I haven't been here in years and then I saw a review from one of my Yelp buddies and it reminded me what a good place this is for banh cuon thit nuong. So on a rainy Friday, I pulled on in to enjoy a plate for myself. Basically it could be described as barbecued pork in a noodle wrapping which is very satisfying when dunked in the fish sauce they have on the table. Fast, efficient and inexpensive. I will be doing it again next week. read more

Thien Thanh - Banh Cuon Thit Nuong with a little Vietnamese coffee in the background - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Bánh Cuốn is one of those underrated Vietnamese dishes that not enough people talk about, so I was really excited to finally try this place. I've heard so much about it over the years but never had a chance to go since it's pretty far from my house. Plus... it's in Bellaire Chinatown, and honestly, I really don't like going there -- you know why . I probably wouldn't have gone if my friends hadn't asked me, so at least I had a reason this time, lol. We came on a Sunday late morning for lunch. The place was packed and busy, but we were seated right away. One thing I noticed right away was that they give you a whole jug of fish sauce at the table. What we ordered: Bánh Cuốn Thịt Chả Lụa The portion was huge -- very generous. Even sharing with my husband, we had a hard time finishing it. My biggest issue was that the plate was cold. The bánh cuốn itself wasn't hot at all, which really took away from the experience. I didn't send it back because I didn't feel like dealing with the situation. Bún Chả Hà Nội Again, very large portion, which is a plus. However, I don't understand why they used thick noodles (the kind used for Bún Bò Huế). This dish is traditionally served with thin vermicelli noodles, so that was disappointing and threw off the authenticity for me. Bánh Cống I believe it came with two pieces. It was just decent -- nothing memorable. Nem Chua Came with five pieces, tightly packed in a cube. It felt store-bought rather than house-made. Overall: This wasn't a great experience for me. The food was cold, lacked flavor, and the prices were on the higher side. There are many other places that serve bánh cuốn at a more reasonable price -- and they actually serve it hot. The service was okay. Our server was an older Vietnamese uncle -- I wasn't expecting amazing service, but it was fine. If you're Vietnamese, you'll understand exactly what I mean. I didn't take photos of the other dishes because I was busy talking with my friend and completely forgot. read more

Thien Thanh - Banh Cuon Thit Cha Lua - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Our first time here, it was good! We never had these dishes before so we didn't have a reference to go off of but I would say it was good for a quick breakfast. The shrimp was dried shrimp so it has a hard crunchy texture that wasn't our favorite but it was still good but would probably get the pork instead read more

Thien Thanh - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Excellent and quick service, ample seating, and two different rice roll orders that I think work together extremely well--the barbecue pork rice roll, and the classic rice roll. They had huge pitchers of fish sauce on the table and I really enjoyed the flavors. The restaurant staff and much of the patrons seemed to be familiar with one another--you can tell this is a local spot where people come frequently. The prices were extremely reasonable and I would love to come back again soon! Note: the corner of the parking lot where this restaurant is located was a bit congested so I recommend parking a bit further toward the street to have more space. read more

Thien Thanh - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Simple menu focused on very specific specialty items: Banh Cuon, Banh Beo, Banh Bot Loc and a few soups. They are cash only. Had the Banh Cuon Thit Cha Lua and LOVED this. I'd come here again just for their banh cuon cause not only is it loaded just right but the rice roll is cooked perfectly that it doesn't break apart while you eat it. Also tried the Banh Bot Loc but personally it was too doughy and not enough meat for me. Restaurant could be a little cleaner (dining table and chairs wise) but not a deal breaker. Staff is friendly. read more

Thien Thanh - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The perfect place to go for Vietnamese rice rolls aka banh cuon. My go to is the Thit nuong and add Vietnamese ham! Price is very fair, generally each dish is under $18. The portion is very fair, I was super full and had to push myself to finish. Food took no longer than 10 min to come out. For payments, bring CASH or ZELLE! No credit cards. read more

