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    The Rice Box

    3.8 (1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Rice Box Takeout or Delivery

    The Rice Box Photos

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    THE RICE BOX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rice Box

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    Orange tofu, awesome flavor!
    Mike T.

    Let's play "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly"... THE GOOD Wow, the food here is fantastic. Truly, the sweet & sour chicken is actual chicken thighs with a satisfying crunch and great sauce. The fried rice is probably the best fried rice I've had in a very long time! I got the Chow Fun noodles with Chinese sausage and extra spicy and it was spectacular! Also tried the Salt & Pepper Tofu, which was nice and crunchy and HOLY MOLY IT CAME OUT SO FAST! The atmosphere is spot on and the staff are friendly and helpful, smiles all around and very inviting. From all of this alone I would have easily given this place 5 stars! but THE BAD The seating at this place was not great, very few spots and there's almost no AC, so it's very warm and very humid, which is not a comfortable experience. The only other option is outside, which in Houston is even worse. THE UGLY Good lord, I've never seen a bathroom in this place is... something else. I didn't think about it while I was in there at first, but with kids I had to make multiple trips. The wall next the toilet is...textured...with a brown substance. I'm not touching it and I'm not investigating. The whole vibe of the place is one thing, but this really feels like the cleanliness of the place fell off a cliff. I'm really torn here. I want to come back, but I'll probably try a different location, because you can tell the decor and everything has a lot of love put into it. Like for real, I wouldn't be surprised if a Disneyland Imagineer had a hand in decorating the place. I'll be back...but a different location.

    Sesame fried tofu
    John W.

    I'll be honest, I had high open for rice box. It was nice, but it definitely didn't live up to my expectations... :( I stopped in the rice box off 20th street. The actual restaurant was really small and I couldn't find parking nearby. Ended up having to street-park a few blocks away.. The restaurant wasn't too busy when I was there. Our orders were taken quickly and food was cooked quickly too. The ambiance was really great. I liked the vibe and neon colors everywhere. The food itself was just ok though. I was disappointed with the broccoli beef (the beef was really tough and chewy. I got the honey sesame fried tofu which was pretty good. The flavor lacked complexity & was mostly sweet, although the fried tofu was yummy. The white rice was a bit dry too... I probably won't come back here. The vibe was great but for the price / quality of food I was disappointed

    Menu
    Liz C.

    Place is pretty small and can get cramped if there's a lot of people but the food is great and customer service good. The portion sizing on the food is actually what makes this place really really good. Tasty Chinese food with plenty for another meal later on in the day. Can't wait to go back and try other meals here.

    Gregston C.

    Fast casual Chinese / Asian fusion. A handful of popular Chinese inspired dishes. Tasty Asian fusion food. Good portions for the price. The sweet chili wings take a little time to make but are very worth it. The Chinese sausage Chow fun is flavorful. I know the "unfold the box to make a plate trick" is kind of their thing since it's part of the name, but an actual plate makes a better plate and getting another box to put your left overs at the end seems counter productive. I just eat from the box so that my food doesn't get cold unnecessarily. It doesn't feel like they want to you eat there. There are only a few seats inside. Outside seating is less than pleasant most of the year. They really want to you pick up your food and leave. Don't worry they won't forget to ask for a tip as you order at the counter. They really want you to order via grubhub or uber eats, because each dish is a few dollars more plus all the fees.

    Mike B.

    The food was alright nothing crazy. Service was very fast. Ambiance is a feeling you're sitting inside a small restaurant in Tokyo. Feels like you're In a John wick movie scene.

    Orange Chicken
    Sophia A.

    Our 1st visit in over a year and I believe that it has gotten better. I've ordered a few items on the menu. I might have found some new favorites. First, I've ordered last year's favorite Garlic Eggplant with minced meat, it was just as good as last year, if not better. The second thing I ordered was a family favorite, Crab Rangoon. It was perfectly crispy and delicious. It came with a sweet chili sauce, it compliments the Rangoon well. The last thing I ordered and what I wanted to try, was the scallion pancakes with a side of curry sauce. The scallion pancake was perfectly thin and made to perfection. The highlight of that dish was the green curry sauce that went with the scallion pancakes. I honestly can say that it was probably the best combination of flavors I had in a long long time. I've put the Garlic Eggplant with one of the scallion pancakes and dipped it in the curry sauce... my mind was officially blown. Seriously, I'll get all three items again but next time, I want a large tub of the green curry sauce. The service is always top notch.We'll be back once again

    Wings

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    29 days ago

    Great food, great ambiance, very chill atomosphere. Place looks very aesthetic and futuristic, loved it!

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    3 months ago

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    30 days ago

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    1 month ago

    Quality & fresh food, service is attentive, clean atmosphere, more comfortable seating outdoors. Nice to relax.

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Amie B.

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    1 year ago

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    Amie B.

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    Amie B.

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    9 months ago

    Really cool interior and decor. Quick to get the food. Got the wings, which i thought were pretty disappointing.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    Page 1 of 27

    The Rice Box Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Rice Box

    Do you make your egg rolls made in house or do you buy them from someone else? I am looking for a home made egg roll.

    Yes we make Errol in house.

    How's the music? Good for kids? My daughter loves fried rice and dumplings, and I thought it would be a cool bday outing for 4-6. 😋

    Sir, this is a Wendy's.

    Which are the smaller egg rolls? Veg or chicken?

    Veg

    Could a party of 17 people eat here together?

    It would be hard, the space is pretty small

    Do you guys have brown rice as an alternate?

    Dog friendly patio?

    Yes. I take my dog all the time and sit on the patio

    They're supposed to have gluten free options. Does anyone know if it's celiac safe? Thanks!

    i would love to know this, seconding the question. The establishment shows up in Yelp as GF place...

    View All 10 Questions

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    Hu's Cooking

    Hu's Cooking

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

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

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    Bamboo House - Twice Cooked Pork Belly

    Bamboo House

    4.4(732 reviews)
    12.3 mi
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    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.

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    Bamboo House - Inside

    Inside

    Bamboo House - Peking Duck + Pancakes

    Peking Duck + Pancakes

    Bamboo House - Outside

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    Outside

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - General Tso's Chicken

    Hi Trendy Dumpling

    4.4(429 reviews)
    2.2 miThe Heights
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    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.

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    Interior

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    The Rice Box - asianfusion - Updated May 2026

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