Koji Ramen Bar – Spring TX

We are all likely well acquainted with the ubiquitous ramen noodle packs found in most grocery stores. College students live on them, moms keep them available as quick lunches for their children on weekend and vacations, and writers seem to thrive on them. We eat them straight out of the package, cooked up according to the directions (noodles in broth), and we eat them dry (broth drained off and spice pack added directly to the noodles). Some of even get creative with ramen by adding broken meats, veggies, and other items that we have on hand at the time.

Put what you think you know about ramen out of your mind. Koji Ramen Bar offers a whole new perspective on the ramen noodle and how it should be served, offering deep bowls of broth with perfectly cooked noodles, and the sort of things on top that appear to be pretty traditional and/or local favorites.

The décor is trim, neat, with wall art that is splashy and fun. We had the fortune to sit beneath a six foot tall mineki-neko – the Good Luck Cat.

 

We started with gyoza (Japanese pork potstickers) and takoyaki (octopus balls), both of which were outstanding in flavor and texture. The gyoza were tender and fresh, with a firmness to the filling that was not hard or difficult to chew as at some restaurants. The takoyaki were rich and crunchy; very much a new and delightful experience for us.

Gyoza – Japanese pork potstickers

 

I ordered the chicken version, and was not disappointed. In addition to the chicken, noodles and broth, there were green onion, leaf spinach, bamboo shoots, carrots, corn, nori strips, tea egg and a sprinkled topping of sesame seeds and spices. I topped bites with dried garlic flakes, and the various tasty sauces offered on the table. Delicious!

Koji Chicken Ramen

 

The full menu is available online and makes me want to revisit the establishment every time I peruse it. There is so much to look forward to trying!

 

On the 1-5 scale, Koji Ramen Bar has earned:
Cleanliness – 4
Service – 4
Quality of food – 5
Flavor – 5
Pricing – 3
Overall experience – 4.25

Koji Ramen Bar
25403 Interstate 45, Suite A
Spring TX 77380
832-823-5197

Enjoy! We certainly did!

– Ann Cathey

Holiday Season Activities

There is a lot to see and do in the Greater Houston Area around the holidays. From Galveston Island up to Huntsville, from Beaumont over to Katy, the region is jam-packed with sights and delights!

I stumbled across a list of activities on another blog, Big Kid Small City, and thought I might share it. Things to Do in Houston During the Holidays + Christmas Activities in November and December 2014  is a good starter list for anyone traveling to or living in the Greater Houston Area this holiday season. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza and all other great reasons to get together with family right around the corner, now is the time to start making plans for what you would like to do with that family, other than simply go to the movies. From ice skating to visual extravaganzas to specialized shopping venues, this list will get you moving and smiling.

I hope to be able to provide some more in-depth information on some of these items in the weeks to come.

Happy Holidays!
–Ann Cathey

Gander Mountain Firearms & Concealed Carry Expo – Spring, TX

Gander Mountain Academy took one of my favorite concepts to heart for the second year in a row in the Greater Houston Area with their traveling Carry Concealed Expo – educate the people toward understanding.

The Expo in Spring, Texas, was once again a success. Representatives from CZ, Remington, Glock, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, 5.11, Winchester ammunition, Crimson-Trace, and a few other vendors were on hand to educate consumers about their products. They were all helpful and knowledgeable to a man. Sadly, my favorite holster manufacturer, CompTac Victory Gear, was not present. We had even worn our Comp-Tac gear in hopes of seeing some familiar faces.

This Expo has a rather unique feature – you get try out the handguns with no range or ammo fee. This has proved to be extremely popular with the attending crowd, most specifically my partner in life and handguns. He ran through the line 6 times, trying out 4 handguns and 2 AR style rifles.  I did not try any of the guns available yesterday, leaving the range time for him.

The try-it-before-you-buy-it ticket system was simple and streamlined. You picked up a ticket from a vendor for the firearm you wanted to try out, and got in line for the firing range.  You handed the ticket to a range master who then retrieved your choice and laid it out with a magazine of five rounds on the firing line for you. You got to try out the firearm free of charge. Gander Mountain’s employees moved quickly and efficiently, keeping the line moving and keeping smiles on customers’ faces.

The swag was nice too. Catalogs were available for most of the vendor products, as well as the usual assortment of pens, stickers, and key chains. No one was stingy, and the crowd was remarkably polite. There were numerous chances to win even more goodies from drawings, including several pistols, a Binelli shotgun, range bags, eye and ear protection, ammo, and activity packages for the Academy.

The customer response was impressive. We arrived at 10am and were headed out the door a little after noon. I would imagine that Gander Mountain had several thousand people through their doors yesterday, and ammo sales may have reached a record high.

Overall, this was a positive experience for both the beginners and the experienced shooters (and bloggers) who came to check out the latest in concealed carry handguns. Watch for more listings for this traveling Expo at  Gander Mountain Academy.

-Ann Cathey
(parts of this post were also posted on another site)