chinatown tour houston

Welcome to Houston Chinatown!

This guide provides you with restaurants and activities spotlight in Houston Chinatown and Asiatown. The areas are defined as Bellaire Blvd from Sam Houston Parkway West (Beltway 8) extends to Southwest Freeway (Hwy 59) as Chinatown and from Beltway 8 to Boone Road as Asiatown or Little Saigon. (Source: Texas Monthly February 2008 )

Asian Grocery Stores 食品市场

Welcome food center 惠康超级市场.

9180 Bellaire Blvd at DiHo Square

Jusgo Supermarket 百佳 超级市场

9280 Bellaire B lvd at Metropole Center

H Mart - Bellaire

9896 Bellaire Blvd at Sterling Plaza

Great Wall Supermarket 大中崋 超级市场

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at Dun Huang Plaza

Viet Hoa International Foods 越華 超市

8300 W Sam Houston Pkwy at Viet Hoa Center

Hong Kong Food Market 

11205 Bellaire Blvd at Hong Kong City Mall

Cho Thanh Binh Market  

11810 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at A I HOA Marketplace

Noodles Restaurants 麺食

Ichiro sapporo ramen.

9393 Bellaire Blvd Suite A1 at Bellaire Food Street

Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle 十秒到过桥米线

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste A-4 at Bellaire Food Street

Tiger Den 饭堂虎

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste D230 at Dun Huang Plaza

Tamashi Ramen Robata 魂  

9896 Bellaire Blvd #C2 at Sterling Plaza

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 102B at Dynasty Plaza

MDK Noodles

9798 Bellaire Blvd Ste F at Sterling Square

San Dong Noodle House 山东麺馆

9938 Bellaire Blvd  

Night Market Noodle

9630 Clarewood Dr Ste A12 at Yun-Lu Center

Mein Restaurant 好麺膳

9630 Clarewood Dr Ste A13 at Yun-Lu Center

Ishin Udon 一心うどん  

9630 Clarewood Dr Suite A15-B at Yun-Lu Center

Northern Pasta 北方面食

9256 Bellaire Blvd at Metropole Center

Mifen Prince 花溪王 

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste C308 at Dun Huang Plaza

Sichuan Noodles 麺麺聚到

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste C-305 at Dun Huang Plaza

Ramen Okidoki 

10603 Bellaire Blvd at Saigon Plaza

Golden Dumpling House 黃金水餃

9896 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at Sterling Plaza Takeout only

iEATS Rice Noodle

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A-111 at Dun Huang Plaza

Dim Sum 港式饮茶

Dim sum king 点心皇.

9160 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at DiHo Square

Golden Dim Sum 2 黃金茶寮2

9968 Bellaire Blvd Ste 160 at Sterling Plaza

Crown Seafood Restaurant 金冠海鲜酒家

10796 Bellaire Blvd Ste C at Lion Square

HK Dim Sum 香港點心城

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste 110 at Dun Huang Plaza

Golden Dim Sum Restaurant 黃金點心茶寮

10600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 105 at Lion Square

Shanghai Restaurant 東雲閣  

9888 Bellaire Blvd Ste 106 at Sterling Plaza

Ocean Palace 珍宝楼

11215 Bellaire Blvd at Hong Kong City Mall

Arco Seafood Restaurant 東海海鮮酒家

9896 Bellaire Blvd Ste K at Sterling Plaza

Kim Son 金山 

10603 Bellaire Blvd at Saigon Houston Plaza

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Nian Gao (CNY Rice Cake) 年糕

Hong kong's cafe 香港茶餐廳.

91 08 Bellaire Blvd Ste A at DiHo Square

腊味蘿蔔糕， 芋頭糕，馬蹄糕，鴻運年糕 ($13.50 each)

King Bakery 好日子饼家

9 889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A107 at Dun Huang Plaza

Starts Jan 28, 2024

Alan's Deli 港味道烧腊

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste B-24-K at Dun Huang Plaza

蘿蔔糕 ($9.99), 年糕 ($8.99), 發糕 ($8.99)

ECK Bakery 蛋撻王

6918 Wilcrest Dr, Suite A

Starts February 3, 2024

Merryland Bakery 美而廉

10804 Bellaire Blvd Suite C

Starts February 3, 2024 but pre-order only

Six Ping Bakery 六品西點麵包店

9384 Bellaire Blvd at Metropole Center

Japanese Style Baked Mochi Cake only ($12.00)

IBUN Bakery 大芳烘焙坊  

9600 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 109

Japanese Style Baked Mochi Cake only ($ 2 2.00)

Breakfast Before 10am 早餐

Tao rice roll 槄香饭團.

9889 Bellaire Blvd E207 at Dun Huang Plaza

Bao Shi Yi Bun House 包十一

9715 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at Greatland Kingdom

10780 Bellaire at Lion Square

10800-B Bellaire at Lion Square

Duy Sandwiches

6791 Wilcrest at Lion Square

10800-F Bellaire at Lion Square

Lunch Box 便當盒

This list is consisted of quick grab of meal combo during lunch time. 

9868 Bellaire Blvd Ste B-24-K  ( Dun Huang Plaza )

Viet Hoa International Foods

8300 W Sam Houston Pkwy S STE 100 (Viet Hoa Center)

9172 - 9180 Bellaire Blvd ( DiHo Square )

Tapioca House 品茶

9104 Bellaire Bvd Ste B ( DiHo Square )

Tainan Bistro 味佳香

9306  Bellaire Blvd ( Metropole Center )

Malu Bian Bian 马路边边

9102 Bellaire Blvd (DiHo Square)

Miss Flower Hotpot 小花娇

9715 Bellaire Blvd Ste A ( Greatland Kingdom )

75 BBQ and Hot Pot Buffet 柒伍自助烧烤火锅

8880 Bellaire Blvd Ste C ( Bellaire Gessner Shopping Center)

Tasty Point 鼎點

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste C319  ( Dun Huang Plaza )

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste C305 ( Dun Huang Plaza )

Fu Fu Restaurant 裕苑

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste E209 ( Dun Huang Plaza )

Fu Fu Cafe 京苑

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A105 ( Dun Huang Plaza )

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A106  ( Dun Huang Plaza )

Jiu Fu Cafe 明記 

9968 Bellaire Blvd Ste 230B ( Sterling Plaza )

Xiao Long Kan Chinese Hot Pot 小龍坎老火鍋

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 102A ( Dynasty Plaza )

Sichuan Cuisine 川菜 

Sichuan cuisine, alternatively Romanized as Szechwan cuisine or Szechuan cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan Province. Four sub-styles of Sichuan cuisine include Chongqing, Chengdu, Zigong and Buddhist vegetarian style. (Wikipedia)

Mian Taste 滋味小面  

Chongqing chicken pot 重庆鸡公煲.

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste E at Bellaire Food Street

Chengdu Taste 滋味成都

9896 Bellaire Blvd Ste A at Sterling Plaza

Cantonese Cuisine 粤菜

Shanghai restaurant 富仔記 .

9116 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at DiHo Square

Hong Kong's Café 香港茶餐廳

9108 Bellaire Blvd Ste A at DiHo Square

Le Lai Chinese Restaurant 東江菜馆

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 103 at Dynasty Plaza

9968 Bellaire Blvd Ste 230B at Sterling Plaza

Confucius Seafood Restaurant 悦来海鮮酒家

8880 Bellaire Blvd Ste J at Bellaire Gessner Shopping Center

Hunan Cuisine 湘菜

Taste of china 湘浙匯 .

9888 Bellaire Blvd Ste 168 at Sterling Plaza

Hunan Plus 福星

at Beltway 8 Medical Plaza

Hunan Bistro 湘知湘味

at Dun Huang Plaza

Spicy Hunan 湘菜小厨

Central china 滋味湖南.

at Metropole Center

Jiansu Cuisine 滬菜 (Shanghainese)

Shanghai Cuisine also known as Hu cuisine 沪菜 or 滬菜;  is a popular style of Chinese food. In a narrow sense, Shanghai cuisine refers only to what is traditionally called Benbang cuisine (本帮菜; 本幫菜) which originated in Shanghai. In a broader sense, it refers to complex styles of cooking developed under the influence of neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. (source: Wikipedia )

More info coming soon

Zhejiang Cuisine 浙菜

Taste of china 湘浙匯.

Fujian Cuisine 閩菜

Fujian cuisine or Fujianese cuisine, also known as Min cuisine 閩菜, is one of the native Chinese cuisines derived from the native cooking style of China's Fujian Province, most notably from the provincial capital, Fuzhou. ( Wikipedia )

China Gourmet 福州风味小吃

9599 Bellaire Blvd Ste 105 at Dynasty Plaza

Shandong Cuisine 鲁菜

Taiwanese Cuisine 台菜

9104 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at DiHo Square

Tasty Point 鼎點 

9110 Bellaire Blvd Ste A at DiHo Square

85°C Bakery Cafe - Bellaire

9750 Bellaire Blvd Ste 168 at Greatland Sterling Center

Tainan Bistro 味佳香 

9306  Bellaire Blvd at Metropole Center

Korean Restaurants 韩国菜

Jang choong dong korean restaurant .

