Teriyaki Madness

Spicy Chicken Teriyaki Bowl

I have now visited Teriyaki Madness two times now and found time to review. I had the bowl both times and both times it filled me right up and hit the spot.

They have a very simple menu, making it easy to order. Decide on a bowl or plate, pick a protein and regular or spicy. That's pretty much it.

First visit was the teriyaki bowl(spicy) with brown rice and veggies. Second visit was spicy teriyaki tofu. The tofu was incredible. No texture issues and delicious.

This will be one of my go to lunch spots in Frisco where you can eat healthy and fill up for under $10. Welcome to Frisco Teriyaki Madness!!

href
="https://www.zomato.com/frisco-tx/teriyaki-madness-frisco" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Teriyaki Madness, Frisco and other Restaurants in Frisco" target="_blank" ><img alt="Teriyaki Madness Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/17861559/biglink" style="border:none;width:200px;height:146px;padding:0;" />

Black Walnut Cafe - Frisco

After church today we headed to the new Black Walnut Cafe in Frisco. We have watched the construction for the past couple months and of course googled it to see what is was. Although it is a chain or a franchise...it is certainly a great addition to breakfast/lunch spots in Frisco.

Our experience started by waiting in line to order, then taking our seats and waiting for our pager to go off. While in line I took note of the incredible dishes leaving the kitchen. Let me say all versions of the benedict looked fabulous. They are next on my "to do" list.

Cubano Sandwich

Pictured to the left was the Cubano sandwich I ordered with sweet potato fries($1 extra). It comes with a spicy mustard on the side. It could have been a little bigger for the $11.50 price tag, but it was certainly packed with flavor.

My wife is a vegetarian and ordered a soup/salad combo. The had the tomato basil soup and was pleased with it along with a side caesar salad.

Up next was my Son with a Bacon Cheeseburger. He could not finish it. Double patty, lots of cheese and bacon. He was not complaining at all and really seemed to enjoy the meal.

Bacon Cheeseburger

My daughter ordered one of her favorites....Pot Roast. It is not often she finds a good pot roast out in restaurants that is not too salty, but she said this one was almost as good a mine. He meal came with a side salad and felt like a good value at $13.

I would recommend just about everything I saw come out of the kitchen based on sight alone...of course taste is another thing. The people around us looked happy and when we left there was a long line right out the door. There did appear to be a bar in the middle of the restaurant in addition to a gelato station. There were also several dessert cases in our view and certainly gave us a reason to come back. My family seems to live for dessert.

Pot Roast

In closing, we will be headed back again to try breakfast and make another trip for dessert. I just hope not everyone if Frisco discovers this place or the wait will become ridiculous. I recommend someone grabs a table, while the others wait in line.

Afrah Mediterranean Cuisine

One of my favorite types of cuisine for lunch is mediterranean. I feel like I am eating healthier for some reason. That may not be the case, but I certainly feel better about it.

Last week I spotted Afrah Mediterranean Cuisine off the freeway in Irving. I am sure glad I stopped, it was delicious and authentic. What I think was the most eye opening was the staff and customers. They were all middle eastern. I have always said....eat where the locals eat when trying different cuisines and you will usually leave happy.

I had fried cauliflower and chicken shawarma. Both were $4.99 and for $10 I was stuffed. If I had only had the cauliflower I would have been satisfied. The sandwich was small, but very flavorful. This is the first shawarma I have ever had with french fries in the sandwich. It was good!

They also have appetizers like hummus, falafel, muhammara and a red bell pepper and walnut dip. Some other items include an 8 inch meat pie for only $4.99. They have Kababs and family feasts in larger portions.

Most of the sandwiches and plates give you a choice of protein. They offer Beef, chicken, kafta(ground sirloin with spices), Lamb,  sajuk(spicy beef sausage), gyro and  salmon. They also have burgers.  The menu is quite extensive.

They offer a buffet for $11.99 on weekdays only. I was there on a Saturday so I had to order a la carte. I look forward to returning to try the buffet so I can try some of the other items. I would give Afrah a try if you love Mediterranean food. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Taco Ocho

My son and I tried Taco Ocho in Frisco Yesterday. Anyone who knows me would tell you one of my favorite foods is tacos. I had been watching this place for a while and wondered is this another Tex-Mex taco or a real taco.

