THIS ONE IS SADLY CLOSED NOW, but it has been replaced by Sunday Press, which we look forward to trying out soon!
We were thrilled when Java Lava Brews reopened and reimagined itself as Java Lava Cafe, located inside of Asia Society Texas. The cafe is bright and modern, and the staff members are friendly. This is not a fast food place, and there is a small staff so at times you might wait a little bit for your food if there is a crowd. On nice days, though, it is fun to hang out. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 am to 3 pm at the time of this post.
Getting There
Asia Society is located at 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004. If you drive, parking options include a paid lot directly across the street from the front entrance (for $7 at the time of this post). There is typically ample metered street parking available on the side streets (and most of it is free on Sundays). Finally, it is about a 5-10 minute walk from the Museum District Metro Station (get there using the Red Line, and pay via the Metro Q app--remember that young children 5 and under are free).
Enter the cafe by walking through the front entrance of Asia Society Texas and immediately turning right. To avoid correction from the museum staff, keep walking past the front exhibits unless it is Thursday, when they are free thanks to Regions Bank. There is also a side door entrance if you cut across the grass, but I don't think this is the preferred entry option.
Speaking of that grassy area, though, it is super convenient because the kids can play for a bit while the food is being prepared, and you can sit at the patio tables on nice days. There is a water feature on the second floor of Asia Society, and the sound drifts down to the patio for a nice ambiance.
Our Family Faves
Java Lava Cafe specializes in mostly light, fresh options, so it can be a great choice for lunch before walking around the museum or surrounding area. Here are our favorite light meal items:
Crispy Cod Sandwich
Salmon Burger (not a salmon croquette but actual salmon filets)
Musubi (sushi rice and salmon, Spam, or Spam & avocado)
Ahi Poke Bowl
Classic Waffle (my daughter's favorite here--a classic Belgian waffle)
Pineapple Waffle
For dessert, we have enjoyed these:
Hawaiian Bread Pudding (this is SOOOO good)
Macadamia Shortbread Cookies (so yummy)
Hanoi Egg Coffee (Okay, so this isn't really dessert, but it is sweet and has become my favorite specialty coffee drink so I am putting it here. Plus, you get a shortbread cookie with it!)
The Bonus
As a bonus, again thanks to Regions Bank, you can enter the Asia Society for free on Thursdays from 12 - 7 pm. Kids 6 and under are actually free every day of the week, and the older kid and adult prices are reasonable. If it is Thursday or if you pay for admission, be sure to let the kids play around in the Let's Eat exhibit and let them virtually travel to parts of Asia in the front two galleries on the main floor. There are also interesting changing exhibitions throughout, but these front areas tend to be favorites for kids.
Also, be on the lookout for their special events and festivals--they tend to be very lively and lots of fun for the whole family! Our favorite is the night market each fall but it can get super crowded since it's so popular.
If you have any additional tips for visiting here with children, feel free to comment and share!
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