9114 Bellaire Blvd at DiHo Square

Honey Pig Korean BBQ

9140 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at DiHo Square

Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ House 長今 

9896 Bellaire Blvd Ste J at Sterling Plaza

Soho Chicken 소호 

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste A3 at Bellaire Food Street

bb.q Chicken  

9968 Bellaire Blvd Ste 220 at Sterling Plaza

Ohn Korean Eatery 

9630 Clarewood Dr Ste A-16 at Yun-Lu Center

Lucky Palace Restaurant 

at Time Square

Dookki Tteokbokki Restaurant 

at Sterling Center

Vietnamese 越南菜

Vinh hoa seafood restaurant 永華海鮮酒家 .

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 126 at Dynasty Plaza

Saigon Pagolac 

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 119 at Dynasty Plaza

Crawfish & Beignets 

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 102 at Dynasty Plaza

Migo Saigon Food Street 

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste H at Bellaire Food Street

Japanese Restaurants 日本菜

Hokkaido japanese restaurant 北海道.

9108 Bellaire Blvd Ste B at DiHo Square

Pepper Lunch ペッパーランチ 

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste C at Bellaire Food Street

IWA YA Teppanyaki & Sushi 岩屋  

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 101A at Dynasty Plaza

Ichiro Sapporo Ramen 一郎札幌  

9393 Bellaire Blvd Ste A1 at Bellaire Food Street

Ishin Udon 一心 

9630 Clarewood Dr Ste A15-B at Yun-Lu Center

Toukei Izakaya 闘雞  

9630 Clarewood Dr Ste A-15 at Yun-Lu Center

9889 Bellaire Blvd C306 at Dun Huang Plaza

DIY Restaurants 自主式

Miss flower hot pot 小花娇.

9715 Bellaire Blvd Ste A at Greatland Kingdom

Malu Bian Bian 马路边边  

9102 Bellaire Blvd at DiHo Square

75 BBQ and Hot Pot Buffet 柒伍自助烧烤火锅  

8880 Bellaire Blvd Ste C at Bellaire Gessner Shopping Center

Handam Korean BBQ

Beltway 8 Medical Plaza

Hongdae 33 Korean BBQ

Dookki tteokbokki restaurant.

Vegan / Vegetarian 素食

These restaurants are vegan, vegetarian and vegetarian option restaurants. 

Pine Forest Garden 松柏園素菜館  

9108 Bellaire Blvd at DiHo Square

IBUN Bakery 大芳烘焙坊 

9600 Bellaire Blvd Ste 109 at Dynasty Plaza

Quan Yin Vegan Restaurant

at Lion Square

San San Tofu

at San San Tofu

Maharaja Bhog

at Southwest Plaza

at Universal Shopping Center

at Gandhi District

Fine Dining 高级料理

Fine dining restaurants are full-service restaurants with specific dedicated meal courses. The décor of such restaurants features higher-quality materials, with establishments having certain rules of dining which visitors are generally expected to follow, sometimes including a dress code. ( Wikipedia )

Banquet Rooms 

These restaurants offer banquet rooms for rental.

Gerry's Grill

6833 W Sam Houston Pkwy S

Phone: (832) 582-8638

Capacity 25 or 45 people

Ocean Palace

11215 Bellaire Blvd, Hong Kong City Mall

Phone: (281) 988-8898

Crown Seafood Restaurant

10796 Bellaire Blvd, Lion Square

Phone: (281) 575-1768

Chinatown Activities Spotlight

Miss Chinatown Houston Pageant

Chinese Community Center

Houston Asiatown Tours

Teo Chew Temple Lion Dance Events

Lunar New Year at CCC

Lunar New Year at Viet Hoa Center

Texas Lunar Festival

Welcome to ChinaTown

Although the first Houston Chinatown was developed east of Downtown Houston, today the city’s southwest section has emerged as a bustling international zone. The first stores in Houston’s new Chinatown opened in 1983, and the district has since grown to encompass six square miles of shopping, dining, and activities.

Explore Chinatown

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Latest Houston Chinese Community News

Feb.3, 2005: Asian American Business Council Meeting

Feb.4-5, 2005: Southern Daily Asian New Year Festival.

Read more news...

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Things to do in Houston Chinatown

Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, has the biggest Asian population in the South. There are many attractions in Houston Chinatown . Below is a list of Houston Chinatown attractions and Asian attractions throughout Houston. ( Wonders of Houston: Chinatown )

( Houston Chinatown Map )

Houston Chinatown Plazas

Many small business owners in Chinatown are now using an ip camera to protect their premises against theft and burglary .

Hong Kong City Mall (Hong Kong Supermarket)

The biggest Asian indoor mall in the southeastern United States. Over two dozen restaurants and cafes and several dozen more offices and shops makes this place feel like a small city. The beautiful Asian architecture, colorful gardens, fountains filled with lily pads, and a enormous parking lot makes it a centerpiece for the Houston Asian community. 11021 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX, 77072. Open 7 days a week.

Jade Buddha Temple

Built in 1989, Jade Buddha Temple covers two-and-a-half acres in southwest Houston and consists of the Grand Hall, Kwan-Yin Hall, the Youth Activity Center, a library, a dining hall, several living quarters, and a lotus pond with a statue of Kwan-Yin as its centerpiece. In addition to serving the religious and spiritual needs of its members, the Temple functions as a Buddhist study and research center for many different educational institutions, including Rice University, University of Houston, the University of Texas, and St. John's School. 6969 Westbranch Drive., Houston, TX 77072. (281) 498-1616.

Dim Sum at Ocean Palace

Splash art gallery, houston asian heritage tour.

Chopin's Corner Library

Asian Attractions in Houston, Texas

Forbidden gardens.

Forbidden Gardens , in Katy, Texas, is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 6,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule. Come and experience the mystery and magic of Imperial China. Forbidden Gardens is a must-see for everyone who wants to embark on an unforgettable journey to a faraway land without stepping outside of Texas. Forbidden Gardens , 23500 Franz Rd., Katy, TX 77493. 281-347-8000. www.forbidden-gardens.com

Japanese Gardens in Herman Park

Asian Culture Centers

There are many Chinese community centers around Houston. Find out where they are located in our guide, Houston Asian Community Center Guide .

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A food crawl of Houston’s Chinatown

Houston may be America’s fourth-largest city (and my hometown), but it rarely appears on the traveler's map. Yet trust me, it's worth a visit: Space City, as it's often called, is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse destinations in the nation, with no shortage of incredible food and culture.

With an urban sprawl and traffic that rivals that of Los Angeles, it’s best to zero in on one neighborhood at a time. And why not start with Chinatown (more accurately referred to as Asiatown), where I've spent countless days eating my way through the regional Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian, and Thai restaurants centered largely on Bellaire Boulevard.

I like to start my day on the unofficial “Vietnamese side” of Bellaire, just West of the Sam Houston Tollway. The street signs here carry the names of historic Vietnamese heroes and locales. My first stop: Long Coffee , a family-owned roaster and café built in 1983 in the Saigon-Houston Plaza. It's got strong pours and boba teas along with sweet and savory croissants that are the perfect wake up.

If you like to sneak in a quiet morning meditation like I do, stop by the nearby Teo Chew Temple , a Taoist temple in a residential area behind the bustling strip malls (when you go inside, be respectful and dress modestly). There are incense sticks available to offer up to the various deities who preside over the temple.

From there, it's a short walk to Viet Hoa International Foods , which gives you a glimpse of local life. The aisles are full of fresh seafood, every manner of tropical fruit, Buddhist vegan staples, and Asian snacks and cookies. Then there’s the nearby Hong Kong City Mall , which has its own sizable grocery store, along with dozens of old-school Asian restaurants, bakeries, specialty retailers, and CD shops.

When I've worked up an appetite, I make a bee line for Thien Thanh , Houston’s it destination for classic Vietnamese-style rice rolls stuffed with ground pork and wood-ear mushroom. The restaurant also turns out a standout rendition of bun cha, the Northern Vietnamese dish from Hanoi loved by the late Anthony Bourdain.

Chinatown is one of Houston’s best destinations for vegan food: plant-based eating is actually essential to Buddhist philosophy. It’s not uncommon to see Buddhist monks and nuns popping into Duy Sandwiches , a popular place for meat-free versions of Vietnamese mainstays—from banh mi sandwiches to noodle soups—loaded with veggies and sometimes tofu and seitan. San San Tofu nearby offers a similar assortment of dishes in a steam-table buffet that feels super authentic.

If I'm visiting during crawfish season (April to July), I've got to have some Viet-Cajun crawfish. It's a specialty dish that was essentially invented here when Cajun crawfish migrated west from New Orleans and Vietnamese chefs got their hands on the mudbugs. My go-to spot is Cajun Kitchen , which lacks the flashy accolades of nearby Crawfish & Noodles (a close second in my book), but makes up for it with garlicky, buttery plates of the crustaceans.

Once I’ve had my fill of savory snacks, it’s time for something sweet. Houston’s Chinatown is one of the best dessert destinations in town (in my humble opinion) thanks to its shaved ice joints, specialty teahouses, and more. Two favorites: 7 Leaves ’ all-natural boba drinks and Mango Mango , a mango-centric dessert shop with a standout crepe cake. And I’d be remiss not to mention the neighborhood’s best bakeries: Six Ping , Beard Papa’s (a global cream puff purveyor), and 85 Degree , a Taiwanese chain whose decadent oddball pastries can be found in more than 1000 locations around the world.

