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    Mai Tai Express

    4.3 (55 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Melissa H.

    Their buns are great! I've never had partial boiled eggs in mine but it's good. The Massaman curry was okay. I had the chicken version but the spice and curry taste was too subtle. Like the ghost of massaman curry was there but I was left unfulfilled. They also have Teahouse drinks. And import drinks. I want to try more of their food but I won't get massaman curry again. I was *hoping* I had found my new massaman spot but I'll have to keep looking. They have spring rolls, stuffed crab pastry, and some desserts and jello things. I'll try more of the menu!

    Tofu drunken noodles and Thai beef salad
    Eileen P.

    My go to anytime I want a quick bite to eat to go. The food and service is excellent. The fried rice portions are ginormous and really satisfying. My favorites are the Tom yum fried rice, Thai beef salad, drunken noodles and pad see ew.

    Tom Kha - Amazing!
    Auston P.

    I awoke this morning with an odd craving for some Hot Tom Kha soup! So luckily I found a place that opened at 10am so I didn't have to wait to terribly long. Not only were they open early which made me ecstatic, but the Tom Kha is BOMB! I got the medium and it was plenty spicy so beware. They blended the sweetness with the spice and lemongrass perfectly. I'm eager to come get a Bahn Mi here as they look amazing! I'll be back!

    Portion was huge! Only ate half

    The food was absolutely delicious and tasted incredibly fresh. I ordered the banh mi--the bread was warm, soft on the inside, and had amazing flavor. I also got the spicy chicken pad Thai--and let me tell you, it was badass. Perfect level of heat and packed with flavor. The place was very clean, and the staff was super friendly. Highly recommend!

    I feel betrayed by the reviews on this yelp page, I thought it was gonna be really good. I spent about $40 worth of food ready to have a delicious feast. But I was met with THE most bland food I've ever tasted in my 37 years of life!! Holy crap I had to write a review and express my disappointment. The service was friendly and nice but the food was wow... I didn't understand how it could literally taste like nothing yet have color to it like it's been cooked with sauces and spices. I kid you not it tasted like absolute nothingness. I verified this with my gf who tasted it as well. Unfortunately this was my first and last visit. And for future patrons,I could not in good conscience recommend this place. Hopefully it was just a one off mistake but since I'm visiting out of state I'll never get that chance. So much food wasted. Sorry.

    Jackie L.

    Delicious grilled pork banh mi! Bread is super fresh. Inside looks new and clean. Highly recommend.

    Thai beef salad with Viet coffee.
    Sarah C.

    My husband and I stopped by here for a quick lunch on a Friday. It was empty so we were sceptical about going in but had to because of the 4.8 Google ratings and I'm so glad we did!! I ordered the Thai Beef Salad and it was delicious!!! I couldn't resist ordered a viet coffee with boba either (very strong but delish). My husband ordered the Tom Yum Noodle Soup (spice level hot) and it was amazing!! We will definitely be back soon.

    Sheila P.

    Check this place out! Don't be scared of the very fusion menu or the little strip mall it's in. The service is warm, friendly and helpful. The food was FANTASTIC and we got the special rice cake, 2 rice noodle bowls full of meat and a Bahn mi for 40 bucks. The grilled pork and rice cake were the best part for me, yum! We will be back soon.

    Menu
    Diane L.

    Ordered ahead for takeout, bought the steamed pork buns and they even offered to heat it up before pick up. Interior looks nice and clean with a good amount of room.

    Braised pork belly baos
    Amber C.

    First time here, the restaurant was very clean and the staff was very friendly and welcoming . We had a few questions and the staff was very helpful and informative. The food came out quickly and it was nice and hot . It was all very good . I had the curry and the tea and I really enjoyed it . My husband ate all his food and he was impressed. This is definitely a new stop on our list of places to eat.

    Cute little Vietnamese cafe
    Kim-Jamy N.

