Wow, what can I say about this place except that it is always crowded as I drive by and never bother to stop in right? Well I've been introduced to "popping boba" and the neat way that they pop like a zit in your mouth......ok that was gross let's just say a fish eye then mmk? The product coming from behind the counter is BEAUTIFUL. It is not rocket science to shave some frozen ice on a plate, spin it a little, add toppings and serve but they do at least know how to asmetically place everything to make the appearance of eye candy....so to speak. Staff is friendly and helpful. Service is quick as they can possibly be but the serving process is painstakingly slow due to what they have to do to get your dessert to you, have a little patience my friend, it'll pan out. Future visits with kids are sure to come and if you have not been here and have shyed away like I have.......well bring them and you will not be disappointed. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with Nu Cafe. I'd been eyeing the pics of the snow ice for months and finally went to try some. Pick your flavor, toppings, & syrup...ready in minutes to enjoy. We chose mango flavored but unfortunately they were out of mango fruit to accompany it. Booooooo so we choose strawberries and watermelon with condensed milk on top. The texture took some getting used to; not quite smooth as ice cream, not icy...somewhere in the middle. But it was absolutely delicious. I only wish they allowed you to sample the flavors...now that's the real boooooo read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Got a lychee green tea and a mango shaved ice to go and the lychee green tea taste just like tea and still rn I'm still waiting g on my shaved ice it's been 30min almost and still waiting I picked to go for a reason and they said 10more min and I got got one topping when I paid for 2 topping read more

I had the milk tea with mango and lychee jelly, and it was very good. The way that the ice is shaved is very satisfying, and the hill portion size is enough for 2 people. One of the employees seemed like she was new, and slowed down the process significantly. She was having trouble making the drinks that had been ordered, and the other employee had to keep stopping what she was doing to remake the drinks read more

Nu Cafe - Milk tea hill with mango and lychee - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm not really a fan of shaved ice but this place is probably the best for that!! It's not like any other shaved ice I've seen, it's closer to ice cream, but still not as creamy or filling as ice cream. They have two different sizes, though the bigger size comes with 3 topping choices, I feel the ratio of shaved ice to toppings is not really equal, which personally that's what I prefer. Next time, I'd probably do the smaller size and add extra toppings. I usually like getting the vanilla flavored shaved ice with the fresh fruit and chocolate chips and chocolate drizzle. It can get pretty busy late at night, but tables usually open up pretty fast. Pros: - Not as filling as most desserts - Nice atmosphere Cons: - Pricy - Parking in Dun Huang plaza is the worst read more

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Horrible service - server/behind counter was extremely rude and condescending to a group of us while we tried to figure out the complicated ordering system. read more

I was really surprised when I walked in. This is my first time arriving at the location and I was not disappointed. The ice here melts and packs a powerful punch compared to other snow cones. I am now spoiled; no other snow cone is good enough anymore. I further enjoy how highly customizable the dish can be. I had ordered lychee base with strawberry toppings. It was incredibly delicious! On a side note, I liked how they had an info board that gave some fun facts. It was interesting to learn about tea and some history. I am certainly looking forward to my return trip and will find many excuses to drag people here with me. read more

Nu Cafe - Whoa! So good! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

They have really amazing lychee ice cream it tast wonderful with condensed milk! Great services!!! Very relaxing environment! read more

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Shaved Ice at its finest! They give you a generous amount. You can get an individual sized one or share the mountain. It looks like a lot, but its delicious and you're going to devour it. I like to get the Coffee Shaved ice with condensed milk because it reminds me of Vietnamese coffee. The milk tea is on the sweeter side if you prefer that. I usually get oreos as my topping, but there are so many combinations to mix and match between. Come and make your dream dessert. You won't regret it. read more

Nu Cafe - Coffee condensed milk and oreos - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a really fun dessert place in Chinatown! I came in with my whole family and everyone enjoyed their icy treat. It isn't really like shaved ice but it isn't quite like ice cream, either. Imagine someone was able to take a creamy ice pop and shave it into super thin layers that increase creaminess of the whole ice cream experience. You order a topping with it and then a drizzle. They actually offer condensed milk drizzle! I saw that and immediately had to try it. I highly recommend getting the condensed milk drizzle on anything. Even if you aren't as big milk fan. It's a cold and super creamy sweet milk. Can't go wrong! Moderately priced and service was good. Will come back. read more

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A absolutely different tapioca drink altogether. I mean look at it.. it looks awesome and tastes awesome as well. I got the honey flavored specialty drink since the cashier recommended it and wow.. it really did not disappoint. The tapioca tasted really great and the texture was on point. The drink itself was a bit too sweet for me but i still enjoyed it and finished it! The interior is very insta friendly and they rep Texas in there! The cashier was extremely friendly as well so I definitely recommend this place to tapioca fans who want to try a new place in the H! read more