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This restaurant is known for their rice rolls so I had to come and try some. It's located in China town right across the street from Hong Kong and it's in the same shopping plaza as Lee Sandwich. This is a very very busy parking lot on the weekend. I would say parking is pretty slim here bc there's so many business in this plaza. But we found a spot across the parking lot. Once inside, u will see bamboo wallpaper. The menu seems pretty simple and they do have other foods besides banh cuon. Usually when I have banh cuon, I also have the steamed bean sprouts along with cilantro, MINT AND CUCUMBERS. I think the flavors of everything was pretty good but missing that mint and cucumber sucked for me bc I'm so used to it when my mom makes it. The cha lua they had on top was ok. I've had better. 7/10 for me for the whole bite. The chopsticks are the plastic reusable kind; I would have preferred the use and toss bamboo/ wood kind. They also give u 2 bowls and on your table u have a container that has nuoc mam in it. It reminds me of the syrup container at ihop. So the smallest bowl is for your nuoc mam and the larger bowl is to put your food in and grab with ur chopsticks before your dip it in your sauce and eat it. it took about 15-20 from the time of ordering to get our food. I did see that some peoples food came out steaming. Ours did not. read more

Thien Thanh - Got the grilled pork rice rolls with cha Lua on top. - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

oh ya dis banh uoc texture was nice!!! sometimes banh uoc texture is TOOOO THICK no nono but this one was thin and layered which is much better!! can taste the filling and meat much better this way i liked it yay!! fish sauce normal not extraordinary but good yeah! read more

Thien Thanh - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came here with my family because we were craving banh cuon ,and we hear from friends to try this place. Their menu is quite simple,a nd I tried their banh cuon tom chay (steam rice paper with dried mince shrimp). I was expecting the small, dry shrimp, but to my surprise, it tasted more like grilled small shrimp, which I have not yet had in a banh cuon before. Every bite, there was a shrimp, so it was very delicious. I thought it was a very generous portion as well. I saw a few people ordered their cha ca thang long (Grilled fish will dill), and I need to try that another time because that also looks good. Overall, the ambience is nice for a family gathering. Service is quick. Will come back again. read more

Thien Thanh - Bánh cuốn tôm chay - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

All the banh cuon cane out luke warm. We were expecting them to be super hot. The best one was the bbq pork. We had the crab and shrimp noodle soup. It was very comforting. But the consistency is a bit slimy. The shrimp muffin was firm and mildly taste. The clear one was chewy and sticky. I would skip this. A bit bland. We are comparing our great experience of banh con in San Diego and these did not come closed to it. Still, worth a try. read more

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The Chả Cá here is the kind of dish you remember. It arrives sizzling, fragrant, and deeply savory with a beautiful golden color and just the right sear on the fish. Every bite is balanced: tender fish, fresh herbs, and that warm, aromatic flavor that feels both comforting and exciting. It's not sweet or heavy, just clean, bold, and addictive. If you've never tried Chả Cá, start here. If you have, you'll appreciate how well they do it. read more

Thien Thanh - Chả Cá and Dill. - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Never come back again! The inside meat old or what do have smell. The cha Lua stink too and I complained about it but they blaming on my self. The cha ca is ok. read more

Thien Thanh - Bánh cuốn - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I always make a stop at Thien Thanh whenever in Houston area. It's my first stop because I love the rice crepes. It's so yummy and perfect sauce for my family. Easy to heat up in microwave for a little bit as well so it's a good dish for the breakfast next day too. I think it's cash only, but I love the passion of the owner. The dining room is comfortable and plenty of seating whenever I drop by. Seems like always a steady flow of folks picking up food. read more

Thien Thanh - This is what I always get. $20 for awesome rice crepes. - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Okay for real this place is BUSSIN! I frequent Houston quite often and this is a small local spot. I've been here so many time and it's really simple and cash only. I would love to gatekeep this place but this would be a disservice so the world! The owner is always so nice and he remembers me when I come in from out of town!! Such a great environment the owner creates! His warm spirit and amazing food just make it worth coming back everytime!! read more

Service is amazing and the food is fantastic. The Banh Cuon is just too good. Going to become a staple for me whenever I'm passing by. read more

Thien Thanh - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Trying different form of Bánh bột lọc (Vietnamese Steamed Tapioca Dumplings) at Thien Thanh in Alief area. They are more like rice rolls than dumplings. They were filled with pork and unshelled shrimps. Tasty but I don't eat shrimp shells. I had a big apatite when it comes to trying a variety of dishes. I also ordered a noodle soup called Bun Rieu. It was minced meat on top of rice noodle soup. It was very flavorful and not greasy. My favorite part was the vegetables and shrimp paste on the side. I definitely will go back to have more of this kind of noodle soup. One funny scene at this restaurant was the giant pitchers of fish sauce on the tables. I normally see something that big with yellow liquid is behind a hospital bed. I don't know customers would drink that much. I would expect a little sauce jar instead. read more

