Nu Cafe Ice Cream & Boba

Some gentleman who stated was his last week was amazing. He helped us out and made it easy to order! Very friendly and caring for the business. Sad to see him go as we've seen him multiple times and always has a positive attitude. He made me a coconut bev which was the cherry on our cake. I do advice that the business advice all employees with health relations to take it to a private area. Didn't really need to see another employee inject their stomach with insulin while we're ordering. 😕

Shaved ice was very light and refreshing! Decor and vibes were off though. The lights are a glaring, ugly fluorescent, the trash smells, and the surfaces are sticky and need cleaning.

I got the hill snow in chocolate 🍫it was delicious and enough for two people. Only dropping points because this place is very obviously dirty. All the seats have stains, the mirrors, and the legs of the tables. When we left one of the employees did clean our table. It seems there just needs to be more attention to those spots by management to let employees know.

Can't go wrong with a mountain of shaved ice with jelly and actual fruit. went to @nuiceus which is a Taiwanese Cafe serving "Nu Ice" which is a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. we ordered the Lychee flavored with Lychee jelly and pieces of Mango. overall it was delicious, the texture did actually feel like a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. overall a great spot #food #foodphotography #foodporn #foodgasm #foodiesofinstagram #foodpic #foodbloggers #globalfood #globaleats #globalfoodie #internationalfoodie #internationalfoodieschat #foodiesinternationalchat #thefoodieinitiative #foodblogger #foodlover #foodies #foodpics #forkyeahfoodies #internationalcuisinefamily #fooodexplorertribe

The Story of a Combination I Did Not Know I Needed: As my friend and I ascended upon the door of Nu Cafe Ice Cream & Boba, we were slightly shaken due to the audio of a dubstep rave ruminating around the entrance. For context, prior to walking up to the establishment, we were imposed upon by a vehicle blasting the most bass infused chorus of “The Hills” by The Weekend in existence. We walked into the establishment with the understanding the music was just outside, however, we misunderstood. As we ordered, the music added potent vestibulence. We ordered vanilla milk shaved ice with condensed milk and mango. I asked the server if he was on aux, to which, he promptly denied. To this I say lies, as I looked back and he was thoroughly and visibly vibing. We sat to wait for our tasty treat, and we began to pleasantly convulse to the music in enjoyment. We received said sweet treat and began to consume morsels. The intrusive yet enlightening music with the addition of our shaved ice really made the experience memorable and complex. The beats serenaded our ears while the flavors melted on our tounges. I would give this experience a 13/10. The juxtaposition of it all……

I got the Taro Milk tea. They use crunchy ice, so it melted quickly and watered my drink down. The taro wasn’t that good either. Table was very sticky. The restaurant is pretty dirty, but it does get a lot of business, so it gets dirty quickly I guess.

I’ve come here several times with several friends and each time I come here they love it! I always share my shaved ice with friends cause the portion is too big for me. I only spend $7.85! I love how they have a clipboard if ur too shy to order or is ur first time ordering, u fill out the paper, give it to the cashier, and pay! Definitely a great stop to make!

This was my first time eating shaved ice and was I in for an experience or what! The ice itself(I chose the green tea flavour) was delicate and refreshing. It was neither too dense, nor too sweet. I could have sworn it was simply a cup of well made, icy, green tea. The toppings (lychee poppers, mango jelly, mango poppers) were fresh and light! What can I say, a few bites in & I was levitating!

If you're in Houston and haven't been to Nu Cafe yet, stop what you're doing and go! Seriously, this place is a gem. First of all, their shaved ice cream is so good it might ruin regular ice cream for you. It's creamy, fluffy, and melts in your mouth like a snowflake of happiness. They have all these fun flavors and toppings, and somehow everything just works. I don't know if there's magic involved, but I'm not questioning it. The owner? Absolute sweetheart. You know when someone is so nice you just want to be their best friend? That's the vibe here. They're warm, welcoming, and make you feel like you're hanging out at a friend's house--except your friend happens to serve incredible desserts. And can we talk about how clean this place is? Like, sparkling clean. You could probably eat off the floor (don't, though). It's also super spacious, so you're not awkwardly bumping into strangers while trying to enjoy your boba. The lighting is perfect--not too dim, not blinding, just bright enough to remind you you're living your best life. All in all, Nu Cafe is the kind of place you'll go back to again and again because it just makes you happy. Plus, who doesn't want a shaved ice cream snowflake of happiness?