After 4pm, it's off to the “Chinese side” of Chinatown, where the names switch from the Vietnamese alphabet to Chinese characters. When I need to de-stress, Oasis Massage Salon in Dun Huang Plaza (bookmark this: you’ll surely be back here for dinner) is the place. Or I hit up Reiwatakiya , a Japanese beauty brand with great skin and hair products, wellness supplements, and other specialty items.

The options for dinner can be overwhelming, so I narrow down my faves depending on my mood. Am I feeling carnivorous? Saigon Pagolac is famous for its Vietnamese feast of Bo Bay Mon, or beef seven ways. Do I want a break from Vietnamese and Chinese? Myung Dong Kyoja specializes in Korean hand-pulled noodles, Tiger Den turns out stellar bowls of Japanese ramen, and Banana Leaf serves Malaysian classics like roti canai and beef rendang...I go with Saigon Pagolac.

Surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly?), some of the city's best nightlife is in a Chinatown strip mall: the Dun Huang Plaza —the same plaza that houses Oasis Massage Salon. It's full of after-dinner diversions, from cocktails at Giau Bar n’ Bites to karaoke at Happy Zone KTV to billiards at the M. J. Pool House tucked away on the second floor.

After drinks and karaoke, it’s back to the Vietnamese side for a late-night bowl of pho. And there's no better place than Pho A Hung By Night . The noodle house serves up all the requisite stylings of Vietnam’s national dish, but also fancy accouterments like Wagyu beef, egg yolk in bone marrow, and vinegar-soaked sliced onions. After the late-night chow fest, I get the best sleep of my life.

More like this:

• 5 must-try Vietnamese restaurants in Houston
• The Black Texans’ guide to the Lone Star State
• 8 AANHPI neighborhoods to explore

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Be a traveler, not a tourist. Dig deeper, learn more.

May 22 2018

Houston’s Chinatown

photo credit: Quit Nguyen

Chelsea Thomas & Gianni Greene

April 25, 2024

Houston is home to the second largest Indochinese population in the United States (we’re coming for you, LA), so it makes sense our Chinatown is equally as massive. The neighborhood, which sits southwest of downtown Houston along Bellaire Boulevard, comprises six square miles of bubble tea and trendy desserts shops, travel agency and dental offices, cosmetic and beauty supply stores, and every kind of restaurant under the sun. There are hundreds upon hundreds of places serving dishes from a multitude of countries and regions, whether they’re Chinese , Taiwanese , Vietnamese , Japanese , or Korean (to only name a few). You could pop into any restaurant and likely have an excellent meal. Or, you can use this guide as a compass to begin your exploration of Houston’s Chinatown.

San Dong Noodle House

Even though San Dong Noodle House feels specifically designed for utility and carry-out purposes—all dine in utensils are of the to-go variety, for example—the comforting menu of Taiwanese noodle soups and pan-fried or steamed dumplings erase any cramped-quarters seating discomfort. A fulfilling meal for two here totals up to less than $20, meaning you can save your coins for dessert or a couple of extra rounds of karaoke. Bring cash, tip the cashier, and don’t bother asking for any takeout container: just grab what you need from the shelf.

What to order: 牛肉麵 (roast beef noodle), 鍋貼 (pan fried pork dumplings)

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Hai Cang, a Vietnamese-Chinese seafood restaurant, will load you up with spicy and tangy seafood by the truckload. The massive platters of crab, lobster, and noodles are perfect for a big group dinner or perhaps an informal seafood eating contest. Get wild with pounds of lobster wok-fried in savory dry spices and a fire-red Dungeness crab carcass for fried rice, and soft scrambled eggs and juicy shrimp. Roll as deep as possible to Hai Cang, and give the table’s lazy susan an extra spin for good luck.

photo credit: Liz Silva

Gao’s Kabob

Stepping into the barbecue spot Gao’s Kabob means you’ll be whisked away to a world of skewered meat, beer towers, and maybe karaoke. Bring a group of friends here before a bar crawl to load up on grilled proteins and garlic chives. Or show up at the end of a boozy night and let tender skewers of beef serve as your first line of defense against the drinks from earlier in the night. The later you show up, the more likely you’ll feel emboldened to do karaoke numbers as you pour from the beer towers that sit on the ends of tables, like taps of liquid courage.

What to order: small beef skewers with fat, garlic fish, large lamb skewers

Bodard Bistro

The canh chua cá trê at Bodard Bistro will change your life. The tropical, refreshing soup is a Mekong Delta staple with an otherworldly tang from tamarind and pineapple. It’s like summer itself got distilled into a single dish, along with tender filets of fresh catfish, okra, stewed tomato, and whole cloves of roasted garlic. After slurping down a bowl alongside nem nướng pork sausage spring rolls, and perhaps some fluffy bánh khọt savory pancakes with shrimp, you’ll start to feel as beautiful as the well-cared for tropical plants filling the tiny restaurant. 

What to order: canh chua cá trê, bánh khọt, nem nướng

Tao Rice Roll

The Taiwanese breakfast spot Tao Rice Roll is connected to a karaoke spot, but there isn’t much serenading happening. Instead, you can expect rice rolls the size of a small pooch made-to order to hit your table with a resounding thud. Start your day with a sweet rice roll or a sausage-filled egg pancake. There are about four tables inside of Tao Rice Roll, so plan to take the party to your car unless you get lucky and snag a spot inside.

What to order: tao roll, sweet roll, double egg pancake

While the ramen at Toyori is totally craveable, you also get an adorable tiny probiotic drink at the end of the meal, which, you know, cute. The nondescript interior dark walls, rows of utilitarian booths and tables make the floor-to-ceiling gold Toyori mural feel like a special backdrop once you taste the glistening pork buns or spicy tan tan ramen. Maybe the menu resembles ones at other ramen shops, but the quality and consistency keep us coming back for bowl after bowl. 

What to order: Toyori bun, spicy signature tan tan ramen, signature rib steak sizzling plate

Alpha Bakery & Deli

Once you taste the dặc biệt bánh mì at Alpha Bakery & Cafe inside of Hong Kong City Mall, it will tease you forever, reaching out in daydreams like a pork-laden angel. Even though this place is packed with every tiny snack known to man—banana-leaf-wrapped sausages, little rice balls, spices upon spices—it’s the bánh mì you want. The sandwich that arises from this modest little prep station—saddled with thick cuts of cured pork, luscious pâté, perfectly cut cucumber, and a blissful amount of butter—only costs $5 cash. Ordering two every visit should help combat the inevitable cravings.

What to order: bánh mì dặc biệt

Mala Sichuan Bistro

Kind of like highway billboards and humidity, Mala Sichuan Bistro is part of what makes Houston, well, Houston. Despite the expansion of Mala across Houston, the original Chinatown location is where it all started. Grab a group of friends and take in the blissful, numbing effects of the mala peppercorn packed into nearly every dish. Each successive bite of Sichuan noodles or tender fish enhances the peppercorn’s effect, kind of like sucking too long on Warhead candy, but the tingling, battery-acid sensation is habit-forming. Maybe Houstonians are gluttons for punishment (look at the Texans), or maybe we just know how to have a good time.

What to order: red oil dumplings, dan dan noodles, water boiled fish

photo credit: Lao’d District

Lao'd District

What to order: Lao sausage, cracky belly, and any laab

Lao’d District is one of the few Thai-Lao spots in Chinatown. Like a few other restaurants in the neighborhood, Lao’d District doesn’t employ servers, but rather uses QR codes. Grab some Lao sausage, chicken laab with sticky rice, and crispy pork belly along with some sake cocktails. Roll up here if you enjoy loud hip hop and want an easygoing meal packed with flavor and spice.

Myung Dong Kyoja

Myung Dong Kyoja, an LA Koreatown import— one our LA buds also like a lot —feels like a food courtyard cafe at a mega-spa. Considering Houston is hot as hell most of the year, MDK’s soothing bowls of handmade cold noodles, made with chlorella and arrowroot, should be your summer obsession. The chewy noodles loaded with spice, funky kimchi, and cold vegetables are filling but not heavy, meaning you won’t have to crawl across lava-hot pavement to your car.

What to order: 비빔국수 辣朝鲜冷面 (mixed spicy chlorella noodle)

Thiên Thanh

Any place that pre-sets a table with a giant pitcher of tangy fish sauce knows how to party, which makes Thien Thanh the Vietnamese lunch it-spot in Chinatown. Thien Thanh specializes in soft rice paper crepes known as bánh cuốn, hence why the fish sauce flagon exists. The cash-only spot loads up the thin crepes with mushrooms, grilled pork, and dried shrimp, which diners then stuff with bean sprouts and dunk into, you guessed it, fish sauce. 

What to order: bánh cuốn thanh trì chå, bánh cuốn thịt nướng

For a casual and quick sushi spot, the vibe at Hokkaido is incredibly soothing. Tucked into a shopping center corner, the Tatami-mat lined restaurant feels like a warm, golden light bath, but one where you can eat nigiri and slurp endless bowls of silky miso soup. Order everything at the counter and sit wherever you like. The cashier will somehow, miraculously, find you and correctly deliver all of your food. How they achieve this feat is a mystery. Perhaps the last person to order is likely the least blissed out from the yellow light therapy, or something. Embrace the unknown, and order some extra nigiri. 

What to order: seaweed salad, sashimi and nigiri combo, dragon roll

Another California import, Mian is one of many Sichuan spots in Chinatown, but the handmade noodles and comforting peppercorn-tingle set it apart. Service is quick, as you order everything from your phone at the table. The beef noodles soups are deeply comforting, as are the red oil drenched dumplings—especially on a rainy day, or any day you feel like pouring your feelings into a giant boil of semi-spicy soup that won’t give you any attitude back. 

