Nu Cafe
9889 Bellaire Blvd,Ste 112A, Houston, TX, 77036
Nu Cafe Menu
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Address :
9889 Bellaire Blvd,Ste 112A
Houston, TX, 77036 - Phone (713) 771-7771
- Website https://www.nucafehouston.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 10
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wi-Fi : Free
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Ryan T.
I have stopped in here years ago to see what Nu Cafe was all about. Their Nu ice is what pulled me in here. I used to go JuiceBox next door pretty often for their shaved ice and fruits, but I'm beginning to think Nu Cafe will go up on the list because of what they have to offer. Nu Ice is the about the same concept, but the presentation and taste of this item is pretty darn good! Thumbs up for their sweets. I am in love with Sweets almost anywhere I go. They also have tapioca/bubble tea/boba. I have heard people call it these names from different sides of the country. If you're not sure what to get I'll suggest you get some honey green tea with honey boba. I don't think the milk teas here will stand out. Their Half and half is what is advertised on their menu and windows. I have tried it and I really like it. It's not as sweet as I thought it would be and I enjoyed ever sip. They also have a frequent visitor check in by Belly. You can grab a card off their counter or download the app onto your phone. With more check-ins, you will be able to claim extra toppings, free drinks, and more. I can see they do need help and the owner did post up a sign seeking for workers. They open after 12 so don't come early and wait unless you like to do that. It's pretty weird to see there's about 4-5 boba houses all within the same shopping center. Competition for food here is serious!
(4)Gloria C.
I've always been a lover of shaved ice, but this takes that to a whole different level ! The ice is actually flavored. It was super yummy and I'd eat this up even when it's 30 degrees outside. My new found love when I go down to Houston.
(5)Carol C.
4.5 star*. Anyway I love this place so much! I've been here several times by myself and with friends. IMO this is the best place to get a cold, light, refreshing and probably somewhat healthy dessert in Asiatown. The nu ice to me tastes like an ice milk mixture they create. It's more than just chopped flavored white ice. It's fresh, creamy and all the approximate dozen flavors do have a great depth of the flavor they are advertised as. Green tea and strawberry are my faves so far. They come in small or large generally with one or two fruits, boba or several other topping goodies. You can add sweet condensed milk over your nu ice dessert which is a nice compliment because the nu ice is not overly sweet. So perfection achieved. They also have like a thousand combinations of boba drinks. They do serve some hot food entrees but they don't seem to be too popular overall. Service has always been awesome by the cool guys taking the orders at the counter. *4.5 star.... On the weekend around 9pm we actually had to leave one time because the noise volume inside was crazy unbearably loud. No outdoor seating. Other than that I'm in love with this place!!!
(5)Cathy S.
I freaking love the texture of the shaved ice. Personally, I think it's better than juicebox. Just go try it
(5)Kenya P.
Oh I remember first visiting here fall semester of my senior year and the wonderful experience I had of tasting shaved ice cream for the first time. I went for another visit yesterday and it is still as good as I remember! This is perfect for the hot, hot months of summer here in Houston. It's made so simple to order with the card you pick up at the counter and fill out to make sure there are no mistakes while ordering. I'm so gonna go visit again!
(5)Justin A.
Nu Café is famous for their shaved ice w/ toppings. This is not some generic shaved ice that you'll find; they have a different style of preparation that takes 10-hours to perfect. It looks weird, like asbestos ice-cream, but once you try it, you'll be hooked. It's not very filling, as well, unlike ice cream. This is the original location in Chinatown, but they have also just opened up on in the Galleria area.
(5)Jessie L.
I'm a big fan of Nu cafe!!! They have the best shaved ice in H-town!!! But I was so angry when I viewed someone's reviews! It's really SHAME on people who said Do not feel guilty to leave the table dirty!!! I came here with my friends all the time. The line is always all the way to the door. They barely have any time to clean immediately!! If you guys expect a better and clean place to hang-out, why don't you move few steps to help clean up the table. Last time, I saw a big group left with a messy table. Please Don't mess up our favorite desert place!!!!
(5)Tommy N.
I came back again with some friends for another go at the ribbon ice. We shared the mountain green tea ice with Mango, caramel drizzle, and lychee jelly - quite the unusual combination, but it worked. The ribbon ice was nothing to rave about, but the lychee jelly was surprisingly tasty. My order took slightly more than ten minutes to complete, which was quite the wait. The atmosphere was dominated by young adults and teenagers, and Nu Ice seems to be a decent hang out spot. However, I he novelty of ribbon ice has long since worn off. For the price of a mountain at Nu Ice,. You can get shaved ice with fresh fruit next door at Juice Box. I probably won't come back anytime soon, though.
(3)Jessica E.
This place is great. Delicious ice cream "ice" in different flavors, and has a big variety of toppings and sauces, as well as teas and smoothies. Good amount of seating, great friends or family hangout.
(5)Karmelo N.
Best shaved ice in Bellaire. Get the mango or green tea shaved ice with mangos and strawberries and condensed milk. ALSO - the squid balls and chicken nuggets are mad tasty. Lastly, get a Nu Milk Tea to finish it off. The honey boba finishes it. Took off two stars due to the $10 CC minimum and the atmosphere which never seems to get the temperature right.
(3)Kerry T.
If you're in houston, this place is the place to go for the best shaved ice. You get this sheet that has different flavors and topping options that you have to fill out then turn it in. The service is good and they're very quick with your order. It's my absolute favorite shaved ice place!
(4)Rick L.
They're open 30 minutes later than every other cafe in the shopping center. I enjoyed the Mango drink I had, though I probably should have tried the shaved ice...maybe next time.
(4)Lisa C.
I have not had the snow ice, nor have I eaten the savory foods here. So, this is a review on their ice cream and boba. Ice cream was tasty and I personally like the texture. It was very pleasant. Unfortunately, I did not like the durian one, which is ok. I'd never tried durian and now I know it's not for me. The chocolate was fine, though. I got a Thai milk tea and it was really good. The boba in it had a nice texture and tasted good. They were not bland at all. The people here were very nice. We arrived as they were filming a short commercial or interview with Miss Chinatown USA, so they were a little distracted but everything worked out. The owner was really nice. The dining room is very small, so I bet it can get really crazy in there during busy hours. With the place only half full, it was very noisy. I would come back here for boba or the pretty ice cream. The people are nice, so I will definitely say it's worth a stop.
