Welcome to 2025, friends! I hope the year is kicking off as strong for y’all as it has for me. For 2025, I’ve set some exciting goals: reading 20 books, recording all my recipes in the beautiful recipe journal I got for Christmas, running at least four races (including my first 10k!), and trying at least two new restaurants every month.

While I still love having fun in the kitchen (my name is Yeah Keeks Cooks after all!), I’m a foodie at heart who loves exploring new spots in Houston and wherever we travel. Which leads me to a new series on the blog called “Ditching the Dishes”—Each month, I’ll share where we ate, what we loved (or didn’t), and what’s worth a return trip. To keep myself on track, I even downloaded the Beli app to rank and review restaurants. Let’s get into it!

January Eats: Terry Black’s BBQ & Roostar Vietnamese Grill

This month we hit two incredible spots: Terry Black’s BBQ in Fort Worth, TX, and Roostar Vietnamese Grill in East Houston. They did not disappoint!

Terry Black’s BBQ

To be honest, I’m not the biggest BBQ fan. But when the craving hits, I can definitely appreciate a good spread—and Terry Black’s delivered in every way. Unlike most BBQ spots that have one overwhelming line, Terry Black’s has a much better setup: first, you choose all your sides in one line, then move to another section with five different lines for meats, where servers help guide your choices. Talk about efficiency!

Personally, I’m a sausage link girlie, and their jalapeno cheese smoked links were absolutely fire. The brisket was tender and smoky, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone perfection, and their house sauce tied everything together beautifully. And the service was fantastic—they even threw in some brisket ends and an extra rib on the house. With plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, Terry Black’s is a BBQ experience gets a 10/10 from me. If you’re in Fort Worth, Austin, or Dallas, add it to your list!

Roostar Vietnamese Grill

Next up: Roostar, a local gem in East Houston that had quick service, super casual vibe, and insanely good food. I ordered the fried rice bowl with grilled pork, and let me tell you, it was everything. Sweet and sour Thai sauce that had a little heat, mouthwatering grilled pork, and a spring roll as the cherry on top. My boyfriend got the grilled pork bánh mì that had a perfect balance of crusty bread, savory pork, and came with THICK curly fries. I’m definitely going back and trying the Bulgogi fries next time. Roostar is one of those places that’s simple yet unforgettable.

What’s Next?

With a new job and an upcoming move, my schedule has been packed to the brim, leaving little time or energy to bake. But that’s the beauty of “Ditching the Dishes”—even when life gets hectic, I can still share my food finds with y’all.

Follow along for monthly updates, and don’t forget to check out the photos I snap along the way— you know the camera eats first! You can see my latest food dump HERE and follow me on Instragram and Beli!

Cheers to a year full of prosperity, abundance, and good food. See you next month!