The Hungry Traveler

Name: Hungry Traveler Restaurant
City:Henryetta, OK, USA
Address: I-40 Exit 237, Henryetta, OK 74437

Website: None

Cuisine: Comfort

Critique: The restaurant has a vast traditional American fare menu, serving breakfast, lunch and supper. They have daily specials of home-cooked favorites, like chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and fried chicken. The staff was extremely courteous and attentive.

Their breakfast menu included an option for unlimited pancakes, along with traditional favorites. Breakfast is served anytime, but biscuits are only available before 11 am. The bacon was perfectly crisp but not overcooked. The pancakes may have been made up in advance, for one of them had a hard-ish rim. They cooked my over-medium eggs perfectly. The hash browns were average.

Their lunch and dinner menu is extensive, ranging from sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, chili, meatloaf and steaks. I had the 12 oz rib eye. I thought it to be on the pricey side for a truck stop diner. My steak, coffee and tip came to $24. The steak was tender and cooked to a perfect medium well. The flavor was lacking and I was obligated to use sauce. The baked potato was huge and included standard toppings. The salad that came with the meal was a standard dinner salad, but included some very large crouton-like bread pieces. It included two very large dinner rolls.

The dessert cabinet was filled with home-made pies and cake. The cream pies had no less than 6 inches of meringue topping. Other patrons seemed to enjoy it.

Comments/Recommendations: I ate here twice; dinner and breakfast. I was stuck on the interstate due to icy road conditions. There were much worse places to be stuck. We counted it a blessing that the restaurant was right next door to the motel.

While it was a bit pricey for the steaks, the rest of the menu seemed to be in line with expectations. Overall, the food was very good. If it were in Chiang Mai or Hong Kong, it would have rated 4 fries. I'm not sure it would have even made 5 fries in China. However, here in the USA, it will only receive a 3 fry rating. This is due to the priceyness of the steaks and the diner atmosphere. I would not have a problem eating here on a regualar basis.

This restaurant is reviewed because of the name only and for the fact that a picture of it had been previously listed on this blog.

Rating: 3 Fries

Caramba!

Name: Caramba!
City: Hong Kong
Address: Soho, 26-30 Elgin Street & Discovery Bay, Discovery Bay Plaza (on the waterfront)

Website: http://www.caramba.com.hk

Cuisine: Mexican

Critique: I have eaten here twice and both times were mostly good experiences. The fact is that if you are looking for an Mexican experience in Asia like you would have in America, you are going to be disappointed. It just doesn't happen.

The first time I had the chicken quesadillas. They tasted fine, but were a bit thin and left me wanting more. More recently, I went with 3 other people and I got the beef tacos. One person ordered fish fajitas, another got chicken or beef fajitas and another person also ordered tacos. We also had a queso (cheese) dip.

The chips were okay, not the seasoned stuff that Rick had at the other Mexican place in Soho. They weren't the best chips I have had, but they were solid. I really liked the queso, but it was more of a rotelle (rotel?) dip than the white cheese queso you get in the States.

The tacos were more like taco supremes because they come standard with refried beans, guacamole and sour cream in the tacos and you get a side of rice and black beans. I told the waitress, as did the other person ordering tacos, "no beans." She got it half right, there weren't any black beans, but there were refried beans in the tacos. Honestly, I forgot to tell her no guac and sour cream, so I ended up scrapping quite a bit of the taco. The tacos were okay, but I probably won't order them again because it is too much of a hassle to make sure I don't get all the stuff I don't want.

The waitress did mess up the fish fajitas and brought chicken the first time, which meant we had to wait while they cooked up some fish and brought the right stuff. She enjoyed the fajitas once the right ones came (see below).

And she even returned the later that week to take some guests from out-of-town there.

As I noted the service wasn't top notch, but part of that was my fault. However, it could be improved. On the weekends, the small, thin restaurant fills up quick.