What to order: house beef noodles, chili oil chaoshou dumplings, Chengdu zajiang noodles

Bún Cha Cá Đà Nang

We could probably eat the fresh, flavorful soups and sandwiches at the Da Nang-style seafood restaurant Bún Chå Cá Da Nang everyday. Like bún chå cá, a thin vermicelli noodle soup with a pile of greens, or the bánh canh chå cá, a delicate fish-broth soup with thick udon noodles and fish cakes. And even though you could reasonably expect everything to taste like the sea, the food just sort of lightly washes over you, like slurping up a warm breeze.

What to order: bún chå cá, bánh canh chå cá

The original Fu Fu Cafe on the west end of the Dun Huang Plaza has satisfied late-night soup dumpling seekers for decades. Service is quick, if not slightly unforgiving, and food arrives faster than seems reasonably possible. Nothing at this combo Vietnamese-Chinese spot is mind-blowing, but rather satisfying, a little gust-busting, and reliably straightforward. All of which makes Fu Fu a solid spot to split a bunch of dumplings, rice dishes, or spicy hot pot with a big group after a long night out.

What to order: 葱油饼 (green onion pancake), 韭菜水饺 (pork chive dumpling), 椒盐鱿鱼 (salt toasted squid)

One Dragon Restaurant

Chinatown’s worst-kept secret might be the xiao long bao at One Dragon. Made-to-order and steaming hot,. each soup dumpling is thin and silky, filled with light, savory broth and tender minced pork dumplings. Order as many as possible (you will want more), but don’t skip out on the crispy bottom bao and bowls of braised pork belly in sweet sauce. Try to visit One Dragon early on a weekday, otherwise you will have to wait outside for a table.

What to order: xiao long bao, crispy bottom pork bao, braised pork belly

Toukei Izakaya

Toukei, an izakaya just off Bellaire, is the best spot to pregame a night out, or post-game since it’s open until 1am. The expansive menu spans from sushi to yakitori to ramen, with an eye-crossing bar menu. This Prohibition-era bomb shelter has so much booze that an entire wall of the restaurant is one giant floor-to-ceiling liquor cabinet—and there’s even more stacked up behind the bar. If you eat here and aren’t drinking, then you maybe shouldn’t be here (or just order a lot of food to distract the staff). 

What to order: a drink

Crawfish & Noodles

Don a bib and comically large pair of plastic gloves, and explore the explosive flavor of every dish at Crawfish & Noodles, a Viet-Cajun institution. Order crawfish boiled with lemongrass and ginger, spice-laden turkey necks, or noodles soaking up fish sauce and chile. Dining here sometimes feels like stumbling into a confused sports bar—the TVs blare Astros games amidst an unconventional mix of decor (why is there a Darth Vader helmet in the corner?). But as with all Houston institutions, it doesn’t have to totally make sense, the food just has to be really, really good. And it is.

What to order: crawfish by the pound, turkey neck, phở

Thim Hing Sandwich

Thim Hing, a cash-only bánh mì spot, exports what appears to be a metric ton of sandwiches. Every day around lunch time, at least two or three people appear to be stuffing multiple plastic bags bulging with bánh mì into the trunk of their cars. Although the sandwiches have traditional fillings like pâté and grilled pork, the baguette here is a little different than most: rail-thin, long, and super crunchy, giving each bite more texture per square inch. Take a note from the folks rushing in and out of Thim Hing, and make sure to grab enough for the whole family, team, or neighborhood. 

What to order: bánh mì xíu mại (meatball), bánh mì thập cẩm (combination)

Handam BBQ is our favorite place to go when we want to speed-run a KBBQ dinner. Service is lightning fast but still attentive—servers will begin cooking your meat for you if your grilling isn’t efficient enough. Handam only takes reservations for parties of six or larger, so either put yourself on the waitlist before the drive there, or corral a group of friends ahead of time to help you divide and conquer the corn cheese and combination platters. And if your stomach is feeling particularly bottomless, Handam offers an all-you-can-eat option (but there’s a $20 fee if you don’t clean your plate).

What to order: cheesy corn, kimchi stew, C3 handam combo

The Huế-style Vietnamese dishes at Nam Giao’s dishes are impressively tiny, like carefully constructed works of art made with dried shrimp, pork, and periwinkle snails. This culinary wonder is conveniently disguised as a strip center restaurant, one which happens to have the youth vote. On any given night, there are usually young couples canoodling over delicate, tiny ramekins of steamed bánh bèo and unwrapped banana leaves. Maybe the kids are alright.

What to order: bánh bèo

Suggested Reading

Where To Eat When You’re Visiting Houston

When it comes to Houston restaurants, think of this guide as your crash course.

The Hit List: New Houston Restaurants To Try Right Now

The new spots we checked out—and loved.

The Best Vietnamese Restaurants In Houston

The best pho, bún bò huế, and bánh mì that Houston has to offer.

Girl Eats World

one mouthful at a time

The Best Restaurants in Houston’s Chinatown for Your Epic Food Tour

You can spend weeks in Houston’s Chinatown and still not sample half of its gems. This usually bustling section of Houston has everything you can ever dream of when it comes to Asian food cravings. In this renowned Chinatown, you’ll find countless options for bubble tea, trendy Asian desserts, noodles, dim sum, popular global Asian chains, and more! This post highlights over 20 Best Restaurants in Houston’s Chinatown!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and last updated 12/2022.

Best Restaurants in Houston’s Chinatown

Tasty point for personal hot pot.

Maybe you don’t love sharing your food and want your own of everything! Now you can have your own personal hot pot at Tasty Point! Pictured above is their popular Spicy Tawainese Hot Pot; it made the heat-junkie in me so happy. I tasted my friend’s herbal broth and that was comfortingly simple. Their broth menu is expansive so I bet you can find something just perfect for you. Don’t skip out on their braised pork rice! The portions at Tasty Point are hefty and the pricing is so affordable.

Tasty Point 9110 Bellaire Blvd suite a, Houston, TX 77036 tastypointhouston.com

Lao Sze Chuan Bellaire for Peking Duck and More

Originally hailing from Chicago, Lao Sze Chuan opened in Houston’s Chinatown in 2022. It’s a wonderful place for dumplings and Peking Duck. An order of Peking Duck also comes with delicious duck soup. That broth was amazing! Check out the video above to see how beautiful the space is!

Lao Sze Chuan 9398 Bellaire blvd, Houston, TX 77036 laoszechuantx.com

Get Wrapped up in Love at Thien Thanh

Banh cuon is a Vietnamese dish that I grew up eating and loving. They are delicate rice noodle crepes wrapped around a meat filling. If you’re having a banh cuon craving or are simply curious on where to try this dish for the first time, go to a Houston classic, Thien Thanh Restaurant – Banh Cuon.

Tip: They are cash only.

Thien Thanh 11210 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072 thienthanhhouston.com

My Baguette for Bo Ne and deconstructed Banh Mis

While we’re discussing Vietnamese food, there’s a newer Vietnamese dish that popped up in the states called “bo ne.” It directly translates to “dodging cow.” This Vietnamese version of steak and eggs gets its name from the sizzling. I vetted My Baguette and fell in love with their bo ne instantly after trying a few in Houston. In fact, my mom’s first experience of bo ne was at My Baguette. She spoke to the owner who lived close to her old neighborhood in Saigon and confirmed that this is not a dish that gets its roots in Vietnam but was first made here by Vietnamese immigrants. Other recommended bites from My Baguette include the meatball stew and the deconstructed banh mis. Their drinks are also delightfully unique. Try their corn milk for a sweet refreshing drink!

My Baguettes 10613 Bellaire Blvd Suite A-125, Houston, TX 77072

Toast to Tom n Tom

What one of the beautiful things about Houston’s Chinatown is access to popular global chains from Asia. Tom n Toms is one such establishment! They originated in South Korea in 2004 and in 2019, opened their first Houston location in the heart of Chinatown! I had already eaten more than my weight in hot pot so I couldn’t bring myself to order their beautiful dessert toasts, but this Matcha Tomincino kept me happy while I clocked in some work hours at Tom n Tom.

Tom n Tom 9393 Bellaire Blvd #A5, Houston, TX 77036 tomntomsbellaire.com

Matcha Maiko Cafe is Golden

Sometimes matcha soft serve can taste powdery. Not at Matcha Cafe Maiko! Another well-respected global Asian chain, Matcha Cafe Maiko is a matcha lover’s utopia. If you’re feeling fancy or want to dress up your Instagram feed , order your ice cream with gold!

Read my Matcha Dessert to Austin

Matcha Cafe Maiko 6650 Corporate Dr suite e-1, Houston, TX 77036 matchacafe-maiko.com

Hold Bae in the Palm of Your Hand

And while we’re still talking beautiful soft-serves, also in Chinatown is Bae. Bae has colorful and soft-serve ice cream with a battery of sugary toppings to choose from, from sprinkles, mochi, Pocky sticks, to panda crackers!

Bae 9798 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036 https://www.baebae.co/

Light Yourself Up with TEAholic

Located just steps from My Baguette is TEAholic. TEAholic gives you some fun options to enjoy your teas and boba, including in a lightbulb-shaped cup, in a split-cup, or in a carafe so you can build your own adventure! The bobas are fresh and the perfect texture.

