For those who do not know, Cork (a wine bar) has opened in the place of the old Cimarron in the Times Square shopping center. I went to Cork the other Sunday for brunch and it was amazing. I had a hard time deciding between chicken and waffles or the eggs benedict but chose the latter and it was delish. It had salmon and caviar on it and I subbed the hashbrowns? for sweet potato fries, nom nom nom. It all went perfect with a mimosa and some great friends to catch up with. I can’t vouch for their wine or sushi but their Sunday brunch was great!
Cork Food & Drink
5201 S Broadway Ave
Ste 162
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 363-9197
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any points for inexperienced blog writers? I’d really appreciate it.Painting in Houston: Residential Painting, 8834 Andante Dr., Houston, TX 77040 – (281) 944-5450
Tyler offers its residents no shortage of restaurants, yet one type of cuisine reigns supreme. Not surprisingly, it’s Mexican. From holes in the wall like El Lugar to major chains like On the Border, Tyler has definitely got you covered when a craving for an enchilada strikes. Despite the plethora of options available to the Tex-Mex enthusiast, it seems everyone has an opinion when asked who serves the best Mexican in town. Mercado’s? Don Juan’s? Chuy’s? The answer to me however is clear, to get the best Mexican in town, go no farther than Gilbert’s El Charro.
El Charro has been serving Tylerites their favorites, including Tony’s Tacos, the Summer Plate, fabulous house margaritas and perfect chips and salsa for decades. The original location, located on Erwin, is the place to see and be seen on Friday nights despite the worn interior and sparsely decorated dining room. Their second location, on 5th and the Loop is much less bare-bones, but the food here never seems to taste as good to me as the original.
Gilbert’s El Charro #1
2604 E. Erwin Street
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 592-9084
Gilbert’s El Charro #2
2623 E. 5th Street
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 596-7222
We go to the old one on Erwin. I always get the Summer Plate. It is delicious as ever but the toppings on the tortillas are smaller now. They are magical with refried beans.
Their Margaritas are fantastic. I sometimes buy a pint of their picante sauce for $3 and bring it home!
The music is too loud as always.
All the Wasabi fans out there will be very excited about the newest addition to their Asian cuisine serving restaurant family, Soju. Walking into Soju is very similar to walking in Wasabi, same look and feel, even some of the same employees. The food is just as good as at Wasabi, and the prices are comparable.
Soju serves a broad selection of sushi rolls, specialty rolls and sashimi in addition to their entrees and noodle bowls. Â Like Wasabi, Soju offers a nice variety of unique specialty drinks, extending way beyond the usual selections. Soju also has live music (Dustin Becker) on the weekends.
Located at the corner of Grande and Old Jacksonville, Soju occupies the location once home to Kung Pao before they closed their doors just months after opening. I have a pretty good feeling that Soju will enjoy much more success than the previous restaurant based on the positive buzz they are already generating.
Soju Sushi Bar & Asian Bistro
6361 Old Jacksonville Hwy
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 939-1100
Tyler has finally, finally gotten its first Greek restaurant! Greek is one of my all-time favorite cuisines, so to learn that a good Greek place has opened up in my hometown is music to my ears, and to my tastebuds! What About Kabob is located on the corner of Loop 323 and Kinsey Drive in that sparsely occupied strip center that’s been home to many unsuccessful business over the years. Here’s to hoping that What About Kabob’s receives much more success after the raving reviews I’ve heard from fellow Tylerites who’ve dined there. Word on the street is that their Gyro Nachos are to die for (be sure to stop in for Nacho Wednesday!), and their Original Gyros are large and tasty enough to feed even the hungriest of appetites. I could survive for months on pita chips and hummus alone, and I hear their homemade pita chips are fabulous.
What About Kabob seems to have a great thing going… Tasty food, attentive and friendly staff, and a clean and tidy dining room with cool decor. I’ve heard not one bad thing about this place. Now the only question is – who’s available to meet me for lunch???
What About Kabob & His Gyros
713 WSW Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 581-7971
Haven’t been to El Charro’s in so long! I’ll have to visit soon… My fave Mexican food restaurant is definitely La Plazitas… Thanks for posting…I enjoy your blog. ~Stephanie
Waited anxiously for this place to open and circled like a vulture for days before its Grand Opening. Was well worth the wait. Not traditional Greek by any means but very delicious. The staff are super nice people and the food is very good. I hope they expand the menu and do very well. We definitely don’t need anymore chain restaurants in Tyler and don’t need any more bad burger or Tex/Mex joints either. Mom and Pop places rule!
While Tyler was definitely not hurting for another Mexican restaurant, that has not stopped Tylerites from flocking to the brand new Chuy’s on South Broadway. Parking spots are scarce and waiting lists are long, but the food is worth the wait if you’re willing to put up with the crowd.
I’ve always been a believer that, for the most part, restaurant style Mexican food is pretty much the same anywhere you go. An enchilada is an enchilada, fajitas are fajitas and a quesadilla is a quesadilla. Therefore, the biggest opportunity Mexican chains have to set themselves apart from the competition is their chips, salsa and margaritas. Chuy’s obviously understands where I am coming from because their chips and salsa do not disappoint. They make their salsa fresca fresh every hour, and their chips are always crispy with just the right amount of saltiness. And there’s the creamy jalapeno sauce aka crack dip. It tastes like ranch on steroids. Of course, I also have to mention their complimentary queso, beans, and taco meat station every happy hour… Can’t beat that! I do think Chuy’s house margaritas leave something to be desired (there seems to be a funny, artificial lime flavor that I don’t care for in their mix) but the mojitos are so awesome they almost make up for the margaritas.
The food is pretty good, too. The chicka-chicka boom-boom enchiladas have been the best thing I’ve ordered so far, with the appetizer platter coming in second. If you haven’t been to Chuy’s yet (which can’t be very many of you), you definitely should give it a shot. I’d recommend waiting until an off hour if you want to park remotely close and not wait an hour for a table, but all the hype is well deserved. I give Chuy’s dos thumbs up!
