Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar

Went out for a quick lunch.

Ended up at Azuma on Kirby.

Start with an Iced Green Tea.

Vegetable Tempura, let's face it, we all got it for the sweet potato, but under the pretense of vegetable, we have to eat the other stuff...

Koi Roll - which is spicy tuna inside, salmon and avocado on the outside.  It's as simple and easy going as it comes, no frills.

Unagi handroll - there's alot of cucumber this time.  

Basically, food overall, there's no room for error.  It's either fried or rolls.  The margin of error is small.  The service however, hasn't been all that great.  Not sure if it's because I came after the lunch crowd, or changing of the guard, but I saw the guy filling up my water more than I saw my server.   Some might think that they're giving us room to eat, but truthfully, it feel let neglect sometimes.  Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but let's say they're not assessable during this dining experience.

Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar

5600 Kirby Drive

Houston, TX 77005

713-432-9649

http://www.azumakirby.com/index.php

Poke Inn

Driving down Beechnut and saw a new Poke place, curiosity peaked, thought we'd check it out.

They promote healthy eating, and the place is very simple and straight forward.

Very small picture of the menu.  You choose Small, Medium, Large.  Basically, that means one scoop,  2 scoops or 3.  Step 1, you choose your rice, which they have white, brown, and salad, or mix half and half.

Step 2: you choose your seafood which are tuna, salmon, octopus, shrimp, yellow tail, spicy tuna.  Step 3: choose your sauce, which they have spicy mayo, wasabi mayo, ponzo sauce, jalapeño, and house sauce and house spicy sauce.

Step 4: add your veggies, they've got, onion, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, edamame, masago, fried onion, crab meat, nori strip... just to name a few.

So, what did I get: I got white rice as base, salmon with house sauce, edamame, cucumber, seaweed, tobiko (caviar), nori strips.  How does it taste: it is good, fresh, could be more fresh.  The veggie and other mixes are decently fresh.  For $7.95, it's alot of food for a bowl.  I like to mix it all up and enjoy everything in one bite.  It is not super expensive for fresh seafood, since they are made to order, it is done quickly.  Very casual and decent food.  Worthy for a try.

Poke Inn

4848 Beechnut

Houston, TX 77096

346-240-4266

Bokksu

Another Bokksu review.

Last time the theme was KitKat, and this time, it is Glamorous Tokyo.  They have a theme for every month's box.  Let's see what's inside:

Lots of stuff in there... Upper left (clockwise): We have strawberry koala cookies (not sure if that's a special or not, since I haven't had those for a while and don't go looking for them at the Asian Grocery stores).  Sapporo Veggie Potato Sticks - very much like the other potato sticks out there, but I can fool myself for having something 'healthy'.  Cafe Latte Sticks from UCC - they're a well known coffee maker in Japan, this is an instant drink, which is not bad, but I still prefer their canned goods.  

Tokyo Rusk- see below.  Black Sesame Goma - see below.  The Pink & Brown package is a Chocolate wrapped Tea cookie.  It does taste like tea soaked cookie.  Silver package is Chocolate Banana Cobbler, it's a tad adventurous for me, but maybe another try would be different.  Chocolate Horn, which is much more like a mini chocolate covered cookie (supposed to go with the Latte sticks).  The yellow package are Maple Butter cookie, turned out that I don't like Maple on cookies as much as I'd thought I would.  The Green/Black/Red packages are Mini Fried Rice Cracker, which are a tad sweet because it has sweet soy sauce on it.  It's like a little mini popcorn bits.

This is the Tokyo Rusk, at first looking at the name, I thought it has to do with corn rusk.  Luckily, it has to do with almond.  It's essentially a slice of thin almond cookie.  It's not too sweet and you get slices of almond on there.

This is the Black Sesame Rice Cracker that is baked with soy sauce.  This does have a kick to it.  I didn't know and took a big bite, and crunchy and toasted.  Good for a mid-morning snack.

They have a Classic Box for $39 and a Tasting Box for $19 a month.  You can choose 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months.  The more months you buy ahead the cheaper it'll be per box.  I just happened to forget to forget to cancel from the Kit Kat box, but glad that they sent this box.  From seeing the past box, they do have some neat snacks, it does last you a good month.  It is a pretty box to start for your Japanese snack adventure.

Bokksu

https://www.bokksu.com

Duck Donuts

For the office, went to get some...

... Duck Donuts.

I got the original dozen, there are Maple Bacon, Lemon Icing with Coconut, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Icing with Sprinkles, Peanut Butter Icing with Chocolate drizzle, Lemon Icing with Raspberry drizzle, Chocolate Icing with Peanut and coconut shreds, Chocolate Icing with Marshmallow drizzle and graham cracker crumbs just to name a few.

I will tell you that the Maple Bacon is super popular.  Second is Chocolate Icing anything.  My personal favorite is Blueberry Pancake with Maple Drizzle and Powder Sugar.  Be prepare in the morning that they do get a rush and since they make all donuts to order, it may take a longer time than normal donut places.

Duck Donuts

3157 W Holcomb Blvd

Houston, TX 77025

979-431-DUCK

https://www.duckdonuts.com

Mia Bella

Heard alot about the Mia Bella's new location, decided to go Happy Hour.

Happy Hour version of Calamari, it is actually smaller than it appears.  I'd say it's good enough for 2 people to share.

Fonduta with Pear Chutney, it's a mini cheese dip.  Very tasty.

Happy Hour Brushetta, though it's larger than a normal bruschetta, was not really a good one to share.  Basically, had to order a few more for the table.

For my entree- I ended up ordering crab cake, which looked like a lump of darkness, it was actually very delicious.  You mix it along with the sauce, which is a sweet potato reduction.  That was a nice surprise. 

Parmesan and Romano Fries, it's potato diced, with both Romano and Parmesan Cheese.  It's it is a nice little light dish after the random mix of Happy Hour appetizers that we got.

First, this is their new location, at the Greenway area, the parking wasn't as horrific as I'd thought it'd be.  The garage from the back of the building is super convenient and ample spots for you and all of your friends.  Second, we got there, and while there were not alot of diners yet, I ask for a table of 8 and they had me wait.  Then another party, who also had a party of 8, neither of us made reservation, but they got seated first.  The hostess basically went out of her way to not make any eye contact.  I finally tracked down the manager to get us a table.  They have more seating in the back, and we could not have cared less if we're in the back.  As a matter of fact, would've preferred it, so we can talk and laugh without disturbing the other diners.  

Finally, we got to sit at a table and our poor server.... basically, whatever we asked for they don't have.  We asked for a certain type of wine from the wine list, they don't have any.  We asked for Bellini, which is what they're known for, their machine is broken.  Flourless chocolate cake, they are out of... We asked for Sangria, finally, something they have.  Kind of felt like, given all the trouble to get the table, you guys don't even have what we want.   Hardly felt like it's worth the hassle. The only good thing they have going for them is their reputation built by other locations, otherwise, would have rated it even lower.  I wouldn't mind giving them another chance, but let's say I do not have hight hopes, at least not at this location.

Mia Bella Trattoria

Greenway

3773 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 77046

713-393-7340

http://www.miabellarestaurants.com

Mitsuwa Food Hall

Finally gotten a chance to Mitsuwa.  I wish I had more time, because there's alot here for a small little grocery store.

They have their own 'food court'.

True to any Asian Grocery store, they have their own food.  I actually bought a box of mixed nigiri, but was too hungry and ate it all before remembering to take a picture.  The other thing we get is these rice balls.  This one in particular has cooked salmon inside.  

First is the grocery store's bakery.  I was very curious because of this sign.  It said Curry Bread, but the title in Japanese, said something like bread for men. *note, I do not know a lick of Japanese, but I know my Chinese enough to paste it together.

These Manly Curry Bun is sitting under heat lamp and so we know it's nice and hot.

--We interrupt this post with a cute bear bread.--

By the way, it is too cute, and it's chocolate inside.  It's just too cute, so I had to take that home.

Ok, back to the Manly Curry Bun - it is fried on the outside....

... inside is filled...

... with curry and potato.  It's like a Curry dish designed for to go.  I will say, after  you've had this, it is very filling.  One is enough, unless you're going to share.

Also at the food court: Matcha Love, which is a well known brand in Japan.

They have matcha milkshake with boba.  They also have soft serve, hot tea, iced tea, matcha latte, and of course, shakes with bubbles.  You can find all sorts of Matcha Love products, mostly canned drinks, at Asian Grocery stores.  

Basically this area of Plano is very new, meaning, it wasn't there when I was growing up here.  With new population and new stores, but also new traffic.  It's not the easiest, so you have to pay very close attention.  The parking isn't huge, but the store itself isn't either.  You can definitely navigate thru.

Mitsuwa Food Hall

100 Legacy Dr

Ste 110

Plano, TX 75023

972-517-1715

http://www.mitsuwa.com/tp/

Jeng Chi - Dallas

While we were in Dallas, alot of people were talking about the Shanghai Soup Dumplings.

Situated at the strip center where it is known for several of its anchor places, including the grocery store.  Jeng ChiIt is such a popular spot that by 6pm there were a 30 minute wait.

Since we heard so much about the soup dumpling, besides the original one, they also have a carb and pork one and a beef one.  I just stick with the original.  Another thing is that as soon as you order it, they make it to order.  So, changing order is not easy, so think it thru before your server comes by.

It is definitely juicy, as described in the menu.  You see alot of folks ordering it, it's a good appetizer and you see tables get layers of these bamboo steamers at a time.  People are obsessed with these dumplings.

This is the Beef & Vegetable sizzling plate.  It was steaming as it arrives and as the server pour some water over it, it definitely made all that noise.  Piping hot too.  Does the sizzling plate add to the taste? Not sure, but the meat itself was already cooked to the sauce and that to me was more for show.

Finally, snow pea leaves stir fry with garlic.  I'm a fan, you can almost do no wrong with this dish.  Love it, just scoop them all up.

Overall the wait was long, they do have a 'cafe' area, but no one was sitting there for the cafe.  You amy get too hungry and get talked out of waiting here, but it's about the same.  If it is a weekend night, and it's Chinatown, people will crowd there for dinner.  Bring patience.  Once you sit down the service is fast and food come quickly as well.  At lease have a dumpling before you go.

That said, call ahead for a reservation is not a bad idea...

Jeng Chi - Dallas

400 N. Greenville Ave

Ste 11

Richardson, TX 75801

469-480-3644

http://jengchirestaurant.com/menu/