Zimbra Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 I think Houston has the biggest delta of any city between how good their food/music/culture are and how absolutely dogshit the city itself is. 1 2 2
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 When it comes to being "unique", you're going to have a bunch of cities claiming they did it "first" or are the ones who "innovated". When it comes to food, BBQ would be #1 with a bullet or 1a at the least. New Orleans is always going to have an argument with many cuisines just cause it's one of the first and oldest authentic truly American cities. However, when it comes to modern America where there are clusters of major cities near each other, people might take offense about the statement of there being a bunch of great BBQ around the country. Hell, you might even get shanked if you said something like that. You are going to have a bunch of people who say that the only great BBQ is in their city and their city alone.
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 7 minutes ago, Zimbra said: I think Houston has the biggest delta of any city between how good their food/music/culture are and how absolutely dogshit the city itself is. Paging Lawful Metal. Paging Lawful Metal.
Zimbra Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 1 minute ago, Elsalvajeloco said: Paging Lawful Metal. Paging Lawful Metal. He'll get back to you in four hours when he gets out of traffic. 1 10
supremebve Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 13 minutes ago, The Green Meanie said: So, for clarification, do you mean foods that are unique to and/or invented in Houston? Or Houston-versions of dishes? I can do the later, for sure. For example, a Houston-style hot dog is the best kind around. Trying to think of the first option is a bit harder. I meant the former not the latter. If you asked 100 people what city has the best hot dog, you might get 100 answers. If you asked what city has the best gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, or po' boy all of them will say New Orleans. I couldn't imagine going to New Orleans and looking for Mexican food. I don't want anything in New Orleans except for food from New Orleans.
SirSmUgly Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 (edited) The best thing about Houston that is unique to the region is the Tex-Mex, but IMO San Antonio > Houston when it comes to Tex-Mex, barbecue, and Mexican food. Houston could make my top five Southern food cities. It'd just be parked behind New Orleans, Atlanta, and San Antonio. Edited May 23, 2025 by SirSmUgly
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 21 minutes ago, supremebve said: I meant the former not the latter. If you asked 100 people what city has the best hot dog, you might get 100 answers. If you asked what city has the best gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, or po' boy all of them will say New Orleans. I couldn't imagine going to New Orleans and looking for Mexican food. I don't want anything in New Orleans except for food from New Orleans. Thing is though, over the last 30+ years, the Bible Belt has a sneaky population of Mexican-American people and Mexican nationals. So if you did decide to move to New Orleans and were tired of the local fare, you could find pretty good Mexican food. I think the argument though is if you don't give a damn about the local fare, why would need to go to New Orleans? Even though it's mad expensive, you can order the shit on Goldbelly and make it yourself. They give you the instructions. Otherwise, I am guessing there is a bunch of people across the country who consider Popeyes as New Orleans food much like Taco Bell is authentic Tex-Mex. 1
Cobra Commander Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 also IIRC, there's quite a few Central Americans who ended up in New Orleans for whatever reason
supremebve Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 14 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said: Thing is though, over the last 30+ years, the Bible Belt has an sneaky population of Mexican-American people and Mexican nationals. So if you did decide to move to New Orleans and were tired of the local fare, you could find pretty good Mexican food. I think the argument though is if you don't give a damn about the local fare, why would need to go to New Orleans? Even though it's mad expensive, you can order the shit on Goldbelly and make it yourself. They give you the instructions. Otherwise, I am guessing there a bunch of people who consider Popeyes as New Orleans food much like Taco Bell is authentic Tex-Mex. You are kind of saying the exact same thing I'm saying. If you live there, sure you'll eventually want to eat something else. Otherwise, if you want to eat something other than New Orleans food, why are you in New Orleans? Sure you can get New Orleans style food outside of New Orleans, but you can also go to Burger King in Italy. Nobody goes to Italy to eat a fast food burger and nobody goes to New Orleans to eat Mexican. I'm sure Mexican food in New Orleans is great, because damn near everything you eat in New Orleans is great, but it's the only American city that has its own cuisine that isn't just their version of something you can get everywhere else. There is New York style pizza, but there is also Chicago style, Detroit style, New Haven style, etc. Same with hot dogs, barbecue, fried chicken. All the other cities are playing with the same pieces, but New Orleans has their own game that they play differently than everyone else.
The Green Meanie Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 21 minutes ago, supremebve said: I meant the former not the latter. That's tougher, then. The only one that comes to mind at the moment is the kolache.
