Dubu Dubu Korean

Was driving by this place and has been curious...

and you know, if it's Korean food, just sign me up.

I ordered Kimchi Fried Rice to go, and it came with banchan and soup.

I will say, that is the best damn kimchi fried rice I've ever had.  It came with an egg, but it by itself was pretty dang good.  The banchan dishes are kimchi, kimchi-ed shredded veggie, picked turnip, and mix veggie.  You get so much more than just normal dish.  

Dubu technically is tofu in Korean, but they have all sorts of meat dishes (and veggie dishes too).  The place is family owned and operated.  So if you can support a mom and pop shop, please do give them your patronage. 

Dubu Dubu Korean

3815B Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 77027

713-592-3007

https://www.dubudubutx.com/

 

Elote & Papusa

Went to an Astro's game and needed to find dinner.

The last time I was here, I saw this place, and thought I needed to give it a try.

I got the Nachos deluxe.  

I got some decent seats.

It has obviously chips, brisket, pico, white cheese.  It was a pretty full meal.  

Of course, the cost reflects it too.  This is truly a meal to its own and given how much food it came with, being $20 is about right.  So you can imagine, add a drink, you got your $30 meal.

Elote & Papusa

inside Houston Daikin Park 

across from Section 124

https://www.mlb.com/astros/ballpark/information/concessions

 

Rita's Frozen Custard

For a hot day, we decided to stop by Rita's and get some treats. 

We grabbed a milkshake and...

frozen yogurt. They have hand scooped and frozen ones from a machine.  What I do like, though, is how rich the chocolate flavor is with the frozen custard. 

Besides frozen custard, they have shake, gelati, Italian Ice, blenders... so it's not just frozen custard.

It's cute, it's a walk-up and you can see the offerings they have.  You can also order online and then go to the pick-up window for pickup too.  You can definitely ride your bike up to the window and get a cool treat.

Rita's Frozen Custard

5429-A S.Braeswood Blvd

Houston, TX 77096

832-915-1567

https://www.ritasice.com/location/ritas-of-houston-meyerland-tx/

 

Lomichi TX

Mia's Goodies got rebranded as Lomichi TX.

Thank goodness that when they re-brand they kept the Mango Sago drink.  That is truly the best one in town.  The sago is made fresh, they throw in fresh diced mango in the mix.  The size is also larger.

They still sell mochi with different flavors.  They also have cream puffs, which they've always have that on the menu. 

Not to mention, now they started to sell different kinds of ice cream.

Since I was zero-ing in on the sago, I wasn't paying close attention to what offerings they have until I was about to go.  They seems to have done away with the savory offerings, but this works just fine. 

Lomichi HTX

inside Jusgo Supermarket

3412 Hwy 6

Ste N

Sugarland, TX 77479

https://www.lomichi.com/

 

Hong Kong Food Court

Word got on the street (or social media), that there's a new place.

It's a Hong Kong style place, and it's in the depth of Missouri City.

The inside looks wonderful, very hip, very up beat.  BUT! do pay attention to the sign at the door, they do ask that you grab a table before you place your order. 

You place your order on one of the three kiosks, or they do have a cashier station.  When you place the order, you have to grab a number for your table, so they can bring the food to you.

I got the Milk Tea, and you can taste how it was brew with stocking.  The tea is strong because it's a mix of several black tea.

Don't worry, they don't really use a stocking, but a cotton bag that looks like stocking.   

Of course I got the iced lemon tea too.  You can tell it's Ceylon tea, but not sweet enough. 

I got the Hong Kong Style French Toast.  The slab of butter was a bit much, so had to cut some of that off.

The inside of the toast has peanut butter, then soaked in egg batter, then fried.  You can melt the butter with maple syrup mixture and slather all around to make it more moist.  The bread should've been thicker, which is how it's served in Hong Kong's Cha Chaan Teng.  That is the perfect place where the mix of the English and the Chinese fusioned. 

