From strip mall gems and nondescript hideaways to trendy hangouts, you’ll find some of the city’s finest pho, bánh mìs, and sugar cane drinks that taste freshly pressed and served on a street corner in Ho Chi Minh City. The city’s offerings span humble, family-run restaurants to Michelin-recognized kitchens with some sticking to tradition, while others push boundaries with their own creative touches.
Stop by these fail-proof favorites for the best Vietnamese food and drink in Dallas.
Thuy Nguyen Cafe
Open until midnight, Thuy Nguyen Cafe is the go-to for late-night bánh bèo cravings. The steamed rice cakes, originally from Huế in central Vietnam, come in two styles: Bánh Bèo Huế topped with dried shrimp; and Bánh Bèo Quảng Ngãi, a nod to the north coast city, layered with shrimp and pork. The fish sauce chicken wings are an essential late night bite. Swing by during the day for cafe sữa đá, a strong, sweet iced milk coffee that will demolish that 3 p.m. slump. 100 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Ste. 100B, Arlington
Papaya Kitchen
In 2019, chef Alan Mai closed the beloved Green Papaya after 20 years. But by popular demand, and a personal pull back to the kitchen, Mai returned with Papaya Kitchen in 2024. The new iteration is primarily to-go, but the warm hospitality and dishes Dallas fell in love with remain. Stop by for an order of Gỏi Cuốn Nhiệt Đới, spring rolls filled with shrimp, vermicelli, mango, crunchy jicama and lettuce served with peanut sauce, or the Gỏi Đu Đủ, a citrusy green papaya salad piled high with shrimp and grilled pork. 5200 Lemmon Ave., Ste. 102, papayakitchendallas.com
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
A Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree, Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen is a tribute to the strong women in owner Carol Nguyen’s life, specifically her mother—the restaurant’s namesake. The Lower Greenville restaurant spotlights North Vietnamese cuisine with recipes passed down from Nguyen’s mother and grandmother. The menu’s standout is the Bun Cha Hanoi, a traditional dish of vermicelli noodles, charred pork patties, leafy greens, herbs, and sweet fish sauce that hails from Hanoi. 1907 Greenville Ave., ngonvietkitchen.com
NEM Spring Roll Bar
NEM Spring Roll Bar is changing the way Dallas does Vietnamese food. The laid-back, build-your-own spot features fully customizable bánh mìs, spring rolls, and rice, noodle and salad bowls. Walk the assembly counter and choose from proteins like grilled beets, shrimp, or nem nuong, which is Vietnamese pork sausage. There are 10 sauce choices, including the signature crab-based NEM house sauce, and no shortage of toppings. Save room for an order of flaky mini pate chaud, crispy NEM wings, and sugarcane drink. 5920 Belt Line Rd, Ste. 114, nemspringrollbar.com
Cosmo’s
You may not expect to find great Vietnamese food at a dive bar, but some of Dallas’ best is served at Cosmo’s. This retro-funky Lakewood institution blurs the line between bar and restaurant with stiff drinks and bartender-turned-chef Jackson Tran’s secret family Vietnamese recipes redefining bar food. Get there early for the oxtail pho, which sells out often, plus spicy caramelized shrimp banh mi and kimchi tater tots. 1212 Skillman St., cosmosloungedallas.com
Phở Xóm
Homesickness led first-time restaurateurs Tran and Tyler Tran to open Phở Xóm in 2024. Formerly Phở Spot, the Carrollton destination is a family affair with handcrafted furnishings by Tyler’s father and hand-painted signage by Tran. The community-rooted restaurant beckons Saigon with broths simmered up to 14 hours and rare bites like Phở Tái Lăn, a North Vietnamese dish that layers beef tallow-fried garlic and thin-sliced eye round, flat rice noodles, green onions, and black pepper. 2700 Old Denton Rd., Ste 115, Carrollton, pho-xom.com
Sweet Saigon
Sweet Saigon specializes in nước mía, Vietnam’s refreshing sugar cane drink commonly found in street stalls across South Vietnam. Here, you’ll find 11 tropical and fruity variations like Nước Mia Chanh Muối (salted lemon) or Nước Mia Cốt Dừa (coconut cream), all made with sugar cane sourced from Vietnam. The shop also serves Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, and classic street snacks, including Gỏi Khô Bò, a sweet and spicy papaya salad topped with dried beef. 1818 E. Pioneer Pkwy., Ste. 176, Arlington, sweetsaigon.com
