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Stopped in for lunch on a Weds around 1:45pm. Busy but not crowded. It is small with limited seating (more on picnic tables outside if the weather permits). About 30 seats pretty tightly packed. Half the folks were doing to-go orders. Floor is worn and the fans need cleaning but otherwise everything is clean and well kept up. I ordered the Tinga chicken with chipotle and the Rancho with chorizo and jalapeños. Good selection of drinks including Jarritos sodas. I asked for and was given a cup and ice so I could take the drink with me. Service was very pleasant and friendly. You order at the counter, pay, get a number and wait to be called. Empanadas are fresh, warm and well filled. In the rancho the cheese overwhelmed the other flavors, so it was more like cheese and jalapeño. Nice heat level from the peppers. I liked the Tinga better, as the flavors of chicken, sauce and chipotle were nicely balanced. Juicy and crispy. Impressed with the number of veggie options and sweet empanadas, would definitely come back to try others. Unless you get a combo with fries, the empanadas don’t come with any sides or veggies. Good food, very reasonable and good service.

• Tamaleria Nuevo Leon – Menu with Prices – 2139 Buckingham Rd, Richardson
• TIKKA GRILL – Menu with Prices – 1240 W Elizabeth St A, Fort Collins
• Maskadores Taco Shop #15 – Menu with Prices – 2100 W Chandler Blvd Ste. 38, Chandler
• T.K House of Bread – Menu with Prices – 9030 W Flamingo Rd #140, Las Vegas
• The Original Marini’s Empanada House – Menu with Prices – 3522 S Mason Rd #100, Katy
• Elm Park Grocery – Menu with Prices – 127 Morningstar Rd, Staten Island
• Hyderabadi Foodie Adda – Indian Cuisine – Menu with Prices – 1280 28th St SE, Grand Rapids
• Quiero Cafe – Menu with Prices – 3 Deering Ave, Portland
• Lowder Baking Company – Menu with Prices – 4019 Fern Ave Suite 500, Shreveport
• Helen’s Hot Chicken – Menu with Prices – 886 Kraft St, Clarksville
• Las Abuelas Menu with Prices 11444 Manchaca Rd, Austin
• Voodoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen – Menu with Prices – 1325 W Elliot Rd Suite 106, Tempe

Tamaleria Nuevo Leon – Menu with Prices – 2139 Buckingham Rd, Richardson

This place deserves zero stars. All the tamales are filled with a mushy mass. The masa was dry and tasted old. The chicken and cheese tamale filling had no flavor. It did not taste like chicken and if it had cheese you could not see nor taste it. The masa had a lot of pepper although it did not say they were spicy on the menu. The bean, cheese and jalapeño tamale was also filled with an indistinguishable mushy mass. It was also dry and it tasted like it was spoiled and perhaps rotten. We could not eat them and threw them away. The so called “pineapple” empanadas had no pineapple which could be seen or tasted. The dough was a dried up, greasy, crumbly mess. You won’t be seeing this place opened very long. The day after we has the runs. So far I’ve gone to the toilet 5, I say 5 TINES. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO GET SICK.

TIKKA GRILL – Menu with Prices – 1240 W Elizabeth St A, Fort Collins

We started with the falafel, they looked like mini-donuts, crunchy on the outside and creamy inside with a nice tzatziki, the cucumber really stood out. The flavors were excellent, spice and heat level were very nice a good balance of both any hotter and the spices would have been over run. I had the lamb biryany the rice was a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors the lamb fork tender. My husband had the lamb Karahi, the sauce was mildly hot with the flavors lingering in a very pleasant way. The food really should get 5 points. However; the restaurant itself has zero ambiance, but the service was good; I understand why there are way more reviews on grub hub and door-dash.

Maskadores Taco Shop #15 – Menu with Prices – 2100 W Chandler Blvd Ste. 38, Chandler

First time eating from here. Hubby went down the road to grab some , what turned out to be, really great food. Many meat choices. Multiple flavor varieties as in three different chicken flavors. I had the red and vinegretta chicken mixed in a burrito . Then rice, black beans, corn salsa, pico, cheese, jalapeño cream cheese, cremé. Tortilla was fabulous and the combo of items was wonderful. Their salsa bar is amazing. So many different flavors. Hubby got pretty much the same as me. No beans though and got it Wet; really great red sauce over it. Super chipotle flavor to it. We were both happy we found another close place w great food and really cordial staff. They let you taste just about anything before you order. We highly recommend location for yummy food. Lots more meats and sauces to try. Beef, pork, fish, shrimp… Looking forward to the next visit!

