Xiaolong Dumpling

Fast and delicious. Simple and tasty, at a reasonable price.We got there at11:15 a.m. and we're…read moreserved minutes after that. We will go back!

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.

10.3 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown

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

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

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Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.1(1.1k reviews)

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.

Dining area

Spicy and Crispy Chicken

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Inside of restaurant

Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.0(719 reviews)

0.7 mi•Montrose

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:)

3.5 - Dumplings, Red Oil 3.7 - dry fried double veggies…read more(4/3.2) 1 - Beef, Cumin (1/2) 3 - Chicken, Kung Pao (2.9/3.8) 3 - Chicken, Spicy & Crispy (2.8/3.5) 3.0 - Chow Mein, Spicy, No Onions. (3/3.2) 2.7 - Chow Mein, Spicy, Beef No Onions. (2.7/3.2) 3.0 - Chow Mein, Spicy, Chicken, No Onions. (3.1/3.2) 3.0 - Fried Rice, Spicy 3.1 - Fried Rice, Spicy, chicken 3.0 - Fried Rice, Spicy, Pork 3 - Sautéed Baby Bok Choy (-/3.5)

0.7 mi•Montrose, Fourth Ward

Check in counter

Red oil wonton

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Mala Tofu Pudding with Fish Fillet

Lao Sze Chuan

4.3(121 reviews)

I visited Lao Sze Chuan this past weekend ( Saturday) , alone , for a late lunch around 3:30 or so…read more It was my first visit in and because they had such and expansive menu, ( in this case not a good thing) , I was super excited to try multiple options, but I had to stop at two... I'm always a sucker for all things Sichuan style, in fact it's my favorite style of Chinese cuisine, however after receiving the first order , the Chefs Special Beef Tripe, I should have stopped there. Although it was clearly tripe, it looked nothing like the picture online, and was overly pickled and extremely numbing of taste to the point of not being able to enjoy or even get a remote grasp of a flavor profile. Well, as to not give up on them entirely, I went ahead and ordered something more middle of the road , by getting the twice cooked pork. Something I figured they couldn't mess up.. Well it was BEYOND bland without seasoning or favor at all, even inspite of the fresh ingredients that it contained. The pork was not tender and the overall dish just simply uninspiring. The two stars were for service and ambience. So very disappointing.

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

10.4 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown

Dumpling W/ Szechuan Chili Sauce

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Beautiful afternoon at Lao Sze Chuan!

MIAN

4.4(312 reviews)

This is a gem. From the broth of the soup to the tenderness of the beef; this is the place to get…read moreSzechuan food. The pork Dumplings have incredible flavor! Everything is contactless which was great! You order from the table and pay from there as well. This is the spot to stop for a different take in Chinese food

I LOVE this place!! The service is amazing and quick; you get free sweet barley tea as a…read morerefreshment as well as free pickled cabbage. We also ordered the cold beef app which was delicious. Good flavors and just the right amount of spice. I LOVE the numbing spice beef noodles! The broth, meat, noodles are all so good and are the perfect combo. The restaurant has really nice decor and there is plenty of seating. Big parking lot outside but it does get pretty packed.

Cute spot

Beef soup and golden chicken soup

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Vegetarian Mapu Tofu

Wula Buhuan

4.4(390 reviews)

14.2 mi•Energy Corridor

Wow. Wow. Wow! Simply great food! Whenever I am new to a place I always go with a classic dish…read morefirst to see if how it is. I mean, if they can master a classic then they've earned my trust for more complex dishes. I tried their Combination Fried Rice (chicken was real, not the fake stuff. Texture and chew was perfect, shrimp and beef perfectly cooked and seasoned). Eggdrop soup (Yum!), and I did a sharable dish with my friends which was their Garlic Water Spinach (different and delicious). Other items ordered was the Spicy Chicken Cube. Everything was cooked beautifully, Service was quick, and the Asian inspired Atmosphere was nicely done. This place is not small, but not big either - there is seating available inside, but somewhat limited (if thinking about bringing a large group). This place does do pick-up if you're thinking of having takeout for dinner. P.S. the food is just as good as leftovers too! Located in a shopping strip, there an adequate amount of parking. If you are looking for a spot with quality Chinese food, then come on over and try Wula Buhuan, 10 out of 10 recommends! Enjoy!

