
Clay Pot Restaurant
A laid-back Vietnamese eatery in Waco, celebrated for hearty comfort food, generous portions, and a cozy atmosphere.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Clay Pot Restaurant

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A laid-back Vietnamese eatery in Waco, celebrated for hearty comfort food, generous portions, and a cozy atmosphere.
"Experience authentic Vietnamese comfort food with generous servings and a welcoming atmosphere."
Try the Pho Chay
A hearty rice noodle soup loaded with fresh veggies.
Save room for dessert
The mango cheesecake is a must-try sweet treat.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Vietnamese
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Generous Comfort Food Portions
Experience heaping servings of delicious Vietnamese comfort food, perfect for a hearty meal and leftovers.

Pho Chay Delights
Savor the flavorful pho chay, a generously portioned rice noodle soup brimming with fresh vegetables.

Cozy Atmosphere & Attentive Service
Enjoy a laid-back vibe with friendly and attentive staff, making special occasions memorable.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Try the Pho Chay
A hearty rice noodle soup loaded with fresh veggies.
Save room for dessert
The mango cheesecake is a must-try sweet treat.
Visit during off-peak hours
For a more relaxed dining experience.
Inform for special occasions
Request personalized touches for birthdays or celebrations.
Tips
from all over the internet
Try the Pho Chay
A hearty rice noodle soup loaded with fresh veggies.
Save room for dessert
The mango cheesecake is a must-try sweet treat.
Visit during off-peak hours
For a more relaxed dining experience.
Inform for special occasions
Request personalized touches for birthdays or celebrations.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Clay Pot Restaurant is praised for its generous portions of comforting Vietnamese cuisine and cozy atmosphere. While many enjoy the authentic flavors, particularly the pho chay and mango cheesecake, some reviews mention issues with pho preparation lacking traditional accompaniments and a desire for more vegetables or meat in certain dishes. Service is generally described as fast and friendly, though occasional critiques point to less attentive staff.
"I’ve eaten here a couple of times and I’d have to say it’s become one of my favorite places for comfort food! The atmosphere is nice and it usually isn’t too crowded. I love the ginger tea and I’ve loved all the dishes I’ve had so far, my favorite being the pho chay which is a hearty rice noodle soup loaded with veggies. The serving sizes are very generous as well and I often have enough to take home for left overs. I would also recommend the mango cheesecake for dessert, it’s amazing! I love to recommend this place to anyone who will head me out on it."
Natalie Walker
"What a fantastic vietnamese spot! It's not a high end place, but it is so cute, well decorated, and fairly priced seemingly kind of spot. I ordered the special soup with beef and it was good! I wish it had a tad more veggies/mushrooms/meat to noodles. My husband had the deluxe pho and liked it. The menu has a lot of great looking options and I would want to return to try more!"
Arianna Taggart
"First time and thought what the heck why don't I try The Clay Pot entree because after all it is The Clay Pot restaurant.
They put so much beef in it that I had to ask if they put double beef.
Nope I guess they just put a generous amount of beef in their entrees as a default.
Mostly affordable for anybody on a budget and our food came out within 15 minutes ...not too bad."
vik Berkeley
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The pho chay is a popular choice for its generous portions and flavorful vegetarian broth. Many also enjoy the vermicelli dishes and the mango cheesecake for dessert.
Yes, Clay Pot Restaurant offers a variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan options on their menu.
Some reviews suggest the Thai tea can be less sweet than expected and watered down, with boba no longer available.
Service is generally described as fast and friendly, though some diners have noted occasional inattentiveness from staff.
Yes, they have great gluten-free options, including delicious gluten-free pork egg rolls and a yummy peanut sauce.
Consider visiting during off-peak hours for a more relaxed meal. Inform the staff in advance for special occasions to arrange personalized touches.
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The ClayPot is one of only a few Vietnamese restaurants in the whole of Waco. Owned and operated by a family team, the restaurant makes use of its namesake, traditional Vietnamese clay pots, to prepare all of its dishes. The menu features a number of traditional dishes, including fragrant soups, pho noodles, and meat stews.
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Once you’ve worked up your appetite, have lunch at Clay Pot Waco, a Vietnamese hot spot, and don’t forget a bubble tea.
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Tucked away in downtown Waco is Clay Pot Restaurant, 416 Franklin Ave., whose back patio is more of a secret oasis than a dining experience. Venturing from the unassuming storefront to the patio transports diners to a luxuriant garden complete with soothing water features, a mural, live greenery and hanging string lights. Enjoy one of their lunch specials under a cool trellis, or dive into some pho under the twinkling fairy lights after the sun has gone down.
