We see restaurants close up shop every week for various reasons, but mostly because business isn't so hot at the moment or the area of town doesn't draw the amount of customers the restaurant needs to remain open. It's not too often, though, that we see a well-established restaurant with history willingly decide to close its doors. But, alas, great restaurants can't last forever.
Van Loc Restaurant has been open for 28 years and will be closing in the next two months. The family-owned restaurant opened its doors to Houston residents in August of 1986 as one of the first Vietnamese restaurants in the area.
After noticing a sign on the door stating that Van Loc would be closing, we gave the long-standing restaurant a call. According to one of the owners, the family has decided to retire as most of the members are in their 60s.
Van Loc's final day of service has yet to be determined as they "are doing the paperwork right now," but it is likely the restaurant will close before Thanksgiving.
On any given day during lunch, Van Loc is always packed with customers feasting on family-favorite recipes, such as vermicelli soup with Vietnamese fried pork egg rolls, a bowl of pho, or one of the clay pot specials, like the hot and spicy pork meat simmered in fish sauce (Cá Kho Tộ).
It's always sad and disappointing to see such a classic restaurant close, especially one that has become a go-to spot for many Houstonians.