Cafe TH

Just had lunch with my partner here. Pretty good. I had a pork rice plate and egg roll while my husband had a pork bahn mi with fried egg.
The French bread was perfectly soft and the sauce was not overwhelming like most places. The fried egg was a nice touch.
The rice plate was yummy with the slices of cucumber, tomato, and lettuce. I liked how the pork was pre-​sliced and the rice had a bit of sauce. The egg roll was the crispy rice roll kind. Not my preferred choice, but it was good.
The service was excellent with the server filling up our drinks without our asking. The counter clerk was nice and jolly. Overall, clean, hipster, and I would definitely come back again.
They also have gluten free and this and that vegan, vegetarian, and all that for you cross-​fitters. For the rest of you normal folks, try it out.

I really needed a meaty, broth-​y meal after my cardio workout, and Café TH was a good choice for lunch. Tuesday’s lunch special was Bun Bo Hue, and it came out to $ 6.50 after tip & tax. I’m always worried that a lunch price means lunch sized meals, which doesn’t feed my hungry post-​cardio appetite. However, the noodle bowl was just enough, and it had plenty of tasty meat, including a large piece of ox-​tail. The one thing I would change is the cubed pork blood. I actually like the iron taste of pork blood, but this one came out bland. I’m just glad they put a lot of everything else into the bowl.

If you’re near downtown Houston and you want some Vietnamese vegan options then this is the spot. They have an entire separate menu for vegetarians/​vegans. This is definitely a spot I will come back to if I’m nearby.

Excellent portion sizes and affordable prices. The owner and workers are always extremely friendly. I’ve come multiple times and always leave full and happy. Love the spaghetti squash bowl and the Bahn Mi sandwiches. It’s also a great spot to sit up and work for a few hours around lunch time. It’s rarely busy which I love but also a shame because it’s such a hidden gem in EaDo! You can tell the owner loves Houston and the neighborhood and all of the vibrance of its community. Will definitely continue coming back.

Found this place in Unilocal and came because we were very hungry. The place looks small from outside and even a little shady, but the inside is pretty, the music is good, the staff is friendly and the chairs are comfortable.
We took the tofu spring rolls and the fried rice rolls with no meat. Both were delicious. I don’t like spring rolls much, but the tofu ones were so good!
I ordered the vegan curry in large, should have taken a small, I ate about half of the serving and all the rice. It was good, the carrots were cooked well, which is very important. It was slightly peppery, which was okay.
My husband ordered stirred tofu with lemongrass rice (I think) and it was delicious! It’s probably what I’ll take next time. Because I’ll be going back for sure.

This place is a hidden gem in downtown!
What looks shady on the outside is not what’s serves up on the inside. Walking in, there is a relaxed, welcoming and hippy place. The place was adorned with small murals and paintings on the walls.
I ordered the Autum Rolls and Vermicelli with BBQ Pork. The rolls came out really quick and warm, which means it’s fresh for those who eat Autum rolls regularly. The egg omelet has to be cooked and sliced thinly. There was a good mix of jicama and mint. They also don’t skimp on the Chinese sausage either.
The small portion of vermicelli BBQ pork was worth it. They give you a lot of meat for that price. The meat was also tender and not chewy at all. There is a good amount of lettuce mix, which I prefer over vermicelli. The only thing I would suggest is using a thinner vermicelli. The one they use are more of the thick kind, which can be overpowering in the dish.
Overall, I will definitely come back here during lunch break. Service is fast and friendly.

This place was fairly clean. I really liked the price point as I paid $ 7.75 (Monday Special) for a vermicelli dish w/​prawns and fried rice rolls and a water. This was my first time having vermicelli, which was a healthy portion and extremely fresh.
I would definitely go here again. I might try to enjoy the daily special (M-​F)

What a great Vietnamese spot in Eado!
Big menu: lots of appetizers, soup, vermicelli, rice dishes, bahn mi and more! Lots of great vegan options as well — a whole section of the menu is labeled as vegan! (I personally tried the tofu spring rolls, vegan phở, and stir-​fried tofu delight, and all of them were great!) Our group of five (two veggie eaters) all enjoyed our food!
Great food, cool location, cool ambiance. Only con? Parking lot is pretty tight!
I would definitely try Café TH again!

