Jiu Fu Cafe — Restaurant in Houston

Nut Allergy warning - There are nuts in many dishes, and I was told they sprinkle nuts even on their congee. A very nice waitress at the counter understood my allergy and was able to advise on our order. Be careful!

Order - to - Meal: 20-25 minutes

I got here around 1:30PM on a Sunday and it was pretty full, though just over the lunch rush. I got a table for 3 with no wait.

For three people, we ordered four dishes, and had enough leftovers to feed ourselves for a whole extra meal:

D01 Seafood Congee (Medium) (5/5): Okay, so I ordered this thinking it'd be the wedding soup amount for each person. This is not the case! This is a full meal of congee for each person! We each ended up with large bowls with crab and scallops, and had another large bowl extra left. Honestly we could've just ordered this alone for 2-3 people. Huge recommend, don't let the price tag scare you away. It's a classic dish for a reason. 2x A07 Fried Dough Sticks (5/5): I thought one wasn't enough. I was so wrong. One is plenty for three people. Perfect with the congee. 1x L09 Dried Fried Green Beans with Pork (5/5): Perfectly crisp, very flavorful, very sharable. 1x F15 Chiu Chow Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs (4/5): Super flavorful, bone-in for most pieces. I got some that were a bit more difficult to chew but overall, they're very flavorful and great with rice. 1x A01 Chiu Chow Sweet Potato Cakes (5/5): Honestly the perfect dessert here. Not too sweet. Crispy, but chewy. I rarely get dishes like this and don't sleep on them, they're unique and excellent to finish the meal.

The portions, flavor, and everything else here are fantastic. Service was phenomenal with the ladies offering us new bowls for our crab shells and constant water refills. A real gem...

Jiu Fu is one of those hidden gems that feels like a hole-in-the-wall, but it never fails to deliver a memorable experience. The restaurant is fairly small and always packed, especially on weekends, giving it a lively and bustling atmosphere. Despite the crowd, I love the energy inside—it feels authentic and welcoming, like stepping into a busy neighborhood spot in China.

This time, I had the chance to try something special: the chicken and pig stomach hotpot, which you have to call and preorder in advance. The flavors were rich and comforting, with the chicken tender and packed with flavor. If you're hesitant about the pig stomach, don’t be—the broth is so well-crafted that any "intestine" taste is completely masked, leaving only a savory and satisfying dish. While the hotpot is on the pricier side at around $100, it’s a dish that feels indulgent and perfect for sharing with a group.

Another standout was the Chao Zhou raw seafood. The seasoning was phenomenal, bringing out the natural flavors of the shrimp and crab in a way that felt fresh and vibrant. Though the shrimp is quite expensive at $65 a pound, the crab is more reasonably priced and equally delicious. The texture of the raw seafood is exactly what you’d expect, soft but firm, and the accompanying sauce could easily elevate...

Don’t skip over this place as it’s in the a little known corner of one the main Chinatown plazas. (Next to H- mart) Neglected exterior but don’t let that deter you. The interior is bright, well decorated, and clean. Ordered the popular Marinated Delights Combination (C03) and the water spinach with garlic sauce. The combination consisted of pig feet, ears, tongue, intestines, tofu, and egg. Well braised and a bold flavor on each item. Tender tongue meat and chewy pig feet. My favorite was the tofu as it was the most marinated. Loved the variety and size of this dish. Water spinach was stir fried with the perfect amount of garlic. Looked like the seafood congee was popular as there were several tables with clay pots. Extremely quick service, there were several tables and a large party ahead of us but we were still served all our dishes within ten minutes of ordering. Will be back to try the rest...