On days when cooking feels like a chore and comfort food calls, we turn to Houston's local Chinese spots. Bellaire Boulevard remains Houston's gold standard for authentic Chinese cuisine, but when we can't make the drive, the city has plenty of worthy options in nearly every neighborhood.
Whether craving the numbing spice of Sichuan cooking, a dim sum feast, or Chinese American favorites like General Tso's chicken, there's a spot for every appetite. Here are some of our go-to Chinese restaurants to add to your rotation.
With multiple locations across Houston, chances are you're not far from a Cooking Girl. The restaurant is known for its bold, authentic Sichuan dishes that satisfy any spice craving. Try a house specialty like the hot diving fish—flounder served with cucumber, pepper, and ginger—or dive into entrees such as the tender Sichuan beef or Pepper Twins chicken. Vegetarian diners will also find plenty to love among the tofu entrees.
Other Houston-area locations include Sugar Land, Sienna, Heights, Galleria, Garden Oaks, Downtown, and the Medical Center.
Dough Zone Dumpling House is the spot to go when you’re in a pinch for soup dumplings.
This Seattle import rolled into Houston in 2023 and has already expanded into multiple locations. When you're short on time and can't make it to Asiatown, Dough Zone is a reliable stop for soup dumplings. Don't miss the pot stickers and hand-pulled noodles, or go for the beef shank—served spicy or with Five Spice—and the loaded beef sandwich served on a warm, pillowy bun.
Dough Zone is also found in Sugar Land, Uptown, and Westchase.
With a multitude of great dishes, Duck N Bao is one of our favorite spots for Chinese food.
Duck N Bao has expanded its footprint in recent years, with a menu that continues to spotlight Sichuan specialties. If you’re dining with a group, arrive early and order a half or whole Peking duck, roasted in-house daily and available in limited quantities. Otherwise, ease in with dim sum before moving on to dishes like honey-glazed barbecue pork or the spicy cumin lamb.
Duck N Bao can also be found in Rice Village and Cypress.
Dory, Nancy, Hoi, and Gilbert Fung make up one of Houston’s most important restaurant families.
When the Fungs arrived in Houston from Hong Kong in the 1980s, regional Chinese cuisine, especially the kind Hoi Fung spent decades mastering, was scarce. By the time the family opened Fung’s Kitchen in 1990, they introduced the city to Cantonese-style live seafood, offering all kinds of fresh fish, lobster, shrimp, and blue and king crab when in season. Other standouts include the juicy barbecue pork, marinated in a sweet Chinese BBQ sauce, spicy duck salad, and the sizzling sate squid plate. Visit on weekends for some of Houston's best dim sum service.
This Michelin-recommended restaurant earns a rightful spot on Houstonia's list. Owner Johnny Cheung is behind this Katy hot spot, where diners can kick things off with small plates like spicy wonton and saucy noodle rolls, and delicacies, such slow-braised dried abalone and sea cucumber. The menu also spans a noodles, fried rice, congee (a traditional rice porridge), and soups, plus family-style selections like Maine lobster, the Dai Pai Dong Tomahawk, or Beijing duck.
For more from Cheung, check out Hong Kong Food Court in Missouri City. Inspired by cha chaan teng—Hong Kong's classic "tea restaurants"—the fast-casual diner serves bubble waffles, wonton soup, and Hong Kong French toast stuffed with peanut butter and served with butter and syrup.
House of Bowls
Chinese
Chinatown
Located just off Bellaire Boulevard, House of Bowls is the kind of no-frills café you'll want to make a habit of. Start with an order of pan-fried turnip cakes, then settle in with a hot bowl of porridge, especially comforting in the cooler months.
The Chicago-based chain entered the Houston dining scene in 2021; while the Bellaire location has since closed, the Montrose Boulevard outpost remains. The retaurant blends tradition with a modern vibe, featuring pop music, colorful wall art, and an upbeat staff. Notable dishes include wontons with Sichuan chile oil, dan dan noodles, a classic lo mein, sesame chicken, and the signature Beijing duck. Portions run large, so order accordingly.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in the Heights is a true ode to the Sichuan province.
Owners Cori Xiong and Heng Chen introduced their spicy Sichuan cooking to Houston in 2011 with the debut of their first location in Chinatown. Now with five locations, it’s clear the demand has only grown. Mala showcases traditional Sichuan dishes, such as beef tendon, red oil dumplings, dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, brown sugar sticky rice cakes, and dry pot dishes with choice of beef, basa fish, or prawns. The M-K-T Heights location, crafted by Gin Design Group, is especially striking, featuring a pagoda roof, glowing lanterns, and a back bar made from roofing tiles used in the Sichuan province.
Other locactions include Montrose, Sugar Land, the Heights, and Katy.
This is where we pull up when we’re craving traditional dim sum service—the kind with rolling carts circling the dining room and new temptations arriving at the table every few minutes. The spacious restaurant, which occupies a sizable footprint inside Hong Kong City Mall, is ideal for groups. Come hungry and sample as much as you can: wok-tossed beef cubes, pork ribs in Peking sauce, and an array of rice and noodle dishes. Save room for a sweet sesame ball (or two) for dessert.
Houston has no shortage of restaurants servcing hot pot, but Old Alley, formerly known as Xiaolongkan Chinese Hot Pot, stands a step above everything else. Diners can expect premium cuts of meat, thoughtful add-ons, stunning decor, and attentive service.
Houstonians in the know consider this the spot for soup dumplings. The made-to-order xiao long bao feature delicate wrappers and a fragrant, generously filled broth—a balance that’s challenging to perfect. Be prepared to wait in line, but once you're slurping, it's worth the trip.
Tiger Noodle House boasts a deep lineup of traditional dishes, with Sichuan specialties like wood ear mushrooms, spicy chicken, and shredded sweet garlic pork with Sichuan oil. The portions skew large—ideal for anyone who loves guaranteed leftovers. If a late-night craving hits, the Rice Village location stays open until midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
There are also locations in Uptown, Katy, and Cypress.
We’re calling it: This is the best place to get soup dumplings inside the Loop (though we still suggest driving to Bellaire Boulevard for One Dragon). Our go-to order starts with the shrimp and pork xiao long bao—two baskets if we’re hungry—and a garlic-cucumber salad. Soup fans shouldn't miss the creamy hot and sour. Round things out the tender Mongolian beef. End on a sweet note with the Sweet Sweet Cube, made from sticky rice cubes coated in a Chinese brown caramel sauce.