Mmmmmm. I love to support local EADO establishments. They have really good phở, bun ba hue and Vietnamese sandwiches.
Parking can be tough. Good pricing and the staff are pretty quick to take your order.

Café TH is one of the only places I can count on to consistently serve sandwiches on HOT, perfectly toasted bread. It’s so good — always just barely crisp, very soft, and chewy. The only knock on it might be that it tastes more like white bread than the typical Vietnamese baguette.
They pride themselves on using the freshest, quality ingredients, and it shows. The vegetables are delicious. The carrots are well-​pickled and the cucumbers are the absolute crunchiest I’ve ever eaten. Their mayo is eggy and flavorful (though I wouldn’t mind a bit more!). Their grilled pork is cut into really small pieces, somewhat fatty, and slightly sweet with a mild smoky flavor. It’s pretty good, but I still prefer the tastier grilled pork at Cali Sandwich and Les Givral’s nearby. However, bread trumps all, so I’d pick Café TH for my banh mi thit nuong more often than not.
The prices here are a bit higher than most ($ 3.50 for a 6″ banh mi thit nuong, or $ 4.50 for 9″) but it’s totally worth it for the fresh ingredients, quality made food, and great service. The owner, Minh, is a super nice guy who always seems to be casually chatting with customers.
Their biggest downside might be their really limited hours. They’re no longer open on weekends, so it’s just weekday lunch or Thurs/​Fri dinner. Weekdays are just not feasible for me, so I rarely ever get to eat here. I’d like to try their prix fixe too sometime, but oh well.

Their lunch specials on Monday and Tuesday are my personal favorites, but I’m sure they’re all great at $ 5 each everyday. The spring rolls are $ 5 too and super filling and yummy. Overall– it’s quality, fresh, healthy food at an affordable price. Cute and comfortable environment with enough seating during the downtown lunch rush and the owner is a super friendly & nice dude that makes you want to support his business!

Passing through Houston, saw the good reviews and got ready … It really met the high ratings. Delicious food, very light and fresh. I got the Vermicelli with pork and it was delightful! I also got the Vietnamese coffee, it is just perfect! My boyfriend got some tofu dish with rice (name unknow at this moment), it was very good; the tofu was perfect and tasty.

For a good, solid Vietnamese lunch for not a lot of money, this place won’t do you wrong. Their roast pork spring rolls are my favorite appetizer. They have several noodle dishes indicated as healthy on their menu with a choice of beef, chicken, or pork that are quite good and filling. My favorite splurge there is the double stuffed roast pork banh mi sandwich with an iced Vietnamese coffee. It’s only for splurges since it’s probably about 800 calories, but mmm, mmm good!

As an ex-​CIA agent, I can verify that this place is legitimate. The food comes out fresh and hot. The ingredients ooze of quality and care in selection. While for me, the flavors were only above average, the quality of ingredients and care in creation make me five star this place.
Pros
Exceptional ingredients
Bahn Mi bread, tofu are superb
Curry flavoring had depth
Cons
Shady neighborhood; be sure to CHL or open carry

Tried it for the first time because of all the reviews. I ordered the chicken vermicelli lunch special. I was very disappointed because there was barely any chicken, it was cut so small and thinly sliced. Nothing like the pictures I saw on Unilocal.I also added an egg roll and it’s the smallest egg roll I’ve ever seen. Not worth however much extra that was.

It’s been years since I was here last (ok at lease a decade) I believe the owner changed hands. The fold was decent wasn’t what I remember them to be. The banh bot chien was over cooked and the bread was soft and mushy.

