HOUReview
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Thíên Ân Sandwiches
Included In
Thien An Sandwiches in Midtown is a dependable spot for a quick lunch, basically Houston’s version of a Vietnamese diner. It’s the kind of no-nonsense, family-run place you immediately understand and feel comfortable in, even if you’ve never been in before.
One dish you’ll likely see on every table is the massive, golden bánh xèo, a wok-sized crepe stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts that comes with fish sauce for dunking. While it’s big enough to share, you can also tackle one alone if you have some feelings to work out. You should also order the gỏi vịt—a giant salad of tender roast duck, shredded cabbage, and ginger fish sauce. But the entire menu, from the bánh mì to the phở, is solid, and everything arrives fresh and fast. And even though the restaurant can get frenetic during the lunch rush, it remains one of the best quick, casual spots to go with coworkers or that one friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Food Rundown
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Bánh Mì
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Bánh Xèo
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Gỏi Vịt
photo credit: Quit Nguyen