This East Coast chain has opened a location in Rosenberg, 24004 Southwest Freeway, one of only 3 in Texas. I've heard about this chain for years; it gets lots of good reviews on national boards like Roadfood.com and is often compared to In-and-Out on the West Coast.
I've never eaten at either but we do have a couple of places around Houston that have been likened to In-and-Out, notably Tornado Burger in Stafford (awful) and Wild Kitchen on Stella Link (not bad).
I'll have to check these new guys out when I get a craving for a burger.
Five Guys
UPDATE (after one visit): In a word, underwhelming. The ordering system is too much for some people - the lady in front of me took 10 minutes to decide what to get for her family. Took quite a while to get the food but the burger itself was not hot when delivered. Fries were good while hot and greasy but when they cooled to near room temp, the bitterness of the potato skins kicked in and made them unpalatable.
I liked the free salted-in-the-shell peanuts - I could fill up on them.
I wouldn't go out of my way for another visit; definitely would prefer Whataburger if I was settling for a fast food burger, might even prefer a Wendy's if I was willing to settle for a room temp burger as opposed to a sizzling hot one.
They need a smaller fry option.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Nyonya Grill - Malaysian/Mongolian - CLOSED
THIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED (THANKS TO ANONYMOUS FOR THE TIP). IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A GOOD TIME FOR MALAYSIAN RESTAURANTS - MAK CHIN HAS ALSO CLOSED (TO REOPEN AS SOMETHING ELSE) AND THE PHONE AT KUALA LUMPUR ON BELLAIRE HAS BEEN DISCONNNECTED. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO TRY BANANA LEAF AND MAYBE I'D BETTER GO SOON TO GET A ROTI CANAI FIX BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
5201 Hwy 6 S, Suite 750, Missouri City, between Dulles and FM 1092/Murphy, set back from the highway on the north side.
This was my first experience with Malaysian food (but not my only experience now) and I was not initially very impressed but the place has grown on me on subsequent visits and it has become one of my favorite new finds.
On my first visit the Beef Rendang was recommended as a very typical Malaysian dish. I wouldn’t say the dish was bad but the combination of beef and coconut (the meat is stewed in coconut milk) just didn’t appeal to me. Neither did the dry, Malaysian style of curry (the dish is simmered until the liquid is all absorbed - the meat is very tender and well-flavored by the seasonings, I just didn't like the coconut flavoring of the beef). However, the appetizer roti canai (ROH tee cha NIGH) with ginger dipping sauce was really good, described as an Indian pancake it is griddle cooked, light, a little fluffy and crispy. I compared it to a beignet minus the powdered sugar.
On a subsequent visit I was much more impressed with the Crispy Golden Fried Squids.
The waitress’ eyes lit up when I ordered it; she said it was very good, and it was. It was not quite as crispy as I would prefer fried foods, a little too salty, but with a very nice light batter and very tasty. It was described on the menu as hot and spicy but it was neither by my standards..
On another visit I had the Hot and Spicy Shrimp Rice and it did have a nice heat level. A small problem has been that both times I’ve ordered the roti canai the entree has been delivered before the appetizer and the shrimp was so aromatic and appealing, sitting there steaming in front of me, and I couldn’t wait.
The owners and staff have been very friendly. A gentleman, I presume the owner,
greeted me on my third visit and checked on me frequently during the meal. He observed me tearing the roti in pieces and dipping it in the sauce and commented that is the way it should be done (you are presented with Western style eating implements) and also said that Malays eat their sticky rice with their fingers. I was a little disbelieving at first but once I tried it discovered it works very well - you stick your fingers into the mound of rice and pinch a clump off and take it to your mouth. You get a finger bowl and napkins at the end of the meal.
You get a very large portion of the rice, surely in excess of 2 cups, and I was quite full and had only finished half of it when the owner started clearing my table. He observed I had some of the ginger dipping sauce from the roti left and said Malays would pour that over the rice so I did that and voila!, a tasty new twist on rice and gravy. I finished off most of the remaining rice and left overly full.
I’ve had the Teh Tarik, a hot Malaysian milk tea that looked like horchata and was good. I looked this up and mine didn’t have any froth on top so maybe they don’t have anyone on staff who’s developed the special skill?
The Malaysian coffee, hot or cold, is sweetened with condensed milk (the tea is too) and comes in a beer mug.
My understanding is that this place replaced a Mongolian Barbecue place at another location and kept that on the menu, then when they moved to this new location they also continued that. I’ve taken a look at the ‘buffet’ but haven’t yet tried it . About half the customers in the restaurant when I’ve visited have been taking the grill option. The lunch special price (11-3) is $7.99, at night it’s $10.99. Meats and veggies only are available during the day and seafood is added to the possible ingredients at night. The restaurant ticket read Bohot Mongolian Grill and Bakery, the former name of the place.
