Bad weather is enough to stop many from going out to eat. Not so for Houston’s Don Cafe. Amidst the downpour, the tiny Asiatown destination attracted a steady stream of diners during lunch hour.
For more than 20 years, Don Cafe has been a hot spot for Vietnamese cuisine at 9300 Bellaire Blvd. My random late-lunch trip, in the midst of “streamer” showers ahead of a stormy weekend, proved to be no different: The time it took to find a parking spot and wait in line to order was longer than the time it took to get my food.
Crowds of all kinds filled Don Cafe-families with kids, couples on coffee breaks, and coworkers in a hurry. Nearly everyone was ordering the same signature bites on Don Cafe’s menu: steaming bowls of pho, fresh spring rolls and the classic, crispy banh mi.
The quaint yellow and teal brick cafe, filled with string lights and potted plants, opened its doors in 2002. With a front-facing prep counter, customers get a front-row view of staff swiftly stacking every sandwich with fresh ingredients. I had come in knowing I’d be ordering a bahn mi, but watching it take shape from start to finish made me even hungrier.
After my first bite, I quickly understood why it’s been boasted as one of Don Cafe’s most popular menu items. Stuffed with savory barbecue pork, pickled carrots, cucumber slices and jalapeños between a baguette, the toasted sandwich is layered with a blend of sweet and spicy flavors. But beyond its classic barbecue banh mi, Don Cafe serves a variety of different meat options, catering to whatever you’re craving, including pate and ham, tuna fish, shredded pork and chicken curry…