As a devoted Dallas citizen, I usually refer to Houston as that polluted city with way too many highways. This past weekend’s trip, however, reminded me why we keep coming back.

The first necessary stop was a good pho place. And no place is as famed as Pho Nguyen Restaurant in Bellaire. The soup is so good apparently, they usually run out after a few hours and end up closing early. I have to admit, the soup was indeed clear and the mouthwatering flavor made the last four hours of traffic bearable.

After picking up some of the best cream puffs I’ve ever had from Parisian Bakery 2 & Cafe, we made a quick stop by Cafe 101 for some iced honey green tea (with a hint of jasmine). It cooled off the afternoon perfectly. And even though I was still full from my soup, I couldn’t resist ordering some salt & pepper chicken wings. Girl’s gotta snack.

After some much needed rest, our good friends pulled us back out to the Bellaire area and we explored a Malaysian restaurant. A first for me. Though I’m usually skeptical with new food, Banana Leaf’s crowd put me at ease. It can’t be bad if this many people are here, right? Big menu spreads cover the front windows and digital screens flashed tasty images for waiting patrons. I chatted up a fellow customer to elicit some suggestions and she gave me a few. We ended up trying the Roti Canai (Indian Pancake), Mango Chicken, House Special Calamari, Water Spinach Kang Kung, an okra dish, and a mango fish dish. I was thoroughly impressed. Everything tasted like extra flavorful Chinese food, but my favorite is definitely the Indian Pancake. Oh, how I yearn for it now.

There were a plethora of dessert choices just within a few steps. It was late so most were closing, but Gelato Cup was nice enough to let us purchase some treats, as long as we didn’t stay.

The following day we came back to that same area and there were at least 10 other shops to try. I will just mention that Kubo’s Cafe is a good place to stop for a decent lunch. Not the best sushi I’ve had for sure, but since it’s a self-serve location, it’s super convenient for those in a rush.

Lastly, I have to praise Kim Son. The original restaurant in downtown Houston has always deserved my reverence, but the location is inconvenient; the one in Bellaire I haven’t tried due to a sullied reputation; but the one in Sugarland has redeemed the name once again. Although the wait for a table was an arduous 30-40 minutes, the payoff was ten-fold. The dim sum had the usual favorites, but also some new surprises. Shrimp and mango swimming in a creamy sauce and deep fried? Unheard of! The restaurant itself is nested over a vast koi pond. A very refreshing look. Too bad it was 100°F+ outside.

I’m quite positive I gained a good 10 lbs., but who cares?! Mmm-mm good.