(3)William T.
Nu cafe was great. I had the strawberry shaved ice with condensed milk along with a strawberry drizzle and it was delicious. I also ordered taro smoothie with the pudding and the pudding was superb. Definitely would recommend and come again.
(5)Maria S.
Slowest service on the face of this planet!! There is never a good time to come to this place. They hire the most incompetent people in the world. If you have 5 hours to spare, then you can try out this place. The food is not all that...definitely not worth the wait.
(1)Tina H.
Besides messing up my order this place was pretty good. I'm not sure what the rave was all about but it really didn't catch my attention like how I thought it would. Coffee boba was too bitter &we can't mix flavor together- which was a big downfall. But I would try it again.
(4)Ector G.
Was seeing a ton of great reviews on this place so decided to try it out. We were not disappointed at all. The wife and i shared a mango and it was so good we got a second order and shared a strawberry with condensed milk. Man this stuff is addicting. The one issue i had was it is packed no seating at all.
(4)Oanh L.
This place is by far the best shaved ice place in Chinatown. There's a wide selection of ice flavor ranging from coconut, green tea, peanut, vanilla, and a lot more. There's also fruits and toppings. Quite a few syrup flavor but the one I prefer is condense milk. Once the ice melt into the condense milk, the mixture taste so wonderful. The price is a little high comparing to the other places and every little extra toppings or syrup you request, you have to pay a minimum of $0.75. Sure, that's not a lot but when you order a lot -- at least 2-3 plates of shaved ice -- you would expect the little extra you asked for to be free. But, that business for ya. Even though they charge a bit for the syrup and toppings, I still return. The employees are nice and very pleasant to deal with.
(4)Farrah A.
When the temps stretch into the hundreds, you can still count on 100% chance of snow at Nu Cafe. Yummy, soft, sweet and icy snow. They only come in two sizes - small and large - and they are both perfect for sharing. The menu kinda confused me; I didn't find out til later that I could have made up my own combination rather than selecting what was already offered on the menu. With an assortment of flavors, I opted for the condensed milk flavored ice topped with a strawberry syrup and all over a bed of fresh strawberries. Next time I'm definitely going for the chocolate-strawberry variety. It was all served fast, with a smile and the place wasn't as busy as others stated. Keep in mind it was a late Thursday evening. I'm excited to try more of this awesome ice that makes my favorite raspa stand look weak. Small enough for two peeps. Large could feed three to four. (Unless you're a cow like me and can eat it all with the help of a friend.)
(4)Crystal H.
I love the idea of having little forms on what you want your snowflake ice to be at every table, it makes it easier for large groups of people to sit down and decide. Boyfriend and I opted for the small size with Almond Ice, Strawberries ($1 up-charge), Rainbow Jelly, Almond Jelly and Condensed Milk. The ice itself was delicious! It was soft and delicate and the flavor was strong. Our toppings went really well with the shaved ice. We paid $6.00+ for this delicious little monster. That's pretty pricey if you ask me. I also HATE their up-charges on everything. Certain flavors of ice have an up-charge, toppings such as fruit, and even certain syrups. Give me a break. If you've never tried Snowflake ice I would say give it a try because it really is more delicious than the shaved ice next door but the premium price to pay is definitely existent.
(3)Mary O.
Watching ice being shaved from a block is pretty cool. I liked how the ice was shaved in sheets and stayed in shape on a plate for longer than normal ice cream. The toppings I got weren't so good.
(3)Micha Z.
Snow ice is da bomb dot com!!! I had never had non-Hawaiian shave ice before, so this place was a really awesome new experience! The staff is super nice and friendly - the many times I'e gone they've been pretty flexible with substitutions/free add on's if you're polite. Coconut and strawberry ice are my favs with egg pudding and lychee jelly on the side! Small size is good for 2 people. Get the large size to share between 3-4 people.
(5)Lisa A.
Tasty snowflake ice with a pleasant, light texture and perfect sweetness. With such a name I was anticipating something more icy or grainy in texture but it was nice and creamy. Wide variety of flavors and toppings. There is a form that you fill out when you place your order which lists all the possibilities. The "fresh" fruit toppings could be a little fresher, but I was happy that they used fresh fruit rather than syrupy, canned toppings. I look forward to trying more combinations!!!!
(4)Kris B.
Never had shaved ice that looked like ribbons of pastry. Mouth feel is very light, quick to melt, and full of flavor. Strong vanilla flavor from the original, topped with condensed milk to make your sweet tooth happy. Many fresh fruit selections as toppings, as well as straight up sugar options like crumbled cookies and candy bits.
(4)Eliza H.
I always hate to read when people I know have less-than-stellar experiences at places that I enjoy. If you're in need of a change of pace from Star Snow Ice or Juice Box, look for this awesome place in nestled in between the two. VENUE: Tiny, typically-sized joint in Chinatown. It's between Juicebox and Star Snow Ice. I walked in and (maybe because we came at a good time) there was no usual hustle and bustle I would expect to see at a place like this. Just a nice steady buzz from the customers enjoying their vittles, watching the tv, or listening to the music. Music was not overbearing - and not fobby (which may not be a big deal to some people, but for others this could a deal-breaker). Atmosphere was light. Came with the bf and his parents, and wasn't worried if something was going to offend them, or if the noise was too loud. FOOD: We got the Taro Snowflake ice, with mangos on the side, topped with condensed milk and the Mango Snowflake Ice, with strawberries, topped with mango syrup. DELICIOUS!! As a bonafide sweet tooth, I can appreciate shaved ice, gelato, ice cream, you name it. This was a great alternative if you don't want to feel like you're eating something to heavy (like ice cream) but want something more than crushed ice. The fantastic thing about this snowflake ice, is you get the creamy texture that you would from ice cream, but the lightness of eating shaved ice (without all the left over ice bits). And when it melts, it doesn't create a puddle of ice water - not that we let it get that far because we were shoveling in every bite pretty quickly. I want to come back and try more flavors and I've heard the food is pretty solid as well. My bf's mother a bit of a picky eater, and she gobbled up the Taro. Mangos were sweet (not tart like I had been anticipating). Mango syrup was not over powering. SERVICE: The staff seemed friendly enough- not exceptional, but I appreciated their courtesy. They didn't seem impatient with us when we stood in front of them mouths hanging wide open looking up at the menu. After a while, they told us we could order off a paper menu. Once we had decided we came back up, paid, and within a minute or so our dessert was ready. The machine they use to shave the snowflake ice is neat.
(4)Natasha C.
It was my second time visit and the experience was great. Me and my friends went on a Sunday night and it was a busy night. The store is very small and packed. We had to wait for a few minutes for an open table but it was no biggie. We got two orders of flavored shaved ice to share among 5 people, which are the green tea shaved ice and peanut shaved ice. The peanut shaved ice with mochi is a MUST try! It was amazing and super tasty!! Also, don't forget to add condensed milk as your choice of dressing because that makes everything extra tasty! I like this place over Juice Box, part of the reason is because I'm obsessed with the choices of Nu Café's flavored shaved ice, and the other reason is because Juice Box is definitely overpriced in my opinion. Definitely coming back next time I'm in town!
(4)Michelle H.
There is a form you fill out to request the type of snowflake ice, toppings, and fruit you like. Got the green tea snowflake ice with mango and condensed milk. I don't like green tea ice cream or snow ice or anything but the tea, but this was delicious! The snowflake ice was so fluffy! They put the right amount of condensed milk for a kick of sweetness. The small was a good portion for the 2 of us. Let's just say it was so good my bf licked the plate clean. :-) This will definitely be on my list again for the next time I'm in Houston.
(5)Kristin H.
SHAVED ICE SHAVED ICE SHAVED ICE SHAVED ICE SHAVED ICE!!! I can't stop thinking about this place now that it is starting to warm up. It is most definitely a nice change of pace from your typical shaved ice. The ice is is flavored. No, I don't mean they pump a whole bunch of gooey syrup on shaved ice and then serve it to you. They use ice that has already been flavored before freezing. You get to pick your flavor of ice. I prefer the vanilla ice (ICE, ICE, BABY). Then you pick from a variety of toppings. You then choose a nice syrup to go on top. I always go for the sweetened condensed milk. Its just yum.... go and see for yourself.
(4)Cai D.
Well the food there is ok. Not very impressive. I went there because my Taiwanese hair-dresser said they had the best Taiwanese fried pork chops in Houston. He was probably right because it was pretty good, even though still a step below Old Country Cafe in Los Angeles. I am not a shaved ice fan so I never tried it. But this place is willing to customize your orders. My husband was a red bean smoothie and they made it for him. He tried the same thing in other places but this remains the best. So from time to time we still go there fore his smoothie. The beef noodles are just ok.
(4)Tiffany D.
I've had both the ribbon ice and a drink from here. Both did not disappoint, but were not any different from other places I've had. I tried the Nu half and half which is a "fan favorite" and its my favorite thing that I've tried here! Prices are a slightly above average, but its nothing extreme. The one thing I did notice was that the establishment isn't necessarily "clean up your own mess" since there are no designated trashcans/areas for you to bring your dishes and such, BUT literally none of the employees come out from behind the counter to clean up the tables. In my visit today, we found several customers having to move things from the table they wished to sit at to another table that was collecting a mountain of plates. AND us, as well as others, had to sit at a sticky table which is never fun!
(3)Heba S.
I absolutely loved the shaved ice I had here! My favorite were the strawberry and mango flavors. I felt that this dessert was very light compared to most desserts that are usually very fatty. This was my first time trying shaved ice and I wouldn't go anywhere else but here!
(5)My H.
Every once in awhile I stumble upon something that makes me eat in silence for about 30 seconds to fully embrace the flavors that exude in my mouth. In this case, the refreshness that tantalized my tastebuds throughout was amazing. Darn you Houston for having so many cute authentic Taiwanese eateries that Dallas is currently lacking. It was a slight needle in a haystack hunt finding this palace in Chinatown/Bellaire, but boy was it oh so worth it. I tried out the greentea snow ice with red bean and fresh mangos. On a hot day it was quite wonderful as the snow flake melts in your mouth and the green tea flavor was a nice compliment to the fruit and red bean. I plan on coming back soon to try out the other flavors the next time I'm in town.
(4)Belly G.
My friend was all hyped up about this place telling me that I would have to try this place out and how this place is so much better than juice box and whatever. Now, I'm a BIG fan of juice box so I got intrigued and decided to swing by here with my friend after having lunch at banana leaf. I thought that this place was just "eh". It's more pricey than juice box and you don't get nearly as much as what you would get at juice box. the toppings were so little! So, I was like, "what's so great about this place" and my friend pretty much told me that the flavored ice and the texture of the ice made the different. All I could do was give her an "I'm not amused" look. Or something like -_- I mean, it's pretty tasty. But I'd still rather go next door to juice box for my shaved ice.
(3)Vivian C.
Best shaved ice in Houston!. Relatively cheaper when you take in account the portion size. There are so many flavors and toppings. Definitely going again soon!
(5)Sara R.
My friend took me here for my first time having shaved ice. It was delicious! We first tried popping in on Sunday around 2, but the line was long with lunch goers getting dessert. So we ran a few errands and came back an hour later and didn't have to wait in line at all. I had the traditional vanilla ice with strawberries and chocolate sauce. Classic and delicious. The only disappointing thing was that we got it to go and it doesn't look nearly as cool squashed in a to go cup as it does on the plate. But I imagine it tastes the same. I will definitely being going back to try the other flavors. Just came here again and it was equally delicious. I had chocolate shaved ice with bananas and condensed milk... So good!
(4)Tiffany K.
My favorite flavor is the green tea and sometimes I get the taro. I usually have it to go to bring it home to study or back to class. Depending on the size you order you only get 1-2 toppings and they charge you for additional. My favorite toppings are the mango and lychee poppers. I like to eat the taro shaved ice with raspberries, so I sometimes have my own fruit. The Asian lady at the counter is really nice she kept giving me compliments, which was really sweet. The guys who work there are nice too I feel bad that they have to wear that sparkly hat though. There is a credit card minimum of $10. The other location on westheimer accepts credit card though.
