Americas

Went to Americas for a friend's birthday.  I haven't been there for at least 2 years.  Not for any particular reasons, just didn't have the occasions and it's not exactly in my hood.

 For start, I had a side salad, it's pretty huge for a side salad.  It has various greens, corn, tomato (peeled), pickled onion and feta cheese.  I asked for vinaigrette but it doesn't taste like there were any there.

Since the power went out mid meal due to a thunderstorm, we all dined by candlelight.  Luckily, our food were cooked on gas stove, so didn't impact our food coming out.  For sure, drinks they can keep refilling.  

Anyway, I got the Chicken Fried Lobster Taco, which has hoisin sauce, cole slaw, avocado, the lobster.  The side was rice with plantain and beans.  I cut the lobster in half just knowing that it'll bound to overflow.  But that didn't do the trick it still went over.  So maybe 2/3 size would work.

So, it was strange, it poured, thundered and power went out.  Even though we were seated around 6pm, dinner prime time is usually 6:30 -7:30p, and the power didn't go out until after 7pm.  But we look around, there were plenty of tables emptied.  For a very popular spot for dinner and it's a Saturday night, we were very surprised that there weren't more customers.  Of course, once the power was out, they call the patrons to let them know that they have no power and cancel what they can.  But still, I can imagine people are already there earlier.  So, it was strange to witness for a Cordua establishment.

Americas

2040 West Gray

Houston, TX 77019

http://www.americasrestaurant.com

Five Guys

Whenever we're out in Katy, we will always stop by Five Guys.

Amazingly, the small fries is supposed to be that small, but it came with a big bag of over flow.  Note to self, ask for kid's size, which will probably be correct.  A quick note, they also cook it in peanut oil, in case you have peanut allergies.

This is a Little Hamburger, which is really a normal size hamburger.  I had lettuce, bbq sauce, and mushroom, and that's already lots.  If you're real hungry, get the double, which has 2 patties and add all the toppings you want, which will guarantee you to be full.

Five Guys Burgers

1150 N. Fry Road

Suite A

Houston, TX 77084

281-647-6555

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Table 57

We always enjoy going to Table 57.   Food is good, they have great live music, the kids can run around at the play area.

Got there for brunch and invited a few more friends who've never came for brunch.  They were so impressed that they can do grocery shopping later.  Let me tell you, as a mom, these are the precious moments where you can combine several need-to-dos with nice-to-have scenarios.  

Anyway, got the breakfast my way with 2 eggs (sunny side up), bacon (nice and crispy), diced potato (that has a kick to it).  Of course, it came with biscuit should you want to make your own breakfast sandwich.  It was lots of food, shared with the kiddo and barely finished it for the 2 of us.  The dining here is casual and easy.  Though, now that the heat has been turned on here in Houston, it's less enjoyable being outside, both for little kids and grownups.   We'll be back, but will be in the side room next round.

Table 57

inside HEB on San Felipe

5895 San Felipe

Houston, TX 77057

713-978-5860

http://www.table57houston.com

Popfancy

I was dying for something sweet and came across Popfancy.

It is located at the Rink Level of the Galleria mall.

These are fancy popsicle flavors, include Thai Tea, Caphe Su Da, Champagne Pear, Coconut Milk... and more.

I went with Lavender Matcha (Green Tea).

Wow, came out very pretty.  Flavor is not bad either.  You can definitely taste the green tea, the lavender so-so.  But I do feel like I'm having cold green tea with creamy flavor.   Definitely going back and try the other flavors.

Popfancy Pops

Houston Galleria Mall

Rink Level

5085 Westheimer Rd

Court Ste 110

Houston, TX 77056

832-483-2075

http://www.popfancypops.com/

Uchi

It sure has been a long while since I've been to Uchi.

As usual, we try to get the Sake Social and linger thru dinner time.  That's so fun, you get some dishes at discount, sure to get a decent seat and enjoy the food and company at the same time.

Eggplant Nigiri, I know people look at me like a crazy person, but their eggplant sushi is super good. It is grilled, not too mushy, and it has this lemon curd for taste, not too zesty or zingy.

This is the Sake Social sushi maki: avo maki, which has avocado, fried shallot and yuzu kosho (don't know what that is but it's good).

Machi Cure, one of my standard go-to.  It is: smoked yellowtail, yucca chips, marcona almond, pear.  The trick is to put all of that on the chip in one bite to get the full taste of all of them together.  

This is my first time trying the fried yucca, which is like a fried sweet potato.  The sauce is the green goddess sauce which works well with the starch. 