I love all types of ice cream treats so I knew I wanted to give this spot a try! the shaved ice is amazing, lots of flavor and the matcha one is SO GOOD! I highly recommend! My only gripe was the boba topping! The syrup was very sweet and made the dessert a little too sweet for me, so I would recommend not getting the boba topping in ur dessert! I took a star off because the ambience and service was not very good..this place gets very busy easily and as a result it can be a very long wait to get ur dessert! I waited about 20 minutes for mine, it was also just very loud because of the amount of people! They usually shout out your name when your order is ready but it can be hard to hear because of how loud everyone is.. I would recommend going during the day and not weekend evenings as that's when it's most packed!

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to shaved ice and have been hesitant to try something that looks more like ice cream. But today was the day! Yes, it's definitely creamier than ice but it still has ice crystals in the smooth texture, so you still get the feel of shaved ice. I was even more intrigued after reading their story on the wall about how all their ice blocks are made of fresh ingredients, not powder. I got the lychee hill with watermelon topping + condensed milk. Great flavor and definitely didn't need the condensed milk. Glad I finally decided to give it a try after walking past it hundreds of times! Want to try more of their flavors now that I know it's all fresh ingredients.

Can't go wrong with a mountain of shaved ice with jelly and actual fruit. went to @nuiceus which is a Taiwanese Cafe serving "Nu Ice" which is a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. we ordered the Lychee flavored with Lychee jelly and pieces of Mango. overall it was delicious, the texture did actually feel like a cross between shaved ice and Gelato. overall a great spot

This is one of those must try places. It is not a shaved ice, ice cream or yogurt. It has a light creamy texture all its own. It comes in a hill size and a mountain size. The hill is big enough for two. They also have Boba teas here. The King Kong is my Favorite. Feel free to ask questions, the staff is very helpful and know this place is different that you may need help with your choice. It can be quite busy but the line always moves quickly.

Service was decent and the shaved ice hit the spot during a hot and humid day. When we went, there was a lot of ingredients that were out. Hopefully we will go a little earlier next time to avoid toppings running out.

Get a large shaved ice and 2 toppings are included. Plus 1 drizzle. Go early less lines. A little pricey.

The food tastes so amazing that I danced! The music taste has good beats that it makes me tap my foot. The food came out very quick. There was only one other family that was there, but it probably was because it was late. The workers are very kind when you ask a question.

Texas sized shaved ice! Get your brain freeze on in a good way! There is plenty of seating and it's a great value for the portion size.

BEST SHAVED ICE IVE HAD. They let you customize the base and add toppings and the green tea was delicious. Decently quick service.

Do not let the outdated interior fool you, the shaved ice here is amazing. We were recommend this cafe by a friend, but we were a little hesitant upon first glance. The tables were not necessarily clean, and there was only one employee working at the time. There were several parties ahead of us, so the wait was pretty long. Even though you order on a preprinted menu, the employee still has to type up the order, take the payment, and then make everyone's orders. Nonetheless, the shaved ice is worth the wait. We got a mango mountain to share between three people, and there was more than enough. They have a decent selection of shaved ice flavors, toppings, and sauce drizzles. It was so good that we came back a few days later for the milk tea mountain.

I'm amazed at how they are able to make flavored shaved ice. We chose almond flavor with mochi and condensed milk. Ordering was a breeze with a convenient order form to make your selections. The order came out rather quickly as they were quite busy. The ice itself was packed with flavor and went well with the chewy mochi. If you don't like super sweet desserts, I would leave out the condensed milk. I found it too sweet with it on. The thai tea was way too sweet for my liking. I waited for my ice to melt and then it was just right. Overall, great dessert place to go with friends. There are plenty of tables but I can see that it can be quite tight if you go during a busy hour.

Even though Nu Cafe has been around for a while, this place is still a hit for dessert. This spot has a cool vibe to it with mirrors, open seating, and many lights. Reminds me of the 2000s. If you want shaved ice, just grab a piece of paper and turn it in when you're done choosing what you'd like. The amazing ice cream makers will get it out to you pretty quick. If you're craving something sweet, this place will do the trick! FOOD REVIEW: Taro Shaved Ice (5/5): this is definitely a sweet treat. Taro shaved ice along with the sweet condensed milk and toppings will make you smile.

