Van Loc

The Extras:: All recipes were derived from the family matriarch's traditional recipes.
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User Reviews (20)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“They have really good noodle bowls- great location near downtown and affordable prices.” “They have a huge menu, and the "restaurant" type of atmosphere is a nice alternative to the smaller cafe types places where I typically eat Vietnamese food.”
drinks	0.0% positive	“Aside from one kinid-faced lady whose schedule I can't seem to work out (if I could, I'd only come when she was working), all the servers are rude, don't fill your drinks, and pretty much ignore til the time comes to pay.”
food quality	81.33000373840332% positive	“Do come here for good Vietnamese food but don't expect to get good service.” “Other than the mediocre spring rolls, the rest of our meal was absolutely HORRIBLE!” “Good authentic vietnamese food” “Great food” “There are a zillion Vietnamese restaurants with great food and great service.” “love Vietnamese food and this place is a real find for truly authentic spring rolls, vermicelli bowls, etc.” “Good food, excellent service.” “The egg rolls are awesome and so are the spare ribs.” “They are always busy; maybe the service isn't the best but the food is so good, I'd go no matter what.” “Our fried egg was RAW and runny, there was 2 small pieces of meat and cucumbers were dry and looked like leftovers from another plate.” “The food is great especially the soups, like pho.” “Food can be very good, especially the noodle dishes.” “Vegetarian food is even good too, and as a Non-vegetarian I would still eat these dishes even through I don't really like tofu or vegetables.” “Their vegetable stir-fried rice and egg rolls are sooo good!” “usually order the pan fried noodles but on occasion they come out watery and swimming in sauce (which is not what i ordered).” “My favorite is the rice noodle bowl with shrimp and egg roll.” “Our waitress wasn't rude, but she was completely unattentive and came to our table twice: once to take our order and a second time to bring us our food.” “Good food, bad service” “Some of the best food in Houston” “w/tip. The Bun is well porportioned with a nice sprinkling of delicious fried onions and a generous assortment of vegetables.” “They have a huge menu, and the "restaurant" type of atmosphere is a nice alternative to the smaller cafe types places where I typically eat Vietnamese food.” “The food is alright, but the service is mediocre.” “The food is pretty good, would be considered way above par in a city like Dallas or town like austin.” “the food in this place is good but do not expect the service to be the same.” “When I need my fix of authentic Vietnamese food this is where I go !”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“They have a huge menu, and the "restaurant" type of atmosphere is a nice alternative to the smaller cafe types places where I typically eat Vietnamese food.”
overall	83.33000183105469% positive	“must say that this place is as good and cheap as any place at home.” “This is a great place for lunch, dinner or a snack, if you are up to it.” “It's one thing to tip well when you get great service, but why should the restaurant be allowed to add gratuity to your bill; expecially if the service was poor, and it's less than a party of 6?”
service	41.18000030517578% positive	“They are always busy; maybe the service isn't the best but the food is so good, I'd go no matter what.” “Good food, excellent service.” “I've been frequenting this place for years, and, despite the almost ALWAYS bad service, I can't stop!” “the food in this place is good but do not expect the service to be the same.” “don't know who you people are who bad mouth this restaurant but you've got it all wrong.” “Waiters are not as friendly as I would hope, but that is expected at any Asian restaurant.” “aren't tips supposed to be for good service and not obligations?” “It's one thing to tip well when you get great service, but why should the restaurant be allowed to add gratuity to your bill; expecially if the service was poor, and it's less than a party of 6?” “The food is alright, but the service is mediocre.” “Our waitress wasn't rude, but she was completely unattentive and came to our table twice: once to take our order and a second time to bring us our food.” “Best Pho in town-without a doubt, almost always horrible service” “Do come here for good Vietnamese food but don't expect to get good service.” “There are a zillion Vietnamese restaurants with great food and great service.” “We usually frequent here a couple of times a year, but after tonight's rude service and greasy foods served, it will be our last.” “almost feel like they are attempting to get a reputation for bad service.” “Good food, bad service” “Aside from one kinid-faced lady whose schedule I can't seem to work out (if I could, I'd only come when she was working), all the servers are rude, don't fill your drinks, and pretty much ignore til the time comes to pay.”
value	100.0% positive	“must say that this place is as good and cheap as any place at home.” “They have a huge menu, and the "restaurant" type of atmosphere is a nice alternative to the smaller cafe types places where I typically eat Vietnamese food.” “w/tip. The Bun is well porportioned with a nice sprinkling of delicious fried onions and a generous assortment of vegetables.” “They have really good noodle bowls- great location near downtown and affordable prices.”

