Houston • Vietnamese food
Quán Bà Ký Houston: The “TikTok Soup” I Came Back For
I found Quán Bà Ký while looking up Vietnamese crawfish one night. The reviews kept pointing me toward a soup I hadn’t tried before, so I went to see what it was about. Those plump shrimp balls and that broth stayed on my mind afterward—I came back for another bowl.
What I ordered
The “TikTok soup”
The restaurant called this its “TikTok soup,” and I can see why people were talking about it. The broth had sweetness, savory flavor and spice, with a really good pork-and-shrimp taste. I added chili oil because I wanted a little more heat.
The shrimp balls were the highlight: plump, juicy and cooked just right. They had a nice peppery flavor, and I kept wishing there were more in my bowl. The soup also had noodles, thinly sliced pork and shrimp, with herbs, bean sprouts, lime and chilies on the side.
It sounds like a simple combination, but it was so satisfying. The pork wasn’t what stood out to me; those shrimp balls were the reason I wanted another bowl.
Garlic noodles with shrimp
The noodles were garlicky with a lightly salty flavor. The shrimp had great seasoning, although it was a little overcooked for my taste. I enjoyed the flavor, but the soup was still my favorite.
One pound of crawfish
I also tried a pound of crawfish. The seasoning looked fantastic, but the flavor was sweeter than I prefer. This one wasn’t as much of a hit for me as the soup.
How much was it?
I didn’t share a confirmed itemized bill for this visit. My order included the soup, shrimp garlic noodles, one pound of crawfish and a drink. Check the current menu for prices.
What would I order again?
The soup, without question. I was still thinking about the shrimp balls after leaving, and I returned for another bowl. It was the kind of simple, flavorful meal I could happily eat again and again.
Restaurant details
Restaurant: Quán Bà Ký
Area: Houston / Bellaire Boulevard
Address: 11550 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Best for: Shrimp-ball noodle soup and garlic noodles
The restaurant was tucked back from the main road, which helped explain how I’d missed it on earlier drives along Bellaire.
Use the map to plan your visit and confirm its hours.