This is one of my favorite spots to eat in Houston. It offers a nice variety of vegan food for myself and non-​vegan food for my omnivorous friends.
I strongly recommend the phở and the banh mi sandwiches. The phở always tastes fresh, and the Mattvacado banh mi is just ridiculously delicious. The curries are good as well, but the phở is just orgasmic.
If you’re ever in the Bayou City, check out this Eastside spot for some of the best vegan Vietnamese food you’ll ever put in your mouth.

The Zombie is to die for! Best $ 15 Bahn Mi out there that I’ve tried. It’s only menu description «Everything» best describes it. It’s got a bit of everything that’s good in a Bahn Mi. I’d get the zombie sauce on the outside unless you’re ready to feel fire in your lower extremities. Other menu items that look great are the Heart Throb which is pork, chicken, 2 eggs, 2 bacon all for $ 8.50 for a large or $ 7.50 for a small. Great atmosphere.

Café TH is in a great little location just outside downtown and the rapidly developing EaDo neighborhood. It’s history is apparent and longevity must be due to their focus on fresh food and connecting with the community.
The menu contains mostly Vietnamese cuisine staples like vermicelli bowls, soup, and banh mi but offers intriguing ingredient combinations, some driven by regulars. Squash, portabella mushrooms, and turnip are some of the unique ingredients used to elevate many of the dishes. I am a big fan of the special broths that serve as the base for their variety of soups including shrimp broth, spicy lemongrass, pork & tomato, and seafood ginger broth.
The banh mi sandwiches are well appointed but I wish the roll was made more like a traditional French baguette. The bread at Café TH is closer to dense white bread than a baked crusty baguette with airy dough on the inside.
I bring groups here for lunch comfortable knowing that there will be something for everyone as Café TH has developed dishes for many different diets and restrictions. Some gluten-​free, vegan, dairy-​free, and pretty much everything is healthy and delicious. I think people tend to forget how good fresh food can taste. Lunch is also a great time to eat here because of the daily lunch specials.

I finally got a chance to try this place. I will definitely be back to try their other dishes.
I had the vegan stir fried tofu. It won me over based on the smell alone. I don’t usually like very soft tofu, but this was the best I’ve had. The flavors in the dish are great! Next time I’ll ask for it to be more spicy, but for first a impression, this place was great!

Nice atmosphere: lots of green plants (not artificial), multi-​colored velvet armchairs, unusual and modern interior. There is a children’s corner. The waiter served promptly and courteously, even forewarned us about the time-​out order.
Prices average. I like it.

I had the Iron Man Jay and it was pretty good. My coworker ordered the The atmosphere of the restaurant is great, a very laid-​back feel. The staff was very attentive especially the guy that runs the place/​does the cooking. He came out to make sure we enjoyed the meal and that our experience was a good one. I can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu. This place could very easily become one of my regular spots. I definitely want to come back and try the Spaghetti Squash alternative to noodles.

I have never had a bad lunch here, ever! Everything is good: vermicelli, phở, beef stew, spring rolls, and my latest favorite: the iron man jay! They also serve you a delicious mix of teas if you order iced tea. Great spot! Minh is super nice and dedicated to this place!

I swear I’m not crazy, but the phở (vegetarian) was absolutely TASTELESS. I’ve had flavorul phở in past, but this was like someone boiled water then tossed in pickle relish. Their «veggies» mimicked what you would find if you dug out the bottom of a pickle jar…
Overall, disappointing. I’m giving them one star because their spring rolls weren’t a disaster, but they sure do need to rethink their phở game.

I was craving bahn mi (the sandwich) and my usual was closed so I ventured to try TH Café. Outside it looks a little sketchy, but inside it looks nice and the staff is very friendly.
The sandwiches were not good. The bread was not toasted nur crispy in the outside and crunchy in the outside like most sandwhiches I’ve tried. I ordered two meatball and 1 combination sandwhich. The two meatball sandwhiches weren’t made the same (I think they forgot an ingredient in one of them) and the combination had brown pork meat that when tried by itself tasted old. I had a good half of the sandwhich and stopped.
15 minutes later and it all ended up in my toilet. I wished this place would ha e worked because the staff was friendly, but I’m never going back.