LOVE IT!! I have been to the original one in Austin and it is still the same. Love the queso! The best I have ever had! big plates of food for a very reasonable price. I send guests at my hotel there all the time and all I ever hear are praises!! Great job Chuy’s on adding a location in East Texas that I can enjoy on a regular basis!
I was already impressed with Brookshire’s before the opening of Fresh. The Tyler, Texas based grocery company not only stocks an impressive range of grocery products but also actively engages in service to their community and is one of the largest employers in East Texas. And while sometimes their slightly higher than average prices can be a bit of a turnoff, I’d still choose Brookshire’s over the competition any day of the week.
This Spring, Brookshire’s opened their new concept store, Fresh. Fresh is to Tyler what Whole Foods is to the larger cities out there, only Fresh is owned by East Texas’ own Brookshire’s. Fresh offers tons of fresh and unique produce, specialty cheeses, flavorful prepared foods, beautiful fresh flowers, a bakery, cooking demonstrations, a taco stand, deli, and a gelato station (plus much, MUCH more). You can even purchase a glass of wine or bottle of beer to enjoy either while shopping or while listening to live music on the patio. I love to read food blogs, and many of the specialty items I’ve read about were nowhere to be found in Tyler, even at my beloved Drug Emporium. Now I can just run over to Fresh and pick up anything I could ever dream of, including Fresh’s own homemade tortillas and freshly popped rice cakes.
Though Fresh is under the Brookshire’s umbrella, they do not participate in the Thank You Card program, and discounts and good deals can be hard to find. That being said, if a can of black beans costs 20 cents more at Fresh I’ll still happily pay it because to me, the experience justifies the higher prices. While some from larger cities may complain that Fresh still pales in comparison to Whole Foods… I’m from Tyler and I think Fresh is pretty darn cool.
hours: Sun – Sat 6am-10pm
FRESH by Brookshire’s
6991 Old Jacksonville Hwy
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 747-3503
It is great to have an option such as Fresh in Tyler. I have been there many times and have enjoyed each visit. I guess I will get over the fact that they do not bring your groceries out to your car. I was a little surprised by that at first, being under the “Brookshires” umbrella. I was also a little disappointed (as was my son) when I took my four year old son to the bakery to get the free cookie that he looks forward to when we go to Brookshires. I guess it is too much to ask to have a plate of cookies set aside for the kiddos. Anyways, I know these are small things, and in the end they will not keep me from coming to the Fresh store in the future. But, to many, the small things turn something ordinary into something special.
Richard, I totally felt the same about the lack of help to the car! When I went this weekend, there were boys helping customers to their cars…so I think they are staffing that better. I do think there are enough free samples to counter the free cookie treat. The thing that I love is the service. Choosing fresh seafood, they will come around to the front of the counter to look at the selections from the customers point of view and I don’t feel like I am trying to talk over the hum of the store. On almost every aisle I have had customer service reps (freshologists) ask if they could help me find something, and when I am in a rush I fully take advantage of their service. My personal favorite was the “chef grilled” event! I picked out a gorgeous Ahi tuna steak and the chef grilled it up expertly at no additional fee! Lovely! I am so happy we have this shopping experience in Tyler and I’m breaking out the cookbooks ready to spread my foodie wings!
Two visits to Fresh so far…it’s neat to know that Tyler now has something like a Central Market, upscale, different, and very foodie. While I could afford to shop at Fresh, I would never be a regular customer at a place like Fresh or Central Market because of the added cost. The ability to sip wine or drink beer while shopping is amazing, especially in a place like Tyler Texas but I’ve not done that either.
Did anyone ever hear about the hilariosly funny lady from Hollytree (she kept telling everyone she was from Hollytree)and she refused to touch the stylus to complete her purchase because it was filthy dirty and she was from Hollytree. Guess they got her a glove????LOL Rich ladies don’t do their own shopping.
I had the pleasure of attending BJ’s Brewhouse’s pre-opening event for lunch. Despite the limited menu offerings and somewhat confusing ordering instructions they had for today, BJ’s completely lived up to the hype that’s surrounded Tyler’s newest restaurant since they broke ground last year.
Upon arrival we were handed our menus and given instructions to select one entree or one pizza and either an appetizer or a dessert. It appeared as though each table was given a different menu to choose from, and I assume this was to give the staff experience serving and preparing each and every item they offer. The entrees that we had to choose from were the Field of Greens salad, Atlantic Salmon, the Calzone, or the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich. Their full range of specialty pizzas were also available for us to choose from. Since we were instructed to order just one item per menu per table, our table of four ordered one salmon, one salad, one combination pizza, and one Pizookie sundae to finish things off. The Field of Greens salad was my chosen entree, and it was quite delicious. It came with red peppers, candied pecans, mandarin oranges, purple onion, and mixed greens and was tossed in a light dressing. Any of the items would have paired nicely with one of BJ’s specialty brews, but since this was a working lunch I stuck with water. I can’t wait to go back another time and sample their beer selection. The star of the show was the Pizookie cookie sundae topped with vanilla ice cream. It was definitely worth the indulgence and not quite as sinful when shared with three other people.
BJ’s officially opens for business on Monday, February 28 and I anticipate the lines here to be long for awhile. The extensive menu, courteous staff and intriguing yet comfortable atmosphere make BJ’s a welcome addition to Tyler’s restaurant selection.
hours: Sun – Thurs 11am-12am, Fri 11am-1am, Sat 10am-1am
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
210 WSW Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 939-2840
I have eaten here 3 times since it opened, luckily i go by myself as the crowds will be packing this place for a long time, their beer selection is outstanding, not just their own brews but other vendors as well. i have had 2 different burgers, the cuban burger and california burger, both are outstanding. i have sampled all of their beers and havent had a bad one yet. service was great even though they were completely packed. this is just what tyler needs but the lines will be long for a while, i reccomend calling in advance if possible for reservations.
