CLOSED: Burger Gyro Wings- Halal Food Inside a Gas Station

Restaurant: Burger Gyro Wings
16955 West Little York Road, Houston, Texas 77084
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of Visit: 3/15/14

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UPDATE 8/10/15:
This place no longer exists

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**ORIGINAL POST**

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be revieweing Burger Gyro Wings. Now this is not your usual restaurant. The first thing you notice is that there is no picture of the outside of the restaurant. The reason why? It's located inside a Shell gas station! Yup, for the first time, I am reviewing a restaurant that is inside a gas station. Now having a halal restaurant inside a gas station is a rare thing here in Houston, despite the growing number of halal restaurants. Normally, gas stations usually sell convenience items such as candy, small snacks such as chips, and soda. I would usually grab a Pepsi and a chocolate bar whenever I would stop at a gas station when buying gas for my car. But this was very welcoming. I was hoping that I would make this my usual gas station and buy the food if it was really good. So while the gas was being pumped in my car, I went inside.



Let The Experience Begin:
Inside the gas station was the usual offerings of snacks and beverages. The restaurant is on the side next to the cashier. Oh, and this is takeout only, as there is no place to sit (obvious since it is a gas station). After looking at the menu, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered the Philly Cheesesteak, since it has been a very long time since I actually had one. To drink, I got a can of Pepsi, my favorite thing to drink. Now here is a weird thing. You pay separately for the food items, and you pay separately for the convenience item. I paid $7.57 for the Philly Steak, and $1.08 for the can of Pepsi separately. The waiting time was 12 minutes and 20 seconds.



Menu: The menu has American, Mediterranean, and Indian Options available.

Menu (click to enlarge)

The Philly Cheesesteak

The Verdict:

Compared to the other cheesesteaks that I have had in my life, this was very dry. THERE WAS HARDLY ANY CHEESE ON IT! How can you forget the cheese in a cheesesteak? This is sad because the part of the sub that had the cheese was really tasty. the food was washed down with a can of Pepsi. overall, one thumb down.

Service was nothing to write home about. I just got my food, paid, and left.

Conclusion: 

Sadly, it does not hit the mark. The only way that they can improve is if they put the cheese all over the sub. I will come back, but I really hope that there would be more cheese in the Philly Cheesesteak.

Grading:

Service: 8/10

Food: 7/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Overall: 25/30 = 83.3% (B)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Burger Gyro Wings
16955 West Little York Road, Houston, Texas 77084
Phone: (832) 289-5795
Website: none
Facebook: none
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11 AM - 10 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Tempura Restaurant: Best Biryani in the North Side of Town

Restaurant: Tempura

Address: 10640 FM 1960, Houston, TX 77070

Buffet or a-la-carte: both

Date of visit: 2/14/14

Photo Credit: http://tempurahalal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_3140-1020x680.jpg

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review! The intensity of school has died down quite a bit, so I'm finally able to catch up on my reviews. Today's review is Tempura restaurant, a Pakistani restaurant. They have 2 locations: one on FM 1960 just after the Jones Road intersection, and one in Sugar Land. This one reviews the FM 1960 location. I do not normally eat at Indian or Pakistani restaurants because the same food that is offered at these restaurant can be cooked at my house by my own mother. The reason for going here is to get take out for me and my mother, since I was still on Spring Break. I went here after the Friday prayer was finished. After going through traffic on 290 and FM 1960, I arrived at the restaurant.

Let The Experience Begin!

The ambiance inside is very nice. It is bright, and is bustling. On the right side is the buffet area and next to that is the party hall. Right in front is the ordering counter. I knew what my mother wanted, so I went there without any hesitation.

Let's Eat!

I ordered two chicken biryanis to go. Thankfully as I arrived at the restaurant, it was ready for me to pick it up and drive home. I paid $15.13 (tax included) for the food.

Menu: http://tempurahalal.com/category/tempura-specials/

If you click on the link, you will be able to scroll through the entire menu by clicking on the right tab that is seen. The menu items are of no surprise or interest. It's your basic Indian/Pakistani restaurant, where you have appetizers, non-veg and veg dishes curry dishes, rice dishes, and Tandoori BBQs. You even have BBQ rolls like many other Indian/Pakistani restaurants.

Chicken biryani (Photo taken at my house)

The Verdict:
Thankfully, the biryani was still hot when I got back to my house. There was plenty of chicken inside the biryani. Tastewise, it's the best biryani in the north side of Houston. My mom also enjoyed the food herself. There was a decent amount of flavor in the biryani, which is rare in other places. The food was washed down with a couple of glasses of water. Overall, one thumb up.

Service was nothing to praise or criticize about. I just got the food, paid, and left the restaurant.

