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Kung Fu Tea (Sharpstown, Houston, TX)

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Uh oh! Watch out Teahouse! It looks like there’s a new tea house in town! I’ve been going to Teahouse for many years. It got me through graduate school. It’s always so refreshing and Teahouse hours are excellent for students! I love that Teahouse is open very early, however, I’ve recently been going to Kung Fu for my bubble tea needs and I must admit that the balls are more delicious here. Other bubble tea joints will either have the texture down, but no flavor or vice versa. The combination of good flavor and texture is rarity…until Kung Fu Tea! The teas here are very true to flavor. None of that watered down, bottled stuff. The tapioca pearls are the perfect texture and are very sweet. My only complaints are that Kung Fu Tea doesn’t open early and I wish it was a more convenient drive. There are two locations: Sharpstown and Montrose. Don’t get me wrong, Teahouse will always hold a place in my heart, but Kung Fu Tea is new favorite.

My go-to drinks: Black Tea with half sugar and tapioca OR Black Milk Tea with tapioca

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Kung Fu Tea Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Potbelly (Galleria, Houston, TX)

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Potbelly in The Houston Galleria Food Court

 

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In the 1970s Potbelly used to be a small antique shop owned by a quirky couple in Chicago,Illinois that decided to serve delicious sandwiches to their customers. It’s grown a lot since then and it’s no wonder each Potbelly has a little bit of character! It’s a similar concept to Subway or Quiznos but I find the ingredients to be fresher and more flavorful. The location off Kirby has live local artists playing music from time to time.

I took a short little road trip to Houston, Texas and while shopping in The Galleria, I came across Potbelly. I heard they recently opened shop in March 2015. New Orleans doesn’t have a Potbelly and from what I remember in grad school, I really enjoyed their sandwiches!

It was morning time so I didn’t get to order my usual “A Wreck” sandwich, but I was definitely surprised at the breakfast menu options. I ordered the Ham, Mushroom, Egg, and Swiss Sandwich. I ordered the regular size, but I definitely should’ve ordered the “square” option. For lunch I would definitely order the Regular size (as pictured). I dressed my sandwich, as usual, BUT what I added was some of the spicy peppers. I can handle a lot of spice so I really enjoyed the peppers. I even purchased a jar to enjoy with my homemade sandwiches!

For lunch/dinner you should definitely try “A Wreck”. There’s just something about it. For a chain restaurant, the sandwiches are definitely way more flavorful and the price is comparable to other sandwich chains. I have a friend in Houston who swears by these sandwiches. Maybe you will too?

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Potbelly Sandwich Shop Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Delimanjoo (Koreatown, New York, NY)

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Looking for an on-the-go snack? Delimanjoo is the place! In other cities, I’ve noticed they come as corn cobs, but Delimanjoo in New  York has the cute fishes. A little skeptical? Don’t be. These little fishies are the best dessert snack. Lightly crisped on the outside and stuffed with a delicious cream on the inside.

They offer other bakery items here such as baos and pastries, but this is the go-to item!

 

 

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Delimanjoo Bakery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Rollin’ Fatties Food Truck (New Orleans, LA)

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I’ve been posting a lot of NYC reviews, but really wanted to show some NOLA love today…

I’ve been meaning to show Rollin Fatties some love for a while now. I’ve seen them at a lot of New Orleans Festivals and they sometimes park near Tulane Medical School. Their Twitter says the hours are 10 AM-2 PM on Tulane Ave Mon-Fri. They serve burritos, tacos, and other items but I’ve never had the chance to order them because the Loaded Nachos is all I ever need. What makes it so great? The chips are a thicker chip and makes it easy to scoop up the loads of meat, cheese, and whatever other goodness is in this heavenly concoction.

 

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If you happen to come across this local gem, you’ve got to order the Loaded Nachos. It’s filling and loaded with top notch ingredients!

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Rollin Fatties Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Ippudo (West Side, New York, New York)

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I had just flown into New York and was really craving a good bowl of ramen. My last trip to NY I went to Ippudo on the East Side, but heard that Ippudo in Korea town was a bit different and I couldn’t wait to try it!

This location is way homier and more welcoming than the more modern Ippudo East Village location. There’s a large central bar for small groups and singles. I came alone that day so it was perfect!

 

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Yamitsu Goma Kyuri. Japanese Cucumber. Ippudo’s Sesame Garlic Oil.

Brooklyn Kaedama Ale Draft.  Ippudo NY Exclusive Beer.

 

 

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Ramen Toppings. Soft-boiled egg. Pickled Mustard Leaves. Bamboo Shoots. Pulled Chashu Pork.

 

 

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Akamaru Modern. Original pork broth. Ippudo’s secret Umami Dama paste. Pork Chashu. Cabbage. Sesame Kikurage Mushrooms. Scallions. Fragrant Garlic Oil.

 

It was just a little before noon but when you’re a New Orleanian and on vacation, it’s never too early for a beer. Considering Ipppudo has their own exclusive brew called Brooklyn Kaedama Draft. It was warm and pretty strong to start the day with, but I loved it! I started the meal with the Japanese cucumber appetizer (Yamitsu Goma Kyuri). It was refreshing, light, and perfect to snack on in between bites of ramen. The Akamaru Modern ramen was delicious. A simple broth filled with delicious, perfectly textured noodles. These noodles are a bit different from other ramen shops. They’re thinner and more al dente in texture. Love it!

