If you're in the Houston area and have a soft spot for anime and Asian cuisine, you might want to check out Dragon Bowl C, located in downtown Conroe. This noodle bar isn't just slinging egg rolls and stir fry; it's serving up a whole experience with a theme centered around the iconic "Dragon Ball Z" anime. The spot has quickly become a hit with local anime enthusiasts since its opening in July 2022, thanks to owner San Cheng's vision to create something "fun" and unique for the community.
The menu at Dragon Bowl C is a blend of familiar and novel, with dishes like Milk tea boba, GoGo noodles, dessert egg rolls, and Kimchi fries on offer, as reported by Community Impact. Cheng, an anime fan himself, was inspired to open the restaurant after visiting another themed eatery in Florida and realizing Conroe was missing out on this type of dining experience – his place is not just another restaurant but it's something with a twist of entertainment and indeed as he said "Conroe needed something and not just another [typical] restaurant", according to an interview with Community Impact.
In addition to Dragon Bowl C, the entrepreneurial spirit of Cheng is revealed through his daughter's food truck, Taste the Asian, and a coffee shop named Kofe Num Pang in the area. These family-run establishments help enhance the cultural tapestry of downtown Conroe, providing residents with more than just a place to eat, but a place to experience. While he acknowledges the clientele is niche, regional anime-themed conventions confirmed there was indeed a market – seeing those, he said, "Hey, there's an anime fan base here."
Cheng, who faced his fair share of hurdles during the initial stages of opening the business – including contractor issues that had him saying, the hardest part was figuring out how to open, now says the place has become well-integrated into the community. There are even plans to expand the experience with cosplay nights and gaming tournaments, adding to the authenticity of the anime theme. "That's what makes it different—you can only come to Conroe if you want this experience," Cheng told Community Impact, emphasizing the importance of keeping Dragon Bowl C a local attraction.
Beyond Conroe, the anime wave is surging through the Houston suburbs with other businesses like The Anime Bar and Culture Shock offering themed cocktails and collectibles to fans across the region, notes Houston Chronicle. These spots range from a bar in Sugar Land where visitors can enjoy anime-inspired cocktails and karaoke, to a retail store in Baybrook Mall that sells everything from Pokemon cards to Funko Pop anime characters. Each establishment taps into the diverse and ever-growing appetite for anime culture, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with the genre can still find something to enjoy.
