Located in Buffalo Park, Houston, Texas (USA), Annam is a high-end restaurant founded by chef Chris Kinjo and accompanied by Vietnamese chefs such as Dung Lang Nguyen and Kaytee Nguyen.
Immediately after opening in February 2025, the restaurant quickly became the center of attention of the local culinary world. The Houston Chronicle and The Infatuation both praised the luxurious space, the menu with rich Vietnamese flavors combined with sophisticated wine.
The blend of traditional and modern culinary styles has helped Annam stand out among the "forest" of new restaurants in Houston, becoming a particularly popular destination for gourmets.
The restaurant is usually packed on weekend nights. Photo: Houston Chronicle
According to the Houston Chronicle , every Saturday night, around 6:30 p.m., the front of Annam restaurant is always crowded with customers waiting. Anyone who just entered does not forget to stop and raise their phone to take a few pictures, because the space inside is so impressive.
The restaurant owner, Mr. Kinjo, said the design idea was inspired by ancient European churches, with the main white tone covering the high ceiling, creating a feeling of both luxury and elegance.
It took Kinjo and his team nearly 28 months of hard work to complete the 325m² space with 90 seats.
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The restaurant's space is very beautiful and sophisticated. Photo: Annam
Annam's menu includes about 30 dishes, divided into many groups such as soups, appetizers, poultry, beef, seafood, vegetables and main dishes.
According to the Houston Chronicle , while many new restaurants often struggle with the preparation and menu development, Annam shows a rare level of meticulousness. No dish disappoints diners, and the dishes even seem to "compete" to become the star of the restaurant.
The appetizer is mango shrimp salad - made with shrimp, shredded green mango and fresh herbs, served with crispy shrimp crackers, which is a favorite of many customers. Or they can also choose to start with grilled A5 Wagyu beef wrapped in lolot leaves.
Mango shrimp salad appetizer. Photo: Houston Chronicle
Another delicious dish is the shaking beef. Thinly sliced beef tenderloin is pan-fried and served with a bed of watercress and onions, each piece is perfectly seasoned and melts in your mouth.
The most impressive dish is steamed sea bass in banana leaves and served with vermicelli. The dish is served piping hot in the leaf package. The staff will open the leaf and sprinkle water, revealing the soft, fragrant sea bass lying on a layer of clear, chewy vermicelli, blending the delicate flavors.
Vietnamese spring rolls or banh xeo are transformed into small, easy-to-hold cakes, enjoyed similarly to temaki - the famous Japanese hand-rolled sushi.
Each dish is meticulously and delicately prepared: from crispy fried chicken wings soaked in fish sauce to steamed clams with lemongrass, served with a distinctive ginger fish sauce.
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Fried chicken wings with fish sauce, beef stew... are all delicately prepared. Photo: Annam
On The Infatuation , the restaurant is rated 8.2 points - a rating for a place worth experiencing. Among the outstanding dishes, the hotpot in the island makes a strong impression when served in a pot with a charcoal tube placed in the middle, keeping the hotpot always hot.
In Western Vietnam, people often use a specially designed aluminum pot: a round pot body with a handle, and in the middle of the pot is a hollow aluminum tube that sticks out to hold hot coals to keep the heat.
The shape of the pot evokes the image of floating islands in the middle of the river - a familiar symbol of the West. Around the coal tube, ingredients such as shrimp, fish, meat, vegetables, and tubers are displayed in a variety of colors, symbolizing the prosperity of the island region.
Unique hotpot dish for international diners. Video : Annam
Mr. Kinjo shared that his and his colleagues' goal is to create a sophisticated, high-class Vietnamese culinary address.
The Houston Chronicle also praised Annam, saying that the restaurant was convincing enough from the first impression. "The best Vietnamese restaurant in Houston probably belongs to Annam," the site wrote.
Linh Trang - Khanh Linh
What is the specialty of Vietnamese restaurants in the UK that is praised as 'worth every penny'? In the middle of the bustling culinary street in Islington (London, UK), there is a small Vietnamese restaurant called Dzo! Viet Kitchen that attracts many diners with its unique design and menu.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nha-hang-mon-viet-o-my-gay-sot-khach-tap-nap-moi-cuoi-tuan-2453622.html
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