5 Stars - Authentic Szechuan that absolutely nails the classics…read more During our short trip to Houston, as a custom, we were determined to find real Szechuan food, and luckily we found Hu's Kitchen. The location is a bit unassuming, and parking is definitely tough (the spaces are very shallow), but the second we walked through the doors and smelled the Szechuan peppercorns, I knew we were in exactly the right place. I generally judge a Szechuan restaurant by their 夫妻肺片 (Fuqi Feipian)--which they cleverly name "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the menu. They completely nailed it. The beef, tripe, and tendon were incredibly cohesive together, yet you could tell each component was prepared and marinated in a slightly different way to perfectly highlight its specific texture. The chili oil was right on the spot. We went through a massive bowl of rice just eating this dish alone. Honestly, if I weren't feeding a family of four, I could have just ordered that and been perfectly happy. While the Fuqi Feipian proves their skill with dry dishes, the 水煮魚片 (Fish in Szechuan Hot Chili Oil) proves their skill with wet ones. It's another must-order. The execution was flawless--we didn't just finish the tender fish chunks, we ate every last piece of cabbage soaked in that incredible chili broth. For my two daughters who can't handle the heat, we ordered the fried rice, garlic pork ribs with onion, and the 紅燒獅子頭 (Giant Meatball with Cabbage). The giant meatball was spectacular. The kids completely devoured it on their own, but I managed to steal a bite, and it instantly brought back childhood memories of exactly how this dish is supposed to taste. We also had the Dan Dan Noodles, which were great and rounded out the meal perfectly. I loved all of the dishes we tried. Should we ever find ourselves in Houston again, we will absolutely be revisiting this hidden gem.

My mom wanted steamed fish with ginger, scallions, and that light sweet soy sauce. Hu's Cooking…read moredelivered! When we ordered, they mentioned it'll take about 20 mins but it came out in 10. No complaints here since we were starving from an 8 hour road trip. The Dan Dan Noodles...I had high expectations but sadly this dish fell short. I recommend Hu's Cooking to use a bigger bowl and more sauce because it was difficult to mix the noodles and the sauce wasn't...saucing, unfortunately. I wish there was more flavor in this dish. The Scallion Pancake was super over-fried and oily. See image in my review. The outer parts of the pancake were fried to a crisp and only a small circumference in the center stayed chewy. I know Chinese tends to be oily but this pancake soaked up way too much oil. Half a Peking duck: super great price for so much meat. The difficulty when eating this dish is gnawing the meat off the sharp bones of the duck. Mapo Tofu with white rice: pretty easy staple, no complaints here. Dinner on a Saturday was packed but we got seated quickly and food arrived fast.

Food - 10/10 I really enjoyed everything I ordered. Seriously. So much flavor. I got a bunch cause…read moreI wanted to try a little bit of everything plus I was using it for meal prep anyways. I'm not the biggest fan of the numbing pepper but there wasn't a lot, just to give it some flavor so I enjoyed everything. The cumin lamb was yummy and I really liked the fish. The lotus root was crunchy and the water spinach was the usual sauted with garlic. The garlic bacon was fun to eat and I really liked the sauce. Service was great as well. Very quick to get the food out and my server was very nice when I asked questions about different items. Ambiance - 8/10 It's definitely an older restaurant. It gives me like 90s Chinese restaurant vibes if that makes any sense. I'm coming back either way. Gotta try other things.

The food here is fantastic! When we walked in it was very busy, but we were seated immediately as a…read moreparty of two, which was impressive. The food came out quickly and everything we tried was delicious. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the service. It was extremely busy and it seemed like there were only two servers handling the entire floor. If you didn't ask for what you needed when they initially came by, it was very difficult to get anyone's attention afterward. We had quite a bit of leftovers and couldn't get anyone to come over for to-go boxes or the check I ended up having to go to the front to ask. Overall, great food and a good experience, but they definitely need more staff if it's consistently this busy.

