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    Nu Cafe

    3.9 (783 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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    Amy K.

    Yummy shaved ice with quick service! The place has plenty of seating and combinations for your shaved ice. I do wish we were able to get more mango toppings with our shaved ice. Otherwise the mountain size is perfect for two people.

    Strawberry with Hersey and m&ms
    Star M.

    The shaved ice was amazing, it literally melts in your mouth. Tried the taro milk tea for the first time, it was great. The boba not really a fan of it. Def would go again for a light dessert! Def recommend!

    Taro shaved ice with banana, strawberries, mochi and dulce de leche
    Henry B.

    Came in on a Friday evening around 10pm, place was pretty packed and we got the last seats. Food 6/5: we got the Taro shaved ice with banana, strawberries, mochi and dulce de leche. All of it tasted amazing. Service 3/5: super busy, really slow, took 15 minutes for it to come out Ambiance 2:5: pretty run down looking with metal chairs and dirty tables Value 4/5: pretty good value given how good it was Overall 4/5: I heavily weighed food in my rating since it's purely a dessert place and given the price, my expectations for service and ambiance were lower. Given how good it was, would come back again so didn't seem right to give it a lower rating Parking: massive parking lot that's super busy on weekends and can be difficult to find parking. Don't be the jerk that stops right next to the entrance waiting for a spot and no one else can get into the plaza

    Matcha Shaved Ice
    Bryan V.

    A Chinatown classic! I've been going here for years for a refreshing sweet treat that's great to share amongst friends. You get a paper slip to order and customize your shaved ice to your liking, so it's hard to leave feeling disappointed when there's enough flavors and toppings to cater to everyone's tastes. The last time I went I got the matcha shaved ice with strawberries and Oreos. It's on the sweeter side of matcha but still enjoyable nonetheless. Definitely share a mountain size with at least four people.

    Taro
    Leyon L.

    If you're in Houston and haven't been to Nu Cafe yet, stop what you're doing and go! Seriously, this place is a gem. First of all, their shaved ice cream is so good it might ruin regular ice cream for you. It's creamy, fluffy, and melts in your mouth like a snowflake of happiness. They have all these fun flavors and toppings, and somehow everything just works. I don't know if there's magic involved, but I'm not questioning it. The owner? Absolute sweetheart. You know when someone is so nice you just want to be their best friend? That's the vibe here. They're warm, welcoming, and make you feel like you're hanging out at a friend's house--except your friend happens to serve incredible desserts. And can we talk about how clean this place is? Like, sparkling clean. You could probably eat off the floor (don't, though). It's also super spacious, so you're not awkwardly bumping into strangers while trying to enjoy your boba. The lighting is perfect--not too dim, not blinding, just bright enough to remind you you're living your best life. All in all, Nu Cafe is the kind of place you'll go back to again and again because it just makes you happy. Plus, who doesn't want a shaved ice cream snowflake of happiness?

    Matcha Shaved with Oreo and Boba!
    Emily C.

    I love all types of ice cream treats so I knew I wanted to give this spot a try! the shaved ice is amazing, lots of flavor and the matcha one is SO GOOD! I highly recommend! My only gripe was the boba topping! The syrup was very sweet and made the dessert a little too sweet for me, so I would recommend not getting the boba topping in ur dessert! I took a star off because the ambience and service was not very good..this place gets very busy easily and as a result it can be a very long wait to get ur dessert! I waited about 20 minutes for mine, it was also just very loud because of the amount of people! They usually shout out your name when your order is ready but it can be hard to hear because of how loud everyone is.. I would recommend going during the day and not weekend evenings as that's when it's most packed!

    Lychee hill + watermelon and condensed milk
    Alice H.

    I'm a traditionalist when it comes to shaved ice and have been hesitant to try something that looks more like ice cream. But today was the day! Yes, it's definitely creamier than ice but it still has ice crystals in the smooth texture, so you still get the feel of shaved ice. I was even more intrigued after reading their story on the wall about how all their ice blocks are made of fresh ingredients, not powder. I got the lychee hill with watermelon topping + condensed milk. Great flavor and definitely didn't need the condensed milk. Glad I finally decided to give it a try after walking past it hundreds of times! Want to try more of their flavors now that I know it's all fresh ingredients.

    Green tea shaved ice mountain with condensed milk, boba, lychee popping pearls
    Lainey N.

    This shaved ice was pretty good and the green tea flavor was exactly was I was hoping for. The boba was very chewy and soft which I loved. It came out so quick too. The ambiance was very family friendly and cheerful. I would come here again for a sweet treat.

    Hassan G.

    Can't go wrong with a mountain of shaved ice with jelly and actual fruit. went to @nuiceus which is a Taiwanese Cafe serving "Nu Ice" which is a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. we ordered the Lychee flavored with Lychee jelly and pieces of Mango. overall it was delicious, the texture did actually feel like a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. overall a great spot

    King Kong and salted caramel
    Brad G.

    This is one of those must try places. It is not a shaved ice, ice cream or yogurt. It has a light creamy texture all its own. It comes in a hill size and a mountain size. The hill is big enough for two. They also have Boba teas here. The King Kong is my Favorite. Feel free to ask questions, the staff is very helpful and know this place is different that you may need help with your choice. It can be quite busy but the line always moves quickly.

    Matcha with mochi and Oreo drizzled with condensed milk
    Joelex D.

    Nu Cafe has been a personal favorite for shaved ice! The ordering process is very fast! You'll just need to fill out a small slip to designate and customize your order for the base and toppings. We try there matcha base and coconut based shaved ice with drizzles of condensed milk and mango respectively. I really enjoy the consistency of their shaved ice because it carries a very fluffy, light, and airy texture unlike other shaved ice cafes. The flavor is well imparted and on point. The base flavor is done well and not overly too overpowering so that your drizzle and toppings help highlight the flavors of the dessert in between bites. This is definitely a major standout and I look forward to coming back! As far as room goes, there's a decent amount of tables and chairs that aren't too highly contested. But sometimes you may have to be a little patient on super busy weekends. But this is usually not an issue.

    Lychee Shaved Ice Cream
    Charnie D.

    Service was decent and the shaved ice hit the spot during a hot and humid day. When we went, there was a lot of ingredients that were out. Hopefully we will go a little earlier next time to avoid toppings running out.

    Thai tea
    Karen K.

    I'm amazed at how they are able to make flavored shaved ice. We chose almond flavor with mochi and condensed milk. Ordering was a breeze with a convenient order form to make your selections. The order came out rather quickly as they were quite busy. The ice itself was packed with flavor and went well with the chewy mochi. If you don't like super sweet desserts, I would leave out the condensed milk. I found it too sweet with it on. The thai tea was way too sweet for my liking. I waited for my ice to melt and then it was just right. Overall, great dessert place to go with friends. There are plenty of tables but I can see that it can be quite tight if you go during a busy hour.

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    2 years ago

    Get a large shaved ice and 2 toppings are included. Plus 1 drizzle. Go early less lines. A little pricey.

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    CHICHA San Chen

    CHICHA San Chen

    4.3
    (155 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    So glad to hear that one recently opened up in Houston. Would LOVE to take my cousins here one day…read more Environment/Atmosphere - Super crowded when we got here, but the lines moved fast, and there was a kiosk to self-order if you didn't want to wait in line for the cashier. One of my favorite things was how fragrant the space smelled while I waited for my boba. You could tell there was an exceptional tea aroma lingering despite all the cream and sweetness. The place was exceptionally clean for being so busy, and the workers consistently cleaned as they made the drinks, so you knew you could trust the sanitation here. Drink Design - I have to make a separate comment on how CUTE these drinks were. I loved the intentional sticker placement over the lips and the little carrying handle. You could tell they went the extra mile to make these drinks not just flavorful, but an experience in and of themselves. Even their receipt paper felt luxurious. That sounds ridiculous to point out, but the thought behind every aspect of this place is impeccable. High Mountain Pouchong Tea w. Lemon Juice & Mousse (Creamy Lemon Tart) - After all the sugar I had today, this lemony drink hit the spot with its perfect tartness. The cream had bits of lemon zest in it, adding to the aroma. I tried to adjust the sweetness when I ordered and was told it had a built-in sweetness, but if I found it too sweet, they would happily switch it out for another drink. I felt like I was dealing with Amazon's generous return policy--and luckily, the drink was perfect, so no return was needed! Creamy Mango Tart - Literally like the Lemon Tart, but mango. I loved this just as much and really enjoyed the refreshing flavors of BOTH tarts. Instantly a fan favorite. Dong Ding Oolong Tea w. Fresh Milk - Very mild and creamy, almost like a mellow latte. Not my favorite because it was a bit too creamy after everything else I had today. Still, I loved the tea profile and can absolutely see why others would love it. Overall, I love, love, LOVE this place. 1000/10. From the experience to the quality and intentionality behind every little detail, I couldn't be happier with my visit. I never thought I'd ever say that a drink was so Instagram-worthy, but these drinks were beautiful--like models of the boba world. Would go back in a heartbeat. This has officially won the spot for my favorite boba place.

    I have heard the hype for Chicha San Chen and I wanted to try it. This place is definitely a more…read moreelevated than your normal boba tea place and you can tell by the crowds. We had to wait a little in line but the service was fast! The tea tastes great and I like the cup they serve it. I appreciate that they offer your sweet level and ice level you prefer. And the prices are reasonable compared to other places I've visited. You see families of all ages come into this place, as it's shown in social media it definitely brings a crowd. One nice addition that I saw was a Photo Booth and tea tasting station! You don't have to worry about parking as it's located in a strip mall so there's quite a bit of spaces. Overall I enjoyed my time and would like to try other tea options here.