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We only had 3 things when we stopped by: the Snowflake ice, the fried sesame rice balls, and a milk tea tapioca drink. Loved the snowflake ice! It was shaved ice, but the texture was creamy. We were amazed and in awe! We did play it safe though and only ordered it with strawberries and mango, but hey, Im a fruit person. They did squeeze some condensed milk on top, but it isnt as heavy as how Juice Box pours it, which I liked. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the rest of the items. My hubby loved milk tea tapioca with egg pudding and I wouldnt say he's picky, but he just did not like the taste of the drink at all.... pudding lacked flavor and the tea tasted funny. The fried sesame rice balls were questionable too... first of all, it was nothing we had pictured. I was expecting the golden doughy balls with sesame seeds outside of it.... um, yeah not so much. It was a rice flour with (I'm guessing) sesame paste on the inside. They looked like eyeballs. Despite that 2 out of 3 items failed, the shaved ice was that good, that we're wanting to come back and Im wanting to come back and try their entrees. They smelled delish! (and super cheap!) PS - Cash Only! read more

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Their shaved ice is legit. It is a different texture from Juice Box and I really enjoyed it. We ordered the green tea one and it was really flavorful. I also ordered their half and half drink and it was really good. I suggest ordering it if you like really sweet drinks. Overall, I highly recommend this place. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've always been a lover of shaved ice, but this takes that to a whole different level ! The ice is actually flavored. It was super yummy and I'd eat this up even when it's 30 degrees outside. My new found love when I go down to Houston. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Despite the fact that their portion sizes vary depending on when you go and who is serving you, this ribbon ice place in Chinatown is one of my favorites! They have so many flavors of ice to choose from, ranging from your normal strawberry and chocolate, to more exclusive flavors like lychee and milk tea (you read that right! Milk tea ice!!! Why drink milk tea when you can EAT it?!? *mind blown*) They also have a really good selection of toppings to go with the ice, such as fresh fruit, tapioca pearls, mochi, etc. The ice also comes with a choice of sauce, and I always recommend the staple, condensed milk because it perfectly sweetens everything and there's less of a risk of clashing of flavors. So if you've never been here and you want to order the ice, it can be a bit overwhelming of what all they have and what combo you want to make. But fear not! They have little clipboards with slips of paper with all the choices and instructions on what to do so you can take your time mulling over which flavor will taste best! If you're crazy and not into their shaved ice for some reason, they also have a great selection of milk teas and smoothies to choose from. The pricing overall is standard (~$6-8 for shaved ice and ~$4 for a drink) and the atmosphere is cute and sticks to the theme. I would suggest getting there early on a weekend night because this place can get pretty packed and seating may be limited. read more

Incredible, amazing, mouthwatering, tasty! I visited them last night because the Ice Barn (my spot) was closed, and their shaved ice is SO good I wish I had discovered this place earlier! I ordered sea salt caramel with two chocolate sticks and condensed milk drizzle, and my husband ordered Nutella with m&m and condensed milk drizzle too. The presentation was adorable, the size was decent, it didn't melt fast at all, and the flavor was very rich. It had the softest texture of shaved ice I have ever tried. I also liked the decoration and the atmosphere, it was way more quiet and relaxing than many other spots in Chinatown I'll be coming back very soon to try other flavors.. and I'll definitely order the Mountain size! read more

Nu Cafe - Two cups of shaved ice in Hill size - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of two stops for dessert in the Dun Huang Plaza tonight. If you're craving shaved ice, you've come to the right place! Nu Cafe has you covered. Their shaved ice comes in either Hill or Mountain size. The Hill size is the smaller of the two and was more than enough for two people. There's so many flavor and topping options, all at a pretty standard price. We kept it simple, opting for the green tea with red bean topping. It was exactly what we wanted--creamy, but refreshing with a strong green tea flavor. Nothing incredibly unique, but a solid option for shaved ice. I'd definitely return to try out some other flavors. No complaints here! read more

Nu Cafe - Green Tea with Red Bean - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hey, great Taiwanese shave ice with ample selections and toppings - Probably the best one around and it was the first one too. Nothing but 5 stars here- bring your date , it's sure to be a winner :) read more