On my most recent visit a sign taped to the door advertised a new dish, roti jala with chicken, beef or lamb curry. Actually there was whole page of new dishes that have been added to the menu. Roti jala is referred to as Malaysia’s favorite bread. There was also Kangkung cuttlefish (kangkung is a water spinach) and a new belancan dish (a fermented Malaysian shrimp paste) and many more. The menu is full of interesting sounding dishes and I look forward to more visits. With the friendly helpful staff and intriguing menu selections this place is beginning to remind me of my early visits to Himalaya, Chef Kayser’s great Pakistani restaurant on Hillcrroft.
Re: the pictures: I dine out almost exclusively at lunch because of more modest prices and serving sizes - it makes it easier for me to keep from over-eating. The hot and spicy shrimp pictured is from the lunch menu (11a-3p) but the fried squid is from the regular menu.
Nyonya Grill Note the menu prices on line are outdated.
5201 Hwy 6 S, Suite 750, Missouri City, between Dulles and FM 1092/Murphy, set back from the highway on the north side.
This was my first experience with Malaysian food (but not my only experience now) and I was not initially very impressed but the place has grown on me on subsequent visits and it has become one of my favorite new finds.
On my first visit the Beef Rendang was recommended as a very typical Malaysian dish. I wouldn’t say the dish was bad but the combination of beef and coconut (the meat is stewed in coconut milk) just didn’t appeal to me. Neither did the dry, Malaysian style of curry (the dish is simmered until the liquid is all absorbed - the meat is very tender and well-flavored by the seasonings, I just didn't like the coconut flavoring of the beef). However, the appetizer roti canai (ROH tee cha NIGH) with ginger dipping sauce was really good, described as an Indian pancake it is griddle cooked, light, a little fluffy and crispy. I compared it to a beignet minus the powdered sugar.
On a subsequent visit I was much more impressed with the Crispy Golden Fried Squids.
The waitress’ eyes lit up when I ordered it; she said it was very good, and it was. It was not quite as crispy as I would prefer fried foods, a little too salty, but with a very nice light batter and very tasty. It was described on the menu as hot and spicy but it was neither by my standards.. On another visit I had the Hot and Spicy Shrimp Rice and it did have a nice heat level. A small problem has been that both times I’ve ordered the roti canai the entree has been delivered before the appetizer and the shrimp was so aromatic and appealing, sitting there steaming in front of me, and I couldn’t wait.
The owners and staff have been very friendly. A gentleman, I presume the owner,
greeted me on my third visit and checked on me frequently during the meal. He observed me tearing the roti in pieces and dipping it in the sauce and commented that is the way it should be done (you are presented with Western style eating implements) and also said that Malays eat their sticky rice with their fingers. I was a little disbelieving at first but once I tried it discovered it works very well - you stick your fingers into the mound of rice and pinch a clump off and take it to your mouth. You get a finger bowl and napkins at the end of the meal.You get a very large portion of the rice, surely in excess of 2 cups, and I was quite full and had only finished half of it when the owner started clearing my table. He observed I had some of the ginger dipping sauce from the roti left and said Malays would pour that over the rice so I did that and voila!, a tasty new twist on rice and gravy. I finished off most of the remaining rice and left overly full.
I’ve had the Teh Tarik, a hot Malaysian milk tea that looked like horchata and was good. I looked this up and mine didn’t have any froth on top so maybe they don’t have anyone on staff who’s developed the special skill?
The Malaysian coffee, hot or cold, is sweetened with condensed milk (the tea is too) and comes in a beer mug.
My understanding is that this place replaced a Mongolian Barbecue place at another location and kept that on the menu, then when they moved to this new location they also continued that. I’ve taken a look at the ‘buffet’ but haven’t yet tried it . About half the customers in the restaurant when I’ve visited have been taking the grill option. The lunch special price (11-3) is $7.99, at night it’s $10.99. Meats and veggies only are available during the day and seafood is added to the possible ingredients at night. The restaurant ticket read Bohot Mongolian Grill and Bakery, the former name of the place.
On my most recent visit a sign taped to the door advertised a new dish, roti jala with chicken, beef or lamb curry. Actually there was whole page of new dishes that have been added to the menu. Roti jala is referred to as Malaysia’s favorite bread. There was also Kangkung cuttlefish (kangkung is a water spinach) and a new belancan dish (a fermented Malaysian shrimp paste) and many more. The menu is full of interesting sounding dishes and I look forward to more visits. With the friendly helpful staff and intriguing menu selections this place is beginning to remind me of my early visits to Himalaya, Chef Kayser’s great Pakistani restaurant on Hillcrroft.