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I ordered the bánh cuốn chả lụa. I usually enjoy the smaller bánh cuốn nhân thịt, but it seemed like only the larger rice paper version was available. The bánh cuốn was served a bit warm and felt a little dry. There was a good amount of dried onions and veggies. The service is really good, the people working there are so nice and friendly. The restaurant was really nice, each table had proper utensils and nước mam. The flavor of the nước mam was good. This place used to be my go to place for banh cuon, but I'm a little let down trying it this time. We went around 1:30 so it was not prime time for lunch which may be why it wasn't as fresh as it normally is. The menu has changed since the last time I came. If I visit again I'll update my review. read more

Thien Thanh - Banh cuon cha lua - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Banh cuon is one of my most favorite Vietnamese dishes and is what Thien Thanh is known for! The seating area is bright and clean. Service is fast and to the point. I ordered banh beo and banh cuon thit nuong. Both were very delicious and fresh made! Soft noodles and generous fillings with a side dish of bean sprouts and herbs. Load up on the fish sauce because they leave a big jug at your table. It is more on the sweet side so add some chili sauce if you like it with more spice. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

The food was not good. Even their special in banh cuon was alright. Bun rue has no flavor and the noodles were not the correct noodles for this dish. Their specialty Banh Cuon was not as flavorable for specialty. The service was good and explained what's in it. The restaurant was clean in and out. read more

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Bánh cuốn here is really good! We ordered the traditional bánh cuốn nhân thịt with chả lụa, and bánh cuốn thịt nướng. The rice paper is really good with a nice chewiness to it, reminds me of the bánh cuốn back home in Vietnam. Bánh cống is really tasty, and they are a great pair to the bánh cuốn! The service is quick and the restaurant is very clean too! read more

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I had eaten at this restaurant a few times in the past. Today, I introduced this restaurant to my friend. We went there for dinner. The restaurant was completely empty, and we were the only customers at that time. We ordered some rice spring rolls with grilled BBQ pork. Their spring rolls were very good. The soybean milk drink was also very good; they had just made it, and it was so fresh. The restaurant's decoration is very nice, and I liked the bamboo plant forest wallpaper all over inside the restaurant. The server was very nice and friendly. If you like authentic Vietnamese spring rolls, then I would highly recommend that you come to this restaurant and try out their hot spring rolls. read more

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Highlight: Banh Cuon Thit Cha Lua ($13.75), Coconut Juice ($3.99) This is usually my go-to spot for banh cuon in town, but this time around, the rice paper tasted premade and wasn't as soft. The veggies were fresh but the meat mix was a little dry. They had huge bottles of fish sauce at the table that were flavorful. First time seeing the container these coconut juices from the restaurants come from! The drink itself was sweet. Hospitality: Seated quickly and fast service. Honorable Mention: Cash only and the interior was unique with its bamboo wallpaper and extended mirror on one side of the wall. read more

Thien Thanh - Banh Cuon Thit Cha Lua ($13.75) - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My friends and I came here for lunch. The service was great and they were very attentive. The place was very clean. The food was amazing too. The #8 dish was what almost all of us ordered. It was grilled slices of meat, nicely wrapped in rice paper. The bean spouts were gently boiled. I love how there's a point of fish sauce on the side for you to use as much as you want. The shrimp muffin and banh bot loc was really good. The food wasn't dense but it def kept us full for the rest of the day. Parking is out front and free but when you're going into or out of the lot, be careful with the traffic. It's a little harsh. read more

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We really enjoyed our lunch here- this is very authentic Vietnamese! It came highly recommended and the owner was SO kind. Service was 10/10! The ambiance is friendly but definitely feels like an authentic local spot. I feel what would make this restaurant even better would be fresher ingredients. This may be our fault because we came for a late lunch but the herbs and rice paper wasnt as fresh as other places we tried. The flavors were so increíble otherwise however! read more

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Limited authentic Vietnamese cuisine known best for their Banh cuon! We came here after seeing this is an authentic Vietnamese street food Banh cuon. It was definitely tasty but I have had better the rice roll was fresh but on the thicker side. We also ordered a side of Banh bot loc and that was okay as well. I wished it wasn't as chewy and a bit softer. The servers were nice and speedy, the owner was also greeting everyone. read more