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Clay Pot — When it’s cold outside and you just need to warm up (or, when you’re just hungry for Asian cuisine), Clay Pot has the cure for what ails you. Never mind the exhaustive menu of Asian food staples like sesame chicken and fried rice. It is the specialties like vermicelli (complete with all the fixings) and pho that will tackle any cold weather snap valiantly, that make Clay Pot a staple for Baylor Bears.
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One thing that visitors might not expect to find when they enter Waco is great Vietnamese foods!. However, that’s exactly what’s being offered over at the Clay Pot Restaurant on Franklin Avenue. The Clay Pot Restaurant is the one of the best restaurants in Waco that has made a name for itself amongst Waco residents as being the preeminent place to go if you’re looking for pho soup and rice bowls.
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Vietnamese food may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of Waco, Texas, but Clay Pot Restaurant will change your mind. With cuisine coming from both North and South Vietnam, Clay Pot Restaurant is definitely one of the most unique restaurants in Waco!. With a variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan options, Clay Pot Restaurant has something special for everyone.
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The Clay Pot Restaurant features some of the best Asian food in town and is one of the best places to eat in Waco, Texas. If you are a lover of Vietnamese food, you want to take advantage of the opportunity to dine at the Clay Pot. Everything is served fresh and cooked daily, providing only the tastiest flavors and most delicious dishes.
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It was run by the founders of Clay Pot, Waco’s oldest and longest-operating Vietnamese restaurant, and a wholesale customer of East Market for items like rice paper, tofu, and bean sprouts. Thanh Le, the current owner of Clay Pot, says back then the Vietnamese community was too small to support a grocery, and the venture was short-lived.
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Clay Pot is a hidden gem in Waco’s food scene, serving up authentic Vietnamese dishes in a laid-back setting. Their iconic pho is a super rich and delicious comfort food with noodles, fresh herbs and tender slices of meat. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the clay pot rice dishes, where the crispy rice adds a nice crunch to each bite.
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For those craving something a bit different, Clay Pot Restaurant offers delicious Vietnamese cuisine right in the heart of Waco. This family-owned restaurant is known for its authentic dishes like pho, banh mi, and spring rolls. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it a great spot for a casual meal or a special night out.
Highest-rated Restaurants in Waco, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (183 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 416 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701-2109- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like: Highest paying jobs in Waco that require a graduate degree
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Located downtown, the Clay Pot is a family owned authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Their menu offers a variety of Vietnamese fare, my personal favorite being their pho bowls and bubble tea. I have always been impressed with how fresh the food tastes, and it is a great value for the price.
Chad Conine - WacoFork - Waco, Texas Restaurant Listings, Ratings, Reviews and Blog
Every time I dine at Clay Pot, it's "I'll have (chicken fried rice or banh mi or whatever else catches my fancy) and an order of chicken steamed dumplings to start." I'm addicted to them. Hello, my name is Chad, and I'm a dumplingaholic.
Ethnic — Waco Wise
This legit Vietnamese restaurant has incredible Pho and it’s served in a…wait for it…clay pot, and it takes 8-10 hours just to cook the broth. There’s a ton of veggie and vegan options, as well. Can’t decide on what to get?
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Clay Pot Restaurant is a Vietnamese restaurant located in downtown Waco. I have been to this restaurant multiple times and have always had a great experience. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is friendly.
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Waco doesn’t have a ton of Vietnamese restaurants, but Clay Pot more than makes up for it. Their pho is deeply flavorful, the kind of soup you crave on cold days—or after one too many beers at Southern Roots.
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For fresh Vietnamese food, many people recommended heading over to Clay Pot Restaurant. They’re popular for pho, rice bowls, bubble tea, and of course, Vietnamese coffee. 416 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701
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416 Franklin AveWaco, TX 76701(254) 756-2721 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. The Clay Pot Restaurant is a family-owned dining establishment specializing in authentic Vietnamese delicacies.
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Taqueria Zacatecas for actual Mexican food (not the garbage they peddle up here in North Texas). Baris for family Italian. George's and Vitek's, of course, for game day.
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A few of the restaurants in the district you don’t want to miss are Portofino’s, Stone Hearth Indian Café, Dichotomy and Clay Pot–Waco’s only Vietnamese restaurant.
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Whether you’re celebrating with the love of your life, your family, or with all of your gals for GALentine’s, Clay Pot’s Valentine’s Dinner is sure to impress.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit