December 2018 Roundup

Salam/hey guys! Sorry I have been busy yet again. Here's a roundup of the places I've tried in December 2018.

This month started out with a trip to Austin. There, I tried two places: Kismet Cafe and Halal Bros. Both places have a strong reputation for their NY Style over Rice. Kismet cafe is location just outside downtown Austin on E 41st street near its intersection at I-35. I got their mix over rice with both sauces (which is what I usually get when I go to Gyro King back in Houston). The price? Only $8.65 (Tax included). Kismet Cafe also offers Mediterranean BBQ plates, salads, and wraps, and everything is under $10!.
The food was on point. The meats were well cooked and the rice was flavorful. A good start.

Mix over rice with both sauces

Service: 8/10

Food: 8/10

Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Address: 1000 E 41st Street, Austin, TX

Phone: (512) 236-1811

Website: http://www.kismetcafe.com

Menu: http://www.kismetcafe.com/menu.html

Timings: Sun-Wed: 11 AM - 1 AM; Thu-Sat: 11 AM - 3 AM

Caters: Yes

Before heading back to Houston, I went and checked out Halal Bros, which was near the UT Campus. The first thing that I noticed is that the place has a huge parking problem. The inside was packed. It was no surprise to me, given how the place always has so much hype from folks in Austin as well as Houston. Like Kismet, I ordered their combo over rice. Like Kismet, the pricing was $8.65 (Tax included) and you get a lot of food for that price. But this place doesn't offer BBQ plates. 

When I got the food, I felt that they were skimpy with the sauces. But that's just me I guess, since I'm used to Gyro King dousing their plates with both sauces. In the platter, the white sauce and the gyro meat were on point. However, the chicken could've been much better. They have a truck on 7th Street as well as two other stores throughout Austin.

Combo over rice from Halal Bros

After trying the same dish at both places, I'd say Kismet takes the edge because of the chicken.

Service: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Total: 15/20 = 75% (C)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Address: 2712 Guadalupe Stree, Austin, TX
Phone: (512) 284-8105
Website: http://www.thehalalbros.com/
Menu: https://mavn.is/halalbros/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 11 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 3 AM; Sun: 12 PM - 11 PM
Caters: Yes


The first place I visited after the trip was an Indian restaurant called Godavari. Godavari is another Indian restaurant chain that has locations all over the country. They offer  The inspiration of this trip was my mother. She really wants to try the place out after hearing good things about the place. I went during my lunch break from work.
For lunch, they do a buffet. One side is vegetarian, and another side is non vegetarian. I went for the non vegetarian side. It's more focused on South Indian food. To drink, I got a Thums-Up. All the meat is halal here.

The food was honestly average as a whole. The only plus point in the whole buffet was the butter chicken, and that is a north Indian dish.

The Buffet Plate: dum biryani, butter chicken, selam chicken, raita, gongura fried chicken, and gongura kodi kabab. The items available change daily

Service: 8/10
Food: 5/10
Total: 13/20 = 65% (D)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Address: 28092 Westheimer Street, Houston, TX
Phone: (832) 581-2922
Website: https://www.godavarius.com/houston/
Menu: https://www.godavarius.com/food-menu-south-indian-food-menu/
Timings: Mon-Fri: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 10 PM; Sat-Sun: 12 PM - 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Caters: Yes


Happy New Year!

Zain Mohammed

Giordano's: Finally, Halal Deep Dish in The City Where It Originated

Restaurant: Giordano's

Address: 1510 Market Street, Des Plaines, Illinois
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/23/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about probably one of my most anticipated visits of all time. Why was it anticipated? Well, it's because of the fact that a location of a popular chain is getting reviewed! The chain? None other than the classic Chicago institution: Giordano's. And what is the popular Chicago food item? Deep dish pizza. Well, we had a spot in Houston for a while (D'Marcos, which closed down) and Fuzzy's (ask for options, but less stellar than D'Marcos). Then, when I was deciding where to go during the trip, I got a picture saying that one of the Giordano's had halal options and that it was prepared separately. I was amazed. I finally got to try the place that so many would always rave about when it came to deep dish. It's the Giordano's that is located in Des Plaines, which is located near O'Hare and a long drive from Burr Ridge. I headed there after spending the day in downtown Chicago which ended with an amazing sunset at 360 Chicago (John Hancock Building). I was going to meet a group of Muslim food bloggers that are based in Chicago (IG: adventuresofshakandb). The original plan was to take the rail by myself from downtown to there, since the location was 5 minutes from the station. But, I got picked up and then we headed there. Surprisingly, I-90 was not packed as I thought it would be. That meant a little wait. My dad was worried about me being alone, so I went inside and said that I would be back since they were on their way. I sat in the Panera Bread next door (didn't walk since it was cold outside). As soon as they were 5 minutes away, I went inside the restaurant.


Let The Experience Begin!
For a popular pizza chain, the location was SMALL. Only one row of tables and then there were some bar stools. And it was packed. A large party consisting of 14 people came in. There was even a line for takeout where the waiting time was nearing two hours. The wonderful thing? All but one group were brown folks like myself. And they were getting the halal toppings. The bloggers arrived, and we helped ourselves to the barstools and drinks (I got a Pepsi). Then, we ordered.



Let's Eat!
For appetizers, we ordered the fried calamari (squid). And before reading the next sentence, I would like to say that no fiqh discussions will be allowed. Different schools have different opinions about which seafood items are permissible to eat. The fried calamari came with artichoke fritters, lemon rings, banana peppers,  and fennel with their marinara sauce. For the main, we ordered a meat and more with the halal meat. The meat was halal beef pepperoni, halal beef salami, halal beef bacon, and halal beef sausage. You must request the halal toppings when ordering. They are available when dining in and taking out. For delivery, you have to call them in order to get the halal toppings. The large one, which we got, was $37.25 + tax. The appetizer was $10.95+ tax. One important thing to mention is that the cooking process for deep dish is long. So it's recommended that you order appetizers.

Menu: https://giordanos.com/content/uploads/menus/carryout/dt_co.pdf?_ga=2.73238743.532490501.1544395751-16509638.1544395751
The menu is like any pizza spot. You have apps, pizzas, and some plates and sandwiches. I also like that there is an individual deep dish option here. I'm assuming that the halal meats can be put in some of the other dishes, so just check if they can do that. As of now, this is the only location of Giordano's in the COUNTRY to have halal options available.

Fried Calamari

The Deep Dish

Our attempt at a cheese pull

Side shot of a slice

The Verdict:
The pizza was incredible. Incredibly cheesey and meaty. All of us loved the pizza. I can safely say that Giordano's was well worth the hype. This was definitely the greatest deep dish I've ever had. The calamari was great as well, even though there were some accidental bites into the lemon. Overall, two thumbs up.
One thing that made this place stand out was the service. The person working with all this rush was amazing. She was able to make everything calm despite the long waits, and she was incredibly friendly. The owners are also friendly. We had a small chat before leaving about how they were able to convince corporate to serve halal meat at the location, and thanked them for serving halal.

Conclusion:
Giordano's cheese may be great based on how it tasted along with the meat, but for a true deep dish experience with halal meat, head over to this location! It being packed is a testament to the fact that the halal options at Giordano's is a hit! Hopefully a Lou Malnati's location and/or either the Morton Grove or a new location of Pequod's would follow suit in the future, since it''ll be nice to have more than one option for halal deep dish in the city where it originated from. I'll definitely be back to try it again, no matter where I would be in Chicago.


Grading:
Service: 10/10
Food: 10/10
Total: 20/20 = 100% (A)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Giordano's

Address: 1510 Market Street, Des Plaines, Illinois
Phone: (847) 635-8550
Website: https://giordanos.com/locations/des-plaines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiordanosDesPlaines/
Timings: Sun-Thu: 10:30 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 10:30 AM - 11 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Earl's Kitchen and Bar: A More Affordable Halal Steakhouse

Restaurant: Earl's Kitchen and Bar

Address: 1538 N Clyborn Avenue, Chicago, IL
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/23/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at a place where you can get halal steak in Chicago. The place is called Earl's. Earl's is a steakhouse chain that is based in Canada. I first heard about Earl's after seeing someone post about how they use Creekstone Farms beef (100% halal btw) at their restaurants. It turns out that they use Creekstone Farms beef at their US locations (I don't know about Canada locations). I looked up hoping that there would be a location in Houston, but there's one in Plano, near Dallas. Hopefully they'll expand to Houston in the future.
Originally, I was not supposed to go here. When I was planning my trip, I did polls for a few days leading up to the trip to determine which places I would try when I spend the day in downtown Chicago on the 23rd. I was originally going to Epic Burger and Tahoora, but that was for if I was going myself. I was in fact spending the day with my cousin from Cleveland. His favorite food item is steak, and he isn't a burger fan. So I thought of going to Prime and Provisions in downtown, but for some reason they were not open for lunch since it was Black Friday. I looked on Yelp and zabihah.com for places that had halal steak. I then saw that they had an Earl's in Chicago, so I reserved a table for two. After Friday prayers in downtown, we took an Uber to the restaurant .


Let The Experience Begin!
While the address mentions N Clyborn Avenue, the actual entrance is located on the northeast side of a roundabout that is to the right of the intersection of N Halsted Street and W Blackhawk Street. After confirming the reservation that I made, we were helped to the table by the friendly host. After taking a few minutes to read the menu, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I decided to be adventurous and order the beef bibimbap. Bibimbap is a Korean dish that consists of rice, sesame chili sauce, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and a soft boiled egg served in a hot stone bowl. I ordered it because I never had a proper Korean dish in Houston (Coreanos is a fusion of Mexican and Korean; Bento Hut in Atlanta, which had chicken bulgogi, closed down), and that there's no halal Korean BBQ spot (though it's the highest in demand after BBQ and steakhouse). I am also confident that this location uses the Creekstone beef since there is no mention of any other beef supplier in their menu. The price was $17 + tax. My cousin got the 6 oz steak frites. It's a 6 oz sirloin steak that comes with fries and garlic bread. I decided to teach him the finer points of steak eating by making him order it medium rare. The price? $17.50 + tax. To wait, I watched UH get their butts kicked by Memphis.

Menu: https://earls.ca/locations/lincoln-park/menu/kitchen
The menu of Earl's is one of huge variety. At one end you have Asian food items like the bibimbap. At another end, you have pizzas, and at one end, you have steaks. As mentioned, Earl's uses Creekstone beef for its US locations. But this location also uses halal chicken from Crescent. I found out a few days after the actual trip there. I don't know if they also use the halal chicken at the other locations. When ordering, just mention to them that you want it cooked separately and that the grill would be cleaned, and they would be happy to help.

Now in order to eat the bibimbap, read through the captions underneath each picture.

Step 1: This is how the dish comes. The red stuff on the left is the sesame chili sauce.

Step 2: pour the sesame chili sauce into the bowl

Step 3: Mix it. This is what the result should be like. Do not eat before mixing.

The Verdict:
For someone who's having a proper Korean dish for the first time ever, I thought the food was good. The spice level was adequate, and the food quality was high. My cousin really enjoyed his steak frites. He said that the steak had a lot of flavor.
The service was wonderful. The folks there are really friendly and really accommodating. They always had a smile on their face when talking with customers. 

Conclusion:
Earl's is a good spot to try if you want halal steak and/or Asian fare in Chicago without having to pay a lot at places like Prime and Provisions or Roka Akor (Chicago locations only have halal and not the Houston location 😒). The really friendly folks will definitely take care of you. I'll head to their Plano location, hopefully during my next trip to Dallas, and try their steak.

Grading:
Service: 9/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 17/20 = 85% (B)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Earl's Kitchen and Bar

Address: 1538 N Clyborn Avenue, Chicago, IL
Phone: (312) 929-3952
Website: https://earls.ca/locations/lincoln-park
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earlslincolnpark/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11:30 AM - 10 PM; Friday: 11:30 AM - Midnight; Sat: 10 AM - Midnight. Sun: 10 AM - 10 PM
Caters: Yes

Reservations accepted

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Shibam: Yemeni Food in Chicagoland

Restaurant: Shibam
Address: 9052 Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview, IL
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/22/18 (Thanksgiving Day)



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at one of Chicago's most respected Yemeni spots: Shibam Restaurant. Shibam has two locations: one near Devon Avenue, and one in Bridgeview (South Cook County). I spent my thanksgiving break from work in Chicago with my aunt and grandma. Since I was staying in Burr Ridge, which is in southern DuPage county, I decided to check out the south location. I was hoping that the South location would be as good as what many folks said about the north location. So when I had some free time, I headed to I-55 and headed there.


Let The Experience Begin!
Shibam is located in a strip complex near the intersection of US 80 and W 90th Place, not too far from I-294. When I came in, I was confused. I didn't know whether to order at the counter or sit down then order. So I sat down. A few minutes later, I was given the menu. Thus, you have to sit down and then order.



Let's Eat!
I decided to go with the lamb haneeth, which is basically roasted lamb with rice. They had a $11.99 deal, so I decided to take it. I also got muttabaq. It was actually my first time having it since moving here from Saudi! I also got some to go for my parents to give it a try. While waiting for the food, which is a while since haneeth is a slow cooking process, I got free soup. A nice touch.


Menu: https://us.orderspoon.com/shibamsouth
This spot has popular Yemeni food such as mandi, Zorbian, and Fahsa (a meat stew). They even have breakfast options such as fuul, fasolia, and shakshuka. I thought it was reasonably priced to be honest.

The Free Soup

Lamb Haneeth

Chicken Muttabaq

The Verdict:
The food was incredible. The haneeth was very tender and flavorful, and so was the muttabaq. The soup was also very satisfactory. Given the hype that I saw about this place before hitting the road, I didn't regret coming on a day like Thanksgiving day. Two thumbs up for the food. 

Now one thing to keep in mind in regards to the service. There is somewhat of a language barrier. You just have to be patient when speaking to them.




Conclusion:
The reviews of the spots that I visited on this trip to Chicago started out with a bang from Shibam. I can tell you that regardless of the waiting time that some may be annoyed about, the food would make up for it. But, if you expect it to taste like biryani after seeing the pics, don't go there. I'll be back in the future, and hopefully in the north location! I also hope a full fledged Yemeni restaurant will open up in Houston, or anywhere in Texas in the future.


Grading:
Service: 7/10
Food: 9/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:
Shibam
Address: 9052 Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview, IL
Phone: (872) 215-9665
Website: http://shibam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShibamRest/
Timings: 24/7
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Mezban - A Desi Buffet Spot That is Actually Good

Restaurant: Mezban
Address: 6655 Harwin Street, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/15/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my recent experience at one of Houston's most well known Pakistani spots in town: Mezban. I wanted to look for a Pakistani buffet that is not in the suburbs that actually tasted good. Being a person who grew up eating Indian/Pakistani buffets that were excellent, I had high expectations for the buffets. So far, it has been disappointments with the buffets that were not in the suburbs. But there were only two I had (Shahnai and Haveli), and one that I refused to step into because they nearly gave me food poisoning (Lazeeza). I did have Mezban before, since they catered to some of the events that I would go to. And they were great. Sohail, the owner, and his team did a great job with the quality and taste of the food. But one thing I learned during my 5.5 years of blogging is that often the catering food is far different than the food that you'd get at the actual restaurant. There's only one spot so far that has been consistent in both, and that is Aga's. I did hear good things about the food that was at the actual restaurant. So one day, I headed there.



Let The Experience Begin!
Mezban is located in a strip mall on Harwin near the Hillcroft intersection. It's in the strip mall that has Parivar Groceries and Roop Sari Palace. There's a waiting area once you enter the restaurant, and then the main dining area comes.



Let's Eat!
Starting here at Mezban is simple. You get a table and then it's up to the buffet line. The line has a variety of things, from appetizers to desserts. The prices vary based on what time you go. For Mon-Fri lunch, it's $11.98 (tax included). With the buffet, you get free fresh naan.


Menu: https://www.mezban.biz/online-ordering
Though they have a buffet all day, they have a takeout menu. It's on the online ordering part of the website, but you can also order over the phone as well as at the counter. The price of the biryani ($4.99) is really good in my opinion, and what's greater is that it's the same price everyday!. Along with the regular dine in buffet, they have a to-go buffet, as well as a halwa puri (popular Pakistani breakfast dish) buffet that consists of popular Pakistani breakfast items. One thing that was interesting is that they offer a Philly cheesesteak Paratha roll.

Plate One: Chicken Biryani, Chicken Karahi, Goat Curry, and Chicken Bihari

Second Pic: Goat Curry, Mezban Chicken, Chicken Pasanda, and Tandoori Chicken

The Verdict:
The last good Indian/Pakistani buffet I had was back in 2015 at Taz Indian Restaurant in College Station. That long wait is over. This place is actually good. Mind you, this is a Desi buffet that I am talking about. The food was actually fresh; it didn't taste like it was leftovers from their catering or it was reheated. The goat curry was fantastic (hence me getting it in both plates). The biryani was delicious, and the fact that it's $5 is a steal! The only thing I didn't like was the Mezban Chicken. I thought it could have some more flavor. But overall, a satisfactory meal. No complaints about the service; the people were nice.




Conclusion:
Mezban is for now the only good Pakistani buffet spot in town. It's refreshing to see that a Pakistani spot would make fresh and tasty buffet food, given how the majority of buffets at Pakistani places would get a bad rap for providing stale food or leftovers from banquets that they catered. If you guys want to have a fresh and tasty Pakistani buffet, then this is the place to be.


Grading:
Service: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:
Mezban
6655 Harwin Street, Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 952-0606
Website: https://www.mezban.biz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mezbanhouston/
Instagram: @mezbanhouston
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11 AM - 10 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Peli Peli- One of Houston's Well Known Restaurants

Restaurant: Peli Peli
Address: The Galleria, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/5/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience(s) at one of Houston's most well known spots in town: Peli Peli. Peli Peli is a South African restaurant that is run by co-owners Paul Friedman and Thomas Nguyen. So how did I find out about this place? Well, let's flashback to 2015. They had just opened their Galleria location, which was their second location after Vintage Park, and they invited bloggers to go. Being a person who just joined a food blogger group, I decided to go so that I could network with other bloggers. I remember having their shrimp, and I had really enjoyed them. At that time, I really wished that they would serve halal options, since the food was really good. Over time I'd see them be featured for their food. They were featured on the CNBC show Restaurant Startup. They won the 2017 People's Choice Awards, which was conducted by the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. They are rated top 10 in Houston by both TripAdvisor and Yelp. They even won the best food at the 2017 Menu of Menus Event, where restaurants come in and people vote on who has the best restaurant out there. A Facebook video of their espetada went viral recently. And their food looked absolutely mouthwatering. They then opened up a location in Cinco Ranch at LaCenterra. Fast forward to last Saturday (11/3) and someone had just tagged me in a comment. And I couldn't believe it. The restaurant said that they were going to start serving halal chicken (except the wings) and lamb the following week, and then by Spring they'd have halal beef. I then inquired about their fast casual concept Peli Peli kitchen (locations in Heights and Spring Branch). They were going to start with the halal items in two weeks. Alas, a prayer answered, Alhamdulilah. I then went ahead and made a reservation for lunch the following Monday. But that's not all. That Monday was also one of my best friend's birthday. His wife wanted a nice place so that she, her son, and all his friends can come and dine for the occasion. After studying for my GRE, I went for lunch. And after studying more, I headed to the Cinco Ranch location.



Let The Experience Begin!
The Galleria location of Peli Peli is located at one of the main entrances to the Galleria. You can calmly park at the Galleria garage and then walk, or you can park in the open lot as well. The inside was really nice. In the front you have a patio outside, and the inside has tables. The Cinco Ranch location had a great vibe as well.



