Lots of flavor at J2K's Classic Roadside Diner

Colorado Springs Food Guy tried a Slapjack Burger at J2K's Classic Roadside Diner located at Curbside Cuisine Downtown. The Slapjack is a huge burger with lots of flavor and spice. The two slices of pepper jack cheese played off the 2 fried jalapeno peppers very nicely. However, it is the homemade green chili that made this burger sing in my mouth. J2K's uses freshly baked Ciabatta buns from The Sourdough Boulangerie, a local bakery which is a nice touch since the buns are very tasty. So if you are in the mood for something different for lunch, give J2K's a try.

WADA A Great Meal

Colorado Springs Food Guy visited Curbside Cuisine Downtown in the quest for good food. So for lunch today, I tried WADA WADA Korean BBQ. I had the Bulkogi Bowl and it was one of the best food truck meals I have ever had. The meat was well-seasoned and scrumptious. It was sweet with a lot of spice. The rice was also cooked to perfection making this bowl unforgettable. If you are in the mood for Asian cuisine but don’t want to spend a lot of money, visit WADA WADA food truck at Curbside Cuisine Downtown.

 

 

Best Ribs in Houston

The Texas road trip continues. Colorado Springs Food Guy visited Ray's Rib Shack located at 4529 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77021. This is a small, casual restaurant that specializes in Texas style BBQ and good old fashioned soul food. I sampled the ribs, fried shrimp, and catfish. The ribs literally fell off the bone and were so tender. The shrimp and catfish were both fried to perfection--so light and crispy. The portions are huge and absolutely so delicious. Please don...'t forget to try the potato salad--just bursting with flavor. It's no wonder why the orders keep pouring in with standing room only. I met the owner Ray and his wife and they were so friendly and they knew just about every customer by name. This is a testament to customer loyalty. So if you are ever in Houston, TX don't forget to stop at Ray's Rib Shack for BBQ you won't forget.

Get Crazy at Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack

In the quest for good food, the Colorado Springs Food Guy visited Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack located at 310 Texas Avenue, Kemah, TX 77565. This upbeat, casual eatery specializes in bayou inspired seafood. The crawfish and gator are some of their more popular items.  The red snapper, frog legs, and the Possum burger (not made from possum meat) were also sampled. The crawfish were boiled to perfection as if I was in the bayou with just the right amount of spice. You can't crack just one. The gator, red snapper and the frog legs were well seasoned and oh so tender. The Possum burger is collasal where two different proteins are selected to form the patties. I selected the gator patty and the beef patty. What an awesome surprise! The flavor is unbeatable. For those who are not so daring, the Swamp Shack has more traditional seafood entrees such as tilapia, scallops, and shrimp. There is something for everyone at the Shack. Let me not forget the absolute stellar staff. Bob, the manager was extremely helpful on the phone (when I got lost) and in person when he made sure I was seated right away despite the crowd of people already there. The highlight of evening was my waitress Laci S. She was energetic, knowledge, and personable. I asked a million questions and she did not miss a beat -- she is an asset to the staff there. So, if you are ever in the Houston - Kemah area, you must stop in for fabulous seafood,Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack

live music, and a great time.

Best BBQ Food Truck in the Springs

Colorado Springs Food Guy also visited the Rocky Mountain BBQ food truck located at 7654 McLaughlin Rd, Peyton, CO 80831. The aroma from the truck is absolutely divine. The taste is absolutely delicious. I had a sampling of the brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and ribs. Each meat is slow cooked to perfection. My words cannot do this food justice. Each cut of meat was tender and succulent. Even the coleslaw was sweet and yummy. It is evident the owners take pride in the preparation of the food. They are very warm and welcoming. What a pleasant end to a perfect day!

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Relax--Have a Cold One

Colorado Springs Food Guy finally visited JAK’s Brewing Co located at 7654 McLaughlin Rd, Peyton, CO 80831. This is casual and relaxed place where you can kick back with a cold one. The difference here is that it is a brewing company, so you can pick the beer that fits your taste. The décor is more like a lounge verses a regular bar. Shannon and Kyle were serving the beers and they could not have been nicer. They made a point to chat with each person there—making everyone comfortable. I had the Blondie with the raspberry juice fusion. It was smooth and sweet but still a little kick. JAK’s has specially brewed root beer too. So if you want specially brewed beer at reasonable prices and quick, friendly service, Head over to Jak’s Brewing Co, and tell them the Colorado Springs Food Guy sent you.

 

Mama Mia! Italian Done Right.

