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    Happy Lamp

    4.0 (95 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Happy Lamp Photos

    Business Info

    HAPPY LAMP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Jay F.

    This is classic old school Chinese American. Like a time machine taking you back to the traditional Chinese of the 60's. At the time we went here Irene and I were going on a cruise the next week and on previous trips we had met some delightful Royal Caribbean. staff members from diverse countries such as Ukraine and Belarus. While Irene is putting together gift bags for the waitstaff and room staff (toiletries and such that they would normally have to pay for in the cruise ship company store), I set off to visit the several Russian and Ukraine grocery stores to buy chocolates and savories from those respective countries. My first visit was to the Armenian owned Golden Grain on Birdsall, now closed, and followed by what was once called the Russian General Store now shortened to just General Store. Purchased made. But the additional opportunity was to dine at Happy Lamp, one of the three older Chinese American restaurants in Houston. Happy Lamp was established in 1973! I settle in for a lunch of sweet and sour pork with hot and sour soup and hot tea.. The other two would be Ambassador and China Garden. The hot and sour soup and the sweet and sour are classic Sino-American flavor profiles and I was in a Time Machine mode, remembering, growing up in Houston and going out with my family once a week. (I loved the big side bowl of the sauce, perfect for doing the pork as finger food to dip). Recommended.

    Tim C.

    Always great food and friendly service and a great lunch menu Wednesday through Monday

    Four Treasure Bird's Nest
    Nick S.

    I recently tried Happy Lamp for the first time, after hearing about it from friends. I can't speak to the service or ambiance as it was a to-go order, but I can say that their website is easy to use and their delivery was efficient. There are so many great dishes and sides to choose from. The food was delicious, and the portions were hearty. I would definitely order from them again. Some tips: If you are ordering as a group, order a variety of dishes and share (family style). Also, try one of the two "Birds Nest" chef's specialties options. It's essentially a stir fried meal that you place into a crispy noodle bowl that looks like a birds nest. Cheers!!

    Hot and sour soup

    The best Chinese food that I have ever tried in Houston. It's super affordable and the place it's just so quiet and peaceful, they really make u feel like you're at home. Absolutely recommend it. If I could have lunch here every single day I would! They're hot and sour soup is haven made

    Delicious! Affordable and the lunch special is the perfect deal! 100% recommended The wonton soup is well balanced, I ordered the Special Lo Mein and was perfection. definitely I will recommend to come and eat here! The service is amazing and the restaurant is cozy and pretty

    Kung pao chicken, sweet & sour chicken with fries, fried rice, general tso
    Jocelyn V.

    This was my first time going here with my family the food tasted authentic, it was so delicious the family working were very nice and welcoming. It's very clean and quiet.

    Sweet and sour sauce and Egg Rolls was delicious. Crab puff was just warm cream cheese.
    Veronica S.

    I went here only by the reviews I read. Then once I decided to go I realize it was in my neighborhood and I was glad about that cause I am new to Houston and I hadn't had any Chinese food since I left home. I was hoping it was delicious and some of it was. I got sesame seed, chicken with brown rice and crab puff. The Sesame Chicken was delicious the fried rice was ok and the Egg Rolls was delicious and the sweet and sour sauce was delicious but the crab puff was just warm cream cheese no crab.Egg Rolls,Crab Rangoon,House Fried Rice,Sesame Chicken.

    Kung Pao Chicken (No peanuts, no vegetables) Lunch Special - comes with egg drop soup.

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    4 months ago

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    25 days ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Service was okay and the food was fine. Still looking for a "go to" Chinese food spot in the neighborhood

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Excellent food and very affordable! One of the best Chinese food restaurants I've been to in Houston!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Local spot with good food and reasonable prices. Our go-to for takeout but ordering can be a little tricky (phone vs online).

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    9 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good food, good service, expectations for a Chinese takeout place were met.You can eat a lunch combo there for about $10

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I've been eating here since I was young, I love it! They always have my order ready to go without 10 minutes.

