🇺🇸 Houston Teochew Cuisine Exploration

If you're craving authentic Teochew flavors in Houston, Jiu Fu Cafe is a name that often comes up—especially for their spectacular seafood congee. Located in the heart of Chinatown, this unassuming spot offers a mix of hits and misses, but when it hits, it’s truly memorable. 🥣 Seafood Congee - The Star of the Show Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Generous Ingredients: Two whole crabs, plump shrimp, fresh clams, and dried scallops create a deeply umami base. Perfect Texture: The rice is cooked just right—soft but not mushy, in a lightly gingered broth that’s both comforting and elegant. Excellent Value: At $38 for a portion that easily serves two (or even three!), this is one of Houston’s best seafood congee deals. 🍖 Braised Meat Platter - A Letdown Rating: ⭐️⭐️ Variety But Lackluster Flavor: Includes tofu, pork intestine, ear, heart, and egg—but the braising liquid lacked depth and fragrance. Quality Issues: Unfortunately, the pig trotters still had visible hair, making them unappetizing. Overall: While the selection seems promising, execution falls short of authentic Teochew braised standards. 🥬 Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Garlic Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good Wok Heat: The vegetables retained a pleasant crispness. Ingredient Limitations: The spinach itself was thin-stemmed and somewhat tough—likely a result of the variety available rather than cooking technique. 💰 Pricing & Overall Value Three dishes plus tip came to just over $80—remarkably reasonable compared to West Coast prices, especially given the quality and quantity of the seafood congee. 🏆 Final Verdict Come for the congee, be cautious with the braised items. While not everything on the menu hits the mark, the seafood congee alone makes Jiu Fu Cafe worth visiting. It’s a solid choice for Teochew comfort food in Houston, particularly if you focus on their seafood offerings. 📍 Jiu Fu Cafe 9968 Bellaire Blvd #230, Houston, TX 77036 Perfect for: Family dinners, seafood cravings, Teochew comfort food #TeochewCuisine #HoustonFood #ChineseFood #SeafoodCongee #HoustonEats #FoodReview #TeochewHouston #ComfortFood