I tried this place from seeing a TikTok that it's a "hidden gem", but was a little disappointed in…read morewhat I found compared to how the tiktoker was hyping it up. The portion size was the most disappointing. I ordered the exact same things I get at many other Chinese family-style places like Mala Sichuan Bistro, and Mala was better tasting and had much bigger portions. The spicy boiled fish was kinda sweet-tasting? Not really spicy. The couple's lung slices were good though.

Interior

Eggplants with garlic sauce

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Walnut Shrimp

Trendy Dumpling

4.2(1.2k reviews)

3.2 mi•West University

2019 years in business

Vegan friendly

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.

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Bamboo House

4.4(746 reviews)

14.7 mi

My favorite place for Peking duck around the Houston area. It's a little farther out, but I usually…read morestop by whenever I'm driving to or from AIH. The duck is roasted for hours, so the skin comes out nice and crispy without being too greasy. I also like that the remaining duck is made into a soup afterward. It's simple, hearty, and especially good on a colder day. I've tried several other dishes here, and they've all been solid and remind me of the Chinese food I grew up eating. The servers have always been attentive and friendly, and the restaurant is spacious, so it's a good spot for family dinners or larger groups.

I made the decision to eat lunch here after having a craving for Chinese food and reading the many…read moregreat reviews. Unfortunately, I shouldn't have ignored the average reviews, as this is what it turned out to be. I had lunch at Bambi House this last Friday for the first time. I was disappointed for a couple of reasons: my Orange chicken was basically mostly tempura and very thin slices of chicken. I had purchased the orange chicken, which was $9.85, with egg fried rice. The chicken was average in flavor, but as I mentioned before, the chicken was in thin slices; therefore, I mostly had tempura drowned in the orange chicken sauce. The fried rice was bland in flavor. Honestly, I agree: half and the re w the rest away. Admittedly, all of the 5-star reviews I read praised the duck, so perhaps that's what they're really good at. Unfortunately, I will probably never be back, because thin slices of chicken don't meet my expectations.

10.5 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown

Inside

Twice Cooked Pork Belly

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Peking Duck

X’ Kitchen 川香阁

4.6(23 reviews)

My wife and I ordered the spicy cucumber salad and the featured duck stew. If you like duck, you…read moredefinitely need to try this! The cucumber salad was some of the best I've had, and I've had many different versions of this dish in Houston. The service was fast and friendly. Will go back again to try the rest of their menu!

X Kitchen is located in a strip center in the epicenter of Bellaire's Chinatown and is on the right…read moreside of the street if you are headed in the direction of Alief away from downtown. ( about 1 big block from the beltway.) It is a small space , but very clean and very friendly wait staff. I was greeted as I entered and seated very quickly for an early Friday night, with no issues. I ordered the sliced pig ears in chili oil, pork tripe dish also in red chili oil and an order of crispy spicy fish! All were very large portions, ( enough for 3 people ) and were quite tasty, but I felt that it lacked the numbing sensation and flavor "punch" that you get from , and come to expect from , Chinese Sichuan food! Thus the 4 stars instead of 5.. Also this is an alcohol free locale as well. So keep that in mind. But overall good food and good service too!

Taiwanese Sausage (I think it's $4.50)

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Spicy Snails

Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.3(141 reviews)

2.6 mi•The Heights

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.

We order take out from here and bring people from out of town here, especially if they don't…read morenormally eat Sichuan food. Mala is always a crowd pleaser. The inside is nice, and the vibe is casual. We've sat inside where they have larger tables for bigger groups and outside if you want to look out toward the adjacent patio/green space on a nice day. They have high chairs if you bring a little one. Overtime, we've tried a lot of their menu, and our favorites are the mapo tofu (my husband's favorite), spicy and crispy chicken (although I wouldn't mind more mala), cumin lamb, sautéed seasonal vegetable, mala tofu pudding with fish fillet, fish cube with string bean bits, and eggplant in spicy garlic sauce. My toddler loves the food here and eats the fish cube with bean dish and seasonal vegetables, which are both not spicy. I would skip the Dan Dan noodles and anything with the "red oil," which are on the greasy side and less flavorful. The crab meat and asparagus soup was also lackluster and tasted like the base is from a ready made packet. The chestnut chicken stew was salty. If craving dry pot, I would opt for somewhere in Chinatown instead. We haven't had their drinks and never have room to try their desserts, although their crepe cakes always look so good. This is a solid choice if you are in the M-K-T area!