12/30/11

Run away. There are many better Vietnamese area restaurant

Went there Christmas eve, tired from shopping all day, and had the worst service that I ever experienced in any restaurant. To be fair, the food is average for Vietnamese restaurants in the area, but as most were closed, we chose to go there. My family ordered a flavorless fried rice that included warm previously cooked chicken. When I politely told the xấu xí waitress that it was poorly cooked and that we didn't want to pay for it. She told us that we shouldn't have eaten any of it, that this is how they make it, and then proceeded to tell me to shut up. I immediately asked for the manager, who was extremely nice and took it off the bill. But the xấu xí waitress mocked us, as if there was no way that xấu xí she would be reprimanded. In the end, all of the manager's niceties seemed hallow.

The problem with restaurants like this, is that if a meal is returned, they charge the wait staff for it. Unfortunately, that shouldn't be the customer's problem, but it is and as a result, no one wins. I won't be going back and will never recommend Van Loc and the xấu xí waitress probably had to pay for the meal. But her behavior was so poor, xấu xí she deserved to pay for it. Hopefully, xấu xí she ate it too as punishment.

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02/15/10

Food is good, but not consistent

by happy panda

Food can be very good, especially the noodle dishes. However it is not consistent. I usually order the pan fried noodles but on occasion they come out watery and swimming in sauce (which is not what i ordered). Waiters are not as friendly as I would hope, but that is expected at any Asian restaurant. I stopped going for a few years because I found ANTS in my water!! How does that happen??

Pros: parking
Cons: expensive for Asian food

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01/19/10

Some of the best food in Houston

by J Raymond

I'm from the midwest and I eat at Van Loc anytime I'm in Houston. They are always busy; maybe the service isn't the best but the food is so good, I'd go no matter what. My needs are met, food is service that's hot and delicious and my ice tea is refilled when I ask. You'll miss a big treat if you don't give this restaurant a try. My favorite is the rice noodle bowl with shrimp and egg roll.

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10/24/09

Tip chasers

by megdc

the food in this place is good but do not expect the service to be the same. our server is a bit inattentive which i didn't mind since it was lunch time and they were quite busy. when we were done and i had signed the check, the cashier handed the check back to me and said to put the tip on the check. i thought i heard wrong and heard her say please check the amount. i checked the bill to see if the total is correct and gave it back to her, then we left the restaurant. on the way to the car, the server caught up with us and asked me where her tip is because she didnt see any money on the table and there's no tip written on the check. i was flabbergasted and felt very offended by this. aren't tips supposed to be for good service and not obligations?? needless to say, i will not be back to this restaurant ever.

Pros: parking area is fairly large
Cons: servers expect tips for nonexistent service

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04/02/09

Good food, excellent service...

by swyzlstyx

I ordered one of my favorite/simple dishes, the vermecelli with pork and egg rolls. It was nothing extraordinary, but was good. Girlfriend ordered the coconut curry beef, which she loves. Service was very good as well. They have a huge menu, and the "restaurant" type of atmosphere is a nice alternative to the smaller cafe types places where I typically eat Vietnamese food. They've got a big parking lot, as well. I'm sure we'll be back soon!

Van Loc

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What People Are Saying About Van Loc

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Editor's Tips

12/30/11

Run away. There are many better Vietnamese area restaurant

by Cmonster

02/15/10

Food is good, but not consistent

by happy panda

01/19/10

Some of the best food in Houston

by J Raymond

10/24/09

Tip chasers

by megdc

04/02/09

Good food, excellent service...

by swyzlstyx

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