Budget Chinese Restaurants in Houston
While Houston has a Chinatown area, there are high quality budget Chinese restaurants located throughout the city. Five of the most popular wallet-friendly Chinese restaurants in Houston are:
1. Doozo Dumplings and Noodles – This food court eatery at The Shops at Houston Center is a hit with the lunchtime business crowd. Doozo Dumplings and Noodles specializes in fresh handmade chicken, pork, and vegetable dumplings served with a choice of mild or spicy sauce. One of their many secrets is using spinach instead of cabbage in the dumplings.
2. Auntie Changs Dumpling House – Located on South Shepherd, Auntie Changs Dumpling House features all the traditional Chinese favorites in addition to handmade vegetable, pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, and pan-fried pork dumplings. The best time to visit is at lunch, when the restaurant offers and enormous menu of lunch specials.
3. Three Dragons – With unusual dishes such as crawfish fried rice and eggplant with ground beef along with all the more common favorites, Three Dragons is a Westchase favorite. Regulars know to sit out on the spacious patio when weather permits and to try a variety of specialties by purchasing a combo platter.
4. Tan Tan Fast Food – A Houston Chinatown favorite for many years, Tan Tan Fast Food offers over 400 items on it’s extensive menu. This popular late night hangout is always busy because of it’s consistently fresh, well-seasoned, and reasonably priced fare. In business since 1986, this restaurant is best known for its House Special Rice Cakes, freshly made noodle soups, and traditional hot pots.
5. Oriental Village – A longtime favorite located in Northwest Houston, Oriental Village is a recently renovated Chinese buffet featuring reasonably priced traditional fare and exceptionally friendly service in a quiet atmosphere. This is the type of restaurant where the staff knows their customer’s names.
