there was a little family owned chinese restaurant in tomball next to the old kroger back in the late 90's/early 2000's that we loved and went to often. a husband and wife owned it. she was the front of the house and he was the chef.

they had a house specialty they called "crispy chicken" that was wonderful, and i've yet to see it replicated anywhere else, though i don't know that it was that exotic.

going through my memory and combining that with what i know about cooking now, i can say that it was chicken thigh meat cut into small pieces and breaded mostly with corn starch then deep fried. then it was stir fried together in a sweet and sour sauce heavy in vinegar (it would smack you in the face if you took a deep breath over the full plate fresh out of kitchen) with chili flake, onion, and garlic.

it was like a better, spicier, version of sweet and sour chicken but without the puffy, tempura style breading, pineapple, or red food coloring.

there's probably another version out there, but what it is actually called, i have no idea.

HtownAg92 said:

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Cola8d8 said:

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In B/CS. Gina's Volcan and fajita Rita's Cajun fajitas. Volcan was really good. Not sure if the fajita Rita's Cajun fajitas were really good or I just remember it that way

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Cajun Fajitas were on my B/CS list. I do think that they were really good.

Other B/CS memories:

Spicy Fries from the Wing Joint
Burger from Cowhop and Deluxe
Huge T-Bone from Country Inn in Somerville
Post-golf BBQ and catfish buff at Beetle's BBQ
BBQ chicken pizza at Cafe Excell
Okay Chinese food + Zombies at Imperial
5 bucks of anything at La Taq

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Yes! Loved that place, because it wasn't bad at all (actually pretty dang good) and you got enough food to last a couple of days after to boot. Whenever mom and dad came up to visit, I'd always make them take me there for that reason.

schmellba99 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Cola8d8 said:

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In B/CS. Gina's Volcan and fajita Rita's Cajun fajitas. Volcan was really good. Not sure if the fajita Rita's Cajun fajitas were really good or I just remember it that way

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Cajun Fajitas were on my B/CS list. I do think that they were really good.

Other B/CS memories:

Spicy Fries from the Wing Joint
Burger from Cowhop and Deluxe
Huge T-Bone from Country Inn in Somerville
Post-golf BBQ and catfish buff at Beetle's BBQ
BBQ chicken pizza at Cafe Excell
Okay Chinese food + Zombies at Imperial
5 bucks of anything at La Taq

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Yes! Loved that place, because it wasn't bad at all (actually pretty dang good) and you got enough food to last a couple of days after to boot. Whenever mom and dad came up to visit, I'd always make them take me there for that reason.

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I taught one of the owners' daughters for multiple years when she was in HS

I always got my meals for free

I have still never found a recipe that compares to the fried squash

schmendeler said:

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there was a little family owned chinese restaurant in tomball next to the old kroger back in the late 90's/early 2000's that we loved and went to often. a husband and wife owned it. she was the front of the house and he was the chef.

they had a house specialty they called "crispy chicken" that was wonderful, and i've yet to see it replicated anywhere else, though i don't know that it was that exotic.

going through my memory and combining that with what i know about cooking now, i can say that it was chicken thigh meat cut into small pieces and breaded mostly with corn starch then deep fried. then it was stir fried together in a sweet and sour sauce heavy in vinegar (it would smack you in the face if you took a deep breath over the full plate fresh out of kitchen) with chili flake, onion, and garlic.

it was like a better, spicier, version of sweet and sour chicken but without the puffy, tempura style breading, pineapple, or red food coloring.

there's probably another version out there, but what it is actually called, i have no idea.

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Try the hot spicy chicken at Mala Sichuan. Definitely not as sweet as yours, but awesome.

we just went to mala on saturday!

we normally get the crispy spicy chicken, which is awesome.

your pic looks like a lot like kung pao. it looks quite tasty, but also quite different than the dish i was describing, though i don't blame you for not imagining what i'm seeing in my head.

schmendeler said:

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we just went to mala on saturday!

we normally get the crispy spicy chicken, which is awesome.

your pic looks like a lot like kung pao. it looks quite tasty, but also quite different than the dish i was describing, though i don't blame you for not imagining what i'm seeing in my head.

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You're right -- dang Google image labels. Fixed it.

Mala is the best.

