When you think of Vietnamese food, phở or bánh mì is probably what immediately comes to mind.

But if you’re willing to take a step further into the vast world of Vietnamese cuisine, your next stop should be Mì Gõ, a Vietnamese street food restaurant on Bellaire Food Street that specializes in noodle dishes but has a wide range of other sides and appetizers.

And if you don’t know what to get, here’s what we’d recommend!
Noodle dishes:

Mi Go:
Egg noodle & pork

McKenzie’s rating: 6/10

I’m not a fan of egg noodles in general, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone to give this dish a try.

The egg noodles at Mì Gõ are chewy and soft, except these had a different texture. The noodles are made from scratch and you can tell, very different from other restaurants that use pre-made noodles. There wasn’t a single bite that felt as if it needed extra sauce or flavoring.

This dish, along with all the other noodle dishes offered at Mì Gõ, is dry, so a small bowl of soup is offered to either add to your bowl or sip on the side. I scooped two spoonfuls of soup to put into my noodles to loosen them up, making it easier to mix up the crunchy bean sprouts and lettuce.

The meat was cut into thin slices, and it was so tender and flavorful. From the outside, the meat does not look very seasoned, with no visible spices. But when you bite down, flavors of fish sauce and the Mì Gõ marinade ooze out, overwhelming your tongue. The rich, fatty meat combines with the bright freshness of the lettuce and bean sprouts, creating the perfect bite.

Hu Tieu Go:
Rice noodle & pork

Serena’s rating: 8.8/10

Chewy noodles, thinly sliced pork meat, bean sprouts and lettuce piled into a huge bowl. Literally the meal of my dreams. The noodles had impeccable texture, which can be so hard to perfect.

The meat was fatty and rich, cut into long ribbons. If you stir in a little of the sweet bone broth that comes alongside, the noodles soften up and absorb some of that flavor. Of course, you can always drink the soup by itself, as it’s rich and savory almost to the point of overindulgence.

Squeeze in a little lime juice and mix it up, and I’m sure I could eat this dish for the rest of my life.

Mi Ga:
Rice noodle & chicken

Audrey’s rating: 8.7/10

If I had to sum up this dish in one phrase, it would be flavor heaven. I am usually not a fan of soup noodles, but the Mi Ga has enough potential to change my mind.

The generous slices of chicken on top of the bed of noodles added texture and delicious pops of flavor, creating the perfect mouthful when added to a spoonful of the noodles and bite of lettuce.

The chewy yet firm rice noodles absorbed the rich flavor profiles that came with the dish and its accompanying small bowl of broth. With lime, chilies and a tangy and savory sauce, each bite was a party in my mouth and had me coming back for more! This dish is fulfilling and satisfying, perfect for any occasion or if you’re just looking for some mouthwatering authentic Vietnamese food.

Sides:

Sauteéd Vietnamese Corn:

Serena’s rating: 8/10

I’ve never been a huge fan of corn, but this savory dish really wowed me. The flavor is intense and bright and somehow really addicting. I couldn’t stop myself from going back for more and more. If I had to make one change, I’d ask for a huge bowl of this dish instead of just a tiny platter.

Grilled Squid:

Serena’s rating: 6.7/10

I don’t eat squid very often, usually because it’s a little too chewy for my taste. While this grilled squid was indeed a little tough, it had a really nice flavor and I could tell it was super fresh.

It wasn’t overly seasoned in the way that some seafood is—to cover the fishy taste—which again, speaks to how fresh it is. The spicy vinaigrette the dish was paired with was a bit too spicy for me, but I can easily see spice-lovers being all over this.

Grilled Chicken’s Heart:

McKenzie’s rating: 7/10

These chicken heart skewers definitely have my heart. Including every flavor profile except for bitterness, I was going through a rollercoaster of different tastes.

When I ate this dish, I was met with true bliss. If you were in the restaurant with us, you would’ve seen some high school girl doing a happy dance with a chicken skewer in her hand.

This dish, like all of the other small plates, had the green “house spicy dipping sauce,” which is commonly served with many street food dishes in Vietnam, whether drizzled onto the skewer or served on the side.

