Long Coffee — Restaurant in Houston

Once upon a time, Long’s Coffee was my undisputed go-to in the Houston area — the kind of place I’d recommend without even thinking. It’s been a while since I last came back, and oh honey… the coffee scene has changed. In the past year, Houston has been flooded with new Vietnamese coffee shops, all bringing their A-game. So naturally, I thought I’d check in on my old favorite.

They’ve expanded the menu — lots of refreshing teas, fun new drinks — but let’s be real: Long’s Coffee built its name on coffee. That’s why, instead of playing adventurous, I went classic with a Vietnamese coffee… but with a twist: salted sea foam.

And here’s where my crown slipped a little. ☕ Coffee strength? Not as bold as before. 🧂 Sea foam? I could barely taste the salt. It was… fine, but not the grand, salty kick I was expecting. And when I say “whatever”, it’s not “meh whatever,” it’s my queenly way of saying “darling, we can do better.”

I skipped the food this time since I’d already had lunch, but once upon a time their fettuccine Alfredo was the dish — one of the rare Asian spots pulling off an Italian plate like a champ.

On the plus side, they now have a long communal table perfect for working or casual meetings, and the outdoor patio is a total win during Houston’s short-lived “winter.” Great for family chats or catching up with coworkers.

But my royal verdict? Time to whip that coffee game back into shape, Long’s. That’s how you got your spotlight in the Houston Chronicle — and that’s how you’ll keep it.

Loyalty is earned sip by sip — and once you were my crown jewel. Don’t let that crown slip.”

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2025 Update: This place remains a delight. Gone is the former cutesy Japanese Anime vibe, but in its place is a small, intimate neighborhood vibe. They have again changed the hot Vietnamese milk coffee, but now it's good, still different than the original one, but good.

2022 update: They changed the hot Vietnamese milk coffee! I drank that coffee for over a decade, always good, always the same. On a recent visit, different (and lousy). When I discussed it with the young lady, she tried to deny for a long time that they had changed it. When I insisted that I know what it's supposed to taste like and they changed it, she finally relented. How long has it been since you were here last? About six months. Oh yeah, we changed it a few months ago. PUT IT BACK!!!!

Original review Love this place. Everything is good but the fried shrimp are even better, tell them no spice. Popular joint gets crowded. Family friendly for kids except a little small requires some "indoor voice." This building is a former Starbucks. Long coffee used to be over in the main strip rather than free standing like this and was cozier over there, going to some trouble to create a cutsey Japanese anime vibe. The three young ladies working the counter would greet each entering customer by calling out "hi" in three different cutsey voices, creating a sort of "live/canned" electronic door greeting machine effect. They can't do that anymore, my last visit I counted TEN workers behind...

This place needs to be changed to "Long Faced Employee Coffee". Don't people believe in smiling anymore? instead. I guess if you are the busiest Boba place around Bel-Air, you don't have to hire spunky or happy employees.

We came here on a Monday and it was still semi busy and wanted to order some boba, surprise! How does a Boba Place run out of boba at 7 at night? I guess I will try my luck and go to Popeye's Chicken hopefully they don't run out of chicken I f you know what I mean. Even as slow as it was you could pretty much hope that the health department doesn't run in there because of all the dirty tables and sticky floors, I would hate to see what the kitchen looks like..... wait a minute, in fact if you are standing at the right angle where you pick up the drinks you'll get to see what is going on in the back like the man in the ice bin picking up the ice scoop and dumping the ice in people's drinks.

This place is always always busy as you pass by to eat at the restaurant in the parking lot and I've always wondered what the draw was. I don't get it Check please! We gingerly walked out I went to the Boba place across the parking lot that...