HRW - Himari

Another Japanese HRW, this one happens to be lunch. 

Got a iced green tea to start, since it's so hot outside.

First course, it's Himari's Kanpachi - which is Amberjack, slice of orange, and radish sitting in ponzu sauce.  The bite combined with orange really did the trick.  That made it less salty. 

Second course, it's the Waygu Pitchfork, which is a roll with Waygu with asparagus and shallot.  The sauce is really good, there's not enough flavor from Waygu. 

3rd course is Sweet Potato Tempura - that's one of my fav's, so no problem there. 

That was so much food that I ended up taking the dessert to go.  Since the other options are ice cream and it'll sure melt.  I picked chocolate truffle cake. It's pretty dense, there's chocolate crumble and peanuts on the side.  Drizzled with miso caramel, which I do like because it's not too sweet to offset the chocolate cake. 

Here's my thing about the place, it's not big, but you have to flag down the server's attention.  Then, between course 1 and 2 and 3, it's at least 20 mins.  Yes, I was sitting there for an hour.  Several occasions have to look for someone to check on the status of my order.  

Lastly, since the shopping center is super kid friendly, which is great and good because kids can run around and run the energy out.  At the same time, you have to give grace to the parents who wants sushi while they're there (aka read: there will be screaming children in the restaurant - lucky they don't have enough room for them to run around, but screaming will be had).  

Do you need a reservation? Not exactly, the place is not huge.  But I have a feeling if you can't find seating here, there are other good food around without you having the re-park your car.  I would say this is an ok place if you're in a hurry or with kids.  Save the special outings to another place. 

Hirmari

1223 W. 34th Street 

Suite C500

Houston, TX 77018

832-582-5005

https://www.himarihtx.com/

 

HRW - Aiko

This is my first HRW this year. 

The menu list this year nothing really excited me, but a good excuse to meet up with friends.  

I like how they have duckies everywhere...

They have a few mocktails to choose from, I got the Herbed Lavender Lemonade.  I asked that they don't make it too sweet, but it became too tart. 

For starter, we got the karaage - fried chicken (for kids - that's chicken nugs for you).  The sauce is aioli japaleno, which is super delicious but also spicy... eep!

I got the Maguro Crudo - which is bluefin tuna, ponzu sauce, and chili garlic chips - very delicious match with a little piece of apple to balance out. 

We split the maki's for 2nd course - I got the Sake Make - which has King Salmon on top with yuzu chili pepper sauce.  The other one in the back is the Hamachi Maki - which is yellowtail with cilantro on top.

3rd course, I asked for Nigri 3pc - it has Hamachi (Yellowtail) , Kanapachi (Amberjack fish), and Hirami (Flounder).

Of course, I'm greedy, so I got an extra piece of Waygu - it's ok.  I did ask for foie gras but they ran out.  The Waygu was a bit too chewy for the cut.  That can be done better. 

Come dessert time!!!  It's like a little piece of of cloud on top of my dessert.

Closer look, it's Milk Tea Boba Tiramisu.  Not going to lie, while I did love the boba, which tasted fresh (aka not chewy), it is not as good as Brian's; there! I said it.  

It's not bad, the tiramisu didn't have too much of either the coffee or tea flavor.  The flavor really was vanilla, which is the base.  It is not dry but the flavor really came from the boba.  

Lastly, just want to show ya'll - when they tell you do take care of business in the woods... they made it happened.  LOL.  Half kidding, the bathroom is really at the end of the hallway.

The restaurant is actually not very big, so if you plan on coming, do plan on making a reservation.  Of course, the bar area does have full service, that's first come first serve with no reservation.  For parking, they do have a lot next to the entrance, they do have a valet if you wish, but plenty of spots you can park yourself.   

Aiko

1902C Washington Ave

Houston, TX 77007

832-582-7525

https://www.aikohtx.com/

 

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/

 

Seiwa Market

One of the neat things about going to Japanese grocery stores is all the food that are freshly prepared. 

Came back to Seiwa for lunch and got some yummy goodness.  We got a bowl of negitoro (chopped raw tuna) don (rice dish).  Then a set of sashimi with salmon, tuna, scallop, octopus, squid, and hamachi. 

Of course, we see uni (sea urchin) and cannot help ourselves.  It was a pretty fulfilling lunch, there were 2 of us splitting it, and can barely finish it.  Mostly protein and some carb (from the rice), but definitely rich.  

The key about getting more selection and fresh fish for sushi, bento, or lunch in general: come before noon.  There's more to choose from the earlier you get there.  There are hot food and cold food.  And for the hot ones, they are refrigerated and there is a microwave on site to heat it up (and utensils).  There's tables for you to eat there, so if you're super hungry, they've got you!

Seiwa Supermarket

1801 S. Dairy Ashford

Ste 116

Houston, TX 77077

281-920-1906

https://www.seiwamarket.com/location/#houston-store

 

Tsujita Artisan Noodles

Strangely enough, when I was in Japan, I didn't get to have any legit ramen.

