Jii Fu Cafe

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 any cold dish.

Great food and good service. The food came out quick! Located in a big plaza, we had no problem finding a parking spot. Got the Stir Fried Mixed Chine Flower dry squid, chicken taro and carrot 潮州小炒皇, marinated delights combination 卤水拼盘, and deep fried shrimp roll 潮州炸虾枣, the portion were big and the flavor did not disappoint. We devoured everything. The only ding I would give is for the marinated pig feet in the combination plate we got. It was a little bit too salty.

Great dinner at Jiu Fu Cafe. The beef chow fun was perfectly cooked with tender beef and great flavor, not greasy at all. The stir fried shrimp with black pepper was crispy, fresh, and delicious. Service was quick and the atmosphere was clean and comfortable. Will definitely come back

Authentic Chinese food with an extensive menu. We tried cauliflower with pork, fried shrimp roll, marinated delights, beef ho fun. All were delicious especially marinated delights. Good service and might need to wait during rush hours.

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 in the area.

First of all this restaurant is really clean. My wife said she would come back just because of it's tidiness. Secondly, the food are all very fresh and high quality made. The rice noodle is chewy and the soup is tasty. The meat burger is filled with tons of meat, but the high light is the bread. It's hand made which really taste good. I definitely recommend this place and will come back soon

Bruce Forest

Crab in the porridge was very fresh and juicy. It would be better to provide certain tools to crack the crab shell. The assorted braised platter 卤水拼盘tastes good, a little bit salty. Beef Chou Fun fusions the taste of Chou Fun, shrimp, and the crispy flavor of fresh bean sprouts appropriately. The dinning hall is a bit crowded. It’s understandable as they try to accommodate as many guests as possible. I saw a long line of people waiting outside. A good and popular place.

Mei Ling

The food was good and I’ll include pictures, but the standout was definitely the exceptional and kind service. Anyone and everyone will tell you Chinatown isn’t know for good service, but this place is the exception!

Jennie Ran

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 of the menu.

Emy Aninzo-Wong

We went with relatives for lunch since they heard this restaurant serves authentic food. We ordered the popular dishes that are also pictured on their wall. My favorites are the crispy sweet potato pancakes, Chinese flower veggie with squid, and the sweet and sour pork. The seafood congee was good. The meat platter I didn’t like so much. The intestines were chewy. It’s a bit crowded, but the service was great. The food came out quickly.

Liangzi Ellis

Basil popcorn chicken and bean sprouts were yummy. Each dish had a large portion. The restaurant is a bit loud.

Anton S.

What a positive surprise! This place was not high on my list until I found out they are the only spot in Houston to offer a Goose (at least what I found with my research so far). You have to preorder a day in advance, if you want less than a full goose. And it was absolutely worth it! Super juicy, tender and delicious marinated goose! Half a goose is enough for a party of 4. We also ordered roasted pigeon which was a 10/10 by itself too 🔥 The place gets very busy during lunch on weekends. Great atmosphere and friendly service!

Jerry W

I love authentic Chinese food. This place hit the spot. The meal started off with the fried sweet potato pancakes and they were phenomenal. Next came the sizzling beef. This is a dish you can get at most places but was far better than average. The next dish to hit our table was the oyster omelette. Now I have to say, our server was pretty funny. We wanted to try something we have never had before and this was her suggestion. All I can say is, this was a new experience. I lived in the Philippines and have gone to numerous Asian restaurants and never had anything like this before. I am rating our experience 5 stars!

Paul Goh

The service and ambiance were what you’d expect from a traditional Chinese restaurant, but the food truly stood out. The duck was incredibly tender and flavorful, perfectly seasoned without being overly salty. The marinated delights combination was exceptional—each item was packed with rich, authentic flavors. If you’re a fan of Teochew cuisine, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

THINH

Great dinner at Jiu Fu Cafe. The beef chow fun was perfectly cooked with tender beef and great flavor, not greasy at all. The stir fried shrimp with black pepper was crispy, fresh, and delicious. Service was quick and the atmosphere was clean and comfortable. Will definitely come back

ml

Authentic Chinese food with an extensive menu. We tried cauliflower with pork, fried shrimp roll, marinated delights, beef ho fun. All were delicious especially marinated delights. Good service and might need to wait during rush hours.

Krystal Liu

Visited this restaurant during our trip to Texas and it was a big surprise to find this authentic Chaozhou restaurant in Houston! Every dishes we ordered were so good and authentic also very reasonably priced. Every single kind of meat in marinated combo plate was tender and full of flavors. The medium seafood congee was loaded with seafood and might good enough for four people and it’s so fresh with not even a bit seafood gamey taste and very savory. Will definitely come back next time in Houston to try other dishes.

Emi Ly

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 any cold dish.

Boey Ho

* Authentic Chiu Chow Style cuisine * Definitely delicious food * The Mid-Congee is great for 3-4 family portion * Highly recommend the dishes as photos mention

Andy Lin

Great food and good service. The food came out quick! Located in a big plaza, we had no problem finding a parking spot. Got the Stir Fried Mixed Chine Flower dry squid, chicken taro and carrot 潮州小炒皇, marinated delights combination 卤水拼盘, and deep fried shrimp roll 潮州炸虾枣, the portion were big and the flavor did not disappoint. We devoured everything. The only ding I would give is for the marinated pig feet in the combination plate we got. It was a little bit too salty.

