Mala Sichuan Bistro is a sichuan chinese restaurant in Bellaire Asiatown, Houston.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in Houston is the Bellaire Boulevard Sichuan room since 2011, with serious mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and a chilli-oil dumpling order.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Mapo tofu, Dan dan noodles
Must order: Mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, the dry-fried green beans and the chilli-oil dumplings.
Tip: Order at least one dish from the cold appetiser cabinet near the door. The marinated beef is the menu's quiet star.
Address: 9348 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036
Pho Binh on Bellaire Boulevard is the original 1983 Houston pho counter from the Le family, with clean broth, rare-beef pho tai and an Asiatown family legacy.
Signature: Pho tai (rare beef), Banh mi
Order: Pho tai (rare beef) or pho dac biet (combination). A Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
Tip: Cash strongly preferred. Bellaire location is the original; the four other branches (Westheimer, Heights, Sharpstown, Katy) are family-run.
Himalaya Restaurant in Houston is Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani-and-Indian room on the Southwest Freeway since 2004, with lamb biryani, hunter's beef.
Signature: Lamb biryani, Hunter's beef
Order: Lamb biryani (slow-cooked dum style), hunter's beef and one of the chai-glazed lamb chops.
Tip: Lunch buffet runs weekdays and is the value entry. BYOB; the corner liquor store across Hillcroft is the run.
Phat Eatery in Katy (west of Houston) is the late Alex Au-Yeung's Malaysian street food room in Katy Asian Town, with beef rendang, roti canai.
Signature: Beef rendang, Roti canai
Order: Beef rendang, roti canai with curry chicken dip, char kway teow.
Tip: Katy is 30 miles west of downtown Houston; combine the trip with H Mart and Asian Town. Lunch is quieter.
Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room at WestAve on Kirby Drive since 2011, with masala omelette breakfasts, thali plates.
Signature: Masala omelette and roti, Thali plates
Order: Masala omelette with roti at breakfast. The thali plate at dinner.
Tip: Breakfast (7am to 11am) is the lesser-known peak. The thali changes daily; ask what is on it before you order.
Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland (south of Houston) is Ronnie Killen's white-tablecloth room on West Broadway, with a 1,200-bottle wine tower.
Signature: 44-Farms wagyu, Bone-in ribeye
Order: The bone-in ribeye and the 44-Farms wagyu sampler. Order one of the dry-aged cuts off the side menu.
Tip: Reserve four to six weeks ahead for Saturday. The bar serves the full menu and is the easier seat.
Pappas Bros Steakhouse Downtown in Houston is the McKinney Street steakhouse from the Pappas family, with a 4,000-bottle wine list, dry-aged ribeyes.
Signature: Dry-aged bone-in ribeye, Wine cellar selection
Order: A 28-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye and creamed spinach.
Tip: The wine list is the reason. The downtown room is quieter than Westheimer; both serve the same kitchen.
Pho Binh on Bellaire Boulevard is the original 1983 Houston pho counter from the Le family, with clean broth, rare-beef pho tai and an Asiatown family legacy.
Signature: Pho tai (rare beef), Banh mi
Order: Pho tai (rare beef) or pho dac biet (combination). A Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
Tip: Cash strongly preferred. Bellaire location is the original; the four other branches (Westheimer, Heights, Sharpstown, Katy) are family-run.
