Things to do in Waco: The Clay Pot

I've got to fill my college nights with something. What better way than to grab a drink and some food with friends?

One of my favorite places to do that is the Clay Pot. Chances are if you've traveled through Central Texas on I-35, you've seen it. It's right next to the 8th Street exit in Waco.  They serve Vietnamese food, beer, sake, herbal and bubble teas, and also baklava. Yum.

The prices are good. I'd call it cheap, even — you can get a meal for under $8. I'm not a huge fan of the food, I'll admit. The pho soup (pronounced: fuh) is excellent. But many of the sauces of the entrees don't tickle my fancy. I'll allow you to judge for yourself. It's true I'm no connoisseur of Vietnamese food. The desserts — cupcakes and cheesecake are also available — are also very good. 

Plated spring roll filling with hoisin sauce at the Clay Pot in Waco. This was actually my friend's lunch — I had the lemongrass chicken. It's served with kiwi slices, which I was dying to try, but — cough, cough — to polite to ask for. 

I love the selection on the drink menu. There are domestic and import beers, including the awesomely bottled Lucky Buddha, which comes in a green glass bottle shaped like — you guessed it — Buddha. There is a selection of wine and also sake.

If you're looking for something  a little less strong, the Clay Pot is one of the few places in Waco you can get bubble tea, which is served with big beads of tapioca on the bottom. All of their bubble teas are blended, so they're more like bubble tea smoothies than bubble tea, but that's okay. They're still tasty. There are also herbal teas and Vietnamese coffee. 

The atmosphere is awesome: intimate, far-Eastern, and a little shabby. It's one of my favorite haunts because of its diverse menu and laid-back feel. The decorations are cool. There are lots of jade sculptures and lanterns that stay lit day and night (it's dim inside).

It was only 2:00 p.m. when I took this photo inside.

Seating is self-serve, with the option of  floor or table seating. I like the floor seating — there are plenty of comfy pillows to settle on. Patrons who choose the floor seating are asked to remove their shoes.

One of the floor tables

I took off my shoes in order to sit at one of the floor tables. 

If you're in Waco, give it a try!