Texas laws have very little to do with it. Alcohol is generally enforced by counties and Tyler only restricts the sale of alcohol not for immediate consumption. Brewing is legal however and infact state laws make it legal to sell packaged alcohol when it is created in the same county, DESPITE county laws. IE KE Cellars. There is nothing outside of financial reasons stopping them from brewing and selling in Tyler. It’s simply not economical for the space required to brew their many types of beer.
IT IS A BREWPUB – BJ’s DOES brew their own beer. Sites that brew ship to the sites that do not “brew-on-site”. The BJ’s beer you are ordering/drinking in Tyler is as fresh as the pints/batches ordered/consumed at other other BJ’s Breweries/Restaurants, such as the one mentioned in Houston. Get over your self and your self-appointed “expertise” re: “BREWPUBS”!
@ Matt,
Beer is not covered by the same law that allows KE Cellers to sell Texas-made wine as a Texas agricultral product (even in dry counties). There was, for fact, a “brewers parity law” in the legislature’s last session that would haev given brewers those same rights/abilities as the wineries. But, it didn’t pass.
The brewers parity law was part of HB 1062. Apparently, it stalled out in committee in 2009.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1062
the food, for the quality, is reasonably priced, i have not had a bad thing there. their pizzas are the best in town, meatloaf (which i never order anywhere) i tried and was better than my mom ever made. it will only be as expensive as you want it to be, entrees range from 9-15 bucks, beers from 3.50-7.50, i have had to keep myself from going there as it was too addictive, tyler needs more places like this, dave and busters….i’m looking at you!!! if you havent been to b.j’s…do yourself a favor and check it out…the bacon cheeseburger pizza is to die for.
This place is an absolute joke. The 2 times that I tried it were a waste of time and money. They weren’t even busy the first time and I couldn’t get a waiter/waitress to even acknowledge our table. When we finally got our food, it was cold. I had some sort of chicken fettucini alfredo crap that was so cold, I stuck my fork in it and picked the entire clump of pasta up… The second time was no different. Not impressed at all. Just another place in Tyler for people to see and be seen. Whoop-dee-freakin’doo….
The food is good. The service however is inconsistent at best. We have yet to be served by the person we were told would be our waiter and have waited for a wait person to even come to our table a first time for as long as 15 minutes on two different occasions. Neither time was a busy time for them; Many many empty tables. We really want to like this place, but the wait staff really needs to get it together. There are too many places to eat in Tyler to have to suffer poor service.
Food was excellent, service was slow. Days later i had a double charge on my debit card. Went there with a friend. I paid with my card, she paid with cash. My debit card was billed for mine and HERS! Notified Chuys immediately and they reimbursed me the next day. Also heard they had 27 health demerits on their first inspection and a kitchen fire last week? What a shame cuz the food is great!
1st trip: food was not cooked as requested. I asked for a Burger, well done and it was medium well – disgusting. My husband ordered a Medium Prime Rib and was served a well done Sirloin.
2nd trip: I ordered the fish & chips which was horribly overcooked and very greasy. My husband ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and left with hives.
Over all: Great atmosphere, Very over priced for very poor food.
My go-to place to shop when I want to find a unique gift for a colleague or friend is Sweet Gourmet. They carry the best specialty food items around, have excellent customer service, and in many instances have made my job much, much easier.
When I needed to provide 10 gift baskets for the Saudi royal family Sweet Gourmet pulled out all the stops and arranged 10 of the most impressive spreads I’ve ever laid eyes on. When President Bush came to town it was a no-brainer to have Sweet Gourmet fix him up with an assortment of Tyler’s finest snacks which I later saw his staff carry to his car. I imagine he enjoyed some Firecrackers on his way to the Cowan Center where he was delivering his speech.
My favorites items to get at Sweet Gourmet are Lammes Longhorns, Texas Firecrackers, D.L. Jardine’s Salsas, and anything Godiva. I would recommend Sweet Gourmet to anyone and will continue to utilize their services as often as I possibly can.
hours: Mon – Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12:30pm-5pm
Sweet Gourmet
4554 South Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX 75703-1305
(903) 534-0840
In my opinion there are few things more chic than a well groomed, short, true red fingernail. However, there are also few things less chic than a tired, chipped manicure that’s obviously a few days past its prime. So, when I heard about the new gel nail manicures they are doing at Serenity Nail Salon in the Bergfeld shopping center that last days with no chipping I knew I had to try it.
I can’t do the fake nails with the thick acrylic and plastic tips, though their longevity is appealing. So my biggest concern with the gel nails was that they would seem too artificial, like the acrylic nails to do me. Well, this is not the case at all… The gel nails look just like regular, super shiny nail polish, and Serenity has a huge range of colors to chose from. The gel is painted on like regular polish then dries almost instantly so there’s no risk of smudging. I got mine done for the first time two weeks ago, and though the polish has grown away from the cuticle and the color has dulled a bit, there is still no chipping at all. I can’t wait to get a fresh set this weekend. All I need to decide now is what color to get!
Serenity Nail & Spa
120 E 9th St
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 593-5866
I go to this Salon and use Tina and I love them!!! I also like the pedicure chairs that they have for little kids. Great Salon
I have spent two years trying to build my nails back after using the acrilic nails for years…so long I had no nails left! My nails had hardened fairly well except one that continued to split. I tried the gels for 6 weeks. They look nice, kept that one from splitting, but my nail beds are back where they were and the nails themselves are all weak again. I won’t use the long term…maybe for a special occasion.
I just had my first gel manicure and I LOVE how it feels and looks. I have very ugly, hard-working hands and this is a definite improvement! They feel so strong and not at all fake or thick. Love how shiny they are! I had Lynn and she was pleasant and nice.