I had a great experience dining here. A few things I loved:…read morePlenty of parking Beautiful wall art Extensive menu options Menu with images Good service Delicious food It was my first time, and as a first timer I had a lot of questions and didn't know where to start, but our server was very helpful and gave us excellent recommendations. We ordered : Dan Dan Noodles 8/10 Bok choy and mushrooms 8/10 Kung Pao chicken 9/10 Dry fried green beans 9/10 The food looks beautiful and tastes even better, I loved they present the food very pretty. Oh! And The portions are shareable too! I will definitely come back , there is a garden on the side that looks very pretty when you are dining inside, maybe next time if the weather is nice we can sit outside:)

Get the eggplant! Been obsessed with Sichuan food lately,…read moreand my friend recommended this place. I think we may have went on an off day because I have tried takeout form this place that was delicious, but on this day the food wasn't my favorite. We did overall enjoyed our experience and time and I would recommend giving this place a try! We ordered a total of 5 dishes and everything seemed very authentic to Sichuan cooking. With Sichuan cuisine though, a lot of the food will be on the oily side, so keep that in mind. - Eggplant In Spicy Sauce (5/5): Definitely order this dish! You can tell the eggplant was prepared well because it retained its beautiful purple color and luscious shape. The flavor was sweet and savory seeped well into the eggplant. My only comment would be that there wasn't a strong garlic flavor, but it was still so tasty I think it deserved that 5/5! - Mapo Tofu (2.5/5): I came here specifically for the mapo tofu but was left a bit disappointed. The flavor was pretty good and had that strong Sichuan pepper spice that lingers after a while. My issue with the tofu was the consistency of the sauce. I found it to be very thick and clumpy in an unpleasant way, almost like eating little gelatin pieces. I would probably come back to try it again just in case this was a bad batch, but it's hard to compete with wanna boa's mapo tofu. - Spicy and Crispy Chicken (4/5): Pretty juicy and crispy chicken with a slight kick. I love anything fried chicken so I did enjoy this dish but it was pretty standard and there wasn't much to write about. - Red Oil Dumplings (3/5): Pretty standard oil dumplings. They weren't really spicy which would be good for people who can't handle spice. I think I would've liked a bit more meat filling but overall not bad. - Dan Dan Noodles (3/5): I loved the texture of the noodles but I found the sauce to be kinda slippery which made it hard adhere to the noodles. I also thought the flavor could've been a bit stronger. Service/Ambiance: the interior of this place was super cute, especially the upstairs area. I loved the dim lighting and tiny table lamps which gave this place a cozy romantic feeling. The outside was also interesting with an all black exterior and no sign. That might make it hard to notice or find the restaurant, but that did give it a more hidden feeling which was nice. Parking was also abundant and service was great!

This little spot is my literal favorite place for fried rice. Everything is good but the fried rice…read moreis the best I've ever had! Pork Bao's are normally my daughter fave but the soup dumplings here are her favorite. She could finish an order on her own. The service is always great. As soon as you get in they give everyone a water and a carafe of more water. There is a QR code to order and you place your order on the phone. The order goes straight to the kitchen and you can add as you go if wanted. I always thought that was pretty cool. The owner came out to say hello and ask how everything is. She even brought out a small bowl of soup for my baby to enjoy. The waitress was also very sweet and attentive. I don't live close by but will make the trip when the craving hits. Today was one of those days. The last time I was here there was no ac and not enough seating. This time it was nice and cool in and well as having new seating! This little spot needs to be on your need to stop places!

Was a little bit of a red flag when we were the only Asian customers in the restaurant - still…read moredecent but definitely catered towards Western taste buds. My favorite dish was surprising the fried rice, with generous portions and slight smokiness. The xiaolongbao weren't my favorite, as there wasn't a whole lot of juice; but hey if you're looking to be health conscious maybe that is a positive.

