Houston's Ultimate Snack Bar: AtCha!

I'll tell you how I discovered this place. One weekend in Houston, I was visiting a client and found myself super hungry. I turned to Yelp to find a great snack shop nearby and came across Atcha. With an hour of downtime, I decided to stop by. Surprisingly, the place was quite empty for a Saturday afternoon, but considering the numerous other tea shops in the same plaza and along Bellaire Blvd, it made sense. The owners were extremely kind and suggested the matcha vanilla latte. While it didn’t blow me away, it was pretty solid, with a noticeable matcha flavor and well-balanced sweetness, even without adjustments. The interior was charming, providing a good study environment with unobtrusive music.

Atcha stands out from the franchised bubble tea spots in the same area. The unique atmosphere, creative drinks, excellent service, and constant innovation make it a favorite of mine. The cozy space features photo-worthy elements like a faux-brick backdrop and Asian-themed furniture. My favorite touch is the "Ni Howdy Y'all" wall scribe, which is both hilarious and pun-ny. The bathrooms are creatively designed with pipe wrench handles, and I appreciate the free WiFi. Although the foot traffic is not high, the overall flow is good, making it an ideal spot for working or studying.

In terms of drinks, Atcha offers an interesting and varied selection beyond the usual milk tea and slush. They have specialty sodas, ginger beer combinations, yogurt drinks, matcha, and unique concoctions they call "potions." My recent favorites include the shadow gold, a mix of kumquat, salty plum, jasmine, and soda, and the blueberry ginger beer, which is excellent. After my first experience here, I return whenever I'm in Houston. There's no question about it. This is a great spot for a great snack.

Food-wise, I've only tried a few items like the loaded fries, chicken sandwiches, and popcorn chicken. They occasionally offer beef noodle soup and other specials that are either temporary, seasonal, or experimental. The chicken sandwiches are on the sweet side but innovative and definitely worth trying if you enjoy hot chicken sandwiches. The drinks are amazing and distinct from the typical offerings in Chinatown, leaning more towards designer and specialty beverages. By the way - about the chicken sandwich - it's impressive. The chicken was so juicy and the flavor on it was very nice. There was also like a slaw type thing on top of the chicken and it was the component that led to the perfect balance to the spicy flavors. The food just felt so fresh which added to the experience. The sandwich was also very filling.

Lastly, the service at Atcha is consistently great. Edwin, the owner, is truly a people person. The staff always ensures orders are promptly and cheerfully served. Whenever I'm in Dun Huang Plaza, I make it a point to visit Atcha, and I’ve never been disappointed.

9889 Bellaire Blvd Suite D-234, Houston, TX 77036

(832) 203-7647

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