I was treated on both occasions, so I don't recall the exact prices, but I think the quesadillas were around $70 HKD (about $9 US) and the tacos were around $120 HKD (around $15 US). However, we went on a Monday night and there were people from Asiaxpat.com passing out discount cards. I believe you got a second entree for 1/2 off, so try to go on Monday.

Comments/Recommendations: As I said, it is nearly impossible to have the type of Mexican food you had in the States anywhere in Asia, but Caramba! is a decent choice in Hong Kong. And for people who have been in Asia a while, especially the remote areas, it will be a treat. Keep expectations reasonable and have a nice meal.

Rating: Three fries

UCC Vienna Cafe

Name: UCC Vienna Cafe
City: Hong Kong
Address: Fisherman's Wharf near Laguna Verde in Hung Hom, also Harbor City and New World Centre

Website: www.ucc.co.jp

Cuisine: Coffee, desserts, western, breakfast, Japanese

Critique: We opted for this place because of location and variety of food and were not disappointed. Honestly, I was a little befuddled by the menu at first because it is a bit eclectic, but the food is good nonetheless.
I had a snack order of fried chicken and the berry waffle. My girlfriend had seafood pasta with a soy milk white sauce. The chicken was okay- a little greasy and over-battered, but better than quite a bit of the chicken I have had in Hong Kong. I ordered the large berry waffle which was more than an Eggo, but less than a Waffle House waffle. It was topped with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries and served with a dollop of whip cream, a shot glass of jelly and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. The waffle itself was okay, but the berries, cream and ice cream made it tasty. It was nice to have a breakfast option at night. My girlfriend really liked the seafood pasta with a soy milk sauce. The soy milk sauce was similar to a normal white sauce, but thinner and probably a lot healthier as well. She likes soy milk, so it wasn't that odd for her.
UCC is also know for their coffee and unique coffee dispenser that look more like a piece of equipment from a science lab that something from a cafe. They had several omelets on the menu, pasta dishes, sandwiches, curries and breakfast dishes, but most of it had a Japanese twist to it. I never had heard of Japanese people being know for waffles, but I was thankful they were on the menu.
The location was nice and quiet, so you could enjoy a good conversation without yelling. The service was decent, but nothing to write home about. I thought her portion was good and mine was a little bit smallish for a "large" (but I am a fat American and she isn't). And for the two of us it was about 150 HKD (about $20), which is quite reasonable in Hong Kong.

Comments/Recommendations: I definitely would recommend UCC Cafe Vienna, especially if you have a group that can't decide between Western or Asian food. It would also be a nice place to have coffee and dessert if you don't want to follow the heard to Starb---s. You can definitely find better places to eat, but most of them are more expensive.

Rating: 3 Fries

Nanning Brazil BBQ, Nanning, China

Name: Nanning Brazil BBQ

City: Nanning, China

Address: 4-1 Education Street

Website: Unknown


Photo: Bob S.

Cuisine: Brazilian Barbeque

Critique: I didn't have too high hopes for this restaurant, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. They have a decent variety of meats; many of which are within the standard "Brazilian Barbeque" genre. Some, are not. I visited on a night when regular customers were dissatisfied with the service. I thought the service was decent. I am told that they are usually much more attentive to your needs, but this night was a national holiday night and they were very busy.

They had the biggest food buffet of any Brazilian Barbeque I have been to yet, with the possible exception of one in Tai'an. They had noodles, which were very good, by the way. They had veggies, soups, and a pretty good dessert bar. I was duly impressed with the fact that they had a soda fountain and brewed coffee!

The food quality was very good. The meat was hot and tasty. The kids seem to have a good time, however, they said that they didn't really like the food. Of course, they ate a lot and enjoyed the dessert bar, so you have to consider all that.

Comments/Recommendations: This is undoubtedly one of the best places to eat in Nanning. I truly recommend your going. Being that it is the only Brazilian BBQ place in town, if you speak Mandarin, you should be able to get a taxi to it without any problems. Be sure to get the prime rib and the lemon cake. Don't forget the all you can drink pop and coffee. This is a good value for the money and a good place to eat.

Rating: 3 Fries

Roma's Bar & Grill, Shekou

Name: Roma's Bar & Grill, Shekou
City: Shekou, Shenzhen, China
Address: At the back of Taizi Hotel. Taizi Rd. Shekou

Website: unknown

Cuisine: steaks, varied

Critique: The convenient location of Roma's is one of the selling points of this delightful little restaurant. I was impressed with the friendliness of the staff and the decor/ambiance. The menu, while not extensive, did provide a generous selection of steaks. It also had a small Italian, Tex-Mex and pizza selection. The tables were covered with paper and each had a small cup of crayons for the kiddies (or creative grownups).

I haven't had particularly good luck getting a steak cooked the way I want or expect, but I was pleasantly surprized to find my medium-well steak actually medium well. The baked potato was not over or under cooked and had an American selection of toppings, including real bacon bits.

Comments/Recommendations: I truly recommend the ribeye steak with baked potato. However, I want comment on the child appropriateness of Roma's. Each table, in addition to the crayons, is also decorated with a nice candle dripped bottle of some sort. The bottle is extremely unstable and can turn over at the slightest knock. When the bottle on my table turned over, it drenched me in hot wax. It covered my hand, my shirt, and my plate, not to mention the wall behind me. Accidents do happen, although I was just a tad dissapointed with the management who offered nothing in the way of compensation. I'll readily agree that they didn't "have" to do or offer anything, but the hot wax treatment did tend to ruin my evening.

Rating: 3 Fries

Jade Garden Restaurant, Macau

Name: Jade Garden Restaurant
City: Macau
Address: 35-39 Rua Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo

Website: Unknown

Cuisine: Cantonese

Critique: Wow! What great dim sum! I must admit that I have had good dim sum before, so I honestly wasn't expecting too much when we decided to eat at Jade Garden. We had a group of 13 or so, therefore we got a private dining room. That was nice, but tends to cut down on the level of service. The wait staff at Jade Garden surprised me again. We had really good service.

The problem for the casual diner will be a language barrier. The menu is in Chinese, so if you don't know what you want (or how to say it in Cantonese) it could be a problem. We were seated on the fourth floor of the restaurant (due to the private room), but I think if you sit on the second or third floors, you would have a better chance of getting what you wanted by pointing to others' tables or that I seem to recall them pushing some dim sum carts.

I don't deny being partial to cha siu bau. I happen to think that is the best single element of dim sum. They certainly didn't disappoint in this regard, either. We also ordered some noodle dishes and some rice dishes. I don't recall anything being bad or even "ify". My children really enjoyed the experience and ate well.

Comments/Recommendations: I definitely recommend the cha siu bau, but also a nice dish of gong chau ngau haw (beef chow fun). Their ying-yang rice tasted good, but the design wasn't too evident in the dish. I am giving this restaurant one fry less than what I think it should get, but I base that on the language barrier thing. If they were to get an English menu, I could give them the 4 fry rating. I'll have to go back from time to time to see about that!

Rating: 3 Fries

Miguel's, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Name: Miguel's Fresh-Mex
City: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Address: Chaiya Pum Road on the East side of the moat.



Website: unknown

Cuisine: Mexican-ish

Critique: This open air cantina serves the best Mexican food in Chiang Mai, which really isn't saying much. However, on the three or four dining occasions I have had, I was pleased with the food. For an establishment of this caliber in SE Asia, they have a large menu variety. I guess the first thing they have done right is their refried beans. They don't have the funny after-taste that you can get from other so-called Mexican dishes in Chiang Mai.

The restaurant isn't good for a big group as there are only 6 or 8 tables with a few bar stools. It can get crowded at ex-pat lunch time, but is not bad at noon. Parking is difficult, but possible. It is right on the road, so there is lots of noise and exhaust fumes. Being open-air, it can get very hot, as well.

I wouldn't exactly call the place "kid friendly" as they don't have kid's menus. The prices are decent enough, especially since the quality of the food is good. I found the seating a bit uncomfortable, but no big deal.

Comments/Recommendations: I recommend the Burrito Ranchero and the Three Amigos. Of course, if you are hankering for refried beans, this is the place to get them in Chiang Mai. My kids liked the tacos. (I don't like tacos ANYWHERE) I was also extremely happy with their beef and bean chimichanga. I haven't seen anything close to good chimichangas anywhere else in Asia (so far).

Rating: 3 Fries

Sojo's, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Name: Sojo's
City: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Address: 169/4-5 Sridoncha Road Changklan A. Muang
(behind Phantip Plaza at the night bazaar)

Website: unknown

Cuisine: Western, Thai

Critique: This restaurant coffee house is a source of good "down home cookin". It is the only place I know of in Thailand with fried okra on the menu. They have great hamburgers, chicken fingers, and chicken fried rice. I personally think that their carrot cake is the best in town. I have often said that I thought they had the best hamburger in Asia. I will modify to say the best in Chiang Mai. They have a good breakfast menu available all day.

The prices are good to reasonable and they have a bottomless cup of coffee during lunch. They are extremely kid friendly and the waitresses/waiters do a good job in English. The children's menu is adequate and includes a (very good) cookie. I would say that I ate there on a semi-weekly basis for three years and only ever had a few complaints.

They are often crowded on a weekday at lunch and at "American dinner time". One plus is that they do not serve alcohol of any kind.

Upstairs is a coffee house and Wi/Fi source. They have numerous board games as well.

Comments/Recommendations: I recommend the Sojo burger with sauteed onions and bacon. They are a little skimpy on their french fries. I also recommend the carrot cake (see above). I am a little disappointed/aggravated that there is now a sign requesting you to tip. This is rather strange in a country where it is not culturally appropriate to tip. Go figure.

UPDATE: I just read on a blog where one expat family calls Sojo's "the Cracker Barrel of Chiang Mai". Well said.

Rating: 3 Fries

The Duke's, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Name: The Duke's
City: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Address: 49/4-5 Chiangmai-Lamphun Road (Near the Iron Footbridge)



Website: Unknown

Cuisine: Western

Critique: Farangs all over Chiang Mai cheered when this little jewel opened up on the east bank of the Ping. The menu is extensive with steaks, seafood, pizza, and sandwiches. Every Tuesday night is Mexican night and usually there are Mexican leftovers for Wednesday lunch.

The food is good. Period. The atmosphere is OK. It is a little dark, even in the daytime. It is pretty kid friendly though with a typical children's menu. It is fairly family friendly, especially for the early dinner seating. After 8 pm, the expat/tourist drinking crowd comes in and it can get a little noisy. The waitresses do a pretty good job at English, but don't expect to get your meals at the same time.

They have a very good desert bar. Chocolate cake, white chocolate cake, apple pie a la mode, cheesecake, and brownies fill the lighted counter in the back of the room. David is pretty picky about the coffee and does it right.

The prices are very good. Their "Big Daddy" steak is almost more than I can eat and will only set you back about 500 baht ($12.50)

Comments/Recommendations: I highly recommend the Cubano sandwich. It is a little taste of heaven on homemade sourdough (or something like it). I personally prefer the french fries to the onion rings, but only because they are a bit too spicy for my palate. The pizzas are an exceptional buy and good food. The apple pie is only good if it is a la mode. Be sure to ask them to warm it up. Many of my colleagues like their Route 66 hamburger. Basically, it is a HUGE double cheese burger. Again, almost too much to eat. They are open to changing your order to half fries/half onion rings. Or "Frings", as my friend Phil calls them.

Rating: 3 Fries