The staff is also nice and fast. Sometimes the tables aren't clean and it's hard to find a decent one. The nu ice flavors are extensive. I've tried a few and all have been good. Pick fruit when it's in season or it won't be great.

The best place to get Taiwanese Shaved Ice in Houston, hands down! I especially like their Green Tea shaved ice, and you can get unique toppings such as Pocky.

Loved this place! The place is small, cozy, with many tables and chairs for seating. The place itself is clean, with friendly and helpful cashiers. Before ordering the shaved ice, you're given a small piece of paper that gives you flavors and topping options (making it easier and faster to order). They have two options for the shaved ice, which is the mountain size and the hill size. We opted for the hill size, and it was plenty for our family of 3. The medium Viet coffee was also delicious! My only suggestion for the place would be to put the shaved ice in bowls. While the presentation is nice on the plate it's a bit inconvenient. One the ice melts it drips and gets a bit messy. Overall, our children really enjoyed the experience! We will definitely be coming back.

This place is a great dessert staple conveniently located in the Dun Huang Plaza. Though they've waned a bit in popularity throughout the years as new dessert concepts enter the competitive Houston Chinatown market, they're still a solid fun dessert option. While they offer drinks and other goodies, the star of the show here is their shaved snowflake ice mountains. Here you get your choice of flavored milk ice and toppings. A small is plenty for one or two, and the large for two or three. I enjoy the fact that this dessert is not too heavy, and you can customize the toppings to include fresh fruit for a slightly healthier option.

Been stopping by here for years when we lived in Houston and every time we come back in town. The flavor is consistently good and have not been disappointed other than one time when we came by and the place was closed due to a power outage (no fault of theirs but was really craving it that day & settled for some other disappointing place). We usually get the lychee shaved ice mountain with strawberries, mango, & condensed milk and leave so satisfied. This place is always on my checklist of places to go to when we come back. Still haven't found anywhere else as good as here.

Great hangout spot for some dessert, or just something cool to beat this heat. There's plenty of options, though their ice is the big hit here. We opted to try the coconut ice with some mango and popping boba, and it was delicious. I don't know how they make their ice so soft and smooth like this. Maybe it starts off as ice cream or something, but whatever it is, it's incredible. I don't know why we didn't splurge and just go for their mountain size because we demolished the regular. Their drinks are alright - a little too sweet for me but still refreshing. Service was just alright. It came out quick but there didn't seem to be much friendliness behind the counter when we swung by. No matter, the shaved ice made up for it, and it really didn't detract from the experience.

Best shaved/snow ice dessert I'm Houston and there's a lot of choices! Love the different flavors and side options and good value, as a small is good to share and the large fir 3-4 people. Has 2 locations and always better to go to original in Bellaire, for the vibe and choices not available at newer location (Durian!) Be aware can get busy on weekends and service can be on slow side

Last time I was at Nu was 10 years ago! Great to see the establishment still standing despite all the new-new popping up around it. The shaved ice is deliciously light and airy but flavorful. Array of flavors, toppings, and drizzles to choose from. There's also a nice smoothie/boba menu to choose from. Staff is pleasant and helpful and offers deliver quickly.

Wanted shaved ice and we happened upon this place after seeing good reviews. The store is a little old but it was simple to order and it came out very quickly. Shaved ice was so flavorful and I loved the lychee taste and the toppings was generous as well! I would be back for sure

Big fan of the Nu Ice concept in general as well as their other location on Westheimer. Ordering is pretty easy; you fill out a paper with what you wanted for your shaved ice. I've never tried their boba here but order the same green tea mountain sized shave ice each time. It's consistent and a nice treat for under $10. Parking is available everywhere but it's usually a pretty packed plaza. Interior is clean and nicer than their other location. Like it.

Wide selections of flavors and no matter what you get, it's so good! Been here a few times and have tried their chocolate, green tea, strawberry and lychee and they're all delicious. Condensed milk is a must on the drizzle for sure. Pictured below is lychee flavored shaved ice with mango topping and drizzled condensed milk.

