J&J Seafood Market-- Nothing Fishy Here

So my boyfriend and I decided to try something really different. We looked through restaurant reviews and found something called J&J Seafood Market. It seemed like it was innoculous enough.

I found Nirvana right here in Houston. Located near 610 South and Stella Link, this place knows exactly what they're doing. And people know it. It's busy, and they're running a fast-paced business that does not slow down for newbies. You must be ready to jump in and swim. Once you decide what you want, you go up to the counter and place your order. Then you get out of the way until they call you.

While ordering, you can choose from white fish or other, we ordered one of each: snapper and trout. You can get it with french fries, which are fine, but you can also get it with fried rice, which I recommend. We also got hush puppies that were absolutely amazing as well as some tasty fried okra.

At J&J, the serve tartar sauce from packets. This is a good sign. It means the fish doesn't need any condiments, and if you insist on ruining it, help yourself. The fish is flaky and slightly peppery. It comes out piping hot and stays that way until you get home. (There's no dining in here.) It's not greasy, but rather, hot and moist. The hush puppies are among the best I've had and recommend spending the extra change (as the charge is minimal) to get some.

You can also buy raw fish there. I haven't had a reason to get any, but it looks good and they have quite a variety.

My recommendation: go. Get some great fried fish. But call in your order first as opposed to sitting there and waiting for it. You don't want to wait too long for this tasty catch.

Humble, the hub of dining?

Who would have known? Great food in Humble. I was heading out of town, but had some time to kill. So my boyfriend and I went to Humble City Cafe. What a treat.

It's home cooking at its best. Thick gravy, corn bread, and fried everything. Not being a Southerner, this food is still a bit shocking for its complete lack of regard for anything healthy. I don't think they do any fresh veggies, but that's A-Ok with me.

Before your meal, they serve a skillet of cornbread with brown sugar butter. Now, I've never had brown sugar butter, but let me tell you... that combination is ingenious. Are you kidding me? Brown sugar AND butter at the same time?

I had chicken fried chicken with my choice of two sides... which if you're doing be unhealthy, go whole hog. The macaroni and cheese was decadent and the mashed potatoes were very, very delicious. The chicken fried chicken was, at its best: juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Despite my over-stuffed status, we had to try a dessert. We got banana pudding. I've had several versions of this southern delicacy, and this was amazing. Cold pudding combined with nilla wafers. I don't know why it tasted different, and superior, but I can tell you... it was worth every bite.

If you're in the area, or if you're willing to make the drive, try the Humble City Cafe. You won't be sorry.