Snowflake Ice where have you been all my life? Went in with my cousin and her kids and it was a score. Xue-hua-bin, or snowflake ice, is typically found in Taiwan's street markets. A relative of ice cream, it comes in a variety of flavors and is dispensed in layered ribbons. Snowflake ice is served with sides such as fresh fruits, jellies and beans and it is topped with sweetened condensed milk or a drizzle of caramel. (http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/taiwanese-frozen-treat-snowflake-ice-nu-cafe) Total win. I had the strawberry snowflake ice with red beans and coffee jelly. OMG, I was in heaven. It tasted smooth like Ice cream but not overpowering or too sweet. I am in love. Everyone should definitely try it! read more

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I ordered a smashing passion but the cream tasted sour, like it had gone bad. When I brought it up to the cashier, she refused to exchange it and gave me attitude. Bad customer service. read more

Parking: Parking can be a challenge here, especially at night. If anything, there are two parking garages that can be used and they are usually empty on the top floor (however there are no lights so be careful of that). Time and Day: Came on a Friday night at 9:00 PM and there a short line. No long wait. Food: Came here to try their premium drinks. The one I ordered was the Strawberry Splat ($4.50 I think). The main core of the drink is ice milk. It is thick and creamy like a milk shake and is drizzled with strawberry syrup from the bottom to the top. At the very bottom is a layer of boba and a pudding. The drink was tasty (if you are a strawberry fan) and I can definitely taste the syrup. I would describe it as a strawberry milkshake with boba. Overall this drink gets a (4.5/5). Make sure to mix it up! Service: Service was fast but the cashier got me the wrong drink. However, she quickly apologized and made me the Strawberry Splat without any issues. Service gets a 4/5. Price: Typical price for boba drink but considering how more fancy it is than your typical milk tea drink, I say it is definitely worth the price tag. Overall: Unique premium drinks and fast service means I am will come back again. Overall, this place gets a (5/5). read more

Nu Cafe - Strawberry Splat ($4.50) - For strawberry lovers only! Amazing dessert packed with so much. It gets a (4.5/5). - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's been a while but I've been to nu cafe several times before in the past. I'm not sure when they changed up their menu but they only serve shaved Ice and drinks now. If you're looking for a cold refreshing treat, try this place out especially since the texas heat is already here. Side note: they do take credit card without a minimum charge (a rarity in Chinatown). read more

Nu Cafe - New flavor! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here with my family the other day and got a plate of shave ice (mountain size) I believe that's what's it's called. It was huge. We got the strawberry flavor ice and 5 different topping (mango, bursting strawberry boba, flan, watermelon and mocha) it's 50 cent each topping added. It end up costing around $11.00 which for me it wasn't that bad for that size for 3 people to finish it! The ice it self is not that sweet so it was really good and addicting we also had condensed milk on top which was so yummy! Will definitely come back again! read more

Nu Cafe - Strawberry shave ice with mango, strawberry bursting boba, flan, watermelon and Mochi topping. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great shaved ice desserts! What always gets me is the amazing texture of their shaved ice. It's smooth, fluffy, and melts right in your mouth. Their shaved ice is also full of flavor and not diluted whatsoever. To order, you grab a mini clip board and check off the size, ice flavor, toppings, and drizzle. The hill size is shareable between 2 people, while the mountain size is shareable up to 4! I usually order the lychee ice, which is very refreshing and sweet, and top it off with fresh mangos,strawberries, and condensed milk! read more

Nu Cafe - Lychee ice with mango, mochi, and condensed milk - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I came here with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. A few of us ordered their Thai tea with tapioca which is usually good at the westheimer location. We got our drinks and the Thai tea was not strained properly, so with every sip you would get huge chunks of tea that went straight into your teeth lol (which is the absolute worst thing ever). We had them remake our drinks which they seemed very annoyed about. Their tapioca pearls were not my favorite. They had a strong taste of tap water. Seemed like they had just been soaked in tap water with no honey or sugar added into it (which is never a good thing). Not the best place to go when you're craving some late night tapioca. :/ read more

Worst experience. The portion was big enough for 3 people but it tastes like a joke. Paying extra for durian flavor shaved ice and it's not worth the price. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Finest shaved ice ever with a nice variety of flavors. Be nice if they had more choices for toppings though. The mochi was alright but not as soft as I'd like . read more

This place is a great place to get a crepe or shaved ice! There are so many different options that there's always something to try regardless of how many times you go there! I got the Nutella shaved ice and it was spectacular! Definitely coming back. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

In the center of china town, pretty nice setup. You grab the mini clipboards and fill out your order. Easy enough. You choose the ice flavor and all the toppings and sauces you like. I had the hill size shaved ice and it was a good shareable size for me and my brother. We added red bean, mochi, mango, strawberries, and the custard flan. I really liked it a lot. The ambience is nice and they have a self serve water station near the spoons and napkins so you can help yourself. I think next time I would order the mountain size bc I eat a lot:-) also their salted caramel flavor looked interesting. Staff was really nice and fast. read more