Colorado Springs Food Guy visited Panino’s 1721 S 8th St, Colorado Springs CO 80905 based on a suggestion from one of my Facebook friends. Panino’s is a casual, family-style restaurant with an upbeat atmosphere. I sampled their most popular item, the Grinder Panino, along with the barbecue Panino, Manicotti, and the Italian Platter. The Grinder and Barbecue Paninos are overstuffed, lightly toasted wraps filled with an assortment of meats, and other flavorful ingredients. The Manicotti was baked to perfection. The Italian Platter offered generous portions of old-style Italian favorites such as Lasagna, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Spaghetti with Meatballs. Brian was my server and he was very attentive and energetic. The Manager and host were very welcoming, making it no wonder why this restaurant has become a staple in the community for so many years. I also tried an Italian Margarita served over ice with a salty rim.  It was mixed perfectly and delicious. Simply, Panino’s does family-style Italian right with reasonable prices, big portions, and scrumptious food.  So next time you want a family night out in search of a hearty meal, visit Panino’s. I had a wonderful dining experience.

 

No Five In A Row At Bingo

Colorado Springs Food visited Bingo Burger located at 132 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The place is upbeat and the staff is welcoming and friendly.  I sampled the Tejon, Go Fish, The Steel City, and The Bessemer. This burger place is different in that they offer several types of meat proteins that are locally grass-fed and organic. The Tejon was made with lamb which was very juicy and tasty as was the Go Fish made from salmon. The Steel City was a hit with the caramelized onions and sharp cheddar cheese. The Bessemer burger was very good with Pueblo Chile Jack cheese. Although the burgers were very good, they were a bit pricey. Moreover, the French Fries were mediocre and little soggy. All in all, Bingo Burger serves up great burgers.

 

 

 

 

There’s no Bull in this Heifer

Colorado Springs Food Guy visited The Skirted Heifer located at 204 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs CO 80903. The eatery is casual and family-friendly.  The restaurant is about the size of a small apartment with limited seating but despite the small space, the food bursts with big flavor. As a testament to the food’s goodness there is standing room only with a long line of people anxiously waiting to place their orders. Most burgers are housed in either sesame seed or garlic-focaccia buns. These burgers are different in that they only use grass-fed beef from Music Meadows Ranch in Westcliffe, Colorado. I sampled the B&B, the Hangover, and the burger of the week called Da Greek. The B&B had scrumptious blue cheese and bacon. The Hangover knocks you out with eggs, bacon, cream cheese and bloody Mary sauce. Da Greek was delightful with the feta cheese, onions, and tzatziki sauce.  You can also build your own burger with over 20 different toppings. Without the GMO, antibiotics, or hormones, you can truly taste the difference.  They also serve authentic Cane Soda which is a nice touch made with real sugar.  For dessert, save room for the frozen custard—it is so light and delicious. Let me not forget the awesome staff that made me feel welcome. Garrick, Paul, Kahaili, and Kaylene were knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly.  So the next time you are downtown, stop in and visit the Skirted Heifer for a burger you will never forget. Please visit my website at ColoradoSpringsFoodGuy.com

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More than just coffee…

Colorado Springs Food Guy continues the quest for good food. I re-visited The Perk Downtown Coffee and Tea House located at 14 S Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The baristas are always friendly, well-informed and pleasant. This time, I sampled some of their delicious fresh sandwiches. I tried the chicken salad, the BLT, and the turkey with bacon sandwiches. The chicken salad had cranberries and just the right combination of flavors. The BLT had nice cuts of bacon complimented with lightly toasted multi-grain bread. The turkey and bacon was just as good and did not disappoint. I also had some organic lemonade which tastes like it was truly homemade. The sandwiches were accompanied with an assortment of Boulder kettle chips and potato salad.  So next time you are downtown in Colorado Springs, stop by The Perk Downtown.

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Lots of European flavor to find at Vladi’s!

Colorado Springs Food Guy had lunch at Vladi's European Street Food Truck. The Langosh is the centerpiece of the menu. It is Hungarian style fried bread resembling a pita but the texture is soft, light and flaky and tastes so good. I sampled the Langosh Burger, the Gypsy Sandwich, the BBQ pulled pork, the Potato Griddlecake, and the Hungarian Sausage. The Langosh Burger was juicy with both Canadian and American bacon. The Gypsy Sandwich was filled with seasoned, seared pork with all the fixings wrapped in a Langosh. The pulled pork and Hungarian sausage dishes were also wrapped in Langosh and loaded with spices, peppers and onions. The ingredients tasted fresh. Their meat was tender and complimented the bread perfectly! The Potato Griddlecake was also very delightful. Mr. Vladi was also very nice and greeted us personally with a smile. He also has an array of breakfast dishes. The food truck is mostly at the Curbside Cuisine Downtown but he also attends other areas in Colorado. Looking forward to eating at more European venues! You can visit my website at ColoradoSpringsFoodGuy.com.

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