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    Gao's Kabob

    4.2 (251 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    GAO'S KABOB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Signature Rice Bowl Combo 超值特惠米饭套餐 Small Beef W.Fat Skewers(5) 碳烤小肥瘦牛(5)
    Stephanie T.

    Food was amazing and everything tasted good. Shoutout to Benjamin for explaining everything so clearly. Staff was amazing and paid attention to us to make sure we were good at all times.

    good food very tasty nice ambiance

    good food tasty good ambience i lived in chicago before and the gao bbq at chicago as good as houston area

    Veggies and proteins on a skewer
    Christina F.

    Lots of variety from vegan to proteins, and a total vibe with a DJ, beer tower, and cozy spaces. Not very big so it gets noisy.

    Gao's WiFi
    Thao T.

    Came on a recommendation of a friend and was heavily craving lamb skewers. It was a busy Friday evening and we were put on a waitlist for a party of 4, but the wait was minimal. You order from your phone and a server will come to confirm once the order is sent in. Food comes out pretty quickly. They served plastic cups, utensils, and styrofoam bowls + plates. Big minus for me. They're quick to clean up and change the water pitcher. As for the food, my favorite dish was the king eggplant. It was nicely seasoned and heavy on the garlic, just the way I like it. The lamb skewers were decent, but lacked in comparison to other establishments. We also ordered grilled garlic skewers, but they were old and had sprouts growing out of them. Gao's is lively and has a great selection of a combination of pop and Kpop music. And there's a stage for karaoke, which we had the pleasure of having someone sing on stage during our visit. Overall, it was a decent visit, but Gao's wouldn't be the first place I would go to for skewers.

    Menu from when it first opened
    Lou C.

    I was hungry and tired last night after work. Being the first day of the end of Microsoft Windows 10's life, my eyes were crossed and felt hangry. I just wanted to get a quick bite or a cold drink. I decided to come to Gao's Kabab for a midnight snack. When I arrived, the music from the karaoke machine was so loud. But my tummy said just sit down and ignore it. Throughout the night, it felt like one person sang the same song over and over. That means I was not paying attention to those Chinese songs. Waiter asked when I was here before. I was here when it first opened 7 years ago. He said the prices are still the same. Oh? Not according to my old photos. Everything went up by up to double. I ordered my usual comfort food, malatang 麻辣烫. The picture looked so good. Full of stuff. In reality, it came out with a big flow of hot grease on top and barely anything under that worth mentioning. The only protein was the pork blood pudding 猪血. It took about 20 minutes and it felt like an hour because I had to endure the loud music. This Gao's restaurant serves grilled skewers and the sit down restaurant dishes. The other Gao's serves seafood. I chose this one because of non-seafood choice. The clientele was so young and like at my son's age. Damn I'm old.

    Northern Dandan Noodle 来自铁岭的一碗担担面
    Tiffany K.

    More and more skewer places continue to open in Chinatown! With all this competition, Gao's continues to stands out. It is always filled with customers every time. Beware that there's a slight wait on the weekends, but it seems that they do their best to get you in as fast as possible. They have live music on the weekends and it is very lively. Bring a couple friends a sing some karaoke! Why does Gao's stand out? DAN DAN NOODLES. Point. Blank. Period. I get them every time. They're not the usual dan dan noodles at other Chinese restaurants. It's more like a cold noodle dish. It's refreshing yet nutty. I freaking love it. Add your meat of choice from the selection of skewers, and you got yourself a bún thịt nướng. There are many skewers to choose from. Whatever they recommend, just get. All the recommended dishes were pretty good. They also ask the spice level, I personally prefer medium. I would skip on the smashed cucumbers. I feel like they could've seasoned it better. I ended up using the dan dan noodles sauce to dip the cucumbers. Drinks here are cheap as well, so doing a pre-game here would be a good idea!

    Grilled pork skewers (bottom) and grilled small lamb with fat (top)
    Jason N.

