Restaurant Review: FuFu Cafe

Trips to New York City always entail a few specific requirements for Houstonist, one of which is a visit to Joe’s Shanghai for the mind-blowing soup dumplings. Our last visit to NYC was over a year ago, but the soup dumplings have haunted our dreams ever since. So we set out to find soup dumplings of our very own in the international mecca of Houston. After many disappointing experiences, we finally found a place that could satisfy our craving. Enter FuFu Café - not to be confused with Tan Tan, Sing Sing or Sinh Sing (all located on Bellaire just inside the Beltway 8 loop).

FuFu is a small little restaurant that is always crowded during dinner hours, so come early or late (they’re open til 2 a.m.). The front of the restaurant is run by two Chinese women, the same two, on any given day…probably two of the hardest working women in the restaurant industry. One of them speaks little to no English and the other speaks Chinese, Vietnamese and restaurant English. But if all else fails, just point to the items on the menu. Don’t expect service to be attentive as the same two women take orders, bring out the food, bus and set tables, refill drinks and do your taxes.

Don't expect Crabmeat Rangoon or General Tsao's Chicken here either. The menu is extensive and the English translation isn’t the most descriptive. For instance, there are about ten different kinds of dumplings on the menu but they all sound the same. And, if you didn’t know it, you’d never guess which ones the soup dumplings are. Here’s a hint. It’s #A24, Steam Pork Bun. The dumplings (4 to an order, $4.00) come out in a metal steamer lined with cabbage. Ask for a soup spoon to eat your dumplings. Now, here’s where things can go horribly wrong unless you proceed with care and caution. There are two common disasters associated with the soup dumpling: 1) Mr. Snarf-a-lot shoves the whole dumpling in his mouth only to scream in pain as the steaming hot dumpling causes second degree burns to his tongue and mouth, 2) Ms. Rough-em-up carelessly grabs a dumpling, puncturing its delicate casing and all the precious juice is lost forever. FOREVER!