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Vieng Thai Restaurant

MY REVIEW: I always enjoyed the food in the past, but will never go back. When my step-mother attempted to ask questions about the menu the response was, "you order first, no question now." What the heck does that mean!!!? The waitress started yelling at her and when I tried to intervene and calm everything down, the waitress got nasty with me. I'll certainly be telling my friends I once advised to go here about my experience and to consider other Thai places. RUDE, RUDE, RUDE, RUDE, RUDE, RUDE, RUDE, RUDE!

NAME: jim
SUBMITTED: 6/25/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/12
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Food is great and service is good and friendly. This is my 2nd favorite Thai restaurant in Houston.

NAME: kapkunkrap
SUBMITTED: 6/10/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2012
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Mystery solved, the main cook is not here!!!

So to clarify everybody's questions about the negative change in Vieng Thai, I got an answer from my Thai friend, a regular there: the main cook left the place. Now the owner cook by herself. That is the reason why the food is crappy. I assume we have to look for a new place. This is too bad.

NAME: Girli Girli Girl
SUBMITTED: 3/18/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: feb 2012
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: We decided to try the restaurant based on reviews from this site. We both had curry (red and green) and their fried chicken. The food was great!!! Had enough leftover for another lunch. The waitress was very nice and courtesous. The place is small but filled up in a hurry with lunch crowd. Nice homey ambiance too. We will DEFINITELY come back!!!

NAME: mkgirls
SUBMITTED: 10/6/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Oct/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I discovered on my last visit that during the hours of 3-5 in the afternoon, that "the ladies" in the kitchen take their break. This is is the first time I have ever NOT been BLOWN AWAY by thier food. Heat, flavor, HOTNESS, presence of ingredients that I did not recognize (I was raised a foodie from birth, c:1962; by a father who was a foodie that was born in 1907) so I know WTH I'm talking about! It's a little out of my way for both me & my friends, but I'm hoping for re-visit very soon.

HIGH-POINTS: BYOB!!!!!!!!!!!! THE most authentic (speaking as Texan who eats and reads) Thai food ever! IT WILL MAKE YOU SWEAT!!! (and taste, and marvel!!) The Thia kid working @ the former G*olden Room, now K*hun Kai on Montrose; said "oh wow, they're REALlY authentic" as we were discussing "off menu" dishes

Planing of having my next birthday dinner there....which I just thought of as I was writing this review!! Better let them know now, and the peeps AND the designated drivers!!!

NAME: celadon9
SUBMITTED: 4/21/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/5/2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Something has slipped here, whether it's the owner not showing up as much, or a new kitchen staff, or both, I don't know. But all 3 in my party agreed about this and thought it a shame, as Vieng had been the best Thai for many years.

My suggestion, stick to the popular dishes and don't go too adventurous here anymore.

NAME: fiorello
SUBMITTED: 2/23/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Feb 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I've been here quite a few times, and was very surprised to read the negative reviews...very surprised. Its a mom an pop place, so expect slower service since there is only one waiter for the entire place especially on a busy night. I had the Spicy Catfish, amazing as per usual and for those who say it isn't authentic are complete idiots I've been to Thailand a few times and this place is authentic. Keep up the great work and I shall be returning, for those who have not been to Vieng Thai do not be discouraged, trust me.

NAME: Cappa
SUBMITTED: 2/21/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/21/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I agree with the last reviewer, something must have changed in this place. Based on reviews in the Chronicle, Press, and here; I was expected something authentic and amazing. I'm guessing they may have met their doom at the expense of all the good press because I can assure you, we won't be returning. This place was not inexpensive either. We ordered "to-go" and the had our order completely screwed up (which honestly, isn't a big deal to me. Stuff happens). The chicken satay was $6 and had 3 skinny skewers of average quality. I would hardly call this inexpensive. The 3 fried spring rolls we received were the size of my thumb (trust me, this is NOT an exaggeration!) and were $5. The Pad See Ewe was decent, but a small portion and was $9. The Panaeng Chicken ($9) was a watery mess. Again, the flavor was decent, but there was absolutely no silkiness or thickness at all. It was well below average. All of these prices were well ABOVE what they are listed at on their online menu. I didn't look at their menu at the restaurant. I was there at about 7:30pm on a Sunday night and there were only 3 - 4 tables in the restaurant and none of them were Thai. Trust me, someone is trying to take advantage by jacking the prices and sending the original chef on vacation. I am a Thai addict and I won't be returning. Which is a shame because it's fairly close to our house. Their slogan is "Eat Thai where Thais Eat". Trust me, they aren't eating there anymore!

NAME: seemadeye
SUBMITTED: 6/7/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/06/10
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I was told about this place being one of the two best Thai resturants in Houston. Finally, I got the time to make a trip to try it out with a group of friends.

When we got in we were seated immediately which is good, however the place seemed packed and the next couple that came in were seated at a table that another couple were at, which was odd cause that takes away from privacy.

The waiter asked us what we wanted for drinks, I ordered Thai tea but was told that they were out, so I just got water.