TEAholic 10613 Bellaire Blvd #A150, Houston, TX 77072 facebook.com/houston150/

Blkdog Coffee and Beignets Are a Matcha Made in Heaven

I went to Blkdog Coffee to try their famous matcha beignets and stayed for their matcha lattes too. (You might remember I’m obsessed with matcha desserts .) They also have chicken karaage if you’re wanting something savory to balance your sweet tooth!

Blkdog Coffee 9630 Clarewood Dr suite a13-b, Houston, TX 77036 blkdogcoffee.com

If you want my complete list of favorite instagrammable desserts read my guide to Instagrammable Desserts in Houston .

Nam Giao,  a hidden gem of a Vietnamese restaurant specializing in cuisine from Huế, Vietnam. They have been a long-time staple in the Houston community but were made even more popular when the Netflix show Ugly Delicious featured them in the Houston/New Orleans episode.  You can make a meal off of their appetizers menu. Pictured from top to bottom: Crystal dumplings, Banh Ram It, and Banh Beo. Banh Beo is a must-order. Everything is dipped in their delicious fish sauce.

Nam Giao 6938 Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77072

Bing Su helps you connect with your inner child!

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Bing Su is a newer addition to Houston’s Chinatown and it’s such a joyful spot. They offer beautiful Bingsu desserts, taiyakis, and also Korean-style corndogs! See the video above to see how massive the cheese pulls can be. You can activate your childlike sense wonder and joy here so easily and at a great price point!

Bing Su 9798 Bellaire Blvd, Ste E, Houston, TX 77036

Snowy Village for Both Frozen and Piping Hot Desserts

While we are on the topic of Bingsu, a popular Korean-style shaved ice dessert, I had to mention Snowy Village. Snowy Village is relatively new to Houston’s Chinatown, but they’ve been around the world winning over the general public with their Bingsu desserts. They also make to order fresh Taiyaki with your filling of choice. Pictured above is their new milk tea and boba Takiyaki. The dough they use for these fish-shaped hot desserts is buttery and flakey, and you’ll want to immediately order another. Snowy Village is also one of the dozens of restaurants in Chinatown that offer an expansive drink menu!

Snowy Village  9600 Bellaire Blvd Suite 103-A, Houston, TX 77036

Nguyễn Ngọ French Cafe for the Classically French-Vietnamese Sandwiches

Nguyễn Ngọ French Cafe is one of the more popular traditional French-style banh mi shops in Houston. Their game-changer is you can order their classic banh mis with croissant bread which they make in-house. They do not skimp on anything and give generous slatherings of pâté and housemade buttery mayo, two cornerstone ingredients of Vietnamese sandwiches.

Related: My favorite Vietnamese Restaurants of Houston

Nguyễn Ngọ French Cafe 11210 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072

Kim Son is one of OGs of Vietnamese Restaurants in Houston

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Kim Son first opened in the early 1980s in Houston and has since expanded to multiple locations in Houston. Their Bellaire location in Chinatown has an expansive Vietnamese buffet that includes so many classic Vietnamese dishes like braised pork belly, crispy crepes, and summer rolls. They also have crawfish during crawfish season and a noodle bar.

Kim Son Restaurant kimson.com

Pour Yourself a cheesy meal at Pepper Lunch

Pepper Lunch is a popular DIY teppan place in the middle of Houston’s Chinatown. Cheesy, peppery rice or noodles in a sizzling plate? What’s not to like? If cheesy isn’t your thing, they also have amazing curry options.

Pepper Lunch 9393 Bellaire Blvd ste c, Houston, TX 77036 http://tx.pepperlunch.us/

Beard Papa’s

A few steps away from Pepper Lunch in the same strip mall is beloved Beard Papa. A famous global chain from Asia, they specialize in cream puffs in a variety of flavors! Photographed above is the creme brulee cream puff.

Beard Papa 9393 Bellaire Blvd Suite G, Houston, TX 77036 beardpapas.com

Nu Cafe Proving Snow Can Happen in Texas

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Have you had snow ice? Nu Cafe introduced me to my first snow ice almost ten years ago! I like explaining snow ice as the love child of gelato and snowcones. I know matcha and red bean can be a bit of an acquired taste for some; they also have popular flavors like mango and strawberry!

Nu Cafe 9889 Bellaire Blvd #112a, Houston, TX 77036 nucafehouston.com

BAMBU for Vietnamese Desserts and Drinks

Another snow ice purveyor in Chinatown Houston is BAMBU. BAMBU has locations in Houston and one in Austin. They built up a following for their chè. Chè is a Vietnamese word for home-made beverages, dessert drinks, and puddings. It’s a great place to meet with friends while you enjoy some special treats and drinks!

Bambu drinkbambu.com

Fung’s Kitchen for an epic Dim Sum Feast

Fung’s Kitchen is one of the more popular dim sum restaurants in Chinatown. They have dim sum classics like shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, sticky rice, taro cakes, turnip cakes, and more. Their dim sum menu has over 150 items! They also have special dim sum dishes you can order like Golden Egg Lobster and Peking duck. That’s right! Peking duck is available for dim sum, lunch, and dinner at Fung’s Kitchen. I’m currently hosting a giveaway for Fung’s Kitchen here .

Bonus tip: Fung’s Kitchen’s lava cakes are so addictive. Don’t forget to order a plate or two.

Fung’s Kitchen 7320 Southwest Fwy #115, Houston, TX 77074 eatatfungs.com

ECK is Egg Custard King of Chinatown

ECK is short for “Egg Custard King” and if you try these fresh egg custards, especially when fresh from the oven, you’ll agree. This is the best Chinese egg custard I’ve ever had.

Eck Bakery   6918 Wilcrest Dr # A, Houston, TX 77072

Xiong’s Cafe: a True Mom and Pop Spot

Xiong’s Cafe is a true mom-and-pop cafe in the heart of Houston’s Chinatown. On the door of Xiong’s Cafe’s unassuming brick-and-mortar is a literal paper sign that says “Xiong’s Cafe.” They’ve been around for many years with a loyal fanbase, some of whom have been going since childhood. I went for the first time and found the service so friendly and the dumplings in beef soup comforting and delicious. Their chicken cutlets with vegetables and tea egg were also excellent.

Xiong’s Cafe 9888 Bellaire Blvd #150, Houston, TX 77036

Get your Dumpling Fix at One Dragon

I have a theory that the more dumplings you eat, the more you’ll want to eat. It’s a positive feedback loop! A great place to get Shahaniese-style fare is One Dragon. They’ve been open since the early 80s and have been quietly serving the community with good eats. They have classic soup dumplings, but even more notable is their crispy bottom pork baos (pictured above on the right.) They’re juicy with a crispy exterior, and you’ll want to eat them Kungfu Panda style.

One Dragon 9310 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

Niu Yi Zui Lamen

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda | TX & NC Food+Travel (@lindaeatsworld) on Feb 6, 2019 at 10:22am PST

You can find hand-shaven noodles with perfect texture at Niu Yi Zui Lamen. Get them in flavorful soups or dry with tender meat and flavorful seasonings. Their menu is concise but what little options they have, they make up with excellent quality.

Niu Yi Zui Lamen 9968 Bellaire Blvd #220, Houston, TX 77036

So, friends, this concludes my list of Houston Chinatown gems. Tell me some of your favorite Houston Chinatown spots in Houston in the comments! I’d love to support them too!

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4 Lesser-Known U.S. Chinatowns With Incredible Food and Culture

These asian neighborhoods are filled with tasty eats, thriving communities, and so much american history..

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There are approximately 50 Chinatowns across the United States, including Las Vegas’s Chinatown.

Photo by SnapASkyline/Shutterstock

Across the United States, Chinatowns are known as rich and bustling communities. The country’s oldest, in San Francisco , dates back to 1850; the one in Flushing, Queens, home to the largest number of Chinese immigrants in New York City . The neighborhoods have become tourist hot spots for their reputation of tasty cheap eats and thrifty shops.

These enclaves are also essential cultural hubs, which grew out of the nation’s dark discriminatory history. Some were founded in the mid-1800s, when Chinese immigrants were lured by “gold mountain” fortunes and instead faced racist policies—most notably through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 , the first significant law to restrict immigration , which remained in place until 1943 . As a matter of survival, Asian immigrants often banded together into communities that grew into Chinatowns.

In more recent years, the hardships have come from a wave of anti-Asian hate, reignited during the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the midst of challenges, Chinatowns are doubling down on pride and heralding their histories .

The Chinatowns in New York City and San Francisco are known by many, but there are several lesser-known Chinatowns across the country that embrace diversity as part of a new wave of distinctly Asian American identity.

Here are four Chinatowns with a unique take on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) culture.

Just on the other side of the Interstate-15 in Las Vegas is a different kind of strip that’s just as enticing. Running along Spring Mountain Road for three miles to Rainbow Boulevard, perpendicular to Las Vegas Boulevard, is the city’s Chinatown, which tallies more than 150 restaurants, 40 massage spas and six Asian supermarkets.

With a few Asian businesses already in the area, a group of Chinese business owners and investors actively created the Nevada neighborhood in the 1990s to serve the growing population. Centered around strip malls and shopping centers, Vegas’s Chinatown is quickly becoming the place to indulge in authentic Asian food.

For Erica Bell, the general manager of Double Zero Pie & Pub located at the Chinatown shopping area Center at Spring Mountain , it’s all about the diverse eats “showcasing many different Asian cuisines from new age to traditional with some other cuisines peppered in, which become surprises and delights.”

Where to go in Las Vegas’s Chinatown

Bell’s all-time favorite restaurant is China Mama , known for its homemade dumplings made by a woman nicknamed “Turbo” for her swift skills (as of April 2024, the restaurant is temporarily closed due to a fire). While Bell’s top choice is the crispy beef, she’s never gone wrong with any of the dumplings. She also frequents Viet Noodle Bar , which is “always busy because the wait is never too long.” The broth here is consistently on par—plus, the restaurant’s build-your-own spring rolls option is a fun activity for friends and family.

For drinks, Bell recommends Golden Tiki , a themed bar that feels like a “ Pirates of the Caribbean movie set where you can drink a Grog [cocktail], something on fire, or kick back with some Dole Whip and feel like you’re at Disneyland.” Bell’s other picks include Somi Somi to chill out with soft-serve–filled taiyaki and Shang Artisan Noodles to crank up the heat with spicy beef noodles and spicy wontons.

With San Francisco’s Chinatown just across the Bay, Oakland’s often falls into the shadow. But its roots also run back to the Gold Rush days in the 1850s. During the big city’s 1906 earthquake and fire, thousands of the survivors crossed over and made the East Bay enclave their home.

Calling itself more of a “working Chinatown” these days since it’s less of a tourist destination and more of a thriving neighborhood of 3,425 residents, Oakland’s enclave is home to 45 restaurants and nine tea shops. You can also catch seniors practicing tai chi and qigong at Madison Park in the mornings, watch families pass by Pacific Renaissance Plaza , or learn more about the area at Oakland Asian Cultural Center .

Where to go in Oakland’s Chinatown

“Oakland Chinatown has been blessed with the best weather in the country, with the convenience of reliable public transportation, and plenty of parking,” Carl Chan, president of Oakland’s Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, says. “We carry the best and most exotic produce and seafood, which you may never find anywhere else.”

Chan recommends visitors head to Peony Seafood to enjoy dim sum at lunch or seafood at dinner, as well as to Lounge Chinatown into the wee hours for “delectable” Taiwanese night market food.

A couple of Chan’s other recommendations include Oakland Fortune Factory on 12th Street and a stop at any of the many boba tea shops in town.

Established in the 19th century, Honolulu’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in the country.

Photo by Theodore Trimmer/Shutterstock

The capital city’s Chinatown is also its artsiest and most historic district. The neighborhood is rooted in the mid–19th century when Chinese workers were recruited to work on sugar plantations in the then Kingdom of Hawai’i . Most of the buildings seen today date to about 1900, following a major fire that destroyed the area.

Unlike other Chinatowns, this one is right in the center of town, just about 15 minutes west of Waikiki. Here, dim sum restaurants and herb spots mix with lei makers, antique dealers, and markets such as Maunakea Marketplace or the O’ahu Market, and even the Japanese Izumo Taishakyo Mission Shrine and Chinese Kuan Yin Temple.

“I love how Honolulu’s Chinatown displays the diversity and genuine aloha that you can only experience in Hawai‘i,” Kaua‘i-born Jason Peel, chef at Nami Kaze , says. “The mix of cultures and flavors make Chinatown a mixed-plate shopping center for locals and visitors.”

Where to go in Honolulu’s Chinatown

Peel recommends travelers head to Fête, a farm-to-table restaurant serving a Hawaiian spin on dishes, like its vitello tonnato, made with Hawai’i island roast veal and i’a ahi belly aioli and poi mochi doughnuts with Manoa Chocolate rum sauce. He also suggests EP Bar, a hip watering hole where the vinyl collection is as varied as its drinks.

Compared to the deep-rooted history in most of the United States’ other Chinatowns, Houston ’s is relatively young. While the first Chinese immigrants were recorded in 1870 , Houston’s Chinatown sprung up from an area of Bellaire roughly four decades ago , sprawling six square miles southwest of the city.

The names Chinatown and Asiatown are used interchangeably—for good reason. “Houston’s Chinatown is very much unique, as we have such a wide range of ethnic groups represented in our Chinatown,” says Kevin Lee, Malaysian restaurant Phat Eatery ‘s co-director of operations. He explains that Vietnamese restaurants mostly are west of Beltway 8, while those to the east tend to be Chinese. The community has expanded into another Chinatown area referred to as Katy Asian Town, about 20 miles west, where Phat Eatery was opened in 2018 by the late James Beard semifinalist Alex Au-Yeung .

Where to go in Houston’s Chinatown

Lee’s personal favorite Chinatown spot is San Dong Noodle & Dumpling House . “Their handmade dumplings and the beef noodle soup always hit the spot,” he says, adding that it’s “affordable” and that he and his family “never leave here hungry.” Another top choice: The Chinese-Vietnamese Tan Tan Restaurant , where he goes for House Special Rice Cake, better known as A01, and Phuc Kien Noodles with Shrimp Cake, or E05.

Other popular spots include Kim Son , with a menu based on the 250 recipes chef Kim Su Tran La memorized when she escaped Vietnam in 1980 ; Sinh Sinh for the Peking duck; and Tofu Village for Korean tofu soup. Shoppers congregate around the Harwin Drive shopping district as well as at Hong Kong City Mall , with more than 100 shops, while visitors can get a taste of Vietnamese Buddhist culture at Teo Chew Temple . For the best understanding of the neighborhood, hop on a bus or take a walking tour with Houston Asiatown Tours .

Rolling Stones kick off 48th tour with ‘Hackney Diamonds’ cuts and classics in Houston

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The Rolling Stones opened their Stones Tour ’24 Hackney Diamonds on Sunday to a sold-out crowd of more than 70,000 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston.

The Stones played just three new tracks from the album, choosing to focus instead on classic hits including “Start Me Up,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Satisfaction,” according to a press release. The decision to focus on older material was not unsurprising for a group with more than six decades of songs to choose from.

It was the rockers’ first performance of material from their 2023 effort “Hackney Diamonds” since the album’s surprise release at the 600-seat club Racket in New York last October. (Fans and celebrities packed that tiny venue expecting merely a Stones show and instead were treated to a breadth of new songs — and a Lady Gaga cameo.)

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As the tour rolls on, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and company plan to make stadium stops in Glendale, Ariz.; Las Vegas; Seattle; East Rutherford, N.J.; Foxboro, Mass.; Orlando; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Cleveland; Denver; Chicago; Vancouver; Inglewood; and Santa Clara.

When the Stones hit SoFi Stadium this summer, they’ll be accompanied by the War and Treaty on July 10 and the Linda Lindas on July 13.

“Hackney Diamonds” is the rockers’ first studio album of original material in nearly two decades, following 2005’s “A Bigger Bang.” It’s also the Stones’ first LP since the death of founding drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. It’s the first time the band has been on the road since its 60th anniversary tour in 2022, and the tour will also feature a stop at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 2.

“Charlie was one of the funniest guys I’ve ever known,” Richards told Times music critic Mikael Wood in 2021, “and the most unlikely man to be famous. He hated that side of the job and used to savagely take the piss out of it.”

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Oct. 7, 2021

When “Hackney Diamonds” game out, Wood wrote in his album review, “The songs blend the same ingredients the Stones have been using since the beginning — blues, rock, soul, country, gospel — but they’re tighter and punchier than on any of the band’s previous late-era LPs.”

Meanwhile, according to Rolling Stone , back at the Houston concert one fan said, “People say Joe Biden is too old to be president. They need to look at Mick!”

That said, the Rolling Stones’ 48th tour is sponsored by AARP.

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Eva Hartman is a spring 2024 reporting intern with the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She is a senior at the University of Southern California studying international relations, where she has served as the news assignments editor and magazine editor at the Daily Trojan.

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Rolling Stones Kick-Start ‘Hackney Diamonds’ Tour With Thrilling Houston Concert

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Over the past couple of decades, the Rolling Stones have looked for any reason to hit the road besides the release of a new album of original songs. They’ve launched tours celebrating their 50th anniversary, reissues of select archival records, the 2016 covers LP Blue & Lonesome , and their 60th anniversary. Some years they headed out on the stadium circuit for no particular reason whatsoever, knowing a Stones tour is a major event in and of itself.

The first step was Houston’s NRG Stadium on Sunday night. After a strong opening set by Gary Clark Jr. that centered around his new LP, JPEG Raw , the band took the stage to the familiar opening notes of “Start Me Up.” This is the first time Mick Jagger has faced a stadium crowd since his 80th birthday last year, but his voice and body seem like they stopped aging sometime around Steel Wheels . It’s almost impossible to fully believe until you see it in person. (“People say Joe Biden is too old to be president,” an elderly woman behind me said early in the night. “They need to look at Mick!”)

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He wasn’t kidding. The 1965 Aftermath track wasn’t played live once until their 2022 European tour, and this was the first time it crossed the Atlantic. But it’s not something you hear much on classic rock radio, and the audience reaction was pretty muted at first. “I don’t think you really knew it,” Jagger said at the end. “But you got to know it as it went along.”

The Hackney Diamonds portion of the evening began at this point with leadoff single “Angry,” which popped onstage much like it did during their surprise album release show at the New York club Racket last year. “Beast of Burden” won the fan vote for the night, and it provided veteran backup Stones singer Bernard Fowler with a much-deserved spotlight moment. “You’ve got one more vote in November,” Jagger said. “Don’t forget to vote then too. What to play now? Something old … something new.”