Thien Thanh - Banh bot loc - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My go to place for banh cuon and banh uot. I prefer to dine in but have ordered Togo many times. Definitely call beforehand to reduce wait time if Togo, as they make it to order. I love their banh cuon thit nuong while my husband gets the classic banh uot with cha lua. Their nuoc mam is good and balanced. Owner is friendly and speaks both English and Vietnamese. read more

I've been here since childhood and the food has been good. Prices have gone up but the food and service has been consistent over the years. I typically order the thit nướng with cha lửa on top and it hits every time. As for the decor inside the restaurant, it's very green and the tables kind of have a sticky feel to them. The utensils and bowls are also relatively dirty and can clearly be seen that it's old. Sometimes the dishware is clean and sometimes it isn't. Overall, it hasn't been that bad of an experience for me when I go to eat here. However, this time around, I felt really compelled to write a review because the treatment of the employees really bothered me and I don't think anyone in the service industry deserves to be berated by their manager when another customer is being rude. For context, the server messed up the order for a large party. He only messed up on one item! He even apologized for it and went back to get the correct order. The customer proceeds to continuously curse at the server, call him profanities, and say his handwriting is ugly. The customer was making a huge scene inside the restaurant and when the server tried to explain to the manager on duty about what happened, she turned and yelled at the server to go away and called him stupid. As a manager, you're supposed to protect your employees from belligerent customers. He literally got yelled at twice for no reason. As much as I enjoy the food, please treat your employees with kindness and empathy, get new utensils, and clean the restaurant without residue! read more

Okay so I saw a picture and I'm like is this the Vietnamese verison of a Cantonese churn fun (rice roll)?! It sure does look like it! Cash only. Know what you want before you get to the counter to make your order. You know a place is legit when they don't have patience to watch you be indecisive when there's a line behind you. It feels like the restaurants in nyc haha. They don't got time to waste! We got the pork rice rolls and a tomato shrimp paste noodle soup which was sour - it's supposed to be! He loved it. I didn't. If you're into the shrimp paste, you'll love this dish. Otherwise it'll be like me and give a sour face. Now the pork rolls. It's pretty much their grilled pork wrapped in rice rolls! Wahh. I know. That's like when I custom order char siew (Cantonese roasted pork) into rice rolls. The biggest difference is the sauce they pair it with. Vietnamese use fish sauce and bean sprouts is a big thing. There was also fried onion on the bottom but I didn't use it. Pork rolls were so good. Lean. Not fatty. Flavorful. Pretty much as good as it can get for having it the first time. read more

Thien Thanh - Pork rice roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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You know when you go to a place and barely anyone speaks English? And then you see dishes you never see, anywhere? That's this place. All Vietnamese, all the time. No nonsense, get your food, eat it, feel happy. Service? They serve you quickly without any fanfare. Ambiance is like, neon lighting and basic furniture. It does the job. Food was really interesting and kinda hard to find anywhere else. Will be back! read more

The food here is always amazing. Last I was here was before the pandemic and I can recall how the food was. It's been awhile and I'm finally back to show my husband and guest a great place to eat for breakfast. I always go with the steam rice rolls and vietnamese ham. 5/5. You can never go wrong with the classics. The servings here are so huge! You can even share with another person to finish a plate. They're super generous when it comes to serving sizes. Make sure to bring cash because this place us cash only! Customer service was great and attentive! read more

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Amazing authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The service was very excellent. The atmosphere was very welcoming. read more

If I had to choose my very last dish to eat in this lifetime, it would be banh cuon and luckily Thien Thanh is here to serve it. They have several variations and fillings of banh cuon. I opted for the banh cuon thit cha lua, but you can't go wrong with the banh cuon thit nuong either. Each silky roll is delicately wrapped around a heaping portion of flavorful ground pork and wood ear mushroom inside. The banh beo is pretty good and worth getting too; they're chewy and not too doughy (I hate when that happens). There was a good ratio of shredded pork and mung bean topping it. They have an entire jug of nuoc cham on the side for you to drench everything in LOL It's a cash only establishment, but they also take Zelle. The restaurant is pretty big and spacious. You get to sit where ever you want upon arrival and just pay upfront when you're done. read more