Regular color $25
French manicure $35
It’s my first time, so I don’t know, but in just an afternoon, I can tell they are DURABLE! The other people getting re-do’s today while I was there said it had been 3 weeks. They can come off any time you decide to have them removed without damaging your nails.
Thank you. I will have to try them. I just do not want to go back to having nails put in … they just ruin your natural nails.
I tried a product called Shellac… its a form of gel-paint…. it works wonders! It looks just like polish, dries instantly under the lights in just a minute and comes off anytime… I bet it is the same thing.
I got it in S’Port… at a salon there… but when I searched for it here no one was doing it.
I was getting married a month ago so I went to Serenity for the 1st time for a pedi & set of nails. Was talked into gel-knew nothing about them. LOVED them! Mine lasted almost 5 wks!!! I do not care for the French tip, which I got, so this last time I requested Tina (based on a referral here) and told her I’d like the tip/base to be more natural looking. She hooked me up w/color #4 and it is beautiful. I wore acrylic nails for years and this is the best thing ever!! Tina was FANTASTIC! I am sooo excited to have found someone who is creative, willing to try something different & she is very thorough & did a wonderful job. I couldn’t be happier with these nails & Tina. I wasn’t impressed the 1st time I went here but after reading all the reviews I decided to try it again. I’m so very glad I did!
Hey how long does the gelnail last from this place I am in search of some place in tyler that has Gelnails that LAST.
I haven’t been to SERENITY YET…I have an appointment on FRI. I LOVE the GEL/SHILLAC on my natural nails. I was blessed with extremely STRONG NAILS that grow super fast!
I, however, like to keep them really SHORT! The GEL/SHILLAC ROCKS!!! I LOVE IT! IF YOU HAVE THEM DONE & THEN NEXT TIME YOU JUST WANT YOUR REGULAR NAILS DONE…YOU CAN DO IT & YOUR NAILS ARE NEVER RUINED LIKE WITH ACRYLICS.
ALSO, JUST FYI, THEIR PRICES ARE STELLAR. I have been to 2 other Salons(I WON’T NAME NAMES BUT I WILL SAY THEY’RE CLOSE TO THE MALL). I’m from Dallas so I’ve been going where my GodMama had told me to down here. Now we’re gonna start going to Serenity Nails & I’m super excited! CANNOT hardly wait for my appt. in a few hours. Wish me Luck…
Cheers to all…
I have used this salon for a long time and usually very happy. Today I took a friend of mine from Florida in with me … we both got pedis and she got a set of nails the girl doing her nails did not know what she was doing had to keep asking for help at least that is what we gathered since she was NOT speaking in English. I do plan on calling Cassie tomorrow to complain if she is going to hire new people they should be better/properly trained. Her nails where not done correctly and I tried to get her to go back and have them re-done.
Unwrap the Magic
The Junior League of Tyler’s annual Mistletoe & Magic holiday fundraiser brings holiday cheer, unique shopping, and the spirit of community service to Tyler each November, and this year’s event was no exception.
The event takes place at Harvey Hall which completely transforms into a holiday themed shopping wonderland.  Anyone familiar with Harvey Hall knows what a challenge it can be to make the venue look decent, much less good, but during Mistletoe & Magic the event is undeniably and unexpectedly beautiful.  Obviously, this is no easy task and the credit goes to the many Junior League members who donate their time and money to the cause, putting hundreds of hours into the half-week long event, making sure no detail is overlooked.
Each year Mistletoe & Magic begins with the Preview Party, where admission gets you access to view the vendors’ merchandise before doors open to the public, along with unlimited food, drinks, and front row seats to some of the best people watching Tyler has to offer. After the Preview Party, it’s open range and every man (or woman) for himself as people scramble to purchase everything from jewelry to toffee to home decor to childrens’ toys.  I like to think of Mistletoe & Magic as high-end Canton. Amidst all the shopping, there was a fashion show, pajama party breakfast, and a raffle drawing for a Rolex watch and a Volkswagen Bug.
Mistletoe & Magic 2010 is over and done, but I am already looking forward to next year. The event truly is one of Tyler’s finest, put on by amazing people for a wonderful cause. I better see everyone there come M&M 2011!
Harvey Convention Center
2000 West Front Street
Tyler, TX 75702-6854
(903) 531-1349
My friend, Emily Mariani, fitness guru, personal trainer, unrelenting boot camp drill sergeant, and on top of all the she’s even a yoga instructor, recently turned me on to the wonderful world of yoga and the improvements in my mind, body, and entire outlook have been dramatic. Since she began teaching me yoga I have hardly missed a class, and have found the practice to be a perfect compliment to my fitness routine.
The yoga studio Emily teaches at is Windhorse which is located on 9th St. behind Steinmart. It is the quintessential yoga studio, complete with zen, soothing colors, flowing curtains, statues of figurines in yoga poses I will likely never achieve, and yoga mood lighting including recessed, track, candles, and a few cute, quirky lamps.
Windhorse offers a full schedule of classes for all different levels, from beginners to hard core yogis. I attend the sunrise yoga which I have found to be the perfect way to start my day. However there are afternoon, evening, and weekend classes available. The full schedule is available on their website at www.windhorseyogastudio.com. Anyone considering getting into yoga or any experienced yogis out there looking for a new class or change of venue, I urge you too try out Windhorse. You will not regret it!
Windhorse Yoga Studio
208 West 9th Street
Tyler, TX 75701-4100
(903) 592-9642
I have practiced off and on at Windhorse for three years now and I can’t say enough good things about it! Love the review; I haven’t gone lately due to my schedule. My new goal is to make it to yoga twice a week and drink green tea daily. All the instructors are quite good and the feeling I have when finished is indescribable. Namaste.
Smashburger’s newest location on South Broadway in Tyler next to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel has confirmed an opening date of December 15th!  The new restaurant will be the first in it’s building to open, soon to be followed by a new Wingstop and Subway.
