Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Yummy Pho & Bo Ne

I was so excited to go back to Yummy Pho & Bo Ne
They are always busy when we go there.  Every table is filled in there.
Got the Peach Iced Tea, and see!  There's a slice of peach in there.
It comes with a salad with ginger dressing, but they gave us vinaigrette on the side too.
I got the Bo Ne plate, which has 5oz of steak, spam, an egg, that comes with a little baguette.  In place of the baguette, I asked for a bowl of rice instead.  But of course, after seeing the egg is all sizzling on the sizzling pan, I kinda wish I had bread to soak that up.  Yum!

They are super quick on the order, and bring the food out in decent time.  Totally understandable since they're packed and need to turn the tables over.  But the food is still good and I can see why folks lined up to come in.

Yummy Pho Bo Ne
23119 Colonial Pkwy
Katy, TX 77479
832-437-0486
https://www.yummyphoandbone.com

Monday, December 30, 2019

Bellagreen

Happened to be in Sugar Land Town Square, decided to visit an old favorite.
Bellagreen is really on the edge of the Town Center.
Since it was nice weather, it was easy walk to get there.
I got the Paleo Spaghetti Bolognese.  It was spicier than I remembered it to be.  They gave me pretty much a whole spaghetti squash worth of 'spaghetti'.  Definitely felt like there's not enough beef for the $17 that we spent on this one dish.  The other dishes seems to have slipped in quality as well.  The cheese pizza (not pictured) was smaller than an average kids pizza, and for the $2.50 of gluten free crush up charge, I expected it to be a tad bigger.

The place wasn't busy and for burger and fries joint, they make eating healthy a tad hard to convince. Hope the other locations are better.

Bellagreen - Sugarland
15903 City Walk
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281-565-1175
https://bellagreen.com

Thursday, December 26, 2019

401

I like going to neighborhood joints.  
Going to try the Brunch at 401.
I love the decor, it's very reflective of their love for their local community.
I need lots of liquids in the morning... coffee and juice.
This is a Traditional, which has eggs (I'd asked for sunny side up), applewood smoked sausage, and herb-roasted potato.  It comes with ketchup, and I asked for salsa, because it really liven up the eggs.  

Overall, the food is pretty decent.  It's like a fancy diner food.  Now, granted they have other dishes and that may be different.  The servers are young and sometimes you have to flag them down for coffee refill.  It was otherwise ok.

If you arrive early, there's no problem finding a seat.  Kids can still go to Club No Major, they're available when they're open.

401
6700 Ferris, Ste 150
Bellaire, TX 77401
832-962-7649
https://www.the401bellaire.com

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas

Just want to drop a note to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
I'll continue to blog in between work and eating.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Roka Akor

Finally go too Roka Akor for Happy Hour.
You can either valet or self park.  I actually wanted to valet but stumbled upon the self-park.  Just follow the signs from the parking garage to the restaurant.
This is the Paper Tiger, sounded interesting.  It is Gin, yuzu, lemon, with Matcha syrup.
Tuna Tartare: I love the taro chips to go with the tuna chunks.
Escolar Tataki - it has white asparagus rolled in the inside with yuzu sauce.
Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll - it's an ok roll. 
Tuna Roll - tuna with green aioli sauce.  It's better quality than most places.
Pork Belly with housemade radish.  Pretty fresh and delicious.
Wagyu Beef & Kimchi Dumpling.  The Kimchi actually gave it the flavor.  I can't tell the quality of beef in this format at all.
Crispy Fried Squid - very lightly battered calamari and I love the aioli dip sauce.
Japanese Fried Chicken - karaage which is like chicken nugget here, the batter might be different but not bad.  It's a good place holder.
Sweet Corn with Butter & Soy - I'm actually not a big fan of corn, but this is pretty good.  I don't mind it at all.
Here's the Roka Chibi Burger - it's a tad bigger than a slider but smaller than a full size burger.  Nice meat patty, has tomato, onion, avocado.  I'm not a fan of avocado, so I scrap that off.  The meat doesn't taste frozen.  

Everything you see here, was on the happy hour menu from 4:30 - 6p.  I like that everyone there is super attentive.  Not just our server, the other ones see we're low on drinks, grab our person and get us taken care of.  That's really nice.  Food is good, pretty decent quality, don't like the parking intimidate you.  Do go and give them a try.

