Hẻm

I recently visited a hidden gem called Hẻm, and it turned out to be such a great experience. What really stood out to me was the friendly and attentive staff. From the moment I walked in, they were welcoming, helpful, and made sure everything was taken care of. Their positive attitude truly added to the overall experience. The menu is surprisingly diverse, offering a variety of dishes that can suit different tastes. Everything I tried was flavorful, well-seasoned, and clearly made with fresh ingredients. You can tell they put effort into each dish. Another big plus is the fast service. Even though the place can get busy, the food comes out quickly, which is always appreciated—especially when you’re hungry. Overall, Hẻm is a spot I would definitely come back to. If you’re looking for delicious food, great service, and a cozy atmosphere, this place is absolutely worth checking out!

The food and ambiance complimented each other very well. The waitress was so sweet and on top of her game, she was very swift and came by whenever we needed something. The food was very good! One of the dishes was a little bit salty, but we still enjoyed how fresh everything was.

I came to Houston last year just to eat, and I chose Hem because of their great reviews and because I love seafood. This year I came back… ☺️but I had to share this experience with my family. The food was absolutely delicious, and to top it off, our waiter Vi was incredible! He was quick, efficient, and had an amazing personality. I definitely recommend Hem!

Overall - one of our fav Viet restaurants in Houston. Wouldn’t mind coming back in the future Menu - lots of options and menu is aesthetically pleasing and easy to read. Dishes I’d recommend getting are the com tam (broken rice), hu tieu, and FOR SUREEE the Bo Ne platter (super delicious n flavorful). Their sea salt coffee was also delicious! Considering we did come twice n got to experience different food quality, it does seem to depend on how busy the place is lol. Service - our first time there, our server was more attentive and friendly. Granted, we came at a less busy team so they had more opportunities to check in on us. Second time, our server was still nice but bc the restaurant was so busy, food came out way slower and wasn’t cooked as good the first time. Ambiance - really like the lanterns dna cute decor. Really brings out the viet steer vibes and the music added to it. Id recommend getting a booth seat bc it’s cuter but be aware it’s slightly dimmer. There’s also outside seating that looks cute!! Also shout out to the boujie bathrooms lol. It was clean and very aesthetic inside as well. Makes a great mini Photo Booth area lol

Oh man this one hurts me to write. I visited Houston and came here in August 2025 with my friends and Hem was incredible. The food was absolutely delicious with perfectly balanced flavors and perfectly cooked temperatures. I remember we came and had to wait for a table because it was packed. All 6 of us were amazed with the food. We even joked about moving to Houston—that’s how good it was. Last week, I came back to Houston with my family and took them here on my rave review. We got all the same dishes that I loved last time and I was so excited for them to try it because it truly did feel special before. Complete and utter disappointment. To the point where I was gaslighting myself if it was even good in the first place. I should have known since we were there at 5pm on Friday and there were only 4 tables there. The steak, which was the absolute highlight last time, was overcooked on the outside and then nearly blue in the middle. The cook was so off. Not only that but the spice balance was off. Last time it was a delicious, lovely bite of 5-spiced tender meat. This time, it was like taking a bite of licorice meat. The taste of anise was so much stronger this time around that my mom and sister actually gagged when they took their first bite. Mom said it tasted like soap. The pineapple fried rice was plain, no seasoning, and just tasted of a basic oil and soy sauce. The flavor was one-note. The shrimp on top were unfortunately completely obliterated. They were so overcooked that they immediately turned into mush in our mouths. Also the vein had not been cleaned. Barely any pineapple nor cashews in the rice. Really disappointing. Unfortunately too, the chicken wings and the skewers were not cooked well. The chicken heart/gizzard skewers were overcooked and rubbery and the sauce it was covered in lacked flavor. The beef and pork skewers were fine tho and ended up being the best bites of dinner. And the taste of the wings was still good but the chicken was dry and overcooked. Last time, they were some of the best bites of the night—moist and delicious. The truffle fries were good but they were just fries with truffle oil. The atmosphere was as good as the first time. I do love the decor but way less people this time so less lively. Either way, it was quite unfortunate. I was so disappointed that I brought my family here and recommended it so highly to the point of embarrassment. I’m not sure if they changed owners or chefs but the food has gotten so much worse over just a few months. I really hope they can pick themselves back up quickly because the first time I had them felt like a really special experience.