Friday, September 9, 2016

BBQ Sushi

Yes you read that correctly, BBQ Sushi.  When I first seen their sign I had to do a double take.  Being in Texas BBQ is taken very serious around these parts.  That is the one food you can not afford to screw up and believe me, if you do, you will not last long.
I love me some sushi as well.  Sushi is not cheap and I have had some bad sushi.  What makes bad sushi even worse is having to pay the bill so finding a place that has good sushi is a real gem.  Sure there are all you can eat buffets and sushi bars inside of Kroger Grocery stores but going to a restaurant and enjoying yourself, that’s the goal.
Even though I’m a fatty foodie, I’m also a picky eater.  I know what I like and I’m willing to try anything at least once.  I made it a point to try this place.
It’s a small little “hole in the wall” restaurant.  The thing with “hole in the walls,” is they are a goldmine of great food, mostly.  As I drove up there was only one car in the parking lot.  When I walked in there were two other people sitting down for dinner.  In the back of my mind I was thinking this is not looking good.
Being small inside you get to pick your seat.  You can see your food being cook from anywhere you sit, as the kitchen is at the front when you first walk in.  I thought it was interesting, if nothing else it could keep you entertained.
A waitress brought over a menu, which only has two sides, one for the BBQ and the other for the Sushi.  She took my drink order and gave me some time to study the menu closely.  When I try some place new, and let them know I’ve never been there before I do not like to be rushed, and I wasn’t.
One of the chefs, who turned out to be one of the owners, came out of the kitchen and asked if my order had been taken already.  We talked for a little bit, telling me about how the concept came to be.
One night the question every husband comes to dread came out, “What do you want to eat tonight?”  One loves BBQ and the other loves sushi.  Knowing they could not be the only ones, the concept was born, and I’m very glad it was.
For those of you on a budget, this is the place for you.  I ordered enough food for a family of four, the average number of people who go out for a family dinner.  My total bill was $60.  Here’s what I ordered.
To start I ordered the Korean BBQ Kimchi Fries.  Now I’m not one who likes a lot of spicy food, my stomach really can not handle it, but it’s what other people want that counts.  I figured I was just going to sample it so a bite or two wouldn’t hurt me.  Boy was I wrong.
One bit turned into two, which turned into four.  I found myself wanting more and more with each bite.  That’s a good sign right?  This is a must have when you go.
Next was dinner.  Since this is a combo place I ordered from both menus.  When ordering BBQ in Texas ribs, beef or pork, is a must.  If it doesn’t contain ribs or brisket then it is not good BBQ.  All the rib baskets cost the same price, $9.95 and come with honey chipotle slaw and your choice of fries, corn succotash, chipotle black beans, or smoked meat fried rice.  I ordered the Southern Style Ribs with the smoked meat fried rice.
I would never have thought to put smoked meat into fried rice, let alone three different types of smoked meat.  Taking a spoonful of the rice I could smell the smoky flavors of the meat.  Closing my lips around the spoon brought all those flavors together in a wonderful explosion of flavors.
I love honey and when most people add honey to BBQ they either add too much and burn it or not enough and leaves a weird taste in your money.  Not these.  Even the slaw was different, a combination of sweet and spicy coming together.
If Shaggy Dog is on the menu I have to order it.  While everyone does it differently the bases should be the same.  I was not disappointed.  Nine pieces is enough to fill up a person and I had to remind myself I still had two more items coming.
The Bento meals all include a drink so that’s something to consider when looking at the price.  I ordered Bento #2 and Bento #3.  This should provide me with a wide variety of different sushi dishes.
The Bento 2 contained a nine piece shrimp crunchy roll, two dumplings, I chose pork, fried tempura, and Seaweed salad.
The Bento 3 contained a five piece Nigiri roll, including, salmon, tuna, squid, and eel, a six piece Maki roll, two dumplings, again I chose pork, fried tempura, and Seaweed salad.
When I was finished I could barely move.  I was so stuffed I was ready to go into a food coma.  I can promise you that I will be returning at least once a month, if not more.  Q-SHI is a gem that I am very happy to have found.  If you love good BBQ and Sushi this is the place for you, it is well worth the drive from where ever in the city you are.
The restaurant is also a gun friendly zone. I personally spoke with the owner and he himself has his License to Carry and has no problem with open carry.  "Open carry means my place is a safer place to be."  I agree, yes it is.

 
 
 
Q-SHI BBQ and Sushi
1491 Spring Cypress Rd
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 223-1599
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 9pm
Friday – Saturday 11am – 10pm
Sunday 11am – 6pm

Friday, August 28, 2015

What does a $5 burger taste like?

Like John Travolta, I too am curious what a $5 shake taste like.  Now when I heard  that McDonald’s had a $5 burger, just the burger, I said, “I gots to know what a $5 burger taste like.”

With $5 in hand I marched my happy self on up to  that counter and ordered a Double Homestyle burger.  What makes this bad boy worth $5?  Is it the pepper mustard? The lettuce? The single slice of pickle or single slice of onion?  None of that. The extra $1 from the regular Homestyle burger is the second piece of dried out bland flavor hamburger patty.

I use to love the Homestyle burger.  When I was a senior in high school there was a McDonalds  across the street from my job and come lunch time I would order at least two every day.  Heck, they were only $1 back then.  Of course this was back when you squeezed the burger juices would flow out of it, like a good burger should do.  I honestly miss those days.

While I just had to know what makes a burger worth $5 sadly I was very disappointed with the answer.  It is so not worth $5 at all.