    Oh my god. Mai Tai express is so good! It's literally right outside my family's neighborhood so this is my new spot whenever I'm in Houston. We ordered calamari, Tom yum fried rice and rock and roll beef. I really enjoyed the calamari because it's sprinkled with some delicious Thai seasoning. The Tom yum fried rice was my brothers favorite (it has a kick and is spicy so beware!) and the rock and roll beef is a classic. We ordered to pick up, and ate everything in 10 mins! I'll be back

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

    I love their Orange Chicken extra spicy, egg rolls and Banh Mi. The place is clean and the food and service are great!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Terrible service. Did not want to remake Pad Thai after they brought out the wrong order. We did receive a refund.

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Really good food and customer service is amazing. The price is very reasonable for the amount of food I got.

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The Popcorn chicken here is great. The staff here are friendly. Would recommend to other.

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    So damn good!! They're baos to die for and service is very friendly and they wore masks which made me feel safer! Fairly priced also.

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    I very much enjoyed Mai Tai Express. Prices are reasonable, the restaurant is clean, and the food was very good.

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    Tainan Bistro

    Tainan Bistro

    4.2
    (135 reviews)
    16.8 mi
    $

    This is a casual Taiwanese restaurant in Houston Chinatown. The food was cheap and delicious, but…read morethe environment was slightly dirty and old. We got the oyster pancake, fried chicken with squid tempura, beef noodle soup and lurou noodle - all were very good and filling. There was complementary soup as well - though it was mostly sesame oil in hot water with some bits of egg and tomatoes.

    It seems a bit strange how hard it can be to find Taiwanese food in a city like Houston but glad we…read morestumbled upon this one! Its a very casual, cafeteria-esque restaurant with a pretty extensive menu. The owner was really nice but I think assumed I could speak Mandarin/Taiwanese but sadly I'm just a Canto boy. Anyways, we ordered with him and he gave us a number and explained the process in Taiwanese but we figured it out. Grab the items you need, get water if you want, sit at an open table and wait. I ended up trying the oyster pancake and the leek, pork intestine, and blood claypot. Both were great and really hit the spot for me (pro tip, their chili oil is great and adds another great layer of flavor). The oyster pancake had quite a bit of oysters and they were nice and plump. For those willing to try offal meats, the pork intestine and pork blood was amazing, flavors exactly what I wanted and cooked very well, nothing was chewy or over/undercooked. Prices and portions were also great and I was able to have my meal for 3 different days, and the third day I just overate. Overall, I'm glad to have found this spot and recommend it for anyone wanting Taiwanese food or to try something different. They have a lot of options and a really great deal for the more buffet/cafeteria style plates. Def can't wait to come back and get some more food!

    Photos
    No they don't got Banh Mi!
    No they don't got Banh Mi!
    Braised Pork Belly w/Preserved Vegetables (梅干扣肉)
    Braised Pork Belly w/Preserved Vegetables (梅干扣肉)
    Inside - Ordering Counter

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    Inside - Ordering Counter
    Mama Wu’s Kitchen 吳媽媽

    Mama Wu’s Kitchen 吳媽媽

    4.7
    (37 reviews)
    24.7 mi

    Came to Mama Wu's Kitchen for a quick dinner and it was exactly what we needed. It's a small…read moremom-and-pop shop located inside Jusgo Supermarket, serving Taiwanese-style comfort food that's perfect when you're in a time crunch. I ordered the rice combo with the chicken leg. The portion was solid and it came together as a simple, balanced meal. Nothing about the chicken really wow'd me, but it was still a healthy and satisfying option for a quick bite. Overall, it's a good grab-and-go spot if you're in the area and want something quick, affordable, and home-style without a long wait.

    I used to get Mama Wu's bento box once a week when I lived in Sugar Land, and even though I no…read morelonger live in the area, I still make a point to stop by whenever I'm visiting family. My favorites are the fish fillet and the braised pork. I remember when the boxes were around $6, and now they're about $10 each, but the flavor is still just as good as before. The portion size has gotten a bit smaller (inflation sucks), but the quality remains solid. I especially like the few slices of sausage and some pickled mustard greens, which help balance out the richness of the braised pork belly. If you dine in, they offer unsweetened black tea that's actually quite tasty. It's a no-frills spot--simple, quick, and dependable whether you're grabbing food to go or eating there. They also sell items like mung bean cake, which I love, and I usually take a couple home. They got a few tables to dine in and the staff are friendly.