We ordered Tom Yum soup, shrimp salad, and chicken curry. This is were things really went bad. I have had Tom Yum before and this to me was not Tom Yum. There was no flavor, it was watered down, but the biggest problem was there was absolutely no hint whatsoever of lemon grass. Tom Yum without lemon grass IS NOT Tom Yum, let's make that clear. Confused, I next tried the shrimp salad, it was not bad but nothing special either, I've had better. Finally I tried the curry, surely this is a key dish that should win my heart, nope it also failed miserably.

I could not understand this? This is authentic Thai food?? My friend who had recommended the place was not happy either and finally ordered Thai noodles in hopes that it would at least be some sort of recovery. It was not, in fact it was the nail in the coffin. The noodles were soaked in grease and the flavor was overwhelming and bad.

We assume that there may have been a change in ownership at some point since my friends last visit, since before this experience he had said that this was one of the best Thai places in town. I am not sure if ownership changed? cooks changed? or they dropped the ball that night, but I will not be coming back here again.

NAME: Peyman
SUBMITTED: 3/12/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 3-6-2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: My husband and I have gone there at least 100 times. Strong Points: The food is excellent! It's a BYOB restaurant which we are always on the lookout for. No corkage fee, btw. It's inexpensive. It's clean. The owner and staff are quite friendly. My favorite dish is the spicy anchovy salad. It has a huge menu full of authentic Thai dishes. We are never disappointed. Check it out! It's not a fancy place... but it's really good!

NAME: Mimi
SUBMITTED: 3/5/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: February 2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: THE FOOD WAS GREAT! The service was good. Very large menu, varied selections and prices affortable for this day and time!

I did ask if basil could be added to my ginger chicken(wonderful my the way) but was told this dish has no basil and that it was not the Thai way! I know the owner wants it to be most authentic Thai food in Houston BUT I am a Thai basil nut so was disappointed! HOWEVER when my dish was served, I was given a small bowl of fresh basil and added my own! East Meets West..That worked... the chef wasn't dishonored and I was HAPPY!

Going Back on Sunday..I suggest you try it!

NAME: J.C.
SUBMITTED: 8/28/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/28/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: We read in the Houston Press that this was BYOB, so we decided to check it out on a Thursday. The menu selection was plentiful. We had rice paper spring rolls, pork pad-thai, and I had Pad Prik Paow, a dish with lemon grass, chicken, onion, pepper, and a typical brown sauce. All of the food was great and they had high quality long grain jasmine rice. The spring rolls were fresh and a great start to the meal.

NAME: Camaro_hodges
SUBMITTED: 7/11/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: This place serves the best, most authentic Thai food of any of the many Thai places I have tried in Houston, and elsewhere. The location is remote, and it doesn't look like much from the outside or the inside, and the service can be brusk, but it's all about the food.

A good starter is the E-Sarn sausage, not something I ever associated with Thai cuisine before I had it here, but excellent. The Som Tum is also spectactular (a spicy green papaya salad with garlic, chiles, dried shrimp, in a lime dressing). This dish will always be included in any meal I ever have at Vieng Thai. We have tried several of the entrees, including Pad Sar-tor, Pad Grapraow (with long beans), Ong Choy on Fire, and Red Snapper with chili sauce. So many great things on the menu, and we haven't even tried the curries yet, which are our regular "thing". Try this place, you won't be disappointed. Give yourself a break from N*t No*.

NAME: jerry123
SUBMITTED: 5/13/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: April/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Decided to give them a shot because we were in the area for a show at the Improv. I had read many positive reviews and heard great things about this place.

My wife and brother's lady ordered the Tom Yum. It was the best I have had to date. My brother got the Tom Kah. It was actually made with coconut milk as opposed to coconut cream like some other establishments. It was excellent as well. I ordered the Papaya salad with salted crab. I was very impressed but would prefer an option to exclude the crab or dried shrimp. We wanted to order the garlic spare ribs but they were out. We chose the chicken wings instead and were very underwhelmed. Basically bland fried chicken with a side of sweet chili sauce.

I usually judge a Thai place on their Kee Mao noodle and this is what my brother an I ordered. It was average. I like some searing of the noodle from the wok for a good smokey element and this totally lacked it. My wife got a ginger chicken dish, brother's date got a cashew chicken dish. Both were pretty good. The cashews were well roasted. the prices were decent and the 4 of us got to eat like royalty for about $80.

In the end, I still contend that Thai S*eafood in Clear Lake has the best Kee Mao noodle but this is still a great restaurant. If I was in the area of Vieng Thai, I'd definately stop by for some soup or papaya salad. I won't be going out of my way for it though.

NAME: Keiff
SUBMITTED: 1/31/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: this is the best thai food in houston, that being said you do have to put up with the thai nazi (i am not claiming he is fascist only that the soup nazi is an apt comparison) he refused to give a friend of mine what she ordered because she requested that it not be spicy. the plate she did get was actually really good though.

the owner is usually nice enough (meaning cold and neutral) when said friend is not with us (less so when she is). and the other employees are very friendly. but the food is outstanding so we go back.

NAME: ooogaboooga
SUBMITTED: 12/14/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: dec/08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

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