Conclusion:

If at all you want to eat some Indian/Pakistani food, and you are in the north side, then you should give this place a try. You will definitely like their biryani. Like I said earlier, I usually do not eat at Indian/Pakistani restaurants because I can get the same food cooked by my own mother. I'll give this place another try when I go out with family, or get takeout.

Grading:

Service: 8/10

Food: 8/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Overall: 26/30 = 86.7% (B)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Tempura Restaurant

10640 FM 1960, Houston, TX 77070

Phone: (281) 890-6969

Website: http://tempurahalal.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TempuraHalalRestaurantCatering

Timings: Mon, Wed-Thu: 11 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 11 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 10 PM; Tue: closed

Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

CLOSED- Angry Burridos: M&M Grill still rules in Mexican Food

Restaurant: Angry Burridos
8921 Louetta Road, Spring, Texas 77379
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of Visit: 3/2/14

Photo Credit: https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc3/t1/c27.0.160.160/p160x160/1526702_497053577082853_125967479_n.jpg

UPDATE 1/1/15: This place has now closed down


**ORIGINAL POST**

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Sorry for being away. I've been busy doing schoolwork for college, and now I am on Spring Break! Today I'm bringing you another Mexican restaurant: Angry Burridos! One thing about this is that it is located in the north side of town! Now the main question is, is it better than or as good as M&M Grill? Of course, to be at the same level as M&M Grill, it has to taste amazing. The time for me to try this restaurant came after I took my car for servicing. It was on the way back to my house, and I had not eaten any breakfast. After the service was finished, I drove to the restaurant.



Let the Experience Begin!
Throughout the visit, I was the only person inside the restaurant! The ambiance was nice. There were artifacts that were related to Texas and Mexico on display. The seating was very big. The menu is right in front of you when you come inside. After looking at it, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a steak burrido to go. Burrido is their way of saying burrito, since the restaurant itself is called Angry Burridos. I had taken it to go because my parents were expecting me to be back at my house so that I could study for my Organic Chemistry class. I paid a grand total of $8.65 (tax included) which is indeed cheaper than M&M. The waiting time was 11 minutes and 12 seconds.



Menu: The menu is on a board and attached to the table. Click the pictures to get a closer look

Fajita Platters, Quesadillas, and Nachos

Burridos and Salads

Beverages, Desserts, and Kids Combo

Tacos and Fresh Chips

The Burrito

The Verdict:

When I took the first bite out of the burrito, I noticed there was something wrong. I then found out that I got chicken instead of steak. I ordered steak because it is one of my favorite things to eat. It is important for a restaurant to not mess up on the order because the customers would be very unhappy. Nevertheless, the burrito was decent, but not as good as M&M's. There was a good balance between the tortilla, the meat, and the other stuff. And it was very filling too. The food was washed down with a nice bottle of water that I bought at a gas store.

Service was nothing to praise or criticize about. I ordered, got the food, then drove back to my house.

Conclusion:

If you don't want to drive down to M&M Grill, or if you want to eat some Mexican food on the north side of town, then this place is the right place for you. The food is very filling, and the prices and the seating is ideal for families or a large group of people. To the restaurant, just don't mess up the orders and you will be fine.

Grading:
Service: 6/10

Food: 8/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Overall: 24/30 = 80% (B)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Angry Burridos
8921 Louetta Road, Spring, Texas 77379
Phone: None
Website: None
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngryBurridos
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11 AM - 9 PM
Caters: No

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine- Similar, but Cheaper than Fadi's

Restaurant: Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine
912 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77006
Buffet or a-la-carte: neither
Date of Visit: 2/25/14

Photo Credit: http://places2.assets.gotime.com/15eca1729a5d656d68bce3029bbf60d2765dc263_l.jpg

UPDATE 8/13/16:

I've come here on many occasions and I just love their food. I found the food here to be better than Fadi's, food as in the stuff that you get when you order cafeteria style. This is my top spot for Mediterranean food inside 610.

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Finally, after going through the ordeal of trying to change my major in college, I'm back! Today I will be reviewing Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine. I had gone after my 11:30 class had finished early, and I had forgotten my lunch at home that day. The drive here according to the GPS takes us through the heart of the Third Ward, so it was too dangerous for me to go in my sparkling 2013 Camry. The best way to go there from UH is to exit to Allen Parkway from I-45. Then turn left onto Montrose Boulevard. After you reach the Westheimer signal, you go a little bit ahead, and then you make a three point turn onto the opposite lane, cross the signal again, then park your car at the nearby parking lot. The restaurant entrance is there once you park the car.