    I love the vibe of this place! It's like a small Chinese version of a izakaya/tapas place that's bustling. Friday evenings they have someone on stage singing for most of the night which I really enjoyed. The grilled skewers are great here but the best ones in my group's opinion are the Grilled Pork and the Grilled Small Lamb /w fat skewers. Delicious, and everything here goes well when hanging out with friends catching up or just having a great time. We also tried their: Fried Enoki Fried Tofu Skin Big & Small Beef /w fat Corn Skewer Grilled cauliflower 3L Beer tower and Soju bottles I would say all of them were quite delicious. It's easy to rack up a high bill here since you're paying per skewer. The one most unworth it was definitely the grilled cauliflower. You get a 2 pieces and one skewer for $2. If it was perhaps two skewers it would have been a little more worth. Service is pretty quick and friendly despite how busy the place is on a Friday evening. Orders may take 10-20 minutes depending on how busy their kitchen is. A bit pricy for what it is but overall I really enjoyed this place and would recommend and come back!

    BBQ Small Beef Skewers
    Monica G.

    This was a new experience for my husband and I. The place is dark, quiet, and intimate. It does appear that they do karaoke nights, though, because we noticed the stage. The restaurant's food had a street vibe feel, so that was neat. The meats are on skewers and even when we ordered fish, it was placed on a slab in front of us instead of on a large plate. It was a different and fun way of eating food, which we enjoyed. When we sat down, we were given complimentary edamame and sunflower seeds. They don't have physical menus; you have to scan a QR code and you can place everything you want on your phone. Once your order is placed, a waiter/waitress will come by to confirm your order. I don't know if it was a special or if it is something they always offer, but we got free kids meals! That was a nice surprise because we had our two boys with us. The staff and owner were really friendly and sweet. The price is a little steep and ran easily rack up. We ordered: Chicken Skewers - This was our favorite! I highly recommend this! BBQ Small Beef Skewers - We thought this was okay Small Lamb w/ Fat - My husband that it was okay. I don't like lamb in general, so I can't judge. Grilled Tilapia w/ Garlic Sauce - I liked this! It was crispy and I liked the garlic seasoning. It really is loaded with garlic. So if you're not a fan, this may not be for you. It is a whole fish, bone and all, so you kind of have to work for your food here. haha Yong Chou Fried Rice - This was good. It was flavorful and has a homey feel to it. Before tax, everything was $47.50. After our meal, my husband and I were still hungry. The kids meals came in clutch and definitely helped us feed everyone. My husband and I actually ate the boys' leftovers and felt more satisfied afterwards. Overall, we enjoyed the environment and experience that this place had to offer. This place is great for a late night friends hang out.

    Food was delicious I loved the vibe of the place and they had the soccer game playing which was a big plus! The service was amazing, Benjamin explained to us the whole menu and gave a few recommendations!! 10/10

    Jas M.

    GAO's food is so delicious !! The service is absolutely amazing as well!! Every time we come here we are never disappointed

    Mackerel
    Syeda H.

    I tried both GAO's and Midnight Kabob to see the difference between the two spots. In my opinion GAO does a better job of the cook on the skewers and the spice blend, but Midnight does a better job at the non-skewer menu items. I came to GAO on a weeknight and was quickly seated. I ordered the corn, Chinese cauliflower, okra, shrimp, mackerel skewers. I also ordered the eggplant, Dan Dan noodles, shrimp fried rice, and grilled scallop. I really enjoyed the skewers, but my surprise favorite was the eggplant dish. Combined with some hot white rice, it was an absolute flavor bomb. The cauliflower was also a favorite. It was my first time trying Dan Dan noodles and I really enjoyed the cool noodles with the balanced flavors. The one dish that really fell flat was the grilled scallop. I didn't find any of the flavors or spices had stuck to the noodles or the scallop. Instead the chili oil just created an oily aftertaste. I prefer this dish or similar dishes at Midnight. Overall I had a good experience and the service here was very courteous and explained the ordering process well and the food came out quickly.

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    2 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    1 month ago

    Great experience. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. Amazing pork intestines!

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    29 days ago

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    16 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    3 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    8 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    9 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    9 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    8 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    9 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    2 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    4 days ago

    Good skewers very delicious and the restaurant have great vibes. Opens late until 2am kitchen closes at 1:30

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    Alan C.

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Delicious food. 100% recommended. Good for groups and family. Other places to have fun nearby as well.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Nice decorations. Love music in the back ground. Waiter super nice and helpful. Definitely appreciate the free kid menu. Very thoughtful.

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    3 months ago

    Very welcoming area, great staff, and extensive menu! Wait times were not too long, and in a great spot in chinatown.

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    3 months ago

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    Gao's Kabob Reviews in Other Languages

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    Pinkerton's Barbecue - Heights

    Pinkerton's Barbecue - Heights

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    12.1 mi
    $$

    I was told to get the brisket, so I had had that in my mind and was so unsure about how much to…read moreget. It wasn't going to be a full pound, that's for sure. But then I learned about the mac and cheese... And saw that there is an option to add brisket to it. Done deal. And getting a pint was the perfect amount because I was nice and full after. The way the place is laid out, you go in, hop in line, and then claim a table after paying. A science specifically says not to hold the table before paying because it's unfair... First time I have seen a sign like that, but I get it. Honestly I was expecting just a sprinkle of brisket on top of the mac, but it was a hefty amount, and WOW WOW was it good! I added both of the homemade sauces to my food so I could taste the differences. The kick was nice, but I really did love the sweeter one. The sausage was good too, but I wish I got the jalapeno cheese one. I had opted not to since I already had so much mac and cheese. As if the barbecue wasn't good enough, they had a bar with a really friendly bartender who is eager to give city recommendations. It was thursday, and they had tequila deals, including some very strong $6 margaritas. We only did one round, and that was all we needed. We were also able to watch the World Cup game there. It was a total vibe and I know I would go back whenever I visit again. Geez, what is the other BBQ like in the city?!

    Best BBQ hands down in Houston! Be prepared to wait, but when it's your turn, you'll be glad you…read moredid. Fair warning, if you wait to long, they might be sold out. When we got there, they were already sold out of sausage. After we ordered, they ran out of ribs and brisket and half the line that was waiting left. It was really tasty. I chose the pulled pork sandwich and it was juicy and tender. A definite recommend for this place. If you are from our of town, take an Uber, there is little to no parking.

    Photos
    Bathroom
    Bathroom
    Jalapeño Cheese Sausage | Prime Brisket
    Jalapeño Cheese Sausage | Prime Brisket
    Jamalaya, Mac n Cheese, Tangy Coleslaw

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    Jamalaya, Mac n Cheese, Tangy Coleslaw
    CorkScrew BBQ

    CorkScrew BBQ

    4.6
    (1.4k reviews)
    27.0 mi
    $$

    Amazing food! I don't like potato salad but this is one was astonishing! Hospitality was…read moreoutstanding and welcoming, and the atmosphere was alive without feeling overwhelming.

    Did I get up at 7am to make the trip up to Spring for BBQ? Yes…read moreDid I get in line an hour before the opened? Also yes Was it worth it? Heck yes! A 2-year Michellin star BBQ joint was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. My friends and I got there around 10am and were lucky enough to grab a number. The number secures your spot in line but don't worry if you show up and they run out, there's a spot on the porch where the non-number line starts. We ordered moist brisket, garlic sausage, and the beef rib. For sides, we went with mac and cheese and beans. Everything was superb! The brisket melted in your mouth, no knife needed. The sausage had a nice snap to it and get great flavor. The bark on the beef rib was *chef's kiss*. The mac and cheese was creamy while the beans had a nice sweet and tangy flavor. The service is also great! While we were eating, staff would regularly check all of the tables to check if anyone needed anything. The staff taking our order also chatted with us about other BBQ spots we've been to. Everything was such a great experience and the quality of the food is 100/10!