Roka Akor
2929 Weslayan
Houston, TX 77027
713-903-6681
https://www.rokaakor.com/houston/

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Ruby Tuesday

When you're at the airport, you're at the mercy of whatever they have that are decent and short lines.
I haven't been to a Ruby Tuesday since the early 00s.  I think Bennigans were still around then.
Raspberry Tea - this is too sweet.  For sure sweeter than I remembered it to be.
Unfortunately for something 'fast' and decent, I ended up with Hand Battered Buttermilk Chicken Tenders.  Not much to write about... it's chicken tenders, it's edible, it's no premium airport food but billed as one.  It is battered with buttermilk and as promised fried to golden brown.  I liked the honey mustard sauce but can't go crazy since the 'fried' basically took up lots of calories and room in my tummy. 

Now back to your regular scheduled programs.

Ruby Tuesday
Orlando Airport
https://www.rubytuesday.com

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Flower & Cream

Over the weekend it was 80 degrees, so ice cream was just what the doctors order.
Ok, I'm not sure if there's any doctor actually order for ice cream, but heck.  Why not?!
I got the Chocolate Brownie with the Red Velvet cone.  I just love those cones, they're so delicate but you can still taste the red velvet.  That's pretty impressive. I know they have them flown in, forgot where, but I appreciate them trying to find what works for their flavors and make them special.

The owner is around, feel free to chat with them.  Being next door to a pizza place is perfect, I can easily walk over after a meal.  By the way, they are pretty much cashless nowadays.

Flower & Cream
2617 W. Holcomb Blvd
Suite B
Houston, TX 77025
832-667-8412
https://www.flowerandcream.com

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Common Bond

So nice to come back to Common Bond for brunch.
I love this location, tons of parking, hardly any lines.  If there is one the move very quickly. 
Ahh got my soy milk latte.  Love the latte art!
My eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I ordered the egg & sausage sandwich.  It has some greens at the bottom, breakfast sausage, cheddar cheese, soft egg.  When they say soft egg, it literally breaks as you touch it.  Since it was so big, I had to cut it in half, and the yolk break and literally made a huge mess.  Oh well, it was yummy no complaints here.

Like I said, parking and lines are not so much of a problem here.  But if you come on the weekend do make sure you spare some time, folks like to linger and enjoy the weekend.  Seating are kinda tight, so bring patience.

Common Bond
Medical Center
2278 W. Holcomb Blvd
Houston, TX 77030
346-327-8393
https://commonbondcafe.com

Monday, December 16, 2019

Yokushi Robata

Yokushi has become one of our favorite gathering spot.
Food is good and prices are reasonable.
I ordered this off of the Specials Menu - this is Seafood Ramen.  The noodle is the typical Sun Noodle (which is very egg-y).  But they do put a lot of seafood there.  As you know, the clams are it for shells but not for content.  That said, they're cooked nicely and made me work for it a bit fighting with the shells.  Shrimp was hearty and couple small scallops to boot.
Since the scallops were small in the ramen, I got one skewer's worth of grilled scallops. It has eel sauce and sesame on it.  Very tasty.  Though, I should not have ordered it.   My eyes were bigger than my stomach that night.  But it was good, can't resist.

Yokushi Robata
3837 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77027
832-933-6888
https://www.yokushirobata.com

Friday, December 13, 2019

Roastery

Man, I'm midway thru the holiday entertaining... really need that coffee to perk me up!
I got a hazelnut latte, iced so I can drink it quicker.  But honestly, if you tell them you wish to have it between 100-120 degrees, you can actually drink it warm.

Next time when I have more time, I'll order my favorite apple cider donuts.

The Roastery
inside HEB second floor
5106 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77401

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

One Dim Sum

Heard a lot from various foodie group about One Dim Sum.
 A new Chinese dim sum spot in Midtown.
 Very hip wall art
 Xiao Long Bao - pretty and decent quality.
 The Black Caviar and Mushroom Dumpling that are shaped like gold fish, quite cute.
This is the Spicy Pork Wonton - actually pretty good. 
 Black Beef Tenderloin Puff - look very much alike somewhere else....
 Pumpkin Puff - which definitely looks like someone else's dish.... Taste pretty good too.
 Bad picture but Crispy Prawn Cheung Fun.  It actually my favorite dish here.
 Forgot which dumpling this is, but it was recommended by the staff there.  Pretty good.
Was greedy to order dessert, and it did not turn out as good as the description of Mango Pomelo Sago.  Sago is basically tapioca, and it's very small.  But this has too conflicting taste in the mix.  Won't get that again.