T.K House of Bread – Menu with Prices – 9030 W Flamingo Rd #140, Las Vegas

TK House of Bread is a family owned establishment that once was a grocery market and a bake shop housed in one store. Now they have redesigned the interior to look more like a restaurant. With the addition of tables and chairs, you can use this location as a catering vendor to host for big parties and gatherings. Inside feels comfortably nice and cool. Instead of waiting in silence, it would be a good idea if there is some background music to liven the atmosphere and make it feel like home. Lamara took time to show me the different kinds of bread they make and it’s best to come at 11am when it’s freshly baked. Aside from bread, they offer hot foods like chicken and beef kabobs, chicken and beef lula, lamb chops, kabob wrap, turkey and ham sandwich, hamburger, pizza, and chicken wings. If you’re looking for more of an ethnic dish they make cheese borek, perashki, Armenian salad, Greek salad, and Russian salad. My first order was #4 Chicken Lula ($11.99) which comes with rice, hummus, tabouli, roasted jalapeño, and pita bread. The chicken lula is delicious! It’s so tasty with roasted jalapeño. Hummus is very creamy and the tabouli taste fresh. A side order of fries is $5.99 and it’s delivered hot and well done. I made a return visit and ordered for takeout. I tried #15 Ajarski regular ($7.99) which is baked bread with cheese and two eggs. You can add meat like turkey or ham ($2). If you order this, you should also get #33 Eggplant ($5.99/lb), which has a blend of spices and tomato sauce. The eggplant is so flavorful it’s a must have to eat with Ajarski! It will elevate how good it is. Another great choice is #20 Spicy Cheese Borek ($5.99) which is a favorite! It’s a long bread filled with cheese and jalapeño and it taste amazing when you heat it for about 30 seconds. The spicy cheese borek is so good to have especially when you want to eat something fast. They have a display case of sweet and savory baked goods. I’ve tried #39 Potato Perashki ($1.99/each) which is a bread filled with potatoes and dill. This is a unique flavor and is a good option for vegetarians. They also have perashki filled with meat. The meat stuffed bread is kind of similar to Filipino pandesal bread that’s filled with beef or chicken. They do have a few selections of dessert and pastry. The #45 Russian Doughnut ($1.99/each) is a puffy donut that is hollowed and filled with cream or nutella and sprinkled with powdered sugar. The donut is big but it’s not as sweet as I thought. It could use a little more cream or nutella to fill the hollow gap. Nonetheless, it’s still a good treat for donut lovers. I haven’t tried the kabobs yet but that will be for another visit. So far I’ve had very friendly service by the owner. It wasn’t busy on the day I came, and it’s very kind to see the owner take time to help me carry the food to my car. Even though this location is a further drive from The Strip, it’s nice to pay a visit to this restaurant. The total cost of my order was just under $50. Everything I’ve had taste very good. I feel the food is reasonably priced and I would love to try more!

The Original Marini’s Empanada House – Menu with Prices – 3522 S Mason Rd #100, Katy

The empanadas I ordered today for take-out were so average I think I’m being generous by giving them 3 stars. Meat empanadas are my favorite of them all (and I’m from Argentina) but the ones I just tried from Marini’s had no meat flavor at all. They strong sauce and condiment eclipsed the rest of the flavors to the point where I couldn’t tell what the other ingredients of the empanada were. The humita empanadas (corn and cheese) were decent, better than the meat ones. I’m highly disappointed. I was happy that I had found foods that taste like home, but these empanadas don’t taste Argentine at all. If anything, they’re so spicy I’d think they were trying to make a Tex-Mex fusion. The bottom line is, if you want real Argentine empanadas, this is not my recommended spot for you. If you still decide to try Marini’s, make sure you visit the Westheimer location, as their products are slightly better.

Elm Park Grocery – Menu with Prices – 127 Morningstar Rd, Staten Island

Guilty pleasure here. This bills itself as a grocery, but unless you’re in a pinch for onions or milk, I’d try another location for produce. I stop in fairly regularly for the empanadas. They have fresh breakfast sandwiches, but the chicken, beef, and breakfast empanadas are ready and waiting for you in a display case. That being said, yes, I’m thinking hygiene is a little questionable, but guess how many ducks I give! At $2 a pop, I highly recommend chicken or beef. Usually, you find them with a ton of fleet like potato or boiled egg, but not here. It’s filled solely with well seasoned meat. I wasn’t a fan of their egg, bacon, and cheese pockets. The bacon is wobbly and I can’t handle too much processed American cheese product. I can’t speak to their deli offerings, but they have a nice selection of Boar’s Head meats and in house salads. Overall, this is a quick stop for a bite or coffee if you’re around the Bayonne.

Hyderabadi Foodie Adda – Indian Cuisine – Menu with Prices – 1280 28th St SE, Grand Rapids

My friend Mason A and I met up for lunch at Hyderabadi Foodie Adda to try their buffet. It’s available every day they’re open until 2:30 or 3 pm depending on the day. We got there right when they opened at 11:30 and everything on the buffet looked great. All of the dishes were labeled, which was really nice. I didn’t know what everything was but you can easily Google things with the names right there. I tried a bit of a bunch of different items, including chili chicken, kadai chicken, dal, veg biryani, masala fries, goat biryani, and mirchi ka salan. The buffet also had several different chutneys, naan, white rice, a couple dessert items, and two specialty drinks (rose milk and something else that was red and sweet). There were a few dishes that were empty and not being used so maybe they offer more dishes later in the day — I was hoping to see some fish, paneer, or lamb dishes. Everything I tried was delicious! The flavors were subtle but with a little heat. I think the heat level might be a little much for people not used to spicy food but it was pleasant for me. Definitely not super hot but if you don’t like spicy food I might inquire about heat levels on the buffet. My favorites were the chili chicken, which was breaded chicken in a chili sauce, and the kadai chicken, which was tender chunks of chicken thighs in a rich sauce. The naan was light and warm and perfect for eating with the dal. It didn’t seem like they were serving any dishes off the menu during the buffet, but I’m not sure on that. There is a cooler with soft drinks and mango lassi, rose milk, and some other drinks. Mason and I both got a mando lassi to go which was sweet and delicious with great mango flavor. There are water pitchers on each table with glasses which is convenient. I was happy that we were able to check out this new family owned business and try some delicious food that I’d never had before! I’ll definitely be back for the buffet again.

Quiero Cafe – Menu with Prices – 3 Deering Ave, Portland

Wow! I cannot say enough about how great tonight’s meal was! This building is right by my house and I’ve watched it go through 3 different iterations just in the time I’ve lived here. Previously it was fine dining and the location just wasn’t right for it. This counter service Mexican restaurant however is perfection. They advertise empanadas are $3.75 each and run specials in groups of 3. I was skeptical at first but they are huge! 3 would absolutely be enough for a small meal!! I tried the queso one tonight and it was delicious. The cheese was just right. I also had the quesadilla. I had wanted a side of rice and the young lady taking my order asked if I would like it in the quesadilla. 300% recommend! My chicken quesadilla was DELICIOUS. The chicken was very moist and abundant. The cheese was present but not overpowering. The quesadilla was soft and a little moist without getting soggy. And it was $12 WITH the side of rice. My partner for the burrito with pork and really enjoyed it. He also got a mango margarita which he said was just ok but he thinks it was his fault; he ordered it on the rocks so the chunks of mango just sat in the bottom. He recommends getting it frozen so that it goes through the blender, better mixing the flavors. We got 2 dinners, 2 empanadas, a beer and a specialty margarita for just under $50. You can absolutely get enough food for one person for $15 here, a hard feat here in Portland. Can’t recommend this place enough! I will be here a lot