Technico Support Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 Popeye's reading this thread like "what he say fuck me for?" 2
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 3 minutes ago, Technico Support said: Popeye's reading this thread like "what he say fuck me for?" As someone who loves Popeyes (sorry Craig), I am sorry they had to catch that stray. 2
Zimbra Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 If we're keeping it a buck Popeye's has been coasting on their reputation for a while. Their chicken is nowhere near as good as it used to be. 3
Cobra Commander Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 Popeye's trimming their sides down to the point where you're just like "yeah, give me fries" because they don't do their best sides anymore
WebConn89 Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 Popeyes also got rid of Hawaiian Punch out of nowhere
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 12 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said: Popeye's trimming their sides down to the point where you're just like "yeah, give me fries" because they don't do their best sides anymore 12 minutes ago, WebConn89 said: Popeyes also got rid of Hawaiian Punch out of nowhere One of the craziest things I've seen in my lifetime is a few years ago a video came out of some possibly deranged older white woman who got literally uranage'd/hit with the Rock Bottom in the parking lot by a teenage Popeyes employee over some disagreement about 79 cent corn. Let me tell you something...if my life gets possibly ended, it won't be over a shitty side from Popeyes. I can tell you that much is true. 2
twiztor Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 (edited) the Popeye's in my town opened like 6(?) years ago. It shut down early this year. poor sales + health code violations. i think i only ate there once (i don't recall, but i'd imagine it was some limited time offering that drew me in). it was fine as far as fast food chicken goes. edit: apparently it is NOT closed for good. it just changed management. but good lord, i just read a few different reviews and the service sounds abysmal. It is ranked as the 19th best "quick bites" food option in town. Out of 19. and despite the fact that they have a full restaurant, they offer only drive-thru service. and the hours listed at the location are different than what's listed online. and neither of them matches their actual hours, per multiple reviews. i just tried calling. no response. it's 3pm. Edited May 23, 2025 by twiztor
SirSmUgly Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 16 minutes ago, twiztor said: the Popeye's in my town opened like 6(?) years ago. It shut down early this year. poor sales + health code violations. i think i only ate there once (i don't recall, but i'd imagine it was some limited time offering that drew me in). it was fine as far as fast food chicken goes. edit: apparently it is NOT closed for good. it just changed management. but good lord, i just read a few different reviews and the service sounds abysmal. It is ranked as the 19th best "quick bites" food option in town. Out of 19. and despite the fact that they have a full restaurant, they offer only drive-thru service. and the hours listed at the location are different than what's listed online. and neither of them matches their actual hours, per multiple reviews. i just tried calling. no response. it's 3pm. So it's a typical Popeyes, then. 5
Cobra Commander Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 there was a time with Popeyes/Church's under the same company where I heard the theory that the poorer areas got Church's locations instead of Popeyes
The Green Meanie Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 (edited) I had to explain to my wife why you're in bad part of town if you ever see a closed down Church's. Edited May 23, 2025 by The Green Meanie 1 4
J.H. Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 (edited) I remember when there was 1 Popeye's in midtown Manhattan, a few blocks from MSG. This was when they were still using Popeye as their mascot and using him in their advertising. I went there before a WWF show and thought it was... okish. I remember my cohort Eric Ransey muttering "I told you we shoulda gone to Tad's!" Man, having typed that now I really wish Tad's was still around. The usual MSG ritual for WWF shows was usually Beefsteak Charlie's for a cheap steak and potato along with unlimited salad and shrimp bar. Sadly, Eric and I were too young to partake of Chatlie's bottomless beer, wine or sangria offer. James Edited May 23, 2025 by J.H. 1
RazorbladeKiss87 Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 2 hours ago, supremebve said: . Honorable Mention: Cleveland. Seriously, it's like a mini-Chicago but their "fine dining" is just some random dude with a beard trying shit with some shit they found at some farm 10 minutes outside of the city. It's like they all wake up in the morning go to the farmer's market and decide to make a corn dog with some corn that was picked 8 minutes before it went into the fryer. Just the weirdest possible dudes making the best version of food you haven't even thought about eating after you graduated from high-school. Very happy to see this. I love going up to Cleveland and just trying someplace new. Hot Sauce Williams was one of my favorite spots but it's closed now, sadly. 1
RazorbladeKiss87 Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 52 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said: One of the craziest things I've seen in my lifetime is a few years ago a video came out of some possibly deranged older white woman who got literally uranage'd/hit with the Rock Bottom in the parking lot by a teenage Popeyes employee over some disagreement about 79 cent corn. Let me tell you something...if my life gets possibly ended, it won't be over a shitty side from Popeyes. I can tell you that much is true. At least get wasted over a Church's biscuit. 2
supremebve Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 8 minutes ago, twiztor said: it was fine as far as fast food chicken goes. The biggest indicator of the downfall of American society is how few non-corporate fried chicken restaurants exist these days. 54 minutes ago, RazorbladeKiss87 said: Very happy to see this. I love going up to Cleveland and just trying someplace new. Hot Sauce Williams was one of my favorite spots but it's closed now, sadly. I really feel like Cleveland decided, "fuck everyone who doesn't like us, we're just going to do dope shit for ourselves," about 10-15 years ago. It's a city that is hated by people who've never been, but generally liked by everyone who spends a weekend there. If you compare it to New York or Chigago it's not as nice, but you can have a great weekend in Cleveland...in the Summer. 4
Technico Support Posted May 23, 2025 Posted May 23, 2025 2 hours ago, Elsalvajeloco said: As someone who loves Popeyes (sorry Craig), I am sorry they had to catch that stray. As someone who loves Popeye’s, I feel like I should probably get to New Orleans sometime. Also, I’m still kind of pissed Popeye’s stopped selling chicken nuggets, because they were really good.
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