Casual dining
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Clay Pot Restaurant

4.6
·491k reviews·,

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

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Casual dining

Clay Pot Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

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

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Experience authentic Vietnamese comfort food with generous servings and a welcoming atmosphere."

TIP

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.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 8:45PM

Cuisine

Vietnamese

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(254) 756-2721

Address

416 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Generous Comfort Food Portions

Generous Comfort Food Portions

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

Google Review
Pho Chay Delights

Pho Chay Delights

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

Google Review
Cozy Atmosphere & Attentive Service

Cozy Atmosphere & Attentive Service

Enjoy a laid-back vibe with friendly and attentive staff, making special occasions memorable.

Google Review+1
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Fried rice, anyone? 🍚😊 #claypotwaco #friedrice #vietnamesefood #wacotexas
@claypotwaco
20 likes • 231 views

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.

Come say hi! 👋 #claypotwaco #downtownwaco #wacotexas #vietnamesefood
@claypotwaco
48 likes • 720 views
Wonton soup 🍜 #claypot #wacotx
@tynasilva17
10 likes • 449 views

Visit during off-peak hours

For a more relaxed dining experience.

Inform for special occasions

Request personalized touches for birthdays or celebrations.

Why even ask us at this point? 😤😎 #claypotwaco #vietnamesefood #workingontheweekend #viral #fyp #wacotexas #downtownwaco
@claypotwaco
25 likes • 399 views

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

4.6
(491k reviews)

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

Generous serving sizes
Authentic Vietnamese flavors
Cozy and laid-back atmosphere

What People Dislike

Pho missing basil, sprouts, and lime
Pho broth and noodle texture inconsistencies
Occasional service attentiveness issues

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.

Google Review

Yes, Clay Pot Restaurant offers a variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan options on their menu.

15 Best Restaurants In Waco You Shouldn't Miss

Some reviews suggest the Thai tea can be less sweet than expected and watered down, with boba no longer available.

Google Review

Service is generally described as fast and friendly, though some diners have noted occasional inattentiveness from staff.

Google Review+1

Yes, they have great gluten-free options, including delicious gluten-free pork egg rolls and a yummy peanut sauce.

Google Review

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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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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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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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.

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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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