    Photos
    Pick up here
    Pick up here
    The Dino Rib - humongous!
    The Dino Rib - humongous!
    Side porch of the restaurant. Covered outdoor seating is to t he left. Indoor seating is inside.

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    Side porch of the restaurant. Covered outdoor seating is to t he left. Indoor seating is inside.
    Henderson & Kane

    Henderson & Kane

    4.6
    (367 reviews)
    11.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    This place has a special place in my foodie heart! The interior being a historic convenience store…read moremakes it feel homey and very local. I got here often with my roommate and always have a great time mix and matching any 6 beers into a 6-pack deal. The fatty brisket and sausage is amazing. I love that they offer a variety of menu items now as well. Steak nights, wine nights, and brunch options show how much effort they put in. I wouldn't say the bbq is the best I've ever had in Houston .... BUT still deserves a 5 star review in my book.

    Update: Veronica reached out to me willing to make this…read moreexperience right. Issues will come up from time to time but how you handle them says a lot about you as a business owner. I'm adjusting my review to reflect Veronica's willingness to turn this experience into an opportunity. We were looking forward to trying this restaurant while staying at a hotel in Houston for medical treatments. We had it delivered to our hotel and sadly it wasn't the best experience. When we got our order to the room we were missing one side that we ordered. We got Mac n cheese, green beans and potato salad with a brisket/smoked chicken combo and a brisket/ribs. I was shocked to see two pieces of brisket and a chicken breast for $28. Maybe it was an off night but the quality just wasn't there. All the food was cold (our fault bc we ordered it for delivery) and was lacking flavor. Overall, we'd rate it like this: Brisket 3/5 Chicken 2/5 Mac n cheese 1.5/5 Green beans 3/5 Ribs 3/5 Potato salad 2/5 Maybe they were having a bad night but I wish our experience was better.

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    We can provide specialty set ups to fit your catering package.
    We can provide specialty set ups to fit your catering package.
    Henderson & Kane
    Order for pick up

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    Order for pick up
    Killen's Barbecue

    Killen's Barbecue

    4.2
    (3k reviews)
    19.0 mi
    $$

    Killen's never disappoints…read more Their beef ribs were just short of amazing. Juicy, succulent, tender. For a giant piece of meat on the bone, they worked wonders. You can ask to see the piece of rib before they cut it for you and they will happily oblige (patrons behind you might not be so thrilled with that move, but they'll live). Sides were excellent as were the mashed potatoes with white gravy on the side, green beans that were just tender enough, but also a bit crunchy. Perfect. They were seasoned with pork, so if that's not your thing, you might want to skip it. We also ordered their shareable onion rings, easily enough for three people that were huge, hot, and crispy. Let's get this out of the way, some of their prices are a little up there, but if you're anything like me, and don't frequent BBQ places often, it's a rare but enjoyable treat. Sometimes you have to splurge and live a little. Also, they have their regular sauce on tables, but you now have to ask the cashier for their sublime coffee BBQ sauce. Don't be shy, ask. It's worth it. Oh, pro tip: If you want beef ribs, the 'plate' is actually cheaper and a better deal than 'by the pound', so save a little money and get two sides.

    The food was ok, the Brisket Sandwich a bit dry for my taste…read more My Companion had the Pulled Pork Sandwich, she said it was good but didn't care for the Potato Salad. Service was good and quick serviced from steam tables. Employees friendly but quiet. Casual dining but a bit loud. The restaurant was clean. Lots of parking. But 54$ for two Sandwiches, one with 2 sides it a bit much.

    Photos
    Dining room after restaurant closed
    Dining room after restaurant closed
    Banana and Bread Pudding Combo
    Banana and Bread Pudding Combo
    The exterior

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    The exterior

    Gao's Kabob - kebab - Updated July 2026

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