Dong Hai Chinese Restaurant (Garland, TX)

Yummy Ga Hap Gung (Steamed chicken).

I always comment about restaurants should be using walking chicken (free range) with my wife every time we had a chicken dish at a restaurant and my wife always said they would never do that.

Well, my wish has been granted. Dong Hai uses free range chicken for the steamed chicken dish.
It is so yummmmy. And the price is about the same as other places that uses normal chicken.
I guess only a Chinese-Vietnamese can understand Vietnamese.

I have also tried other dishes like Bot Chien, Hu Tieu Xao (Chow fun), Fried pork chops and they all ranging from OK to good.

Saw a few people eating Bo Luc Lac (Shacking beef). Will definitely try it next time.

VL Rating: Excellence (for Ga Hap Gung)

Address:

3575 Walnut St #27A

Garland, TX 75042

Phone

(214) 703-0026

-->

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch (Pilot Point, TX)

A Fun Place for Kids.

This place is not big or has as many animals as a normal zoo but it has what other zoo may not have.
Down to earth fun for the little ones.

The Tram ride was great where you can see animal up close. Literally next to you and you can pet them as they eat the food from the baskets hanging on the side. You can see Zebras, Camels, Cangaroo and others.

The Barrel train was a blast for my 3 and 5 year old. They also have petting zoo with cute little sheeps, bigs, rabbits and others. They were adorable. They also have up close encounter with snake. They have a number of endangered species.
Over all I was pleasantly surprised with all they have to offer in such a place so close to home.
My kids already wanted to go back again.

Also, the food was great.
BTW, Groupon is running a 50% off right now which make it even a better deal.

VL Rating: Excellence

Website:
http://www.sharkarosa.com/

Address:
​11670 Massey Road
Pilot Point, TX 76258

Phone:
940-686-4600

Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas, TX)

Dallas finally has a museum for kids.

We went there yesterday during the preview day for members only. The museum won't be officially opened until December 1, 2012.

Architecturally, it is one of the strangest looking building that I have ever seen.
It has a Dallas theme play area for kids. High Definition 3D movie theater. The picture was the best I have ever seen in 3D anywhere. I almost felt like I was in the movie. There is an exhibit with Dinosaur fossil display with giant mammoth fossil and other real and replica dinosaur fossil.
Kids can experiment with a number of things in the Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall including build your very own remote control vehicle. And many other things.

Food was expensive. $7 for a cold sandwich. I hope that is not their regular price. I would recommend eating before going to the museum.

VL Rating: Excellence (for kids)

Website: http://www.perotmuseum.org/

Address:
2201 N. Field Street
Dallas, Texas 75202

Phone:
214.428.5555

-->

Banh Mi # 1 (Garland, TX)

An OK Banh Mi...

The Banh Mi Dac Biet is not bad at all. I would definitely prefer Quoc Bao in Garland but their Banh Mi is slightly larger and packed with more meat. So for those who prefer quantity, check this place out. It's in Sai Gon Mall In Garland.

VL Rating: OK (Banh Mi Dac Biet)

Address:

3212 N Jupiter Rd

Garland, TX 75044

(Inside SaiGon Mall Food Court)

View Larger Map

-->

Crawfish Hut (Garland, TX)

Move over Boiling Crabs...You have a match.

For me I would prefer this place over the Boiling Crabs. The spice has a kick to it. The more spicy the better. It's a little slow but well worth the wait. If you need bread to eat with craw fish, which I love to do, try those minis at Banh Mi So 1. They go perfectly with those Crawfish. 

Don't forget to ask for extra spicy. You won't regret it. Trust me.

VL Rating: Good

Address:

3212 N Jupiter Rd Ste 134

Garland, TX 75044

(Inside SaiGon Mall Food Court)

Phone:

(972) 414-3949

View Larger Map

-->

Spring Creek Barbeque (Richardson, TX)

Yummy BBQ Ribs...in the North Dallas area.

If you want good BBQ ribs in the north Dallas area, you have got to try Spring Creek BBQ. I always see a lot of cars in their parking lot but reluctant to try because of our bad experience in their Frisco location.

I still like the taste of Rudy's better but the ribs in their North Dallas locations are way too dry. Not like the one I had down in New Braunfels. That had to be one of the best BBQ Ribs I have ever had.

Back to Spring Creek in Richardson, TX. This has to be one of the best that I have tried in the DFW area. The meat is just so tender and falling off the bone. Other side dishes are good too. Plus the free rolls are great to go with the Ribs.