    Photos
    Green tea with milk and grass jelly.
    Green tea with milk and grass jelly.
    Cassie black tea + mousse
    Cassie black tea + mousse
    Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba

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    Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba
    Heytea

    Heytea

    4.4
    (121 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This spot remains one of my absolute favorite boba places in Houston, thanks to their top-notch tea…read moreand milk tea quality. I love their app, highly recommend it to pre-order through the app, it's extremely accurate in term of wait time and easy to use. However, there are a couple of downsides: their matcha is just average, their menu is a bit limited, and my favorite drinks are frustratingly often out of stock or out of season. My top recommendations are the Coconut Mango Boom, Cloud Jasmine Tea (basic but so good), Yuzu Oolong Tea, Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Mochi Yingde Black Milk Tea, Grapefruit Boom and the toasty/wheat-y Longji Cloud Milk Tea.

    (+) Aesthetic spot (+) Good menu selection…read more(+) Convenient ordering through the app or at the counter (+) Excellent tea flavor (-) Long wait time (-) Steep price for small drink First time here with my college friends and their families. We tried the highly recommended mango boom and the yuzu green tea, which were both solid choices. I downloaded the app and was able to place my order from there by-passing the long line at the counter. However, it still took a significant amount of wait time for my order number to be called to pick up my drinks. The app had some deals that discounted my order, which was a plus. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to return, but if it comes up as a suggested place, I wouldn't pass it up.

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    Matcha latte
    Matcha latte
    Blue Mango Coconut
    Blue Mango Coconut
    Inside.

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    Inside.
    Bijou

    Bijou

    4.1
    (83 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    A spot dedicated to tiramisu treats (as well as mousse cakes, panna cotta, cookies, and croffles)…read moreand pretty drinks that is open all day? Count me in! The inside is mostly white and going for that IG "it spot" vibe. Most people were ordering their drinks that come with a little slice of tiramisu, but we were there to try just the latter! The tiramisu varieties aren't all truly tiramisu (which traditionally has espresso and alcohol), but they're called tiramisu because there are cookies or ladyfingers layered with their mascarpone cream. I tried the Biscoff Tiramisu-- while they could work on their presentation (the filling looked messy and slapped on), the taste was quite nice! Sweet, creamy, and the mascarpone filling was light and not too heavy despite being sweet and indulgent. I'm excited to try the other tiramisu varieties :D I like how the tiramisu comes in its own container instead of scooped into a takeout box because it's a lot less messy + prettier when eating it. Service was really friendly and there is self-serve water available too. Lots of tables for two but they were all taken during my visit. There's a little table outside in the shade if you're willing to sit in the heat. Overall, 4.5 stars for the tiramisu-- will be back to try some more! Check them out next time your sweet tooth calls :)

    Inside is super cute. It is a nice place to take photos and they have so many desserts here. The…read moredrinks are dessert based. I tried the matcha float which is basically a matcha affogato. It was a matcha drink with a scoop of matcha ice cream on top. The matcha flavor is well blended tastes like milky and sweet, almost like a milk shake. The service was also nice nothing to complain about.

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    Signature Coffee
    Signature Coffee
    Biscoff Matcha Latte
    Biscoff Matcha Latte
    Inside

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    Inside
    Tea Top

    Tea Top

    4.2
    (322 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    There are so many boba places along Bellaire and I personally recognize how expensive of a habit…read morethese sugary drinks can be, so I generally avoid going. But when I'm in town I go out of my way to "eat all the things" to take advantage of being near the Vietnamese community. I decided on trying Tea Top over other -- seemingly indistinguishable boba shops -- simply because this shop participates in the Dining Rewards Program, which allows me to earn airline miles per dollar in addition to my standard credit card points per dollar. I will say, the tea here is very good. They actually sell tea, rather than just sugar water. You can taste it. And for that, I appreciate this place. I tried their Alpine Green Tea with boba. It was good. I came back a second time to try their Wintermelon Alpine Green Milk Tea and thought it was even better! Quality drinks and I can earn additional airline miles per order? I'll be coming back. I also like that their in-store rewards program keys to your credit card so it recognizes your account and you can instantly apply small discounts to future orders every time, or save up your points to get a buck or two off an order when you feel like it.

    My friend said this was his favorite boba place in Chinatown and it did not disappoint…read more Taro milk tea usually sucks with these giant taro chunks, but Tea Top's taro drink was well integrated into the milk tea and went down smooth! Good attention to detail and good drinks.

    Photos
    Pearl milk tea with boba (no sugar)
    Pearl milk tea with boba (no sugar)
    Milk foam
    Milk foam
    Taro Milk Tea with Sago 紫芋西米露

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    Taro Milk Tea with Sago 紫芋西米露

    Nu Cafe - icecream - Updated August 2026

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