The staff here seems unenthusiastic, which detracts from the experience. Moreover, the prices are steep, and both the shave ice and milk tea fall short in quality. In this neighborhood, there are plenty of other options. Homemade boba tea shops can be inconsistent, so you might prefer visiting a more established chain where the quality is more reliable and meets a certain standard.

Dear owner, please retrain your employee! The cashier guy was not friendly, nor has good customer service. After I ordered, handed me my change back without saying anything. I waited for him to either give me a receipt or an order number and he just gave me a look instead. I walked away back to my table waiting for the food. There are 2 plates came out they left on the counter, saying out loud something and walked away instead of at least waiting for us coming up to make sure we got our order right. There's a girl grabbed her plate and that's when I know the other should be mine. Also look at my mango, it's black and they still serve it. I came back showed to the guy and he said that's all we got. Not even an apology. The floor is so dirty and sticky as well as table. Mangonada needs improvement, no takin and it's nothing like a mangonada. Only thing made me feel " after all it's not all bad" was the Mexican guy who was cleaning the table said have a good night when we left the store Wouldn't come back after this experience I got

Used to love this place. Went tonight a d the place was disgusting. Tables were sticky and gross. Then we saw a ROACH crawling across one of the adjacent tables!!!!! The staff could give zero about cleaning or wearing gloves. Hard no! Won't be back. Shame!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Such a great place to eat. A lot of creative and tasty flavored shaved ice. Great vibes to be. David is such a great employee with a caring, and a friendly personality. He is extremely responsive, has a great memory with people, and makes everyone have a great experience there. Tall man is also a very friendly worker, who enjoy what he does. He interacts with anyone who comes in welcomes everyone. Thank you for being great people!

I haven't been back in years. The place still looks the same but it wasn't as good as I remembered. The flavored ice was thinly sliced and layered onto a plate with toppings of your choice. Cool concept and way of a dessert, for sure.

Good service reasonable prices also good coustomer service ask for David when u walk in he gives the best explanation on what kind of taste you are looking for most people look annoyed when u say when u don't want any added sugars and he gladly made the smoothies and they are delicious they have real ingredients my rate for this place is 10/10000

Taro bubble tea was good. I like how they have small cup options which allows me to get what I want without feeling wasteful

Craving a sweet treat that is so light, creamy and delicious. Come to Nu Cafe for shaved ice. So many choices to build your satisfying dessert. Grab a mini clipboard and a flower pen to make your selection. Choose a shaved ice base, toppings and a drizzle. Order a Hill or a Mountain (which is a bit ironic for Houston). Love the fruity flavors for the shaved ice. Favorite is Taro. Just the right amount of sweet with a beautiful lavender color. My kids like the mango or mixed berry sorbet. Note: Don't try the durian if this is your first time eating durian. For toppings, add poppers, jelly or fresh fruit. Mango and lychee top our list of favorites. Drizzle with condensed milk or mango syrup to finish. Cute place for shaved ice. So as their to go containers state, " Fill me up, never put me down." Enjoy!

The small portion was perfect, reasonably priced, and atmosphere was pretty chill inside the place. Service was quick as well!

Although it may look messy, its absolutely delicious! It was hot day and were were craving something icy, fruit filled, and delicious. In comes Nu Cafe to the rescue. Located in Bellaire in one of the busiest shopping centers around. You can pretty much build your own messy snowy mountain at this place. We decided to put mangos, on top of mangos, and more mangos! This means we did mango flavor ice, with mango Boba, and actual pieces of mango. Oh, so good! A must for a hot and humid day in Houston, or whenever you need something refreshing.

- waiter was super friendly and charismatic. i liked him a lot. wish i asked for his name - one hill sized ice cream (smallest) fed three people comfortably - ordering process is really efficient - not too loud + good amount of seats green tea ice cream: tasted like what you'd expect. i liked it taro ice cream: wasn't a fan nutella ice cream: low-key pretty good if u like chocolate

Went to Chinatown on a busy Saturday, everywhere was packed. Luckily, found a table at Nu Cafe. Table was dirty, but staff cleaned it when we asked. Tried mango and salted caramel shaved ice, both were good. Friend said the oreo topping felt old, but I didn't notice. Flavors were great, would go back again.

