HK Dim Sum: Fried Rice? Tsk tsk.

Chinatown

I learned a lot of things from my jaunt to Chinatown yesterday. First, I learned that Chinatown is effing far away. Second, ordering fried rice in a Chinese restaurant is a sure fire way of establishing just how poorly versed in Chinese cuisine you really are. I got there pretty late and was promptly reminded by the HK Dim Sum madam that the kitchen shuts down a half hour before the place closes. I flashed back a smile  in hopes of zapping the meanness out of her and I think it worked because she remarked how quickly I had made my choices. Naturally I got dumplings - pork, beef and steamed bbq pork buns. And friend rice.

Fried Rice

Steamed Bbq Pork Buns

The food was alright IMO, the china was the flimsiest I've ever seen; however, the most interesting part of the evening happened later when a Chinese lady welcomed herself in despite being told that the place was closing. Friendly banter ensued and they decided to serve her as long as she got her food to-go. I was her next prey as she told me about how she had driven an hour just to get here because she really wanted noodles and didn't want to cook tonight. She looked disdainfully at my food and said "Oh at least you got the dumplings". Even though I had a mediocre experience with the food, this lady's presence and recommendation of the "flat, non-gravy, beef noodles" left me hopeful for the throngs of foodies who will visit after me. 

Los Dos Amigos: Happy Friendship Day

Who doesn't love authentic Mexican food? In fact, faux Mexican food is one of the worst cuisines ever. Nobody wants a soggy tortilla or undercooked carne asada. But not to worry, at Los Dos Amigos you will be treated like a long lost son who has just returned home after a ten year exile. 

Yeah, the china may be exactly the same as it is at Asia Market, BUT you WILL see Mexican people eating there. I think that's always a good sign when you see people of a certain nationality eating at a restaurant claiming to serve food that they themselves are connoisseurs of. One, it means that the food is good enough for them to forego cooking it themselves and two, who is a better judge than them at their own cuisine? 

Menu

No alki here but their Ladies Dinner is a perfect sampler type dinner for people with small apetites that do not want to get stuck with a plate full of chiles rellenos. I chose to get the Dinner Combo 1 that came with Guac salad. Crispy chips FTW. 

Chips and Salsa and Guac Salad

Dinner Combo 1

I got a taco, cheese tostada, enchiladas, and rice and beans. The salad portion wasn't the freshest but the rest of it was really good. Its a dinky little place with the decorating style of a Spanish Lady Gaga but if that isn't authentic, then I don't know what is. 

Gilhooleys: Country Chic

Outdoor bar

If you ever find yourself in Dickinson, TX... umm... actually you would never find yourself in Dickinson, TX but once you're there drive past the general store and the station wagon parked on the lawn of the corner house and you will find yourself at Gilhooleys. Its a sit-wherever-you-like-and-cash-only kind of place. Don't expect any craft beers but who cares when the Oysters are bombdizzle. Seafood = fresh.

Oysters with Shrimp

I also got Hush Puppies and Fried Mushrooms that were quite delish as well. 

Fried Mushrooms

Hush Puppies

You can relax in the outdoor space and soak up the sun while you enjoy the bar or wallow in the dive-y indoors but I personally preferred spying on the Uncle who was on his afternoon beer run as he cheered on his basketball team. Oh p.s., no kids allowed, ever.

Outdoor seating

Asia Market: Love at First Sight

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines. But alas, I was struggling to find a good Thai place in H-town that had a good Pad See Ew. Side note, is Pad See Ew not an authentic Thai dish? I went to a lot of restaurants that claimed to be authentic but didn't have this dish on their menu.
Anyway, all my fears were calmed when I came across Asia Market  (swanky website, check it out).
Think tables squeezed in one side of an asian grocery store with Thai aunties running around. AKA Thai food perfection.

For appys I got the Pork & Shrimp Egg Rolls and the Thai Fried Beef. You can even grab a drink/snacks from the grocery store and enjoy it while you eat. You pay for everything at the store counter once you're done. Try to bring some cash for the gratuity or let them know how much you'd like to add when they are running your card.

My Pad See Ew was delish as were the Kee Mao Noodles.

Yes, all their china looks like this and you get a paper towel roll for your napkins but it is amazeballs. 

H-town strEATs: What Have I Gotten Myself In To

Now that we've gotten the niceties out of the way, I can share my first meh food cart experience.
The truth is, I was really in the mood for something Asian (fried rice, dumplings, etc.). I found out that Rice Box was going to be hanging out downtown so I drove down to Louisiana Street only to find out that they had already left. It was late and I was desperate. A quick google search told me that H-town strEATs is open late not too far from where I was. So I decided to check it out.

Photo credits - rippedosaurusflex

The spot that it was parked at (Cottonwood Bar) seemed pretty cool, and the cart was pretty cute but that was about it. I got the Chicken Fried Steak Sliders and the Risotto Balls with Tomato Jam. Now, I was really hungry which usually means that anything I eat will be delicious by default. But the sliders just did not do anything for me. I'm pretty sure I highly dislike fried meat. The Risotto Balls were better but still a little on the bland side. If I may digress, the risotto appetizer thing at Up Restaurant is bomb.

Other people seemed to like the food but it just was not for me. Sadsies.