Wow this is THE best restaurant ever. I'm going to ruffle feathers for saying that in TX the best restaurant isn't tex-mex or bbq. Best dumplings, noodles, tenderest pork belly. The cleanest restaurant and the best service. I felt like I was at a high end restaurant as the ladies were so attentive and friendly. Why can't you be in LA? I'm going to ruffle even more feathers and say this is better than any Chinese restaurant in LA, SF or anywhere in CA. Please please please come here as we need them to be around for the next time we visit Houston! read more

Went for lunch. The restaurant is small and located in a small corner. There's only a handful of tables, but we were seated nearly right away. The parking lot is busy and can be hard to find parking. We got a few dishes to share. The braised pork belly was delicious. Soft and fatty with a delicious sauce. The soup dumplings were also great, a nice salty soup and plenty of meat with a good dumpling wrapper. The star of the show were the fried dumplings, not pictured below. It had a nice crispy outer layer with an extremely juicy center, almost a soup dumpling in its own right. It's hot, so be careful! The veggie dish we ordered was also fine. The only thing I didn't really like was the rice, which was a little hard and dry. They also gave us a free braised fish dish to try, which my friend said was good. Overall, super delicious! Will definitely need to be back. read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Braised pork belly - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food, service, ambiance - 10/10 Seriously good. I always come back for the noodles. It's the only place I've been able to find solid scallion oil noodles. This was also my first time trying the Scallion Beef. Very sweet, definitely needs to be eaten with rice. Green beans were super yummy, tbh I could eat just a plate of those. The crispy bottom boas are always fun. I really do love returning to this restaurant. read more

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A little mom and pop shop with a large menu. The food and ambiance just feels cozy and nostalgic. The dumplings were amazing, and not to mention huge. I still think about these dumplings. The workers were all nice and welcoming, and thanked us as we left. The one and only downside is limited seating as the restaurant is on the smaller side. Despite the limited seating, which is its only drawback, this place gets a 5/5 in my heart. So affordable as well. Highly recommend the dumplings! read more

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One Dragon is tucked into a corner of a popular Chinatown strip mall. Houston has a shortage of restaurants with good Xiao Long Bao and I think One Dragon may have some of the best Xiao Long Baos. Parking: parking here can get crazy on weekends but if you drive around the parking lot enough, you can snag a spot. Parking is also free so that's always a plus even before you get in the restaurant. Ambiance: the restaurant is very cozy. There's about 10-12 total tables so there can be a wait at peak times. You can definitely feel the family restaurant vibes. Service: the food comes fast and the waitresses/waiters are attentive and helpful. No complaints here. Food: we ordered a variety of dishes to share. Highly recommend ordering dishes to share. We ordered the pork Xiao Long Bao, the pork and shrimp Xiao Long Bao, the crispy bottom pork baos, the crispy bottom shrimp baos, the salt and pepper pork tenderloin, the Shanghai spring rolls, the sweet and sour chicken and the tofu skin wrap. Our favorites were the pork and shrimp Xiao Long Bao and the pork and shrimp crispy bottom baos. We noticed that the pork and shrimp combos for the baos had more flavor than just the pork baos but both are worth trying! The salt and pepper pork was fried nicely and seasoned well so we would order that again. We would skip the sweet and sour chicken next time because it was a little too sweet. The tofu skin wrap had deep flavor and the pork adds another level of flavor. The cabbage and clear noodles in the tofu dish steam nicely at the bottom of the tofu skin so that adds some more elements to the dish. I would also skip the Shanghai spring rolls as they fell apart very easily and were a little oily. One Dragon is a Chinatown staple and has some of the best Xiao Long Baos in the city. Come out and try this local joint for yourself! read more