I love this location and the more chill and laid back vibe. It’s more welcoming, but the more modern Ippudo on the East Side is good for a night out with friends. The food is great at both! Check out my review of the other location here: Ippudo East Village . With so many ramen shops scattered all throughout New York City, it’s very hard to choose from, but I’d say that Ippudo is one of my favorites so far!

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons

Ippudo Westside Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Turntable (East Village, New York, New York)

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On my recent trip to NYC I stopped by Turntable in East Village, NYC for a late night bite. THE BEST Korean style fried chicken! What does that mean? Double deep fried chicken in an extra crispy batter. It’s become very popular especially through a nationwide chain called Bon Chon Chicken, but I’ve had Bon Chon and prefer Turntable over Bon Chon any day.

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Yogurt Soju. 

 

 

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It was an eventful day and I was starving. We arrived later on a Saturday night around 10 but my sister and I didn’t have to wait at all! It was definitely busy though. I love the artsy warehouse feel and nightclub music. We started the night with the yogurt soju. There were quite a few interesting drinks that came out to tables around us that looked like humongous lava lamps with steam coming out of them. If we had more people with us, we’d definitely order those fun drinks but we opted for the simple, delicious, and strong instead. Shots of soju were poured all night and it drank like a dessert, but don’t be fooled. It’ll kick in quickly!

We didn’t order much. Just 12 wings in Soy Garlic Flavor. That’s all you need. The batter was a medium in thickness and extra crispy. The chicken was so moist and flavorful. My whole time in New York, I wanted to go back again, but never had the chance. If you decide to try Turntable, please have some for me!

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Turntable Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Restaurant R’evolution (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

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Merry Christmas everyone! It’s Christmas Day and you’re looking for something to do. Food options are scarce. Grocery stores are closed and very few restaurants are open. If you’re looking for a place to eat, here’s  a quick list:

Last year “the Chef” and I ate at Borgne and went a little overboard and over-ordered. Great meal but we were stuffed! This year we chose Restaurant R’evolution in hopes that we’d order lighter in preparation for Christmas dinner. We didn’t need a reservation, but I highly recommend calling first during the holidays! I went to Restaurant R’evolution about 3 years ago and we had a phenomenal meal. I was curious to find out what Christmas day had in store for us…

 

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Mimosa and Charred Satsuma Old Fashioned. Blanton’s Bitters. Sugar. Bitters Orange.

 

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Black Truffle Beef Tartare. Black truffe aioli. Pickled Vegetables. Grilled Bread.

 

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Roasted Baby Beets. Goat Cheese. Molasses-candied Pecans.

 

 

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Artichoke-Merliton Au Gratin. 

 

 

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Shrimp Fricasée and Grits. Charred Tomato Velouté. Tasso. Fennel.

 

 

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“Visiting Fish” a la Plancha. Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. Lyonnaise Potatoes. Absynthe Meunière Sauce.

 

 

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Saving my stomach for Christmas Dinner. Ordered a hot coffee for dessert!

 

We were smart this year and decided to order a little on the lighter side. I started with a nice mimosa. “The Chef” ordered the Old Fashioned. Both were great. The charred satsuma was a nice touch in the Old Fashioned and gave it a lot of flavor with a nice kick! Our first dishes were the Roasted Beet Salad which seemed small, but was very wholesome. The Beef Tartare was delicious! That aioli was loaded with real black truffle flavor. None of that truffle oil stuff! The only letdown of this meal was the artichoke and merliton au gratin. It was a little on the mushy and salty side and wasn’t our favorite BUT…

“The Chef” loved his shrimp and grits. Smoky flavor. Meaty Shrimp. mMm! My entree was the “Visiting Fish” a la Plancha. The fish was flaky and moist and was resting on a bed of delicate and thinly sliced Lyonnaise potatoes.  What really surprised me were how flavorful they were. When you think potatoes, you think starchy and possibly dry but these were amazing.

If you happen to decide on dinner at R’evolution, the Christmas menu looked absolutely delicious. It’s not your typical Christmas dinner and not-your-mama’s kitchen, but it’s delicious and great for groups. Attire: Dressy. Price: $$$$.

Tip: If you ever see sweetbreads (not a type of bread!) on the menu, order them! Last time I went they were HUMONGOUS and it was so memorable. I loved it!

 

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Rating: 4.5/5
Restaurant R'evolution Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Stella Maris

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I never thought I’d say this, but Chalmette has some pretty good food options! Stella Maris is a Mediterranean restaurant located within an ethnic grocery store. If you’re ordering to-go, then meet at the counter, but have a seat if you’d like to sit down and enjoy your food there.

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Gyro Plate. Hummus (optional hummus or rice).

 

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Lamb Kebab. Hummus.

 

Before I talk about the food, I will have to mention that service is a bit lacking. I frequent here regularly so I’ve met every single server and can tell you that they are sweet, but Stella Maris is in the process of training more waitresses and many of them have yet to actually try the food and service may be a bit lacking or slow. Honestly, it’s hit or miss BUT the food is very consistent. My go-to dish is the Gyro Plate (pronounced year-oh, but for some reason they pronounce jai-ro here). It’s delicious! You have the choice of ordering with rice or hummus. I alternate since both options are great! I’ve tried the Lamb Kebab here, but for those who are sensitive to more gamey flavors and meats, then I would avoid it. It’s very fresh though!

Stella Maris is my favorite lunch spot in the Chalmette area, but service needs work. For that reason I’d give it 4/5 spoons. Minus 1 star for service, but 4 star food!

 

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Stella Maris Cafe & Grocery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato