sausage's texture was great but it was also way too salty. Huge shout out to the waiters here! I know it was incredibly busy and my friends and I were a big group of 10 so they did a great job at making sure all the orders were taken care of and filling our waters. I really wanted to love this spot but unfortunately, I would be hesitant about coming back.

    Otesia E.

    This was my second visit to South by Saigon, and it was much better than my first visit. I ordered 3 lbs of crawfish in the Traditional and Garlic Butter flavors, with sausage, plus an order of boudin balls. Since it's very early in the season, the crawfish were mostly on the small side, which I expected. That being said, the flavor was poppin this time around--way better than before. I only ordered the boudin balls because a lot of reviews mentioned they had cheese in them. I was really looking forward to that because Bonfire Wings used to have boudin balls with cheese, and I absolutely loved those. Unfortunately, these did not have cheese. They were okay, just not what I was expecting. Overall, this visit was a solid improvement, and I'm looking forward to going back soon, especially as the crawfish get bigger later in the season.

    Carol C.

    We came to south x Saigon on a Friday night and they were very busy. Expect to wait if coming on a weekend night. Once we got seated, the service was quick and food came out accordingly. The crawfish were good and big size BUT I was disappointed in the other food items. The wings were dry and kinda bland. It wasn't super bad but I didn't care for it. The chicken skins had zero flavor and only tasted like eating crunchy oil. Boudin balls were also disappointing and the cheese didn't add any extra flavors.

    Zaran E.

    I came here for lunch to pick up . I got grilled shrimp with Cajun pasta for their lunch special . The shrimp was excellent 10/10 but man the pasta is extremely lacking . The pasta is very over cooked and the sauce is the main issue. It was very very just basically flavored water sauce. They need to find a way to thicken their sauce. Or it was just pasta with soup . I called and told them my feedback they denied me a half off refund which is fine. This place is still normally really good other things I order just the pasta I hope they can fix.

    Kay D.

    It was very good but if you are sensitive to MSG do be careful we had two people in our group get super dizzy after eating. The service was nice and the portion size and price were great.

    Funnel cake bites
    Michelle T.

    HRW- AMAZING AND DELICIOUS AND GREAT VALUE AGAIN! I freaking love viet Cajun!! It's places like this that put Houston on the map for me. The Bo luc lac was sooo yummy and tender, gumbo was nicely spiced. Super clean space with individual towel rolls for each table - so important. I also had the crawfish on a different day, during season. Back then, I believe they had a 5lb for $30 deal. Not sure if it's still active this year, but could be worth checking out.

    Fried Pickles
    Salma S.

    Everything went well. Just waiting for peek season to come back around for bigger better live crawfish. If you are coming in for boil get the south side sauce. It's early In the season but I couldn't help myself

    C8. Live Crawfish (11.99/lb)

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    South By Saigon Reviews in Other Languages

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    Xeo Yum

    Xeo Yum

    4.7
    (115 reviews)
    9.7 mi
    $$

    Xeo Yum is a Vietnamese eatery located in a food hall in Midtown. They are known for their bánh…read morexèo, which is a crispy Vietnamese crepe/pancake. The filling is placed in a pan and then a thin layer of batter made with tumeric and coconut milk yellow batter is poured on top. You wrap the lettuce around the bánh xèo/bánh khọt and dip it in the fish sauce. I got the bánh khọt and the bò né. Bánh khọt is like a mini, thicker version of bánh xèo and came with nine pieces. Their bánh khọt was crispy, sweet and savory, and went well with the fish sauce. Although the portions initally look small, they are very filling. The bò né was filling and sizzling when it came out. It also came with a side of salad. The meat was tender. I really liked the bánh khọt and would definitely come back for them. It's nice having an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in our area, close to us, so we don't have to make the trek to Bellaire every time we crave some Viet food!