Crispy Chicken
Red Oil Dumplings
Chengdu Prawns
Spinach with garlic and chile

That was usually our lunch order --- for 2 people.

i'll have to try those prawns!

we normally get the crispy chicken, the twice cooked pork, and then mix it up. we tried the dry-fried double veggies this last time for the first time, and they were excellent.

the katy asia-town (the location we normally go to) is a really nice little area for asian food. nice not to have to wrestle with the traffic on bellaire.

Shakey's Pizza Parlor is a good one, they had Little Rascals (the original) and Three Stooges videos at least in the Laredo location. Nipa Hot is also a good one, their garlic beef and tom kha ghai soup (3 stars on both, 4 was pushing it on spicy scale) were the cat's meow! Duddley Draw (I think) used to serve two sausage links that had been steaming in beer for hours, along with ruffles potato chips and a pickle spear, it was cheap and glorious. I am ashamed to type this, and am braced for the ridicule, this is a very recent one but MCD had a steak, egg and cheese bagel. I loved it! I have seen some copy cat vids on YouTube that I might try to replicate it. Damn COVID and the fast food restaurant Menu reductions!! Also, sonic used to have a frito pie...I miss it!

Unless I missed it I am surprised at no mention of Grandy's or Tom BBQ (Bryan/CS, big log cabin).

Someone help me out here, circa fall 87, there used to be a deli shop right next to Loupots on Northgate, caddy corner to the post office. It was good and now I am craving it!

amen

Original Jumbo Jack with sesame seed bun, before they had to go ghey and change everything

For Houston area oldies. Remember when S Main was restaurant row.
Angelos
Sonny Looks
Kaphans
The Stables
Red Lion
I believe Christis as well. There were others

Great old seafood and steak houses.

investorAg83 said:

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cc10106 said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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big ben said:

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Taco Bell Frito Burrito the original

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Greatest fast food item of all time.

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Their Chilito is up there for me. Now it's called a Chili Cheese Burrito when available but smaller and like $3.

Taco Bell was the fast food standard back in the $.59/$.79/$.99 days.

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Haven't scanned the last 2 pages of this thread but I'm case no ones mentioned it, the Taco Bell Meximelt was my jam. It used to be an off menu item you could still order but now, it's officially gone.

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Keep going back -- the Enchirito was the (gut) bomb. The way old school ones always had a rando black olive slice to glam it up.

H-Town nostalgia -- my go-to birthday pick was Luther's at Gessner and I-10 for ribs and onion rings.

Speaking of rings, I miss Prince's.

HtownAg92 said:

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investorAg83 said:

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cc10106 said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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big ben said:

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Taco Bell Frito Burrito the original

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Greatest fast food item of all time.

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Their Chilito is up there for me. Now it's called a Chili Cheese Burrito when available but smaller and like $3.

Taco Bell was the fast food standard back in the $.59/$.79/$.99 days.

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Haven't scanned the last 2 pages of this thread but I'm case no ones mentioned it, the Taco Bell Meximelt was my jam. It used to be an off menu item you could still order but now, it's officially gone.

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Keep going back -- the Enchirito was the (gut) bomb. The way old school ones always had a rando black olive slice to glam it up.

H-Town nostalgia -- my go-to birthday pick was Luther's at Gessner and I-10 for ribs and onion rings.

Speaking of rings, I miss Prince's.

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Loved the enchirito. Taco casa makes one similar (maybe better) so long as it's ordered without olives. I don't understand why that's how they come.

Yep. Their spicy chicken was the best at one point.

investorAg83 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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investorAg83 said:

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cc10106 said:

---

Bruce Almighty said:

---

big ben said:

---

Taco Bell Frito Burrito the original

---

Greatest fast food item of all time.

---

Their Chilito is up there for me. Now it's called a Chili Cheese Burrito when available but smaller and like $3.

Taco Bell was the fast food standard back in the $.59/$.79/$.99 days.

---

Haven't scanned the last 2 pages of this thread but I'm case no ones mentioned it, the Taco Bell Meximelt was my jam. It used to be an off menu item you could still order but now, it's officially gone.

---

Keep going back -- the Enchirito was the (gut) bomb. The way old school ones always had a rando black olive slice to glam it up.

