Tom N Tom Coffee

Back to Carrollton, Korean Shopping area

My impression of Tom N Tom in Dallas is very different than the ones in Houston.  The ones in Houston is a simple direct.  This one in Dallas is like a whole sit down cafe.  It has 2 levels, cases to show the food offerings and they have alot of savory and desserts on their menu than the ones I've seen in Houston. 

I got the Mango Matcha Latte - it's a tad too much matcha, not enough mango for my taste.

For snack, needed some protein, got these Pepperoni Pretzel bites.  Truly, it's like a mini pizza per bite.  It's pretty good but as pretzels goes, it's bread-y.

I really like this place.  They obviously have coffee, cakes, tea, bubble tea, pizza, sandwiches, smoothies and even apps.  But they also have Korean BingSu, milk ice dessert, and lots of variations.  

This location makes you feel like you're tucked away.  Folks come in to grab a drink, stay out of the heat.  Young people bring their laptops in to do some work.  There are tables that are tucked away for privacy if they come here for a coffee date.  The space has a little bit for everyone, that it's cool on the outside too (not pictured). 

At any rate, if you can find a parking spot on the weekend, this is a fun little spot to hang between the shopping and the meals. 

Tom N Tom's Coffee

2625 Old Denton Rd

#406

Carrollton, TX 75007

972-446-6633

https://tomntomscarrollton.com/

 

The Brunch District

Came to Brunch District.

Very cute brunch place for the suburb of Dallas. 

Lots of seating at the bar, but it's also cutely decorated. 

And in case you want to use your phone for menu, just scan the cube.

But first! Coffee!

I just have more hydrate issue.  I have my coffee, my OJ, and my water.  You know stay hydrate and all that. 

I got their Migas.  Mainly because I haven't had one in a long time.  But also, it's not heavy like egg Benedicts or omelets.  Migas was good scrambled eggs, tomato, onion, jalapeño, tortilla chips and jack and cheddar cheese.  Plus very generous portion for diced potato.  You can add meat to it as well, they have: chorizo, brisket, chicken or pork.  Service was good, everyone is chipper and happy on a weekend morning, when the whole place is packed. 

This is definitely a hoppin' place on the weekend.  As it goes, they do not take reso on weekends, so be early and bring patience, you'll definitely have a good meal. 

The Brunch District

3855 Glade Rd

Ste 170

Colleyville, TX 76034

682-503-4702

https://thebrunchdistrict.com/

 

Redstraw

You can't be in an Asian Shopping center and not go into the bubble tea place. 

As a matter of fact, there's so many of those around that it's hard not to trip into one of them. 

I got the Mango Mojito which is jasmine green tea brewed with mango bits and lime inside.  They also have coffee, custom tea mix and milk tea too because they are brewing it for you to order, the order does take longer. 

It's a good afternoon resting spot.  You can actually order online and pick up there to shorten the wait. 

Redstraw

1012 Mac Arthur Drive

#148

Carrollton, TX 75007

https://redstrawteabar.com/

 

Jinkook Korean

So in Dallas, there's a sizable Korean town area. 

One of the places that was recommended was Jinkook.  This is a very authentic mom and pop kinda place and it is intimate = not alot of tables. 

Seafood Pancake, which has lots of seafood ingredients, definitely worth getting. 

Bossam - which is Korean's style of broil pork wrap.  It has pork, kimchi, and squid. 

Banchan - we have kimchi, salad, and kimchi daikon. 

Cute little pot arrives.

They have Purple Rice!!!  They added peas and beans to add flavors to the rice. 

The table liked the Ox Tail Soup. Super flavorful and full-bodied. 

This is the Eel Soup - there's tons of ingredients in there.  Besides broth, there's scallion, freshwater eel, and glass noodles. 

This is Pork Stir Fry, very flavorful and definitely has a kick. 

For sure, next time I'm going to get the Chicken Ginseng Soup next time.  That was a very popular dish and saw tables around us getting it.  The Ox Tail is good, maybe get the eel in a different style next time. 

The Jinkook

1012 MacArthur Drive

#144

Carrollton, TX 75007

469-986-1012

https://www.thejinkook.com/

 

Braum's

I pulled my kid into my childhood favorite.

Keep in mind, it is a childhood nostalgia thing, not it's the best in the world thing.

We ordered meal for both of us.  It came with a sandwich and fries with a drink.  We upgraded one to a shake and just regular drink for the other. 