The most recently confirmed tenant is TCBY Yogurt shop which is expected to open it’s doors early 2011. The TCBY brand has been working hard to revamp their image, and my understanding is that we can expect a cool, modern, self-serve, atmosphere with the same great tasting, high quality frozen yogurt TCBY is known for, but hopefully with more flavor and topping options.  I can’t wait to see how this exciting new project unfolds!
At one time there were TCBY’s in Longview, Tyler, and Gladewater. One by one they closed and I was left wanting. This is seriously good news to me! Call me old school, I just like the classic vanilla in a waffle cone.
Stepping in to Julian’s in the Time Square shopping center is like stepping out of Tyler and into a hip, big-city bistro. The eatery’s new owners pulled out the big guns to maximize not only the limited square footage, but they infinitely up’d the cool factor by utilizing cutting edge, modern furniture, eye catching art, and anything but traditional LCD projected wall displays.
The cocktail menu offers a great selection of specialty cocktails, wine, and beer, and the dinner menu features Julian’s favorites like the Spicy Chicken and the Cune Special. One thing I would love to see at Julian’s is more seafood! Some rotating dinner specials featuring fresh seafood would push Julian’s up to one of my top-Tyler restaurant picks instead of top pick for pre or post dinner drinks like it is now.
If for no other reason than to ogle the fantastic decor, Julian’s is a must for anyone in the mood for good food, great drinks, and awesome atmosphere.
Julian’s Asian Diner
5201 S Broadway Ave # 122
Tyler, TX 75703-3769
(903) 509-8833
This place is always amazing! If you go on the ready.destroy live dj night, then you are sure to have the time of your life. Eatery wise, you will not be disappointed with the combination fried rice by no means! The regular portion is a full meal and it will be the best fried rice that will ever touch your tongue!
I don’t really know what Amber is talking about with the health code violations. That must have been before new ownership took over in 2009 because since then we have scored a perfect 100 on every health inspection we’ve gotten which is verifiable.
I bar tend five nights a week, love my job and appreciate all the positive feedback from this site. It is my pleasure serving Tylerites great martinis, beer and wine. Hope to see y’all soon!
I went to Julian’s about 6 months ago.. while eating our food a large roach crawled up the wall right by us. when i informed the wait staff they looked at the roach like it was no big deal and then never came back to our table, like we were wrong by pointing out the roach. will never go again and I rely this story everytime some sugest going to Julian’s
When I heard the announcement on the radio that the Kung Pao Asian Bistro restaurant on Old Jacksonville was open for business I didn’t hesitate to try it and ate lunch there that day. I pulled up to the restaurant just after noon and was a bit surprised to see there was no crowd to speak of despite Tyler’s love affair with new restaurants. Chalking it up to a lackluster advertising effort, I proceeded inside to see the goods.
The dining room is spacious and modern. You order in the back, take a seat, then the waitstaff delivers your food when it’s ready. Kung Pao serves a variety of Asian dishes from Thai noodle bowls to Korean spare ribs. I ordered the Basa bowl with steamed rice and my sister ordered the Kung Pao fried rice with chicken. I visited in the middle of a work day, but I mentally noted the stocked beer refrigerators for next time.
Our food arrived quickly and was steaming hot as the server set it on the table. My fish was good though much heavier than I expected as it was fried. I would have known this though had a read the menu instead of just glancing over the order board which lists titles only, no descriptions. The fried rice was a good, safe choice, nothing out of the ordinary, but good nonetheless.
The best thing about Kung Pao is the delivery service. Tyler restauranteurs… Follow their lead! Tylerites like delivery! Overall, Kung Pao is a good choice for a quick, hot lunch. Want it ever more quickly? Have it delivered!
Kung Pao Asian Diner
6163 Old Jacksonville Hwy
Tyler, TX 75703
903-939-1100
Went in to get a to-go order. No one would wait on me so I left. Customer Service?
Susan, I think it just opened a couple of weeks ago. We ate there a few days ago and it was really good. The Sesame Chicken was the best we’ve ever eaten anywhere. Had the Egg Drop Soup and it was as expected. Quick service, but the girl that took our order had no knowledge of the menu items. The servers were very friendly. Clean place, nice atmosphere.
The staff are all well-meaning kids that i think are just learning their way around the service industry. they are very nice! the food was amazing when we went! my husband got the pad thai and he loved it, although he likes it better at julian’s…i got the sesame chicken which is freshly made, the sauce is so tasty, broccoli is fresh, and the rice is perfect!! i highly recommend this place!!
Always ready for a new Tyler restaurant, my wife and I made a beeline to Kung Pao one Sunday for lunch. This is a nice, new, loud restaurant with the makings of a great place to eat. The staff were anxious to help but new to the restaurant business with little knowledge of the dishes or food service. This will change with time. Both the appetizer and main dishes were served at the same time. No time to savor the appetizer before tackling the main course. We ordered the Kung Pao lettuce wraps and really enjoyed the appetizer. The Mu Shu dish was very good but the “pancakes” were tortillas. This made the dish heavier than expected and did distract from the flavor. I had the Vietnamese Noodle Soup. It was served with a small portion of bean sprouts, lime, basil and jalepenos, could have used a bit more. The thai hot sauce was on every table but the server did not know what hoisin sauce was. He did bring a very small portion after several trips to the cooking area. I found it easier to get another portion myself by asking one of the chefs for more. The soup was fair to good. Not of the quality or flavor of Pho Restaurant on 64 W. Overall Kung Pao was a decent place to eat. Once it gets over the growing pains, I think it will be one of the best in Tyler.
