David W.
Yelp
In an attempt to drag me out of the pho and banh mi bubble of Vietnamese food, my friends invited me here. They expressed high approval of the banh xeo, and I was delighted to discover that the dish met the hype. Banh xeo is a fried flour pancake that has been folded on itself, stuffed with meats and veggies. For anyone familiar with Chinese staples, the appearance looks somewhat similar to scallion pancakes (蔥油餅). Some people even call it a Vietnamese crepe.
At Com Ga Houston, they add bean sprouts, pork, and shrimp into the banh xeo. Mint leaves, lettuce, and dipping sauce are also provided. The bean sprouts, fried flour, and lettuce wrap provide several layers of crunchiness, while the dipping sauce acts as the quarterback for flavor. Even for $18, portions are absolutely huge. It's a two-person job, maybe even three if one person isn't too hungry.
Value? Check. Tasty? Check. Clean? Check... even though for many high quality Vietnamese restaurants, you can expect some room for improvement in this area. This place was at max occupancy on a Monday afternoon and seating took several minutes. Rest assured, the servers hustle to prepare the table for waiting customers. For anyone wanting to try banh xeo (or perhaps some other authentic Vietnamese staples, based off reviews), I recommend coming here.