    Typically, when an Asian business has a cheeky name like Xeo Yum, it's widely assumed that it's…read moreheavily Americanized and therefore shouldn't be taken seriously. I couldn't have been more wrong. Xeo Yum (#1) as it turns out is one of the most legit Vietnamese places in Midtown serving up some of the city's best banh xeo and banh khot. Located inside of a Food Hall (#2) in the back corner, they have low-key become a destination and without question, the most popular stall in the entire place. The fan base didn't happen overnight but is a direct result of Chef Cuong Nguyen's commitment to quality Vietnamese fare. Banh Xeo is their signature item, which is also known as a sizzling crepe or pancake made of rice flour, tumeric, and coconut milk. The banh xeo holds well, is perfectly crispy, and is nicely stuffed with an assortment of beans sprouts, shrimp, and some of the best grilled pork belly I've had. Another specialty item that doesn't get enough mention is their banh khot, which is similar but has a mini muffin / cupcake like appearance made in a specialty cast iron mold. This version is wonderfully crispy and pairs perfectly with fresh greens and fish sauce with some funk. It is my favorite item here. Some have argued they also serve one of the best bo ne (#3), the Vietnamese version of steak and eggs served in a skillet. The chunks of beef are nice and tender with just a tad of char, served with two fried eggs, and a banh mi baguette with a mix of butter and spare. Normally I think of spam or sausage included with the meats, but Chef Cuong's spin is with cherry tomatoes. It's a different approach and I'm not mad at it. Folks not looking for this can shoot for bo luc lac, aka shaking beef, which is also recommended. The staff here is sweet, hard-working, and very friendly. They also make a mean Vietnamese coffee and offer free iced self-serve water. The prices are what I would expect in a Midtown food hall, and there's plenty of seating. Anyone checking out the food hall need to make Xeo Yum as part of their eating itinerary. __________ (#1) A play on the Vietnamese sizzling crepe, Banh "xeo" and yum" (#2) Previously the Conservatory and now Stestí Food Hall. (#3) Boh-Neh. Not bone.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Follow!
    Follow!
    Banh xeo (Vietnamese savory crepe)

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    Banh xeo (Vietnamese savory crepe)
    Quan Ba Ky

    Quan Ba Ky

    4.4
    (135 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    This spot is low key with a nice, clean interior and friendly service. I visited here to check out…read moresome noodles and crawfish. When I arrived there was nobody dining in the restaurant, that was a bit worrying, but I figured it was a bit early for the dinner crowd and late for the lunch crowd. Food & Drink - 4.5* First up was the noodles, I enjoyed them, but I wouldn't say the hype I'd heard about from some others was there. They had nice flavor, but there just wasn't anything "special." 3.5* Then it was on to the crawfish, and my oh my. Superb, the flavor is delicious and unique. This more than made up for the noodles dish. The potato and corn was good too. Service - 5* Solid. When I first arrived the owner was quietly reading a newspaper and eating his own lunch. He paused to greet me and advised that I could sit anywhere. He provided water and adequate time to determine what I wanted to order. The food came out quickly and he checked in a few times to make sure everything was ok. As time went by, the crowd of folks showing up increased quite a bit and he still managed to check in on tables consistently. Pricing - 4* This is where it was odd. Always subjective but I found the noodles to be overpriced for not only the size but what I felt was a pretty simple dish. The crawfish on the other hand was priced very competitively and made up for the overpriced noodles. I provided pics of the menu for someone to make their own assessment but in general I thought many of the dishes were pricier than they probably should be. I know inflation is certainly killing many businesses and consumers but even these felt a bit off. Overall - 4.5* This is definitely going to be one of my go tos for crawfish when in the area. The flavor is fantastic, the pricing is good, the size of them were solid. There are a couple of other dishes I may try on the next visit. The restaurant is clean, the owner is very nice, and it's a nice low key space to just enjoy a good meal with friends or family.

    One of the best Vietnamese places I've ever been hands down. I still think about it a year later…read more They had a very big variety of food on the menu, so you could have your fill of Vietnamese dishes. I believe the crawfish is seasonal, so go during crawfish season because this pho was delicious. The crawfish were so tender and the pho was so flavorful. The beef dish was also so good to eat and balanced. The fried beef balanced so well with the fresh salad and rice. I will say that when we went the parking lot was a little deserted at night. I would definitely lock your doors and take all your valuables. But that's all or Houston, so just stay safe!

    Photos
    Interior Mural
    Interior Mural
    The number B1
    The number B1
    B1. Also known as Tik Tok Soup

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    B1. Also known as Tik Tok Soup
    Clay Pot Kitchen - Com Nieu Houston

    Clay Pot Kitchen - Com Nieu Houston

    4.2
    (124 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Food: 4.9/5 Service: 4.6/5…read moreAmbiance: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.7/5 I really enjoyed myself here. I don't think I've ever consumed so much shrimp paste in my life, so if you don't like that flavor you probably wanna go elsewhere, but other than that everything was just really comforting and nice to eat. My least favorite of what we got was the Banh Bot Chien, and even that was still really good and had a nice crunch. Everything else we ordered was all really authentic and very forward with flavor. The restaurant was incredibly busy on the Saturday we went, with the bustling lunch crowd of both large families and old couples filling up the entire restaurant, so try to go at an off-hour where most people aren't eating. It was just an incredible experience that I 100% recommend to anyone wanting authentic Vietnamese food.

    Com Nieu Houston is probably one of the best in the Houston area when it comes to authentic…read moreVietnamese food. I've been going here for several years, both in person and for take-outs, and they have never failed to impress me. I like to go here for late lunch or early dinner when the restaurant isn't as busy. The restaurant is in the same shopping center as the Chase Bank and Thanh Da Quan. Even though it's located on the far side of Chinatown near My Hoa Market, the drive is definitely worth it. The restaurant is small and well decorated, and the workers are nice. The dishes are a bit pricey compared to other Vietnamese restaurants for the portion size, but the taste and quality definitely make it worth it. Even my parents, who are super picky when it comes to Vietnamese restaurants, love the food at Com Nieu Houston. Like the name, most of the dishes here are in clay pots. Everything is always super flavorful and perfectly cooked. My absolute favorites are the Thit Ba Chi Kho To (caramelized pork belly), the Suon Non Rim To (braised spare ribs) and the Canh Chua Tom (Vietnamese sweet and sour soup with shrimps). I also really love their Com Chien Ca Man (salted fish & chicken fried rice), which I think is one of the best in town, as well as their Ga Kho Xa Ot (braised lemongrass chicken). The Ca Bong Lau Kho To (caramelized catfish) is my parents' favorite. Photos are from my most recent visit.

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    Cơm Niêu
    Cơm Niêu
    Goi ga
    Goi ga
    Shrimp chips

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    Shrimp chips
    Nam Giao

    Nam Giao

    4.0
    (485 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    My god. This place was spectacular. We randomly came across this restaurant on a whim and had no…read moreidea that this was a michelin recognized spot. But after eating here, I understand why. I never had central vietnamese food before and never heard of most of these dishes. We saw that everyone was getting the three appetizer platter, bun bo hue, and had to try it. I also got the chicken vermicelli just as a classic. But every single item in the bun bo hue platter was jawdroppingly good. I never had anything like it before. I didn't know there were vietnamese dishes that utilized mochi flour and now I can never go back. Every single item was so good. The mochi was cooked so perfectly as every bite was so chewy and soft with no hard clumps at all. The meat that came with them as well were so sweet and tender. The vermicelli plate was awesome too as you can make a wrap with the lettuce and veggies and rice noodles and they all come together to mouthwatering perfection. I found a new spot to hyperfixate on whenever I come to houston.

    One of my favorite spots in Houston! Not your usual Vietnamese pho spot, amazing small dishes…read more Must get the banh beo chen - I recommend at least 8 per person and doctoring it up with the fish sauce and jalapeño. My favorite appetizers (in order): Banh beo chen, Banh ram it, banh bot loc, egg rolls, crystal dumplings. Personally I wasn't a fan of the paste-y texture of the banh nam but that is a personal preference! Service is not the most hospitable but very quick. We were reseated after spotting a cockroach under our table. But even so I would come back to have this amazing food any day.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Banh Ram It
    Banh Ram It
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