Odd space, inattentive staff, but delicious desserts. The staff did show excellent shaving skills and care for the product.

This was our first time trying shaved ice and it was just plain awesome. My wife and I were both raving about how good it was to anyone who would listen. Can't wait to come back and try some more!

First time trying this flavored ice and it was unbelievably delicious! I got the vanilla with strawberry drizzle and strawberry boba and also the mango flavor with mango boba.

The portions are massive! After receiving the order I wish I got the small order. Highly recommend the mango flavored shaved ice. Not the cleanest place unfortunately. But the food was great.

Quiet and lovely spot for some lovely tea. My go to is always the hot Thai tea. The staff is friendly and the seating area is extremely clean.

We had a date night in Chinatown and was excited to try this place out. Maybe a little more excited than the dinner since I have a terrible sweet tooth (we ate at Rice to Meet you, really great spot and good price). The reviews were awesome and the place was packed when we got there at 9 pm on a Friday. The girlfriend went with the green tea and I went with the Nutella. As I watched people go up to get their orders, they all looked so awesome. They finally called us, I was so excited. The anticipation was so high, as I took the first spoon full I was hit with disappointment. The flavor did not match the appearance. It is like that moment as a kid you realize French Vanilla coffee does not taste like it smells. It had more of an ice flavor than chocolate or cream flavor. So much disappointment. Maybe it is my fault for getting so excited, but definitely a huge let down. Honestly would of rather gotten a Boba tea on that side of town.

The shaved ice was delicious and the way to order was pretty simple, just a checklist and checking off what you want. Service was pretty fast and the employees were nice. Table was a bit sticky but it wasn't that bad.

Loved it loved it loved it !!! I was craving some dessert so I decided on shaved ice. When you come to the front counter there's a sheet of paper & you basically circle what you want for their Nu ice. There are two sizes, the hill size is good for one person but still a great amount & then there's the mountain size which is good for maybe 2 or 3 people. I decided to get their mango sorbet as the flavor, mango/watermelon/strawberry for the toppings & a drizzle of condensed milk. My nu ice was light, airy, fluffy, creamy, flavorful & it just melts right in my mouth. By far the best shaved ice I've ever had. My taro milk tea was very bad & tasted watered down with absolutely zero flavor at all, I don't recommend this drink. My cashier Allyana was very helpful & kind, I felt bad for her though. She was the only person working at the time, basically Allyana took orders & made your desserts as well. She was very composed and did a phenomenal job, I think a raise or a promotion should be in the works for her. I know you guys aren't that busy during the week but what about if a group of 10-15 people came in at the same time? It's going to be very overwhelming. So my advice is at least have one more person to back her up just in case of a huge rush. Overall, I was very satisfied & I can't wait to come back.

Great tasting shaved ice! Vanilla and Nutella were awesome! Lots of flavors available to try.

Good place to try new flavors and create youre own shaved ice, good customer service.

4.5/5 stars Nu Cafe on Bellaire / Corporate. Large Mango Sherbet Flavor Shaved Ice with real fruits (strawberry & mango), lychee poppers, mochi, & drizzle strawberry syrup $11.26. My kids and I loved it. Very tasty and refreshing. Definitely coming back to try other flavors.

If you are craving some great ice cream with unique flavors, look no further than Nu Cafe. Their shaved ice shop is in the heart of China Town. I have been to this location probably 3-4 times over the years but I haven't been in a while. Let's just say I was overly excited to return. For the shaved ice itself, you have two options for sizes (Hill for 1 or Mountain for 2). My girlfriend and I decided to each get our own as we have different dessert tastes. I went for the strawberry base with condensed milk and mango poppers. The ice can stand on its own but the condensed milk really adds a lot of flavor to this classic taste. The mango doesn't really mix with the strawberry but I just love the poppers so decided to act up and get it anyway. My gf went for the milk tea flavor with condensed milk and red beans as the topping. The safer choice in my opinion but don't tell her I said that. Anyway, highly recommend this place. Perfect ending to a date night in China Town for anyone wanting to see the real Houston!

The shaved ice is the real deal! This place always gets busy on the weekends so be sure to get there early. It's well worth the wait!