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Hu's Cooking

    Hu's Cooking

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    5.0 miWest University, Braeswood Place
    $$

    $20-30 We ordered the 3 shrimp egg rolls, beef and broccoli,…read moreand the walnut shrimp. Everything we had was delicious. We highly recommend giving it a try. Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 Noise level Quiet, easy to talk Parking space Somewhat difficult to find parking Parking options Free parking lot

    I've been a happy patron of Hu's Cooking ever since they opened the year before the pandemic, but…read morebecause of their instant success and local renown from their excellent eats, speedy service, busy-but-not-crowded vibes (see: their 1000+ Yelp reviews) I've never felt the need to drop a review of my own - until just this week. On my most recent visit we ordered mapo tofu with pork intestines off the specials menu - a hybrid of two of my favorite Sichuan-style dishes. The blend of bouncy, savory morsels amidst tender, saucy tofu was at once revolutionary and so obvious; why hadn't I yet seen this at any other restaurant? And sure, innards may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's important for you to know that none of my past orders from the 50+ item menu have ever failed me, whether enjoyed in the restaurant or at home. Maybe you'd prefer the aromatic, classic, perfectly balanced three-cup chicken? Or the sweet-skinned duck, glazed so delicately that specks of sugar crystal threaten to jump off onto the plate as you pick up a juicy slice with your chopsticks? And if you're vegetarian, might you consider the punchy garlic eggplant or the wok-kissed string beans? I could go on. Do yourself a favor and come see for yourself, though I'd recommend parallel parking on the neighborhood streets behind the restaurant rather than the rocky parking lot, to save you some trouble. Bring friends and chow down family style - you'll need help covering as much of the menu as you can, but you'll definitely have to come back to try everything.

    Photos
    Hu's Cooking - Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Hu's Cooking - Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Hu's Cooking

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    Bamboo House - Twice Cooked Pork Belly

    Bamboo House

    4.4(731 reviews)
    22.5 mi
    $$

    I have heard great feedback about Bambok House and and their authentic Chinese Cuisine. The first…read moretime I visited I planned it to the T and when I visited their bar was not operational any longer, and that was apart of my planning. So I left. The second time I visited, I had the Hong Shao Rou with mushrooms (Braised Pork Belly) to-go, not a huge fan of takeout and this didn't disappoint and it was good. The takeout team member was pleasant enough. They feature an open kitchen with two tops closer to the wall/glass and larger tables more toward the middle of the restaurant. From the outside it features the traditional Chinese architecture with western building base. I look forward to yaksying the rest of the menu this year.

    I've eaten at Bamboo House enough times to know that the food can be a hit or miss depending on the…read morenight. When it's done right, the flavors are bold and satisfying. But the inconsistency has been an issue for me, and the flavors aren't as good as they once were. Dishes I regularly ordered like Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Japanese Egg Tofu, and Honey Walnut Shrimp haven't stood out as much as of lately. Dishes like Szechuan Spicy Chicken is still one of my favorite, and Garlic Snow Pea Leaves are delicious when in season. Bamboo House still holds its place as great spot for group dining. The portion is generous, prices are fair, and overall a solid restaurant that's still worth recommending.

    Photos
    Bamboo House - Inside

    Inside

    Bamboo House - Peking Duck + Pancakes

    Peking Duck + Pancakes

    Bamboo House - Outside

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    Outside

    The Rice Box - Sesame Tofu, really good!

    The Rice Box

    3.8(1k reviews)
    10.3 miThe Heights
    $$

    The Honey Shrimp, amazing!!! Love the decor and ambiance, the place has good energy. 10/10 I would…read morerecommend.

    Box of rice Haven't…read morebeen here in almost 8 years. 1st experience was great, second was terrible so I didn't go back. My friend Aurora wanted to meet Donna early dinner and gossip session and she really liked this place. (We tried having a team lunch at the Rice Village location during the cold front last Oct but they had no heat so we opted for a warmer place but she grabbed a to go on the way home) Here we are for a late lunch 3:45 pm on a Friday. Parking was none had to drive around the block and saw some movement and bam, someone was leaving. We ordered at the bar, staff was super nice and opted to sit outside. Did not realize they deliver to the table. Order: Mongolian beef combo with fried rice and egg roll $14.99 The food comes in takeaway style containers. Win. Mongolian beef (2.5/5) - slightly over sauced for me; beef was pretty tender and there were carrots and edamame which is not the standard so maybe that's what makes it fusion? Fried rice (3/5) - standard style fried with small pieces of bean sprouts which I love so that was a nice surprise Egg roll (3/5) - I assume it was chicken because I didn't realize there was a choice) - it was crunchy and soft on the inside which I like, and pairs well with sriracha (did not eat till I got home) They seem to do a whole lot of take away. The staff were nice and hard working. I was excited when they first opened bc they had chow fun on the menu and being HK Cantonese, I love that dish but when I ordered it the 1st and 2nd time eight years ago instead of bean sprouts they had cabbage and that alters rhe flavor tremendously. I see why it's popular among the people but just don't think it is for my taste.

