Type of establishment: Chinese Restaurant
Located: Montrose Avenue on the edge of the Museum District
Summary:
I have been to Kam's a handful of times. With how many superb reviews that I have received from friends, I have to say that I continually been disappointed. It is not the best Chinese food that I have found in Houston and it is not the cheapest either.
Their dumplings are pretty good (Auntie Chang's is better).
Final thoughts: More than three strikes.. You are out.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Junction
Type of establishment: Bar that serves food.
Located: West Gray in Midtown
Summary:
The Junction used to be the Wet Spot years ago. They have good drinks. Their shrimp jammer, ribs, chicken wings, bacon wrapped quail, and sampler platters are some of the best basic bar grub you will get in the area. They have by far the best seasoned crawfish consistently this year in town. They make it how I like it -- spicy. If you like watching sports, they have televisions everywhere in addition to nice restrooms which isn't always a given at a bar.
Final thoughts: Try the shrimp jammers, crawfish, ribs, and quail.
Located: West Gray in Midtown
Summary:
The Junction used to be the Wet Spot years ago. They have good drinks. Their shrimp jammer, ribs, chicken wings, bacon wrapped quail, and sampler platters are some of the best basic bar grub you will get in the area. They have by far the best seasoned crawfish consistently this year in town. They make it how I like it -- spicy. If you like watching sports, they have televisions everywhere in addition to nice restrooms which isn't always a given at a bar.
Final thoughts: Try the shrimp jammers, crawfish, ribs, and quail.
El Rey Taqueria
Type of food: Mexican and Cuban
Location: on Washington at Shepherd (there are other locations throughout Houston)
website: http://www.elreytaqueria.com/
Summary: First off, I went her with a dear friend to get a quick bite to eat around midday last Sunday. Ordered a Lemonade, #10 (Ropa Viejo on corn) and #18 (Cuban taco with Chicken on Flour). It was so good. I loved the carmelization of the plantains that were in the Cuban taco in addition to the perfectly (unbland) black beans, rice, and chicken. Then you add onto that the juiciness of the roja viejo and perfection of the lemonade----I pretty much wanted to camp out at El Rey for the remainder of the day and to eat my way through the menu. I didn't stay because I had to do errands, but in less than a few hours later, I was at El Rey again ordering an iced tea and a large tortilla soup with another friend. The tortilla soup had awesome flavor and was good even without lime or cilantro (which says something); on top of it, the large was huge. I ended up having to take it home and have it for another meal. I am not complaining at all.
Final thoughts: This place is now a favorite. It has good prices and my mission is to try everything on the menu...
Location: on Washington at Shepherd (there are other locations throughout Houston)
website: http://www.elreytaqueria.com/
Summary: First off, I went her with a dear friend to get a quick bite to eat around midday last Sunday. Ordered a Lemonade, #10 (Ropa Viejo on corn) and #18 (Cuban taco with Chicken on Flour). It was so good. I loved the carmelization of the plantains that were in the Cuban taco in addition to the perfectly (unbland) black beans, rice, and chicken. Then you add onto that the juiciness of the roja viejo and perfection of the lemonade----I pretty much wanted to camp out at El Rey for the remainder of the day and to eat my way through the menu. I didn't stay because I had to do errands, but in less than a few hours later, I was at El Rey again ordering an iced tea and a large tortilla soup with another friend. The tortilla soup had awesome flavor and was good even without lime or cilantro (which says something); on top of it, the large was huge. I ended up having to take it home and have it for another meal. I am not complaining at all.
Final thoughts: This place is now a favorite. It has good prices and my mission is to try everything on the menu...
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Chicago Italian Beef
Location: Airline at 20th Street/Cavalcade. Northeast Houston/Heights.
Type of Food: Chicago classics. Deepdish pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and Italian beef sandwiches.
Summary: Today, I decided to try out Chicago Italian Beef on Airline. I have been wanting to visit this restaurant for years. I am an Italian Beef snob. I know how to make it in addition to know I understand what it is supposed to taste like. The Italian Beef at this location tastes like a glorified French dip sandwich without flavor. It didn't have the right seasonings or correct type of peppers. Additionally there was not enough juice.
Final Thoughts: I think that I will try to wait for the real food in Chicago or try making it myself. My version may not taste exactly like the real thing, but it tastes a heck of a lot more like the real thing than Chicago Italian Beef's version. Maybe I will go back and try their deep dish. Maybe, but I fear it may be like Star Pizza's version which is NOT CHICAGO DEEP DISH!!!
