A family-owned restaurant in Austin, TX, specializing in Vietnamese soul food with Texas brisket influences.
Insights
BbqModerateLunchDinnerCasualStreet Food
Last updated: 9/8/2026, 5:06:55 AM
Key Information
CỦI is a local and family-owned restaurant in Austin, TX, that offers a unique fusion of Texas brisket and Vietnamese soul food. They are located at 7318 McNeil Dr #109, Austin, TX 78729.
Customer Perception
Customers seem to appreciate the unique fusion of Texas brisket and Vietnamese flavors. The restaurant is noted for its Pho and rice cake dishes. It appears to be a relatively new establishment, with mentions of a 'soft opening menu'.
Additional Details
The name 'CỦI' is Vietnamese and translates to 'bone', which could be a nod to their bone broth pho.
We waited an hour to get a table, but the food made it completely worth it! We ordered the Bun Bo Hue, Pho Tai Lan, and the combination rice cake platter.
My husband got the Pho and loved it—he specifically mentioned how good the broth was and appreciated the fresh cilantro. The Bun Bo Hue comes with plenty of rich, savory mỡ nổi (fatty broth toppings), which is a huge plus for true Bun Bo Hue fans! The combination rice cakes were also incredibly authentic.
Just a heads up on the portions: they aren't massive and are actually closer to the traditional sizes you'd get in Vietnam. Because of that, it's not exactly cheap, but
the prices are still affordable for the quality.
The only downside is the long wait time. If the line weren't so long, we would definitely come back much more often. Highly recommended if you have the time!
I was looking forward to eating this place ! I ordered the cowboy pho, taco pho, and milk teas . Everything was delicious and generous amounts !!! The Taco Pho was more rich than the cowboy one, but the cowboy pho was more savory than the Taco Pho. Milk tea was refreshing and not too sweet . I’ll definitely come back to try the rest of the menu !!! The staff is amazing and kind as well!
Note : this is a hole in the wall with a few tables, so you might have to wait to be seated. It is worth the wait !
5
One of the best experiences here in Austin, TX. Loved everything about this place! The food was absolutely amazing, the atmosphere was cozy, the employees were so kind and respectful. Wow! We will definitely be regulars here. ❤️
5
Probably the best pho I have ever had, honestly always been a little bleh about pho, but they have changed my mind. I have had their Cowboy style and Taco style pho, both unique and amazing. I can't wait to go back!
5
This place genuinely made me so happy. It’s a small husband and wife spot, and you can feel the care right when you walk in. The wife is from Hue, which is where my family is from too, and you can really taste that in the food and it’s so comforting. It’s pretty rare to find a place the serves Hue cuisine in Austin.
We ordered the banh beo and it’s honestly one of the best I’ve had. The portions are small in the best way, so you can try a few things without feeling heavy. The price matches the value. The pho is also really good, but more subtle and regional, not overly aromatic like most places that serve the traditional Saigon style, so please keep that in mind. We also got the brisket rice dish and I loved how it blended Texas and Vietnamese flavors in a way that actually worked.
The space is small, cozy, and really beautiful, and the service was amazing. We got to listen to the owners talk about how they made each dish and you can hear the passion like how it took 100 iterations and tests to make the perfect banh beo. They were closing lunch and still gave us an extra banh beo, which was super sweet. I’m just really happy we have a place like this 3 minutes from our house. I’ll be a regular!!
One thing to note, it might be busy since people are excited about it. Check the hours, maybe call ahead, and be ready for a bit of a wait. Have some patience and understanding as they scale. They are fairly new.
