Huynh

Just when you thought that there was no hope for Old Chinatown, the Huynh family has opened one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the city, called Huynh (912 St. Emanuel, 713-224-8964). And it’s a family affair, with sisters Cindy and Annie out front and more family in the kitchen. The Huynhs used to own a restaurant across from Van Loc on Milam, but after some problems with the landlord and a death in the family, they left the business. Now they’re back.

Why this location? “We noticed that there are a lot of townhomes being built in the area and that there are not so many restaurants, so we saw an opportunity,” says Annie Huynh. “Our food is very authentic, and we give you very personalized service. Everything is very fresh and made to order — even the spring rolls are made when you order them. We don’t make anything before a customer orders it.”

When Dish visited one lunchtime, it was obvious that Vietnamese food aficionados had already discovered the place, since the parking lot was full and there were people in line waiting for a table. It’s an incredible value, with most dishes in the $6 to $8 range. The stir-fried beef tenderloin pieces were out of this world, as was the pork chop with fried egg on top. This place comes with a recommendation — get there early. You won’t regret it.