Type of Food: Chicago classics. Deepdish pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and Italian beef sandwiches.
Summary: Today, I decided to try out Chicago Italian Beef on Airline. I have been wanting to visit this restaurant for years. I am an Italian Beef snob. I know how to make it in addition to know I understand what it is supposed to taste like. The Italian Beef at this location tastes like a glorified French dip sandwich without flavor. It didn't have the right seasonings or correct type of peppers. Additionally there was not enough juice.
Final Thoughts: I think that I will try to wait for the real food in Chicago or try making it myself. My version may not taste exactly like the real thing, but it tastes a heck of a lot more like the real thing than Chicago Italian Beef's version. Maybe I will go back and try their deep dish. Maybe, but I fear it may be like Star Pizza's version which is NOT CHICAGO DEEP DISH!!!
Kublai Khan
Location: Milam in Midtown
Types of Food: Mongolian Stirfry and Traveling Sushi
Summary: On Friday, I decided to go to Kublai Khan for lunch. I ordered the stir-fry where I given a bowl and traveled through the food line to handpick protein, vegetables, spices, and sauces. The cooks fried it up and delivered it to my table along with a starch of my choosing (white rice, brown rice, fried rice, noodles). I decided to go with all fish since it was a Friday during Lent. While waiting for my food, I chose a few sushi dishes traveling on the conveyor belt. All the food was complemented by the great hot tea. My server was very nice. You could tell that the restaurant was new and they were working some of the kinks out of the business.
Final Thoughts: I will be back. I love stir-fry and athough, it wasn't perfect, I really, really like stirfry.
Types of Food: Mongolian Stirfry and Traveling Sushi
Summary: On Friday, I decided to go to Kublai Khan for lunch. I ordered the stir-fry where I given a bowl and traveled through the food line to handpick protein, vegetables, spices, and sauces. The cooks fried it up and delivered it to my table along with a starch of my choosing (white rice, brown rice, fried rice, noodles). I decided to go with all fish since it was a Friday during Lent. While waiting for my food, I chose a few sushi dishes traveling on the conveyor belt. All the food was complemented by the great hot tea. My server was very nice. You could tell that the restaurant was new and they were working some of the kinks out of the business.
Final Thoughts: I will be back. I love stir-fry and athough, it wasn't perfect, I really, really like stirfry.
Van Loc
Location: Milam in Midtown section of Houston
Type of Food: Vietnamese
Summary: On the last Sunday of Chinese New Year's, I went with my friend, Isabel, to Van Loc. Isabel had been to Van Loc many times over the year I hadn't been there at all.We ordered small order of Gỏi Cuốn (Spring Rolls - Shrimp and pork rolled with fresh lettuce, vermicelli in rice paper), Com Tôm Xào (Steamed rice with shrimp and vegetables), and Bún Chả Gìo (Imperial egg rolls with vermicelli).
The food was really good. The service was a bit off. Also, we didn't like the atmosphere as much (it was a lot plainer than it was previously).
Final Thoughts: It is good food overall.
Type of Food: Vietnamese
Summary: On the last Sunday of Chinese New Year's, I went with my friend, Isabel, to Van Loc. Isabel had been to Van Loc many times over the year I hadn't been there at all.We ordered small order of Gỏi Cuốn (Spring Rolls - Shrimp and pork rolled with fresh lettuce, vermicelli in rice paper), Com Tôm Xào (Steamed rice with shrimp and vegetables), and Bún Chả Gìo (Imperial egg rolls with vermicelli).
The food was really good. The service was a bit off. Also, we didn't like the atmosphere as much (it was a lot plainer than it was previously).
Final Thoughts: It is good food overall.
The places that we were sad to see go...
Feast (located on Elgin on edge of Midtown/Montrose area): This was an awesome restaurant with a great Chef's Table. Kris and I ate the Chef's Table which included 3 appetizers, 5 entrees (it was supposed to be 4, but there was a mistake), and 3 desserts for her birthday back in July 2012. One of the best meals we had ever tasted in Houston area.
Big Mamou (located on Studewood between White Oak and 11th): It was a cajun style restaurant/bar. They closed within the last week. They supposedly had great beignets.
Stella Sola (Located on Studewood near 9th in the Heights): When they closed over a year ago, I was in tears. I had one of my best all-time meals there less than a year before they closed. They had great food and service in addition to a drink menu that I would have drank anything off of.
Big Mamou (located on Studewood between White Oak and 11th): It was a cajun style restaurant/bar. They closed within the last week. They supposedly had great beignets.
