Iraq- An Iraqi Bakery in Houston (On Westheimer Near Fondren)

 After dining at the spectacular Sasaki Japanese Restaurant on Westheimer near Fondren, we decided to walk the short distance to the next little strip center to check out the Dijlah Grocery and Grill and its Dijlah Bakery. We were enthralled, watching them make and bake delicious breads, which we were to see being used as the base for a falafel sandwich with all the fixings, a meal for two, at the Dijlal Bakery next door. So, the grill had the ovens and the store with Middle Eastern goods and the bakery had sandwiches, lamb, lamaçun, etc. And the cool thing was that there wasn't a menu. The customers knew what to ask for. For us, we'd just chat with the staff or observe what others were eating when we come back to sample the food. On this day, I picked up some of the bread, some Turkish Delight and some other groceries. We'll be back soon!

Xuan Huong - A Thomas Tang Discovery

 The specialty is a Vietnamese soup called Bun Rieu. Bún riêu is a traditional Vietnamese soup of clear stock and rice vermicelli. 

There are several varieties of bún riêu, including bún riêu cua, bún riêu cá and bún riêu ốc. Bún riêu cua is served with tomato broth and topped with minced freshwater crab. 

The one here, and the one we came for has a crab paste for its base broth,  and is stocked with vermicelli and a different assortment of meats, each with its own texture (texture is an important component of most Asian cuisines).

Friend Thomas had heard about this place through friends, visited it, loved it, and we all found an opportunity to dine for lunch. I absolutely loved the soup. The only thing I passed on (removed it) was the cube of blood jelly. 

Very little English, so we pulled out our trusty Google Translate apps and had no problems.

Yep, there are more things to choose from on the menu but I'd go for this soup on your first visit.

Chā Giô Houston - Crispy Rice Paper Vietnamese Spring Rolls

 I've set out, for my next project, to explore Houston in search of the perfect chā giô. A lot of places have moved over to offering these with the lumpia/spring roll type wrapper that is wheat based. But I am looking for a traditional one with a clear rice paper wrapper. 

Making these perfectly requires skill and finesse, as frying rice paper can result in a burned and/or greasy result. The rice paper is dry and is reconstituted with a water and sugar bath. The sugar helps with the browning and helps create a bubbly surface texture. Chewiness and crunchiness. 

This version of spring rolls made by wrapping filling in clear rice paper wrappers (bánh tráng) and then frying them. The filling usually consists of ground pork, vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles. They’re often served with lettuce and herbs, for wrapping, and, with nuoc cham as a dipping sauce.

I went to the Facebook group, Chowdown in Chinatown - Houston, for recommendations. I'll be publishing that list at a future date. 

At the same time, my friend Michael Shum messaged me "I know a place". And honestly, his recommendation for Phat Ky, well, I can probably stop my search now. But I won't.

On my own, I've visited Thien An and Kim Son, both in the downtown area. Both were good...perfectly acceptable. 

But. 

I'm looking for "spectacular".

Next day saw me at Phat Ky with Michael and friends. We enjoyed an excellent catfish clay pot, mango and shrimp salad, and the chā giô. Enough to order a second serving. Just great. Here are some pictures.

Caldo de Camarón (Shrimp Soup) - at Spanish Village on Almeda

Well, I expected to continue exploring gumbo in Houston but at the most favorable recent experience at Spanish Village, the waitress said that I "really needed come back and try the caldo de camarón".

And so, I did. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. The smaller size was a meal in itself. Full of succulent shrimp (they add the shrimp just before serving so that they don't cook out in the broth...a technique the better gumbo places also do). Served with a side of rice. 

An attractive and VERY tasty (imho) caldo. I'm already dreaming about going back for another one.

Could this be the best in Houston? I'm starting to think so.

Los Tios Mexican Restaurants - A Houston Treasure

 The Los Tios restaurants in Houston are some of the oldest, along with Molina's, El Patio and Spanish Village. Historically significant to the max and great Tex-Mex.

When I was growing up in Houston, the style of crunchy and puffy tacos was fairly common. Our family ate at a Mexican restaurant on Telephone Road at least twice a week that featured them (El Patio for those who grew up in the East End...there were several unrelated El Patio's around town at the time, one in River Oaks Shopping Center; the one still in existence on Westheimer; and others).

With the closing of Fiesta Loma Linda on Telephone Road, Los Tios is the only restaurant that I know of that carries on the tradition of the Houston style puffy taco and queso and also, the pecan praline candy that came with your bill at the end of the meal. 

A lunch special here of a taco, guacamole, rice and beans will cost you less than a burger, fries and shake at Shake Shack. Here's the lunch special (actually you can pick two items from a list, but, I'll always go for the taco)

The manager of the Beechnut location confirmed to me what I already knew, having tried to make the puffy taco in my home kitchen. It is HARD. It is an art. And something that requires a skill that comes with time to perfect, in the hands of some ladies who have been with the Adair family restaurants for many years.  The manager told me how, although new items have been added to the original menu, the classic "Number 6" is still the most requested and most popular!

Highly recommended.