(4)Summer S.
I found it really interesting to eat snow flake ice cream. I don't know any where else they sell this kind of ice cream, so I can't really compare it to anything. It's ice cream. Sweet and yummy...plus it's like snow flakes. Pretty awesome! I always get the green tea flavor, because it's the bomb! If you ever get a chance to visit nu cafe, I recommend you try green tea flavor with strawberries!
(4)Anna V.
Snow ice is really interesting and I love it. It looks like folds of ice just lying on top of each other. The green tea snow ice is my favorite and the mango snow ice is really gross. I have no idea what it even tastes like but it's definitely not mango. I love mangoes too. I wish they were't so stingy on the amount of side fruits that they cut up for you. It's nothing compared to the amount of ice that you get.
(3)Ashley L.
Nu Cafe is VERY popular on the weekends, however traffic is pretty quick - the line to order goes by quickly and seats are easy to find. Ordered the green tea shaved ice with almond tofu, boba, and tapioca and that mound quickly disappeared among friends. Nu Cafe also serves food and I'm not sure if I'd be interested in trying those. The flavor of the shaved ice is nothing I've ever tried in America before. Will be back!
(4)Erin Y.
With all the hypes I have heard about this place, I have to say it's good but not amazing. We ordered a green tea flavored ice with red bean and egg pudding, and a mango flavored ice with fresh strawberry and lychee syrup. The mango one is not fruity enough as expected. The sweetness goes well with sour fruit. Three of us shared two regular sized ice and we thought the portions were good enough.
(3)Maigen A.
With all the reviews going into this place, I don't need to waste your time telling you the basics. You probably already know where it is, and you're probably already banging your head against a wall over the whole parking thing. (Yelp needs to add a "damn near impossible" box under its Parking tips.) Yeah, I feel you. ...but not this time. We were smart and showed up around closing on a Sunday night. The parking lot never looked so empty and I've never been so damn happy looking at all of it. I heard the beef noodle soup was good, so we ordered it around the table. It was spicy and hot, so that was nice, but nothing amazing. I'll probably try something else next time. K, so now that all the BS is out of the way... SNOWFLAKE ICE. oh. my. god. I've tried their coffee snowflake (with egg pudding and...something else that's Asian-looking), green tea snowflake (with red bean and mochi balls), and mango snowflake. Out of all of them? Mango snowflake reigns supreme. Idk, something about mango and condesed milk is so...scrumptious. The consistency of the snowflake is very light - it's literally like snow, except it looks like weird folded pasta. It comes in two sizes. I think small is just the right amount for one person, if not a tad too much. Considering we pretty much rolled in at closing time, I was grateful that the employees even smiled at us. They were actually very nice, and we didn't feel rushed during our meal at all. * They DO take card here if your bill is over $15. * You get a one-time 20% discount if you a) "Like" them, check-in, upload a picture of what you ordered, and show it to the cashier. b) Write a review and show it to the cashier (perfect for us Yelpers!). Juicebox, you've got some competition.
(3)Jessica W.
definitely a cool concept. got the lychee ice with some mango topping. was good but sort of pricey. water that was provided tasted like butt though. like it tasted stagnant. definitely gross. but it was packed and it was hard to find seating. bussers couldn't really keep up. ambiance is loud and the decor is violently colorful, but its cool to take out of towners here to show them the possibilities of shaved ice dessert.
(3)Nina G.
I loveee this place it is Delicious! & the plates of food is good! Check this place out!
(4)Daisy L.
So many flavors, so many light wavy flakes, it's a little overwhelming to pick just one on the menu... but goodness! This is THE place for a dessert that you will enjoy!
(4)Heidi L.
This place has the best shaved ice. The shaved ice here is creamy and smooth, very similar to ice cream. The only problem is choosing which flavor you want! Although the bf and I have come here many times, the only flavor that we can agree on is Strawberry, which is really delicious especially with condensed milk on top. The only other flavor I have tried is coffee, which was really good as well! The only con about this place is their fruit topping. The mangoes are gross! The strawberries are decent.
(5)Jenny S.
Their ice is really good but is overpriced for the size. Given that the snow ice is delicious but its just not worth it imo. I would rather pay for the ice at Star Snow next door and get more toppings. Their food is average. I would also go to Star Snow over Nu Cafe for the food. Overall I think Star Snow and Nu Cafe are pretty similar and Nu Cafe being the latecomer found a little niche with a better tasting snow ice but still stands similar to Star Snow.
(2)maichi d.
Love the shaved ice here but the wait is ridiculous. They really need to organize their orders. 30 minutes passed before I got my one order of ice. To make matters more annoying, people that ordered after me were getting their orders one after the other.
(3)Peter K.
Ice is a different texture but the price is what gets you. I normally go for the taro milk tea with tapioca bc the boba is always soft and chewy. Price keeps me from being a regular for my tapioca fix.
(3)Olivia H.
Over the past few years, I have developed an insane love for shaved snow ice in Taiwan, and was excited to hear that the trend had finally reached Houston. When I go for shaved ice in Chinatown, my friends and I typically go to Juicebox a few doors down. But once I heard Nu Cafe was offering shaved snow ice, I knew I had to try it immediately. I ordered the green tea shaved ice with a few toppings (I think coffee jelly and mochi), and ended up being pretty disappointed. Maybe I'm spoiled from living in LA, but the ice was extremely watery and lacked the flavor and fluffy texture I consider characteristic of snow ice. So I'll probably have to hold out until more snow ice places open in Houston, upping the competition and hopefully the quality.
(2)Eric L.
I'm not even mention about the service or decoration The drink was bad or just not that good. I'm been here one and order thai tea and I was so regret about my choice. What a bit slap to the face. the drink was so gross.....just like water mixed with some "thai" tea/sugar....its just tasteless and a lot of water, I mean W.A.T.E.R. So many choices on tea house in this location, I would highly recommend you passing on Nu-café. Its not worthy, totally not.
(1)Liz S.
Snowflake ice: the ice is light and low fat... It's good and I'd even prefer to eat the ice by itself without the toppings. Food: I came here hoping for some good, traditional Taiwanese food. It was a disappointment. The Taiwanese sausage was NOT Taiwanese sausage, but the usual Chinese sausage you can find in the grocery stores here.
(3)Sandy H.
Initially, I was going to give this place a 3 to 4 stars, but after seeing a roach crawl up next to me to say "hi" at the table... I decided to scale it back and give this place a 2-star. The shaved ice here is "different" because they've mixed the flavors with the ice and basically created a sorbet-like shaved ice (without the tartness). It was good, but expensive! You get your pick of 2 sizes: small or large - and honestly, the way they showed me the sizes... I couldn't tell the difference between the two so I naturally went for the small. And yes, it was about $5 for the tiny size and sparse toppings. What's funny is their advertisement on the 'nu ice' because they claim it's healthy or low in fat (I forget); however, if you get the milk ice you can instantly taste the condense milk that's mixed in it so I think it's pretty misleading (I don't know of a healthy condense milk and if there is, please let me know!). Other flavors: green tea ice, chocolate ice, mango, and peanut. Overall, this place is not bad. I haven't tried their food there, but the Hawaiian BBQ looks good. Like always, the parking situation here at this shopping center is crazy so try to come during off-peak hours.
(2)Kay K.
This was my first time here and I had the taro shaved ice with strawberries and mango with condensed milk. I was thoroughly pleased and surprised how amazing the taro shaved ice tasted. I've never had shaved ice this soft and fluffy before. The fruits were good and tasted fresh enough to me. I will definitely come back for more. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars - it was hot and stuffy inside.
(4)Dee T.
We had a hankerin' for some shaved ice and Juice Box was closed, so we came here instead. I was definitely excited to see that it was shaved snow, and although it was refreshing, it really wasn't that impressive. I'm definitely a big fan of shaved snow, so here's what disappointed me about it here: 1. Wait- did we order split pea soup? The shaved snow is way too watery! It melted too fast and didn't have the fluffy shaved snow texture that I love and am used to. It definitely didn't have much staying power, and before long, we were left with a pool of green liquid and some cut up fruit. 2. I thought everything was bigger in Texas?! The serving size for the shaved snow is definitely unsatisfactory for the price. Maybe I'm spoiled and used to massive amounts of it from my favorite place (sorry Texans, it's in California. Check out my review for it! It's a MUST if you ever visit). Anyway, goodness gracious :( maybe it's meant to be a single person serving? Or maybe I'm just gluttonous when it comes to dessert! :) Sorry, Nu Cafe! Just 2 stars from me..nothing really stood out to me.
(2)Saniya S.
I LOVE love love Nu Cafe! Their shaved ice is so different from regular shaved ice! My favorite is the vanilla (plain?) flavor with Oreos and tapioca and topped with condensed milk! Also MUST try their Half & Half drink, it's super delicous & different! The people who work here are extremely nice, one time I was craving a peach lemon slurpee with tapioca and even though they don't have any lemon flavored drinks on the menu, the guy was nice enough to make me one and it was delicious!
(5)Stephanie K.
I really like Nu Cafe's snowflake ice, but why's it so expensive :( I know it's unique and all, but $10 for 2 plates?? I can go to Star Snow and get a shaved ice for much cheaper and with more toppings. The order system for the snowflake ice is a little different now - instead of shouting your order, there are paper order forms at the front that you fill out and hand to the cashier. My fave flavors are peanut, mango, and milk. Cash only!
(3)Meg B.
Second time at nu! Love the fact that they use real fruit.Very refreshing especially in this Houston heat.
(5)Diane N.
So my friends have been raving about this Nu Cafe and the snowflake ice. I was curious to see what this new icy dessert was about. I seriously was blown away with the thinly shaved ice. It's not quite like the shave ice you get at Star Snow Ice or Juice Box. I had the privilege of trying the coconut and special reserve durian flavored and they were delicious! I love how it just melts in my mouth. It was also nice meeting the owner. She was very friendly and appreciative of all the customers. I've also tried the milk ice with strawberries with condensed milk on top! I recommend that as well. The green tea flavor is very good as well. The snowflake ice is good to me because its not sweet and natural tasting. I would recommend getting the egg pudding as a topping. I've already been back twice now just so I can get my icy dessert fix whenever I'm in Chinatown.
(5)Kitty A.
Ordered a regular salty Carmel with Mochi was so good. We shared it since it was a big portion.
(5)Matthew L.
A pretty good dessert place if you're not feeling up for juicebox just a couple doors down. I've been here multiple times with people who love this place, and while it's good, it's just never lived up to the hype for me. I do agree the snowflake ice is unique and something you can't really get elsewhere in Chinatown (at least as far as I know of). Still, there's just not a lot of wow-factor for me. The ice itself is pretty tasty and kind of just melts apart instantly in your mouth, which is really cool. It's really refreshing, but they kind of go light on the portion size and toppings for the price. I wouldn't mind coming back, but it's not on my list of top places to go.
(3)MA N.
I ended up giving this place another try and it was much better. I tried the vanilla milk and it tasted good. I wish they give you a bit more toppings especially when I ordered a large. The photos on here are a bit deceiving because they gave me a teaspoon of each of my toppings. Whether it is 2 toppings or 3 toppings...such disappointment. One thing I would really recommend is to rinse the machine they use to shave the blocks after they use them because we tasted durian in our shaved ice.
(4)Debbie C.
Like their other store, this place has the best snow ice. The taro is too die for and the sea salt caramel is a taste of heaven. I also tried some of their hot dishes. The popcorn chicken is really good but you really have to try the spicy oden. A must try in Houston.
(5)Stephen D.
My first "shaved ice" experience -- it was weird, but super good. We were the only ones speaking English in the whole place, so you know it's legit. The brownie bites and mochi go well together / provide a tasty contrast with each other and the sea salt caramel ice cream.
(5)Tim J.
Warning: Please do not take my reviews so serious! While back to munch on more of their entree's(Pictures), we over heard a conversation the owner had with another girl. Apparently since someone complained about their faucets being hard to use on Yelp(That was me...), she had the restrooms renovated! I exaggerate, and joke. Maybe too much when I cant come up with the right words. After all, when you look at something in detail, there's always some flaws? Like hard to find parking, long lines.. But this is an apology, so I'll stop digging. Promise to the nice lady that owns this place: I will eat enough here to cover the renovation at least in part. Food: All items starting with R is fantastic! Snack fried Tofu is great, eating some now. Lessons learned here: Dont take Tim serious, but if you do, contact Tim for possible purchase of live Easter Bunnies and unicorns.
(5)Keri Y.
My family likes coming here for snowflake ice, which of you've never had it's a must try. Melts in your mouth! Lots of good flavors and selection for their ice. Drinks are limited, but I didn't really like the choices, and the one time I got a drink there it was way too sweet. Stick to the ice and you're golden.
(4)HoaiAnh N.
Kind of expensive compared to other shaved ince place in town. It was 16 dollars for two plates!!! Wow!! I don't think it's anything more special than the place next door.
(3)Karen L.
I used to be a huge fan of Juice Box's Mixed Fruit Shaved Ice with Strawberry and Mango but Nu Cafe has become my new favorite! The snowflake ice here is so soft and delicious. It melts in your mouth. I usually get the Condensed Milk Snowflake Ice with Strawberry and Mango or the Coffee Snowflake ice with Coffee Jelly and Egg Pudding. The small is really small so I would recommend the large if you plan on sharing. The fruit at Juice Box is fresher but the ice here is so much better!
(4)Ky T.
The cafe is very neat and modern looking, they also have these interesting electronic discs that is given to every customer that vibrates and lights up whenever your order is ready and you can pick it up and it prevents wrong orders which is pretty cool for me. They also serve other kinds of food instead of desserts and shaved ice and the customer service was very friendly and quick I got a green tea shaved ice with oreos, mini mochis and a caramel drizzle. And I don't know what is a shaved ice is in my life until my cousin introduced me to this cafe and the moment I tasted that green tea shaved ice my soul left my body for good and I was so glad I'm alive to enjoy these goodness of food that the gods gave us. 4 stars only because it's popular 24/7 and it can take a while to get to order your food.
(4)Grace C.
Their "snowflake" (Taiwanese) shaved ice is really finely shaved and softer than the typical shaved ice you might find at other places. The original milk flavor is a classic and is tasty- goes well with just about any toppings. However, the portions of fruit on the shaved ice are small compared to what you get at Juice Box a few doors down. Overall, not bad but could be a better value.
(3)Jeena L.
This dessert place is rather pricey compared to the others in the area, thus why I'm giving it 3 stars. I like the decor inside and the atmosphere. It's not too noisy like its neighbor Juicebox nor crowded like Star Snow Ice. But I've only come twice on good nights. We tried the green tea and taro flavored shaved ice. They're both pretty good and the texture is very different. The mochi and mango pudding is good. You have to be careful about which toppings to go with your flavored shaved ice. Sometimes it can be a hit or miss. Also these desserts melt so quick and get messy when you're trying to scoop it into your mouth, so be aware and be prepared to have some napkins nearby. Btw, it's cash only.
(3)Julia L.
This place is known for their Nu Ice or Ribbon ice. Nu Snowflake Ice has the consistancy of ice cream, the deep rich taste of gelato, and melts in your mouth like snow. I had the green tea flavor which was phenomenal! I added the mango syrup and pineapples. Anything else would have been additional costs.
(4)Jennifer N.
We only had 3 things when we stopped by: the Snowflake ice, the fried sesame rice balls, and a milk tea tapioca drink. Loved the snowflake ice! It was shaved ice, but the texture was creamy. We were amazed and in awe! We did play it safe though and only ordered it with strawberries and mango, but hey, Im a fruit person. They did squeeze some condensed milk on top, but it isnt as heavy as how Juice Box pours it, which I liked. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the rest of the items. My hubby loved milk tea tapioca with egg pudding and I wouldnt say he's picky, but he just did not like the taste of the drink at all.... pudding lacked flavor and the tea tasted funny. The fried sesame rice balls were questionable too... first of all, it was nothing we had pictured. I was expecting the golden doughy balls with sesame seeds outside of it.... um, yeah not so much. It was a rice flour with (I'm guessing) sesame paste on the inside. They looked like eyeballs. Despite that 2 out of 3 items failed, the shaved ice was that good, that we're wanting to come back and Im wanting to come back and try their entrees. They smelled delish! (and super cheap!) PS - Cash Only!
(4)SynSyn V.
This place has really won me over. I was never a fan of sweets or tapioca when the hype first came out! But I must admit I do love their freaking green tea icecream.. maybe its bc its not so sweet!! Great service everytime...staff very helpful...Best part.... they take credit cards!! If you know bellaire area like I do, its hard to come across a place who accepts credit cards... thanks alot uncle sam! hah
(5)Peter C.
Very disappointed. They do not make their tapioca properly and their "nu ice" is awful tasting. Never going back again.
(1)Natalie M.
Do NOT ever order the vanilla snowflake ice. It taste like freezer burnt icecream. Like it's been sitting there for months and no one touched it. The other flavors good though. Like lychee and mango.
(2)Jessalyn C.
Shaved snow, same concept as class 302 and blockheads in LA with the frozen flavored consensed milk. They have the traditional Asian toppings and the fruit toppings, except they are MAJORLY shiesty with how much they put on.
(3)Brettny J.
If I was writing a review on just their ice cream, I'd give them five stars. However we also ordered entree food. We got the popcorn chicken. It was disappointing because it was dry and unflavorful. Anyway, I got lychee flavored shaved ice cream and it was really good! Also service could be a little better.
(4)Lisa L.
This place has the best I've cream ever!! The ice cream is called snowflake ice cream and comes in so many flavors and toppings but my fav is the coconut and durian. The amazing part about the ice cream is it does not easily melt. It melts in your mouth but not in your plate! The nu half n half tapioca drink is amazing too. Must try this place!
(5)Aline D.
Always a great place to cool down from the dreadful heat. I always get the Half & Half drink & my kids love it too! We have had the shaved ice a few times & it's always been good. Have yet to try the food even though I always see a bunch of people eating actual food there. Anyways, great place on Bellaire!
(4)Jimmy V.
The shaved ice here is awesome! I've heard great reviews from so many friends and I thought well this can't be anything compared to Hawaiian shaved ice (my favorite). What a surprise the ice is so velvety and smooth. The flavors are great (coconut is the bomb). We noticed that they had food here as well so we decided to give that a shot. We were not disappointed, the house special beef soup was so good. We also had the popcorn chicken and ramen, those were ok. I will come back here just for the shaved ice, give it a try!
(4)Steve M.
This is the best place that I have found to get shaved ice treats. They have a few great flavors and toppings to choose from. And best of all, these desserts are better for your waistline than eating ice cream. The only drawback about this place is that they only accept cash if your bill is below a certain amount. S far everyone I have been there, they would not accept my credit card and I had to pay by cash.
(4)Rachel F.
Their ice is ok, not the best I had. But the food is nasty! Never had something so bad before. Fried food tastes like 5 days old, and the noodle soup is like noodle on salty water.
(3)Denise C.
Visiting a friend in Houston and I'm so happy that she introduced me to Nu Cafe and their shaved ice. I was only here for a long weekend and I came 3 days in a row for their green tea shaved ice. The shaved ice is super smooth and full of green tea flavor. You can add whatever trimmings you desire. I went with the mochi and grass jelly combo. The place gets packed especially on the weekends so expect a wait. They have some basic dishes like noodle soups and pork chop rice dishes. I did get to try the pork chop and although it's on the oily side, the batter was full of flavor. Sidenote: There happened to be a bible study during one of my visits. Not sure how they were able to concentrate because the music was pretty loud, but people seem to get their preach on at this joint too.
(4)Regina H.
I am partial to snowflake ice, rather than regular shaved ice so Nu Cafe hit the spot for me. We ordered the original vanilla milk with red beans, condensed milk and pudding. Granted, they don't give you a lot for the sides, but the great thing about snowflake ice is that it already has so much flavor! Layout is simple, some booths and tables set up in the middle. Fill out the order form and pay at the counter. Get your snowflake ice and dig in!
(4)Stephanie Y.
Cool pictures outside their window lured my friends and I into the restaurant. However, this place was filthy when I came on a Saturday night. I mean, dirty dishes still on several tables and our shoes were sticking to the floor as we walked in. This wasn't your typical Chinatown "dirty" but worse. I came with friends so I just ordered what we all agreed on when we looked at the pictures outside. Their "snowflake" green tea shaved ice with mango and strawberries. The place was packed with a lot of people too so we thought, why not give it a try? After clogging up their walkway waiting for cleaned tables to open up we finally claimed a table. Once we got our shaved ice, it was lacking in everything. The green tea shaved ice tasted good, but we paid for the toppings, so we at least expected to see more of it on the shaved ice. We had maybe 7 cubes of mango and 7 pieces of diced up strawberries... this place is a little pricier than other dessert venues so if I'm paying $$ I better see a dessert that's worth it.
(2)Sherry C.
I don't understand how this place has some low reviews. I have been to Nu several times now and I can honestly say I love it more than Juicebox now. First of all, the service is super friendly; secondly, they take credit cards! The ice is very thin and the texture is light and airy. I like that it is all natural and they offer fresh fruit as a pairing. The portion size is perfect for one person but not big enough for sharing which is disappointing since you can get twice as much for the same size next door. I enjoy the half & half drink, still confused about what is in it but I love it anyway! Nu Cafe is the 1st thing that comes to mind when I want dessert-- you'll leave fulfilled but not grossed out by overindulgence.
(4)Narin L.
Its HOT in Houston, come here and you'll guaranteed to cool off for a split second after you inhale one of their shave ice "cream" concoction!! BTW, cash only for anything less than $10!!
(3)Sarah C.
shaved ice cream is delicious :) looking forward to trying out other flavors
(4)Jeffrey C.
Snowflake ice is a tasty delight, but man, that price point is steep for doing essentially the same thing Juicebox or Star Snow does, just adding flavoring to the ice. The small/large snowflake ices here will set you back $4.50 to $6, and the toppings aren't nearly as robust. Personally, I'd rather throw down my Lincoln on a Juicebox stuffed to the brim with fresh fruits. It's healthier for you, too. I'll give it to Taiwanese brethren, though. My peeps are geniuses when it comes to creating money sucking desserts made out of two molecules of hydrogen and one oxygen.
(3)Madeline Y.
Chocolate shaved ice with strawberries and chocolate syrup will be the BEST thing you have ever eaten- my new favorite dessert!!!!
(5)J B.
I don't know if they've change manager since the last time I've visited here but their snow ice has drastically improved and I would recommend the green tea.
(4)James T.
Aahhhmazing snow ice. If you haven't had snow ice yet, you've got to try it on a hot day and you have to try it at NU Cafe. As a family run joint, the owners here are super friendly and will take the time to chat with you a bit. They mentioned that all their snow ice blocks use real ingredients, not powder, and you can really taste the difference. My friends say the fried pork chops are really good too
(5)David N.
Maybe it's just me, but shaved ice is just way too fluffy for me. I had heard great things from a lot of yelpers and I rarely leave the loop for adventures but this place was 100+ reviews from many yelpers who also seldom leave the loop either. So I figured it was worth a try. We started out with some of their snacks since my friend and I had not had dinner yet. The fried pork chop with rice was actually the best thing I had the whole time at this place. The batter tasted like peanut breading? It was delicious. Then we also had an appetizer platter with crispy chicken nuggets, wings, squid balls, and tofu. The nuggets were the best but everything was super salty. At this point were hoping the dessert would be worth it. The way you order it is kind of like which wich where you make the selections but the directions are way more complicated than then need to be. I mean at the end of the day you can make whatever you want but they will charge you extra. So we wanted to stay within the rules for a large shaved ice you get either 2 fruits or 3 non fruit toppings along with 1 flavor of ice, and 1 syrup. We got the green tea with honey dew and mango with condensed milk on top. The way it's shaved just looks ugly. It just doesn't look appetizing and it was falling over before it made it back to my table. We also ordered a regular mango flavored ice with mochi and egg custard. My friend and I didn't like either flavor, we couldn't tell if it was the flavor or the texture, we ended up smashing it down and it resembled for of a ice cream feel and it tasted a little better but overall still nothing amazing. At this point we were thinking maybe we just ordered the wrong items, so we made one more dessert out of vanilla ice, with oreos and m&ms. This one resembled something you could get at Ben & Jerry's or simple ice cream parlor. It was safer but would I pay 5 plus bucks for it? NO! I'll stick to my FROYO and GELATO for frozen dessert treats.
(2)qi q.
very nice place,,!!!!! Great wall design! That's the first place I found snowflake ice in Houston. Very tastyThe peanut flavor is my favorite and the mango milk flavor is also good too!! Now they have add some new Taiwanese style snacks, that's really attract me.!! You cant imagine how good they are before you come to eat. Just try it! You will like it !
(5)Kenneth H.
According to their poster they are the only place which serves shaved snow and I'm surprised it is not busier. The snow isn't the softest or creamiest I've had before and for the price you should get a larger amount of snow and toppings. It is good but its just too $$ for the size The coffee snow was too intense to eat after 3 bites so I prefer the plain snow.
(3)John T.
I'll be nice and give it a 2 star. ok Here we go ! Strolling around looking for a place to eat and stumble upon Nu Cafe , never heard or tried before. Thought i give it a go. First appearance was ehhh. Super Loud music almost like I was clubbing on a Sunday afternoon. Menu was A HUGE MESS, bad placement. So I ordered there "FAMOUS Seafood Ramen" and "Fan Favorite Crispy Chicken" oh and Also a thirst Quencher Watermelon Juice! Watermelon juice was good, Hard to mess up putting watermelon ,ice and sugar in a blender. First on deck the FAMOUS seafood Ramen , I gathered myself and bib ready to slurp this bowl down. and had a bad first impression of it. definitely should of taken a picture but it looked like they threw everything in the bowl. Also the Fish WAS NOT FrESH!!! the meatball with stuffing in the middle was COLD inside, and the soup Literally looked like Galveston Water!! Taste was ok , enough for my 16month old daughter to eat. Definitely need to Change that FAMOUS to UN-FAMOUS!! this last one isn't as Harsh. Smelled really good, but very salty. I hope I won't end up with Kidney stones!! the breading/batter was way to hard to eat . On the Bright side Great Customer Service!!!
(2)Kim-Thao H.
So light and refreshing! Perfect during the summer when it's scorching hot! My friend and I ordered the Green Tea shaved ice with mochi and almond flavored jelly. For some reason we waited for about 20 minutes before it finally came out. It wasn't even that packed. Not to mention the cafe was pretty warm. At least the shaved ice was good though right? It was smooth, soft, and exactly how imagined it would be. The flavoring of the shaved ice is very subtle and they don't give much condensed milk, so if you're looking for something really sweet, this is not the place for you. You know that feeling where you felt like you didn't really eat anything after you've eaten fro-yo? Yeah that's exactly how it feels after you eat the shaved ice here. Not that it's a bad thing! I hate the full and disgusting feeling I get after eating something really heavy like a savory dessert or ice cream. So if you're looking for something light and not over-filling like Juice Box, Nu Cafe is for you!
(4)David C.
All I can say is the snowflake ice was absurdly good and different from any dessert I've ever had. So good. The peanut flavor is the best IMO but then again I've only tried the peanut flavored one. Super cheap - 3.99 for a small and 5.99 for a large. We shared a small which was a perfect size. Not crazy about the place and the environment but the product speaks for itself.
(5)Michelle H.
5 stars for the lychee flavored snow 1-2 stars for presentation or lack of. Red beans was smashed, flopped on the plate like my middle school mashed potatoes , 5 small pieces of mango ( Yes, I counted) isn't mango in season? Try placing the snow on the bottom, layer with the topping, then drizzle with the syrup of choice, maybe you can fool me into coming back again.
(3)Mike W.
Not getting the shaved ice cream thing they have going on. I was told it was make the ice cream more light than heavy. But in reality, aren't you eating the same calories just with a texture to make you believe you're eating less calories? Also, mango pudding milk tea boba, WAY too much sugar. Tasted like maple syrup.
(3)Wanting H.
I have been to this place several times and enjoyed each one of my visits. They serve wide variety of things here: shaved ice, bubble teas and drinks, Chinese fries snacks, and even meals. I tried their fried snacks combo, which costs about $10 and allows you to pick 4 different fried snacks into a combo. I thought it was a pretty good deal to share with friends. It was a great portion of food and good selection as well. They have a new kind of drink called "half and half nu drink", which has tapioca and pudding in caramel milk. It sounds very creamy and heavy; however, you will be surprised by its taste. The milk smoothies was blended fine with ice and went really well with caramel. I have to say that the "half and half" drink was pretty good. I would also recommend their shaved milk ice, which is shaved off a block of flavored milk ice with toppings. It is a great place to fulfill your sweet cravings and spend some time with your friends.
(4)Natasha G.
Tasty and different! I love it! Even the small size is a lot because they pile it high.
(5)P P.
They had a very good pork ramen, and a very bad seafood ramen. But the pork ramen was good...its too bad the ramen craze hasn't hit Houston yet, cause I imagine a dedicated ramen house would beat this place out, but until then, I'd say this place is pretty darn good. The other food we've tried have not been as bad as the seafood ramen, but not as good as the pork ramen either.... And while it took me a little bit to try their shaved ice, I gotta say I like it. Yeah its kind of a gimmick, but its cool, I like it...I've been very happy with the original ice with condensed milk and strawberries...mochi is a plus though not worth paying extra for.....
(4)Mary A.
I had the shoyu ramen and it was good. It tasted more like Taiwanese noodle than Japanese ramen, but who cares. It's good. I will find Jap ramen somewhere else. Friends ordered other foods and drinks and we were all satisfied.
(4)Christine B.
Overrated. Small place. Packed. Noisy. Yes the shaved ice is very smooth, but the taste wasn't that great. I despised the green tea flavor.
(2)