Arco Seafood Restaurant

Reviews

• Ira H.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  Fabulous seafood at moderate prices! Last Sunday got there early! Glad we did because it filled up very quickly!
  Only negitive was we were a group of 4 and  they put the tip on the bill without asking us! Very bold on thier side! They must
  Change that policy! It pisses people off!

• Nicole M.

  star star star star star_border 28 May 2026

  Pretty great food and wonderful service!
  
  Our server was very kind and was attentive to our needs. He came by to re-fill our waters often and made sure we had enough rice. He had a great attitude and we felt very welcomed!
  
  My parents and I like to come here every now and then, and they don't disappoint. My father and I came by around 3 PM, not many people in there because it was pretty late in the afternoon to be eating lunch. They were still serving lunch specials, so we ordered three main dishes along with two bowls of the Papaya Fish Soup.
  
  Papaya Fish Soup-
  Two bowls, the bowls were a bit small but were filled to the rim. The flavors were very delicious, the ginger blended very well with the papaya, no hint of sweetness, they do a very good job with blending their flavors. If you drink it too quickly, you'll feel the burn of the ginger in your mouth. I was very happy with the soup, just wished I had more.
  
  Pan Fried Egg Noodle with BBQ Pork-
  Can't really go wrong with this dish. There was a pretty generous portion, the meat was juicy and tender. The bean sprouts add a nice crunch to it. It was pretty oily, but not overwhelming.
  
  Beef Brisket Curry-
  The curry was sweeter than I thought it'd be, but it was still pretty good. I wish the onions were cooked a bit more thoroughly. It was still pretty tough and left the raw onion taste in my mouth. The bit of the onion was between war and kinda of cooked through, so when you bit into it, it wouldn't be a cutting-through nite, you'd have to chew it a couple of times for it to fall apart. The meat was all very tender and didn't take too long to chew; the flavor held out pretty well. My favorite part were the potatoes. They were so soft, none of it was deformed or fell apart when it was presented to us, it was perfectly soft to where it melted in your mouth.
  
  Salt and Pepper Squid-
  Perfectly crispy when it first came out, and stayed that way throughout our meal. In some other places with the salt and pepper squid, it comes out kind of crispy and then will lose its crunch, but not here. It wasn't too oily, and the flavors were pretty well-balanced.
  
  They gave us a bowl of rice per person. I enjoy places that give you just enough rice to enjoy the meal, but not an overwhelming amount to where you feel like you need to finish it all or take it home. They put the focus on their main dishes, not just the rice. However, even if it's one bowl, they make sure you have enough to eat with your meal if you'd like more.

• Andrew G.

  star star star star star 22 May 2026

  tl;dr Underrated, authentic Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown with a wide assortment of dishes - a staple that's been present and consistent for years.
  
  To preface this review, I come from a city where it's difficult for Chinese restaurants to be in business for 3+ years. There are only 5 authentic Chinese restaurants that have been around for 10+ years, and even fewer have stuck to the authenticity of Chinese cuisine. Those few restaurants are still in business today because they've managed to stand out and stay true to their initial cuisine. Arco is one such restaurant in the Houston area, with over 10 years of legacy.
  
  I've always loved seafood with some few exceptions, but I think this restaurant has made exceptions to those exceptions. I previously hated squid due to its texture, but the salt and pepper squid here nailed it on the spot. There wasn't a heavy taste that you'd expect in spiced Chinese dishes, and the dish went down better than any squid I've ever eaten. Another dish that made this restaurant stand out was the fish egg fried rice, something that I've never seen before. Although I enjoy the classic house special fried rice at any restaurant, I took a gamble with this unique dish, and it paid off in dividends. The blend of tastes combined with the newly introduced textures felt even more authentic; this was definitely someone's home recipe. I can only comment on a handful of other dishes, but similar to other reviews, the duck is outstanding. The food here really hits home, and I think it's proven itself given its tenure and reputation in the community.
  
  All in all, this is the perfect reunion spot for many native, Chinese families and old friends. I'm willing to make the drive from downtown to Chinatown, only because the quality, authenticity, and bang for the buck are there.

• Rose L.

  star star star star star 19 May 2026

  Don't understand my review for this place keeps disappearing when I've been giving good ratings!! The food is always served fresh with high quality ingredients. I come here for dim sum and non dim sum items such as Peking duck, soup, shrimp, tofu, beef, etc. and it has always been good as well as the service. One of my fav places in china town and most of the time the food is consistent

• Anh L.

  star star star star star_border 18 May 2026

  I took my parents here for dinner because they raved about this place. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The menu is extensive, but not as cheap as the rest of bellaire, but the food is good.
  
  LOBSTER WITH BLACK PEPPER
  This was one of the best lobster dishes I've had. The lobster meat was so flavorful and the texture was on point. It wasn't soggy or rubbery. It was perfect. The salt and pepper flavors really shined through and it was very aromatic.
  
  FISH EGG FRIED RICE
  I didn't know if I would like this dish, but I was pleasantly surprised. The fish egg added a nice poppy texture to the dish and the fried rice was very flavorful and cooked perfectly.
  
  STEAMED BBQ PORK BUN
  The bun itself was airy and soft, which complemented the pork because it was meaty.
  
  GARLIC SNOW PEA SHOOTS
  I love this dish. The snow peas were cooked perfectly and still had a crisp when you bite into it and the garlic was prevalent.
  
  FLAT NOODLE WITH BEEF
  The flavor was on point. The noodle was soft and there is a slight smoky flavor.
  
  I will definitely come back here. Food is great and service is good.