Thien Thanh - banh cuon thit cha lua (front) + banh beo (back) - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place has been as constant as time itself. Been coming here for at least 25-30 years off and on, and the food quality hasn't changed one bit. The Banh Coun thit cha lau has been a mainstay for us all those years when we dine in (see original post for our to-go strategy). The rice batter crepes are still as wonderful as ever...I'm convinced these are what angels use as summer sheets. The minced pork and woodear 'shroom filling is perfectly savory, accompanied by a flavor and textural balance from the nouc cham and blanched bean sprouts. Speaking of nouc cham, you know my place is better than yours when the fish sauce is served in what other places would use for an iced tea pitcher. The Banh Cong (fried mung bean cake with shrimp) was popping with mungbean flavor with a mega crunch. We tried their Banh Beo today since we were starving. While the banh (the white steamed rice flour) was awesome, the toppings lacked any of the homemade charm that other places have. I'm so happy that places like this are still around and thriving. Cooking like this will be a lost art eventually, so enjoy Thien Thanh's Banh Coun while we have it! read more

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CASH ONLY. No frills, best banh cuon. I prefer #11 banh cuon thit nuong to #9 banh cuon thit cha lua. The nuoc cham is served in pitcher so make sure not to pour it to drink. read more

Thien Thanh - #9 Banh cuon thit cha lua - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Thien Thanh is a Mom & pop shop thats been a community staple for decades. The food is authentic and immigrant owned! No frills, just good authentic food! And of course cash only! My mom & my aunt who was visiting from Vietnam wanted to have Banh Cuon. (if you grew up eating Banh cuon like I did, you'll know how much work it takes and how delicious they are!) We were greeted by the owner when we entered. I love that their Nuoc Cham is served in a pitcher, its brilliant. It prevents spilling and lets you pour as much as you want. Condiments are on the side and theres a table with to go boxes with bags inside, with sauce already pre packed for your leftovers! Heres what we ordered 11.Banh Cuon Thit Nuong ( I ordered this) - this was declious, the meat was flavorful. I can see why this is a best seller. The banh cuon texture was perfect. I like to mix my Nuoc Cham with a bit of chili oil for a little kick. 9. banh cuon thanh tri cha (what my mom got), she finished all her food! I stole a bite or two, hehe. The filling was on point 8.Banh Cuon Thit cha lua (my aunties ordered this) - my aunts gave their approval. Cà Phê Sữa Đá - was delicious, I would order this again. Right amount of coffee and condensed milk Soy Milk- good read more

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Definitely love this place based off of nostalgia alone. No-frills and very traditional restaurant! is also cash only!!! The food itself is great and authentic. Banh cuon has to be one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes as it is simple yet so delicious. #9 and #11 (my favorite) is what I generally order. The portions are big and quite generous. There is also nuoc Cham (the fish sauce dipping) available at the table so you can pour the amount you'd like. I'd recommend adding some of the garlic chili paste for some spice. I also love that there are pre packages take out boxes already available with this yummy sauce for you. read more

Thien Thanh - #11 - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Authentic Vietnamese restaurant specializing in bánh cuốn, which they do very well! Good portion sizes and delicious food. There always happens to be large groups of families dining when I come, which contributes to the homely vibe. read more

Thien Thanh - #18 bún riêu - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Simon at Thien Thanh is an absolute gem. His warmth, storytelling, and spot-on food recommendations made my visit unforgettable. I came for the Bánh Cuốn--both the BBQ pork and the ground pork & shrimp versions--and I can confidently say they're the best I've ever had, even after traveling to Vietnam. Every bite was delicate, flavorful, and perfectly executed. If you love Vietnamese food, this spot is a must. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone! read more

Thien Thanh - Banh Uot - Vietnamese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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my first time! Excellent food..owner was so nice telling us how to eat it with their signature sauce! Place is clean & staff was awesome. Cash ONLY read more

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Overall, a 4/5. Some of the menu items are great, some are okay, some are not so hot. Note, this place is cash only, so come prepared. Ambiance is very loud and crowded. It can feel stifling, but you're in Chinatown, so that's how most places are. Service is okay. The #9 - 3.5/5, it was okay. The filling and the pork sausage were bland. I had to pour nuoc mam over every bite, but i liked the texture of the rice paper. The #10 - 3/5, not great. Tasteless. I would not recommend this one. The #11 - 4.5/5, our favorite banh cuon. The pork filling was delicious with a distinct char-grilled flavor. Portion sizes are very large. We had enough leftovers to last another meal. read more

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