David Pham

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 in the area.

David Chang

First of all this restaurant is really clean. My wife said she would come back just because of it's tidiness. Secondly, the food are all very fresh and high quality made. The rice noodle is chewy and the soup is tasty. The meat burger is filled with tons of meat, but the high light is the bread. It's hand made which really taste good. I definitely recommend this place and will come back soon

Got the mapo tofu, sizzling seafood with black bean sauce, hot spicy chicken, rice noodles with beef satay sauce, salty fish chicken eggplant clay pot (without fish). The black bean sauce on the seafood was delicious, and the noodles were also very good. I'm used to Sichuan mapo tofu, but this mapo tofu was a pleasant change. Our waitress kindly told us the salty fish was too salty, so we just got the eggplant and chicken. The chicken was a little lacking in flavor, but the eggplant was delicious. Fast and great service overall. Would love to come back to try congee and other dishes. This was great food for a rainy day

Met with 2 of my good friends for lunch on Sat. It's a small restaurant serving Teochow style dishes (influenced by Cantonese style). The place was somewhat cramped even at the entrance/exit. The place got filled quickly so come early or prepare to wait. I am glad that one of the waitresses speaks English very well and was able to take our order. The food came out relatively fast. We decided to order the following: Beef and gailan (Chinese brocolli) Mapo tofu Fried fish Water spinach All the dishes were flavorful and delicious however the beef was a bit on the rough side. I noticed other customers order the congee which came in a clay pot container (seemed to be a popular dish). Next time I will try other items and their specialties when I'm in the area and in the mood for Cantonese food.

Riya Santra

Got the mapo tofu, sizzling seafood with black bean sauce, hot spicy chicken, rice noodles with beef satay sauce, salty fish chicken eggplant clay pot (without fish). The black bean sauce on the seafood was delicious, and the noodles were also very good. I'm used to Sichuan mapo tofu, but this mapo tofu was a pleasant change. Our waitress kindly told us the salty fish was too salty, so we just got the eggplant and chicken. The chicken was a little lacking in flavor, but the eggplant was delicious. Fast and great service overall. Would love to come back to try congee and other dishes. This was great food for a rainy day

Susan L

Met with 2 of my good friends for lunch on Sat. It's a small restaurant serving Teochow style dishes (influenced by Cantonese style). The place was somewhat cramped even at the entrance/exit. The place got filled quickly so come early or prepare to wait. I am glad that one of the waitresses speaks English very well and was able to take our order. The food came out relatively fast. We decided to order the following: Beef and gailan (Chinese brocolli) Mapo tofu Fried fish Water spinach All the dishes were flavorful and delicious however the beef was a bit on the rough side. I noticed other customers order the congee which came in a clay pot container (seemed to be a popular dish). Next time I will try other items and their specialties when I'm in the area and in the mood for Cantonese food.

This is a solid Canto spot with good food and decent flavors. As far as the food everything was decent, nothing stood out in terms taste/flavor but everything we ordered was good. Probably my favorite items were the fried sweet potato pancakes (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside), and the crab. Like any traditional Chinese restaurant, you have to break the crab shells yourself so be careful about ordering the crab if you don’t like to eat messy (it will get messy!). Service is relatively fast compared to most Chinese places, and we had a slight language barrier but were able to communicate with our Mandarin. I think I’d return here if I was in the area and craving, overall decent experience!

Matthew Chen

This is a solid Canto spot with good food and decent flavors. As far as the food everything was decent, nothing stood out in terms taste/flavor but everything we ordered was good. Probably my favorite items were the fried sweet potato pancakes (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside), and the crab. Like any traditional Chinese restaurant, you have to break the crab shells yourself so be careful about ordering the crab if you don’t like to eat messy (it will get messy!). Service is relatively fast compared to most Chinese places, and we had a slight language barrier but were able to communicate with our Mandarin. I think I’d return here if I was in the area and craving, overall decent experience!

From the moment we started eating to when we were forced to leave, it was only thirty minutes—6:50 to 7:30 p.m. During the meal, we ordered a seafood congee. Without asking, the staff packed it up for takeout and then rushed us out, saying there were eight people waiting and that we should go home and eat it since it was already packed. I explained that we just wanted to sit and eat a little longer—we had driven all the way from Austin—but the owner straight-up kicked us out. Extremely rude behavior. Two people spent $100 and still got chased out. We didn’t even get to eat the seafood congee we ordered. Never coming here again.

Angele Wei

Food was fine and overall atmosphere was fine as well. We made a reservation there on a Sunday evening and they rushed us throughout the entire night and eventually towards the end of our dinner they straight up said “we noticed you guys are just chatting, and we have a line, so we need you to leave”. keep in mind they rushed us multiple times throughout the night by asking to wrap our food up to go, or straight up taking our plates and utensils. More importantly, when the bill was getting paid, they demanded a higher tip than what was paid and acted incredibly entitled to a higher tip amount, despite the lack of consideration and poor service. I seriously do not think this type of behavior is acceptable, this encounter decided that I will not be returning to this establishment.