Yep, nothing spectacular, it's just something I used to have when I was a kid.  Cheeseburger... of course, if you finish your meal, you get an ice cream (read: reward, not free from the place).

I got me a scoop of Rocky Road, my go-to.  Super creamy, super flavorful.  Mainly because they are a diary shop and ice cream parlor. 

I was surprised to see they have a mini market.  They have their own bread & brownie on top of ice cream, sorbet and the like.  

They have regular groceries too. 

If you're ever in a pinch, you can really just hop in, grab a meal or an ice cream and get what you need, so you don't have to haul yourself to the store and get lost strolling around.

Growing up, friends had worked at Braum's after school.  So we would go to hang out with friends and buy an ice cream (or two).  I did know they sell food, maybe have gotten fries, but I don't often eat there.  They do serve alot of breakfast food, but otherwise, burgers, chicken sandwich, or chicken tenders. Not too many choices to pick from.  Again, this is just a nostalgia stop and showing my kid where we hang out after school. 

Braum's

518 Centennial Blvd

Richardson, TX 75081

972-783-9945

https://www.braums.com/store/518-centennial-blvd-richardson-tx/

 

Cafe Brazil

When I go to Dallas, I go to my old haunts. 

Even though, technically, I didn't come to Cafe Brazil until after I've moved away from Dallas. 

My favorite item to get: Coffee... we'll talk more about that.

For my main, I got the Fruit Pancrepes.  There's 4 big crepes with cold fruit and puree.  That combo of hot and cold is so good, and I just love that so much.  I come back for it year after year.  

Mind you, for their other food offering, there's decent about of omelets and egg dishes, or migas or tacos.  So this is a great place to bring friends because it has a little bit of everything. 

Another good thing about this place, they are opened 24/7, so you can come anytime and breakfast is served all day.  

When you walk in, especially if it's busy.  Head over to the coffee bar and get yourself a cup and pick your coffee.  Or, mix your flavors, I do.  

Cafe Brazil

2071 N. Central Expressway

Richardson, TX 75080

972-783-9011

https://cafebrazil.com/

 

Maru Ramen

You know when you're on the road, too busy to look for food, you have to take some risk.

Sometimes they paid off, sometimes they don't...

Got the Veggie Tempura - I would say, I do appreciate the squash and beans to the mix.

I got the Unagi Ramen, because it looked good.  I was surprised to see that the unagi came separate, it's almost like why did I bothered.  I'd rather them keep the unagi with the rice than with the noodles.  It came with Tonkotsu Ramen, and add the fish if you wish.  The type of noodles I got was the Sapporo type which is yellow curly egg noodles.  It has more elastic and chewier than the regular ones.  The broth base is fine, not as thick as some base we've had, but it did what you need it to do.

The place was not not-busy, but it's more like an easy dinner thing than coming here because it's so good, we must come back repeatedly. 

Maru Ramen

400 N. Greenville

Dallas, TX 

972-792-8888

https://www.maruramen.com/

 

Ocean Prime

Up for a business lunch in Dallas.

For a shi-shi place like this, Houston can definitely support, I'm surprised they did not have a branch here. 

Since it's a business lunch, nothing fancy.  Started with an Arnold Palmer with some bread, nice and warm bread.

I went with the Poke Bowl, some chopped Ahi Tuna, some salmon, wasabi tobiko, Sriracha Vinaigrette.  The vinaigrette was a surprise.  I was curious if it would be spicy, but turns out it was ok.  The flavors mixed well, not too spicy over all.  The fishes were sashimi grade and mixed it all up, it's super flavorful. 

For lunch it's easy to get in here, but for dinner, a reservation is highly recommended.  Of course they have their own valet.  If a little chill is what you're after, they do have giant heat lamps for the tables outside and a chic fire place if you want to sit by and have drinks there. 

Ocean Prime

2101 Cedar Spring Rd

Dallas, TX 75201

214-965-0440

https://ocean-prime.com/locations-menus/dallas/

 

Jeng Chi

Went to dinner in Dallas, and friends wanted to go to Jeng Chi

I will say, the population of patronage has definitely changed since my last visit.  But also made me wonder where is everyone else is eating.

Anyway, we still had a very full dinner.

Got the Crab and Pork XLB, not as flavorful as DTF, but the skin texture is better.

Got the Snow Pea leaves, it's stir fried with garlic, one of my favorite way to eat.