Let's Eat!
For lunch, I ordered the Cape Malay Chicken Potjie Pot as well as South African Seafood Cakes. Potjie is basically a pot for a stew. Thus, the dish was basically a stew. It consists of chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, cilantro, chopped red onions, chopped tomatoes, toasted coconut, mango chutney, and South African Rice. The Seafood Cakes had kingklip (a fish native to South Africa), prawns, their special seasoning and breading, and peppadew tartar sauce. The Potjie Pot was $12+ tax for lunch, and the Seafood Cakes were for $16. I got the Cakes for free because there was a special promotion going on. The waiting time was about 13 minutes in total.
For dinner, I and the majority of the guys got the chicken espetada. It's chicken that is hung vertically with garlic herb butter on top. Just like that video on Facebook but with chicken instead of beef. And it floats! It came with sauteed baby spinach, onions, roasted red potatoes and carrot bredie (a type of South African Stew). The dinner price for the espetada is $28 + tax, while the lunch price is $17 + tax.


Menu: https://www.pelipeli.com/pdf/menu/FullMenu01232018.pdf
As mentioned above, only the chicken (except the wings) and the lamb are halal. I met with one of the managers at the Galleria location. I confirmed that the items were indeed halal. I also asked them to clean the grill. But wow, a whole new cuisine that has halal options available in the Houston area! The seafood items look great as well.

The Trio of Seafood Cakes

Cape Malay Chicken Potjie Pot

Chicken Espetada

The Verdict:
What can I say. This place was incredible. The Potjie Pot was wonderful. One thing though: everyone suggested that to get the best taste, you mix everything inside the pot, and then eat. The seafood cakes were some of the best seafood I've had, especially the peppadew sauce. As a first time eater of Kingklip, it was wonderful. The espetada was amazing as well. The garlic butter fits perfectly with the meat. The sides were also great. The rest of the guys enjoyed the food that they ordered. I had a few bites of their chocolate dessert and it was great as well. Overall, two thumbs up.
The service was amazing as a whole. Though it was a little slow at the Galleria location because it became busy, the Cinco Ranch location was wonderful. The folks there are really nice and are attentive.



Conclusion:
Peli Peli is a wonderful place to go if you're going for lunch or for a special occasion. The lunch prices are reasonable, though the menu options are limited. The great part is that both the Galleria and Cinco Ranch locations were consistent in their food quality. I can't wait to go back and try the other dishes as well as their halal steaks that come out in 2019.



Grading:
Service: 9.5/10 overall
Food: 9/10
Total: 18.5/20 = 92.5% (A)
Pricing: $$$$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:
Peli Peli
Locations in Galleria, LaCenterra (Cinco Ranch), and Vintage Park, Houston, TX
Phone: (281) 257-9500 (works for all thee locations)
Website: https://www.pelipeli.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peligalleria (Galleria location)
https://www.facebook.com/pelicincoranch/ (Cinco Ranch)
Instagram: @pelipelihouston
Timings: Galleria- Sun-Thu: 11 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 11 PM;
Cinco Ranch: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 9 PM; Fri: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sat: 10:30 AM - 10 PM; Sun: 10:30 AM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes
Reservations recommended on weekends.

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

CLOSED: Rhotey Rotisserie: Gourmet Sandwiches in Westchase

Restaurant: Rhotey Rotiseerie
Address: 9296 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/1/2018

UPDATE 2/23/19: Sadly this place closed down. It will be really missed :(

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about my two experiences at a small shop called Rhotey Rotisserie. Rhotey Rotisserie is a sandwich shop that offers various sandwiches with different rotisserie meats. I found out about this spot after seeing that this place uses Creekstone Farms beef for their beef sandwiches. After confirming that they use it and cross contamination is not there (more description below), I went there for lunch one day. Then, I got a message from the owner saying that they would start using halal chicken. So I went again and had it.



Let' The Experience Begin!
They are located just after the intersection of Gessner on Westheimer Road. It's a small shop. You could see the folks making the sandwich in front of you.

Let's Eat!
On the first trip, I got their rotisserie beef sandwich. I got their rotisserrie chicken. The rotisserie beef sandwich is $10, and the rotisserie chicken sandwich is $9. The waiting time wasn't bad at all


Menu:
https://www.rhotey.com/menu/
The menu is very simple. There are two sandwiches available for each type of meat. You can even turn the sandwiches into a salad. While they do have pork, they cook and cut it separately from the other meats.

Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich

Rotisserie Beef Sandwich

The Verdict:
The sandwiches were really tasty. They both had a lot of flavor and were filling as well. Thumbs up for the food. The service was great as well!

