Houston's Chinatown on Bellaire Blvd is the best Asian food corridor in the American South. Full stop. Here's the breakdown by cuisine.
Chinese:
- Mala Sichuan Bistro — The best Sichuan food in Houston. Mouth-numbing mapo tofu. Dan dan noodles. The spice level is authentic.
- Tiger Den — Hand-pulled noodles made in front of you. The beef noodle soup is a religious experience.
- Dim sum at Ocean Palace — Weekend dim sum with the cart service. Get there before 11 AM or wait 45 minutes. The har gow and siu mai are perfect.
Vietnamese:
- Pho Binh (multiple Bellaire locations) — The OG. Pho tai with extra tendon. $12 for a bowl that could feed two people.
- Les Givral's Kahve — Banh mi and Vietnamese coffee. The #1 combo banh mi with pate and jalapeños is the best sandwich in Houston under $8.
- Crawfish & Noodles — Already covered but the pho here is also elite. Most people don't know that.
Korean:
- Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ — Banchan game is strong. 8-10 side dishes before your main even arrives. The kimchi jjigae is the comfort food you didn't know you needed.
Japanese:
- Kata Robata — Not on Bellaire but close enough. Omakase is Houston's best. The sashimi platter is art.
Taiwanese:
- Tiger Sugar — Boba tea. The brown sugar boba with fresh milk. The line moves fast.
Source: Personal visits (50+ Bellaire Blvd restaurants over 4 years), Houston Press, Houstonia Magazine
Bellaire Blvd is the reason Houston is the best food city in Texas. No other city in the state has anything close to this concentration of authentic Asian food.