Then got some Mapo Tofu, and my fav is when they incorporate chopped up pork with the sauce.  It really makes it filling.  For a cold night, have some meat, some tofu, and some sauce over rice, it's the ultimate comfy food.

Jeng Chi

400 North Greenville

Richardson, TX 75081

972-669-9094

https://jengchirestaurant.com/

 

Cafe Brazil

One of my fav cafe from my 20s is Cafe Brazil.

As usual, the Cafe Brazil in suburb is easier to get a table than down in Dallas or Bishop Art area.

My favorite please for all Cafe Brazil, is the self-serve coffee bar.  At any time, they have at least 5 types of coffee all brewed and ready for pour.   By the way, it's bottomless, and you can mix and match, which is what I did.  Of course, I hit the right combo right when I paid my bill, but no worries, I made sure I got a to-go cup so I can finish it. 

Of course, what I wanted to get is the fruit pan crepe.  It's a bunch of mini crepes with fruit, drizzled with creme anglaise and raspberry sauce mix.  What I like about it is that the creme sauce is nice and cold and not too sweet, the raspberry sauce gives it a little kick.  Definitely lovely for a brunch/breakfast dish.  The batter has cinnamon in the crepe.  So nice to have it hit my tummy.

Cafe Brazil in Dallas is always busy, it's close to alot of yuppy area as well as SMU, so if you go there, you need to go there early.  Better luck at the 'burbs.  Don't worry, they're open 24hours a day, so feel free to go anytime.

Cafe Brazil

2701 N. Central Expressway

Richardson, TX 75080

972-783-9011

https://cafebrazil.com/

 

Okaeri Cafe

In Japanese, Okaeri means welcome home.  The respond for the person who comes home after a long day of work.  And the respond to the person who said Okaeri is Tadaima.  So it's very nice to be welcomed home.

At any rate, it's clever that they said welcome home and makes you feel very warm and welcomed.

In the store, besides the order counter, it's a very happy shibu inu.  They were hunting dog in the past but now Shibu is to Japanese culture like Corgi is to British culture.   

Ok, what I ordered, because I can't stay, I ordered Omu Rice with curry.  Omu rice is short for Omelete Rice.  They basically have a soft omelet on top or envelope a little pile of rice.  I like curry so have that added on the side.  Of course, Japanese curry is nice and sweet - not like dessert sweet, but the characteristic is sweet not spicy.  Flavor just as nice.

Next up I ordered dessert.  Typically I'm accustomed to seeing it in a cup and to be drank.  But for some reason, it came in a box with separate containers...

So it is basically Matcha Affogato.  Never had that like this format before.  Frankly, I had wanted the matcha shot to melt my ice cream so I can drink it.  But now it's more like a drippy sundae.  Oh well.  I get the taste, not the effect.  All good. 

Anyway, Okaeri is in a small shopping center, but don't let that fool you.  Tons of space inside.  You can come in sit in tatami style booth, in case you want to emerge yourself into the experience.  Otherwise, there's lots of food to choose from: hot dog,  bento and kids meal too. 

Okaeri Cafe

312 N. Greenville Ave

Richardson, TX 75081

972-685-4442

https://www.okaericafe.com/

Andretti's

Took the kiddo to do his first indoor karting.

I really like the safety precaution that Andretti has for the junior racers.  All the cars are remote controlled, so if need be, they can slow down all the cars at the same time to avoid any collision.  That's great especially for young drivers.  You have less chance to crash or bump into each other.  Also helps the works to get this kids out of jams that they won't get hurt.

After some play, we were ready for lunch.

So they do have a grown-up bar with grownup alcohol.  But since we were there at lunch, just a little flatbread will do.  

I'm glad to see that besides 'bar food', they also has decent quality of flatbreads/pizza, burgers, and real entree's like salmon, fancy fish tacos, and chicken pasta.  

The flatbread I got you can tell was made to order.  Not overly drizzly with oil but you can tell someone meticulously put that together.  The brisket quality was good and lots of pico and avocado, and I'm not complaining about that.  

I will say, the food area is not equipped to handle alot of traffic, so if you're going to eat, order it before the lunch crowd or dinner crowd begins.

Andretti's Indoor Karting & Games

3750 State Hwy 161

Grand Prairie, TX 75052

469-945-3278

https://andrettikarting.com/grandprairie/eat-drink