Nothing makes me happier than being able to knock a restaurant off of my foodie bucket list, especially when the restaurant is in another city. As soon as plans for Comp Camp Houston were finalized, I knew that there was no way I could leave without making a stop at Peli Peli Kitchen or Peli Peli. 

I guarantee you that if you ask 5 Houstonians for there top three restaurants in Houston, Peli Peli will come up. I've read numerous reviews, watched TV segments, and have heard so many great things about the restaurant that it's iconic. I've visited Houston multiple times in the past, but I've never had the time to eat at the restaurant. My interest grew after watching an episode of Restaurant Startup when Peli Peli partners Thomas Nguyen, Mike Tran, and Chef Paul Friedman pitched a new concept for Peli Peli Kitchen. 

Seriously, the concept of fast casual southern comfort food featuring South African flavors is pure genius. I was stoked when me and a few of my fellow foodie friends visited the restaurant after Comp Camp. 

I was impressed from the moment I stepped through the door. The restaurant's artwork is incredible. It's so dope that I couldn't think of a neat post, so I just tried to look cool by looking down down at my phone. 

The menu is easy to navigate and is straightforward. You work your way down the serving line and choose between plates (including sides), tacos, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.

I'm going to keep the rest of this review short and sweet. As a Content Creator, I have the opportunity to visit lots of restaurants which is a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that I love to eat, the bad thing is that it's made me a food snob. It takes a lot to impress me, and I've become a lot more critical when it comes to food. However, everything I tried at Peli Peli Kitchen, literally knocked my socks off. From the truffle fries, macaroni and cheese, even down to the freshly baked naan. No exaggeration, I had one of the best meals in my 31 years of existence at this restaurant. 

I tried a few dishes and I have a couple favorites. Here's a few recommendations for a first-timer:

Entree Recommendations

• Braised Oxtail- incredibly tender, juicy, flavorful, and nothing short of amazing!

• Curried Chicken- the best curry chicken I've ever had. I even placed a second order to-go!

• Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich- great choice if you're in the mood for a sandwich

• Spicy Fried Chicken- you can never go wrong with fried chicken and it's perfectly crispy and well seasoned.

• Curried Fried Tofu- if you're into tofu then this is for you!

All About The Sides

I loved all of the sides, I tried but here are the three that you can't leave the restaurant without ordering. Scratch that, I can't even choose three. I'lll admit that the top two favorites from my group were the truffle fries (we ordered a second batch) and the mac and cheese. In no particular order:

• Truffle Fries

• Mac & Cheese

• Candied Sweet Potatoes

• South African Yellow Rice

• Collard greens

My friends and I loved the truffle fries so much that we ordered a second batch! Also naan technically isn't a side, but we couldn't stop eating it. I will definitely order the naan tacos when I come back. 

Don't forget to order some dessert before you leave. The Sticky Toffee cupcake is a must-eat!

I plan on visiting Houston again in the Spring and you better believe that I'm making a beeline for Peli Peli Kitchen. I also plan on trying  Peli Peli so I can compare the two. Special thanks to my Houston foodie friend Maricel from Food Clique for setting everything up and to Peli Peli Kitchen for hosting my group!