Nu Cafe - Green tea shaved ice, with mango, strawberry, red bean, custard, and mochi. Condensed milk sauce:-) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

I come here all the time for their shaved ice, my favorites are the milk tea and the green tea flavors! Great dessert place to hang out, not too sweet and very refreshing! read more

Nu Cafe - Green tea shaved ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Yummmm! Had mango shaved ice cream with lychee and mango syrup. The ice cream is shaved so is not too cold to eat. Pick up the form to pick what you want to eat on the front desk. Will definitely be back! read more

Nu Cafe - Mango shaved ice with lychee and syrup on top - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is the first time I had shaved ice. Sweet patient staff was helpful. Nu = A sweet escape in Chinatown, my guilty pleasure. Parking lot gets questionable after dark. Nutella flavor, added Oreos are you surprised? Hehe. Cleanliness could improve as well as overall aesthetics but pretty straightforward shaved ice and sugary toppings = happy camper! read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Been here a few times... all to eat from the Taiwanese menu... must be the Taiwanese tv game shows and Taiwanese MTV that they have on the flat screen... I usually get the fried pork chop but today I had the taiwanese sausage with rice. It was pretty good with some greens and a pickled relishy side dish all on the plate. Lunch special is they give you a free honey lemon tea, which is actually pretty tasty. Overall, the prices are pretty reasonable and so far I haven't had a bad dish yet... I've had the snowflake ice before and it's pretty good too. I keep meaning to try food from the Hawaiian menu, but they never seem to have short ribs, which I always ask for and they always never have. Alas... maybe next time. FYI, they accept credit cards, but it's a $15 minimum. read more

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Visiting Houston. Brother and family took me here. Got the rainbow mango smoothie. Wow. . I recommend this place.

Among the various shops and restaurants in Dun Huang Plaza, my boyfriend and I stopped here after our massage upstairs at JL Spa (right above any Cafe!--it was amazing!). Nice and cute atmosphere. Lot of variety on the menu. Easy to use clip boards that let you customize your shaved ice dessert. We got mango sorbet with mango and strawberry pieces with drizzled condensed milk. So refreshing and delightful! Thank goodness we got the hill size though because I don't think I could finish the mountain size by myself! Really recommend! :) read more

Nu Cafe - Mango sorbet with mango and strawberry pieces with drizzled condensed milk! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here with a group of friends. There was a line, but we waited. It took a long while, but my friends wanted to try it out; so we waited some more. The girl at the counter was so rude. She had a smart mouth and at one point I wanted to punch her in the throat. The service was horrible. We shared the MANGO ICE with watermelon, strawberries, and condensed milk. The mango tasted fine and had a nice sweetness, but the fruits weren't sweet at all. The watermelon tasted like they cut it out near the rind so it had a slight bitterness and the strawberries were sour. Service was horrendous, tables were uncleaned and we had to bus it ourselves and wipe it down, and the food was sub par. One last thing, girl at the counter.. I'll remember you. read more

Nu Cafe - mango ice with watermelon, strawberry, and condensed milk - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Really great shaved ice dessert. We tried the milk tea one and it was like having boba! Only downfall is the price. Good for a first time experience but not sure if I'd paid $7 for it. Came back with friends who were visiting Houston for the first time and the matcha green tea one is SO GOOD. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Got the Durian flavor ice with flan and mango toppings and condensed milk drizzles. The Nu snowflake ice is very light and soft. It's almost like eating durian ice cream and has the right amount of sugar. In my opinion, they should give more toppings. The toppings to ice ratio was roughly 1/5. We finished the toppings way before the ice. But overall, it's very good. The place was packed on a Sunday night. It was hard to find a table and when we did, the table was left with trash. None of the workers had time to clean the area. It seems like they're understaffed. I kid you not, the floor was very smelly. When was the last time the floor was mopped? It looked very dirty. Very unsanitary. Please clean the floor. read more

Nu Cafe - Durian flavored ice with flan and mango toppings - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

The shaved ice at this place is outstanding. I've been here at least 5 time and I get good quality every single time. My favorite one (pictured below) is the matcha flavored shaved ice. It's smooth, creamy and flavorful. I like getting it with a side of pineapples or mangoes. The pricing isn't too bad and the location and atmosphere are both pretty good. I also like how this place stays open after 10 PM. read more

Nu Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Houston, Texas

Decent shaved ice! It was good! We got the green tea with strawberry chunks, mini mochi, and condense milk drizzle. It was a nice desert.