H-Town nostalgia -- my go-to birthday pick was Luther's at Gessner and I-10 for ribs and onion rings.

Speaking of rings, I miss Prince's.

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Loved the enchirito. Taco casa makes one similar (maybe better) so long as it's ordered without olives. I don't understand why that's how they come.

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I high school I could knock out two enchiritos plus an order of pintos and cheese for lunch.

bmc13 said:

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the on campus creamery

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I have heard so much about this. Unfortunately it was gone shortly before I arrived and I never got to experience it.

Godfather's? Even as a kid I thought that place was lousy.

Was there a late 70's version that was more edible?

Diggity said:

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Godfather's? Even as a kid I thought that place was lousy.

Was there a late 70's version that was more edible?

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I don't think so. I sort of remember our family going once, but it must not have stuck because I vividly remember going to the Hut regularly. I think we were one-and-done on Godfather's.

yeah, I feel like Godfather's and Pizza Hut were the two de facto spots for end of season sports events.

30 minutes of arcades games and beer pitchers full of Pepsi, followed by mediocre pizza and trophy presentation.

Tailgate88 said:

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TheFunnierPhideaux said:

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Tailgate88 said:

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Godfather's Pizza was epic.

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They're opening one in Kingwood soon to my understanding.

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I had no idea they were in business anymore. I see there is one in Katy as well. Might have to stop in there next time I'm out that way!

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Correction!!!!!

It's a Mr. Gatti's going in. Not Godfather's.

There is however a Godfathers off of the beltway south of Humble.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/godfathers-pizza-humble?osq=godfathers+pizza

Max Power said:

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Anyone just get sad thinking about food you grew eating that you just literally cannot get anymore? Here's a few of mine:

-Mazzio's Pizza, I think every pizza party I went to as a kid growing up was there.
-Jello Pudding Pops, long before Bill Cosby was a known sexual predator he was the spokesman for the best frozen treat to exist at the grocery store. I saw something in the past year or two called Pudding Pops at the grocery store, but they were not the same, they were just lies, like Bill Cosby's image.
-Hamburgers from the little league field where I grew up, I don't know what the deal was, but they were the best.
-Fish fried by my grandpa.

Stupid food feelings.

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I remember the Mazzio's Pizza in Tyler. It was awesome when you got extra tokens

Do you guys remember the Jin's Chinese restaurant at north gate in the early 2000's ? When I was dating my wife back then, that's where her parents would take us to eat. To this day, her dad says they had the best Mongolian beef ever. When we found out the owners were selling, my in laws tried to buy the Mongolian beef recipe. I'm in Houston now and every now and then we would google map "Jin's" and order Mongolian beef to see if it's "the one"

My wife and I miss Hebert's.

cc10106 said:

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Max Power said:

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Negative, east Texas.

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The calzones and buffet at Mazzio's were legit. The latter was great for a broke college kid, but the last time I went to the Kilgore location a few years back was disappointing.

I'll add the special sauce and cheese enchiladas at Gilbert's El Charro in Tyler.

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I'll add the chocolate stuffed cookies from Chez Bazan

jaggiemaggie said:

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Do you guys remember the Jin's Chinese restaurant at north gate in the early 2000's ? When I was dating my wife back then, that's where her parents would take us to eat. To this day, her dad says they had the best Mongolian beef ever. When we found out the owners were selling, my in laws tried to buy the Mongolian beef recipe. I'm in Houston now and every now and then we would google map "Jin's" and order Mongolian beef to see if it's "the one"

My wife and I miss Hebert's.

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Yes. Double yes

When my wife lived off of Cypresswood, there was a Chinese restaurant (Dumpling House?) in Humble that had great food, but their dumplings were amazing. We would always order the dumplings, and the lady on the phone would tell her "you no want dumpling, they take too long." We'd still order them, and never regret the wait.

Los Nortenos in Bryan, Tx

Original James Coney Island chili dogs and Original Antones po boy, extra chow chow.

bushytailed said:

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Mr. Gattis all-you-can-eat pizza and salad buffet from the mid-90s before the quality went downhill.

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I miss Mr. Gattis from the mid 70's & 80's. Their pizza was the first "pizza joint" in the area. It turns out it was pretty good.