Conclusion:
If you want to go to a sandwich spot that serves halal meat, then Rhotey is the place to be! I'll definitely be back on more occasions!


Grading:
Service: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$


Restaurant Information
Rhotey Rotisserie
9296 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 643-4474
Website: https://www.rhotey.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhotey/
Timings: Mon-Sat: 11 AM - 9 PM; Sun: closed
Caters: Yes
Online ordering available via Doordash and Ubereats

Feel free to comment below, send me a Facebook Message, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

The Chew Shack: A Delicious Halal Turkish Food Truck

Food Truck: The Chew Shack
Address: 5741 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Date of visit: 10/19/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about my experience at a food truck called the Chew Shack. This company actually has three trucks. One is Turkish, one is American (Burgers, fries, etc.), and one is Mexican. This review is for the Turkish one. I got a message from them saying that they are at a new set location, so I decided to give them a try. After work, I met up with another blogger.



Let's Eat!
They are located next to the James Coney Island on Westheimer and Bering. We got three platters: a combination of chicken and lamb Adana Kebap, a combination of filet mignon kebap and lamb Adana kebap, and a chicken kebap. All the platters come with rice, vegetables, pita, and red cabbage. We also got a chicken doner, which comes with fries, and the onion rings. While waiting, we talked to the cashier as well as catching up on life.


Menu: The Turkish truck isn't deep like the brick and mortar spots. It has different types of kebaps, including the traditional Adana and doner. The biggest plus though is that it's not pricey (Turkish spots are some of the most expensive halal spots in town).

Le Menu

Chicken and Adana Kebap platter

Chicken Kebap Platter

Filet Mignon Kebap Platter

Chicken Doner (normally comes in one piece, but they cut into pieces because it's so huge)

The Inside of the Shawarma

The Verdict:
Absolutely delicious! There was so much flavor in everything that we got. My top ones were the Adana kebaps and the filet mignon. The food gets two thumbs up.
The people working there were really nice (I was observing them as other customers had come to order food).

Conclusion:
If you want some Turkish food without having to spend a lot of money, then the Chew Shack is a great spot to go to. I won't mind going there again soon. During the day, they are usually at office buildings. At night, they are at the address (5741 Westheimer). Afiyet Olsun!



Grading:
Food: 9/10
No service grade since this was a blogger event.
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information
The Chew Shack
5741 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 643-4474
Website: https://www.thechewshack.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechewshack/
Timings: Wed-Thu: 7 PM - Midnight; Fri-Sat: 7 PM - 2 AM
Caters: Yes
Online ordering available

Feel free to comment below, send me a Facebook Message, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Where to eat While You are in Houston for the ISNA Convention

Assalam Alaikum guys! For those visiting for the ISNA Convention, welcome to Houston! Houston is known not only for NASA and for its Southern Hospitality, but also for its wide variety of available halal food options! Here are some of the options that you can choose from during your stay here in Houston. Bon Appetit!

Downtown to the 610 Loop.

1)      Phoenicia Specialty Foods- 1001 Austin Street.

This is the closest halal restaurant to the George R. Brown Convention Center, and the only one that can be accessed by foot. This place has a small restaurant area where they sell items such as shawarmas and shish tawook with rice. You also get a wide variety of international groceries and halal meat.

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Chicken Shawarma

 

2) Stanton’s City Bites – 1420 Edwards Street

Located only 5 minutes from the Convention Center, Stanton’s City Bites is one of the most popular options for halal burgers in Houston. They have halal chicken and beef burgers, chili, and hot dogs, and all the halal stuff is cooked separately on a separate grill from the pork items. All you need to do is to mention halal and no bacon to the cashier when ordering your food. You get that classic diner feeling when you dine there, so you don’t want to miss out!

Cuisine: American

The Monster Burger

Holy Cow

www.stantonscitybites.com

3) Pinkerton’s BBQ - 1504 Airline Drive

If you want to try halal Texas BBQ, then this is the place to be! Since October 2017, this place has been cutting and smoking their Creekstone Farms beef separately from the other meats they serve and has become a favorite among the Muslim community here in Houston. The vegetarian sides that they offer are their coleslaw and their potato salad. Be sure to come at exactly 11 AM if you want to grab one of their ribs: they sell out in between 60 and 90 minutes!

