Pho, a traditional Vietnamese dish, has been around for decades. Originated from North Vietnam in Hanoi, its popularity soon spread to all corners of Vietnam. Today more than 17 different varieties of Pho can be found throughout the country. More often than not, Pho is made with beef, although other kinds of meat may be substituted. Chicken also makes a popular dish. Pho soup can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner; it is customary for some families to eat Pho at least 3 times per week. Here in America, Pho has become a very popular dish among American communities. Most Pho restaurants are single family owned establishments, each with its own taste and flavors that cater to different preferences among Vietnamese families. Pho Binh was
Homemade pho & banh mi, plus rice & noodle dishes, offered in an informal Vietnamese eatery.
Hours
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | 10:30 AM–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2916 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
Phone: (832) 830-8900
Website: https://www.orderphobinhheights.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
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Pho Binh | Family-Owned Pho Restaurants in Houston, Texas
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Reviews
The restaurant shares a lot with another business and front door parking is quite limited (I’m sure there’s more either on the side or in the back). Lucky for me, I found the one remaining space at the front door. Walking in, it was quite nice, I was surprised to find it had a bar. I spotted Don Julio 1942, Clase Azul and Grey Goose. I was mentally settling in for what I thought would be a great experience.
I make my way to the register and place my order: two sodas, egg rolls, large bowl with raw steak and tendon, and extra noodles on the side. Condiments are on a separate bar and they the usual setup, but no chili oil. It wasn’t a big deal, I’ve made it work with just hoisin and sriracha before.
I took my seat and waited for the food. My egg rolls came first, of course. They were hot, flavorful and not bad at all. Then, the pho came.
Anyone who knows anything about pho is aware that it’s a monumental task to create the real deal. And, in honor of the star (the broth) it’s customary to take a few sips with nothing added; no veggies, no sauces and no spices. I dipped my spoon into the soup and — tragedy.
My shoulders sank, and I immediately felt my brow involuntarily furrow, “What the?!?” All I could taste was cinnamon. Not star anise. Not cardamom. Not cloves. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘Well, isn’t it supposed to taste like cinnamon?’, and the answer is, “Yes!” But it’s also supposed to taste like all of the other things I mentioned. There was none of that.
After realizing that there wasn’t much to be done about anything, I went for the Hail Mary and added hoisin and sriracha. Use of the veggies was NEVER an option, so don’t even go there! At the end of it all, I ended up with meat, noodles and broth. To my chagrin, the hoisin and sriracha actually made it a bit worse, so I decided to not take in so much broth and eat the meat.
Nope! The tendon was tough and kind of gristly, not like the tender and almost silky tendon that I’ve gotten at every other the restaurant I visited. Then, the rare steak was in two massive balls that I had to kind of finagle with my chopsticks, and swirl around the bowl, to separate them. In the end, the steak was okay, or just wasn’t enough to carry a massive bowl if pho.
Finally, I tried just eating the noodles. But, flag on the play! The extra side of noodles I ordered came in a bowl with no broth. We know what happens when thin pasta hits room temperature (or cooler). It solidifies and turns into a ball of yarn, right? Well, that ball of yarn threw off the temp and texture of the whole bowl. And, after about six or seven bites, I’d had all I could take. I decided to leave.
So, to recap, for $38 (you read that right), I got: a large bowl of cinnamon-heavy pho with gristly tendon pieces, wilted/dried-out veggies, mediocre beef, two Mexican Cokes and some decent egg rolls.
SIDENOTE (you knew it was coming):
I write reviews because I rely on reviews!
It’s important that I say that because this dish, in particular, holds a special place in my heart and I take its preparation very seriously. With that being said, I’m just one person! Just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean you won’t.
And, for those who are saying I should’ve gotten my money back — a refund isn’t the point! The point is a dining experience that hopefully meets my expectations. Whether it does or it doesn’t I chose tell you what I thought about it.
We all take a risk when we eat out. Even the restaurants we frequent or visit on a daily basis can disappoint us. This was my first time here and I am sharing my first time experience with others who may one day decide to give it a try! ~ p
A sandwich should not take this long and be this small.
The broth was so clean and comforting — light but still full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh and just really well done. It was one of those meals that leaves you feeling good afterward. Absolutely love it!
We started with 3 appetizers, got 1 free for spending over $50 LOVED that. The firecracker shrimp 10/10, the chicken egg rolls 6/10 and the dumplings 10/10.
We also ordered a fresh juice Red Juice, delicious.
10/10 red beet, orange, apple, celery, carrot & lemon.
The atmosphere is modern and clean. Customer service 10/10 very friendly and helpful once we told them it was our first time here.
We probably won’t return only because I didn’t like the noodles used in the pho but super happy we tried them out and wish them the best of luck.