Siu Lap City 燒臘城

Finally dropped by after last visit 6 months ago and didn't realize there's new owner/management. Ordered the same things I have always ordered in the past:1lb of pork charsui (2/5)- the flavor is as good as I have always tasted here but the meat quality is not very good. Most of it were either fat (I don't mind it at all, it makes meat juicier ) or tough tender or collagenous parts. Hopefully it was just an off day for them. 1lbs of crispy pork belly (5/5)- good balance between sweet & saltiness. The skin was super crispy even few hours after buying it. 1 whole duck (5/5)- crazy enough but this is the highlight of the purchase. I normally don't care so much for duck meat but really enjoyed it here. Nice flavors and super tender & juicy. Overall it's still the best Chinese BBQ nearby, certainly will go back

Under new management, and was hoping things would stay as good. Now you order first and they'll cut/portion/weigh later. They got my 1lb of char siu right, but my 1lb order of fried ribs was less than half a pound (7.9oz). Thought it felt light on the way home so I weighed it and sure enough. Will update the review as we keep going the new management a chance, but hope they fix this.Ps. It wasn't crowded, I was only 1 of 2 customers in there.

Dang one of my fav restaurants just had a change of ownership for the worse.I went for the first time since the new owner took over and I was served leftover pork belly from the day before, it was clear it was old and reheated in the oven. In addition they are skimpy with the portions.They no longer make eggrolls in house, instead they buy the sysco frozen generic chicken eggrolls that you can buy at grocery stores, and they're charging $2. Old owners had handmade vietnamese style eggrolls for $1.New ordering system is garbage where you have to go to the counter and tell them what you want instead of cafeteria style.Really sad to see this place go down hill, hopefully they will turn it around but i seriously doubt it.Another Houston legend going down the drain.

Noticed a completely new staff today. It had been the same 3 ladies until this point and there was a rather noticeable drop in quality. The roasted pork was dry with some edges being burnt, hard, and inedible. The bbq pork meat looked more like scraps. It is generally not too fatty, but all these pieces were at least 50% fat. That's pretty much the end of good Chinese bbq inside the loop.

We got the rice + veggies + 2 meats! The rice is really flavorful. I liked the crispy pork belly. The char siu is delicious! I have had more flavorful duck meat elsewhere, and I felt like many pieces were mainly bone. The vegetables were yummy! The portion sizes are generous. Service was fast and friendly. Lots of seating areas inside!

Had a gross experience here. The place looks dirty inside and staff is rude, the bbq pork which was okay but lots of chewy bits and their kimchi was off. My favorite veggie, their bok choy was totally soggy and wilted. I asked if they had fresh bok choy coming soon and they both said no, served me, then as I was walking out I saw them bring a new tray out. LAME. Will not be back.

Siu Lap City (燒臘城) is one of the most established Asian family-owned businesses in all of Houston. They're among the remaining spots from a time where a multitude of Chinese / Vietnamese bizes clustered in this part of Midtown. They seem to have adapted well with the times and have become the premier Cantonese BBQ (#1) provider in all of the city. They have a good selection of meats, which range from Peking Duck, BBQ pork, soya chicken, roast pork belly, and even roast pig. They also sell organ meats, such as beef tendon, tripe, and braised organ parts. I sometimes rock their roast pig, which is a huge hit for any house party or pot luck. It's not cheap at $260 for their smallest (16-20Ibs) and it's strictly cash only and must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance.They've done a good job with getting a consistent flow of regulars daily. A big part of this is their popular lunch special, which they offer a small / large rice plate in which one can choose a meat and vegetables on it. I think it's an oka deal ($9-13). I personally would highly recommend calling in ito confirm certain items are available.The family speaks a number of languages, which include Cantonese, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English. They're the friendliest folks and are quite good about modding their selections to adhere to one's tastebuds. It's always a delight for me to be here and I'm always excited to eat their food.They just don't make places like this anymore. Go now and thank me later.____________(#1) 烧味. Siu Mei all day every day.

Overall it's a no frills, simple, and good place. The lunch prices are great. $9 for meat, rice, and veggies. $12 for 2 meats. I had the pork belly. It's tender and crispy. Not super flavorful though. The duck was good too. Tender, but not super flavorful. Also not super meaty, like it was a thin duck. Veggies were over cooked. They were out of some veggies so we had to have broccoli. The rice was cooked well. My main issue is the food is cold. We ate there and it's not even room temp. It was cold. The sauce they give you doesn't add a whole lot. The chili oils and other sauces cost extra, like $1. I should have gotten it. It's a big portion, but I wish the food was at least warm. The food is decent, especially if you're in midtown and don't want to drive to Asiatown. The inside is a local, family owned, chill typical place. Not fancy, which is fine. The cashier was friendly. The floors and tables could have been cleaner but our table was fine. For the price, it's a great value and I'd recommend it. If you want better I would suggest going somewhere else and paying more.

Lunch specials with tons of food for under $12? Count me in! (And that's the large). The duck, pork belly, bbq pork, are all so delicious. I think this spot deserves a lot more spotlight and love for being the delicious community staple that it is. Tucked away in a corner you may just pass it up without noticing it's there. But once you try it, you'll want to come back as soon as you can! The parking is easy and the prices are incredibly reasonable. Nothing stopping you from coming unless you hate delicious Chinese bbq, and I highly doubt that's you.

As everyone stated NEW OWNERSHIPPortions are smaller and taste old. Won't be returning back until someone says it changed