I was pleasantly surprised that Taco Ocho neither. If I had to classify it, I would call it an upscale taco with latin flavors. You really have three choices....Tacos, Tostadas(all vegetarian) and Tortas. I have to say that while reading the menu board, while eating my taco and tostada, I wished I had maybe tried a torta.

I chose the Ancho Garlic Shrimp Taco and the Yucatan Tostada with rice, beans, chips and salsa(pictured). The shrimp taco in a flour tortilla and filled with plantain pico de gallo and shredded spinach. The Yucatan tostada has black beans, potatoes, poblanos, corn, red onions, sour cream and cotija cheese. Both had great flavors and the salsa was perfectly spiced up for me. My one criticism was the the tostada fell apart while I was eating it and I had to finish with a fork. I will eat it before the taco next time so it does not get soggy.

The Frisco location also serves beer, wine and has a margarita machine. They have outdoor seating and I can see more visits, food and margaritas in my future.

 

Samson's Hot Dogs

Just a quick review of Samson's Gourmet Hot Dogs. This food truck showed up at a scouting event my son and I were attending in Dallas yesterday. What a pleasant surprise to have some great tasting food for lunch as opposed to a standard hot dog and fries I expected.                                                                                     

The Menu included 4 specialty dogs and a couple burgers. I had a bratwurst covered in green chile chicken chili(pictured). My son had the Chili Cheese Fries.

Overall the food was not good at all. In fact I hated my dog. For $8, I expected more. The only thing I liked was the couple of bites that had feta cheese on them. The highlight was my son's fries. The chili was very spicy and I am glad he shared it with me...

If you see this food truck I would only eat there if you are starving and have money burning holes in your pockets.

I have not been to the original location in Oaklawn. They have an expanded menu at this location and I may give it another chance in the future, just not the food truck.

The one thing I am looking forward to is the vegetarian options. Maybe I should of tried something vegetarian on the food truck.

Overall disappointed.

 

Vertskebap

This is now my second visit to Vertskebap in Lewisville. I guess that is saying I liked it the first time. To be honest, I liked it both times.

I would say this is like a Mediterranean Chipotle. You start by selecting a Kebap(pictured), a wrap or a Salad. All of the selections come with your choice of beef, lamb, chicken or Veggie. I have had the Kebap both times, once chicken and once lamb. Both times I chose the Garlic sauce and it was awesome. You can fill with a variety of fresh veggies.

I looked on the company website and Kertskebap is based out of Austin Texas and it actually a Turkish restaurant, although it certainly resembles mediterranean. Here is some more info:

What's a Kebap?

Kebap is short for döner kebap, which translates loosely to “spinning roasted meat” and refers to the rotisserie meat that makes the kebap unique. Originating in Turkey, the kebap has traveled from country to country,  filling hungry bellies and gaining fans along the way.

Europe’s most popular street food goes by many names, but the combination of rotisserie meats and fresh veggies is delicious no matter what you call it.

Our Story

Michael Heyne and Dominik Stein studied business together at the University of Texas at Austin, where they bonded over shared cravings for food from their native Germany – especially a certain popular street food. Their cravings turned into a business idea: bring the döner kebap to Austin.

Three years later, we’ve served over 1 million kebaps, wraps & salads to fans all over Austin, Houston & Dallas. Texans love us so much that VertsKebap is expanding to San Antonio, with many more cities to come.

Our Mission

From house-made sauces to fresh veggies, fries made-to-order to hand stacked meats, our goal is to create a fast meal that’s as good for your body as it is for your taste buds.

To keep things fresh and to support our communities, we source our ingredients and offerings locally whenever possible

I am certianly a fan an can see this chain going coast to coast. So watch for one in your neighborhood.

Lamb Kebop Sandwich

 

Marianas Taco Shop

I knew I recognized the taco sauce!!

Love this place. Authentic Mexican that reminds me of the Taco Shops I grew up with in San Diego. After struggling for years going from one Tex-Mex place to the next I finally found a Mexican food restaurant that got it right.

Many would argue with this opinion, but anyone from the west coast knows what I am talking about. Anyone remember Alberto's, Filbertos or any other taco shop in California that ends with -ertos. This is the taste you have been looking for in Texas.

Tucked on a side street in Downtown Frisco, most would miss this gem of a hole in the wall taco shop. If you are in the area give the California Burrito a shot or just about anything else....Just put the red sauce on everything.