Cuisine: Texan

Half Pound Brisket with Potato Salad

Chopped Beef Sandwich

www.pinkertonsbbq.com

4) Gyro King - 2424 Old Spanish Trail

Since 2014, Gyro King has been offering some of the best NY Style platters in

town. They give a generous portion of food for a decent price. If you want to be

closer to the convention center, check out their truck in the Medical Center!

Cuisine: NY Street Food

Mix Over Rice with Both Sauces

www.gyrokingtx.com

5) Crispy or Grilled – 2306 Brazos Street or 3333 Eastside Street (Must Follow on Social Media For Location Info) 

Crispy or Grilled is a food truck that offers halal American fare. You have the option of choosing from a normal chicken sandwich to halal chicken cones. Think of this place as a halal Chick-Fil-A food truck, but with more chicken options!

Cuisine: American and Fusion

Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Asian Persuasion and South of The Border Tacos

Clockwise from left: Buffalo Chicken Cone, BBQ Chicken Cone with Beef Bacon, and Asian Persuasion Cone

Nashville Hot Chicken Burger

www.crispyorgrilled.com

Between I-610 and Beltway 8

1) Abu Omar Halal – Various Locations

Abu Omar is one of the most successful halal restaurant chains in the city. Established after a failed venture into the taco truck business, Abu Omar grew from a small truck in the Medical Center to having eight locations in Houston.They provide shawarma and NY Style platters, but the one thing that everyone loves is their chicken shawarma arabi. Their location between I-610 and Sam Houston Tollway is 7727 Westheimer, and their location in the Medical Center is 7500 Almeda.
Cuisine: Mediterranean

 

Chicken Shawarma Arabi

www.abuomarhalal.com

2) Busy Boy- 5722 Hillcroft

Since 2007, Busy Boy has been providing e-xcellent food and service. Everything here is halal, and they offer a wide variety of items such as cold cut subs and sandwiches, burgers, Philly Cheesesteaks, and Po-Boy’s. They just expanded to include crepes and desserts. So, if you want to have some dessert after eating at the restaurant, just walk over!

Cuisine: American and Mediterranean

Philly Cheesesteak

3) Cedar’s Bakery - 8619 Richmond Ave.

This is a Lebansese Bakery in the heart of Little Beirut that serves up delicious pies. You have a lot to choose from, ranging from the basic manakeesh to labne and zaatar.

Cuisine: Lebanese

Cheese Manakeesh

www.cedarsbakeryhouston.com

4) Bismillah Cafe- 5696 Hillcroft

This place offers top notch American burgers along with Desi fusion burgers. The owner is a friendly guy and he sure knows how to make great burgers!
Right now, his restaurant is undergoing expansion. However, the Bismillah restaurant next to it has a few of the café items available!

Cuisine: Fusion Pakistani-American with American Items

Patty Melt on Texas Toast

Ten Chicken Sandwich on Texas Toast

5) Thai Gourmet- 6324 Richmond Ave.

Thai Gourmet is widely regarded to be the best Thai restaurant in Houston, and the best part is that they use halal chicken! This place can have a long waiting time, so come early if you can! The chicken is cooked separately from all the other meats. But be careful on the spice level you get. The medium can still burn your mouth!

Cuisine: Thai

Drunken Noodles

Chicken Pad Thai

Green Curry with Chicken

6) Aga’s – 11842 Wilcrest Drive

Aga’s is widely considered to be the best Indo-Pak restaurant in Southeast Texas. Their service and their quality of food are held in very high regard. This is a great place to take your family, or any large group of people. There is one golden rule to dining here: Goat Chops.

Cuisine: Indo-Pak

Top left going clockwise: goat curry, tandoori chicken handi, chicken 65, and goat biryani

Goat Chops

Peshawari Chicken

www.agasrestaurant.com

If you have any questions, feel free to message me on my Instagram at thehalalreviewer, or email me at zain.mohammed93@gmail.com!

 I hope you enjoy your time in Houston!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed