Cheap Eating Downtown Houston (Center: renting, university, taxi)

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by glorplaxy

Vietnamese downtown is a bit overpriced and not very good, unless you really dont know Vietnamese food. Save all of that for a time when you visit Bellaire blvd or the pho binh trailer.

Downtown isnt known for budget restaurants. Especially when it comes to dinner.

I disagree.

These are all great places to eat.

Downtown Houston - Vietnamese Restaurants | Urbanspoon

Also, I don't mind paying a little more myself if that means saving my sanity from driving all the way to Southwest Houston on 59, driving down congested Bellaire Blvd, & last but not least supporting downtown businesses.

[Kenpar]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

I disagree.

These are all great places to eat.

Downtown Houston - Vietnamese Restaurants | Urbanspoon

Also, I don't mind paying a little more myself if that means saving my sanity from driving all the way to Southwest Houston on 59, driving down congested Bellaire Blvd, & last but not least supporting downtown businesses.

I agree. There are some decent places Downtown. And the fact that I try and keep the things I like to do closer to me, makes them even more attractive. I do get around Houston, so I do like to go down congested Bellaire on a very regular basis. Many of my favorite places are on that stretch of pavement. if only we could get that closer in the city, haha. Maybe on the East Side?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by glorplaxy

...pho binh trailer.

Love it!

Might be worth the 15ish min drive from downtown considering how inexpensive it is.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by glorplaxy

Vietnamese downtown is a bit overpriced and not very good, unless you really dont know Vietnamese food. Save all of that for a time when you visit Bellaire blvd or the pho binh trailer.

Downtown isnt known for budget restaurants. Especially when it comes to dinner.

Bellaire is good if you are very familiar with Vietnamese, are Vietnamese, or have very adventurous eating habits, ala Anthony Bourdaine.

For the typical visitor, I think a place like Van Luc on Milam is more suited and still very good, even to my Vietnamese friends. Mai's get's crazy good reviews but i've always found their menu to be hit and miss.

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Bellaire is good if you are very familiar with Vietnamese, are Vietnamese, or have very adventurous eating habits, ala Anthony Bourdaine.

For the typical visitor, I think a place like Van Luc on Milam is more suited and still very good, even to my Vietnamese friends. Mai's get's crazy good reviews but i've always found their menu to be hit and miss.

Bellaire? You want the OP to walk from the downtown Hilton to Bellaire? LOL

Ronnie

[Kenpar]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Bellaire is good if you are very familiar with Vietnamese, are Vietnamese, or have very adventurous eating habits, ala Anthony Bourdaine.

For the typical visitor, I think a place like Van Luc on Milam is more suited and still very good, even to my Vietnamese friends. Mai's get's crazy good reviews but i've always found their menu to be hit and miss.

That's me right there. I love to eat and taste new foods. I pick my favorites, and add the place to my spontaneous routine if it is good. I also love Anthony Bourdaine for his adventurous eating. But I just don't eat to be "adventurous". I have a interest in different cultures, and their food just happens to be part of their culture. I also frequent Van Loc on occasion also. The Vietnamese meals aren't extremely authentic, but there are some on the menu that are, and they taste pretty good. I just get tired of going to places, ordering things, and then the waiters look at me funny. They tell me I won't like it, and then I want to back-hand them. I know why they do it (because certain people complain), but I am there for authentic food. I would kill for a Vietnamese place (or any for that matter) that serves authentic food, and doesn't have an off-menu menu.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Bellaire is good if you are very familiar with Vietnamese, are Vietnamese, or have very adventurous eating habits, ala Anthony Bourdaine.

For the typical visitor, I think a place like Van Luc on Milam is more suited and still very good, even to my Vietnamese friends. Mai's get's crazy good reviews but i've always found their menu to be hit and miss.

Mai's in Midtown burned to the ground several years ago unless they have rebuilt somewhere else.

[14Bricks]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Mai's in Midtown burned to the ground several years ago unless they have rebuilt somewhere else.

Dude it wasn't several years, it last year. And they have re- opended.

New and improved Mai's to reopen on Saturday | Houston Restaurants | 29-95.com

[westres1]

Niko Niko has a little open air diner in Market Sq. Great Greek food.

[JL]

Since we're talking about close to Hilton Americas, then try the China Garden restaurant. I think the food is average, but at least the walk is pretty close.