Interior

Mala Beef Tendon

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Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce

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Alex S.

2 years ago

We stumbled upon this restaurant completely by accident, and what a happy accident it turned out to be! From the moment we stepped inside, we had a good feeling--it was cozy, inviting, and filled with the mouthwatering aromas of freshly cooked food. For our meal, we ordered the dumplings, Singapore noodles, and Szechuan shrimp, and let me tell you, every single dish was a hit. The dumplings were the perfect balance of tender and savory, with a filling that practically melted in your mouth. The Singapore noodles were packed with bold, vibrant flavors and just the right amount of seasoning--every bite was a delight. But the real star of the show? The Szechuan shrimp. Wow. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, plump, and coated in a sauce that had the ideal mix of heat and sweetness. It was one of those dishes where you keep going back for "just one more bite" until the plate is clean. The service was friendly and efficient, and everything arrived hot and fresh. You can tell the kitchen really cares about the food they're putting out. We left feeling full, happy, and already looking forward to our next visit. If you're in the mood for flavorful dishes that hit all the right notes, I highly recommend giving this place a try. It's a true hidden gem, and we'll definitely be back! read more

Annel H.

Elite 26

115

597

8 months ago

I was very excited to try this restaurant because of the reviews, but unfortunately I was extremely disappointed once we arrived. The menu was very confusing, and no one took the time to explain it to us. Despite this, we decided to give it a chance given how positive the reviews were. We ordered mostly dumplings, which were just okay, along with the orange chicken. We were seated by the door, which was kept open, making the experience extremely cold and uncomfortable. To make matters worse, one of our orders was mistakenly given to another table, and we were told we would need to wait while it was remade. We ended up waiting over 20 minutes for our food. When the food finally arrived, we asked for rice and were informed they had run out. We were told that if we wanted rice, we would need to wait even longer. At that point, we chose to eat the orange chicken without rice. Unfortunately, it was cold and completely tasteless. After this experience, I truly don't understand the hype around this place. I will not be returning. Additionally, parking was very difficult and tedious to find. read more

Richard T.

666

3 years ago

I stumbled upon Xiaolong Dumpling while exploring the local food scene, and I'm so glad I did! From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality. The aroma of freshly steamed dumplings filled the air, setting the stage for a delightful culinary experience. The menu offered a variety of dumpling options, each bursting with flavor. I tried their classic pork dumplings, and they were simply divine. The dough was thin and delicate, perfectly complementing the savory filling. Every bite was a symphony of taste and texture. The service was prompt and attentive, with the staff ensuring that my dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot for a casual meal or a gathering with friends. Overall, Xiaolong Dumpling exceeded my expectations in every way. I'll definitely be returning to savor more of their delicious offerings. If you're in the mood for authentic and flavorful dumplings, look no further than Xiaolong Dumpling. Highly recommended! read more

Amber D.

2 years ago

Wow! What an incredible Szechuan restaurant! I started with the Thai Tea, which was refreshing and delicious. During our visit, we had the pleasure of chatting with Helen, the sweetest owner, who surprised us with a complimentary hot and sour soup. Mapo Tofu has always been my go-to dish, and this one did not disappoint--it was absolutely spot-on. We also tried the boiled Szechuan fish, which was tender and bursting with flavor. We went with the mild spice level, but I'd definitely go spicier next time for an extra kick. Overall, this place is a 10/10 and an absolute must-try. Don't miss out on this gem! And if it's a beautiful day, sit out on the patio! read more

Misti H.

2 years ago

We found this little place right down the road from where we were staying in the museum district. Had no idea it was going to be this amazing! The minute we walked in Helen treated us as if we were family. She was so welcoming and really made us feel like we were part of the Xiaolong family. All of her recommendations were on point and it all tasted out of this world. Such a great experience and for sure next time we're in H-town (which is my hubs and my home town) we'll for SURE go back to see Helen and have some of their amazing hot n sour and egg drop soup!! Definitely recommend whole heartedly!!! Thank you Helen!!! read more

Chris G.

3 months ago

If you're craving authentic Chinese cuisine, this spot is definitely worth a visit. They offer a great mix of Shanghainese and Sichuan specialties. While the soup dumplings are delicious and expertly prepared, the standout dishes are the Sichuan offerings, packed with rich, vibrant flavors that keep me coming back. The staff is consistently welcoming, attentive, and efficient, creating a warm atmosphere from start to finish. For anyone who appreciates authentic Sichuan cuisine and exceptional hospitality, this restaurant is an easy recommendation. read more

Kristabel D.

10 months ago

Delicious Dumplings and Great Service! I recently visited this dumpling restaurant and had a wonderful experience. The dumplings were fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The service was friendly and quick, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I especially loved the soup dumplings. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Yo F.

169

2 years ago

I recently visited this restaurant with my wife and our newborn, and we had an amazing experience! The dinner was absolutely delicious, and the service was exceptional. Helen, our server, was outstanding and made sure everything was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. Highly recommend! read more

Daisy N.

223

2 years ago

This place was incredible! We enjoyed every bite and didn't leave a crumb behind. Hellen was so kind and made our experience unforgettable. We'll definitely be back and will be telling all our friends about it! The spicy chicken cube was the highlight for me, but everything else was equally delicious. read more

Zack P.

1 year ago

Finally stopped by after seeing it for a while. The restaurant is a nice quick walk in my neighborhood. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. Amazing quality food. We'll definitely be coming back regularly. I tried the chicken dumplings and they were perfection. read more

Lesly O.

5 months ago

First time here and the service was amazing. Helen was so sweet and warm. The food was also amazing! The soup dumplings were delicious. Will be coming back! read more

Joel R.

5 months ago

Helen is super sweet and a great host! Food is hot and delicious, fast service and the ambiance is really nice. Great spot for authentic Chinese cuisine. read more

Jess B.

1 year ago

food was very good ! loved my chicken fried rice and dumplings. Hosts are very welcoming. recommend the rice for sure .

Sue S.

2 years ago

this restaurant is good are good. It is a good place to go and eat. A few of us went and we enjoyed the experience.

Tami C.

7 months ago

Absolutely would come again and the egg drop soup is the best I have ever had. Please come and show Helen love!!

Xiaolong Dumpling - szechuan - Updated October 2026

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Wanna Bao

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Heard this place had the best xiaolongbao in downtown and they definitely did not disappoint…read more I had my reservations coming in when I saw that we were the only Asian customers in the restaurant, but at least the staff were all Chinese. We got some Chinese dishes (dancing beef, eggplant) that were surprisingly authentic - slightly on the salty side but cooked very well. I highly recommend!

Soup dumplings are delicious, spicy popcorn chicken, and red oil dumplings are so good! I also…read morerecently tried their general Tso's chicken and it was really good. Always good service, calm and very nice environment. Always clean interior. Parking lot available in front of restaurant and family friendly. No outdoor seatings. What I order : General Tso Spicy popcorn chicken Red oil dumplings Chicken Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings)

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Ordered in from Duck and Bao again. I decided to try something new and went with the House Special…read moreDry Pot Prawn and Calamari. It was suuuuper duper spicy but extremely delicious. It came with rice to cool it down. It was very tasty and would highly recommend to anyone who likes spice and not to anyone that doesn't. It was $27, so a little pricey, hence the one star deduction.

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Cooking Girl - Montrose

4.5

(202 reviews)

I bask in the sweet ambiance of smooth jazz and tranquil aromas, wrapped in the quiet certainty…read morethat I will be here again. My stomach is full, but it is more than hunger that has been satisfied. I leave fulfilled by the experience, savoring a moment I already long to return to.