I’ve never been a fan of Asian/Chinese food from a restaurant, but what the heck… I’m trying new things these days. My wife loves Chinese food and I agreed to drive from Jacksonville (36 mi) to check it out. Waitstaff was young and inexperienced but tried hard to please. Noticed a few tiny bottles of wine and some chilled beer. Good! However, Shiner Bock is not an imported beer… it’s brewed in Texas!Ordering from the menu was not very intuitive for me, but like I said, I’m not a frequent Asian/Chinese food eater. I followed my wife’s lead in ordering (Kung Pao Chicken is her favorite) and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent! Went back 2 weeks later on a Monday. Dang! Closed! (I should have noticed their hours posted on the door.) I was in Tyler this morning and piddled around town unti 11 am waiting for them to open. Got 2 orders of Kung Pao Chicken to take back to Jacksonville. Guess what’s for dinner tonight???
BEWARE of added tips on check that you do not authorized!! We visited the Asian Diner around 6pm on Friday night and it was very busy. Being the first time there, we felt pressured to hurry and order thru the menu on the wall and at the cash register. Very young workers! I paid, took our number, went to the table and waited. The main meal came quickly but before the appetizers. You need to get your own drinks, silverware, etc and this was okay for us. The food was very good. When we got home I noticed on my Online Banking Acct. that someone had added a 20% tip to the check. I did not/do not add a tip on the check, but when I have good service, I leave cash on the table. WHO was I giving a TOP tip to??? This UPSET me MUCH!! I called around 7:30pm to speak w/a manager and was told there was not one there, but she would take a message and have him return my call. She said it would be Sat. @5pm before he would be there, so I will await to see if he does, if not, then I WILL call back! From now on, I will NEVER leave the space empty when a tip can be placed at the REGISTER!! WHY would anyone feel they can add whatever amount they would like …yes, VERY young workers!! …and ones who think they can!!
My husband and I ordered an early dinner yesterday and had it delivered. The food was excellent and the delivery guy was very thorough, making sure we got everything we ordered. The hot sour soup was very good and the lettuce wraps were delicious!!! we will be frequenting this new restaraunt!!!
Heard about this place and looked up the menu etc. here on Tylerites. I was excited to have anything that delivers here in Tyler! I phoned in and was put on hold while they figured out if my home in the Azalea district was too far for delivery or not. When the girl got back on the line she took my order and I was placed on hold 2 more times while she asked questions about the menu (I asked about a smaller or side portion availability on one dish and requested certain things be left out of the others) she read my order back, gave me my total and I told her that I would be paying with $40 so to please bring change. They did not take my number. I called back about 10 minutes later and asked to leave my number because we might not hear the door knock. I was told that the driver had already left with my order, so I decided to sit in the front room and wait on him.
The driver arrived shortly afterwards and gave a knock that some of the smallest trick-or-treaters could do louder.
I open the front door and this young man stood there looking at me dumbfounded while holding the order towards me. I had said “Hi” and not only did he not say A SINGLE WORD until I gave him the two $20′s and he started to walk away…and I said “excuse me!” and then he asked if I needed change. The total was $26.00…including a $2 delivery fee. I told him yes I did and proceeded to follow him out to his vehicle while he tried to find change….which he did not have (despite asking for them to have change when I made the order)
I then took the $40 out of his hand as he was saying he didn’t have change and seriously looking like he was about to jump in the car and leave and then wrote a check for the exact amount.
This young man then has the audacity to ask me where his tip was! I told him there was a delivery fee included and that I did not feel as if a tip was required especially when the service was so poor. Then he told me that they don’t take checks and I told him that his manager could call me if he had a problem with it. He left and I called the restaurant asking if they took checks and they said that they do.
The food is mediocre at best…not worth the poor service quality. I read each of the above reviews/comments before ordering and was therefore expecting some poor service…I was hoping it would not translate to delivery and that the “inexperienced but eager and willing to please” part of it would prove true. I also read about the blank credit card slip filling in and that was why I had decided to pay with cash and ask that they bring change.
There are obviously some major red flags for a restaurant so new to have…they will need to fix these issues if they expect to make it.
I went their last saturday evening with my wife and son, when i walked in I was pleasantly surprised when i saw that they had made their menu bigger, and with descriptions of everthing right their for you to read. I walked up to the counter and a tall young man said his name was Brad or Brandon approached us and asked if we needed any help with our decision and we asked him if they had anything for kids? He said yes, they had done a little bit of work with their menu by adding a couple of things for children, as well a few sides that weren’t their when they first opened. I ordered the Mandarin way steak and it was fantastic, my wife ordered the lo mein and we were both surprised with the amount she got, i mean it was a huge bowl! My son wound up getting the mini corn dogs off the menu and of course he was satisfied. Overall it was a very good second experience and will be going back very soon!!
I went with my two kids and asked the young employee for their kids meal and he said I don’t know…. I gave him a blank expression and he asked are you ready to order??? I left and went to chicken express. My husband ate there without me since I didn’t want to return and he wasn’t pleased with the food and thought it was very overpriced.
well we went there nite and i donnt see how people that wrk there have a job they had so many people wrkin behind the cash reg it dont take that many people to wrk and some of them they looked older and they mite have a family to support so i thought i would just put that on here to try an help but the food was good
well we went there and eat for the first time and what do u know everything i heard bad was true i ordered the egg rolls and they where still cold in the middle and i found hair in my fried rice and the serves was bad too so we wont becoming back they mine as well shut there doors down i have alot of people that work for me and they sai that they wont be coming there
I finally decided to go into Kung Pao yesterday for the first time. As i approached rick or ricky came up to me and asked me if i needed help with the menu. I told him i didnt know anything about it. He calmly explained the menu from the lunch specials to the last thing on the menu. It wasnt hard making a decision at all with his help. Ordering was easy the food was quick and good. Very good portions also. I was so pleased with this young man that i even offered him a job at my restaurant. But all goes to show that the employees represent the restaurant and this young man sure did a heck of a job! will definitely be coming for more!
