Bao Ong

Houston

Restaurant Critic at Houston Chronicle

@HoustonChron restaurant columnist. Proud Vietnamese-speaking Midwesterner. Slowly learning French. Gin collector. Tennis fanatic.

Articles

Trailblazing diner Agnes and Sherman makes much-anticipated debut in the Heights

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

Asian American-owned restaurants across the U.S. have garnered glowing press coverage, James Beard awards and Michelin stars. In Houston alone, high-profile chefs include Beard winner Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen, Vanarin Kuch of Koffeteria, and Trong Nguyen of the groundbreaking Viet-Cajun Crawfish and Noodles. Common themes include the chefs exploring their cultural roots, sharing time-tested family recipes, and preserving cuisines.
Bao Ong review: Find impressive Chinese food at this Asiatown revival in Katy

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

Each time I stepped into Hong Kong Food Street, I wanted to order the wonton noodle soup. To make the dish, cooks drape bouncy, thin egg noodles over luscious shrimp-filled dumplings. Most Houston-area restaurants places throw everything together in no particular order, but purists of Cantonese cooking argue the noodles must rest on top so they don’t become soggy — and to keep the wontons hot.
Where to find the best brunch in Houston

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Sonia Garcia |Bao Ong

For many Houstonians, brunch is a weekend ritual. Luckily, there are endless options for every type of diner: the fluffy omelets served on porcelain plates, steaming dumplings for a dim sum gathering and the all-you-can-drink mimosa specials to fuel a boozy all-day affair with friends. Houston institutions such as Breakfast Klub and Brennan's have been feeding generations of H-Town residents and tourists alike.
Farmers market darling opens Heights cafe full of sweet and savory hits

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

The blueberry whip atop a lemon pie looks like a lavender down comforter styled for a hip shelter magazine. Wavy edges on the pies appear more rustic than perfectly crimped crusts. A slice of sourdough toast layered with roasted carrot harissa, spring greens, radishes and an edible flower makes avocado toast look pedestrian. Chef Jane Wild's menu of pies, pastries and other sweet and savory dishes are some of the most unique in Houston.
Acclaimed Heights restaurant Jun will open as cafe during the day

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

"Top Chef" stars Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu announced that their award-winning restaurant Jun will operate in the off hours as a daytime cafe called Third Place starting April 14. The Heights restaurant, 420 E. 20th, opened in February 2023 and is known for the chefs' take on Southeast Asian-inspired dishes. Their so-called Asian American restaurant will now be open seven days a week with Third Place operating between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Houston's most exhilarating Italian cooking is in Rice Village

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

Milton's in Rice Village bills itself as an "American trattoria," so I wasn't sure what to expect on my first visit last year. Would it be a red-sauce Italian restaurant with modern touches? A merger of Southern and Sicilian flavors? A foraged-ingredient version of Olive Garden? The restaurant won me over long before a server brought over an order of arancini or chilled martini.
See the full list

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong |Sonia Garcia

Four Houston restaurants and chefs were among finalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards, which were announced Wednesday afternoon.
Houston's best Inner Loop dim sum is at a Courtyard by Marriott

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

When it comes to dim sum, my first thoughts drift to bamboo steamers filled with dumplings cinched by delicate pleats. But for discerning experts, the quality of a restaurant's tea selection signals dim sum's true worthiness. After all, in Cantonese culture it's called "yum cha," which translates to "drink tea." I first learned this lesson about two decades ago from a friend's aunt.
The 10 best dishes our restaurant critic Bao Ong ate in March

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

These 10 dishes are the best I've eaten since taking on the job of restaurant critic and publishing my first review for the Houston Chronicle just over a month ago. In that time I've dined all over Montrose, and I've trekked to the suburbs and as far as south as Kemah. Coming up with this recap like this is more difficult than you think. Sometimes everything becomes a blur: sweat-inducing curries, sweet croissants, stiff martinis and sticky crawfish are just a few dishes that did not make the list.
The top 22 restaurants in Montrose

4 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Bao Ong

Within about four square miles you can find some of the city's best sushi, barbecue and fine-dining establishments. Montrose has you covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner whether you're on a budget or feel like splurging. Here are 22 options in one of Houston's top dining destinations.