Let The Experience Begin!
The setup is exactly like Fadi's, You get a tray, then you go around and get one side, and one entree. You also have an option of ordering something. I decided to order something. The ambiance was nice, and there was also outside seating available too. After looking at the menu, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I decided to order the Ultimate shawarma, which was a mixture of beef and chicken in a roll with the basic shawarma ingredients. My side would be French Fries, and my drink was Pepsi. I paid a total of $9.73. The waiting time was a great 7 minutes and 23 seconds.



Menu: http://www.aladdinshouston.com/dining-menu/
The menu resembles Fadi's. The major difference, however, is that it was much cheaper than Fadi's. I paid $22.50 for the cafeteria style, which I will try on my next visit. For the ordering, I paid $5.94 for the filet mignon kabab, and it came with only a few pieces. The Shawarma, however, was loaded.

Ultimate Shawarma

The Verdict:

The food was really awesome! The balance between the bread, the vegetables, and the meat was there! It was also very filling! The beef and chicken were cooked perfectly. They forgot to put my side of fries, but I was compensated with a free soda! Two thumbs up for the food!

The service was great compared to other Mediterranean restaurants. In other restaurants, they would often refute the claim that they made a mistake, and would tell the customer to pay up. Here, they forgot the fries but they gave me the free soda! They were very friendly and they let me take my time to order.

Conclusion: 

If you want some good Mediterranean food, then Aladdin is a great place. Just don't go through the Third Ward to get here, whether it is during the day or the night. But you will still enjoy the food that they have to offer with great service.

Grading:

Service: 10/10

Food: 9/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Overall: 29/30 = 96.7% (A)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine

912 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77006

Phone: (713) 942-2321

Website: http://www.aladdinshouston.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AladdinsHouston

Timings: Sun-Thu: 10:30 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM

Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Cafe Adel- A Rival Emerges

Restaurant: Cafe Adel
13110 FM 529, Houston, Texas 77041
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 2/21/14

Photo Credit: http://rdc.rdcimage.com/partner-images/183206/micrositeimage_photo2.jpg

UPDATE 11/26/2018: This place is currently the only halal Bosnian brick-and-mortar spot in the city. Thankfully the food here is great! 

ORIGINAL REVIEW

Background:

Salam/hey guys! After preparing for and finishing up a really tough engineering exam, I am back! This is another restaurant that I went to during one of my very few study breaks. This restaurant is Cafe Adel, a Bosnian restaurant. While Cafe Pita is in the South side of town, Cafe Adel, is on the north side. To be more specific, the restaurant is located on the intersection of FM 529 and Eldridge Road. I was able to stop here while I was driving home from college. I managed to get the 12:30 sermon at a local Islamic Center, which meant that I had time before my tutorial over Skype for the exam. At first, I was doubtful that it was halal, but I confirmed it via zabihah.com. So before hitting the books, I stopped at the restaurant.

Let the Experience Begin!

Unlike Cafe Pita, Cafe Adel is very bright. Inside there were tables and a TV playing. The person in front saw me and helped me out. I was then handed a menu and asked what I wanted to drink. After looking at the menu, I decided what to drink.



Let's Eat!
I decided to order the cevap. There is a large serving and a small serving. I took the large serving. I got water to drink. In total, I paid $8.65 (tax included). The waiting time was at 9 minutes and 34 seconds. To pass time, I just watched TV.



Menu: Their website is under server maintenance, so I took pictures of their menu. Their menu is similar to that of Cafe Pita, but it has lesser choices of food than Cafe Pita. Also, the food items seem more expensive than Cafe Pita. To see the pics, just click the pictures.

Appetizers

Salads

Sandwiches

Entrees

Pizza

Drinks and Kids Menu

Cevap

The Verdict:

Now I have a problem deciding where to go for Bosnian food, because the cevap here was mouthwatering! The bread, however, was too dense for my liking. It could be less dense to create a balance between the meat and the bread. The kajmak (Bosnian cream sauce), was also really tasty. The food was washed down with a nice glass of water. Overall, one thumb up.

The service was really awesome. The waitress was one of the nicest I've met. She was very patient, unlike most I've met. She was very social, and she was really professional. 

Conclusion:

Well, the ultimate decision to where you want to go and eat is up to you. Both offer really good food and service. The only difference is the price. Cafe Adel is a bit more expensive than Cafe Pita. But I will assure you that it will be money well spent.

Grading:

Service: 10/10

Food: 8/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Overall: 28/30 = 93.3% (A)

Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Cafe Adel
13110 FM 529, Houston, Texas 77041
Phone: (713) 466-1331
Website: None
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafeAdel
Timings: Mon-Sat: 10 AM - 9 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 8 PM
Caters: Yes


Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed