The 5 Best Chinatown Restaurants in Houston!
1.) Mein
Credit: Mein
Website: Mein
Address: 9630 Clarewood Dr. Ste. A13, Houston, TX
Contact info: 713.923.7488
Operating hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.5/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4.2/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.3/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.3/5 |
Pros
- Nice menu selection
- Lots of authentic menu items
- Crispy duck is a must-try
- Vegan menu items
Cons
- Pricey menu items
Maybe one of Chinatown Houston’s most well-known restaurants, Mein continues to stand out and provide Houstonians with their need for authentic Chinese food!
We have to commend Mein and their food – all of their menu items are good and are as authentic as can be! The flavors are just right, and there are lots of Asian dishes for both casual foodies to those who are looking for a different taste.
Though there’s a lot on their menu, our top pick goes to their Shaking Beef! The beef is coated in this delicious, savory sauce that compliments the Angus beef nicely. The jalapenos and garlic add a little spicy to it that’s very much welcome, too.
But if you want a different beef dish, then the Bitter Melon Beef is for you! What we liked about this dish is that the bitter melon’s flavor doesn’t overpower the flank steak beef – rather, it helps give it more flavor! The black bean sauce is a nice touch to it, too.
And if these menu items sound expensive to you – then you’d be right. The Bitter Melon Beef costs $21, and the Shaking Beef will set you a whopping $36. In fact, their least expensive menu item, the Charisu, will set you back $13.
These prices are worth it though, especially when you consider that they have good vegan options as well! The Shaking Tofu has this nice crunch to it and is just the right amount of spicy. Yes, it’s $16 – but it’s great menu option, even if you’re not vegan.
2.) Mala Sichuan Bistro
Credit: Mala Sichuan Bistro
Website: Mala Sichuan Bistro
Address: 9348 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036
Contact info: (713) 995-1889
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 09:45 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.5/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.2/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.3/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.3/5 |
Pros
- Gift cards are great gift ideas
- Authentic Chinese food
- Plenty of pescatarian options
- Cold appetizers are delicious
Cons
- Complicated online ordering process
With 4 branches in Houston and 1 in Katy, Mala Sichuan Bistro has cemented itself as one of the premiere Chinese restaurants in Houston. But for this review, we’ll be focusing on the reasons why we liked our visit to their Chinatown branch!
The place itself is beautiful with a great atmosphere to boot. But, we’re not here for the atmosphere, we’re here for their food – and we’re pleased to report that their authentic menu is good, too!
Mala Sichuan Bistro goes above and beyond with their authentic menu. Our top pick would go to their Sweet and Sour Crispy Tilapia. Yes, it’s a bit expensive, but the tilapia is coated in their delicious sweet and spicy sauce that goes well with its light batter.
And, if you want a Chinese delicacy, then you should try out their Basil Pork Intestines. The intestines are clean and chewy, and it doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste. Add that with their sweet sauce, and you’re in for a delicious, unexpected treat!
However, we do have to mention that their online ordering process can be a bit complicated. If you don’t have the time to visit any of their locations, then you’re better off ordering their food through Doordash or UberEats.
But we can guarantee you that you’ll be missing out on their fresh flavors if you order their food online. Their food tastes way better freshly served, too – especially their amazing Cold Appetizers!
Our top pick for their Cold Apps is the Plum Spare Ribs – it has great flavor for an appetizer! And if you do order it, then you should take a bite of the ribs and the plums at the same time. Trust us – you’re in for a delicious experience!
3.) Rice to Meet You
Credit: Rice to Meet You
Website: RICE TO MEET YOU
Address: 9888 Bellaire Blvd Suite 138 Houston, TX 77036
Contact info: (713) 777-8838
Operating hours: Monday – Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.5/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 4.3/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.3/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.3/5 |
Pros
- Convenient location
- Claypot rice is a must-have
- Vegan options are available!
- Exotic food options are tasty
Cons
- Not a lot of classic tea options
What we like the most about Rice To Meet You is the fact that they cook their rice in a clay pot – meaning that the rice, and everything that they add on to it – is cooked evenly.
And if that sounds like a delicious combo, then you’re right – Rice to Meet You’s Claypot rice meals are a must-try! The one that stuck with us the most is the Beef with Poached Egg and the Cantonese Cured Pork Belly.
