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Nu Cafe

3.9 (784 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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Recommended Reviews - Nu Cafe

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Kate X.

We got the peanut butter mountain sized shaved ice for $9. It was such a great deal given the size and the two toppings. The shaved ice was quite flavorful and the peanut butter flavor was pretty strong.

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.

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.

Guava

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8 years ago

Decent shaved ice! It was good! We got the green tea with strawberry chunks, mini mochi, and condense milk drizzle. It was a nice desert.

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6 years ago

Shaved ice is bomb! Drinks are maybe not so much.. but definitely try the green tea one! Employees are very welcoming

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Page 5 of 20

Nu Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Nu Cafe

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Cafe 101 - Uni

Cafe 101

3.1(813 reviews)
0.0 miChinatown, Sharpstown
$$

We were hungry late at night close to midnight. Our go to place... Fufu cafe is gone. Saw the…read moreCafe 101 was open till 1 am and plenty of people eating inside so that's always a good sign. Cafe 101 serve Japanese and Chinese food. There are table and booths inside as well as a full bar. We started with a couple of sushi specials... bluefin toro and Uni. Thought the bluefin toro were fresh as well as the Uni. Wasn't expecting so was pleasantly surprised. For our mains, we ordered the twice cooked pork and beef galbi. Both came as a set... with rice, side dish of pickled radish and carrots and dessert. Price-wise, it was reasonable considering it came as a set. Twice cooked pork hits the spot. It was plenty and had some to go. Galbi was decent... it's not like Korean Galbi. It was pretty saucy, sweet and tender. It was decent portion as well. Think we found our new late night spot! Look forward to trying out the rest of their menu in the future. :-)

As one of the quintessential late night options in Chinatown, Cafe 101 provides a specific…read moreexperience that few other late night spots can match. The lounge like ambiance, along with their diner-like menu, is a major selling point for folks and has been one of the reasons for their popularity over the better part of the last two decades. It is a bit trendy and plays music that you would think of and in a Miami lounge or a pretentious New York Club. While service is not their strong suit, the clean bathrooms, spacious seating, and semi-open kitchen makes up for some 'tudes from the staff. The menu is most definitely Asian, but blends from a predominantly Chinese menu and featuring various Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese items. The latter includes sushi, which is likely one of the only spots in the neighborhood that still has it after midnight. They have bluefin tuna and sea urchin, in which Cafe 101 is one of the only late night spots to offer it. Their beef chow fun is nice and greasy, but filled with excessive onions, bean sprouts, and various other veggies that almost take away from the noodles and beef (which was nicely cooked). Their shrimp and egg came in a nice set, which was a good surprise and surprisingly well executed. This is also a spot for Japanese curry, and even though it's not the best, it most certainly does the job. Taiwanese popcorn chicken is on point, cumin lamb is unsurprisingly spicy, and Singapore chow mai fun has a tinge of solid wok hei. (#1) I'm genuinely not a fan of their soups and think the sushi rolls are not their best work. While they also have milk, tea options, unless one is desperate, I would also steer clear of. Parking in the early evening can be an issue at Don Huang Plaza, but after 11pm, the parking options should be abundant. I would consider coming here in a larger group, especially with late night owls. ___________ (#1) Wok's essence (鑊氣)

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Cafe 101 - Cute atmosphere

Cute atmosphere

Cafe 101 - Complimentary Beans

Complimentary Beans

Cafe 101 - Twice cooked pork

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Twice cooked pork

CHICHA San Chen - Green tea + milk + boba

CHICHA San Chen

4.3(149 reviews)
0.1 miChinatown, Sharpstown
$$

I have tried just about everything on the menu across the Houston, Dallas, and Austin locations,…read moreand can confidently say that they knock it out of the park every time. While the osmanthus with cream remains my personal favorite, this visit I ordered the high mountain pouchong with orange and was not disappointed. It's refreshing in the Texas heat, a little tangy from the citrus and perfectly sweet (the lemon variety of it is also exceptional). Seating inside is rather limited, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, good for sitting awhile and having a chat while you drink. One of my favorite tea stops of all!

Aside from their name that is really hard to remember, I've heard about how good the tea was but…read morenever stopped by because of the hype and lines when they initially opened. Luckily there wasn't a line. I picked up a green tea passion fruit tea and was surprised how tasty it was! The drink was a pretty yellow hue with passion fruit seeds at the top. The green tea flavor wasn't overly strong or dry wnd was very fragrant-- super tasty~ It came in a recyclable little sling carrier too, super cute :) I love how the brand focuses on real fruit, milk/cream so there aren't any artificial ingredients lurking around. You can order at the kiosk or at the cashier. For sweetness customization, they only have full level, less sweet, and no sugar options. The less sweet is already plenty sweet for me, so wish there was a slightly less sweet option than that. The service was polite and friendly, and the inside was clean with several tables. Besides the great taste, I really appreciate the "no artificial stuff" way of doing things. After one drink I'm Chicha San Chen fan! Be sure to stop by sometime and try their tea :D

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CHICHA San Chen - Green tea with milk and grass jelly.

Green tea with milk and grass jelly.

CHICHA San Chen - Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba

Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba

CHICHA San Chen - Cassie black tea + mousse

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Cassie black tea + mousse

Tea Top - Black milk tea with original foam

Tea Top

4.2(322 reviews)
0.1 miChinatown, Sharpstown
$

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.

Honestly in my opinion tea top and feng cha taste very similar. They are both good and known for…read morethe milk foam. My only complaint about them is that they don't have a lactose free option for those of us who are lactose intolerant. It is also the reason why I stop going here

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Tea Top - Pearl milk tea with boba (no sugar)

Pearl milk tea with boba (no sugar)

Tea Top - Milk foam

Milk foam

Tea Top - Taro Milk Tea with Sago 紫芋西米露

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Nu Cafe - icecream - Updated May 2026

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