The sauce is slightly spicy, with a tangy and sweet flavor at the same time. Green chilli peppers, lime juice and fish sauce were very prominent in the flavors that made up this sauce.

If you have sensitive taste buds, I would proceed with caution because with too much sauce, you might find yourself chugging your glass of water before you know it.

The chicken skewers are so flavorful that they can be enjoyed with and without the sauce, so don’t worry if you can’t handle the heat.

Grilled Chicken’s Gizzard:

McKenzie’s rating: 9/10

I love the chicken gizzards here. I don’t normally eat gizzards by themselves, instead opting to eat them in chicken broth and noodles (bánh canh) when I am in the U.S.

However, with the fragrant seasonings and the hot dipping sauce, I was blasted back to the streets of Vietnam where I spent this past summer.

The gizzards were served on skewers, which is typical for most street food. They were chewy and tender at the same time, with all different flavors from slightly sweet and sour from the sauce to salty from the meat.

I would definitely recommend getting the gizzards here; they are truly different from the type of Vietnamese food seen in the U.S. This dish is straight from the stalls in District One, Saigon.

The dish tasted a lot like the chicken hearts with similar seasonings, so if you are going to order a small plate, I would opt for either one.

Drinks:

Tra Da Muoi:
Sweet Jasmine tea with salted foam

McKenzie’s rating: 9.5/10

This tea was so delicious! If you are ever interested in trying salted cheese foam, definitely get it here. It reminded me just like the salted cheese foam from Vietnam with its creamy, rich texture. The tea was sweet, but not too sweet: perfect for my taste.

The saltiness of the foam came from the sea salt, and it was flavorful but not overpowering. The combination of sea salt, cream and fresh jasmine tea was the perfect refreshing drink if you can’t decide between milk tea or regular tea.

Jasmine Iced Tea:

McKenzie’s rating: 8/10

I am an avid tea drinker. I absolutely love trying all different sorts of brews, but jasmine always stays near the top of my list. In Vietnam, tea is a common drink during meals since all water must be boiled before consumed. To spice things up and calm stomachs from the high sodium foods, iced tea is a common staple in most Vietnamese establishments.

This jasmine tea was so refreshing. It had no sweeteners, not even honey, so it was a little on the bitter side. I was really able to taste the jasmine flowers when sipping on the tea. It also added a nice, cold contrast to the hot noodles.

I would definitely recommend getting the jasmine tea. Not to mention, there are unlimited refills, so drink to your heart’s content.

Lychee Tea:

Serena’s rating: 7.2/10

I’ve always liked the taste of lychee since I was a kid. Nowadays, you can find lychee-flavored candy and drinks everywhere, and while they are a good imitation, it’s never the same as an actual lychee. Luckily, this drink not only tastes authentic, but it even has actual lychees inside, pitted and everything.

The drink itself is sweet but not excessively so, and it is super refreshing. The lychees were super sweet and very juicy, like a burst of freshness in my mouth. My only complaint is that there was little actual tea, so I ended up with a cup full of ice.

Migo Ca Phe Sua:
Coffee with condensed milk

Audrey’s rating: 8.5/10

In my humble opinion, you can’t go wrong with Vietnamese coffee, and Mì Gõ certainly did not disappoint.

Some people find Vietnamese coffee very strong. However, the coffee with condensed milk was the perfect balance between sweet and the bitter after tones you expect to find in any coffee drink. The addition of condensed milk turned the coffee into a beautiful milky color, and it paired nicely with the savory tones of the entire meal.

Overall, the drink was refreshing and checked all the boxes I look for in a traditional Vietnamese coffee. The next time I visit Mì Gõ, it will definitely be my go-to drink order.

So, if you ever find yourself hanging around Chinatown looking for a new restaurant to try, don’t hesitate to stop by Mì Gõ. You will not be disappointed by the high quality, rich and savory, traditional Vietnamese street food you’ll find there. Even if you never get the chance to go to Vietnam, find a taste of Saigon right here in Houston.