THE RANCH AT LAS COLINAS

THE RANCH AT LAS COLINAS

857 W JOHN CARPENTER FWY

IRIVING, TX 75039

972-506-7262

HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday 11AM - 10PM / Friday & Saturday 11AM - 11PM / Sun 11-9

https://www.theranchlc.com

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ranch-irving

https://www.facebook.com/theranchlc/

https://www.instagram.com/theranchlc/?hl=en

Enjoyed lunch at The Ranch at Las Colinas.  Food and service were excellent.  While I did not stay low carb and went off the rails, this was kind of worth it just to enjoy some different types of food we cannot get in Hawaii.  The restaurant is huge with indoor and outdoor covered seating plus outdoor patio seating.  We started with the Chef's Favorite "4" appetizer platter.  Huge Onion Rings, Queso Blanco, Fried Green Tomatoes and Elk Tacos.  Everything here was delicious.  I loved the Elk Tacos and could have ate four of them myself.  The Queso Blanco Dip served with Tortilla Chips was addicting and I could not stop eating it.  Onion Rings were huge and so tasty with a little ketchup.  I even liked the Fried Green Tomatoes.  This was carb overload so I kept it to one Onion Ring and one Fried Green Tomato.  I had the Texas Hot Chicken Sandwich.  It was good but not too hot.  Wish it had a bit more heat or hot sauce.

My friend enjoyed the Chicken Fried Chicken and liked it.  I would definitely recommend this place and would LOVE to return to try more menu items.

THE RANCH AT LAS COLINAS

CHEF'S "FAVORITE FOUR" WITH ELK TACOS, QUESO BLANCO,
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AND ONION RINGS

LOVED THE ELK TACOS

TEXAS HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH SERVED WITH SALAD OR FRIES

NOT TOO HOT TEXAS CHICKEN SANDWICH

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN

 

FARMERS MARKET - KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FARMERS MARKET

KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

The Farmers Market held on Saturdays at Kapiolani Community College is a great gig.  Lots of good food, great looking girls in short-shorts and tank tops plus a few celebrities.  On this day we ran into Danno from the new Hawaii Five O television series and a few local television personalities. The setting here is perfect.  The market is on the slopes of Diamond Head which is a beautiful green right now because of the recent rain.  There is lots of parking but the main lot closest to the market fills fast.  Have patience and wait for someone to leave or park in the back of the college and walk a bit.  The market itself looks large but after a few laps around you realize that it kind of small.  There is little or no seating within the market so be prepared to walk or stand while you eat.  There are some curbs to sit on but they face the sun and it is brutal at times.  My daughter saw people eating corn on the cob and dragged me to the corn stand within two minutes of arriving.  She ordered one piece of Roasted Corn ($4) with Butter and Garlic.  She loved it.  Did not hear her talk for the next five minutes.  She devoured the entire cob without even offering me a bite.  When she came up for air, I was looking at some beautiful pieces of fresh Big Island Abalone coming of the grill across from the corn stand.  I ordered one plate of Abalone ($7) and was amazed by the size and flavor.  This Abalone is really good.  The pieces were thick and juicy.  Could not believe that my daughter asked to try one.  She took one small bite and then chewed up an entire piece.  "Yummy" she said.  My daughter loves Abalone, Escargot, Rack of Lamb, Sushi, Fish, Crab, Clams and Steak.  Not your normal Chicken Nuggets and Burger eating 10 year old.  We also tried the Fried Green Tomatoes ($7) because they just looked darn good coming out of the fryer.  They sell bags of the batter separately and people were buying it.  I cannot understand why as I found the batter and tomatoes to be pretty tasteless.  The mayo sauce served with them did not add anything to the flavor.  The batter color and appearance is good.  Maybe Ranch Dressing would be a better dipping sauce for these.  There are a lot of different stalls here where you can buy Plate Lunches and enjoy an entire meal.  Everything from Vietnamese food to Sushi, Fried Chicken and Waffles and Sausage on a stick.  Highly recommend spending an hour or two walking around this Farmers Market.

THE BOSS LOVED HER CORN
WITH BUTTER AND GARLIC

GET HERE EARLY.  PARKING LOT IS ALWAYS PACKED

DOZENS OF VENDORS AND LARGE CROWDS

FRESH LOCAL FRUITS AND PRODUCE

PESTO PIZZA STALL ALWAYS HAS A CROWD

FRESH ROASTED CORN BOOTH WAS ALWAYS BUSY

FRESH BIG ISLAND ABALONE

3 LARGE PIECES OF ABALONE FOR $7

ME AND THE BOSS LOVED THE ABALONE

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES BOOTH

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES WERE A BIT BLAND

WAITING IN LINE FOR A SHAVE ICE

$3 FOR A REGULAR SIZE SHAVE ICE

RETURNED ON ANOTHER SATURDAY TO
TRY THE KUKUI SAUSAGE.  THEY SOLD
OUT OF THE SPICY SO I GOT THE REGULAR
SAUSAGE ON A STICK.  MOST TASTELESS
SAUSAGE I HAVE EVER HAD.  TOOK TWO
SMALL BITES AND GAVE IT AWAY.

KUKUI SAUSAGE BOOTH HAD A VERY LONG LINE.