For me, this place has great hype.  It's great decor, selling nostalgia.  Flavor however, did not deliver as most of us hoped.  Right now, it's popular because it's still new, and they are selling out on weekends.  Try for yourself, do go early though.  Hopefully, when everything started to operate to the norm, the true (and good) flavors comes through.

Hong Kong Food Court

4899 Hwy 6 

Ste 119F

Missouri City, TX 77459

832-987-1510

https://www.hongkongfoodcourt.com/

 

Earthcraft Juicery

Needed a bit of protein and bit of fruit.

I got the Victor's Secret - which has peanut butter, banana, blackberries, apples, maca, almond milk and date.  It's all blended into a yummy goodness.  

They also sold cold press juice which is good for cleanse.  Also granola, overnight oats, smoothies, coffee, açai bowls, different kinds of toasts and bagels.  They also have a few burrito too.

Earthcraft Juicery

2400 Mid Lane 

Ste 130

Houston, TX 77027

832-516-9050

https://earthcraftjuicery.com/

 

Honey Art Cafe

Went back to Honey Art Cafe.

I got a Peach Tea and a Toast macaron. 

The format is, you can pick a craft and it comes with token for a blank project and a drink.  Or you can BYO project and grab a drink/food.  I get business is not easy to do, but the entire counter seems to be crowded with a lot of merch.  I didn't even have the patience to see what other local artists have to offer. 

The reason why I've stopped coming here is truly the parking.  The lot is small, and the other businesses in the strip center are just as popular.  Now come to find out that all of the owners took a stand and if they see that you park there and walk to a different business, they will tow.  As a matter of fact, we were there for an hour or so, we saw that they tow 2 cars in quick order too.  Mind you, one of them was a brand new Buick that I'm pretty sure they damaged.  They don't mess around.  

That said, there are parking at the back of the building, but if it's busy even those spots are hard to come by.  Just keep your eyes peeled, read the signs and obey them.  Now, good news is that they are moving to the Heights, so hopefully the parking situation would be better. 

 

Honey Art Cafe

3516 Shepherd Dr

Houston, TX 77098

832-582-0672

https://honeyartcafe.com

Drake's Hollywood

Went to Drake's down in Montrose for dinner. 

It was at the former Underbelly's location.  And it looks tremendously different both inside and out. 

They are definitely trying to re-create that Hollywood & Vine kinda of feel.  Got glam and food.

I got the cucumber spritz, which has cucumber, lime, mint and mineral water.  I'm liking the mocktails that are not sweet, so that goes well with the dinner. 

Saw a lot of recommendations of Spicy Ceasar salad.  That is a very unique and it is delicious. 

This is my favorite, it's the Cauliflower Dynamite - it's like sweet and sour chicken, except it's cauliflower - not chicken. 

We got the Pasta Za Za - spicy rigatoni, sausage, chili and parmesan.  It's not bad, I see a lot of tables ordered this.  It's ok, but the cauliflower rocks my socks off. 

For the Pizza, we got the Ozzy's - which has steak, arugula, onion, truffle oil, and balsamic glaze.  I think they over did on the truffle oil there.  The meat was fine, the flavor was fine, but nothing super.

The place does need a reso for.  It was funny, for happy hour, they play fun jazz music to help create mood for dining.  But somehow turn 8pm, it was club hour.  I can barely hear my friends.  Another odd thing, when we asked our server what he'd recommend, the only thing he can say anything positive was the appetizer.  That was odd.  As the night progressed, we also saw less and less of our server too.  So, it was strange.  

Ok, let's talk parking: that area is very tight and not alot of self-parking opportunities to be had.  That said, if you were to valet, it is $20 for the parking.  So bring cash, they don't take cards. 

Drake's Hollywood

1100 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77006

https://www.drakeshollywood.com/location/drakes-houston/

 

Ichijiku Neighborhood Sushi Bar

So heard of an omakase in Chinatown.

Walked in the place was jumping... turns out most people were taking advantage of the happy hour.

The offerings aren't bad from the looks of it.

But I'm here for the sushi.  I love how they display their fresh fish in a nice box. And twist my arm...

To start, we got a miso soup.

Oysters on the half shell, it has ponzu sauce and scallion.  Pretty decent.

This is a Spicy Tuna on top and crispy rice at the bottom.  Even with the flavors, the texture didn't grab me.

Got the truffle fries, it came with Japanese mayo. 

As part of my omakase, it has 3 mini apps - it has edamame, tempura veggie and shrimp, and chicken wings. 

Then came the Tuna - very fresh. 

Then ginger soy, aioli and salmon with tobiko on top. 

After that is hamachi, with yuzu soy and micro wasabi - the micro was so small, you wouldn't even get a hint of the wasabi.  I do like the aioli. 

This is Madai with yuzu salt and chive.  I do love me some yazu salt. 

Then the waygu - it's not the best cut, it was too chewy. 

Not pictured Ebi shrimp with mayo and tobiko.

Then spicy salmon roll.

For dessert, Warabi mochi, it's mochi covered with soybean flour and syrup with a scoop of matcha ice cream and frozen strawberry.  It was interesting to taste, you got 3 very distinct flavors on that one plate.  But I was so full that could barely touch it.

Overall, was it good? not spectacularly.  Was it bad? no.  But given Houston has so many options, there's nothing stood out here.  

At any rate, the Happy Hour is popular here, but by 7pm the place cleared out.  I do worry that people are here for the snacks and it can't stand the wave of the meal and they have so many staff manning the shop.  

If you find yourself in the area and want a quick meal, they are fast.  Their happy hour is worth checking out.  But do that instead of omakase.  If you do want to come for happy hour, couldn't hurt to make a reso.

Ichijiku 

9393 C Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

https://www.ichijikuhouston.com/

 

Alora

I saw someone promoting Alora on IG, and thought it was worth trying. 

It is located at the former location of Kau Ba down Montrose/Westheimer area. 

I got the Mojito mocktail, luckily, it's not super sweet like most places you get a mocktail. 

I'd ask for the bartender special mocktail, and they did something with chili and lime juice.  Pretty good for a hot day.

Got the Crispy Spring Roll - the sauce is like a kind of taro sauce. 

This dish I loved, Patatas Bravas - the potato is crispy enough, and the sauce is rocoto aioli flavor - so addictive, so good. 

This is the La Bajada Trio - it's a good Happy Hour dish.  They made their own goldfish, roasted their own  nuts.  The BBQ rice chips were so good, dish that they just have that as a dish.  Then you got some green mango and chili sauce. 

Had the Chaufu fried rice.  I've had some Peruvian fried rice before, but it was not as flavorful as I'd preferred. 

The cuisine is a cross between Peru & Vietnam, and I will say some dishes were out of the park.  Some it was meh,  since we're lucky enough to be in a town that diversity of food is so easily accessible.  Also, while they do ask for reservations, we went on a Thursday and it was not crowded at all.  The place is not big, there's plenty of outdoor seatings.  But they were no busy.  

The parking in the area is tight.  There's no valet for the place.  But plenty street parking, just be courteous to the neighbors. 

Alora

2502 Dunlavy St

Houston, TX 77005

713-485-4836

https://www.alorahtx.com/

 

The Union Kitchen

Met a friend for lunch on the Memorial area.

Union Kitchen seems to have the most variety for any kinds of musing. 

The Cajun Chicken Linguini was calling my name.  The chicken was good, and the sauce is Cajun Cream sauce, I like those because it has a mini-kick but nothing spicy.  There are some sausage hidden in there, it's all pretty good. 

The service is great, it has a great neighborhood feel.  Folks come here for lunch, some looks to be standing lunch, some brings the whole family here.  It's a cute spot even though the area is pretty busy.  You don't need a reservation, but if you plan on coming during peak meal time, it's best that you have one. 

The Union Kitchen

12538 Memorial Dr

Houston, TX 77024

713-360-2000

https://www.theunionkitchen.com/