Lá Me Restaurant
This Richarson staple honors tradition with fresh ingredients, umami-rich phở, and golden egg rolls. Order the speciality cơm tấm 7 món, a broken rice dish born in the Mekong Delta, originally made by rice farmers. Lá Me loads the plate with seven toppings including shredded pork and skin, pork chop, and Chinese sausage. Every bite is layered with flavor. Likewise, the bánh canh đặc biệt is a thick rice noodle soup layered with pork blood, pork meat, hock, and shrimp. 9780 Walnut St., Ste. #140, Richardson, lamedallas.com
Một Hai Ba
The roots of this Lakewood fixture lie in Vietnamese cuisine with a menu featuring plump bánh bao, Vietnamese rice cakes, and shaking beef. But, since opening in 2013, chef Peja Krstic has broadened her vision. At the quaint Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery, with its flower-adorned front patio, you’ll now find a globe-trotting seasonal menu that showcases her technique with inventive plates such as the citrusy escargot and agnolotti, pillowy Dauphiné ravioli, and kimchi and foie gras dumplings. 6047 Lewis St., mothaibadallas.com
Cris and John
The line at Cris and John’s is no joke. Since 2018, husband-and-wife duo Cris Mendoza and John Pham have indulged Dallas with inventive Vietnamese-Mexican fusion dishes like the jam-packed phorrita, birria tacos with spicy pho broth for dipping, and Viet chicken curry enchiladas. With nearly 200,000 Instagram followers, the social media famous resto has relocated to a larger space with ample parking and plenty of bò kho chilaquiles to go around. 6090 Campbell Rd., crisandjohn.com
Quoc Bao Bakery
The first thing you’ll notice when pulling up to this Garland bánh mì hot spot is its welcome aroma. The toasty scent of freshly baked baguettes fills the air, and if that isn’t enough to lure you in, the buy-two-get-one-free deal surely will. With 14 bánh mì options priced around $5 each, it’s not uncommon for diners to order by the bagful. Try a baguette stuffed with herbs and veggies, Chinese barbeque pork, xiu mai (Vietnamese meatballs), or gà nướng (grilled chicken). 3419 W. Walnut St., Garland
Saigon Block
Saigon Block is built for gatherings. Extended tables offer seating for up to 12 and the portions are made to share. Families pile in to feast on the baked whole catfish and Lẩu Thập Cẩm, a bubbling hot pot with a specialty broth and meat, seafood, and veggies for dipping. Don’t miss the Chạo Tôm, shrimp paste wrapped around sugar cane and fried until golden. It’s a crunchy collision of sweet and savory. 2150 E. Arapaho Rd., Ste. 200, Richardson, saigon-block.com
Phở Bắc Restaurant
Phở Bắc Restaurant delivers something for every craving and appetite. The menu spans crusty bánh mìs, rich bò kho (beef stew soup), vermicelli-based bún bowls, and steaming chicken or beef phở served in small, medium, or large portions. Go for the Tái Kobe, a flavorful broth filled with melt-in-your-mouth slices of kobe beef. 153 N. Plano Rd., Richardson
Bếp Nhà Viet Kitchen
Bếp Nhà means home kitchen in Vietnamese, and this airy, greenery-filled spot brings that spirit to life. It’s best known for its smoke iced coffee, a jet-black coffee topped with foam and a swirl of smoke, like an old fashioned without the booze. Sunlight pours in through windows, creating an idealistic ambiance for slow mornings sipping egg coffee with cremé brulee, a nutty ube coffee, or digging into a hearty bowl of mì quảng, a savory noodle soup with pork, shrimp, and boiled egg. 9780 Walnut St., Ste. 120
Đồng Quê Restaurant
Step into this Garland gem for an immersive Vietnamese dinner with silk lanterns floating overhead, Vietnamese ballads humming, and a massive 104-item menu. The Cá Nướng Da Giòn Đút Lò, baked whole fish with crisp skin is the showstopper, available in medium, large, and extra large portions. Plan to go family-style and order the Bò 7 Món, a traditional southern Vietnamese meal featuring seven courses of beef that showcase the protein’s full range. 3555 W. Walnut St., Ste. 205, Garland, dongquetexas.com