Stella Sola (Located on Studewood near 9th in the Heights): When they closed over a year ago, I was in tears. I had one of my best all-time meals there less than a year before they closed. They had great food and service in addition to a drink menu that I would have drank anything off of.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Raku
Location: Midtown section of Houston; Corner of Corner of Smith and Elgin
Type of Food: Sushi
Summary: I have driven by Raku countless times and have never tried it out. I figured that today I would treat myself to a sushi at lunch in celebration that it is pay day. When I arrived, I was quickly greeted and seated at the bar per my request. I order an iced tea, 3 different types of nigiri (peppered tuna, yellowtail, and cured mackerel) in addition to a spicy tuna roll and a spicy yellowtail roll. The server was extremely nice. The iced tea wasn't exactly the best choice for a drink on a colder day in Houston; plus, you can tell that not a lot of people buy iced tea from the restaurant. It tasted like tea bags were overly brewed and the tea was at least a few days old. I first received my two sushi rolls; they were pretty good, but they were not the best that I have had in the Houston area. When I was given the nigiri, the peppered tuna and cured mackerel were my favorite.
Final Thoughts: After all was said and done, the nigiri was the best part of the meal. The meal was $34 total, which is a bit on the pricey side for what I ordered; plus, I have found places in Houston and other areas in United States that gives far fresher tasting sushi at more affordable prices. I have no problem spending the money on good sushi, but so-so sushi--- not so much.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Kahn's deli
Location: Rice Blvd. in Rice Village in Houston
Type of Food: Sandwiches, sliders, boutique beer.
Summary: Kahn's is my standby for great sandwiches that I miss from Up North. They are the only ones other than Kenny and Ziggy's in the Galleria that know how to do a corned beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich. They have a vast selection sandwiches. A recent add-on to their menu is sliders. They have a kitschy collections of beer-- some in bottles, some in cans, and some on tap.
Final Thoughts: The first time that I was there I tried their half pastrami half corned beef sandwich. It was amazing. The second time I went there I had a pastrami sandwich, matzo ball soup, and one of their great beers. The matzo had great flavor; it was unlike any matzo ball soup that I had tried before. They make theirs with parsnip. GREAT FLAVORS.
Next time you are near Rice Village make sure to try Kahn's.
Type of Food: Sandwiches, sliders, boutique beer.
Summary: Kahn's is my standby for great sandwiches that I miss from Up North. They are the only ones other than Kenny and Ziggy's in the Galleria that know how to do a corned beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich. They have a vast selection sandwiches. A recent add-on to their menu is sliders. They have a kitschy collections of beer-- some in bottles, some in cans, and some on tap.
Final Thoughts: The first time that I was there I tried their half pastrami half corned beef sandwich. It was amazing. The second time I went there I had a pastrami sandwich, matzo ball soup, and one of their great beers. The matzo had great flavor; it was unlike any matzo ball soup that I had tried before. They make theirs with parsnip. GREAT FLAVORS.
Next time you are near Rice Village make sure to try Kahn's.
Mai's
Location: Midtown off of Milam between Elgin and Alabama
Type of Food: Vietnamese
Summary: I love Mai's. It is one of those restaurants that I go to when I have time to go to lunch and sometimes dinner after a hard day. I always have an awesome time eating at Mai's at lunch. I sit at the bar usually. Dinnertime is not as much fun even when I sit at the bar because the bartender that I have dealt with usually isn't extremely nice.
Normally I get Beef Pho with a iced tea. As of lately, I have branched out into trying the Noodle soups on the menu. I am not really a huge fan of their Pho ga (chicken pho); it is good, but not the best that I have had before.
Final Thoughts: It is a great restaurant to go to if you want food fast. Sometimes it seems like they cook faster than fast food restaurants and it is a heck of a lot healthier.
Type of Food: Vietnamese
Summary: I love Mai's. It is one of those restaurants that I go to when I have time to go to lunch and sometimes dinner after a hard day. I always have an awesome time eating at Mai's at lunch. I sit at the bar usually. Dinnertime is not as much fun even when I sit at the bar because the bartender that I have dealt with usually isn't extremely nice.
Normally I get Beef Pho with a iced tea. As of lately, I have branched out into trying the Noodle soups on the menu. I am not really a huge fan of their Pho ga (chicken pho); it is good, but not the best that I have had before.
Final Thoughts: It is a great restaurant to go to if you want food fast. Sometimes it seems like they cook faster than fast food restaurants and it is a heck of a lot healthier.
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