I did try the 'original' Sonny Bryan in Dallas and that had to be one of the worst. The meat was way too dry. Same for the one in Frisco which is now closed.
Dickey's on Custer/121 is not bad until I tried this Spring Creek location.

VL Rating: Good


Web Site:
http://www.springcreekbarbeque.com/richardson.htm

Address:
270 N Central Expy
Richardson, TX 75080

Phone:
(972) 669-0505



View Larger Map

-->

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (Galveston, TX)

Fun for kids.

We went to Houston and Galveston during the July 4th extended long weekend. One of the stop that we planned was the Pleasure Pier of course since we found out it just recently opened. Our expectation was to give our kids (2.5 year old and 5.5 year old) some fun and they did especially my 5.5 year old. We got the walk-on ticket for ourselves and all day ride pass for our kids. We were glad we did because I don't know how many times they played the rides especially the bumper cars. The ticket price sounds a little steep but how many festival out there that you can play cheap? I can't think of any.

One big fat thump up for kids!!!

Address:
2501 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, TX 77550

Website:
http://www.pleasurepier.com

VL Rating: Good (for kids)


View Larger Map

Pho 20 (Galveston, TX)

Is it really Beef Pho?

I was a little surprised to see this place had a lot of customers during lunch time in on Tuesday. The service was exceptional for a Vietnamese restaurant but their main dish "Beef Pho" was not really Beef Pho at all.

We ordered:
1) Beef Pho - It was more like beef/seafood Pho then a pure Beef Pho which might not be bad for others but I was looking for pure Beef Pho. I'm wondering if the beach has anything to do with it :-)
2) Spring Roll with grilled Beef - Not bad at all. My wife loved it.
3) Vermicelli with Lemongrass Beef - Not bad either. The beef can be a little tender though.

Address:
2101 Broadway St
Galveston, TX 77550

Phone:
(409) 750-9200

Website:
http://www.pho20.com


View Larger Map

Babe's Chicken Dinner House (Garland, TX)

Yummy smoked chicken...

This place has an amazing smoked chicken. The best I have tasted so far. Plus the FREE side dishes really can fill you up. For around $12, you get half of the chicken. You can't pick and choose which is bad for me since I don't eat the chicken breasts.

Their fried fish was also good.

BTW, I have tried their branch in Frisco a couple of years ago as well and it was way off.

Address:
1456 Belt Line Rd
Ste 171
Garland, TX 75044

Phone:
(972) 496-1041

Website:
http://www.babeschicken.com/


View Larger Map

Benno's On the Beach (Galveston, TX)

Fresh softshell crab...

They have really fresh softshell crabs here for $18.95. It was battered and fried. The texture was right but the taste was just OK. I wish they put a little more spice to it. We also had fried fish and a cup of shrimp gumbo. Nothing really stand out. I have had better in Dallas.

Address:
1200 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, TX 77550

Phone:
(409) 762-4621

Website:
http://www.bennosofgalveston.com/

VL Rating: OK


View Larger Map

Cooper Farms (Fairfield, TX)

Yummy Peaches...

It was lunch time and we were hungry. Seeing their billboard from the highway, we thought they might have something good for lunch. As it turned out, we couldn't find anything that we feel like eating for lunch there but we discovered something else. We tried the peach and couldn't believe how good it was. We ended up buying a bag of peaches ($10). We ate some on the way to Houston and snacked some while we were there and still have some left to bring back to Dallas. They're way better than the ones you get at the supermarkets. We also tried their peach pie which was not bad but I think it the filling was a little dry.

Address:
301 I-45S
Fairfield, TX 75840

Phone:
(903) 388-6087

Website:
http://cooperfarmspeaches.com/

VL Rating: Good (for Peaches)


View Larger Map

Huynh (Houston, TX)

Very decent Vietnamese food with great service.

We stopped by this place for lunch the other day during our July 4 holiday trip to Houston. It seems like they ere the only one business with customers in the area.

We tried:
1) Goi Cuon (Shrimp and pork Spring roll) - Good. The peanut sauce was good. Far better than most restaurants that I have tried so far.

2) Goi Cuon Thit Nuong - Spring roll with grilled pork and Nuoc Cham (fish sauce) - Good.

3) Mi Quang - I have to admit that I have never tried this dish before. Seeing it being their favorite dish, I gave it a try for the first time. First taste I thought it was just ok. But the more I eat, the more I crave for it. It has soup but not as much as you would find in Pho. One problem with this dish was the crackers. They were a little hard and not crunchy as they should be.

4) Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese iced milk coffee) - Got this to go. Yum.

5) Pho - Just OK for me. My wife liked it though.


Address:
912 Saint Emanuel St
Houston, TX 77003

Phone:
(713) 224-8964

Website:
http://huynhrestauranthouston.com

VL Rating: Good


View Larger Map

Banana Leaf II (Houston, TX)

Barely above average.

It was around 6pm and this place was packed. We thought the food would be decent but very disappointed after trying it.

We tried:
1) Roti Canai - The roti was ok but the curry did not have enough flavor. I would definitely prefer Indian curry over this.


2) Hainanese Chicken - Tasted like they reheated the chicken. Has a little chicken smell from the reheatting. Definitely NOT a walking chicken (cage free chicken).


3) Laksa Noodle Soup - I thought the curry tasted the same as what they used in the Roti Canai just a little more spicy. Didn't taste right either.


4) Stir Fried Seafood Flat Noodle with Scramble Eggs - The one we have at Lion City Chinese Cafe in Dallas is better.









Address:
9896 Bellaire Blvd
Ste A
Houston, TX 77036

Phone:
(713) 271-2338

Website:
http://www.bananaleafhouston.com

VL Rating: Poor


View Larger Map

Chao Vit Thanh Da (Garland, TX)

Best Chao Vit in the DFW!
If you like porridge, duck and salad, try the Chao Vit Thanh Da from this place. Yummy. That's the only thing I go there for. Never disappointed. Other dishes are ok. This place is inside the Sai Gon Mall food court.

Address:
3212 N Jupiter Rd Ste 135
Garland, TX 75044

Phone:
(972) 414-5785

VL Rating: Excellence (Chao Vit Thanh Da)


View Larger Map

Fish Shack (Plano, TX)

The best fish Tacos that I have had so far.
Of all the fish tacos that I have tried, none of them really taste good. The tacos were either too soft and/or the fish were a little too 'fishy'. But not this place. Their soft tacos actually have a little texture to it. The fish was well marinated. No fishy taste at all.


Address:
700 E 15th St
Plano, TX 75074

Phone:
(469) 229-0838

VL Rating: Good (for Fish Tacos)


View Larger Map

Pho Pasteur 2 (Carrollton, TX)

An OK Pho.
We ate at this place recently while in the neighborhood.
As usual we ordered 2 different dishes when ever trying out a new place. This time we ordered Pho and Broken rice with Pork chop and Bi and an extra side of grilled meat. Pho was OK but both the Pork chop and grill meat was a little dry and hard.

Address:
1927 E Belt Line Rd
Carrollton, TX 75006

Phone:
(972) 418-8972

VL Rating: OK (for Pho), Poor (for Broken Rice with pork chop and grilled meat)


View Larger Map

Dinosaur World (Glen Rose, TX)

Just a little more an hour from Dallas, this place is great for the little ones who like dinosaurs. They have a lot of dinosaur statues on display. My 5 year old boy had a blast checking out all kind of different dinosaurs. The other neat thing was that for $2, the kids can go through the sand and look for fossils. There were a lot of them in the sand and best part is you got to keep 3. We found lots of small shark teeth fossils.

Also going a little further north on the same road (59) is the Dinosaur Valley State Park.


Website:
http://www.dinosaurworld.com

Address:
1058 Park Road 59
Glen Rose, TX 76043


Phone:
(254) 898-1526

VL Rating: Excellence

View Larger Map

Dinosaur Valley State Park (Glen Rose, TX)

 Just a little more than an hour from Dallas. This place is just a little drive further north of the Dinosaur World. Very cool place. Where in the world can you enjoy dipping in the water and walk on the dinosaur tracks at the same time? We went there with my 2 little kids (2 year girl and 5 year old boy). My 5 year old loved the dinosaur foot prints. Both f them enjoyed playing in the stream. We went to site # 1 and # 2. Both sites were not accessible by strollers. If you have small babies, I would recommend to go to skip site #1 and go to site #2. There were other sites but we didn't have the time to explorer them.

Also check out Dinosaur World where they have 100+ dinosaur statues.

Website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/dinosaur-valley

Address:
1629 Pk Rd 59

Glen Rose, TX 76043

Phone:
(254) 897-2863

VL Rating: Excellence

View Larger Map