I have wanted to eat here for months but I always passed it up because of how busy and small the…read moreplace looked from the outside. Today was my lucky day because there was plenty of parking spots and seats (although the parking lot is very small). This place is great! I understand the hype for sure. When you walk inside it's just about the smallest restraunt I've ever. Very cozy and cute vibe with smooth jazz playing on a speaker and we got our food very fast. I really enjoyed my time here. Dry Fried Green Beans 5/5- these are the best green beans I have had in my life! I am not exaggerating like I will be thinking about these green beans all week. Do not hesitate to try these. Perfectly salty and good amount of crunch still left. The flavors they used are just perfect. Colorful Beef 4/5- The texture of the beef was so tender and not chewy at all like other places. The flavor was bright and the bell peppers were cooked through well. The issue I had with this dish was the sichuan peppercorns. I was just eating and not really looking at it super closely so I got a mouth full of these peppercorns and wow it was actually horrible. Just beware because the texture of these things are god awful and I think that they should be taken out like how a bay leaf is removed before serving. It was just really intense and it almost ruined the dish for me honestly. Other than that a great dish. My mouth was so numb but worth it. Dandan noodles 2/5- This was my first time trying this dish anywhere and I did not really enjoy it at all. The sesame flavor was really strong and it wasn't really salted at all. Very strange flavor. I will not order this again, however I do believe that the execution on this dish is great. There was a lot of sauce and the noodles were cooked well. I just really wish I liked the flavor of this dish and that's a personal problem. This dish also made my mouth numb but the flavor did not make it worth it. I wanted to like these so badly but I just couldn't do it. I will be back!

Dumplings & Noodles by Cooking Girl

4.7

(106 reviews)

Very authentic Chinese cuisine. I'm sure it's a bit Americanized, but more authentic than most. Our…read moreserver was warm and friendly. I've learned from my first visit to stick strictly to the dumplings and noodles. This is one of the few places that makes great dan dan noodles. It actually had a bit of numbness to it and was genuinely spicy. The peanut sauce was potent and delicious. The zhajiang noodles were also fantastic; meaty but also sweet with a hint of salt. The accompanying vegetables do a great job of adding a bit of freshness to the noodles. My daughter loooooved the soup dumplings, I'm pretty sure she ate most of them. The broth is light, the dumpling wrapper was bouncy, and they were well filled. The meat inside was well-textured and seasoned. The shumai was shrimp based, which I liked a lot. Sometimes the flavor can be mild, but this was a loud and proud shumai. You could taste not only the shrimp but also ginger and other spices. This is definitely one of my favorite dumpling and noodle places in Houston.

This place is a hidden treat. Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had. Visiting Houston and was…read moreshocked to find this quantity Chinese cuisine. Every dish did not disappoint with flavors. Dumplings were huge and delicious; definitely worth the price if you were unsure. Mapo tofu, Dandan noodles, and spicy edamame were all seasoned perfectly. Would love to come back when I go back to Houston

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Cooking Girl - The Heights

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TLDR; fast, friendly, Sichuan favorites at a decent price. convenient location of a locally owned…read morechain of Sichuan restaurants. The staff are all friendly and attentive. The vibe is bright and clean. Great for a casual meal with family or friends. Our favorite include the pork/shrimp xiao long bao (XLB/soup dumplings), green onion tofu, golden corn, jing pork, pork/shrimp thumb bun dumplings and Mongolian beef. The XLBs come out hot and have a good ratio of pork and "soup" with a thin skin. The green onion tofu is swimming in a delicious chili oil and bean paste sauce that is great to dip other dishes like the jing pork buns. The golden corn has a nice coating of egg yolk flour that gives it a crispy, sweet and savory flavor. This location has a moderate sized parking lot that is functional for the Heights.

Let me preface this with the fact that I absolutely love these places! They are usually very clean…read morewith good customer service and I love that. I've been to the one in downtown, the galleria location, montrose, and most recently this one twice. However, these last l visits, they have forgotten something again in our order, which is super annoying. We ordered the regular shrimp, fried rice, the cheese puffs, and the walnut shrimp that is ALWAYS accompanied with white rice. Well, they FORGOT the fried rice this time and we were already home and didn't feel like going back I even asked the gentleman that was taking my order about the white rice because I love it so much. He said yes at the to go order is accompanied with white rice as well. Of course they make sure to pay when I put in my order, but they also need to make sure that my order is right! I really do love the restaurant but they definitely need to make this right, because this $50+ meal shouldn't have been missing a thing