Re: the pictures: I dine out almost exclusively at lunch because of more modest prices and serving sizes - it makes it easier for me to keep from over-eating. The hot and spicy shrimp pictured is from the lunch menu (11a-3p) but the fried squid is from the regular menu.
Nyonya Grill Note the menu prices on line are outdated.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Alebrije - Bandeja Paisa Smackdown Part 3 - CLOSED
UPDATE: This restaurant has closed. A new restaurant in the same space named Sur serving South American cuisines was supposed to be opening but there are for lease signs in the windows.
5710 Bellaire Blvd.
This is probably the nicest restaurant along this stretch of Bellaire and it’s a very comfortable space. There are sofas and easy chairs around the edges of the dining room and a platform for live music. On my first visit I had the place almost entirely to myself for lunch but lately the place has been getting busier.
On my first visit I had the Bandeja Paisa, the traditional Colombian dish, here called the Bandeja Paisa Gourmet. On the Alebrije menu, chicharron is given the more
trendy, upscale name of pork belly and sirloin is substituted for the skirt steak that is usually on the plate. While the thin steak was good the chorizo was excellent but it was a very small portion. The red beans were in a separate pot and were really a soup. The plantanos maduros were also very good. I suppose what you like when it comes to chicharron depends on whether you like your bacon crispy or chewy and this was a little underdone to my taste, and mostly fat, not the best I have encountered.
I was advised by my waiter that the word paisa is related to the word paisano and means something like townsfolk or townsman -- if someone is from the same town as you, that person is your paisa.
They serve a very good 100% Colombian coffee, as you would expect. The portions of my lunch were a little smaller than this same platter served at other Colombian restaurants but the price was still reasonable. I made the mistake of sitting right next to the windows and had a problem with light and shadows when I took a picture on my first visit but have avoided that on subsequent visits.
The chorizo was so good I wanted more and on the menu on their website it appears to
be available only as an appetizer so I tried that on another visit, along with the Bisque de Ahuyama or squash bisque, made with a butternut-like squash. This comes with croutons and crema and chicken or beef can be added for a couple of bucks extra. It was a very satisfying light meal although the chorizo was not as juicy and savory this time around as on my earlier visit. According to the hostess, they make their own chorizo.
From the dessert menu I’ve tried the Passion Fruit Ice Cream and it will be hard to pass that up on subsequent visits.
The restaurant bills itself as Latin or South American Fusion and there are some Venezuelan, Argentinian and Mexican items on the menu, mostly as appetizers. They highlight their Sancocho on the menu, website and table cards and I'm looking forward to going back to try it.
They have a daily lunch special for $4.99 but I haven’t tried it. I think the place functions more like a night club at night and It's easy to see it could get a little cacophonous with the huge speakers on the walls but the music was muted and the TVs, though on, have had the sound off on my visits. On one visit they were tuned to the Cartoon Network, a nice alternative to the news, politics, sports or (gack) soaps, game shows and Judge Roy Bean wannabes that populate daytime TV.
Alebrije
5710 Bellaire Blvd.
This is probably the nicest restaurant along this stretch of Bellaire and it’s a very comfortable space. There are sofas and easy chairs around the edges of the dining room and a platform for live music. On my first visit I had the place almost entirely to myself for lunch but lately the place has been getting busier.
On my first visit I had the Bandeja Paisa, the traditional Colombian dish, here called the Bandeja Paisa Gourmet. On the Alebrije menu, chicharron is given the more
trendy, upscale name of pork belly and sirloin is substituted for the skirt steak that is usually on the plate. While the thin steak was good the chorizo was excellent but it was a very small portion. The red beans were in a separate pot and were really a soup. The plantanos maduros were also very good. I suppose what you like when it comes to chicharron depends on whether you like your bacon crispy or chewy and this was a little underdone to my taste, and mostly fat, not the best I have encountered. I was advised by my waiter that the word paisa is related to the word paisano and means something like townsfolk or townsman -- if someone is from the same town as you, that person is your paisa.
They serve a very good 100% Colombian coffee, as you would expect. The portions of my lunch were a little smaller than this same platter served at other Colombian restaurants but the price was still reasonable. I made the mistake of sitting right next to the windows and had a problem with light and shadows when I took a picture on my first visit but have avoided that on subsequent visits.
The chorizo was so good I wanted more and on the menu on their website it appears to
be available only as an appetizer so I tried that on another visit, along with the Bisque de Ahuyama or squash bisque, made with a butternut-like squash. This comes with croutons and crema and chicken or beef can be added for a couple of bucks extra. It was a very satisfying light meal although the chorizo was not as juicy and savory this time around as on my earlier visit. According to the hostess, they make their own chorizo. From the dessert menu I’ve tried the Passion Fruit Ice Cream and it will be hard to pass that up on subsequent visits.