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Very good and would visit again. I ordered: Pork soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) Crispy pork buns Scallion noodles In my quest to find delicious soup dumplings in Houston, I've had chunky/thick "broth" and wasn't a fan of the texture nor the flavor. Here, they did not disappoint! I'm ecstatic that I've finally found a yummy spot with fantastic Xiaolongbao- thin "skins" and lots of broth/soup. They were so good, I ordered a 2nd serving. The scallion noodles are homemade/hand pulled and were delicious. I abhor any kind of raw onion flavor and was nervous to order "scallion" noodles but these were great. Even sitting here writing this, I can still taste the flavor- so good. The crispy pork buns were good but not my jam. I did eat the pork out of them which was great but I've never been a big bao person. Space is small but service is quick and they are not shy to get your order (so I'd scan the menu and pick what you want before hand to try and speed things up). My food came out quick and hot. There is steady traffic through this place so I was glad to snag a table upon walking in. read more

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Awesome Shanghainese food in Houston Chinatown! Ive been wanting to try this spot for a while now and im glad I did We ordered a few dishes but my favorite were the pork belly, sweet sour chicken, and the crispy pork buns. The pork belly specifically came in a small clay pot and was covered in a thick, sticky glaze that was addicting. The crispy pork buns were also extremely juicy (like a soup dumpling) yet still had that nice crunch The place itself is small so there can be a bit of a wait sometimes, but the food is well worth it. Portions are a bit on the smaller side so I recommend ordering a bit more read more

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My family and I love this mom and pop restaurant serving up delicious and authentic soup dumplings and more. The food is all freshly made to order and excellent. Ambiance is not a focus but can't beat the food quality ！ read more

This place has some amazing soup dumplings. They are one of the best I've had in Houston. I've also had other dishes like braised pork, fish, crispy pork bun. One down side is I wish the braised pork and fish could be hotter. Overall, still pretty good. The place is quite small but luckily we didn't have to wait when we got there on a Friday evening. The service is pretty quick. read more

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A tuck away hidden gem in Chinatown! Shanghainese food is always known for sweet sour cooking style, which I'm not a super big fan of but this place make the flavors just right the meat dishes are not overly sweet or savory, it's a great balance between the two. The pork belly amazed me. Every piece has perfect layering of lean and fat. The fat just melt immediately when you bite down so you won't even taste the oiliness. The meat is glazing in the pot, and it comes with 4 boiled egg too. Sweet sour chicken is soft crispy at the same time, very delightful to eat because the tangy sauce makes me can't stop snacking. The stir fry noodle was alright. Noodle looks similar to thick udon, very chewy. Another highlight and must try would be the crispy bottom up bao and xiao long bao. I can't choose which one did better because both kinds' soup inside just burst in my mouth on my first bite! The meat filling is well seasoned already, I don't even need the ginger soy sauce for extra flavor. Service was friendly and fast, but just like its petite out front look in the plaza, everything inside is very petite haha the bowl is smaller than my hand I find that funny. Portions aren't that big, price is ok. I wouldn't recommend hosting big family gatherings here because of tight space and smaller menu options, since I feel like everything else besides what we ordered (which are chef's speciality) they all seem alright. read more

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Food was delicious and the servers were always churching if we needed anything, it was awfully quiet when we went and we did feel pressured to leave a bit. read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Soup dumplings and crispy pork bottom dumplings - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

We enjoyed the following: - Crispy pork buns - Pork Soup dumplings - Scallion Pancakes - Noodles (forgot which one) We ordered the crispy duck as well, but I found that some pieces were a bit dry. Still good, but probably wouldn't order again. I was weary about this place at first because of the mixed reviews, but decided to give it a try anyways. Overall, we enjoyed our meal. I wouldn't mind coming back and trying other popular dishes, such as the pork belly. I liked our waitress because she was very friendly towards us and our little ones. I have a feeling she is a grandma because she empathized with how we were managing their little tantrums. Interior is tiny and not much going on. No music playing and the televisions were tiny (reminded me of the office episode where Michael "broke down" and bought a plasma tv). read more

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The service was decent and the food quality average, but the prices were on the high side.