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At the midway point of every Rolling Stones concert in recent memory, Jagger introduces the band one by one before heading offstage so Keith Richards can sing a couple of songs. For some reason, perhaps to squeeze more new songs into the set without cutting any of the standards, Richards was limited to just a single tune. He made it count by singing 1981’s “Little T & A” for the first time since 2016, though it was disappointing he didn’t get a chance to break out “Tell Me Straight” from Hackney Diamonds . It feels inevitable that’ll happen before this tour ends.

Jagger returned for “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Gimme Shelter,” which gave new background singer Chanel Haynes a chance to emerge from the wings and show off her stunning pipes. She first entered Stones World in 2022 when Sasha Allen, their previous background singer, couldn’t make a Milan show. Haynes was playing the lead role in the West End musical Tina at the time, and she parachuted in at the last second to save the show. This frustrated the producers of Tina , who fired her for handing the show off to her understudy that night when she wasn’t ill, but it impressed the Stones enough to hire her for this tour.

The main set wrapped up with “Honky Tonk Women,” “Miss You,” “Paint It Black,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” These are songs they’ve done hundreds and hundreds of times for good reason. The hardcores may yearn for deeper cuts like “Memory Motel” or “Moonlight Mile,” but Jagger knows they’d cause many people to sit down and start scrolling through Instagram. And when you have a song like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” in your repertoire, you simply have to play it every time you do a gig.

“Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” one of the finest songs on Hackney Diamonds , kicked off the brief encore set. If it wasn’t challenging enough to channel Merry Clayton a few songs back, Haynes had to now deliver Lady Gaga’s soaring vocal parts from the original recording. Unsurprisingly, she crushed it. For a moment, it really felt like witnessing a scene from some alternate-universe version of A Star Is Born.

The night closed out with a joyous “Satisfaction,” meaning they played just three songs from Hackney Diamonds. That’s typical for a tour in support of a latter-day Rolling Stones album, but this one really deserved more. They dropped “Midnight Rambler,” one of the Richards songs, and the acoustic set to make room for the three new ones in the show, but it be worth further restructuring to squeeze in “Whole Wide World,” “Bite My Head Off,” and “Tell Me Straight.” These are stellar songs that deserve a spot in the set, even if it means tossing aside “Paint It Black” or “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” sometimes.

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The Rolling Stones’ 4/28/24 Set List in Houston

“Start Me Up” “Get Off of My Cloud” “Rock Off” “Out of Time” “Angry” “Beast of Burden” “Mess It Up” “Tumbling Dice” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” “Little T & A” “Sympathy for the Devil” “Gimme Shelter” “Honky Tonk Women” “Miss You” “Paint It Black” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” “Satisfaction”

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The Rolling Stones show no signs of slowing down as they begin their latest tour with Texas show

Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Mick Jagger, left, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performs during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones performs during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones performs during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Keith Richards, left, Darryl Jones, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones perform during the first night of the U.S. leg of their “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Gary Clark Jr. performs during the first night of the U.S. leg of The Rolling Stones “Hackney Diamonds” tour on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

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HOUSTON (AP) — Time marches on and all good things must come to an end. But don’t tell that to The Rolling Stones .

What many believe to be the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon as they kicked off their latest tour Sunday night at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The Stones have been touring for more than 60 years. Frontman Mick Jagger and lead guitarist Keith Richards are both 80, with guitarist Ronnie Wood not far behind at 76. Their tour is being sponsored in part by AARP.

But during a vibrant two-hour show, the Stones played with the energy of band that was on tour for the first time.

“It’s great to be back in the Lone Star State,” Jagger told the packed stadium, filled with longtime fans, many wearing faded concert shirts from previous tours.

Jagger often strutted up and down the stage with seemingly boundless energy while Richards and Wood played many familiar guitar riffs beloved by fans. Jagger often led the audience in sing-alongs.

“The energy level is up and it’s always up with them. The age doesn’t show,” Dale Skjerseth, the Stones’ production director, said Friday before the concert.

The Stones have hit the road to support the release of their latest album, “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first record of original music since 2005.

Houston was the first stop on the band’s 16-city tour across the U.S. and Canada. Other cities on the tour include New Orleans, Philadelphia and Vancouver, British Columbia. The tour ends on July 17 in Santa Clara, California.

During Sunday’s 18-song concert set list, the Stones played several tracks off the new record, including lead single “Angry.” They also played classics including “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Gimme Shelter,” Honky Tonk Women” and “Start Me Up.”

After playing “Beast of Burden,” Jagger said that concertgoers in Houston had voted to include it on the set list.

“You can’t go wrong with that,” one man in the audience could be heard screaming.

The Stones also played some unexpected choices, including “Rocks Off,” from their 1972 double album “Exile on Main St.” and “Out of Time,” a 1966 song that Jagger said during the concert had not ever been played by the band in the U.S.

With the 2021 death of drummer Charlie Watts , the Stones are now comprised of the core trio of Jagger, Richards and Wood. On Sunday, they were backed by various musicians including two keyboardists, a new drummer, backup singers and a brass section.

While the stage was surrounded by a large collection of video screens projecting images throughout the show, the main focus of the concert was the band and their songs

Before Sunday’s concert, Jagger spent time on Friday touring NASA’s Johnson Space Center in suburban Houston, posting photos on his Instagram account of him with astronauts inside Mission Control.

“I had an amazing trip to the space center,” Jagger said.

When asked if the band might be thinking about retiring, Skjerseth said he doubts that will happen.

“This is not the end. They’re very enthused,” he said.

This story has been updated to correct a song title to “Gimme Shelter,” not “Gimmer Shelter.”

Follow Juan A. Lozano on X , formerly Twitter.

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C.j. stroud living the offseason life during asia tour with micah parsons, share this article.

C.J. Stroud picked up in  Houston  where he left  on  in  Atlanta;  thriving under pressure. In the process, he became the solution to the Texans’ l osing ways in 2023. 

Stroud, the Texans’ franchise quarterback, became an overnight sensation in the NFL after being selected No. 2 overall last April. He guided the Texans to a 10-7 AFC South division title and the first playoff win in four years. The former Ohio State star also became the first Texans player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for over 4,000 yards. 

Now, he’s enjoying life away from the field while expanding the game outside the United States. 

Stroud and Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons have been on an offseason tour throughout Asia,  taking part in  helping kids learn about football and the NFL. But while serving as ambassadors in football last month in Beijing, they’ve also enjoyed a well-earned vacation before having home for practice.

Micah Parsons went 1v1 with a sumo wrestler 😳 This Tokyo trip is WILD. pic.twitter.com/Fl2hkCHW9g — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 5, 2024

The Texas duo threw out a first pitch at the Tokyo Dome last weekend  during their stay in Japan .  They also donned a Mawashi while taking sumo from professional wrestlers in the ring. 

Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud throwing the first pitch in Tokyo …the debate at the end 😂 (via @TokyoGiants ) pic.twitter.com/Xg7ChgkTlZ — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2024

Parsons, known for his violent hand usage and ability to pressure the quarterback, looked better than Stroud in the ring but was no match for the massive mountain known for his ability to take down men his size. A  full  video  is expected  to be released by Bleacher Report soon, so perhaps fans will see if Stroud was a match for a smaller opponent.  

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Micah Parsons (@_micahparsons11)

Before departing Beijing, Stroud and Parsons  also  visited the Great Wall of China. Parsons posted a photo with fans to his Instagram. Stroud posted a  photo  of him working drills with a handful of locals in Shanghai.

Dallas and Houston have been a rivalry waiting to ignite for years. The Lone Star Showdown carries weight in other sports, but it’s never hit its peak at the NFL level despite the love of football in the state. 

The Texans, a favorite to win the AFC crown this season, travel to Arlington to take on the Cowboys in 2024. Stroud and Parsons’ friendship will be one of the major storylines to follow, and will the battle between the Diggs brothers, Stefon and Trevon, after Houston’s trade for the Pro Bowl receiver. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CJ Stroud (@cj7stroud)

Could this be a potential Super Bowl matchup? Time will tell, but Stroud will have several months to reminisce on his trip with Parsons before the two do battle. The second-year quarterback  is expected  to return home soon in preparation for mandatory minicamp beginning on June 4. 

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An Insiders’ Guide to Boston's Chinatown — Where to Eat and Drink

From dim sum classics to inventive dessert destinations, here's how to explore Boston's historic district, where food is centerstage.

Kissed by a Kangaroo/Getty Images

There’s a simplicity around Boston’s Chinatown that immediately draws you into the district, which is sandwiched between Boston Common’s southeastern corner and South Station. 

“It’s tucked away into several streets that feel like their own unique pocket of town rather than a more sprawling and large Chinatown like you may find in New York and San Francisco,” Rachel DeSimone of Bites of Boston , who helped develop its Chinatown's Culture & Cuisine Tour , told Travel + Leisure .

The neighborhood, which was first settled by Chinese immigrants in the 1870s , has become the hub of a mix of Asian cultures. In fact, its Chinatown Gateway was a gift from Taiwan. The plaque at its base indicates that it was built in 1982 and rededicated in 1990, as Boston and Taipei have been sister cities since 1996.

The windows of the Tufts University building on Kneeland Street showcase an exhibit on the resilience of its Chinatown community through the last 150 years, from Asian exclusion in the 1870s to the more recent threat of neighborhood destruction through the expansion of roadways. 

