Moon Rabbit
Vietnamese restaurant · Greater Heights
605 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
Highlights
Vietnamese fusion dishes & creative cocktails in a stylish setting
Vietnamese fusion dishes & creative cocktails in a stylish setting
"In the Heights’ modern Moon Rabbit, co-chefs Tam Nguyen and Rudy Vasquez honor tradition even amid inventive dishes: whether I ordered the pho dac biet or the pho tai chin with lean tenderloin and supple brisket, the aromatic broth impressed with subtle, layered spice, and staff will cheerfully tell you the broth doesn’t really need hoisin or sriracha." - ByBao Ong
"This vibey Vietnamese restaurant pairs a menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, spring rolls, and bowls with fun cocktails in a stylish, dimly-lit space. The shaken beef, made with tender pieces of filet mignon and tossed with onion, garlic, and jalapeños, is easily one of Moon Rabbit’s most popular dishes, but diners can also build their own dream dishes by choosing from its savory protein options, like honey-lime chicken, lemongrass pork, garlic butter shrimp, and spicy fried chicken. Don’t forget the spring rolls wrapped in delicate rice paper and stuffed with fresh, crisp vegetables." - Brianna Griff
"Award-winning bar director Thi Nguyen and former Daikaya Group beverage director Nalee Kim host the third AAPI Month Cocktail Week with two panel discussions on the AAPI experience in the service industry and inspiring leadership on Sunday, May 18, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.; tickets include a welcome cocktail or nonalcoholic drink. The programming continues the following evening with an industry night and a Chopped-style drink-making competition at Maketto (Monday, May 19, 6 to 9 p.m.), where participating AAPI bartenders will be randomly paired to make a cocktail and a nonalcoholic drink from a box of mystery ingredients, with actual prizes for winners and a raffle." - Emily Venezky
"This Heights restaurant is a vibey place for well-executed Vietnamese fusion dishes and equally compelling cocktails. Start with the banh xeo tostadas, topped with shrimp, pork belly, lettuce, and coconut crema. Then, dig into crowd favorites like salt-and-pepper squid or shaking beef — filet mignon sautéed with onion, garlic, and jalapeños, served on a bed of greens with rice and lime dipping sauce. Diners also can’t go wrong with one of Moon Rabbit’s banh mi, pho, or vermicelli bowls." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Moon Rabbit offers an effortlessly cool backdrop for folk’s weeknight dinner in The Heights. Wood and pops of color from wall art fill the dining room, while basket lights overhead give dishes the perfect glow. But in a city with excellent Vietnamese food, Moon Rabbit doesn’t land at the top of our list. photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen Pause Unmute There’s nothing wrong with a meal here. You can have a perfectly pleasant bowl of miso claypot fish with a few charred brussel sprouts. But sometimes, the wrapping on the spring rolls is gummy, and tostadas made to mimic bánh xèo leave us underwhelmed and missing the original. None of these mishaps are enough to turn us away, but they keep us from naming Moon Rabbit one of the better Vietnamese spots in town. So, if you’re in the neighborhood and want a plate of shaken beef and a cute place to pass around spring rolls with a friend, Moon Rabbit will get the job done. Food Rundown Classic Spring Rolls The spring rolls are a nice choice for starting your meal. But if the wrapping arrives a little gummy, the sauce served on the side is good enough to save the dish. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Bánh Xèo Tostada The tostada base is too crisp and crumbles beneath the rest of the dish, making the toppings the most interesting part. Feel free to skip this one. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Bo Kho Dip Dunking this beef-stuffed sandwich into a pool of spicy sauce may be one of our favorite things about Moon Rabbit. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Miso Marinated Claypot Fish Make sure the miso claypot fish hits your table. The tender fish is flanked by slightly crispy brussel sprouts, thai chilis, and a caramel fish sauce that makes this dish a bit sweeter than it looks. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Shaken Beef A plate of shaken beef is pretty standard to see on tables here. And the tender cuts of seasoned meat make us understand why. You can technically share it with someone, but having it solo will keep the mealtime fights to a minimum. photo credit: Quit Nguyen" - Gianni Greene
