I tried these spots on Sunday at lunch. I had too many items and ate some Monday. The first is in a strip mall on the west side of Alafaya Trail near Mitchell Hammock and after the bigger malls there. The second is at the old Hangry Dobo space in that strip mall on Alafya Trail and University across from UCF. The older one. Now there is an ingress and egress spot on Alafaya, so, you don't have to go down University and wait forever to make a left. The third is down Colonial (50) about a mile. In a strip mall (Reedy Plaza?) on the south side that doesn't really have a remarkable tenant to point out. The fourth is at the Waterford Lakes "mall" back on Alafaya Trail. Behind the Portillo's and in front of the Target. Next to Cruncheese. The fifth is back on Alafaya Trail going back north. On the east side in a strip mall with no remarkable tenants. About half way back to Mitchell Hammock. The last is east on Mitchell Hammock on the north side in the first strip mall on the left. In the front by Ford's Garage.
Tikka Shack - This franchise "Indian Grub" spot that they said is in PA and TX opened a month ago. Nice build. Modern. Large. High ceilings. Black, white, gray with some green accents. Huge, generic mural on the entire left wall. Semi-open, stainless steel kitchen. Order at a counter. Maybe sixteen tables for four and two high tops for six. Window wall in front. Only two working. Seemed like mother and daughter. Maybe ten there at lunch. Mostly Indian. I had the Methi Malai Curry Bowl for $13.75. Good. I had it hot. Chunks of thigh meat chicken that I think they kabob under a broiler. Basmati rice wasn't dry. They had five other curries. I chose this one because it had the sexiest name and ingredients (methi/fenugreek). They also have: four vegetarian bowls, bowl/wrap/salad tikka grill, three naan tacos, four biryani rice bowls, three naan pizzas, three wings and five starters. High water mark is $15. Low of $6. Sides and Kid's Options. Veggies, paneer, chicken, shrimp and lamb. Much better than I was expecting. No problem with parking.
Shokupan Bakehouse - It is milk bread from Hokkaido. Opened two weeks ago. Chiffon Bakery people. Sweets and shokupan and bao and another type of omlette sandwich. I had the regular with beef bulgogi. It's thick, semi-sweet toast (top and bottom) with scrambled eggs, cheese, lettuce and beef. The beef and sauce were delightful. Some of the best bulgogi in town. Thin, delicate, moist. Some fried onions in there. The sauce stayed within the parameters that should be set on saltiness/sweetness/richness, etc. The bread was probably topped with melted butter. Something that made it shine. Not oily though. Nobody except the French know how to make scrambled eggs, but, these were ok. Not over done. Still too "connected". Too omlette-y. You need to fluff! Get some air into them. Break up the protein bonds. Still better than most. Maybe three or four eggs worth. The cheese and lettuce were superfluous. Also some kind of mayo based dressing. Big portion. It cost $12.50. I also tossed in some kind of croissant that had cinnamon roll look. I forget if they riff on the cronut. This had pistachios inside. The croissant was a bit dry. The pistachios were a bit stale/soft. Probably a day or two old. It cost $5.25. Many other expensive looking pastries. The place is small and narrow. Four low "tables". Very white on white. Black lettering. A display counter on the left with the kitchen behind it. Things made to order. Two cooking. Two taking orders. This will be a Favorite.
Juici Patties - I can't help myself but I loved them. It's such basic slop. But I loved them. They seem to be the top patty people in Jamaica (and NY). A franchise of over 50. The Jamaican Jolibee. Only five kinds (ground beef, chicken and vegan) and two are just spicy versions. I had the spicy beef and a chicken for $3.79 a piece. Great value. I think a Taco Bell burrito is more than that. These have three to four times the filling. Both fillings had good flavor and heat. Both had odd mushy parts with actual meat amongst the paste. The usual, weird, flaky shell. Not oily. All these patties (from frozen to fresh made) share characteristics. They aren't haute cuisine. But, as the kids say, these just hit differently. I wanted to "yawn emoji" them, but, I just kept getting more excited about them. Maybe it was just the right time and day. Speaking of which, they open early (9am?). Small, unimpressive storefront. No seats. Seemed pretty popular already. Open for about a month. I would get one every time I drove by if I lived here. Cheaper than most empanada places. Could be a cheap Favorite.
Rainbow Cone - Out of Chicago. Insist that the are the original (1926). Ok. I had a scoop of Palmer House (New York Vanilla, cherries and walnuts) for $5.49. Good. Small. Nice quality ingredients. Made for the hotel. They also do a thing called "sliced" ice cream. And sundaes and mini donuts and shakes and cakes and ic sandwiches. Sherbert too. Small space. Unsure of seating. Hospital white. Order at a counter. Pleasant staff. Open for a month. If I valued ice cream more it might have been a Fav. Open 11am on. Like normal places should be. 2pm ice cream dilettantes!
Smashville - I was just driving along (unplanned) and wondered if that was new. It was. First week. One location in Jersey. Smash burgers, fries and fried chicken sandwiches. I had a single for $7.50. It came with cheese, sauteed onions, pickles and a comeback sauce. Ok bun. It tasted ok as an ensemble. The beef alone tasted like meatloaf. I hate the smashburger concept. Trying to make it look bigger than it is so you can charge double. Forces out all the moisture. An unfortunate, destructive chapter in food history. Get two Jamaican patties instead. The chicken I saw was way larger. However, it cost alot more. Order at a counter. Open grill behind that. Long, rectangular space. Black, white and red. Huge graffiti tag of their name on wall. A few tables. One outside. A "counter" area. Three others dining there.
Big Dave's Cheesesteaks - Never seen a black owned cheesesteak joint before. Not saying anything is wrong about it, but, I just can't recall seeing one. Can you? I mention it because Big Dave's face is plastered all over the place and this is at a franchise level. You would have thought that if his place was so famous that he could take it national that I would have seen it on tv. They usually make a bee line for diversity stories. *Ahh, it seems it isn't a Philly thing. It is an Atlanta thing. And a West Philly (think Fresh Prince) not South Philly association. My suspicion is proven right again. Alas, I won't ever know if his chessesteaks are any good. I just got some Whiz fries to go for $5. Why? The $12 CS was the size of my hand and that pissed me off. Alternatively, the fry portion was huge. However, the whiz took the whiz out of it. Such an odd concoction. It congealed immediately. Tasted like American cheese. Odd herbal aftertaste. The fries also were weird. Crinkle cut and fried well. That was promising. But, they had an odd texture inside and an odd taste. I think their oil is wrong/cheap. AND I think they fry the salmon egg rolls in it too. Tasted like those a bit. They have three types of CS (beef, chicken and salmon). Egg rolls of the same. Almost went there, but, I had the smashburger in the chamber. Went with a complimentary dish. White, red, Johnny Rockets look. Open for a week. A few people eating there. Parking is congested.
*I also tried to try Haraz Coffee at the corner of 50 and Alafaya. It wasn't open yet. Looked very close.
**I updated these tutorials: Spectrum Wifi and Mobile Phone Installation Tutorial (6/2/2024), Tree Removal Tutorial (3/5/2025) and Plumbing Tutorial (3/11/2025).
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