Hẻm

This was our first time here at this restaurant after /seeing all the hype on social media. We ordered a few seafood dishes and they were all very enjoyable! The Vietnamese steamed clams were super soft. Not chewy at all. My favorite part would have to be their special sauce that came with the seafood dishes. So addicting!! If I lived in Houston, this would be my go-to late night food spot. The vibes were great. I enjoyed the nostalgic photos of Vietnamese culture on the walls in the bathroom.

Hotpot is the only thing we haven’t tried at this restaurant, everything else is consistently good to exceptional. We’ve noticed that dining in is a perfect 10/10, while to-go orders can be hit or miss. For example, our bò kho came without the bread it should have, and we requested extra sauce for the dry hu tieu, but it wasn’t included, and even received a broken container. Despite that, we still give them 5 stars because we genuinely love the food!

Greeted by friendly staff upon entering. Waited only a few minutes to be seated. The atmosphere was lovely with music playing and summed lights. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. The flavors were bold and delicious. Our waitress was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We spent 2.5 hours here and we were never pressured to leave. I will decimated be back!

My friend picked this place because of the cool looking atmosphere outside with a little chairs resembling I’m guessing what it could be eating like in Vietnam, “The street way”, But she lacked to check the menu. To our surprise, it was very authentic, Food flavor absolutely delicious. nothing that we ordered was disappointing. Our waiter what’s absolutely wonderful he made us feel welcomed, Manager was very attentive as well making sure we had everything, Everything was very clean one thing that I always appreciate And restaurants it’s the water flavor, It was definitely purified. No fishy flavor. I really also get dessert but their dessert looks so interesting and also they did not disappoint. Very delicious. Can’t wait to come try their lunch menu during the week. Definitely a go to place in Houston.

We came in around on a Saturday at 6:30 PM. Walking in, we were hit with the unique vibe that was styled around a street/urban setting. The atmosphere was incredible, all the set dressing (neon lights, brick walls, model street vehicles) felt on theme and contributed the street aesthetic. The entire restaurant was well lit with some of the main lighting came from the neon signs and hanging lights. They played really lively music and it was pretty loud but not so loud that you can't hear the people at your table. The staff and service was incredibly nice. When we got there the restaurant was pretty packed but we immediately got a seat. Our waiter gave us her opinions on what she thought we should get. Our waiter was pretty nice and every now and then someone came in to check on us. Every dish we got (Chicken Beef, seafood fried rice, truffle fries, mini eggrolls, and thai sauce chicken wings, passionfruit soda, coconut, vanilla, and green tea flavored ice cream) felt immaculate and well priced, each dish around $15-20 each. The meats (beef, thai sauce chicken wings) were tender. The beef was pretty chewy and was marinated and flavored with a brothy umami flavor and was slightly sweet. The chicken wings were sweet and crispy/crunchy on the outside and rich and savory on the outside and it gave this satisfying feeling when chewing it. The thai sauce felt sweet and spicy and it gave the wings a nice aftertaste. The seafood fried rice felt incredibly rich and slightly oily. It was slightly crispy but at the same time the rice felt soft and almost fluffy. The rice also had a slight umami flavor. The actual seafood in the seafood fried rice was going to include squids but we just got shrimp and scallops. The shrimp pieces were pretty big and there was a good amount of them. The tail of the shrimp was crunchy and the shrimp itself felt succulent and fresh but otherwise the taste blended in with the rest of the rice. The whole meal left me feeling incredibly satisfied and fulfilled more so than the other meals so it was definitely a highlight for me. However the fries were a bit too salty and kind of lacked the crispness you'd expect in fries but they were nicely thick and still good overall. The eggrolls had lots of filling and was savory and crispy. The added fish sauce it came with added some sweetness and tanginess. The drinks were really fresh, fruity, and the juice blended well with the soda. Also, the ice-cream was really good for its price because there was so much of it and it was in an entire coconut and it was soft and smooth, for the most part. Some of the ice-creams did come out more icy than others but it wasn't too much of a problem. All in all it was an incredible experience and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone interested! I would totally come again!

Came for lunch. Place is pretty busy. They don't take reservations and all party must be present to be seated (or 90%). Restaurant policy. Understandable. Food is excellent. Love the flavors. The restaurant brings a sense of the hustle and bustle of little restaurants in Vietnam. The decor sets the stage. Their wait staff is always racing about busy serving tables but will definitely come over should you need anything. Their menu is huge. So many items to choose from. I have been here before when it was not so good but it has changed for the better. Previously food was ok, forgettable. Now it's very tasty, lots to offer, and you can select from both the lunch or dinner menu. They also have happy hour that may be good to try. Still many items I have not tasted. Will definitely be back for more.

From the moment we walked into Hẻm, we were warmly welcomed, but it was Grace who truly made our visit exceptional. Her energy, professionalism, and genuine care set the tone for the entire evening. She had perfect timing—attentive without being overbearing—and her knowledge of the menu made our choices effortless and exciting. Every recommendation she gave was spot on, from the cocktails to the mains. What really stood out was how Grace made us feel like valued guests, not just another table. She checked in with just the right frequency, remembered the little details we mentioned in passing, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the night. Hẻm already has a great atmosphere and delicious food, but Grace elevated the whole experience. We'll absolutely be coming back—and bringing friends—because of her. Highly recommend the restaurant and asking for Grace if you can!

We visited Hemi Kitchen in Chinatown for the first time and were pleasantly surprised by how late they stay open — definitely a great spot if you’re looking for food and vibes after hours. Our server, Cvy, was extremely attentive and made great recommendations on what to try, which really helped since it was our first time there. The menu has plenty of shareable plates, making it perfect for groups, and the flavors were on point. The atmosphere was lively with a live DJ, adding to the overall fun experience. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you want good food, music, and energy all in one place.

I was looking for a Vietnamese seafood street food type of restaurant and HEM met the expectation. I specifically wanted the Oc Len Xao Dua (sea snail in coconut milk) which was so so good. The crispy pork belly was good, but I felt like it needed rice because it could get dry eating it on its own unless you're eating it as a drinking snack. The seafood platter (can't remember the actual name on the menu) is a great way to sample most of their seafood dishes in different styles and sauces. Highly recommend! The interior feels very vibey as if you're in Vietnam with all of the decor and bike inside, lots of photo ops if you're into taking pictures. The service is good as well.

Redemption post!! We finally made it back for the dinner menu and it 100% lived up to expectations. This place is basically a Vietnamese izakaya: it offers plenty of authentic vietnamese food and drinks. There is a massive dinner-menu with lots of variety, but the seafood is top tier. The Garlic Butter Razor Clams are a MUST. We order this dish every visit and it just so rich, bold, and garlic-y. So delicous. Another one of our favortes had to be the Scallion Oil Oysters - a fragrant street food classic. I think the only dishes we didn't like were the crab Papaya Salad and the baked cheese oysters. The salad had a very distinct crab paste flavor, which was too fishy/pungent for me, and I personally don't think the oysters need a creamy sauce, since they're already creamy. The oysters taste best with something more light/refreshing/fragrant. As for the drinks, there are cocktails, zero proof drinks, and coffee availble. While I can't speak on the zero proof items or cocktails, I can say that the coffee is spot on. My friends and I had several varieties of coffee and they were all good, but my favorite had to be the Egg Coffee. It might sound weird, but the egg makes the coffee smooth and creamy. Overall, HEM is a great dinner pick for traditional vietnamese street/bar food. Can't wait to try out other item on the menu. Highly recommend.

Amazing food. Only came here during weekday lunch so no trouble getting a table but I imagine this place is quite popular on the weekends. We got the seafood fried rice and a variety of yakitori including chicken hearts and gizzards (my favorite). Very flavorful and a good portion.

I been coming here with family for awhile now and has pretty good Vietnamese food. I usually come on weekends which is always packed and usually a 10-20min wait for a table. I like that there is indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is Vietnamese style with the small plastic table and short wooden stools which I find super fun. The staff are super nice but some are a little lost because of how busy it can get. The food is good but not consistent in quality nor quantity. There's times where the food is super oily, salty, or smaller portions which is a little disappointing. I usually get the Com Chien Bo Luc Loc (stir-fried beef cubes w/ fried rice) which is really good. As the meat is well seasoned and works perfectly with the rice. I recently tried the Mi Bo Kho (beef stew soup w/ egg noodles) which wasn't bad not my favorite. Overall, good Vietnamese food and vibes.

HEM's commitment to embodying the spirit of Vietnamese street food is adorable. I like the inside decor a lot. Service was spotty, as the restaurant is often packed to capacity with a line out the door. Prices are on the higher side, which is understandable given the plethora of seafood on the menu. Broiled salted duck yolk oysters: The combination of salted duck yolk with briny oysters was delightful. The oysters were slightly overbaked, but still tasty nonetheless. Baked scallops with quail eggs: Unfortunately these were severely overcooked to the point of being rubbery. The quail eggs were also overcooked. Otherwise the combination of flavors would have been delicious. Baked mussels: We opted for two flavors, salt and pepper and fried garlic. I preferred the garlic slightly more but both were quite good. The creamy sauce complemented each flavor well and helped accentuate the juiciness of the mussels. Mixed skewers: My least favorite dish of the night. A few portions of the skewered were over fried and bone dry. The mix of sriracha and hoisin and tangy sauces helped the dryness a bit. Stirfried noodles with razor clams: Perfect seasoning and sautee on the noodles themselves. The razor clams were unfortunately overcooked and rubbery. I liked the contrast of the crunchy vegetables combined with razor clams and noodles. Pork jowl: Tender on the inside with a slight char on the outside, these morsels were cooked well. They were flavorful even without the sauce and kept me coming back for more. Taro and coconut jelly dessert: I hadn't tried this kind of dessert before, but my Vietnamese friend explained to me they're supposed to be cooling in the summer. I enjoyed the variety of different jellies, which included taro and coconut. The icy floral water paired well with the creaminess of the jellies, and the addition of crunchy fruit and almond slivers was a nice touch. I generally prefer my jellies a bit less set, but I didn't mind the texture too much. Overall a refreshing end to the meal. I'd come back for the fun ambiance and robust flavors.