One of the best hidden gems in Houston with the best soup dumplings. The OG older brother of Wanna Bao in an unassuming venue. There aren't that many seats so it's not great for a large groups. Great for casual brunch / dinner with family or friends. Some of our favorite must tries are their chef specials; their succulent and juicy soup dumplings and flavorful braised pork belly. Their xiao long baos have a thin skin and are full of soup. Parking availability is decent. The lot is typically busy with all the other restaurants but most times you can find a spot. read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Small restaurant with big flavor! Food came out fast and everything tasted amazing; dumpling, pork belly braise, fish and veggies! read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

There was a line out the door for dinner time and a wait and I could see why! Food is great. Cleanliness... Questionable. But it's Chinatown! Things to get are the xiao long bao or soup dumplings, scallion beef, and crispy salt and pepper tenderloin. Everything came out hot and juicy! Very comforting. We also got some type of garlic noodles but I didn't really care for them. read more

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If you're on the hunt for an unassuming spot with unforgettable flavors, One Dragon Restaurant is an absolute must. It's tucked away like a true hole-in-the-wall. The soup dumplings are steaming hot with paper-thin wrappers and bursting with a rich, savory broth and tender pork. They are, hands down, some of the best in the city and consistently flavorful. The braised pork belly is melt-in-your-mouth,tender, juicy layers of pork slow-cooked in a caramelized, savory sauce that soaks perfectly into the accompanying rice. There are also hard boiled eggs in the dish. Every bite is indulgent and comforting. The sautéed green beans are crisped to perfection with just the right amount of garlic and seasoning. And the tofu skin wrapped pork is juicy with a delicate flavor with cabbage and glass noodles. While the interior is simple and casual, the service is warm, friendly, and attentive. If you're looking for polished or trendy, this isn't it. But if you're looking for incredible food that speaks for itself, One Dragon Restaurant delivers every time. read more

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It was my first time at One Dragon and it was amazing. The staff were attentive and we picked some great dishes (my favorite the crispy bottom bao) and not pictured the green beans. The serving sizes were plenty for sharing and whether you go for dumplings or fried noodles or soup -- you won't be disappointed! read more

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We came here for dinner and wanted to try out their authentic Chinese cuisine. Overall it was a decent restaurant. The Soup dumpling was only ok, they used wonton skin which is not normal and makes it too easy for the soup to spill out. I found this to be not how typical Chinese restaurants would prepare soup dumplings. Seem hang bow was good thought and the garlic Snow pea leaves were excellent. So not a bad meal overall. read more

I found this spot on IG and ended up checking it out within just a few days. It's super casual, so why not? We walked in on a Saturday at 8:30, and the place was about 75% full with a diverse crowd--groups of friends, couples on dates, and even a girls' night out. We already knew what we wanted, so we didn't need much time with the menu, but our waitress immediately told us we had to order quickly. No problem. We went with the Crispy-Bottom Shrimp Bao, Braised Pork Belly, and Crispy Skin Duck. Before our food even arrived, the waitress came back to say that if we needed to use the restroom, we should go now. Weird? The table behind us started laughing because they had just been told the same thing. Service wasn't the best, but honestly, I wasn't expecting much based on the location. Now, the food? PHENOMENAL. The braised pork belly was insanely juicy--if it had a bone, it would've fallen right off. And the eggs that came with it were YUM. I can never say no to eggs. The crispy skin duck was perfectly crispy. The Crispy-Bottom Shrimp Bao was just okay--I was hoping for something soupier, but that's on me for not realizing "crispy bottom" meant exactly that. Still, they were super cute and came out piping hot. I do however wish they had dumpling options that did not include pork. read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Braised Pork Belly - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great food awesome service. Small in size huge in flavor. Mom and pop location. You don't want to miss this authentic food from China. No American Chinese food authentic Chinese food. read more

Nice hole in the wall. Tried their xiao long bao and it was very juicy - I enjoyed that the skin wasn't too thick and there was a lot of soup. Noodles are a good dish to get if you wanted a safe choice. I would personally would not get it again just because it needed more flavor. Soup is thick and filling. It's a cozy mom and pop restaurant with couple tables. Service was fast and attentive. read more

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Excellent XLB - on par with Din Tai Fung. Enough said. Drunken chicken is all dark meat - good flavor. Great deal for the price. Pork with pickled vegetables noodle soup is ok - could use more meat. Braised tofu skin pork rolls over bean thread and cabbage - very good. read more