Anyway, the parking there is a challenge, but they now have valet, which helps a lot.  Also get there a little before lunch time, they do get busy.  Last time we were there, they were short on staff, so bring patience too.  The food is worth it.

One Dim Sum
510 Gray St
Houston, TX 77002
346-293-9188
https://www.onedimsum.com

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Gangnam Spa - restaurant

So I've been watching alot of Kdrama, so when my friend asked me to go check out a real authentic K-spa, I did not hesitate to say yes.
First, let's talk food.  They have the basic Korean dishes, bibimap, bulgogi, seaweed soup... etc.
I got tteokbokki (I pronounced it do-bok-gi -- yes I know it's incorrect).  Anyway, it's rice cake (flour/glutenous based type noodle) with cabbage, fish cake, carrot and this one have an egg in there.  It's a little spicy for taste, not for kick.  It's a typical street food for Korean.
Some sides for our table, though not the full fledge sides like we get when we go to a Korean restaurant, but it has (upper R corner) kimchi, potato with salted fish, and fish cake.  The sauce is actually for another dish.
My main dish was Bulgogi and Rice.  It taste ok, not exceptionally great and not bad at all.  As my friend calls it, it's a concession type food.  Even that, it is not cheap.  Average dishes about $12.  But the dining area is spacious and the cook time is fast.
So about the spa.  You pay a fee to go in.  You give them your ID and they give you a key to all your lockers (shoes and clothes) and a chip that you can charge your service and food on the tab.  At the end of your visit, you let them scan it and they will tally and settle up.

This is the main space and also common area for resting.  I think because we got there so early that no one was there, but supposedly, that's where people rest and gather or play games.
Since photography is frown upon.  I took some small ones.  This is a prettier space, that creates a calming atmosphere.  This one is in the foot spa.  It has a heated jet pool for you to soak your feet.  It does get hot but the room has a fan and a/c, so you're not exactly trapped in heat.

Speaking of heat, next door to this room is the Himalayan Salt room, and next to it is the Ice Room.  After the heat going to the Ice Room is nice but I can only do it for 3 minutes and I get too cool.  
Across the room is the low and hi temp cave.  I wasn't brave enough to go in there.
There are various loft spaces both in the locker rooms and in the common space area.  They have lounge chair, nap mats, and heat lamp while you rest.  

Some tips if you were to visit on your own:
1, this is not the American style spa, they don't give you a robe.  Part of the locker room you are encourage to be not clothed to go into the soak, that's how onsen are as well.  So it's not a place to be modest.  Of course, you don't have to participate if you don't want to, don't feel obligated but don't be surprise when you see folks naked in the locker room.
2, it cost $39 during the week and $49 on the weekend.  But if you go to H-Mart and pay cash, you can buy the tickets for $23 and it's good for any day use.  Of course read the fine prints in case they change the terms.
3, what to bring: I brought my own hair brush, my own soap, extra change of under garments, and my own sheet masks.  They do have hair dryer, hair brush and what not but certain things are good to bring your own than use what they provide.  During the rinse, they have bar soap, but I used my own.  If you didn't bring any, they have shampoo and conditioner, you can use that to rinse your body too.
4, as I said before, they don't give you a robe but they do give you uniform.  It's essentially t-shirt and shorts.  Everyone wear the same thing while they're there.  
5, you walk bare foot once you get out of the lobby/reception area.  I think some part of the floor is heated, but overall there are so many heated rooms that you won't be cold.
6, you literally can stay there all day if you do the rooms multiple times and or repeat spa or soak.  Or get a message, facials, pedi/mani.  But certain services are popular, so you may have to book ahead.
7, like they do in K-Drama, they are open 24 hours.  If you spend the night there, you have to pay $10 extra.  I don't think very many people stay overnight.  It's just too weird for a lot of people.  

Gangnam Spa
4055 Hwy 6 North
Houston, TX 77084
281-859-9888
https://gangnamspa.org