Quality ingredients. Flat noodles are the highlight…read more 2.7 - Brussel Sprouts, Crispy Roasted w/ Garlic. 2.5M - Chicken Pot Sticker 3.2V - Chicken Pot Sticker. Very good sauce. 3.7 - Chicken egg roll 3.6M/3.2V - Beef, Mongolian. Medium spice, no onion. 3.5 - Chicken, General Tso. Tastes like Bejing chicken. 2.5 - Chicken, Kung Pao. Tasted a little fishy. 4.0 - Chicken, lo mein. 3M/2.5V - Chicken, Orange. Feels healthy. 4.4 - Noodles, Stir Fried Flat, Chicken. No onions and green onions. tjm

Ants Climbing a Tree: Is a classic Sichuan dish of glass noodles (bean thread noodles) and minced…read moremeat (usually pork) stir-fried with a spicy sauce, named for the visual of the meat clinging to the noodles like ants on a tree. There is a restaurant along Montrose near Westheimer that I don't hear much about. And it is terrific. I've never had a bad meal there. And although I keep telling myself to try something else, I come back this dish here. Accompanied tonight by a beef flank dish. Beef had been velveted, stir fried, and then poured, hit, over cabbage to cook the cabbage. Highly recommended. Service as always, spot on. Ambiance. Lovely bar. Tranquil. Comfortable. (I'd love to see every table full).

I have brought many friends here and each one raves about how amazing the food is. We always order…read moretoo much, but I do my best to eat it all anyways because it's just so delicious! Service is easy by ordering through your phone, so ordering at your own pace, yet the staff walks around to ensure everyone has what they need. The restaurant is always clean and a great balance of lively yet quiet. Everyone is super nice :)

Absolutely loved our experience! The interior is modern and clean while the service is very…read moreefficient. The servers were friendly and attentive, which is a nice treat in Chinatown. And the food - absolutely loved the food. We were served a cool, sweet bean tea and pickled cabbage upon sitting. Then ordered the house beef noodles and pork dumplings. House Beef Noodles - 5/5 The meat was incredibly tender, the spice level was just right (got the extra hot) and the noodles were just the right texture and bounce (had a nice bite to it). Pork Dumplings - 5/5 Loved the sauce on this. The chili sauce was sweet and spicy and savory. The dumplings were tender and the wrappings had a good chewy texture. Overall, would recommend and return.

This is the best Chinese restaurant in the area. If you like spicy food, the name of this…read morerestaurant marchs the food they serve. They do have none spicy items. I definitely come back to this place to explore more on the menu.

Located in the energy corridor, we came here for dinner while in the area. Easy to grab a table,…read morewasn't too crowded on a Friday night. The menu has all the classic Sichuan dishes. We ordered a few dishes to share between 6 people: - Spicy chicken cube: a good crispy texture to the chicken cube, not too spicy, avoid the pepper as much as you can will help. - Eggplant with garlic sauce: The garlic sauce was delish and paired well with the eggplants. Recommended to eat with white rice to balance out the flavor. - Mapo tofu with pork: not my favorite mapo tofu. The tofu didn't soaked well in the sauce so I felt like it lacked flavors. - Hot and sour dumplings: a good choice for appetizers. Sauce was good, not too spicy. - Dan Dan noodles: love the dan dan noodles. Getting one was probably enough but we ended up getting two and still had some leftovers. - Singapore rice noodles: thin clear noodles in a stir fry style. Noodles had a good texture, not dry. Service was friendly and the food came out relatively fast. Portion and the price were decent. Overall, we were full and still had leftovers.

Absolutely love the food at Trendy Dumpling! The crispy bottom baos are some of the best I've had--…read moreperfectly cooked with just the right crunch. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, and everything was delicious. The soup dumplings are a must-try-- they didn't disappoint. This is a great spot for anyone looking for authentic dumplings on this side of town. Definitely one of my go-to places now! く

For a dumpling place, dumpling selection was somewhat limited…read more Spicy dumplings were really good. Beijing duck was excellent. Crispy bottom bao seem mass produced. Cucumbers were very crunchy. Seasoned with mostly just salt. Server thought it would be cool to bring politics into our dinner. He behaved very inappropriately.

We ordered the Peking Duck (of course), the basil eggplant and basil chicken. Everything had such…read morenice clean flavors that really hit the spot after a long day on the road. The portions are VERY substantial and reasonably priced. Tracy took our order and was very efficient. I enjoyed seeing the Peking Ducks hanging in the fire behind the counter. It is a very impressive display. I would definitely return and try some more of their delicious food.

IYKYK - this is probably the best Peking Duck I've had in Houston in a long time. I've done Peking…read moreCuisine for years and shifted to Arco for my duck cravings, but if you're willing to drive out to Humble (pretty much anytime you're in the IAH area), you gotta check out Bamboo House for the best Peking duck. And their other menu items are fire as well! We went on a Sunday late evening. We had a 9 pm airport pickup at IAH so it was a perfect opportunity to grab a spectacular dinner and make the 30+ minute drive out to IAH totally worth it. Parking lot wasn't too full so that wasn't an issue. While the neighborhood ain't River Oaks luxury, it ain't too scary either. We kept it simple - ordered a whole duck and Bamboo House Special Noodle with Beef. This place ain't cheap but the food is worth every penny. It was very busy that evening so it's not a well-kept secret but also proves that eventually, Houstonians will figure out where the good food is. The duck was near perfect. They serve the duck with the pancakes (as opposed to the buns like at Arco) which is my preference. The soup that comes with it was also extremely flavorful. And the house special noodles with beef - oh my. I swear it's just one really long noodle so you may be frustrated trying to divvy up the family style bowl, but the labor is worth it. So good... Can't wait for my next airport run so I can sneak in a lunch or dinner at this place. So many other menu items I want to try!

Not too long ago I started reading "Food of Sichuan" by Fuchsia Dunlop. There, she describes hilly…read moremountains, rice fields reaching above your head, and dewy mornings awakened by the local cattle demanding breakfast. She emphasizes few ingredients that complement and highlight each other. Above all else is technique. The knowledge to know which vegetables are in season, the perfect time to poach fish, infusing oil with the correct about of peppercorns and aromatics takes years of practice. What I find surprising is how Mala Sichuan Bistro scaled out their restaurants with the same quality, crispiness, and consistency across all locations. The MKT location has the most beautiful interior, which is why I choose to go there. If Mala told you the crispy chicken seasoning was only 4-5 ingredients, would you believe it? Chinese cooking is about letting one ingredient shine in the spotlight with the supporting actors complement one another. My love for cooking started with the spicy crispy chicken. The crunch, the numbing from the peppercorns, the push and pull between sweet and salty. The oil to fry the chicken and the oil to dress the chicken afterwards creates a masterpiece that I have not been able to replicate at home nor have I found any other restaurant in America with the same caliber. The dry pot fish melts in your mouth with its delicate batter. The lotus root is crunchy while the cauliflower soaks up the delicious sauce. Compared to the water boiled fish, this dish is my new favorite coming into here. For the avid regulars of Mala Sichuan, I challenge you - Order something a little out of your comfort zone every time you come. Trust that the chefs have years of knowledge and the sample size for refining dishes almost 4x ours. If survival of the fittest makes the restaurant business cutthroat here, imagine the caliber of dishes that exist in China. Mala Sichuan didn't invent these dishes, it came from generations of testing, iterating, and feedback from their customers. When we dine here, we're having a snippet of history served right in front of us.

Mala is one of my favorite restaurants! It's more expensive than other american Chinese restaurants…read morebut it's bigger portions so it evens out (with free rice of course). I love the mapo tofu and spicy chicken. The tofu is creamy, savory with a little bit of a Szechuan kick & doesn't come with pork which I prefer. (This dish made me love tofu!) The chicken is crispy without thick breading. Lots of garlic, szechuan peppers, and seasoning. (I wouldn't recommend eating the peppers.) The ambiance is great. The service can be lacking - they need to hire more servers because there's 1-2 servers for the entire restaurant and it gets packed. Every time we need something, we have to flag a server. Regardless, still 5/5!