This is Kori Kaki, which is a fancy preparation of oyster.  It has cantaloupe and green tea mix on there.  All I can tell you is that is the most refreshing oyster I've ever tasted.  It's not too sweet, but it is so fresh and refreshing that I slurped the juice.  Wish they make that mixture for drinks... no kidding.

The top is the Uchi-viche, which has salmon, cilantro, avocado, hot pepper, and a Vietnamese sauce of nuoc mam, which I have no idea what that is, but it tastes good.  On the bottom left is the red sea urchin, which was super smooth.  And the Oyster on the bottom right.

This is the Negi Hama Futomaki, which has yellowtail, cucumber, negi and tamari sauce.

This is the gyu kare, which is short ribs (that melts in your mouth), cherry tomato, peanut, cilantro.  So good...

The hamachi nabe - which is hot pot rice with yellowtail, rice, soy broth, and egg yolk on top.

They mix it all up for you, so that the egg yolk will cook, the fish, broth, rice mix nicely.  By the way, the rice is cooked in this pot, which explains the bottom of the rice has bonded together, it was by design, not overcooked.

Spider Roll

Taraba Kanpyo - Alaskan King Crab (super fresh, by the way), summer squash, and wildflower gastrique.  You again combine all of the ingredients into one bite to taste all the flavors.  And let me tell you, the crab has been soaked in butter that keeps you wanting more.

Haru Tataki - which is cauliflower 3 ways, pureed, grilled and pickled.  Our favorite was grilled, then pureed, then pickled.

The famous Fried Milk - chocolate ice cream, with chocolate cookie crumble with ice cream, toasted meringue and little ball of fried (what seems to be) condensed milk.  Oozing with yummy goodness.

Peanut Butter Semifreddo, it has apple miso dot sauce, peanut butter flan like pudding, ice cream with crushed peanut and raisin.

Entire meal did take close to 2.5hrs to eat.  As usual, for those who are not familiar, they do tapas style size but the dishes don't all show up at the same time.  They come in courses one by one.  Luckily, we have a very enjoyable group and the time just flies.  We all were commenting how you felt like you ate so much but yet not needed to be rolled out of the restaurant.  That's a good feeling.  If you ever wanted to go, make reservation ahead of time. If not, show up at the open and you can definitely get yourself a seat at the bar, which serves the full menu.

Uchi Houston

904 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77006

713-522-4808

http://uchihouston.com/

Skeeter's Game Eats

Happy 4th!

If you get a chance, definitely check out the Skeeters Game.  It's a cheap way to enjoy some fun, some food, and support a local team.  The tickets starts at $9.  You can bring your own lawn chair, picnic and set up shop on the outfield.  Not to mention, there are tons of activities for everyone.  There's a splash pad, playground, marry-go-round, trampolines, bounce house, little sports challenge, a pool and that's just to name a few.

There's a bar next to the splash pad (smart move), which is at the outfield, but you get a great view of the game sitting out there.  The bar besides serving drinks they also serve a few types of sandwiches.  Burgers, BBQ, ribs and what not.  I got the Clucker, it's a chicken and cheese sandwich.  My friend saw my sandwich made a comment that it looks better than what she got at the main concession.  That's definitely worth getting.

The stadium is small, but you feel like you're in the game, and I like that intimate feel.  Like I said, tons to do besides the game itself.  It's busy, and have good attendance, but you don't feel like you're on top of each other.  Definitely worth checking out, and bring $5 for parking.

Sugarland Skeeters

http://www.sugarlandskeeters.com

Yokushi Robata

Went for a quick bite after a movie at Yokushi.

We have been catching pre or post prime time and have been having great luck to get great parking, fast service and of course good food.

 Got us some authentic Japanese Green Tea.  Even their cans are heavier, like it's using real aluminum. 

 Japanese Yam Fries, I love them, they are addictive.  It's like the sweet potato fries just purple.

I got squid skewers.  They come with eel sauce, which is sweet.  It's pretty good calamari.

 Main reason for coming here, I know they serve the Japanese Curry rice at all times.  Unlike several places I know, you have to be there for X day after a certain times before they are available.  I like their curry, it could stand to have more potato and a tad thicker.  It's definitely the taste.  I can actually do without the pork katsu, it was a lot of food.  But my main goal is to use the sauce to eat my rice.  I love the mixture.  It's not bad.

Again, my eyes were bigger than my stomach, and order way more than I can truly handle.  That said, it was good.  For the location, money, and service, I consider this a win.  So far have not had any bad experience there.   Definitely worth coming back time and again.

Yokushi Robata

3837 Richmond Avd

Houston, TX 77027

832-933-6888

http://www.yokushirobata.com