Empress of China Massage

I love me a good cheap massage… I love being able to just show up and get a decent massage without an appointment but I was over driving across town to Chinatown… found this place and have been twice in two weeks!
Both times I’ve done the $ 25 ‘foot massage’ which is actually a full body massage with your clothes on. So the good… it is cheap and they do a nice job. The ehhh, they don’t change the towel or blanket between clients — yeah you have your clothes on but ehhh it would be nice if they at least pretend to change the blankets. They do put a fresh paper towel down when you turn over.
I read many reviews where people complained about being up sold… during both massages they did ask ‘lady, you want combo’ and I said ‘no thanks’ and that was that… I also read many reviews about the tipping and here is my 2 cents. These people charge $ 25 per hour so I get it that $ 5 is 20% but come on… throw them a few more bucks — especially if they did a good job!
If you want a cheap, last minute massage near Spring Branch — I would recommend this place!

Ask for Tina. I had the full body for 60 minutes — it was awesome. More expensive than Chinatown but very good service nonetheless. Very convenient. Friendly staff. Tina kept asking if it was too hard — there was really only one time when she was working on the front of my neck where I asked for less pressure. Lots of acupressure techniques.

I have been going to Empress of China Massage quite frequently for foot massages. When I first went to them I gave them a four star but now I give them a one star. The reason is the man at the front desk, which I think is the owner said to me before my $ 25 hour foot massage that nobody wants to massage me because I don’t tip enough and the 20% tip is not enough and I should tip around $ 8 and not $ 5. But he said if you do the $ 40 hour massage where they do a half body and half foot I can tip them 20% which is $ 8. I never been so humiliated and embarrassed in all my years and never had someone say that to me. Also, I don’t like when you are in the middle of your foot massage and they whisper in your ear and try to sell you the $ 40 hour massage when I asked for the $ 25 foot massage. And when you say no they get annoyed and they really don’t massage you, instead they pinch and rub you real hard which hurts a lot and they start talking to there co-​workers in the middle of your massage. To me that is not a real relaxing massage and that is why I didn’t tip them more than 20%. I don’t know why they have a $ 25 foot massage on their menu when they really want to sell you the $ 40 hour massage. I definitely won’t be back.

got the worst foot massage. The lady didn’t know what she was doing and started pinching me. She said something to me and I told her I couldn’t understand her English. She didn’t bother to repeat herself and instead it turns out she up sold me to $ 40 half body & half foot massage. The guy at the front desk was even worse. I told him she needs better training in simple reflexology and acupressure and his response was maybe in your country you apply acupressure for foot massage but apparently this place just pinch, rub and shake your feet as foot massage. Complete waste of time and money. Definitely not real massage therapy place.

I have been going now for about a year — hoping something would change. It’s decent for the $ 25 price tag and close enough to home. A simple rub down beginning with your face & moving down to the feet. All in time — about 50 mins. Every time I have gone, they try to up sell me to a full «combo» — which I do not want. BUT the biggest thing that has now creeped me out is the fact they DO NOT CHANGE the blanket one lies on or the blanket one is covered with. It is simply refolded. What if there was some fat, sweaty person before me??? YUCK. Don’t think I’ll go back.

Very nice foot massage. Went on Sunday morning and found them not busy at first, but there were definitely more people as the morning went on. Great first experience. At this price, I will make this a more regular event!

Wow I came back today for a massage. And this experience was nothing like my first one. The lady doing my massage attempted to up sale (this is not a nail salon, don’t pull that stunt) You can tell she wasn’t going to do her best job when I declined. She talked to her coworkers most of the time. Sadly I still tipped a little over 20% because I know how it feels working in the tipping industry…
There wasn’t anything «relaxing» about this trip. They were loud and the massage was rushed. I regret not going to a massage parlor in Chinatown and spending my money somewhere that deserved it.
I was expecting so much more from this trip because this was my favorite one in the area but I can’t say the same anymore. Won’t be back.

Tina was fantastic. I’ve had the full body and foot massage and both have been great. I normally go to China town, finding this place has been great because it’s closer. Clean bathrooms, rooms and therapists are excellent.

I go once a week. Price point is perfect. Very friendly and professional! You will not be disappointed!

I have been to this foot spa twice now, and have enjoyed both times. We get the foot reflexology massage, which is $ 25 for an hour. They start with you fully (or nearly fully) reclined while they rub your head, shoulders, and arms while your feet soak in hot water. Then they dry your feet off and take turns massaging your feet, up to your knees. Finally, they flip you over and work on your back a few minutes.
The ambiance is nice. It is dark and quiet, and semi-​private. My only complaint, and why I docked them one star, is that even though you come in there and specifically ask for the foot massage, partway into the massage, they will wake you (or interrupt your thoughts, etc.) and try to upsell you to a more expensive «combo» massage. Still one hour, but more time spent on your back for $ 40. My boyfriend succumbed to the pressure the first time they did it, but did not end up enjoying it more than the foot massage.
So, I wish that if they were going to attempt to upsell, they would at least do it before you got started.