What a pleasant surprise! This tiny gem is tucked away in a busy plaza and can be a bit hard to find, but it's well worth the effort. The soup dumplings are a must-try--authentic, flavorful, and perfect as a single-person appetizer. I also enjoyed the Kung Pao, which had just the right amount of heat to let you know you've had something different. We also loved the pork belly, wontons, chili garlic pawns, and duck--everything was good for a casual Chinese restaurant. The service is good but a hit or miss. but be prepared for a busy atmosphere, especially on weekends. With only nine tables in the small establishment, it's best to arrive early. Note: The parking lot is often crowded, so plan accordingly. read more

Their braised pork belly is the star of the show. So much so that our group ordered 2 of them. It was tender, fatty, perfectly caramelized, and came with a generous amount of eggs. The xiao long bao was also a standout. While we had only ordered one, they instead brought out 6 orders despite repeating the order back to us. Minus one star on the mix-up, but I will say, the xiao long bao was delicious. Good flavored broth, thin skin, ample meat inside. The garlic water spinach was also a crowd pleaser, but my least favorite would have to be the eggplant. It was too salty without much flavor. Overall, still a solid spot. read more

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We had really good service. They brought water to the table quickly and gave us menus however I already knew what I wanted. We ordered the soup dumplings, crispy bottoms dumpling and braised pork belly. Everything was hot and delicious. You should know that this is a small place only 10 tables. So it could be very busy and you might have to wait. The food was delicious. I recommend going here. read more

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Food was amazing bao pork belly OMG the braised pork belly is to die for 10/10 highly recommend customer service 10/10 they have stole my

Good spot if you're looking for authentic Shanghainese cuisine. It's not the largest spot out there and the decor is minimalistic -- but they do cover a good variety of Shanghainese favorites at a good price and with very friendly service. The flavors are a bit different from what you may find at other spots as the preparations use the traditional ingredients and cooking styles, instead of some of the more Americanized versions of these dishes you may find elsewhere. I overall enjoyed the dishes here, which I found a bit more homestyle than restaurant cooking that I had in Shanghai but still enjoyed the different variety of flavors. In particular, a few items to note. The beef with green pepper had a nice combination with the alliums seared lightly to give the beef some more flavor. The scallion pancake was simple and lightly crisp, always a good side. The table really liked the braised pork belly, though I wasn't a huge fan of it. It could've been a bit more tender overall for me and a little sweeter. The crispy bottom shrimp bao is something I've never had before and actually really enjoyed. Mixing probably the best of a pot sticker and xiao long bao, which was also done pretty well here with a good flavorful broth. The stir fried rice cake with shredded pork and chinese cabbage I felt could've been a bit more chewy on the cakes and a bit more flavorful overall but still enjoyable. I would've also preferred a bit more firmness on the eggplant and an additional flavor element on the sauteed crystal shrimps. Overall, if you're looking for authentic shanghainese cuisine and a bit healthier approach in a more homestyle cooking method, One Dragon will meet your needs well. read more

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My friend had invited me to try this restaurant, and walking in the staff was very tentative and super nice which was great. I don't believe they spoke much English but the communication aspect still worked out. The Crispy Bottom Pork Bao's were amazing and the scallion beef tasted great as well. I will definitely be going back specifically for more Bao's tho because they were really good!! read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Crispy Bottom Pork Bao's - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Some pretty good dumplings! I went primarily for the dumplings but ended up getting some noodles as recommended by the sweet ladies that service us! I loved the soup dumplings, they tasted so meaty and juicy and the broth filled up all of the spoon! They make sure to give you ginger and their vinegar soy sauce on the side to pair with it. I also loved the pan fried dumplings as well. When I usually try it at other places, it is either too doughy or the meat absorbs too much into the dough making it chewy, but this was perfect and the broth that came out of the dumpling...amazing! And their most popular noodle dish was similar to dan dan noodles but was more subtle in taste. I would go for the dumplings instead. And come by at earlier times as the place is small and can get packed fast. Overall, 8/10. read more

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Service is OK. But the food is SO GOOD! It's a small restaurant but it's packed during meal time. This place is a gem. An old school, ruff around the edges, GEM. I love this place read more