    Photos
    Front
    Front
    Mama Wu’s Kitchen 吳媽媽
    Ig: @whatsviveating  |  rice with soy braised chicken leg quarter

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    Ig: @whatsviveating | rice with soy braised chicken leg quarter
    Hu's Cooking

    Hu's Cooking

    4.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    19.4 mi
    $$

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

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

    Photos
    Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans
    Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans
    Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat
    Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat
    Hu's Cooking

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    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館

    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館

    4.2
    (751 reviews)
    16.8 mi
    $

    Woow I never knew about this place, ive walked past this place countless times so color me surprise…read morewhen this came up on one of the most recommended and longest standing restaraunts in Bellaire This place really is a hole in the wall, its fantastic. Generous generous portions, cheap, and overall pretty dang great. Chicken steak rice - soo much food. Very crispy chicken and great! Comes with a boil egg and I believe it was tofu. I ended up making a second meal for later with all the food. Had a option of rice/ noodles. I wish I got the noodles. Tried friend's roasted beef noodle and wow the texture on the noodle is fantastic thick, little chewy, but felt perfect and I don't say that lightly. Pan fried dumplings - 12 of them! Pretty great for sharing. Loved it! Perfect amount of crispyness Shrimp and pork siu mai - I think it was good but to me it didn't taste fresh to me personally. I think its still quite good in taste though Overall I was pretty happy with this place! The owners were so nice, answering all our questions, recommending options on menu. I would come back!

    My absolute favorite spot for dumplings…read more Tasty, authentic, and high-value. You are sure to get a lot of food for cheap prices at this locally owned restaurant. The dumplings and noodle dishes are fresh and so delicious. Most dumpling wrappers I've tried at other places are too chewy or hard. I like these dumplings especially because of how soft and flavorful they are. And the lady at the register is so nice, even when it gets super busy. It's a lot of self-serve for utensils and such and the atmosphere is cozy. Definitely a must-try if you like Chinese-style dumplings!

    Photos
    Packaged good to go
    Packaged good to go
    Black Sesame Bun
    Black Sesame Bun
    Pork Bun

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    Pork Bun
    Rice To Meet You 煲来饱去

    Rice To Meet You 煲来饱去

    4.4
    (434 reviews)
    16.7 mi
    $$

    Why have I not tried this place sooner?! The food is here is so homey and delicious. The beef…read morebrisket noodle roll reminded me a bit of hủ tiếu, but BETTER. I prefer this over the vietnamese version for sure, and the brisket was so tender. I also got to try the Cantonese Cured Pork Belly and Spare Ribs Combo, this takes about 15 minutes to come out. This was very good, I loved the spare ribs. It was my partner's favorite dish. The combo comes with either a choice of drink, or soup. We went soup and chose the coconut chicken; I was expecting a creamy coconut base, but it's not that at all. This was a good palette refresher, but I did season it with the clay pot sauce they had at the table. Food is good, Service is fast, Price is cheap! Coming back for sureeee

    Came to this restaurant on a whim since I was in the area. This is a small restaurant, and the…read moreinterior is very clean and simply decorated. The menu was simple and small. It felt very authentic. The service was fine and the quickly took my food order. It does take some time to come out, so I believe they cook everything fresh. The food came out scorching hot. Everything we ordered was HOT. My rice bowl came with ginseng soup. The soup was ok. It tasted good and slightly bitter (which I didn't mind), but what was off-putting was the meat inside. It was cut up, black skin, and hard to eat as it had lots of bones. The soup was also too hot to eat. I really enjoyed the chicken wings. It had a nice flavor but again, SCORCHING HOT.

    Photos
    Weekday lunch crowd
    Weekday lunch crowd
    45. Popcorn Chicken
    45. Popcorn Chicken
    Cured pork belly

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    Cured pork belly

    Mai Tai Express - taiwanese - Updated July 2026

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