If you know your geography, you know that Korea sticks out like a rabbit-shaped appendage from China. The cultural and culinary ties between the countries are profound though Koreans have grown almost as wary of their powerful northern neighbor as they've been towards the other nation across the East Sea (a.k.a. "Sea of Japan") that has tried to conquer Korea. Korean cuisine pulls from both countries but remains unique. If you've ever had Korean sushi, you know what I mean. But other than a place in Spring Branch called Mandarin (now closed), we haven't had many spots here that have specialized in Chinese-Korean food. Or so I thought.A friend posted on his visit to a Korean-Chinese place at the corner of I-10 and Highway 6 called North China Restaurant (14525 Katy Freeway), and it took us less than 24 hours to make our visit. This turned out to be one of our favorite meals of the year, and I'm kicking myself that I did not know before this nearly 50 year old restaurant.The delights start once you walk in the front door, where tall, handsome Fred, grandson of the restaurant's founder, will greet you like you're a long-time regular, which most of the diners are. Fred's family, who is ethnically Chinese, ran a restaurant in my birthplace of Seoul for many years and picked up on those dishes, particularly the ones with Chinese roots, that are favorites of Koreans. Most of the dishes on the menu are original recipes of his grandmother. He was happy to bring me a Korean menu that featured many of the dishes on the regular menu but also several unique ones. The menu definitely skews Chinese, but everything we tasted had us noticing unique touches of Korea.We started with very unique homemade egg rolls though we noticed that nearly every table was ordering a plate that resembled a mini-temple featuring stacked Mandarin spring rolls. We're definitely getting that next time! We also had excellent steamed mandu (pork dumplings) with homemade cabbage kimchi.Next arrived a plate called "Beijing Fish," featuring chunks of filet in a light batter, topped with a fine relish of scallions, garlic, yellow onion, sesame seeds, red papper, chile de arbol, and a slightly sweet soy-like sauce. A simple looking dish but super tasty--much like fish my Mom cooks at home.This was already a lot of food, but we couldn't pass up our favorite of all Korean pasta dishes, japchae and jiajiangmyeon. Japchae is a traditional Korean plate of glass noodles sauteed with vegetables, beef, and any number of other toppings. There is no other noodle dish in Asia quite like it, and every Korean kitchen on the planet has its own recipe. I love the version here--far more veggies than usual but so finely chopped that they practically blend with the glass noodles.Oh, and that jiajiang!! My Mom likes to cook for family birthdays, and we get to choose our favorite dish. For Richi, it's always jiajiang. Once again, the recipe depends on the chef, and the menu here features about 7 different varieties! We went with the traditional, featuring onions and small slices of beef cooked in a slightly sweet fermented black bean paste and served on rice noodles a little thicker than spaghetti topped with slivers of sliced cucumber. This dish, which has roots in Beijing (I've eaten at the restaurant there that claims to serve the original recipe), is so popular in Korea that in Incheon, the city where Seoul's new airport is located, there is a street called Jiajiang Alley, full of restaurants that only serve it. The only version of this dish in Houston that is better than the one at North China is, you guessed it, my Mom's!I can't wait to come back and try more from this menu--omurice (like an omelette filled with rice sauteed with beef and sauces--including in some recipes ketchup!), jjampong (the best seafood soup on earth), and tangsuyuk (a true Korean-Chinese fusion of sweet/sour pork or beef). It may have taken me 50 years to visit this place, but it's not likely to take more
Been in Houston 4 years as of May and this establishment has the best customer service over ever experienced. They are friendly, warm, and welcoming and attend to you quickly without you having to ask. The food was a plus to how beautiful they are as people. Never felt more welcome in a restaurant, I felt like I was visiting family. I would give 10 stars if I could.
We ate here for the first time today. The reviews were impressive. The food was fresh, hot and so very good. In addition, the service was the best we’ve ever had. The staff are watching everyone to make sure their glasses are full and you have everything you need to enjoy your meal. The atmosphere is very inviting and clean. I highly recommend eating here.
When we spoke to waiter he said oh there is crab. This "crab" was literally smaller than your fingernail and as thin as paper. His only comment was Sorry Bout That! We will not return to be hoodwinked again.
My family has eaten at the North China Restaurant since 1977 and have seen the management go through three generations. The Wu family is a wonderful group of people who happen to own and operate a wonderful restaurant.
Excellent!Food was good quality, tasty and nice presentation. Clientele well behaved. Wait staff very attentive.
Went there with my friend. I’ve been going there ever since the pandemic started. Service was average, but what got me irritated was when I paid the bill and tipped, BUT our waiter had the nerve to ask for more tips. Wow. I’m speechless. I have never been so insulted and I’m Chinese. Our waiter is Chinese. Not the owners or their son. Not the Hispanic server. I don’t think I’m going back there ever again, and I’ll advise my family and friends against going there.
I had the minced garlic chicken noodles, and I liked it. It was sweet, and the Jasmine tea was very fragrant. My friend shared her fish fillet in a bun and it was delicious.
I did not like such a large Buddha statue right at the entrance. The wide variety of plants all the property was just so wonderful. Gold and red decorative and cultural motifs added elegance. Employees were nice and prompt; the chair and table comfortable. The ample, properly made and served cashew chicken was more than satisfactory.I have had problems with Buddha statues since I read an article about how in one part of China, at one time, people committed slow suicide by eating very little for a long time then eventually entombed themselves within some unit such as a Buddha statue.
My favorite Chinese restaurant, not only because it’s good but also because they don’t put MSG.Decent but I wouldn’t get again:- Shredded porkNothing special but still good:- Yuxiang eggplant- Walnut shrimp: not the fried and sweet mayo-based one I wanted - but still yum (and love that they use Argentinian shrimp)- String beans: wish it were roasted more, but crunchy, and love the zacai (pickled turnip) that comes with itThe best stuff on repeat:- Best Hot & Sour soup I’ve had- Good sizzling rice soup- Sweet & Sour Pork- Get the shredded beef and pepper (only on the Korean menu but available upon request over the phone - not online). Definitely ask for the green pepper oil to go with this.- Surprisingly spicy and yum Sichuan chicken- Orange chicken - wish it were chunkier and not so thin, but great orange flavor4.5 stars for food, extra star for service, cleanliness, and roominess :)