Hako Bento

I've been seeing these awesome looking bentos on Instagram.

Turns out it's a ghost kitchen using the current Shin location on Shepherd.

I did a make-your-own option, you pick your own protein, fried item, veggie, and type of rice.  

So I picked (Top L clockwise): Vegetable Tempura, Teriyaki Beef, Kimchi, and white rice with a slice of orange in the middle.  I liked the teriyaki beef, very nicely done.  The tempura as expected that it got mushy by the time it was delivered to me.  The whole meal is still warm, and they got a fancy delivery bag to keep the food and the fancy bento box in place and no spillage.

Another thing they were promoting quite a bit was Mr. K's Thai Tea.  This looks to be a 12oz container.  For $4, it seems to be a bit much.  Most places charge that price is usually for 16oz and or with boba, so I think $4 was a bit much.  The tea is ok unless there's something special I missed, I think I'll be passing on this next time.

You can order online either pickup in person, or have one of 4 food delivery services to bring it to you.

Hako Bento

https://www.hakobento.com

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Just want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.  I'm grateful that you're still reading while this is a discipline exercise for me.  Stay safe and support small eateries!

 

Asahi Restaurant

Went and did a take-out from Asahi this time.

I got the Unaju lunch portion, which comes with seaweed salad and a miso soup.  This is is perfect for lunch, not too much but just enough.  Though I added the agadeshi tofu on my own just because I has hankering for some. 

They have the whole online ordering thing set up on their own site.  The prepared process was pretty fast too.  That said, I wish they didn't need me to sign the credit card slip because that's the whole idea of ordering online and be contactless.

Other than that, the owner remembers me and asked about our family.  I just thought that's so kind to be remembered, and thoughtful enough of him to bother to ask. 

Asahi 

8236 Kirby Dr.

#200

Houston, TX 77054

813-664-7686

https://www.asahisushihouston.com

 

Local Poke'

Was searching on Yelp what to eat... came up with poke'.

One cool thing that the Yelp has done to help eateries is to link their Order online feature on to each of the restaurants page.  You can do your order on Yelp but it will take you to the restaurant's respective sites be it UberEats, GrubHub, or their own site.

I'm new to Local Poke', but concept is the same for most, rice, protein, veggie, and sauce formula.

While the formula is the same, the variation is what got you in a headache.

See!  Even green stuff have so many choices!

So I do what I usually do at a new place.  I order what they recommend, that's usually what they put out the best to show off their skills.  

This is the Heights Bowl which came with tuna, salmon with asago, onion, poke sauce, seaweed salad, and crab salad.  Since I wasn't paying attention, I added another scoop of crab salad.  So double down on that.

It was pretty good and a lot of food for $10.95.  Definitely filling and hold you over until the next meal and that is just the medium size.  The order online was quick and easy, and by the time I arrived, it was ready for me.  Zip Zap Zoom.  Give them a shot.

Local Poke

4500 Washington Ave

Houston, TX 77007

281-844-5445

https://www.localpoke.co

 

Choco Digestive Biscuits

Here's another random international snack.

Chocolate Digestive Biscuits.  

These are definitely not the Digestive Cookies I've grew up with.  The ones I'm used to is from UK, these are from Japan.

These are tiny and is chocolate dipped on one side.  

So, the difference for me besides the cute little size is that the British ones for chocolate, the whole thing is dipped not one side like the Japanese ones.  The other thing is the British ones tasted more wheat-y than the Japanese ones.  Either way, both tastes good.  Give that a try.

 

Brightside Coffee Bar

I've been following Brightside Coffee on Instagram for a bit.  Finally got a chance to pick up a cup of joe.

They either set up shop in front of local shops or at markets, definitely make it easily assessable to them.

I was going to just get a regular latte but they talked me into getting the Cold Brew Latte with Oat milk.  I just added lavender for flavor.

This is my Cold Brew Lavender with Oat Milk.  It actually already has a hint of vanilla to it.  To add lavender honey, which they made in-house.  JJ the founder is ever so proud to tell us that the lavender honey is made with some lavender oil and lavender buds to brew up a very floral flavor.  To top it off, with the Oat Milk, they truly have a very smooth rounded taste to the latte.  Not to mention the cold brew itself.  I would actually describe this as a rich dessert for my morning.  Definitely need to revisit.

They also are doing coffee delivery in a jug.  You can get all that info on their site.

Brightside Coffee

https://brightsidecoffeebar.square.site

 

Hank's Ice Cream

Was poking around for a new ice cream place.

Down on Main Street hidden a shopping center.

Total Mom & Pop place, which I love.

They have tons of flavors: Oreo Flavor, Sweet Corn, Strawberry... etc.

We got Chocolate

And I got Butter Pecan, which I haven't had for a while.  And it definitely have chunks of pecan every few bites.  It does remind me how good it is and need to get that more often.

Remember to support small businesses.

Hank's Ice Cream

9291 Main Street

Houston, TX 77025

713-665-5103

 

Sandoitchi

Went back for week 2 for the Sandoitchi Popup. 

FINALLY! I got the Strawberry Matcha!

It's so pretty. 

Sando is made with Strawberries and matcha Chantilly cream.  What I do appreciate is that the combo is well balanced.  The strawberry is sweet and bit zingy, but the Chantilly cream mellows it out.  Not sweet at all.  Again the bread is not over-empowering the flavor which makes you focus more on the filling.

Now, if you're reading this, you're probably missed the last order window.  That said, don't despair.  Houston is working on its own sando place called Sando Gang.  So, keep your eye out for that!

Sandoitchi

https://www.sandoitchi.menu/

 

Lady Bird cookies

As part of a collaboration between Burge & Ladybird, for October box, they've included a few cookies in the box.

Here's their info on the cookie and their contact.

Did you see them hiding in the back?

This is what came with the box.  3 small cookies and one medium size cookie.

They were super cute and adorable... They did not, however, stop me from eating them.

The flavor is almond cookie.  They do have a layer of fondant on top to keep the color and shape so vibrant.  They are so darn cute too.  If you order from her, she does have other flavors.  Also, follow her on Instagram, occasionally she also does boxes or mix bags of her own.  Go support a local business!

Ladybird Houston

https://www.ladybirdhouston.com

 

Burge & Board charcuterie box

We ordered another charcuterie box for October from Burge & Board.

This month's has little pumpkin and little skeleton cookies too.

The cookies is you see in the corner is a collaborative with Ladybird Cookies.

Here's the full box in all its glory.

There are 3 cheeses, 2 types of fruits, chocolate truffles, cucumber, 2 types of mini bread for your cheese, olives and meat and last but not lease the wonderful pesto dip.

I don't know what she puts in the pesto sauce, it's so good and it goes with any meat and cheese combo here anyway you dip it.  Highly recommend.

In case you're hosting a socially distanced party and needed food to be not handled by everyone... this is another way to serve them charcuterie.

These are basically mini of the main box.  They do ask for 8 boxes minimum on these mini boxes.  And we did ask for turkey for couple replacement and the owner happily do that for us.  I'm so grateful that way any non-pork consumer are also able to enjoy this.  Don't worry, the mini box also have their fabulous pesto.

Of course they offer larger size boards, but if you wish to do the monthly box and her collabs with other small businesses follow her on Instagram for the latest updates.

Burge & Board

https://www.burgeandboard.com

 

Japanese Cream Puff

We've reported about Daido's prepared meal in the past.

We saw that they were putting out these goodies as we were checking out.

They have these crispy sugar on top with matcha filling.  They do offer the ingredients on the sign that it has egg, wheat flour, sugar , vanilla extract milk, butter and matcha powder.  You do see that they sprinkled some on top.  Don't worry for the die hards, they do have the vanilla version too.  Before March, they would offer these occasionally, but since March they were few and far between, so it is nice to see them offering these again.

Daido Supermarket

11146 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77042

https://daidohouston.squarespace.com

 

Sandoitchi Pop Up

So when Eater said fancy sandwich coming into town, you go and try it out.

You have to pre-order on their site.

As you place your order, they will tell the the location, and you get to select the time for pick up.

So, what did we get?

First up: we got the Egg Salad.  It's interesting, the bread is definitely not over-powering as much as an vehicle for the egg.  As you can see, the eggs are the soft boiled ones and the filling are scrambled with kewpie mayo.  

I will say that it is nice smooth and rich.  So definitely split the sando with someone.

This is the Katsu pork, which is fried pork with cabbage and kewpie mayo.  Compared to the spicy chicken, this is pale in terms of flavor palette.  Not over empowering, but definitely well done.

This is the Spicy Chicken.  It also have a layer of coleslaw in the sando.  As you take a bite, it's not spicy until you finished the sandwich, that's where the spice kicks in.  It's pretty good and well done, the coleslaw is not overly flavored and helps balance off the spiciness of the fried chicken.  Pretty good.

This is dachi kombucha - which is simmered pumpkin with the bonito soup stock. The top has the furikake flakes.  The furikake flakes are typical seasoning for rice dishes.  It has chopped bonito flakes, sesame, salt.  You see a lot of these or you can ask for them at the Japanese restaurants.  

This is not as flavorful as I had hoped.  Then again, this is in season, so I don't mind that.  We actually don't get this dish offered in a lot of Japanese restaurants here in Houston.

What did I miss?  By the time I checked out, the Strawberry Matcha was sold out.  So, I would've love to try that.  They also decided to offer the waygu truffle sando in the upcoming days, don't be shock, it'll be pricey.  They are in town for 3 weeks, I highly recommend to give them a try.

How this works, you sign up on their website, and when they are ready to open for pre-order, you will get a menu, date and time.  Place the order and do it quick.  The first round was sold out in 7 minutes!  Then, you go to the pick up spot, there's parking across the street.  You follow the sticker on the ground and wait in line.  Someone from their team will get your order number and by the time you get up to the door, they will get your order to you.

Sandoitchi

https://www.sandoitchi.menu/

 

Powered Black Sesame Desert

Another thing I found at the Asian Grocery store...

I was having a hankering for the Sesame dessert, thought why not.

The box comes in 4 pack, and they look like this.  This is an instant pack, so all you need is just water.

This is what it looks like - all black and all powder

After adding the water, you stir until it thickens.  Let cool, and ready to eat.  

So, how was it?  The texture is definitely lighter than the real thing.  The flavor is also not at full strength either.  The real sesame dessert, the dessert itself has more flavor and it is pack with a punch.  The instant is a bit lack luster.

Overall, does it do the trick, not really.  It does tie me over until I can go eat the real thing.  Meanwhile, I still have to finish what I have...

 

Thai Cottage

Went back to Thai Cottage since I was running errand in the area.

The key is to call ahead, otherwise, they don't take very long to get your food to you.

I got the Chicken Pad Thai this time.  Again, the lunch portion is half of the container. 

It comes with a veggie crisp (aka egg roll)

And a salad, this time with ginger salad dressing. 

It's 8.95 for lunch, that comes with 2 sides.  If it's not noodle, they comes with side of rice, egg roll, soup or salad.  You can substitute for a nominal charge.  Last time we placed the order online for pick up they gave us a free drink, they don't do it for pick up.  So, if you have time, it pays to place the order online.

Thai Cottage

5206 Bissonnet

Bellaire, TX 77401

713-838-0707

https://www.thai-cottage.com/location/bellaire-thai-cottage/