The “GRAND OPENING” sign still fluttered overhead as I stepped foot into Fresh Off The Bowl in Meyerland for the first time. The restaurant was clean and minimalistic, with bamboo adorning the walls in a contemporary Asian theme. Light poured in through the large windows, and the inside lighting was soft and calming. The wait staff greeted me cheerily as I approached the counter to order.

The menu offered a variety of fairly cheap Vietnamese options, including pho, banh mi, and vermicelli dishes. In addition to pre-set meals, a build-your-own-bowl option was available, which I opted for. Each component had a different price, with different types of proteins and “bases”, or grains. The prices were fairly reasonable; the bowl I chose cost $9, and I split it with another person. Neither of us left hungry.

A chef prepared cold vermicelli, shredded teriyaki chicken, lettuce and basil to my taste. A lot of other options of spices and vegetables were available for the bowl, such as cilantro and carrots. Though I could have left the chicken separate from the noodles, I opted to put them all into one bowl. The teriyaki chicken was delicious, tender and well-seasoned. It blended well with the plump noodles and crisp lettuce leaves.

After eating my meal, I wandered the restaurant to view the individually framed black and white pictures lining the walls. The pictures gave an authentic feel to the restaurant’s play on “fresh off the boat”, a term used to describe immigrants, especially of Asian descent, who have not yet assimilated to their host nation. After meandering the place, I went back up to the counter to add to my order.

The restaurant offered a variety of teas and ice creams. Various kinds of boba, or tapioca balls, were offered, as well. The green milk tea was delicious, but a little expensive. The drink included the perfect amount of tapioca, I chose the basic pearl, and the boba itself had a good texture and was a nice size.

From my experience, Fresh Off The Bowl was a good place for a casual meeting with friends or even a quick study session.