The problem with the service is the female manager. I heard her scolding a trainee for not doing an order right. When he explained he just started she told him “it’s not MY job to teach you how to do yours”, and walked away. Actually, isn’t it her job? I think hiring young people is a good idea & gives them the opportunity to earn some money. This restaurant will never have good service as long as the manager is so terrible.
Visited a couple of time…never actually sat down…just got it to go. Was very excited when they offered delivery…not! I live in the Cascades a mere 5 miles and they won’t deliver. You can’t call ahead to order….you have to place your order there….the food is not near as good as Wasabi’s even though its the same owners…I wish them the best but if you offer delivery…go more than 5 miles.
The worst restaurant I have eaten at in Tyler ! Very poor customer service and food was less than average quality. They have deleted items from thier original menu, but haven’t taken the time to update the written menues or the menu on the wall. Of course I initially asked for an item they no longer served. Has the atmosphere of a cafeteria and the accoustics are terrible. Not many people there when I went, but very, very noisy. I won’t be going back and recommend you don’t waste your time.
I would like to know where the good Asian food is besides Wasabi in Tyler then? I’ve eaten there about 6 times or so lunch and dinner and never had any customer service problems or problems with the food. I’ve ordered about 5 different dishes and all were excellent and fresh. Didn’t really think anything was overpriced. If you’re looking for an all you can eat buffet for $5.99 this isn’t the restaraunt for you.
Well, if you haven’t tried them…too late. They are already closed (if that tells you anything) and are planning to reopen with a different identity. From the sign they will be a sushi/Asian Bistro. It does not help them that they are hidden behind Chicken Express and Jucy’s with no roadside signage.
What a week I’ve had! Shaping up at Emily’s Baby Bootcamp, winding down with some amazing yoga at Windhorse, a fantastic dinner of fresh off the hook seared tuna at Bernard’s, spending time with Saudi Arabian royalty, meeting PRESIDENT BUSH (very nice guy!), and last but not least, attending an intimate, VIP acoustic performance by John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting hosted by the wonderful people at Townsquare media and Mix 93.1, my favorite radio station.  The people who say there’s nothing to do in Tyler need to hang out with me for a few days!
Mix 93.1 KTYL
3810 Brookside Dr.
Tyler, TX, 75701
(903) 581-0606
Jimmy John’s sandwich shop opened for business!  Jimmy John’s serves a variety of traditional and specialty sandwiches on deliciously soft, chewy, crave-worthy homemade French bread or thick sliced 7 grain wheat. My favorite (well, and the only one of their sandwiches I have ever actually had) is the veggie sandwich which they load with provolone cheese, avocado spread, sprouts, tomato, cucumber and mayo.  I am not a vegetarian, but this sandwich leaves nothing to be desired in the protein department.
Despite my love for the Vegetarian sub, I think next time I visit I am going to try something different. The Jimmy John’s B.L.T. sounds pretty good as does the Beach Club which appears to be about the same as the Vegetarian only with turkey.
Perhaps the best thing about Jimmy John’s is their delivery policy… whether you order one sandwich or one dozen, they will deliver!  Tyler desperately needs more restaurants with such liberal delivery policies as this, so thank you Jimmy John’s for helping to fill that void.
Jimmy John’s is located on Troup Hwy, right next to Smoothie King in the Green Acres shopping center.
Jimmy John’s
1647 Troup Hwy Suite 100
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 617-6878
Marla, they blow Subway out of the water….can you say FRESHNESS! 
If you like Subway, you will LOVE Jimmy John’s!
i used to have them all the time when i lived in chicago, great quality, good prices, and they DELIVER!!! i am so excited about having one in town, goin there for dinner tonight 
Writing a review for JJ is like writing one for Arby’s, Wendy’s, etc… I grew up with these sandwiches in Illinois and prefer them over other fastfood-type sandwiches. I find Jersey Mike’s to be comparable. Sure, it isn’t for everyone but I was well pleased with having a JJ location in Tyler. I typically see them located in urban neighborhoods and was more of a convenient choice for a great lunch but there aren’t many (any) locations in Tyler for that. I think the bread it great and that is why I go. Our favorite was to pick up a loaf of day old bread on the way home.
You need to add Skyline Cafe to this web site. They have the best Ruben, burgers and sandwiches that you will ever eat PLUS they are located under the air traffic control tower at the old airport terminal. They do a great job, have a 100% from the health department, superb service and the best view of aviation
Ladies and gentlemen (but especially ladies), get ready to witness greatness at the Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge beginning next Friday, September 24th! The activities begin at 5:00PM and last throughout the weekend as firefighters compete to win one of three coveted spots per category. The first category is made of first time challenge competitors and the second category consists of volunteer firefighters only. The challenge travels around the country each year. For 2010, the event has already made stops in Charleston, Tuscon, and Vail.
The Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge, also known as the SCOTT Firefighter Combat Challenge, has been around for years, the last twelve of which have been televised on ESPN then Versus. Hundreds of fire departments from all over the United States and Canada compete each year at the events’ 25 nation-wide stops. The event continues to generate more and more international attention, and recently has announced plans to add several Challenge tour stops around the globe, including stops in Germany, Chile, and New Zealand.
The purpose of the Firefighters Combat Challenge, aside from the fun of a good physical competition, is to raise public awareness of the physical demands firefighters must be prepared to handle as a part of their day-to-day job duties. The challenge courses are to be completed wearing full fire-fighting gear, including a SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, which I assume has something to do with SCOTT being the main national sponsor for the event, not to mention its namesake. Wearing the full gear and SCOTT masks, the competitors race through an obstackle course which includes chopping, pulling hoses, climbing a five story wall, and even rescuing a 175 pound dummy victim.
This year, the Brookshire’s Firefighter Combat Challenge course will be set up on the south side of the Broadway Square Mall parking lot. There will be fun for the whole family, so come on out and support these competitors. At the Challenge they’ll be racing against the clock to win the competition, but you never know if one day they’ll be racing against the clock to save your life.
