Vietnamese restaurant · Lazy Brook
A great Vietnamese brewpub with a wide beer selection and delicious bo luc lac.
Seafood restaurant · Bellaire West
Best Vietnamese style crawfish you can get outside of your Vietnamese friend’s family crawfish boils.
Vietnamese restaurant · Midtown
Second favorite within-driving-distance-to-Downtown lunch spot for Vietnamese food. I usually pair a banh mi with the wonton soup, but I also love the banh xeo here.
Vietnamese restaurant · Memorial
Best phở in town. Great bun bo hue as well.
Vietnamese restaurant · Lamar Terrace
Overall best banh mi in town. I love the special (dac biet) and the chopped ribeye sandwiches.
Vietnamese restaurant · Sharpstown
Best classic banh mi. Get the grilled pork sando.
Vietnamese restaurant · Downtown
Best homestyle Vietnamese/best Vietnamese restaurant within lunch-break-driving-distance from Downtown. Also one of my most-recommended restaurants in general. Things to order: #8, #5, #16, #50, #58, #64 (always order with additional lap xuong), #70, #94, #S3, #F5 with shrimp
Brewery · Sterling Ridge
A cool outdoor beer garden right in downtown Magnolia. They’ve always got some fun limited-release beers on tap, but start with their Yellow Rose, a fantastic SMaSH (single malt and single hop) IPA.
Coffee shop · Tomball
Great coffee conveniently located near Tejas BBQ
Barbecue restaurant · Tomball
Things to order: of course, you’ve gotta get the Texas Trinity of brisket, ribs, and sausage – and for your sausage link I highly recommend ordering their chile relleno sausage. Honestly my favorite sausage link in town. Grab a chocolate bon-bon on your way out. And if they’re not too busy, ask the owner (you’ll see him checking on tables throughout your meal) if he’ll give you a tour of their smokers so you can geek out at their sweet setup.