Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymond Truong.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The origins of Resilience begin with Pho Binh. The first Pho Binh restaurant, Pho Binh Trailer, opened 40 years ago in southeast Houston at 10928 Beamer Road, shortly after my business partner Daniel Nguyen and his parents immigrated from Vietnam in 1975. Since then, the family has opened restaurants all around the region, from Chinatown in Houston to Katy. We started Pho Binh Bellaire and Pho Binh Heights shortly after. We wanted to create a new brand with elevated dishes that are still comforting and traditional. With a new full bar and hand-crafted cocktails, we wanted to create a relaxing and fun atmosphere for families and friends to gather.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Since we have done this many times and have grown a strong team over the years, we were prepared for any obstacles that may arise. Things were never perfect with construction; we changed ideas and design many times. Covid had definitely changed a lot of things for new business owners. There was a shortage of supplies, equipment and an increase in prices over the years. Our location was close to a lot of office buildings which was a booming area before covid. We had to pivot our mindset and learn to get to know our locals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Resilience is a Vietnamese restaurant with a full cocktail bar. Our Vietnamese dishes are of high quality and are still considered comfort food. We will continue to add new innovative dishes. Thanks to our wide variety of dishes, our guest will always have a reason to come back! Our family environment ensures that every guest feels welcome from start to finish. Our bar is the first moving/rotating bar in Houston, and we have a wide selection for everyone’s taste. We handcraft our cocktails and ensure our syrups and juices are always up to par. Resilience is known for our decadent Pho, Lemongrass Grilled dishes, and Spicy Bone Marrow!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I came from very humble beginnings. I remember learning how to make dishes with fresh ingredients with my parents. Washing vegetables and making fish balls from a freshly caught fish with my mom and learning how to create and serve Chinese noodle soup every morning with my dad. I used to transfer heavy sacks and bags of farm produce with just a tricycle.
Pricing:
- Spicy Bone Marrow Oysters – $18/half dozen
- Rosemary Lamb Chops – $24
- Crunch Garlic Shrimp – $17
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ResilienceVietKitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resiliencehtx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResilienceHTX
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/resilience-viet-kitchen-and-bar-houston