To make up for it, had some when I came back to Houston. 

I got the Deluxe Tonkotsu - just because I wanted extra chasiu (pork slices).   I actually think the charsiu and noodles are ok.  I just really liked the soup base.  It has texture and it is on the thicker side with more flavor.  I can do it with the soup on a different noodle.   That said, it's not a bad dish, just that if you break it all apart, I would rank Soup, Egg, Pork, and Noodles. 

The place doesn't take reso, so first come, first serve.  For lunch, there's plenty of tables, not sure about weekends. 

Tsujita Artisan Noodles

12230 Westheimer Rd

#A-160

Houston, TX 77077

https://www.tsujita.com/westchase-tx

 

Japan's Lawson's

Ok ok - last post about Japan.

It's actually pretty cool at Narita airport.  That includes a Lawson (another convenient store).

Fun fact: Lawson actually was originally from Ohio.  As they expand and expand they reached Japan.  But as they merge and merge in the States, they slowly blended into the other brands.  But the ones in Japan got incorporated on their own and became its own brand. 

Like 7-11 in Japan, they are just as competitive in their offering, bill pay, tax refund, ATMs...etc.  Oh yeah, bread, drinks, cold food, sandwiches.

Rice balls, prepared dishes, and the variety is huge. 

What Lawson is most famous for, however is their fried chicken.  You can find that right next to the cashier counter, and those were definitely better than any airplane meals.  How you get it on board it's on you!  

One kitsch thing to get at Lawson, it's their striped stocks.  It's very grandpa ish, but still hip!  They run specials in the stores, keep an eye out!

This time I got the fruit sando. 

Another fun fact, if you want a plastic bag, they do have an up-charge for that.  If it's not because I had my hands full, I would've just carried it, but alas...

Since I had time to kill, I went up to the observation deck to enjoy my sandwich. 

At the airport, they have their own lego store.  Which I always think it's odd.  How you're on a plane, though have hours to kill.  But if you are missing a piece while putting the thing together, it's not easy to get.  But it's a cute store nonetheless.

The other thing you will find in both airports in Tokyo.... it's Pikachus EVERYWHERE.

Not just merch, game, upgrades, and stuff.

They are all around the concourse, directional guide and signs even.  Good thing they're cute.

Alright, this is my last post about Japan.  We'll be back to Houston food next week!

Lawson's

https://www.lawson.jp/en/

 

Japan's 7-11

Japan is a very neat place, when you get out of the subway station:

You turn one way and see towering modern buildings.  That one over there looks like poop on top.  Actually, it's supposed to be beer foam, but it looks like golden poop to me. 

Turn to another way, you get traditional temple and shops.  But what is more important and fun, going to 7-11!

It has so much offerings.  Ready to go sandwiches.

Prepared side dishes

Prepared meal that all you have to do is to heat it up.

Rice balls that goes on for days....

Just the variety and there's so many different dishes and styles. 

And yes, they do have frozen meals too. 

But let's see what I got (note: I did not have all of these in 1 setting, this is all through out my visit):

This looks cute - no idea what it is.

It's an egg custard flan. 

Fresh juice.  Fun fact: they cannot show picture of real fruit if they do not have real juice.

I love baumkuchen - it's a German cake, but leave it to the Japanese to make it better. 

They called this chocolate crepe, but it's really chocolate crispy.

Chocolate covered banana chips - it's actually not as good as it looked. 

Another fun fact: whatever size they are on the package, it's also a real size of the food inside. 

This is the Salty Rice Crackers - this one, I would stock it all up next time I'm there.  They are just rice cracker, but the salt was not too salty and it's right.

Also found this gem.

It's a mont blanc, and I'm a sucker for anything chestnut.

It came in pudding-like form.  And it doesn't taste as good as I'd thought it'd be.

This is the ever so popular egg salad sandwich.

I know people dog it back home, but it's actually pretty good and it's a stable for our group.  It has protein, tasted good, and it a great on-the-go kinda food.  The first day I was there, I brought on on the way to Disney, and while we wait in line it was a good and easy breakfast.

Another thing that I buy on the repeat: diced apple.  Again, they cannot show a picture of a real fruit, if the content inside it's not from the real thing.

It's all clean and diced, very little oxidation.  And on the back of the bag for ingredients, and they even list the region where the apple is from.  I have never loved knowing where my food came from so much.

At their local 7-11, they can handle your bills, event tickets, shipping your luggage.  They have copier, ATM (fun-fact, a lot of times it's cheaper than other financial institutions fee).  Besides food, drinks, bill pay, they also have small amount of medicine, household goods, change of clothes.  BUT! My favorite of then all, they sell a cup of frozen fruit, you pay for it, then put it into the machine next to cashier and it will blend the smoothie for you.  All for less than $2USD.  They also have a similar machine for coffee drinks too.  See, we don't have those here. 

Japan's 7-11

https://www.sej.co.jp/in/en.html