The restaurant is a bit hidden, if you're not familiar with this plaza. Plenty of parking spaces. Xiao long bao (shrimp and pork soup dumplings) are good but not the best. F05 (noodles topped with ground pork, mixed with scallion oil, sesame paste and soy sauce) surprised me. It's light but flavorful. A must try. If you never have Shanghai's food or craving then I recommend this restaurant! It's run by friendly older Asian women who are quick and efficient. Prices are just about right and the restaurant is clean. Not necessarily a hole in the wall, just owned and operated by older folks with no extra frills. You eat and you pay. Done. read more

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So reasonably priced!! Everything we ordered was soooo good Pork belly, crispy bottom dumplings and chilly tilapia They were super busy, limited space so service was a tad slow read more

Very solid spot Shanghainese food. Braid pork belly was cooked to perfection, and the soup dumplings are excellent Please be sure to come early or expect to wait a while for a table. Friendly staff! read more

One Dragon Restaurant 上海弄堂里 - Shanghainese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We were so hungry, I forgot to take photos beforehand. This place might be a hole in the wall but the food tastes authentic. One of the best XLB spots in Houston! Each dumpling has the perfect ratio of meat to soup! Crispy bottoms were pretty good too! The beef noodle soup was savory but has a hint of sweetness to it. The braised pork was delicious with white rice! Very savory. Service was really quick, food came out fast. read more

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Omg omg I didn't get a picture of the soup dumplings but everything was so so amazing. This place was so cute and intimate. Wouldn't recommend for large parties. But definitely some of the best soup dumplings in the city. read more

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Family owned restaurant with very friendly and attentive front-of-house. I ordered the steamed buns with pork and the wonton soup for an early lunch and it was very good! read more

Such a solid spot! Houston Chinatown never disappoints. We got the soup dumplings and braised pork, and everything was yummy. My only complaint is that their soup dumplings are really small, and I wish I could have double or even triple the size. The braised pork is good but not the best I've ever had. The pork itself is a bit tough, but the flavor is good. They were really busy when we stopped by on a Sunday night, so just be aware if you're in hurry that this might not be the place to go. read more

Haven't been here in years, but still the same rating. Came for the soup dumplings, crispy duck, and my dad wanted sweet and sour chicken. The dumplings and chicken came out fast. The duck took a bit longer, we were finished with the dumplings and chicken a few minutes before it showed up. Everything was quite good. Especially the duck! read more

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I love little hole-in-the-wall restaurants like this place! I've been here three times, but my experiences have been a bit inconsistent. Nothing bad, but ranging more from decent to great. It's pretty slow on weekdays, but gets busy on weekends. Service has been quick and friendly every time though. XIAO LONG BAO: I've gotten these every time I've come here and I always enjoy them! One time, the skin started breaking after sitting out for awhile, but that doesn't seem to be a regular thing here. In that same visit, the soup was a bit more bland than the other times I've come here. I think it was just an off batch. Not sure if it had anything to do with it, but it was also the only time I came here when it wasn't packed. Every other time I've come though, the skin has been great and the soup has been flavorful! I'm honestly addicted to these right now! Totally worth burning my mouth every time lol CRISPY BOTTOM BAO: I haven't had anything like these before! I really enjoy the texture, it's almost spongey? And it always has great flavor! SHANGHAI NOODLES (F06): I love how thick and dense these noodles are! One time they were less cooked than I prefer, so the texture was on the firmer side, but they're normally softer. The flavor vaguely reminds me of beef chow fun, which I love! Unfortunately, there's somehow never much pork in it, but it's always flavorful! SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN: This was definitely better than your average sweet and sour chicken! It was super flavorful, the chicken was very moist, and the sauce was thick, just like I like it! SCALLION PANCAKE: I really enjoyed the texture of this dish, but felt like the flavor was too mild for my tastes. My bf disagreed with me and thought the flavor was fine though. I love the food here, but the inconsistency means you may not be getting the best versions of the dishes. If you don't love the food, I'd say odds are that this is the case. I'd recommend giving it another shot because when the dishes are cooked right, they're fantastic! read more

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