Silk Road Asian Tapas Bar
Dim sum restaurant · Upper Kirby ·
Crispy shrimp cheung fun, mushroom bao, tea, cocktails
Crispy shrimp cheung fun, mushroom bao, tea, cocktails
"Silk Road is in the lobby of a Courtyard Hotel, partitioned off though in full view of the check-in counter. But the food makes up for the slightly strange atmosphere. The crispy shrimp cheung fun is a masterpiece of texture and technique, with shatteringly crisp yet plump shrimp innards surrounded by a silky rice noodle. The cordyceps dumplings are chewy wonders of dim sum engineering, with bundles of mushrooms spilling out of a green wrapper. Everything here is memorable, except for the bland pan-fried chow fun noodles. Order a pot of tea (we like the oolong osmanthus), and go early, because the most popular dishes can sell out within an hour of opening." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, mai pham
"Silk Road is an upscale dim sum restaurant in Upper Kirby that trades the push carts and big banquet tables of a classic dim sum parlor for something even more casual. And by that, we mean it’s in the usual breakfast dining area of a Courtyard Marriott, where clean white tabletops and pretty dishware do their best to distract you from the fact that someone just asked for extra towels at the front desk 10 feet away. The effect is part fine dining, part off-brand speakeasy—if that speakeasy specialized in soup dumplings and shared a wall with the business center. The food is mostly good, with handmade dumplings and a few standout bites, but the pricing leans Four Seasons while the portions whisper “light snack.” This isn’t the place to relive your nostalgic Hong Kong dim sum feast, but if you’re not phased by unconventional atmospheres and steep prices, Silk Road is worth a stop. Food Rundown Stuffed Tofu Skin The tofu skins are nice and crispy and the shrimp are juicy. These are good, but petite. photo credit: NICOLAI MCCRARY Xiao Long Bao The wrappers are thin, delicate, and filled with a savory broth that pairs nicely with a splash of black vinegar. The texture of the meat inside is a little softer than we like, but still satisfying. photo credit: NICOLAI MCCRARY Cheung Fun Silk Road’s signature dish arrives as four thumb-sized bites filled with fried shrimp, instead of the usual small pile of rolled noodles. At $13, they’re pricey—especially if you want more than a bite or two. photo credit: NICOLAI MCCRARY Siu Mai These pork and shrimp dumplings came out rubbery and topped with overly fishy tobiko. The weakest of the bunch—skippable. photo credit: NICOLAI MCCRARY Stir-Fried Vegetables A simple but solid mix of bok choy and mushrooms in a light broth. Not your classic dim sum side, but a nice way to balance the table. photo credit: NICOLAI MCCRARY" - Nicolai McCrary
"Silk Road, Houston’s buzzy new dim sum spot, still feels like the lobby restaurant of a Courtyard Hotel—it’s partitioned off but in full view of the check-in counter. But the food makes up for the slightly strange atmosphere. The crispy shrimp cheung fun is a masterpiece of texture and technique, with shatteringly crisp yet plump shrimp innards surrounded by a silky rice noodle. The cordyceps dumplings are chewy wonders of dim sum engineering, with bundles of mushrooms spilling out of a green wrapper. Everything here is memorable, except for the bland pan-fried chow fun noodles. Order a pot of tea (we like the oolong osmanthus), and go early, because the most popular dishes can sell out within an hour of opening." - brooke viggiano, mai pham, nicolai mccrary, andrew ryce, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"A lobby restaurant in a Courtyard Marriott probably isn’t where you’d expect to find great dim sum, but here we are. Silk Road’s chef has serious chops (20 years in the game, including time at the first the most famous Chinese restaurant in Thailand), and the menu shows it. Think small plates like crystal shrimp dumplings, molten salted egg yolk bao, and tofu skin stuffed with shrimp paste, along with tea service and bigger plates like beef chow fun and crispy noodles." - brooke viggiano, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"Houston diners have been especially intrigued by this new dim sum spot that recently opened in the Courtyard by Marriott hotel near West University. Named after the term for the ancient trade route that stretched from East to West, Silk Road serves a combination of classic and more inventive dim sum classics (siu mai, har gow, char siu, and crispy shrimp cheung fun), plus a bevy of complementing teas, including green, white, oolong, and black teas sourced from northern Thailand (caffeine-free options are available). For those imbibing, the restaurant also serves beer, wine, and cocktails infused with Asian-diasporic flavors, including sake lychee martinis, lemongrass lemon drops, berry tea mimosas, and a green tea-rosemary Old Fashioned." - Brittany Britto Garley
