jscarbor

Also try Santong Snacks on Bellaire, kind of in the area where tan tan is, for really good beef noodle soup and dumplings. Its in one of Dinh something or other shopping centers. In the same center is Taiwanese Cousine which is also very cheap. Very authentic. One of my favorite dishes is the crispy fried pork intestines stuffed with scallion. Really, don't know it til you try it. They also have a very good whole fish in chili sauce.

Then you are missing out because this town is a hotbed for great food. And one of the worst genre's we do is cajun/creole. I can think of 1 decent place that i would go to and its Floyds, and I haven't been there in over a year.

There are tons of cheap places. First off I'll start with Asian places in the midtown/downtown area not too far from Rice. Givral's has some great vietnamese sandwiches and other goodies. I usually get the grilled pork Banh Mi. Its awesome! And they are only $2. its located at 2800 Travis inside Hoa Bin Center. Cali Sandwich located at 3030 Travis serves up a fine $2 Banh Mi's plus very good vermicilli ($4). Very good vietnamese eggrolls as well. As a special treat you can get a smoothie and to go further you can get a durian smoothie. Thiem Hung at 2100 Pease serves up Banh Mi for $1.5 6 inch, $2 8 inch, and $2.5 12 inch. They also have a big bowl of Beef noodle soup for $4.5. There are a ton of Pho places where you can ine for under $5 fairly well. Guys meat market has a great burger during the day. Get it with bbq sauce and whatever else you like on a burger. Frenchy's Fried Chicken on Scott street serves up awesome fried chicken dinners for $3-4. Taquerias galore in this town. Really to many to mention but I'll give it a go. Villa Arcos on Navigation serves up the best breakfast tacos around. Ask for a SUPER! Taqueria Laredo on Washington has very good and cheap tacos. El Rey has a very good chicken acapulco sandwich. el Rey is also on washington at Shepherd. El Tacambaro in the farmers market has good stuff. Pancho's meat market on Long Point. Great tacos, tortas, and gorditas. Thats shoudl get someone started. Let me know how it goes.

Thelma's catfish is right up there with the best I have ever had.

In Houston I think that De Marco near Mark's is a must. Anything and everything is great. I like it more than Mark's, and that's saying something because I think Mark's is up there in the top couple of restaurants. I haven't been to Simposio in a year or so but I can tell you that I have never had an avg meal there. I think everything is wonderful. I would try the grilled calimari for appetizer. For the main dish I remember a very good pork chop. I also remember his rissotos being the best I have had. Blvd Bistro will be closing very soon so I would head over there now. The food is very good. I really enjoy the sunday brunch with the chicken chili noodles or the outstanding gourmet burger on a lavender focacia. Alas if it does close I believe another rest run by Pope will be opening in the Midtown area. What about trying Zula downtown? Its great. Again I haven't been in a year or so but it is first rate. Very good fois gras dishes and beef done right as well. I also remember a very good fish dish. One of my favorite newish places is Hugo's I rec anything from the squash blossom menu (If its still available), the ceviche, soups, emenada's, rabbit, the little chicken dish. Also the choc flan is a highly rec dessert along with the churros and hot choc. Hugo's grinds there own cocao beens and makes the choc by hand.

Last I checked they don't have a web site. I will try and find an article on the place and post if I do. I found the regular Prime meat to be tastier than the Wagyu when I went. Its a great place, that's for sure.

I'm not a huge fan of tookies but yes they do have a pretty good burger.

I would say that Guys is the closest being only about 2-3 miles from the rice baseball field. And Lankford's and Rudyards are within 4-6 miles from Rice.

For a Houston Burger one must make a stop at Lankford's grocery in the 4th ward for a truly monumental burger. Go during the day because food is not served after 3pm. Lankford's burger patty's weigh about 1/2 pound after cooking. They are big and tasty. You like bacon? Then you won't be dissappointed in the 4 nice thick slices you will get when ordered. Fries are great and with a side of the best ranch dressing in town make for a gut bulging meal. I have had the best burger on occassion at Lankfords and never a burger that was just avg. I put it up there with Kinkaids in Ft Worth and Cammellia grill and Port o call in New Orleans. You can also get mean beef enchialdas on wednesdays served with very good rice, beans, and chips and salsa. I also like the Burger at Guys meat market on Old Spanish Trail near the med center. You can only get these smoked dady's tue-frid and if they run out you are out of luck. There is this funky montrose bar called Rudyards that serves up a great burger as well. This is a smokey bar but the burger is well worth it. In the 5th Ward you can get a full pound burger patty at Adrians. The burger is very good and huge. I bet it weighs 2 pounds. No atmosphere. KC's bar on fountanview in the richmond bar/club area is a great place for a burger early in the day or late at night. Personally I am not a fan of the Otto's burger but alot of people are. It just doesn't do it for me. Its good but not great. Hope this helps next time you are in Houston.

I didn't realize it was a nicishy restaurant. All I know is I can get great burgers that same size or close to it cooked to order for under $3 plus a $1.5 for great fries at numerous places in Houston. Of course these are dumpy places.

I'm Sorry but am I missing something? $6 is a great deal for a burger?

I like to raost my veggies when making tomato/tomatillo sauces and it adds a depth of flavor to the chilaquilles that is great. Also instead of sour cream I use crema and just our it on top. Of course I always fry an egg and put it on top of the chilaquilles.

If you find yourself at the farmers market (I will be there this weekend for gazpacho ingredients) you need to stop by the taco stand that has a red top. This place has great tacos, gorditas, and quesadillas. The pork tacos are great and the tripas is very good as well. Not far from the farmers market but on the other side of 45 on fulton is a taco stand next to a tire store that sells the best carne tacos around. The tortiallas are only avg but the carne is just awesome when accompanied with the green sauce. On the east side of town on Navigation not far from the original ninfa's (used to be better than the other ninfa's but it stinks now) is a taco joint called villa arcos. VA serves up great breakfast tacos along with other items. The tacos are huge. I suggest you get a "Super" which is eggs, potatoes, beans, cheese, and either big chunks of bacon, sausage, or chorizo. Check it out, you wont be dissapointed.

[i need to find me a significant other like that. "Here, let me build you an outdoor kitchen because I can't stand having a dirty indoor one!" Wow. Do you think you will be able to post pictures if/when they build it? I'd be very interested in seeing them. ] When its done I would love to post pics.

My dad wants to have an outdoor kitchen built mainly because his wife is obsessive compulsive and can't stand a dirty kitchen not becaue they like to cook all that much. What would be the best route for them to go? Does anyone have an idea about a wood burning brick oven instead of a cooktop/grill type setup?

A dish that I haven't seen people mention that is my absolute favorite is the pork stew on the Issan menu. It remainds me of a rendang curry from malaysia but better. I also cna't get enough of his fish dishes. I can't wait til I am back in LV so I can eat here again and again.

This is obviously after the fact but I believe a few places were missed and one place must have just opened. For breakfast I think Pico's is the place to go for good mex food. The machacada can huevo al la mexicana and the chiliqueas(SP?) with a fried egg on top are 2 of my fav dishes in town. Hugos (opened a year or so ago) on Westheimer in the montrose area is turning out some incredible interior mex food. I have been to Topolabampo in chicago and Fonda San Miguel in Austin and this place is as good or better than they are. Right now they have squash blossom specials. The ceviche is incredible as is the snapper tamale and the chile rubbed chicken. Otillia's was metioned before and is a strong pick as is a place across the road on Long point called El Hildeguense that specializes in mex bbq. On the lower end Gorditas Aquascaliente is a great place for appetizers and soups. I could go on and on on taco stands and breakfast tacos but maybe thats another thread? I almost forgot, but for mex style fish you need to go to Tampico for the snapper alla plancha. It is a whole "grilled" its really fried(no batter just seasonings) red snapper on a bed of onions. Served with some limes or you can get the diablo sauce on the side. Tampico is on Airline about 5-7 miles north of downtown.

I hate galveston and there utter disdain for everyone not BOI. I mean who cares? I don't. The food is only avg at almost all there restaurants and the beach is absolutely pathetic. Why people go I don't know. When I do have to go to this place one of my favorite places is the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe. Beer and BYOL while you listen to great artists play in a relaxed atmosphere. For food I would echo Jaymes rec's and add the andouille sausage place on Broadway for sausage and Gumbo and the donut shop in an old blue building for breakfast tacos (the bronco taco which is basicall all the way).