Throughout its history, food has been an enduring legacy, from chop suey shops around the 1900s to the innovative eateries today. Debbie Ho of Chinatown Main Street told T+L what’s so special in this Chinatown is the variety. There's everything from “hot pots to noodles, dim sum, and lobster” that’s more Cantonese style, but also southern Chinese styles “with black bean, garlic, and ginger” as well as northern cuisines with “spicy, noodle soups." Plus, there are restaurants with a “Taiwanese flare with great pan-fried dumplings and soup dumplings.” (She called out dim sum at Jumbo Seafood , spicy hot pot at 5 Spices House , and noodle soup at Jibei Chuan , among the staples, packed into the compact district.)

DeSimone agreed that Boston Chinatown’s unique “charm” comes from its “nice mix of traditional and modern takes on Asian cuisine, showing respect for where the roots of the cuisine originated,” noting that’s a distinct characteristic of Massachusetts. “The ability to modernize while still nodding to its history is … also something that you can feel in all of Boston," said DeSimone.

Here, we highlight eight must-visit spots when visiting Boston's Chinatown.

Double Chin

When the Chin sisters, Gloria and Emily, opened their restaurant in Chinatown, they wanted to truly embrace their Chinese American identities. So they came up with a “modern Hong Kong style restaurant offering fun spins on some of their favorite classic foods and dishes they ate growing up such as Spam,” DeSimone said. The result is creative eats, like the Double Chinwich, with char siu roast pork, carrot turnip slaw, and honey Hoisin sauce inside a scallion pancake bun; skillet chow fun “mac” and cheese with locally-sourced wide rice noodles and panko; and Spam and taro fries, served with sriracha aioli. Insider Tip : Its most famous dish is the cube toast dessert, which comes in berry, matcha, and macaron varieties, which DeSimone calls “amazing.”

There’s a classy sense of whimsy the moment you step into Café Darq, with pear-shaped lanterns hanging overhead, juxtaposed with window string lights and Asian-inspired art pieces. But the real artistry is in its wide breadth of offerings, with someone for everyone. For Ho, that comes in the form of “great coffees and gelato.” Unique flavors include the Ca Phe Hoi An (iced house blend coffee with sea salt caramel), Coconut Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte (coconut milk tea with butterfly tea), and Passion Fruit Yakult (passion fruit jam with the yogurt-based soft drink). Insider Tip: During my visit, I enjoyed the fruit-infused coffee mixture of the Espresso Limeade, with a double shot of espresso and a sweetly tart twist of lime.

Taiwan Cafe

Just around the corner on Oxford Street is an “unassuming spot that could easily go missed,” but where the “food is super fresh and the menu is huge,” DeSimone said. From Taiwanese delicacies like fried stinky tofu with paou tsai (my favorite!) to oyster omelets and Taiwanese sausage, its menu features a mix of the island’s night-food markets and most famous restaurant dishes. But they’re perhaps best known for their dumplings. Ho loves their pan-fried dumplings, while DeSimone goes for their soup dumplings.   Insider Tip : I went off-menu and ordered the truffle soup dumplings marked as a special on a wall poster. As a dumpling addict, this was among the top around the world. Even the server came over afterward and we fangirled out over its delectable flavors and distinct textures.

The Mott Street Girls ’ Anna Huang grew up in Boston and was a Chinatown guide in her hometown. One of her favorites is the new dim sum spot Dynasty, which opened in 2023, and serves up the small dishes daily until 3 p.m. They have “really unique dim sum dishes such as molten egg yolk sesame balls and steamed shrimp balls with fish roe," said Huang. Insider Tip: Go for the fried turnip cakes with an XO sauce for a slight twist on a classic. 

Sweet Waffles & Boba

Another sweet treat staple, this Instagram-friendly hotspot is a “cute cafe,” and among Huang’s favorites in town. Their waffle pop flavors range from churro crunch (white chocolate and cinnamon toast crunch with cinnamon) to apple pie (apple pie served warm with Biscoff cookies). Meanwhile, their drinks range from colorful signature lemonades (try the Unicorn Lemonade with strawberry lemonade with strawberry jelly and butterfly tea) to brown sugar boba float (yes, that's a vanilla ice cream scoop in a brown sugar boba!). Insider Tip: Huang is a fan of the strawberry shortcake waffle with homemade strawberry shortcake, cookie crumbs, and fresh strawberries — plus pink chocolate on top!

Hei La Moon

Hei La Moon is “one of the longest-standing dim sum restaurants in Boston’s Chinatown and one of the most popular,” DeSimone told T+L. Though they recently changed their name and are also known as Food Opera, it’s still the same “classic dim sum experience” with a buzzy dining room and “delicious” dishes served off carts, from steamed roast pork buns to ham sui cook (fried glutinous rice dumplings filled with pork). Insider Tip : You can tell a lot about a dim sum spot by its long rice noodles with shrimp — and Hei La Moon doesn't disappoint. 

Here at Shojo, there's a “cool, dark, artsy atmosphere,” DeSimone said, elevated by its “creative modern spin on Asian cuisine.” That includes Wu-Tang Tiger Style Ribs, C-Town Chicken n Waffles, and Shadowless Fries. Plus the Japanese spirits list is “unrivaled in the city” with “amazing cocktails.” Ashley Yung of Pao Arts Center agreed that this is the spot for “drinks and good bites.”  Insider Tip : Heirloom eggplant, fermented black bean, and yuzu citrus salsa make up the perfect flavors in the Fried Eggplant Bao.

Taiwan Bakery

While longtime favorites like Hing Shing Pastry have recently closed their doors, Taiwan Bakery — in the former 101 Cafe site — has quickly become a favorite for its “snacks and baked goods,” as Yung called out. Savory treats like pork buns mingle aside sweet pastries from sponge cakes and custard buns to the perennial favorite egg tarts. Insider Tip :  Typically eaten around the Mid-Autumn fest, mooncakes are a specialty here — especially with its inventive varieties like durian snow skin mooncakes.

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Small business spotlight: chinatown.

Houston’s Chinatown is vast, exciting and full of unique finds. Whether you’re visiting or live here, this area of town should not be missed. Though it’s called Chinatown, the neighborhood is a cultural mecca where Chinese shops, restaurants, and cultural centers share blocks with Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern establishments. Take a little tour of the East and be sure to visit some of the area’s small businesses like those listed in our roundup below.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Long Coffee (@longcoffeehouston)

Long Coffee

Don’t let the name fool you. While Long Coffee is well known for its delicious hot and cold caffeinated beverages, especially its Vietnamese Coffee, the food menu is just as enticing. Established in 1983, Long Coffee quickly became a go-to spot for those who wanted to chill with a coffee, enjoy a leisurely lunch or simply grab a quick bite with coworkers. The food is delicious, and the menu includes plenty of options like pasta, crispy fried popcorn chicken and pastries. Plus, on a sunny day you can enjoy the inviting patio complete with comfortable seating, free wifi and outlets to sit and work.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Ellicor NY (@ellicorny2019)

Ellicor Gift Shop

Creative, unique, interesting and fun are four adjectives that come to mind when thinking about Ellicor. With a vision of combining creativity with functionality, Ellicor works hard to curate an impressive collection of gifts, toys, accessories, clothing and everyday products from across Asia. If you’re looking for souvenirs to bring home, you are guaranteed to find something fun and festive at Ellicor. May we recommend any of the fun Asian candy or anything Hello Kitty, which is always a fan favorite.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Houston's @BestFoodFeed (@bestfoodhouston)

Golden Dumpling House

After a day of shopping, we certainly recommend grabbing dumplings. After all, sharing dim sum and dumplings is an unofficial must-do activity when visiting Chinatown. Overwhelmed by all of the dumpling options? Head to Golden Dumpling House for just that, perfectly fried and steamed dumplings. Plus, every dumpling is handmade with lots of love and care. This casual restaurant is perfect for ensuring a happy belly on a budget, as the prices are very wallet friendly. Of course, there are more than just dumplings on the menu, so take some time to enjoy other delicacies too.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Two Hands Corn Dogs - Lakewood (@twohands_lakewood)

Two Hands Dog

We’ll admit, corn dogs aren’t the first thing we think of when we’re talking about Chinatown. However, after a visit to Two Hand Dogs, corn dogs might be all you talk about! The Two Hands Korean-style hot dogs are absolutely mouthwatering. There are lots of dog options including the signature Two Hands Dog which is the corn dog, complete with seasoning and ranch sauce. Feeling spicy? Grab the Spicy Dog which is covered in spicy sauce and Hot Cheeto’s powder. Two Hands also has fun fillings so you can add some mozzarella or cheddar to your dog. We think you may need more than two hands for this fun meal.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Jack Potts (@bohemian.photo)

Ten Yen Tea

Tea and the traditions surrounding it are a valued part of the history and culture of China and other Asian countries. Originally used for medicinal qualities, tea remains a sacred part of community rituals and at Ten Yen Tea, you can experience that feeling. Founded 20 years ago, Ten Yen Tea's goal is to provide a wide selection of unflavored, purest premium loose leaf and herbal teas directly from tea farmers. This tearoom also provides consultations with an in-house herbalist to assist with recommendations based on your specific needs. The experience at Ten Yen ensures every tea enthusiast enjoys complex flavors and aromas with every cup.

Kathleen Landry

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