Robert Rios
Latest Reviews
Don Cafe
After eating Bánh mì in so many places from Pearland and Sugar Land to Katy, I began to wonder why I haven’t tried many in Bellaire. I guess I’m usually focused on other Vietnamese foods when in the area. Shoutout to David Lu on YouTube for giving the inspiration to check out some Bellaire bánh mì shops.
After hopping in the car and taking the twenty minute drive, I arrived at Don’s, I walked in and it was busy and alive with action. I started for the counter and a young man politely stopped me and asked if I was eating there or to go. I decided to eat in there to catch the vibe. He showed me to a table. Every time I’m in Bellaire, I’m taking the opportunity to practice my Vietnamese. So while ordering my sandwiches, with a combination of Vietnamese, Spanish and English, I ordered a Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and a Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt.
Both of these bánh mì were excellent. The bread tasted fresh and was crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. It’s one of the best baguettes I’ve had so far. The meats in both were delicious. The Bò Nướng was tender and packed with flavor. The Đặc Biệt was excellent as well, with all the meats tasting fresh and flavorful. The Vietnamese mayo and veggies combined for a creamy crunchy inside that satisfied my desire for complex simplicity. After devouring the first two, I decided I should get a couple more for the road. I wanted the Bánh Mì Cà Tuna but I was informed they were out of Tuna. No problem. I ordered another Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and Bánh Mì Gà Xé. In retrospect, I should have gotten either the Bánh Mì Pâté or Bánh Mì Xíu Mại. Next time for sure along with a ca phê sữa đá. I heard its strong here and that’s how I like it.
One last note on the service. I thought for the amount of people coming in and actually eating in there , the waiter did very well. He was polite and efficient. The cashier seemed polite as well, although very busy with all the to go orders coming in. The people behind the counter seemed to be very good at making the bánh mì quickly and efficiently. I was surprised to see some negative reviews later when I looked it up. I’m not a regular (yet) but I didn’t notice any issues at all, while I was there. The food was great , the service was good and the vibe was cool. I enjoyed seeing the mix of diverse cultures in there while I was eating. From the Vietnamese and Mexican/Central American staff to the 80’s tunes like Journey playing over the speaker, it was truly a mix of culture and cuisine in the heart of the city. I’m always impressed to see Vietnamese cuisine and culture be introduced to new audiences and I thought Don Cafe was doing that really well that evening.
After hopping in the car and taking the twenty minute drive, I arrived at Don’s, I walked in and it was busy and alive with action. I started for the counter and a young man politely stopped me and asked if I was eating there or to go. I decided to eat in there to catch the vibe. He showed me to a table. Every time I’m in Bellaire, I’m taking the opportunity to practice my Vietnamese. So while ordering my sandwiches, with a combination of Vietnamese, Spanish and English, I ordered a Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and a Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt.
Both of these bánh mì were excellent. The bread tasted fresh and was crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. It’s one of the best baguettes I’ve had so far. The meats in both were delicious. The Bò Nướng was tender and packed with flavor. The Đặc Biệt was excellent as well, with all the meats tasting fresh and flavorful. The Vietnamese mayo and veggies combined for a creamy crunchy inside that satisfied my desire for complex simplicity. After devouring the first two, I decided I should get a couple more for the road. I wanted the Bánh Mì Cà Tuna but I was informed they were out of Tuna. No problem. I ordered another Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and Bánh Mì Gà Xé. In retrospect, I should have gotten either the Bánh Mì Pâté or Bánh Mì Xíu Mại. Next time for sure along with a ca phê sữa đá. I heard its strong here and that’s how I like it.
One last note on the service. I thought for the amount of people coming in and actually eating in there , the waiter did very well. He was polite and efficient. The cashier seemed polite as well, although very busy with all the to go orders coming in. The people behind the counter seemed to be very good at making the bánh mì quickly and efficiently. I was surprised to see some negative reviews later when I looked it up. I’m not a regular (yet) but I didn’t notice any issues at all, while I was there. The food was great , the service was good and the vibe was cool. I enjoyed seeing the mix of diverse cultures in there while I was eating. From the Vietnamese and Mexican/Central American staff to the 80’s tunes like Journey playing over the speaker, it was truly a mix of culture and cuisine in the heart of the city. I’m always impressed to see Vietnamese cuisine and culture be introduced to new audiences and I thought Don Cafe was doing that really well that evening.