Gong Cha

When you're at Stay Home order, you still wants Bubble Tea, why not try something new?

Gong Cha is new to me.  Heard a lot about them, and because they're so popular that I don't usually go into a crowded place.  Since I happened to snag a window where it's not packed, ordered me a drink.

I got a Brown Sugar milk tea.  It didn't drip as pretty as some other's pictures, but hey... girl gotta try.

Gong Cha

23119 Colonial Pkwy

Katy, TX 77449

832-913-8578

https://www.gongchausa.com/texas-katy

Takumi-Ichi Ramen

Drove by and out of curiosity (and hunger), decided to give this new spot a try.

It's in the shopping center on Westheimer & Fountainview.

Ordered the pan-fried dumpling, you can tell it was home made, that's a great start.  

Chashu Bun - it's ok, I still like Fat Bao's better.  I feel that for that price point, there should be more filling to the bao. 

Tonkotsu Ramen, sadly, there was no taste to the broth.  The egg came out nicely, the bamboo came out from the can.  The pork does taste good, and the mushroom is .... well, mushroom.  Again for that price point, its competitors pack a lot of punch into a little bowl.  To say it was a sad visit is an understatement.  I hope they will improve and thrive, they have a good location and I think the area can use a ramen joint, but they really have a lot of points that needed to be worked on.

The place has nice decor and atmosphere, sadly beyond the dumpling is where the impression stops.  Later found out other ramen-enthusiasts also have similar issues.  Not that I listen to what other critics' opinion, as much as it validates my own.  I hope they will turn the corner from here.

Takumi Ichi Ramen

5901 H Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77056

713-993-6105

One Dim Sum

In the Covid lockdown world... we do what we can.  One thing you can do is to order take out from your regular restaurants.

This time, I ordered from One Dim Sum.  

I got Cheung Fun with BBQ Pork, Turnip Cake, Black Caviar Mushroom Dumpling, and Singapore Rice Noodle.  

So couple of things I've noticed.  

1, they are still doing happy hour, and have special pricing for certain dishes and alcohol.  

2, if you order online via ChowNow, the selections are more limited than what's posted on the menu.  When I call them and place the order by phone, I was able to get several items that are not listed on the ChowNow menu.  So, if you know what you want, phone it in.  

3, Definitely call in advance, they have to steam the dishes, does take some time. 

4, when they tell you 40 mins, they really do mean 40 mins.  Not sure how they got it down so tight, but take heed on the time the person on the phone tells you.

5, Be smart, when pick up, they set up the tables by the door, I would bring my own pen and sanitizer to sign for your payment.

One Dim Sum

510 Gray Street

Houston, TX 77002

346-293-9188

Migo Street Food

Located at the new Food Strip Center at Bellaire.  Been curious about Migo Street Food

The menu looks simple enough, but the add-ons and small dish is really what I love here.

Got a Migo Ca Phe Suda - not too sweet, but definitely pack the punch.

Mi Ga, chicken noodles with chicken broth.  I like that it is tasty but not complicate and simple.  Free range chicken, vermicelli, sprouts, scallions, and crispy onion in chicken broth.  Very straight forward, very tasty.

Fried Fish Balls with dipping sauces.  Their side dish menu is really what made the Street Food part for me.  They have wonton, gizzard, corn, wonton, pork bones.  Everything would've been too much. Just for a easy going lunch, fish balls with my noodles is enough.

The decor is cute, like as though you're eating at the streets of Vietnam.  Which, of course, you're not, but its casual too.  The folks there are nice and serve food very quickly.  

Migo Street Food

9393 Bellaire Blvd 

Ste H

Houston, TX 77036

https://migosaigonfoodstreet.com

Bam Bam

If and when you get back to traveling for fun... I recommend stopping by Bam Bam.

It's a Vietnamese - Cajun fusion.  But super nifty to order via your kiosk and then your server brings your food.

Since I was going light on my pre-flight meal.  Just because I knew we'll be eating well when we land.  So, just iced tea and eggrolls.

It's super nifty, while you wait for your food, you can read the news, play some games.  Most importantly, charge your phone.  At the end of it you can pay your bill on the kiosk too.  No more trying to catch the eye contact of your server while trying to not miss boarding.  They get it!

Bam Bam 

IAH Terminal C

2800 N. Terminal Rd

Houston, TX 77036

https://www.fly2houston.com/iah/dine/bam-bam-C5/

Amy's Ice Cream

Who says that quarantine doesn't allow for ice cream?

We can go in and get 'to-go' order.  I will say, there were no one in the shop, because they think that the shop is not open.

What did I get?  I got the Belgian Chocolate with mixed nuts.  Of course, with the current state of things, they cannot mix up the mixin' due to health reasonings.  Since we cannot dine in, we ate ice cream in our car.  But it's the little things that add some joy in the lockdown days.

Amy's Ice Cream

3816 Farnham St

Houston, TX 77098

https://amysicecreams.com

713-526-2697

One Dragon Restaurant

One of the best Xiao Long Bao in town is One Dragon.

They kept the English name of the previous restaurant, but that had seemed to help their business.  Well, having good, legit dishes helped too.

Braised Pork Belly, they always put an egg and some veggie at the bottom.  Honestly, beside the sauce, which I love, I like that they don't give you all fatty meat.  It goes very well with plain white rice.

Had to have some veggie to balance things out.  Just their stir fried bean sprouts.  Love that.  One of my favorite growing up.  Even though it is stir fried, sometimes they put garlic in to boost up the flavor.

La Piece de Resistance: XLB.  I like theirs because there's a nice balance between the soup per dumpling ratio.  You may have eaten this at places that juices are flowing out as you bit into it.  Or you burn your tongue trying to eat and drink the soup at the same time.  This has a nice balance somehow.  Then!  The skin they used is just right, not too thick and not too thin.  The filling is delicious too.  Like I said, one of my favorites in town.

Usually when we go, there's a 30-40 minute wait.  Due to the false rumors about Chinatown, we literally went in, they cleared the table, we were sat down.  Food came out in less than 10 minutes.  It has definitely harmed businesses due to false information.  I hope folks will go back and support them.  Don't forget they are closed Mondays.

One Dragon Restaurant

9310 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

713-995-6545