Lowder Baking Company – Menu with Prices – 4019 Fern Ave Suite 500, Shreveport

Can’t say no to bread! I stumbled upon Lowder Baking Co. thru instagram. It is conveniently located right next to Marilynn’s Place. The moment I stepped in the shop, the smell of freshly baked bread welcomed me! I sampled the jalapeno cheddar bread, and it was crusty, cheddary and had that smooth heat from the jalapeno coming thru. Pastries I’ve tried: 1 cheese danish, 3 cinnamon rolls, 4 strawberry danish, 1 pistachio goat cheese, 1 almond croissant. Bill was $53 plus tip. I picked up my pastries around 11 am, so they were not warm (they start selling these at 730am, and I called my order in). Service 5/5 stars Cleanliness 5/5 stars 4/5 stars on the danishes and the croissant. While I think that these are superior around the area, some layers are still stuck together and that, it needs some more butter in the dough. Their cinnamon rolls are outstanding. I cannot help but compare it to Whisk (i love theirs as well). I will be back to sample their cookies!

Helen’s Hot Chicken – Menu with Prices – 886 Kraft St, Clarksville

This is what the “hot” (level 3 out of 4 on heat) looks like from the Clarksville location. The heat level is not even similar to the same order at the Nashville location I used to frequent. This may as well have been off the kids menu at KFC. These are very expensive strips, and should be consistent through their locations. One way or another, we always end up with a bill higher than we expect when ordering. It’s uncanny. I’ve given this location several chances since moving to Clarksville. I’d rather drive all the way to Hattie B’s on Charlotte Ave in Nashville, where the chicken is prepared exactly the same as the downtown location. Not sure if this location is a franchise, but the operators definitely haven’t eaten at any of the Nashville locations or they would know it’s not being prepared correctly. Three drops of the oil sauce, with no heat or flavor isn’t Nashville hot chicken.

Las Abuelas Menu with Prices 11444 Manchaca Rd, Austin

The summer of 2019 has been fraught with social media fueled fried chicken wars and may I request Las Abuelas step into the ring? Las Abuelas has one of the most flavorful fried chicken sandwiches that I’ve ever had and was thoroughly impressed by the unique combination of flavors. I tried a De Lujo which features a crispy, juicy chicken thigh on a Martin’s potato roll, some pickled slaw, cool creamy avocado, serrano crema and chipotle mayo for some kick, onion for some bite, cilantro for some freshness and cojita for some tang. It’s a very well constructed well balanced sandwich that tingles the spectrum of your palate. Bandera tots are well fried and also coated with creamy goodness – chipotle mayo, jalepeno crema, cojita and tajin. Very crisp with some funky interplay with the cheese with some slight heat. Caveat though: the food, especially the tots are really heavy (go figure with cheese, crema, mayo, deep fried goodness). You’ll definitely want a nap afterwards. It’s kinda far away from everything else, so I can’t say I’ll be back that often, but if I lived anywhere remotely close, I would be digging this joint once a week.

Voodoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen – Menu with Prices – 1325 W Elliot Rd Suite 106, Tempe

We headed out of the house with no plan of where we were going or what we wanted to eat, but we wanted something different. As we got close to Voodoo Daddy, I remembered that we had yet to try it so we headed in. Sadly we were the only ones in the place and we were not even sure that it was open, but we could see the lights on inside and the employees inside. I hope that more people discover it soon. My husband had jambalaya with shrimp and he chose to have a heat level of 4. We don’t eat a lot of really spicy food but he likes a nice burn every now and then. We were seated until I noticed that he could go watch them preparing his jambalaya. He was very happy with his choice of food and heat level. And he liked watching it being prepared right when he ordered it. I had the chicken tender platter and subbed out the cole slaw for their house made chips. The chicken was different than what you usually get with a different breading, but it was a nice change. There were 3 large pieces and I took one home for a snack the next day, and it didn’t disappoint. I didn’t try the dipping sauce, and the chips were generous but not really very interesting. Finally – there are several kinds of tea offered, and the sodas appear to be an attempt at something better than Coke or Pepsi. But the diet cola didn’t taste like much, so I think I will just get water next time. All of the employees were warm and friendly. We were both happy to find a place with something out of the ordinary that is close by and reasonably priced, and we will be back soon.