I came here with family and we got the melo melo salad, which was super good, and had a lot of clams. We also got their razor clams and their fried spring rolls, which was actually amazing since it was very crispy and not too salty. We also got their thai-flavored chicken wings, which was also good but a bit too salty. We went during happy hour on the weekdays, and the thai-flavored chicken wings and the Hem fried spring rolls were on the menu. They are usually very crowded on the weekends, and I can see now! There were quite many employees on the weekdays, but I know. how packed they can be. The ambiance is very fun, and definitely a place for late night eating and drinking. Will come here again.

We were craving Viet seafood and shellfish items during our trip in Houston, so we decided to give Hẻm a visit for a quick meetup with some friends. The location is big but quite packed. They even have outdoor seating for those who can bear with the hot weather. Since it's our first visit during traveling, we made sure to order a feast to try out different items. - Stir-fried chicken gizzard and unlaid chicken egg: pretty simple with lots of seasonings. Not bad, but not great - Tamarind beef carppacio: flavorful, spicy, tangy. One of my favorite - Raw shrimp with Thai sauce: really spicy, but the raw shrimp tasted clean - Snails with coconut sauce: quite bland, our least favorite - Conch with garlic butter sauce: super garlic-y and buttery with good hint of spice. Get yourself a bánh mì and wipe off the sauce - Razor clams with morning glory: also flavorful and fresh clams - Grilled oysters with cheese: too much cheese for small oysters, but still flavorful. Overall, everything tasted great. Comparing the price tag with the amount of food we had, I think it was worth it. Each portion is enough to share among our party. Definitely will visit again when in town!

Literally a great experience. From the service to food, it was amazing. We arrived at opening and there were a few tables of people dining in already. As we enter, it feels like you're stepping inside a restaurant in Vietnam. The interior decoration was so nice. You're immediately greeted by the lovely staff. They were so friendly to us! Love it. This place is definitely a good vibe place to hang out with a big group. Order food and drinks, just have a great time. The food was AMAZING. We didn't know they had a happy hour and got here during it. That was such a lovely surprise . The tamarind beef carpaccio is a MUST. I can literallly eat that alone without sharing lol I didn't get to try their entrees. We really stuck to appetizers and small dishes. Everything on the happy hour was good. Definitely a must come if you're in town!!

I had such high hopes for this place! Love that the ambiance reminds me of Vietnam. For four people, we ordered: - Thai Squid Salad, Gỏi Mực Thái This was subpar... to best explain it, the carrots mango and cucumber shreds were not marinated long enough, so it was stiff. There was barely any squid. Kinda pricy for what it is. - Five Spice Grilled Beef, Bò Nướng Ngũ Vị I enjoyed this. This is the one dish I'd definitely recommend. You get to choose how you like the beef to be grilled. Yummy! - 2 of the Grilled Combo Skewers, Combo Xiên Nướng Pretty good, but they're just skewers. Nothing special. I'd order these again for group dinners. - Razor Clam Stir-Fried Noodles Literally can't mess this up. Good choice of carbs. - Sizzling Chicken Gizzards and Hearts, Lòng Gà Trứng Non Cháy Tỏi It's good to try for the one time. I didn't care too much for it. With tip and tax, we paid about $150. I wasn't full, but I was satisfied. I kinda got tired of the food. I find this restaurant to be bit more expensive compared to other seafood restaurants in the Bellaire area, and the food is nothing to write home about.

HEM is extremely successful at caring out a unique niche of Vietnamese Street Food with traditional flavors and a modern twist. The restaurant performs well in many areas including spacing and ambience. The entire area is not only adequately space with lots of available seating, but there is a huge array of decor that creates an immersive vibe of modern Vietnamese Street Food. They nailed the aesthetics. We ordered a razor clam dish sauteed in basil and herbs. The green creamy sauce that comes with it adds a refreshing bold citrusy taste that definitely helps mellow out the seafood very well. I think its calamansi based and becomes readily apparent in many of their other entrees. The same can be said of the oyster dish we ordered. The touch of Sunnyside eggs nested inside the oyster adds a very nice creamy yolk texture as you're eating the oyster. Plating and presentation are done extremely well and exceeds my expectations. The host and waiter staff are very friendly and easy to get a hold of when you're ready to order. They also frequent your table to make sure things are in line and meeting expectations. I love the decor! Enjoy!

The skewers were good but some of the meat was tougher to eat than others. I'm not sure if I ordered the wrong things but I didn't enjoy their noodle dishes as much as other places I've been to nearby. It's a cute place though with good service, I would come back to try other things on their menu.

The restaurant hem reminds me of the streets of Vietnam, including the heat. I don't know if it's just Houston is hot because a lot of restaurants are just hot. The bathroom is pretty cool. The table we were seated at had a bag hanger on the end of it... I wish I knew about it before I bumped my leg into it. There was a guy there who seemed to be very particular of things so he moved our stroller into the back of the truck. The place is very popular and for good reason. Our friends like HEM and recommended their Bo ne which you can get with a bone marrow. My husband got one without the bone marrow. NOTE: you can only get it during their lunch menu. It was a Saturday and we were able to order from dinner menu as well. But most things our waitress recommended was seafood which I'm not really into. My husband and brother in law liked what they ordered. The banh mi was very light. Add the creamy bone marrow. Add some egg and bo ne. I liked my crispy pork belly but don't expect a very crispy pork. I just like the dipping sauce and pickled veggies to combat the fatty pork pieces. I also ordered a bowl of rice on the side. I would've tried their Viet coffee here but we had already made a stop at a different establishment that serves Viet coffees.

Can't say much about the interior cause we sat outside (which if I had to do it again, I'd caution against). The chairs are itty bitty and the space is cramped. Not sure what the thinking was around the decision for such small chairs. Also important to note...way too many bugs at this time of year--meaning there's no bug solution from the restaurant to keep them at bay when you're eating so you're on your own (and no alcoholic drinks outside). Service was prompt. They're a little stingy with the white rice for some reason. They brought out two small bowls for a table of 4 adults and 4 kids. Grilled Skewers| Really liked the pork ones. And the green sauce is really what makes everything here sing. Beef ones were nice too, though felt like the pieces were pretty darn small. Crispy Pork belly | Huge portion. A must order in a big group. Egg rolls | Good but not amazing. Though I can see this being a fun drink snack. Grilled Razor Clams | Just okay. Maybe stir-fried would've been better. 5 Spice Beef | Parts were way too sinewy though the flavor was good. Chicken Cartilage | Garlic butter. Great bar snack. The kumquat soda | Okay but nothing special. The pricetag was quite high so keep that in mind, but there were enough good dishes here to give it another go and try some new menu items. Hopefully inside next time. It's a heavy meal. Lots of fatty and fried stuff so it's perfect for drinking, but maybe not if you're looking for light fare.

One of the best food places I tried in Houston! Service was really friendly and answered any questions we had regarding the food and drinks! The restaurant was very cute inside definitely picturesque for people who love taking food pics!

Highlight: Crispy Pork Belly ($18), Nested Frog Legs ($16), Lotus Seed Tea ($6) I liked how crispy and crunchy the skin of the pork belly was, but the meat part was lacking moist. The dipping sauces it came with were packed with flavor. The frog legs were flavored really well (sweet and salty), could be more moist but the exterior crunch was good. Good portions and the presentation is fun. The drink is refreshing, light, and more on the sweet side. Hospitality: Our server was attentive and friendly. Honorable Mention: Loved the decor and the menu is extensive with many Viet street food options.

My husband and I have been to this place many times. But today when my mom and I visited for a special weekend hangout lunch, the experience was completely ruined by the horrendous service and attitude by the server, Leonie - She first took down the wrong order item, and when we pointed it out to her that she tried argue with us that she was not wrong. I then asked for the correct item to be sent in and brought to us. Also, I told her to bring the wrong item back to the kitchen, because I couldn't not eat it due to my health condition - she rolled her eyes and turned her back on me to continue to serve other customers. When the check came she had both the wrong item and the correct item on the check offering 0 explanation or apology on what happened. If this is the standard of service this restaurant will continue to have, my family and friends will never return.

The atmosphere is nice and the decorations are super The food is pretty good and unique. It really reminded me of being in the streets of vietnam and eating the food there. The service was excellent, nice, and very quick. A beautiful spot to stop by late night and enjoy Vietnamese classics.

Viet food that's pretty tasty and good service. Ordered conch, steak, grilled chicken. Their conch with the spicy sauce is good and the one with the shell has a good smokey flavor. Lots of table and service was very excellent. Seating area is spaced out and there's a bar with good drinks to choose from. Parking plentiful in the front. Recommended going either early or later at night, this place usually crowded.

Dining at Hem exceeded ALL of my expectations! After hearing all of the hype about this place, my family and I decided to try it out when we stopped by Houston. First off, the decorum looked amazing. It literally looked like an actual alleyway in Vietnam, which translates to "Hem" in Vietnamese. All of the inside felt nostalgic to those who have ever visited or lived in Vietnam. Service was excellent as well. Our server was nice but very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, which was really helpful for us. As recommended by our server, we ordered the Hem Seafood Fried Rice ($16.00), Grilled Seafood Combo ($30.00), Sea Snails in Coconut Milk ($16.00), & Salted Egg Flavored Chicken Cartilage ($16.00). For drinks, we just ordered Iced Kumquat Tea ($6.00) and Iced Lychee Tea ($6.00). The portions were decent, but the taste totally made up for that! Everything was so flavorful. Our favorite would have to be the seafood fried rice & chicken cartilage. They were seasoned perfectly and had the right amount of flavor to them. The kumquat tea was so tangy, but in a good way. I'd definitely recommend trying Hem at least once if you're in the Houston area. Just keep in mind that they do get packed, but that's only because the food and vibes are so good!

I wish there was one in Dallas because this restaurant was so great!! The food was very flavorful and there was a wide range of options. Not to mention, the restaurant was decorated so well to emulate Vietnam. Our server was super attentive and I will be back!

Food - not sure if it's related to our bad ordering but food is overall average and decent. Egg rolls are great crispy and good ingredients as expected. Fried rice looked very promising yet lacking a flavor, ask for their chili oil (that is def unique) and add all the chili oil and the sauces available with the rice and it def makes it better. The clams were just not it, smelled fishy as well and flavors are not infused well enough. The steak though was a surprise, personal favorite out of all the dishes ordered Service - super nice friendly staff Ambiance - it's just so adorable and well decorated in here I had to come, in addition the tv always play the yummiest Viet street food!

We started out at the bar and the girls were very friendly and attentive! I had their kumquat mojito and I thought it was excellent! They actually muddled the mint so that was awesome! We got a table afterwards and ordered their fried rice, water spinach sautéed with garlic, razor clams, baked oysters and some beef plate! All the food turned out to be very good! They had a green sauce that accompanied 3 of the dishes and it was really delicious! Very complementary to the flavor to the dishes! The location was beautifully decorated! Lots of vibrant colors so it's a great place to break bread with friends/family/out of towners! We'll definitely be back!

Hem is a trendy place, very reminiscent of the Vietnam street food scene where you would go out with your friends and family at night time, and eat on the side of the road. I really liked the decor, the restaurant is clean and spacious and the service is good. I've been here two times and honestly the food is just okay, it's expensive for what it is, and the flavor profiles aren't really giving. They all seem to be missing that authentic feel. The presentation for the dishes is great though, from colorful garnishes, boards for steaks and skewers, they really went above and beyond to make the dishes look better than they tasted. The items I got are listed below. Thai Squid Salad - this dish needs more sauce, the cucumbers, carrots, and were all stiff, dry and bland from the sauce not soaking into it. There was also barely any squid rings, and they were all tiny. Skewer combo - this dish was average at best, you don't really taste any smokiness from it being grilled and the meats were a little dry. Nothing to write home about. Five spice beef - this was our favorite dish, the beef was tender and I really liked the five spice flavor in the beef. I definitely recommend getting this one. Razor Clam Noodles - This dish was good, seasoned well, and had a good amount of razor clams in it. Sizzling Chicken Gizzards and Hearts -Name is misleading, it wasn't sizzling, came as more of like a dry pot, kind of like a gà kho style dish. This was okay, definitely order some rice with it, it does get super salty. Overall I like how Hem is introducing Vietnamese street food to Houston, but it's just not that good.

I love street food so I was pretty excited when I heard of a new spot serving Vietnamese street food on Bellaire. It's usually pretty busy when I stop by so I would recommend making a reservation if you are coming with a larger group. Food: Beef carpaccio: 5/5 hands down my favorite dish here I always have to get it Thai style shrimp: 4/5 shrimp were fresh, had a strong wasabi like kick Truffle fries: 4/5 standard but good Whole Razor clams: 3/5 good flavor but they were overcooked and dry Wings: 4/5 pretty decent Steak: 3.5/5 I had it once and it was good but the second time it was overcooked Pork belly: 3.5/5 a little dry as well Garlic butter razor clams: 4.5/5 razor clams are small but the garlic butter was so good, I couldn't stop eating it with rice Fried rice: 3.5/5 I believe it came with pineapple and shrimp, it was a little sweet. Nothing too special Coconut snail: 4/5 decent but pricey for the portion Overall, service is usually pretty good and I enjoy some dishes here. I don't mind coming once in awhile with some friends for casual snack foods and drinks

Exterior at first glance really give off Vietnamese street food vibes. Interior decor continues the cultural expose with tables and booths along with bar seating. The food tastes amazing and are highly recommended by locals who are experts in viet cuisine. Service is decent, they take your order and check up on you from time to time. Come here for good food and good vibes!

My family and I love to come here every once in a while usually for special events, and they never disappoint. The food here is great, we usually get the skewer platter, the papaya salad, the hem fried rice, and some more that I can't quite remember. The food is very good and consistent every time we go. Service is always good but it does get quite busy inside. The establishment is the best part, the atmosphere of the restaurant is super nostalgic and the seating outside really takes me back to Vietnam! :))

It was really busy and there was a waiting list so we sat outside. The food was delicious as always but service was very very slow. I wouldn't recommend sitting outside unless you have time to spare or want to feel like you are in the homeland. Back to the food. I can't remember all that we ordered but I got pictures. We ordered the fried rice twice because everyone loved it and couldn't get enough. The shaken beef is juicy and tender. The combo seashell was good since we get a sample of different type.

The food was amazing! From the salt/pepper squid to the freshly cooked lobster, it was amazing. Our server was great (I wish I would've gotten her name) but she answered all of our questions and lead us to such a great experience! The interior is very cool and highly suggest coming here if you want to bring a friend from out of town somewhere. Such a good experience!

I love this menu. Such a variety of yummy options! I recommend the chicken thigh with garlic noodles, pineapple fried rice and banh mi Bo ne. Service was quick and polite. They let us sit in a booth even though it was quite busy and it was 2 of us and a baby in a car seat. Interior is very cute. Love the holiday decor and vintage bus near the entrance.

great food! amazing service! I got two beef bone marrow bc one was too small lol. lucky me! the pork belly dish was good but the sauce was amazing! The Bo Ne you can build your own banh mi! I want some more of the pate and the butter. the beef was cooked medium rare! eggs were cooked sunny side up in the pan. Good vibes in the restaurant! it's like eat Vietnamese street food but more elevated! Will be back to try other dishes soon!

Food 5/5 - Wow, wow, wow! The food tasted amazing! From the pineapple fried rice, the skewers assortments of heart, gizzards, beef, and to the crispy pork belly every dish delivered a tasty, delicious heightened sense of fulfillment. Ambiance 5/5 - street food vibes. If you ever been to Vietnam you'll feel like you've traveled back! It was such a immersive experience. Oh btw, after 10pm, the lights get dimmer and the music get clubbier. The vibe keep hitting. Service- 5/5 explained the menu very well, servers were very attentive despite the packed house. Overall 5/5 will come back again!

The new Ai HOA strip center is full of amazing Vietnamese cuisine, and HEM is up there with the best of them. The ambiance inside is cool and comfy, perfect for a date night. The outside has cheap colorful plastic chairs and tables reminiscent of restaurants in Vietnam. The menu is pretty expansive with plenty of options. It was difficult to just pick a couple of dishes but Yelp helped on that. For 4 adults and 3 kids, we ordered: - Grilled Skewer Platter: 4 different types of meats, with 2 skewers each. Everything was good, and the cilantro lime sauce that came with it was a must dip. - Seafood Fried Rice: another dish with great flavor and large pieces of shrimp. My sons enjoyed this one! - Crispy Pork Belly: 11/10 absolutely amazing must get dish. The crispiness of the skin and the delicious sauces...my mouth is watering thinking back at it. - Seafood Platter: another great dish if you want to try multiple things! The mussels, oysters and snail were all incredible. I did not try the scallop with quail egg but everyone at my table said it was the best! - Papaya Salad: just like Thailand, even with the crab and Thai chili peppers! IYKYK By around 7pm, this place was absolutely packed inside and out. Loved our dining experience here and will definitely be back to try more dishes.

I LOVE this place! To start, the interior design of this place is so cute and reminds me so much of Vietnam! They did a wonderful job and I love all the props and wall art. The ambience is always lively and great for conversations and "ăn vặt" with family and friends. The staff are so helpful and accommodating and service is great every time I get to go. My favorite items here are all the ones pictured! Would highly recommend the Five Spice Grilled Beef and the citrus sauce that comes with it! That sauce is to die for and I would dip everything in it if I could! The crispy pork belly is crispy and chewy and is so delicious. I could eat that dish forever and never get tired. I also love the Vietnamese egg coffee they have here and it is my husband and I's absolute fave. Everything you try will probably be wonderful and I highly recommend on your next visit to Houston/Bellaire!

From the moment you step inside, the energy is palpable--dynamic music sets the tone, creating a modern Vietnamese atmosphere. The menu is a creative journey through traditional Vietnamese dishes that taste just like home. The Vietnamese coffee is extremely good. I recommend the Coconut Coffee for those feeling bold. And it's not just about the food--this place knows how to make an impression in all areas. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and thoughtfully designed, offering a surprising level of comfort that's often overlooked in casual eateries. Service is very good. All staff members seem very attentive to everyone's needs. Combination of tasty food, great ambiance, and attention to detail (even in the restrooms) makes this restaurant stand out. Perfect for authentic Vietnamese cuisine while soaking up a lively atmosphere.

I'm not sure how their normal menu items are, as they only offer those for lunch. We visited during dinner time, and the menu was extremely limited, with about 90% of the options being play foods. However, the happy hour items were a great deal. Both the grilled oysters and fried chicken wings were good. I wouldn't recommend the fried chicken feet. While they are great as a dim sum item because they are steamed, they were extremely hard to eat when fried. The grilled skewer combo was okay. The decor ambiance is nice. It gives the street of Vietnam vibe. The services are ok. If you are looking for a dinner meal, this is NOT the place. If you are looking for a hang out drink and chat place with some interesting items to eat with, this is a good place to try.

HEM, or hẻm, translates to "alley" in Vietnamese. If you were to ask a Vietnamese native what the word means to them, you might hear the word described as "a small road that branches out from a main one". This is a suitable name for this place because there are lots of little hẻm everywhere in Vietnam populated with food carts, and I think the theme here is street food. The atmosphere isn't typically the first thing I bring up in my reviews, but I must applaud the owner for how well they executed such an authentic modern Vietnam vibe. For the decor, they have all sorts of props such as a moped and tuk tuk on display. In the background, they have TVs playing snippets of street vendors preparing food. What I adore the most are the little plastic outdoor furniture in the front - you see these everywhere in Vietnam and it makes the environment feel lively when you see customers sitting outside having a good time. The food is authentic, bold, and dare I say... wild (in a good way). They do not shy away from prominent flavors derived from fish sauce or salted fermented crustacean parts. We ordered a seafood sampler (mostly bivalve mollusks), crispy pork, salad (with the salted fermented crab legs!), fried rice, and skewers. If I were to go again, I would probably order the same thing, plus a fancy drink. Everything was delicious, even the snails (which I typically find lack flavor). The BBQ pork was very crunchy and surprisingly not dry. Service was good. No complaints there! Although we had a large party, which required a mandatory tip, our waitress still boxed up our left overs without asking. Overall, the food, atmosphere, and service all played a part of a memorable foodie experience. I recommend coming here with a group of close friends who enjoy these types of flavors. Afterwards, if you still have room, walk down to Mia's and order some fresh cold sugar cane drinks to finish the night.

A must go place!! This restaurant gives you the tastiest Vietnamese street food. I got to try this place with my family and it was actually worth every penny. Form crispy pork belly.. to the dynamite mussels.. to the oysters.. papaya salad... garlic skewers... & many more street food items, everything tasted so good!! Each entree was about $16-20+.. not bad if you're doing family style anyway. The staff was fast and efficient, everything came out inna timely manner. I heard this place does get busy on weekends, but we came on a Tuesday night and it was not so busy! lol.. but the bathroom was pretty awesome- it had a huge selfie mirror with lighting features, as well as art and pictures all around the bathroom. I've never seen a bathroom like that before! Everything about the atmosphere and decor all had some meaning, almost like a glimpse of Vietnam. Which was cool to see. Side note- would love more truffle oil on the French fries!

A great spot for drinks and hanging out with friends and family. The ambiance reminds me of Vietnamese street food back home in Vietnam! The service was excellent -- fast, attentive, and they recommended some delicious dishes. We tried the Vietnamese Coffee Martini. It had a strong, authentic Vietnamese coffee flavor, but to be honest, it didn't quite impress or deliver a strong kick. Here's what we ordered: - 5-Spice Grilled Beef (Bò Ngũ Vị) - Absolutely delicious. Well-seasoned, flavorful, and a generous portion. - Combo Grilled Skewers (Combo Thịt Nướng) - For under $20, you get 10 skewers, which is a great deal. The flavors were good, but nothing particularly special. - Seafood Combo (Combo Hải Sản) - This included 3 cheese oysters, 3 scallops with quail eggs, 3 grilled blood clams, 2 spicy mayo mussels, and 2 grilled black pepper whelks. - In my opinion, the oysters and mussels were a bit too cheesy and heavy on sauce. The scallops and blood clams could have used a dipping sauce, as they felt a bit dry on their own. The whelk was tough and hard to eat, we didn't enjoy it as much. - Fried Skewers (Hẻm Viên Chiên) - These were okay, but a bit dry and tasted like they may have been fried earlier. - Chicken Cartilage with Garlic Butter (Sụn Gà Bơ Tỏi) - My favorite dish of the night. Super flavorful, crispy, and a large portion -- definitely worth it! Overall, we had 3 drinks and 5 dishes, and our bill was under $150. I think it's a great value for how much we ordered. Definitely worth trying -- great vibes, clean space, and it brought back so many good memories of Vietnam.

Unfortunately I came during lunch so I was not served the night menu which contained all the actual viet cuisine one would come here for, so this review will be based on the pre-3pm lunch menu which is much more conventional viet affair. Really trendy looking place first of all, for the ambiance I found the price to be reasonable and food to be on par with what I would expect from bellaire. Drink selections were interesting as well and my lunch experience was good enough for me to want to come back during night hours for the full menu. Would I Go Out of My Way to Try? Yes Would I Return? Yes Ambiance- 10/10 Food Taste- 7/10 Service- 7/10 Value- 7/10

This place is super cute and unique, gives off a modern Vietnamese street food vibes. Outside the restaurants that have some seating with small tables and chairs (which is seen in Vietnam almost everywhere). We ordered mainly street food dishes, really just Oc, and it was delicious. Presentation and flavor was great. The Oc Len Xao Dua was flavorful and creamy, I wish the Goi Oc we ordered had more oc, they were also cut pretty thinly so couldn't really taste the oc flavor, mainly just the mango and nuoc mam flavor. The Oc combo was a good deal, being able to get a variety of oc with different flavors, it was all good, my least favorite would be the oysters with cheese. But that's probably because I don't really like cheese like that. The service was great! Everyone was really kind and attentive, which surprised me considering how busy they were.

We ordered three items: the lotus seed tea, crispy pork belly and frog legs with fish sauce. The pork belly was a bit dry, it could have been juicier and more tender. The fish sauce dip was really well made. Overall, the dish was still enjoyable. The frog legs were very tender and flavorful. If you've never had frog legs before (I haven't before this), they are similar to chicken wings. The lotus seed tea was a solid drink to have with everything. All in all, I would recommend trying this restaurant, the ambiance, service and decor were delightful and welcoming.

Excellent ! We enjoyed everything we ordered! Fresh and well balanced ! Everything we ordered complimented each other very well. Service here was great and attentive! Ambience atmosphere was lovely with a good crowd for Sunday dinner.

Vietnamese street food in a fun and lively atmosphere. Having passed by HEM many times over the years, I was always curious about what attracted so many here. Now I know. With good food and good service, this was a great experience. Shrimp fried rice: fried rice topped with grilled shrimp. Rice was well seasone and shrimp tasted fresh and snappy. Papaya salad: this dish was quite refreshing. There were fermented(?) raw crab legs which threw me off a bit but it worked. Fried pork belly: crispy thick pieces of pork that came with a sweet fish sauce dip. Hearty, crunchy, and delicious. Skewer medley: a mix of beef, chicken gizzards, pork slices, and okra. Well seasoned dish that came with a refreshing green sauce. I ended up dipping a lot of stuff in that green sauce. Oyster, scallop, mussel sampler: this one is a mix of cheesy oysters, orange sauce on mussels, and scallop with quail egg. The dish came with three pieces per type and is a good way to try a little bit of everything. Fun dinner!

Amazing Vietnamese street food. All the grilled seafood items we got were beautifully presented. It was our first time trying balut and the sauce definitely helped with the texture haha. Everything was a great value for the amount you get. +1 for the thoughtful decor too!

I wanted to love this place because of the aesthetic but the food was just okay. There's a lot offered here and most of the plates are shareable, so it worked out for our large group of friends. We ordered a lot of meat dishes, but most of them felt very dry or too chewy. The bo luc lac was sweeter than I would like. The only dishes I would probably order again is the mini egg rolls and the garlic butter scallops with the crackers -- it was flavorful and delicious. The service was great though, our waiter was very attentive to our group and very accessible despite how busy the restaurant was.

The vibes at this place are IMMACULATE. Their theme is Vietnamese street food and they have everything there except the dirty streets. The servers are great and the food is amazing! Their traditional food is so good but have a cool modern spin to them. The drinks are pretty special too! Try to go for lunch because I heat dinner time is CRAZY here.

A couple of my friends wanted Vietnamese BBQ for dinner and one of them made a last minute suggestion to come here. When I saw the colorful plastic low tables for outside diners, I thought to myself, "awesome! This place looks authentically Vietnamese so far, so the food is probably gonna be amazing." The interior contained a lot of well-thought out Vietnamese decor as well, and combined with a 30 minute wait time for five people, my hopes were high. Unfortunately, the tastiness of the food did not reflect the restaurant's aesthetics for me. The main dish that gravitated my friends and I here was the crispy pork belly, which was underwhelming. Crispy on the outside, but very tough and dry as soon as I bit in. I can't remember tasting much flavor; maybe I was too occupied with trying to gulp it down. The shaken beef fared much better. Way easier texture and packed more flavor. I was especially a fan of the (lemon pepper?) seasoning that came with it. That dish by itself probably deserves 4 stars. The vegetable platter was plain... somewhat better when dipped with the sauce, but every one of the vegetables (carrot, celery, bok choy, cauliflower, cabbage) came bone-dry without any seasoning. Maybe I shouldn't complain about the dryness since I really only ordered it to add in some fiber to the meal, but it definitely was not worth $18. Aesthetically, this place looks great. The servers were friendly as well. However, I wouldn't come back here, especially at the current price point of these dishes. I am seeing high praise for the fried rice entrees in previous reviews; maybe that is something worth trying instead if you decide to visit.

I have been to HEM twice already and am always ready to go back again! This place is so lively, with both indoor and outdoor seating (the outdoor seating is similar to the street life of Vietnam). There are also so many different options of dishes: grilled meat, seafood, rice, etc. you are bound to find a dish that you can enjoy when you come! As a seafood lover, I loved the different flavors that the mussels and oysters come with, and can't wait to try them all. Like everyone else, I would recommend the beef carpaccio, as it is super soft and melts in your mouth. I personally was not a big fan of the pineapple fried rice, it lacked a bit on the pineapple flavor and have had better at other restaurants. Overall, a very fun dining experience for some Vietnamese food outside of just pho!

I was really excited to try Hem after hearing all the rave about it, and I was not disappointed. We came on a Saturday evening at 6:30 and the wait was 40 minutes for 5 people and they don't take reservations ahead of time, so just a heads up. Despite it being very busy, our server was very attentive and friendly. We had our water jug replaced almost immediately every time it emptied, which is fantastic. Crispy Pork Belly - the main reason why we went there was because my friend was craving this dish. I honestly thought it was okay, it didn't really stand out to me but I'm also not the biggest fan of this dish in general. Seafood Fried Rice- the star of the night. I was in love with this dish. It was a perfect blend of flavors and the roe was a phenomenal addition to the dish, taking it to the next level. Grilled skewers- I also thought this dish was okay. It was fun trying all the different skewers, but it wasn't too special. My favorite were the okra and beef skewers though! Overall Hem is a very fun and lively place to grab a bite at with a lot of Vietnamese street dishes specializing in seafood. I would like to come back and try their lunch menu as it has more traditional dishes.