Awesome price, service, totally refreshed and ready to go! Super convenient location right off I-​10. I did the foot reflexology for 60 mins, $ 25

I come here often, it’s a great place. Love the combo.

I had combo today I felt wonderful and that lady did me she was very nice and sweet I’ll be back thank you guys a lot

The $ 25 foot massage was overall pretty damn good. My lady punched me a couple times throughout the massage, only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars. It’s an hour long and they do your shoulders, neck, back and head too!

I love this place! I go here every week with my sisters for girl nights, and it’s just great. They have delicious can’t at the front and give you water bottles when you finish.
They have a bunch of different people doing massages, and one of them does massages for a bunch of famous Houston athletes!
I really love the price and the different deals they have. I usually get the special which is a foot and back massage and SO GOOD. When they’re busy, they have a group room, but they cover up your eyes and honestly you can’t tell the difference between the big room and the little one.
I really love this place!
I’m so excited to be in Houston this summer so I can come here every week! Very good and affordable and great environment! Love the staff!

Overall weird experience. IT was one large room with a bunch of chairs. ok, I get it. But it was bright in there and they didn’t have eye pillows or even a towel to cover your eyes. I had a guy do my massage and even with my eyes closed. I could feel him staring at me the whole time. My gut feeling was right because everytime I opened my eyes, there he was, staring. It was uncomfortable. And I like hard massages. but at random times, he would smack me really hard on my back and caught me off guard. Good massage but ambiance wasn’t great.

I go to foot reflexology quite frequently and this place is pretty average. Nothing unusually bad or good. Just average, which would have gotten them a 3 star, but when I went to tip the ladies, they gave my sister and I such dirty looks for only tipping 20%. If it was a great or even better than average massage, then they would have gotten more than 20%. It’s annoying that they just expect great tips for mediocre massages.

This place is fantastic, and I am so glad that I found it!
This was my first experience with Chinese reflexology and massage and it most certainly will not be my last. As I wasn’t sure what to try, the man at the front desk suggested their special. For just $ 40, they offer a 30 minute reflexology and foot and calf massage along with a 30 minute back massage. This sounded like a steal, so I went with the special.
I was taken back to a dimly-​lit room with 4 or 5 massage tables and relaxing flute music playing. I had never been in a room with others getting massage before, so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this, but it wasn’t a problem at all. You don’t get undressed for the massage, and I was almost totally unaware of the other people, as the massage is done in silence.
First, my masseuse, Anna, brought a bucket of warm water to soak my foot in. The end of the table breaks away, so I had my feet in a bucket on the floor while laying on the low table on my back. As my feet were soaking, Anna gave me a scalp, neck, and face massage. After about 10 minutes, she began the reflexology massage on my feet and calves. This was heavenly. She put a light blanket on the top of my body to keep me warm and laid a cloth over my eyes to block out the light. The foot and calf massage included kneading, rubbing, stretching, and knocking, all gently.
After this, I turned over and Anna massaged my neck, back, and butt, with some compression down the legs. This massage was all done over the clothes with a towel over as well and consisted primarily of peessure, compression, stretching, and some kneading. She was especially effective massaging my lower back, which is hard to do due to multiple injuries.
After my hour was up, Anna gave me a complimentary bottle of water and led me to the front to pay. I couldn’t believe what a bargain the special was, so I left Anna a big tip.
I highly recommend Empress of China. They do all kinds of massage, including Swedish (in private rooms of course) and other spa services.

I love tbe owner of this place he is so nice and very helpful. But I do jot like places that make you get up and go to a different place for the other part of your massage. So I dont k ow if I will go back or not but if you dont mind switching, its nice and clean just not what I expected.

That could have easily been a great massage since i was extremely exhausted today.
I have a had a super long day today and called all my usuals for last minute massages but all was booked. So i called this place since it was close to home. I am a huge fan of foot massages. Don’t let the price fool you. It seems inexpensive but if you are an experienced foot massage goer, you will find that it is higher by $ 10 per massage.
My usual spot charges $ 30 for what I paid $ 40 for today and it is 10 times better. You won’t get elbowed to uncomfortness.
The foot massage is decent, don’t bother yourself with a body massage, the skip you arms and miss your knots. The biggest issue i had the entire time was trying to relax.
First came the open door and the ringing phone and about 15 minutes of an asian women speaking loudly in another language. Then downhill it goes. The doors open and closing, the very loud Guy at the door having conversations with every guest, the loud pitter patter of flip flops and the flushing of toilets. Amazing how loud it was. No one whispers.
My feet may feel a tad better but my back sure does not, and even my boyfriend who is a regular told me it was the worst idea i have had on a Sunday. Not going to return because if it gets any busier than today (we were 2 of 4 guests max) it will be like a loud concert in there.