Mein Restaurant, Chinatown
10 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/HoustonFood, r/houston13 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Mein is a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown that many diners recommend, and a few single out specific dishes: squid ink fried rice, jalapeno shrimp and soup dumplings. One diner praises the food highly and calls the setting upscale, while another lists it among options good for dates. The caveats are real: a few diners found the food bland or flavorless, and one warns against parking in the lot across the street.
Address
Mein, 9630 Clarewood Dr Ste a13, Houston, TX 77036
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Squid ink fried rice, Jalapeno shrimp, Soup dumplings
- Best for
- Dates
- Opinions divided
- Yes
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/FlamesNero in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026
Recommends Mein for Cantonese.
- Caveatu/lunchtr3y in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026taste
Says Mein was a favorite until a recent visit, when four different dishes came out bland and unremarkable; unsure when they will return.
- Recommendsu/tigerinhouston in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026taste
Calls the food excellent in an upscale setting, saying fancier places cannot match it.
- Recommendsu/theninjab0b in r/houston · Mar 2026taste
Names the squid ink fried rice at Mein as a recommendation.
- Caveatu/Significant-Highway3 in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026taste
Same opinion; food was flavorless and they could not enjoy it.
- Recommendsu/Diligent_Parsley_718 in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026ambience
Good date option with the right vibe.
- Caveatu/GoatsMilq in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026taste
Really dislikes it; calls it whitewashed and not good.
- Recommendsu/PimpGameShane in r/houston · Mar 2026
Agrees the squid ink fried rice from Mein is the one.
Show all 13 cited comments
- Recommendsu/ViciousScoundrel in r/houston · Dec 2025
Lists it among recommended places.
- Recommendsu/Dopamineagonist21 in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2025parking
Recommends it but warns not to park across the street due to aggressive towing.
- Recommendsu/slanginthangs in r/HoustonFood · May 2025
Recommends Mein for its soup dumplings while listing other good Houston food options.
- Recommendsu/WafflingToast in r/houston · Jan 2025taste
Recommends the jalapeño shrimp from Mein.
- Recommendsu/mike042388 in r/HoustonFood · Jun 2026
Suggests MEIN.
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Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.