The beef is a nice cut, and the eggs are poached nicely. Take a spoonful of rice, beef, and egg, and you’ll be in for a treat! Meanwhile, the Cantonese Cured Pork Belly isn’t too chewy, which can happen with cured pork.
We’re also happy to report that Rice to Meet You has vegan options, too! The Broccoli with Garlic Sauce stood out to us the most – the broccoli is blanched, not boiled, which gives it that crunch, and it pairs really well with their sweet-and-savory garlic sauce!
Though they have a great drink selection to help you wash down your food, we did find their classic tea options to be a bit lacking. They only have 4 to choose from, and though they’re all good, we were expecting more from a Chinese restaurant.
But if you want a different dining experience, then Rice to Meet You’s got you covered on that end, too! Order the Crazy Frog Leg and you’ll be in for a treat. It looks like chicken, and in a way, it tastes like chicken, too – but it’s a frog leg, and it’s delicious!
4.) Friendship BBQ
Credit: Friendship BBQ
Website: Friendship BBQ
Address: 9889 Bellaire Blvd Suite D-238, Houston, TX 77036
Contact info: (832) 617-8311
Operating hours: Monday – Friday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Saturday-Sunday: 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Google Reviews Score | 4.5/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 3.1/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 5/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.4/5 |
Score Consistency | 4.4/5 |
Pros
- Good late-night hangout spot
- Plenty of skewer options
- Stinky tofu for brave souls
- Lots of Asian skewers available
Cons
- $4 for potato chip skewers
Friendship BBQ lives up to its name by being one of the best late-night hangout spaces/KTV bar/Chinatown restaurants in Houston for everyone to try out!
What we like the most about Friendship BBQ is that they don’t have meals per se – they serve their meals on skewers. Though this means that you’ll be getting a bit less for your money, you can get to try more food compared to regular restaurants.
They have plenty of Asian and Chinese skewers available, but our top pick would have to go to their Shrimp Tempura and Lamb Kidney. The tempura’s light batter made it just the right amount of crispy, and the kidney isn’t bitter at all!
And, if you want a Taiwanese delicacy, then you’ll have to try out their Stinky Tofu. It’s basically fermented tofu, which means that it smells really bad, but it tastes a bit sweeter and has a touch of savory, too. We don’t suggest it for everyone, though!
But although their skewers are great, we did find some of their prices ridiculous. Imagine paying $4 for potato chip skewers – couldn’t be us!
Then again, unlike other Chinatown restaurants in Houston, Friendship BBQ is a late-night KTV. It has this very welcoming, fun atmosphere to it, and fun times are pretty much a guarantee if you come along with your friends!
5.) Fu Fu Restaurant
Credit: Fu Fu Restaurant
Website: FuFu Restaurant
Address: B, 9889 Bellaire Blvd STE 105, Houston, TX 77036
Contact info: (713) 981-8818
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Google Reviews Score | 4.1/5 |
Yelp Reviews Score | 3.5/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 3.7/5 |
Total Reviews | 3.8/5 |
Score Consistency | 3.8/5 |
Pros
- Authentic Chinese dishes
- Chef’s Specials has great flavor
- Vegetarian menu available
- Hot pot is great for sharing
Cons
- Hot pot additions can add up
One of the most prominent Chinatown restaurants in Houston, Fu Fu Restaurant has been every Houstonian’s go-to when it comes to authentic Chinese cuisine.
What makes them unique compared to other Chinatown restaurants in Houston is their menu. Their hot pots are great, but if you’re not in the mood, then their Wonton Soup is good. The wontons are homemade and meaty, and the soup is perfectly seasoned, too.
However, Fu Fu Restaurant’s specialty is their hot pots. If we had to pick our favorite one, it had to be the Special Chicken Hot Pot. It comes with their tasty green bean noodle and lo mein, which goes really well with the chicken cuts.
Though the hot pot is good, it will set you back at least $56, and that doesn’t count the side orders. Don’t get us wrong, the side orders are great – order an additional beef stripe to your hot pot for a delicious time – but the additional price can add up.
But if you want vegetarian options, then they got you covered, too! We particularly like the Buddha’s Delight, the lotus roots gives it its crunch, and the noodles give it this really smooth texture as well.