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3.5

(561 reviews)

Auntie Chang's is everything I want in an American Chinese food restaurant and nothing I don't…read more This isn't an overpriced pretentious Instagram Chinese food place (ahem, rice box), but a traditional old school family friendly reasonably priced Chinese food restaurant. The staff and what I assumed was probably auntie Chang behind the register were friendly, attentive, and very welcoming. This is my go to place for Chinese food in the area now! I am sad it took me this long to find this place. Sesame chicken was sweet and tangy with a nice spice. Exactly what I was looking for in this dish. No notes. 9.3/10. Dumplings were delicious, very well done. My favorite was the pork and the shrimp. 9.1/10. Pork bun was steamed perfectly and had the right amount of sweet bbq sauce. Could be more filled though, but overall really good. 8.5/'10. Not pictured was the bbq pork ribs. This is exactly how they are supposed to done. The sticky sweet red sauce was perfect. The ribs were tasty but could have been a little more tender. 8.7/10.

I really wanted to love this place. The menu sounded amazing, and the staff was incredibly kind and…read moreaccommodating, which made the experience start off on a high note. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to expectations. I ordered the black pepper beef and shrimp, along with the spicy orange sauce with chicken and shrimp, and both dishes felt a bit lacking in flavor. They weren't bad, just more bland than I was hoping for given how good everything sounded on the menu. One thing I did appreciate was the portion sizes--they were very generous for the price, and overall it felt like a great value. Even though the food didn't fully hit the mark for me, the excellent service stood out. I'd be open to giving it another try, as it's possible I just didn't order the right dishes.

Cooking Girl - Downtown

(72 reviews)

Casual but solid in an awesome location if you are enjoying downtown…read more My niece is a lover of dumplings and fried rice so of course we had to walk over for an early lunch before the Art Car Parade. --- location/vibes--- located in the northwest corner of downtown -- can stop by before bar hoping, catching a show, maybe even an Astros game if you wanna walk just a bit. There was a good amount of seating for that area of town but not a ton! --- Foods--- We really loved the wonton soup and mama's dumplings (gyoza basically). Both had a surprising amount of flavor. Especially the soup as this can be kinda plain at other places. We also tried soup dumplings which unfortunately stuck to the pan so we missed on the soup but the pork inside was lovely. Pricing was very resonable. ---Service--- to the point -- friendly but limited - ---Overall--- Looking forward to trying more dishes here!

My friend and I had dinner at Cooking Girl a few months back. It wasn't busy at all on a Thursday…read moreevening. We were seated towards the back of the restaurant and it was uncomfortably warm. I don't remember our server's name but she was nice. I started with a Lychee Martini. It was very good and very strong. For apps we ordered the Scallion Pancakes and the BBQ Pork Buns. The Scallion Pancakes were very good, but once they cooled down, it didn't taste nearly as good. I enjoyed the BBQ Pork Buns too. For entrées I had the Salt Pepper Fish Slices while my friend went with the Ingenious Fried Beef. The Fish Slices were very seasoned and flavorful, but a bit dry. The batter was good and I really enjoyed the peppers and onions that accompanied the dish. I think a dipping sauce would have helped. My friend enjoyed the Fried Beef. They have quite a few locations around town if you don't want to venture into the downtown area. If you're near the Theater District, Cooking Girl is a great dining option.

Duck N Bao

(84 reviews)

Decent asian food in Rice village great price excellent…read moreservice with nice ambience Would definitely come back

I haven't eaten here in person yet, but I've ordered DoorDash twice now and both times have been…read moregreat! We ordered the Peking duck package, dry pot lamb and green beans, and extra bao buns. The portions were generous for the price, and everything arrived hot and flavorful. My favorite was definitely the dry pot lamb and green beans! I do wish the Peking duck skin was a little crispier and that there were more of the traditional sides included. The simple duck, noodle, and cabbage broth that came with it was actually one of my favorite parts. So simple but SO flavorful! Definitely a place we'll order from again, and hopefully we can dine in soon and try everything fresh!

Dough Zone Dumpling House - Midtown

(323 reviews)