Exploring Chinatown- A Michael Shum Adventure

“ We decided to have some fun and make it an adventure in Chinatown.

First stop, beverages! We picked up the Soy Bean Milk at Bao Shi Yi  Bun House 包十一i. The menu and its presentation have been reworked. The place is quite lively in the morning I was so happy to see a big Hispanic family enjoying their meal here, eating traditional Chinese breakfast items. I’m calling the Soy Bean Milk here the best I had in Houston. The texture is thick and silky smooth, aromatic, and tasty. We got the no sugar hot option, it’s perfectly sweet already on its own. 

Next stop we got a hot Sea Salt Coffee at 85C Bakery Cafe and picked up Hokkaido Chiffon Cup for dessert later. With 2 types of hot beverages to fuel our morning, we continue on our adventure.

Tous Les Jours is close by, located inside of Hmart Supermarket. This Korean Bakery has some of the best French bread and pastries in Houston, beating some bakeries that specialize in French baked goods. We get a couple of pastries that we can eat right away. The Pain Aux Raisins is the best in Houston. There I go again, boldly making that statement. Very few places make this pastry, Magnol has it on some occasions, but this little Korean bakery with imported ingredients and recipe from their Korean headquarter is better in our opinion. They ran out of Plain Croissant, so I got a Cocoa Hazelnut Croissant instead. Again, I’m gonna call it the best Cocoa Hazelnut Croissant in Houston, because the sweetness is perfect, the Croissant retains its form, and the filling is not overstuffed. I highly recommend Tous Les Jours for French Pastries.

Of course, we have to go to our favorite Chinese bakery in Dun Huang Plaza. King Bakery specializes in Cantonese or Hong Kong-style Pastries. We prefer the Egg Tarts here because the Custard is less runny and less sweet, resembles more of that we find in Asia. The Pineapple Buns, Boh Loh Baau, or Chinese Concha as I call it, are a must here, and also best in town. The reason it’s called Pineapple Buns is the top layer of checkered Sugar Cookie Crust that looks like the epicarp of a Pineapple. They come in 3 versions, plain with no fillings, Milk Powder, and Milk Custard Fillings. If people buy the plain version, they usually split the bun and stuff a thick pad of Butter in the middle, perfect with a cup of hot Yin Yeung, a Cantonese drink composed of a mixture of coffee and milk tea. We get the Pineapple Buns with Milk Powder and Custard fillings, and a Cantonese Pig in a Blanket Bun.

The final stop before picking up father-in-law is to procure our lunch. At the request of the old man, we got Vietnamese Sandwiches, Banh Mi, at yet another of our favorite places, Nguyen Ngo French Cafe. Father-in-law likes the giant Croissant instead of Baguette because it’s easier to chew for him. He got his with Pate and Jambo. Vanessa likes the Baguette, and hers is with Pate and Saucisson. I went with my usual House Special, Dac Biet, with Pate, Shredded Chicken, and Jambon. The secret ingredient here is their Butter and Mayo spread. Any sandwiches are simply elevated with their proprietary blend of Butter and Mayo. 

As many friends have stated, there are so many choices in Houston Chinatown that seems overwhelming at times. I’m sharing our morning adventure here to use a loose guide on what you might like. I don’t know if there’s a motto for Houstonians who love to stay in this city, but I will say, 

“Keep Houston Diverse!”

Quesos to Go - Venezuelan Cuisine in Houston

 Tucked into a little strip center just one street over from Fry Road is a delightful grocery store with regional cheeses and specialties from Venezuela. 

Friend, John Nechman, calls this area of Fry/Mason : "Katyzuela", because of the number of South American eateries and options out there.

Here is where you will find your various ground corn for arepas and other South American dishes, and cheeses, and snack foods. 

Look out for the assortment of ají chile based hot sauces and the extensive collection of cookies and chocolates. 

Even Venezuelan style sandwich bread (butter bread).

Tequeños in different flavors, (a fried snack) perfect for parties, are available in the freezer section. And empanadas, also in the freezer section (see menu below).

We chatted with one of the owners about methods for making arepas. Although one can buy electric arepa makers, similar to a waffle maker, a good old griddle or cast iron pan will work just fine. Lots of recipes on YouTube if you want to tackle them at home. And the owners will walk you through the corn flours for the masa when you visit.

Tacos in the Heights - La Chingada on Cavalcade

 A local taqueria in my neighborhood (The Heights) just down from Airline on Northwood/Cavalcade. An extensive menu and very good tacos. An unforgiveably bad name, though. Still that won't keep me from coming back. If there was any mis-step, it would be the greasy flour tortillas. But hey...just get corn tortillas (more authentic anyway).

Wanna Bao - on Bagby near Specs - Terrific Chinese Food in Midtown

 Just going by the name, I would probably have never gone here. Fortunately, friends Jenny and Jerry, knew how good it was and invited me to join them for lunch. The food here KILLS. 

I let them order, of course. And then, I asked for a copy of the receipt so that I could show you what to order when you go. At the minimum, soup dumplings. And crispy bottom bao.

Here follow, photos of a few of the dishes we inhaled on this visit.