The restaurant bills itself as Latin or South American Fusion and there are some Venezuelan, Argentinian and Mexican items on the menu, mostly as appetizers. They highlight their Sancocho on the menu, website and table cards and I'm looking forward to going back to try it.
They have a daily lunch special for $4.99 but I haven’t tried it. I think the place functions more like a night club at night and It's easy to see it could get a little cacophonous with the huge speakers on the walls but the music was muted and the TVs, though on, have had the sound off on my visits. On one visit they were tuned to the Cartoon Network, a nice alternative to the news, politics, sports or (gack) soaps, game shows and Judge Roy Bean wannabes that populate daytime TV.
Alebrije
Huarache Azteca Express - CLOSED
109 Ave F, Stafford, parallel to and a couple of blocks east of FM 1092, between the east and west bound routes of 90-A.
UPDATE 1/28/11 - THERE IS NOW A FOR RENT SIGN IN THE WINDOW.
UPDATE 1/24/11 - DROVE BY THIS PLACE YESTERDAY, SUNDAY, ABOUT 1PM. THE NAME IS NOW HUARACHE ANTOJITOS MEXICANA AND IT WAS CLOSED. MUST'VE BEEN A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE MENU HAS CHANGED AS AS WELL AS THE HOURS.
These people are being very generous with the free samples, like Pierson’s. I”ve gotten a free taco on each visit (bistec, ribs, chicharron and barbacoa) and on one visit free samples of 2 different aguas frescas (they have 6).
The place is new, spic and span, stainless steel and glass, and a very friendly crew, but there is a small problem with English, sometimes. The free condiments bar offers 3 salsas, pico, onions, cilatro, curtido (they do pupusas) and free coffee.
The place is named for the place in Mexico City that originated huaraches, so named because the tlacoyo looks like the sole of a sandal. Basically it’s a thick, torpedo shaped tortilla with refried black bean filling, warmed on a griddle for a second time then topped with more refritos, salsa of your choice, queso fresco and topping of your choice. I had the al pastor on my first visit. On the second visit the man was trying to interest me in the one described I the Press review with 2 eggs but when I wanted something else he offered any other 2 toppings and I went with carnitas and longaniza con nopalitos. I liked both of these better than the al pastor and all 3 better than the bistec taco (gristly) and ribs (rib tips, including cartilage). However, on another visit the bistec taco was excellent.
Tacos are made with hand-made tortillas and are good, too. The lamb barbacoa, available only on weekends, is excellent, too.
They serve breakfasts, tortas, caldos (menudo on weekends), but no desserts. I was bummed one time when I went in determined to try their flan or tres leches only to discover the menu doesn't list any postres.
I haven’t gotten a good picture of the huarache but this place is going to be a regular for me and will save me a lot of gas, making it less necessary to drive up to Jarro Café on Gesner or Gerardo’s on Patton.
UPDATE 1/28/11 - THERE IS NOW A FOR RENT SIGN IN THE WINDOW.
UPDATE 1/24/11 - DROVE BY THIS PLACE YESTERDAY, SUNDAY, ABOUT 1PM. THE NAME IS NOW HUARACHE ANTOJITOS MEXICANA AND IT WAS CLOSED. MUST'VE BEEN A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE MENU HAS CHANGED AS AS WELL AS THE HOURS.
These people are being very generous with the free samples, like Pierson’s. I”ve gotten a free taco on each visit (bistec, ribs, chicharron and barbacoa) and on one visit free samples of 2 different aguas frescas (they have 6).
The place is new, spic and span, stainless steel and glass, and a very friendly crew, but there is a small problem with English, sometimes. The free condiments bar offers 3 salsas, pico, onions, cilatro, curtido (they do pupusas) and free coffee.
The place is named for the place in Mexico City that originated huaraches, so named because the tlacoyo looks like the sole of a sandal. Basically it’s a thick, torpedo shaped tortilla with refried black bean filling, warmed on a griddle for a second time then topped with more refritos, salsa of your choice, queso fresco and topping of your choice. I had the al pastor on my first visit. On the second visit the man was trying to interest me in the one described I the Press review with 2 eggs but when I wanted something else he offered any other 2 toppings and I went with carnitas and longaniza con nopalitos. I liked both of these better than the al pastor and all 3 better than the bistec taco (gristly) and ribs (rib tips, including cartilage). However, on another visit the bistec taco was excellent.
Tacos are made with hand-made tortillas and are good, too. The lamb barbacoa, available only on weekends, is excellent, too.
They serve breakfasts, tortas, caldos (menudo on weekends), but no desserts. I was bummed one time when I went in determined to try their flan or tres leches only to discover the menu doesn't list any postres.
I haven’t gotten a good picture of the huarache but this place is going to be a regular for me and will save me a lot of gas, making it less necessary to drive up to Jarro Café on Gesner or Gerardo’s on Patton.
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