Hiro Asian Sandwich Bistro

Hiro Asian Sandwich Bistro
3841 SW Archer Rd

4 thumbs up

I've been excited to try this place out for a while now.  I heard that the owners of Bento opened a Vietnamese Bahn Mi Sandwich shop and wanted to experience something I'd only heard about before.  Also, as it's the folks at Bento, I'm pretty confident in the quality level going in.  I think Bento does a good job of what they do.  They're not the best pan asian place in the world, but they do a respectable job in a fashionable and youthful way.

Unfortunately, my iPhone just died, so I can't share the photos with you, but I'll try to describe the food as best as possible. 

First off, they have something called "shake fries."  I've been trying to eat healthier food lately, but since it was my first time here, I had to go all in.  The shake fries are simply french fries served in a wax paper bag.  You then add your own choice of seasonings from the spice bar to the bag and shake.  It's that simple.  There were probably a half dozen different choices from garlic salt to other unique blends of spices.  I don't know if they made this idea up or just borrowed it from somewhere else, but it was clever.  It makes the customer that much more involved in their eating experience. 

Next, if you're going here expecting traditional Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches, you're going to be let down.  Off the bat, the girl at the counter told me they're selling traditional American sandwiches with a slight Asian twist.  Rather than be discouraged, I actually had a realization.  We can't really expect legit Vietnamese Bahn Mi in this town.  I don't know why, because if it was good, we'd all eat there.  But simply stated, we can't.  All we can hope for instead is a place that serves food with a fun and worthwhile twist.  Instead of being disappointed, I decided to keep my mind open and hope that what I was about to eat would at least be interesting.

I ordered the chicken teriyaki sandwich.  It came with mushrooms and onions and was served on a warm french bread sub roll that was lightly buttered.  It was pretty darn good.   It didn't send my taste buds soaring through the rice paddies of Cambodia, but it was good and it was certainly different than the standard fare about town.  The place was clean and chic, the presentation was unique and top notch, and the food was good.  What more can we ask for?

I'll gladly return and sample more items off the menu and I suggest you do the same!

Loosey's Pub

Loosey's Pub

5 thumbs up

120 SW 1st Avenue: Downtown

I've been meaning to review Loosey's for some time now.  Not only have they managed to carve out their own unique niche in the over-saturated beer bar scene that has become downtown, but they've developed an excellent menu of high quality and beautifully presented pub food.  Unfortunately, my iPhone just died, so I can't share any photos here, but I'll do my best to describe their fare.

First of all, let me cover their beer selection.  They have a very respectable selection of bottled and draft beers with many monthly rotations coming in and out.  They feature only American beers, so if you want a Guinness, you're at the wrong place.  One of my particular favorites is the Blue Point Toasted Lager.

Next, let me be clear that if you're downtown and want a burger, you should go to Loosey's.  They easily have the best burger around and sell it as cheap as 5 bucks on some nights.  For a half pounder, you might even want to share it with someone.  Also, the number of toppings and condiments you can add are astounding!

I've also tried their blackened chicken tacos, which at $7.50 could easily feed two, and the fish and chips, which are great as well.

Loosey's also hosts live music many nights a week and have developed a solid reputation for treating bands really well.

You might not think of the Pub as a legitimate restaurant, but I can assure you it is.  When The Top has an hour wait and you're just dyin for a bite and a brew, get your ass too Loosey's, which is usually busy, but never so packed you can't get service right away.