Bodard Bistro

"The canh chua cá trê at Bodard Bistro in Chinatown will change you, perhaps on a molecular level. It’s that good. This homestyle soup, with sweet pineapple and tangy tamarind mellowed by stewed catfish and fresh tomatoes, hails from South Vietnam. It tastes like the herbs were plucked moments before the soup appeared on the table. Ladle the broth and stewed vegetables over steaming white rice, and enjoy it any time of the year." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi

"The canh chua cá trê here will change your life. The soup, a Mekong Delta staple, is bright and refreshing, with an otherworldly tropical tang from tamarind and pineapple. It’s like somebody planted a vegetable garden by the beach, and then made a soup out of it, with whole tender filets of fresh catfish, stewed tomato, okra, and sharp herbs. The restaurant itself is tiny with less than a dozen tables, and it has all the appeal of a hospital waiting room. But once the food arrives, it’s an oasis. What to order: canh chua cá trê, bánh khọt, nem nướng" - chelsea thomas

"The canh chua cá trê at Bodard Bistro will change your life. The tropical, refreshing soup is a Mekong Delta staple with an otherworldly tang from tamarind and pineapple. It’s like summer itself got distilled into a single dish, along with tender filets of fresh catfish, okra, stewed tomato, and whole cloves of roasted garlic. After slurping down a bowl alongside nem nướng pork sausage spring rolls, and perhaps some fluffy bánh khọt savory pancakes with shrimp, you’ll start to feel as beautiful as the well-cared for tropical plants filling the tiny restaurant.  What to order: canh chua cá trê, bánh khọt, nem nướng" - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"We’d like to officially submit the canh chua cá trê at Bodard Bistro for the best soup in Houston. The decor here is simple, save for a few flourishing houseplants, but the ambiance isn’t why you’re here. The canh chua cá trê, a Mekong Delta staple, is bright and refreshing, with a heap of tang from tamarind and pineapple. It’s like somebody planted a vegetable garden by the beach, and then made a soup out of it, with whole tender filets of fresh catfish, stewed tomato, okra, and a melody of sharp herbs. Ladle a few spoonfuls over rice and have your day transformed. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Bodard Bistro, a small Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown, serves a soup that will change your life. This tiny spot has less than a dozen tables, and it has all the appeal of a hospital waiting room. But the well-tended and deep green house plants let you know something special is happening.  And sure enough, once the food arrives, Bodard Bistro blossoms into an oasis. The canh chua cá trê, a Mekong Delta staple stew, is and bright and refreshing, with an otherworldly tropical tang from tamarind and pineapple. It’s like somebody planted a vegetable garden by the beach, and then made a soup out of it, with whole tender filets of fresh catfish, stewed tomato, okra, and a melody of sharp herbs. Nothing prepares you for the first bite—or the last, because the woman waiting on you will insist you finish every morsel.  " - Chelsea Thomas