Kau Ba in Houston

Have you ever left a restaurant feeling disappointed, hungry, and poor? That's how we felt leaving Kau Ba. First off, we need to acknowledge this is a Vietnamese FUSION restaurant, meaning there's a modern twist to their ethnic dishes. That's fine, but I can't say they've got the fusion thing nailed down to a craft. Take the Truffle Wagyu Banh Cuon, for example. Sounds super intriguing and when I asked the server whether he would choose between that or the Bun Thit Nuong, he told me to go with the Banh Cuon. It's $23. Fine, it's Wagyu. Totally get the up-charge. I ordered the Homemade Dumplings too since the Banh Cuon is not a big portion. It's basically an appetizer. Once I took a few bites, I was really disappointed. Probably the worst Banh Cuon I've ever tasted. Other dishes were decent, such as the Pho Ga or the Brussel Sprouts. But the nearly $70 bill was a big blow, since we were still hungry when we were done with our meal and we're typically the couple that always brings leftovers home. The server asked us if we wanted to do...

Kau Ba is a Viet-Cajun restaurant in the heart of Houston's culturally diverse Montrose neighborhood. It was started in 2018 by celebrity chef, Nikki Tran. You can check her out further on Netflix's Street Food, Ugly Delicious, and Somebody Feed Phil. We came on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. The parking situation is a bit difficult, but you can find street parking nearby for free.When we arrived, we saw an amazing outdoor patio where they allow dogs. As we walked inside, we saw there was a beautiful bar with indoor dining, and there was incredible Vietnamese artwork all over the walls. The floors were a cool black and white tile with an intricate design.Right away, we ordered a few drinks:+Koji Old Fashioned (brown butter Marker's Mark, shochu, banana, walnut, shoyu, and aromatic bitters) for $11 - I loved Old Fashioned cocktails, and this one was great. It's pretty boozy, and I was able to taste the subtle hints of flavors added like the banana which was different for me. - 5/5+Vietnamese Iced Coffee for $3.75 - This came served over ice with no option to determine how much condensed milk to add. It's not too sweet, and it has a bit of a smoky flavor. I personally loved it as this is my style. If you like sweeter Vietnamese iced coffee, this may not be to your liking. - 5/5As for food, we ordered:+F.O.B. (boat load of baby soft-shell crab, viejun sauce, and cajun salt) for...

Kau Ba is a Viet-Cajun restaurant in the heart of Houston's culturally diverse Montrose neighborhood.  It was started in 2018 by celebrity chef, Nikki Tran.  You can check her out further on Netflix's Street Food, Ugly Delicious, and Somebody Feed Phil.  We came on a Sunday afternoon for brunch.  The parking situation is a bit difficult, but you can find street parking nearby for free. When we arrived, we saw an amazing outdoor patio where they allow dogs.  As we walked inside, we saw there was a beautiful bar with indoor dining, and there was incredible Vietnamese artwork all over the walls.  The floors were a co...