Party of 5 got sat right away on a Friday night. Everyone liked their food. I ordered the paleo/​keto friendly squamicelli which was delicious. Friends ordered the iron man which was good but very onion dense. Will def. be back.

Why is the phở tasteless!!! I’ve been to so many phở places and most have similar recipes that taste the same, they all taste like PHO!!! Hello?! I took one sip and couldn’t finish my phở. It literally tastes like water and when we asked the waiter about the recipe he said there’s no MSG used because they are all natural. I guess they’ve never heard of organic sea or pink Himalayan salt.
Me and my sis were really polite and said we didn’t care for the soup but the spring rolls we ordered were really good so we made sure to tell the waiter that.
Well he gets a phone call as we are talking to him, leaves and doesn’t come back. We go to the counter and politely ask to pay for the spring rolls and the guy tells us he still is charging 50% for the soup.
I understand that small restaurants need to make their money but I also understand that in the business of customers it should be your utmost priority to serve them in any capacity.
Needless to say we left there HANGRY and appalled.

I am always very pleased with the service and attention given to us at Café TH. My fiancé and I went on a Friday evening without a reservation, and we were not turned down, which was very sweet of them. I honestly thought that there wasn’t any room for us, but they gladly made accommodations.
I have been obsessed with the ironman jay, which is what I had last friday. It was so delicious. My fiancé and I never walk out feeling not even a slight gap of hunger in our belly lol. We always enjoy the BYOB policy, and had jack and coke (random, I know) with our meal. We were heading to the Sam Smith concert after, so that is why we decided to go a bit hard during dinner lol.
Thank you Mingh for always providing Luis and I with exceptional service. We cant wait for our next dinner at Café TH!

Who: bf & I
Where/​when: Eado, Friday dinner
What: vegan phở, vegan curry
Why: While the vegetarian options are limited, I’m glad that this place is open to trying new things. We decided to order to two major dishes off the vegan menu and were surprised with the flavors. The vegan curry is quite spicy and goes well with the rice, but it is a bit small for ~$ 10 a bowl. The vegan phở had a mild vegetable broth that was very squash/​zucchini forward. I liked it, but the bf was not into it. The BYOB option is cool, so we picked up a 6-​pack at a nearby liquor store.
Overall, it was a nice experience, but I’m not sure if the flavor profiles fit our tastes.

I’d probably 3.5 star this one, but the owner is definitely awesome and always quite chatty if you have a minute to shoot the s$*% with him. Even if you don’t he’ll always ask how you’re day is, and it does indeed seem he knows many of his regular customers.
I’ve only ever actually had the banh mi’s from this shop, and they all come through for me. The butter definitely stands out to me here, and any of the meats I’ve had were good to above avg compared to the shops over in midtown.
Would love to come check it out for dinner sometime, and likely will however I’ve lived in this neighboorhood now 4 years and tend to forget café th since it’s right under my nose. Need to fix that, but that’s my fault not theirs!

$ 5 lunch specials? Don’t mind if I do! We came here on a Saturday, so the special was any rice plate. The bf and I each got a chargrilled pork rice plate. I got mine with an egg roll and the bf opted for more meat instead.
TIP: don’t get the egg roll! It was strangely chewy instead of crispy, and the oil that it was fried in tasted old and bad.
When the rice plate came out, I was a little disappointed because the portion was smaller than I thought it would be. There was a lot of rice but not much meat and other veggies. I guess that’s normal for a lunch portion? For a «healthy» place, the meat was also pretty oily and had a lot of fat pieces. It tasted great though! The meat was flavorful and the veggies were fresh and crisp. I liked wrapping the meat and rice up inside the lettuce pieces and eating it like a korean lettuce wrap.
We also got a tofu banh mi with an egg, which was really good. The french bread here is different from the other banh mi places I’ve been– it’s more pillowy (still crunchy, but soft) and less harsh on the inside of your mouth. The pickled carrots and cilantro were abundant and the egg was fried perfectly. Yum!