Brookshire’s has partnered with several local businesses. We now accept the Brookshire’s Reward card at New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures. They are a great company and we are thrilled to be associated with them and offer savings on our zipline tours. Be sure to go to Brookshire’s website for other area businesses that also accept their card.
Subscribers of the Tyler Morning Telegraph received the new issue of IN Magazine Saturday morning. IN Magazine, a bimonthly lifestyle publication, focuses on the people and events going on all around Tyler.
The magazine has featured articles on style, healthy living, home building and decorating, food, and more. Their latest issue, which hit stands on Saturday, has a piece on the upcoming Tyler Rose marathon and the Rose Festival.
Operating under the same roof as the Tyler Morning Telegraph, IN Magazine has access to the city’s most talented writers and photographers. Think of it as a newspaper but cooler. Maybe the news isn’t quite as relevant as the news reported in the traditional paper, but the traditional paper doesn’t have the big, pretty, glossy photos that IN Magazine has.
You should definitely read IN Magazine if you do not already. It can be found at racks all over Tyler. I hear the new issue features a blurb on food bloggers… I am definitely looking forward to reading that!
It’s not unusual for us to make a last minute trip down the road to Unk’s Shrimp Shack when nobody feels like cooking.
Unk’s Shrimp Shack is, obviously, a seafood restaurant. Family owned and operated, the restaurant has been serving area residents and guests at The Villages resort for years. Though the grilled shrimp and steamed broccoli is good, nobody should ever go to Unk’s and not order the Seafood Platter which, even in the Seafood Platter for One size, is enough fried food to feed a family of six. Piled high with french fries, fried clam strips, fried catfish filet, fried oysters, stuffed crab, hush puppies, and boiled shrimp, the Seafood Platter is unbeatable when you’ve got a craving for anything fried. I also love the condiment station stocked with homemade green tomato relish, cocktail, remoulade, and tarter sauces, and there’s even a tub of pure, nose burning horseradish which I love to eat on saltine crackers with a bit of the tomato relish.
The one downside of Unk’s, is the price.  Me and my husband always get the Seafood Platter for One and an order of grilled shrimp, and it really adds up quick. However, the food is delicious, and you couldn’t ask for nicer people than the folks over at Unk’s to buy dinner from. Also, they do serve beer at Unk’s, which is a plus in my book, but also usually ends up being another wallet drainer if we are dining in.
Unk’s Shrimp Shack is located on the corner of Big Eddy Road and 2661 in Noonday, just outside of the Villages Resort on Lake Palestine. They have seasonal hours and are not open every day, so I strongly suggest calling first before heading out that way to ensure they’re going to be open. Also, another word of advice… the guys in the kitchen might throw some extras on your Seafood Platter if you buy them a beer, so be sure to keep that in mind!
Unk’s Shrimp Shack
16760 County Road 1261
Flint, TX 75762-9182
(903) 939-2323
Not far from NY TX ZipLine Adventures…..we tell out Zip Guests about them all the time! Good food
I remember when that place was being built…i delivered all the HVAC hardware when it was under construction. Long time ago! Good food too!
we would like you guys to review the vipone network that is exclusively for the Tyler area business’ and residents. Let us know what you think and would like you to join
My family was at a recent birthday celebration at Unk’s. It was our first visit and a long trek from Eastern Smith County. We really enjoyed our $60 worth of food – mushroom appetizer, seafood platter and popcorn shrimp. However our evening was RUINED when during our meal three women came in, sat within 10 ft. of our table and all three chose to smoke. Are you kidding me?! We immediately had to hurriedly throw the remainder of our meal into take-out containers and leave as our child began to have a severe asthma attack. I found two things very disappointing. First, the fact that Unk’s allows smoking in their restaurant and second the individuals who chose to smoke couldn’t have cared less what effect they were having on other diners. The facts are that only 23% of the American population smoke. However the other 77% of the population is affected when they do so. Tragically, another family with two small children were walking in as we were leaving. Those kids were exposed to more than 40 Class A (proven to cause cancer) carcinogens during their time there. I am not a health nut and call it a soapbox if you wish. I feel everyone should be warned that this is what you will be exposed to when you visit Unk’s as long as they allow smoking. If they feel they are forced to accomodate 23% of the population at the expense of the majority they why not put the smokers on the back porch? That would at least limit the exposure.
As far as the food was concerned we were enjoying our meal and were pleased with the quality. Of course by the time we arrived home it was just cold fried food.
We were planning to make Unk’s a regular weekend excursion but will not return as long as smoking is allowed. Very sad and unfortunate.
Finally Tyler has a Sephora!  The cosmetics, skincare, and haircare retailer has partnered with JCPenney’s and has opened a store inside the department store.
Now we all have a reason to go to Penney’s aside from the easy access to the mall and the always plentiful parking. The Sephora store located inside offers a modified product selection that is not quite as extensive as their full stores, but still offers us an option other than Ulta for higher end cosmetics and beauty products.
Today is the grand opening at the new Sephora and starting at 10am goodie bags will be gifted to the first shoppers who come check it out. I am telling you now that I WILL be one of those who gets a goodie bag!
Sephora
4401 S Broadway
Tyler, TX
(903) 561-3333
Well, I was totally excited to finally get a Sephora (even if it was scaled down). I only ran into one problem and one annoyance. When you shop in a regular Sephora or online you get Beauty Insider points and great rewards/samples…not so at this Sephora. Which leads to the annoyance, it was regular JCP workers who seemed to know nothing about the products. Normally at Sephora there are people with a lot of knowledge and they are very helpful. Honestly, I want to be excited about it…but it’s a little brokedown.
I am a Beauty Insider too, you can call and get them to add the points:
http://www.sephora.com/customer_service/csr_controller.jhtml?csrSection=bi&csrSub=accountBI#14
Hi everyone! I’m glad to join this forum
Irina