Chain Gang Hit #1 - Bamboo House

I recently read an article in one of Houston's top foodie magazines that was titled the "Chain Gang".  The premise of the article was to have a chain of recommended dishes by the recommended dish's executive chef, starting with Hugo Ortego of Hugo's. 

Hugo recommended the Shanghai Mini Buns from Bamboo House, said he really liked and was really into them lately.  I had been here once long ago and can't remember what I thought.  Obviously, not too memorable.  I think I remember thinking it wasn't that great.  But, if it receives good reviews, I always try to remind myself to try a place 3 times before I give up.  Bamboo House is in the shopping center across from the AIG building on Waugh and Allen Parkway.

Bad photo, sorry.  Simple design and decent, it's in a shopping center, can't expect much.  Looking over the menu it looks like the genre would be "Asian Fusion".  They had Thai dishes, Chinese, Japanese, etc.  The lady that waited on us also worked behind the cashier and seated us too...probably the owner.  She was helpful and appreciative of our visit, her pictured here.  Wow really bad photo, I assure you she's not an amputee and is not a man.

The Shanghai Mini Buns are on the appetizer menu.  I think they were like $8 or $9, can't remember.  Inside is pork and it comes with this ginger dipping sauce, and that was tasty.  The only thing I didn't like about the dumplings were how processed the pork looked.  You know...that pinkish processed look.  Regardless, the whole combination was good, I liked.  They had a good flavor, warm, good texture, and perfect size to pop them in your mouth.

The veggie dumplings were decent.  My first bite, I didn't like, but upon second, I changed my mind and decided it was good because they were soft, warm, good portion of substance inside the dumplings and they tasted healthy and light.  We also got the Thai Wrap, which is really like PF Chang's Lettuce Wrap.  They didn't have that crunch like PF Chang's, but the flavors were all there, texture right, but no photo because it was the first thing that came out and well...you know how that goes.

The orange beef was really good.  I liked the texture and sauce was salty and tangy, yum yum.  I could have used more rice...so I just asked for more and they brought it out, but I'm not sure if they charged us for it.  I always like when the server thinks for you.  I forgot to ask for brown rice, quite frankly I didn't think to ask because I didn't know it was an option.  She asked and so obviously I chose brown rice, which makes me a very happy patron.

All in all, I was definitely pleased with my visit.  For sure I'll put Bamboo House on my local Asian Fusion restaurant list.  David, Jae and I shared these meals, 3 appetizers, and 1 main entree felt like just barely enough, but 3 hours later and I'm hungry again.  The total came out to $28, is that expensive?  While eating the mini buns, we discovered someone ate an extra mini bun.  So Jae, who got shorted a mini bun, got the last piece of Orange Beef, which was a fair trade.  Mini bun for veg dump, not a fair trade.

Ok, go by and try...bon appetit!