5. Cafe Kubo's, 9889 Bellaire Boulevard

What to get there: sushi and curry; yes, curry. This offshoot of Kubo's, the expensive and popular sushi restaurant in Rice Village, is a much more casual iteration of its older sister and therefore fits in perfectly with the vibe of Chinatown. And unlike so many Japanese restaurants in Houston, this one is actually owned and operated by Japanese people (the Chinese run a predominance of Asian kitchens in Houston, no matter what kind of cuisine is being cooked up). The fish is exquisitely fresh and high-quality despite the inexpensive price, but be warned that the selection is a bit small.

4. Tan Tan, 6816 Ranchester

What to get there: hot pot and fried rice cakes. Although it's not quite the time of year for hot pot, come winter Tan Tan will be crowded with people enjoying this interactive, communal and hearty dish. In the meantime, order the fried rice cakes as an appetizer no matter what else you get along with a salted lemonade for the heat. Tan Tan also has more Americanized Chinese dishes that will please your parents or kids, and it's even open late -- until 3 a.m. -- for all you night owls.

3. Fu Fu Cafe, 9889 Bellaire Boulevard

What to get there: dumplings (soup dumplings -- xiao long tong bao -- or Beijing-style pan-fried dumplings). Although it's always a toss up between Fu Fu, QQ and Lai Lai for Chinatown's best dumplings, Fu Fu is generally the most solid contender. The service here is only slightly better than at QQ, next door (the best service is at Lai Lai), but the food more than makes up for it. If you aren't full after all the smoky, juicy dumplings, get an order of savory scallion pancakes too.

2. Sichuan Cuisine, 9114 Bellaire Boulevard

What to get there: spicy food. Like it hot? You'll love Sichuan Cuisine. This is probably the least "accessible" restaurant on this list, as far as Westerners are concerned. I once ate there during July, and there was Christmas music playing over the sound system; I fell in love with it even more. The truly adventurous will relish the duck tongues with jalapenos, one of the best items on the menu, but more mainstream items like tea-smoked duck (not spicy) and boiled fish in spicy sauce (definitely spicy) will also satisfy.

1. Banana Leaf, 9889 Bellaire Boulevard

What to get there: nearly anything off the enormous menu, but especially the roti canai. There's literally something here for everyone, from Malaysian food (its main focus) to Indonesian, Thai and Chinese dishes. Get a seat with a kitchen view to watch them twirl the sheets of roti canai (Malaysian flatbread) high in the air before serving a steaming hot plate to you, and don't miss dishes like taro-wrapped shrimp, stir-fried crispy egg noodle with seafood and a fish head casserole large enough to feed four. Bonus: Unlike so many Chinatown establishments, the service is truly exceptional here and you can BYOB.

With so many restaurants in Chinatown, it's a sure bet that some of your favorites were left off the list (Star Snow Ice, Cafe La Tea, Patisserie Jungle Cafe and numerous pho joints spring to mind as deserving of honorable mention). Let us know which Chinatown restaurants you think are can't-miss joints in the comments section below.

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