Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese
Asian/ Fusion
Gigi’s Asian Bistro 5085 Westheimer, in the Galleria (713) 629-8889 . Thai-fusion cuisine such as Saigon pork skewers are served in a stunning contemporary setting. Decadent entrees like Firecracker Prawn and Shaking Beef make Gigi’s worthy of their spot in the Galleria’s upscale Restaurant Row.
L, D, $$$
http://www.gigisasianbistro.com
L, D, $$$
http://www.gigisasianbistro.com
Japaneiro’s 2168 Texas (Sugar Land) (281) 242-1121 . A Sugar Land favorite, Japaneiro infuses traditional Japanese dishes with Latin American flair. Tempura, signature sushi rolls and charbroiled churrasco sirloin are hot menu items. Lunch and dinner daily.
$$$
http://www.japaneiro.com
Jenni’s Noodle House 3111 S. Shepherd @ Alabama (713) 523-7600. Order salt-n-pepper shrimp or “Art Car” Curry at the counter of this casual, takeout noodle shop locals have sworn by for years. Closed Sundays.
$
Sushi King 3401 Kirby (886) 653-9428 . Sushi King is two restaurants in one – a true Continental-style Japanese restaurant. Along with sushi and sashimi, this eatery offers the best in continental cuisine, from grilled Chilean sea bass to oysters Rockefeller. Try the grilled fresh tuna with foie gras and julienne potatoes – it’ll become your favorite.
L, D, Bar, $$,
http://www.sushiking.us
Chinese
Ambassador Chinese 4326 Richmond Avenue (713) 877-8930. Beef, chicken, seafood, pork–you want it, they’ve got it. Closed Sundays. L, D, $$-$$$,
Café Ginger 1952 W. Gray (713) 528-4288. The decor is the same as the old Cafe Le Jadeite; other than that we are not sure what direction this restaurant will take.
Chinese Cafe 5092 Richmond Avenue (713) 621-2888. Enjoy a taste of the Orient. Chinese Cafe features tantalizing soups and classic entrees. L, D, Bar, R, $-$$,
Fung’s Kitchen 7320 Southwest Freeway (713) 779-2288. Some of the best Chinese seafood in town. A must: oysters on the half shell smothered in black bean sauce. L, D, Bar, R, $-$$
Hot Wok 20798 I-45 South (Webster) (281) 338-7910. Hot Wok will delight you with fresh Asian cooking that’s light and healthy and good enough for the whole family. The Big and Crazy Sampler, like its name suggests, includes a little bit of everything: barbecued ribs, grilled chicken, spring rolls, egg rolls, and dumplings. The Lemongrass Chicken, sauteed with lemongrass and spices, is another of their most popular dishes. $$
Panda Garden 5534 Weslayan (713) 667-0880. If you are interested in some fabulous Chinese food, Panda Garden is your spot. Everything is made from scratch, and they don’t use MSG. L, D, $
Pepper Tree Veggie Cuisine 3821 Richmond Ave (713) 621-9488.
If you’re searching for a place that can give you lots of favor but without all of the calories, then come to Pepper Tree. This vegetarian’s heaven offers a number of Asian-inspired dishes to give you a healthy alternative to greasy take-out. Try the moo goo gai-pan tofu or the kung pao tofu for a real treat. Also, they offer a number of interesting desserts ranging from coconut cake to one made from green tea – so be sure to leave some room. L, D, $$
Qin Dynasty 5115 Buffalo Speedway (713) 660-8386. From the outside, this restaurant looks like a dry cleaners. It’s located in a strip center; and the door is marked with a simple awning with “Qin Dynasty” printed on it. Don’t judge this culinary masterpiece by it’s cover: the atmosphere on the inside is out of this world. Most of the items are a high quality version of the food found at typical Chinese restaurants: wonton and hot and sour soups, Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian beef and shrimp with garlic sauce. You will also encounter plenty of varieties of fried rice, and pleasant surprises wait around every corner. L, D, $$
Red Pepper 5626 Westheimer (713) 622-7800. All the best in Chinese, including some dishes with “red pepper.” Popular, healthy diet menu choices. L, D, Bar, R, $-$$
Shanghai River 2407 Westheimer 713-528-5528. This Upper Kirby restaurant stands out among the multitude of Chinese eateries in Houston. Situated in an unassuming location at the end of a strip center, Shanghai River’s affordable menu is designed not only to suit American tastes but also to please fans of authentic Szechuan and Hunan cuisine. The warm interior exudes a pleasant ambience with beautiful Asian screens, comfortable captain’s chairs, and crisp tablecloths. The gracious wait staff and the quality of food and atmosphere make it the perfect place for a business lunch or an intimate dinner. L, D, R, $$
Taipei China Bistro 25807 I-45 (The Woodlands) (281) 363-9188. An innovative approach to Chinese cuisine has made its way to The Woodlands. With brilliant decor and fabulous lettuce wraps, diners will come from miles around. $-$$,
Japanese
Crave Sushi 2900 Travis. Traditional Japanese dishes and signature sushi rolls are crowd pleasers at this hip restaurant and bar. Open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, a DJ and reverse happy hour from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. keep the restaurant abuzz through the lat night hours.
L, D, Bar, $-$$
L, D, Bar, $-$$
Fruitful Cafe 9889 Bellaire Blvd. () (713) 777-0990. Located in the bustling Dun Huang shopping center, Fruitful Cafe is a great place for lunch. Take advantage of the daily specials and tasty vegetarian options. L, D
Azuma 5600 Kirby Dr. (713) 432-9649. Specializing in an ancient Japanese form of cooking called “robata”, Azuma presents a variety of fresh sushi, specialty rolls and Kobe steak for the ultimate Far East dining experience.
L, D, Bar, $$$$
L, D, Bar, $$$$
Kubo’s Sushi Bar & Grill 2414 University Blvd (713) 528-7878. Kubo’s flies in fish daily from California and uncompromisingly serves only the highest quality sushi and sashimi. Out of a near religious devotion to quality, Kubo’s staff picks up its seafood treasure the moment it arrives in Houston – even if that means a trip to the airport at the midnight hour. L, D,
kubos-sushi.com
kubos-sushi.com
Osaka Japanese Restaurant 515 Westheimer (713) 533-9098. The delectable menu offers something for everyone, whether it is one of the over 40 types of sushi or one of their many fully-cooked entrees. An extensive lunch menu is sure to please all palates, but they are closed for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. $-$$
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant 3908 Westheimer (713) 621-5800. Pumping up the dining scene with high energy and inventive and fresh sushi, RA’s red décor, hip music and hot atmosphere perfectly complements its Asian fusion cuisine. Try any of the rolls, don’t miss the calamari, and share the signature drink, tsunami punch, with a friend — you’re sure to come back for more! (In fact, be sure to come back for more on Sundays when the prices are unbelievable.)
L, D, Bar, $$$ www.rasushi.com
L, D, Bar, $$$ www.rasushi.com
Uptown Sushi 1131-14 Uptown Park (713) 871-1200. Enjoy a fresh and creative sushi bar menu as well as superb seafood and steak entrees.
L, D, Bar, $$$,
L, D, Bar, $$$,
Zen 5 1330 Wirt Rd B (713) 263-9555. Offering hibachi service as well as sushi, this Japanese steak house grills up shrimp, fish, steak and more. The kids are welcome and will hopefully love the dragon rolls.
L, D, R, $$$$$ www.sushiinusa.com
L, D, R, $$$$$ www.sushiinusa.com