    Photos
    The Rice Box - The counter/bar area

    The counter/bar area

    The Rice Box
    The Rice Box

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    Cooking Girl - Montrose - Spicy Chicken Cube

    Cooking Girl - Montrose

    4.5(195 reviews)
    8.0 miMontrose, Fourth Ward
    $$

    I love all of the soups, but hot & sour is one of my favorites here…read more We usually order family style and have ordered all of these items to date: Fried Shrimp Fried Rice, no peas or carrots Eggplant with Garlic Orange Beef King Pao Chicken King Pao Beef Scallion Pancake Across the Fire Egg Drop Soup Hot and Sour Soup First off, WONDERFUL hot and sour sauce! Both the Kung Pao Beef and Kung Pao Chicken were delicious and had plenty of spice and peanuts. They do not chintz on chicken or beef. The food is always fresh and made to order. Here is where I ordered my first scallion pancake, and let me tell you, there is no going back now. It's scrumptious and totally addicting. Oh yah, all other orders were delectable as well. I'll try to keep an update on other dishes as I ordered them here.

    Wow, going back to this Cooking Girl brought me back to 2016…read more Fond memories of the CG on Fairview. I hadn't been here since they moved/took over the Les baget space. The vibes were so reminiscent of Fairview. Food was really good, yummy! Pretty large portions and large shrimp in both dishes we got. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly Sichuan. Parking lot is tinnnnnny but we luckily snagged a spot as someone was walking out. Inside is small, maybe less than 15 tables (idk, I'm really bad at gauging). Staff is workin' working, between just the two of them they did great- they were very busy. Pleasantly surprised and refreshed my memory. I feel like I had put CG off my radar since then discovering some other fave Sichuan places. This will be going back on my list, and v close to home

    Photos
    Cooking Girl - Montrose - The bar

    The bar

    Cooking Girl - Montrose - Hot Diving Fish

    Hot Diving Fish

    Cooking Girl - Montrose - Beautiful inside!

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    Beautiful inside!

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - General Tso's Chicken

    Hi Trendy Dumpling

    4.4(429 reviews)
    8.7 miThe Heights
    $$

    Wow! I went for the first time tonight and my wife and I had a struggle not ordering everything on…read morethe appetizer menu. Our server was as so kind and had the absolute flow down, checked on us at the most opportune moments (we couldn't help but order more). It was truly hard to close out my tab, which was incredibly affordable. This might seem like a sponsorship but I'm just truly in wow. 10/10 no notes. 7 apps, 2 entrees and 1 drink for $97.53, an absolute steal..

    I recently visited this restaurant and unfortunately had a disappointing experience, mainly due to…read morethe service. When our server first came to the table, there was no greeting or welcome. She immediately asked what we wanted in a rude tone, which set an uncomfortable atmosphere from the start. There was a sign on the table advertising a "free appetizer" if you take a photo and tag the restaurant on social media. I followed the instructions exactly as stated, but when I mentioned it, the server initially refused to honor the promotion. After I pointed out the sign, she appeared upset and walked away. I saw she went to speak to another employee and cracked a smiled and looked over. She later returned and offered a small discount instead. The issue wasn't about the money or the discount, it was the principle. The promotion was clearly advertised, and I simply followed the restaurant's own policy. It was disappointing to feel like the restaurant was reluctant to honor something they were actively promoting. I hope management addresses this because customer service and consistency with advertised promotions make a big difference in the overall dining experience.

    Photos
    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Interior

    Interior

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Biang Biang Noodle.  Ig: @absofreakinglutelyyummy

    Biang Biang Noodle. Ig: @absofreakinglutelyyummy

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Braised chili oil fish

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    Braised chili oil fish

    Happy Lamp - chinese - Updated May 2026

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