A YEE back to back nights. That's a rarity. But Jando is a GOATed CM. What can u say!!!!! I attended the second gathering , which was from 8-10pm. Once scanned, we grabbed our seats and the sampling began. Got a wide variety of items that we got to sample. I enjoyed them all. We got to hear from the management team and the chef, who gave us a summarized briefing about the business and its history/vision. As usual, the stars were out. Plenty of convo and great laughs. Thanks to Jando, Yelp and Pok Pok Po +bol management for hosting this event. read more

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I attended session two of the HAPI bol and Pok Pok Po event. It was my first time here and I haven't heard of this place before. We were able to sit down for the event which was nice. Unfortunately, the AC was out and the business did their best to accommodate to our group. The heat wasn't too bad for me, we had the trusted Yelp fan to keep us cool. The server brought out each item to our table in sampler cups. I enjoyed the chicken wings and fries the most. The mango lassi was also good. There was a lot of items listed on the menu that was in front of us. However, we didn't get to try everything because not all the items were served. Sitting on the bol side, there were a few items that weren't served on our side versus the pok pok side. I thought the organization could have been better. Overall, I still appreciate the efforts and planning by Jando, the Yelp Houston team, the Pok pok+bol team for putting together this event for us. read more

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The thing that kept this at four stars for me was easy access parking. Else, it would have been missing that bright shining element. I parked literally across the street and after a bit of jaywalking, entered the restaurant. I immediately found Emy and asked to sit by her. I saved a seat by Cynthia for my friend who was about 10 minutes late. She was coming from Galveston, so.........there's grace. These hot Houston days and nights and no AC do not go hand in hand. I get it, I get it.. things happen. Quite unfortunate things happen, but...My goodness. They had a humongous AC unit running and before people came it was really doing its thing. However, when it started getting fuller, I was back to profusely glistening diamonds. I'm grateful that Jandooooo, Farrah, and the Yelp Houston team let us know about the AC mishap beforehand. That prepared me to wear the right curly hair hat, and attire. Sleeveless was the way to go! As soon as I entered, I grabbed a mango lassi. Super delicious and sweet but also super thick to be served on a hot humid nearly summer day. ::Gulp:: Also! I drank some clear protein maybe 2-3 hours prior, and because things don't digest quickly for me, I brought my favorite Yelp swag to date - the lunch box! I knew anything that I didn't eat onsite would be gobbled up at home. Unbeknownst to me, though... That wouldn't be much. Lol The staff and owners here were nice and passionate people. That's always a plus. I just don't think they were fully prepared to serve us Yelpers. Actually, I'm convinced they weren't. The menu items kept on going to the first two/three tables, then they did a weird return back to the kitchen...with new items... and served to the same two to three tables. LMBO what the what?? Eventually, we took matters into our own hands when the owner asked how things were going. She said she determined to let us try more samples and we were pleased. After that, we tried two more samples and then.. we had a brick wall again. We tried flagging down the staff but it was futile. Eventually, we just sat there and sat there and sat there then the speeches commenced. After the speeches and the prizes, we were told that nothing else is going to exit the kitchen. Mind you, they are worried about 12 or 13 menu items to be served and at this juncture we had only been served four apart from the mango lassi. Hmmm... After 7 minutes, a server came and gave us the chicken wings we had requested about half an hour prior. It went to my Yelp lunchbox. Welp! Here's my review on the samples: Mango Lassi: 9.5/10 This would have been a solid 10 if it was served either super cold or even icy OR served as is in the fall... Texture-wise. Chicken Slider: 6.5/10 This slider was decent. Nothing grand and nothing dull. The chicken was nice and moist and tender. I believe the owner likened it to Chick-fil-A. I would say that's a pretty satisfactory comparison. Fries: 9/10 My fries were crispy and well-seasoned. Just like I like it. (Though, on a different day, I might say they were overly seasoned but...We'll never know.) Chips: 0/10 These were super duper salty. I literally had about a fingernail amount and couldn't do any more than that. Need... Water........ Wings: 8/10 These were eaten at home. They were nice and tender with food flavors. Beef: 4/10 This was eaten at home as well. The beef was tasty and tender but the overall components in the bowl didn't work well for my palate. I took a picture of the burrito but gave it away to Cynthia because they only gave us one for our table. Oh shwells. I'm still thankful for the experience because I had never heard of these two restaurants before. You're appreciated, Jando, Farrah, and the Yelp Houston team! We live HAPI. We love HAPI. read more

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Whoooo it's been a week, and it's only Wednesday. We've been making moves, around town and Pok Pok Pok + Bōl is just another stop in our HAPI experience. Let's get to it. For the second time this week, the AC failed. Does that suck? Absolutely! Did we know about it in advance? Absolutely! So that won't be addressed here any further. What made it better was that there was more space, and food for those that cancelled. We appreciate you! Parking Easy. There's a lot around the corner, and street parking all around. And it's central, so Uber can also be your friend. The Establishment Interestingly, it was basically cut in half. For my dorks in the audience think the force with dark side and light side. Pok Pok Po is the light, and Bōl is the dark. For this event it was mixed serving across both, so it didn't matter where you sat. The light side has a clean aesthetic and reminded me of a boba shop, the dark side reminded me of a club. It's also situated in the middle of the city, and is easy to get to with a lot of other bars and establishments to jump off to. Seating was open, and we made new friends. Our group was great, we made sure everyone ate, had water and all the things. It's nice to sit with like minded community forward folks. Service Excellent! We had an opportunity to try most of things items in the menu. Chicken tenders, and kimchi never made it to our table. As is the issue at most events, where servers run out at a table, they don't necessarily come back. So we had to wrangle up food for some of our table mates to ensure everyone ate. It's busy, there are many of us, and most folks aren't trained for event ops. Even so, everyone was nice, and easy to talk to. The Food All of the spice that wasn't at MaKiin, was here. I like flavor AND heat. This wasn't setting anyone on fire, but for the spice averse, it may have packed a lil somethin'. The chicken sliders were very tasty, and a wee messy. One might say finger-lickin' good. Now must things didn't come with a name, and after seeing the menu, I don't think everything came out as posted. We had fries-solo with various sauces of which the names remain unknown. In order of favorite: green, white, orange. And the spice on the fries was excellent! The masala Rice was very flavorful, not spicy. The lamb dish was very good, and I love my lambs. And the chicken wings was good. Overall Great event! Well communicated, so informed decisions could be made. Great experience with the staff, and owners, excellent opportunity from Jando, Farrah, and Team. Thanks all for having us! read more

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Thank you to YELP and Pok Pok Po for organizing this event. And thank you to the lovely Jandito for being the great host and organizer! Also thank you to the other Yelp staffer who was there. She was very friendly and understanding when I told her that I was signed up for the 8 o'clock session. Had no problem switching to the 6 PM time even though I didn't have a pass, which was great! Overall, I had a great experience. It's always good to connect with other yelpers and seeing people you haven't seen in a while. I was impressed that we were eating not long after 6 PM. I think overall, my favorite was the mango lassi. It was so delicious! I also really liked the chicken slider. The spices were just the right amount. Unfortunately, I felt like the fries were a bit over seasoned for my taste. But the sauces were amazing - I think that that is something they do well there. Another thing I had was the rice bowl, which was also delicious. Apparently someone said that the beef was better than the chicken, but beef is the only one that I had. Again, it was kind of on the savory side for me, but I think if I had more rice, that would have helped - I'm sure it would hit different with a bigger bowl of rice but I loved the flavors and pickled onions. Didn't get to try everything, but I understand that and at least most people got to try most things. I appreciated the enthusiasm of the general manager and the kitchen manager. I love how everything is made from scratch each day. And even grinding their own spices, which I thought was pretty cool. Thanks again for this opportunity! If I'm in the area, I may stop by at some point read more

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The Pok Pok Po + bōl event was interesting. We were informed in advance that the AC was out, so that was greatly appreciated. Thankfully it didn't feel too hot to me, my opinion. Do you. The portable air conditioning units were quite helpful especially given where I was sitting. Upon arrival, we checked in and grabbed name tags. We found seating on the bōl side of the restaurant. It felt a bit isolating from the other side given this is where most of the other people were sitting. The staff and Jando also made announcements and things on that side. We sampled the chicken sliders, chicken bites, fries, mango lassi, and wraps. My favorites were the chicken sliders and fries. Everything else fell flat as a pancake. It was nice to learn about both businesses and the concepts of both places. The staff were super friendly as well. Shoutout to Ms. Sandy and Chef GK. Thank you to Jando, Farrah, Yelp Houston, and the Pok Pok Po/bōl team! read more

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Big thanks for Jando, Farrah, and the whole Pok Pok Po staff for holding it down for us despite lack of AC. They did what they could with their portable air units, but it was still too hot. Everyone tried to stay hydrated with their ice water, but eventually the ice ran out. The Yelp paper fans came in handy for sure as I sweat it out. The staff were so friendly and they really did their best to accommodate everyone. I just think that there wasn't true organization of who went where and who gets what. My table felt like we were being overlooked at times, not getting items the same time as others. We personally had to ask about certain items because we didn't get them. But the staff would bring the items out, no problems. However, I don't think we got everything listed in the menu we were emailed. Not sure if maybe they ran out of items after the first session? My favorite was probably the mango lassi. Everything else was just okay to me. I guess I'm just more of a traditional person rather than fusion. I did think it was cool of them to do a raffle at the end. Once again, thanks so much to the Pok Pok Po staff and to Jando and Farrah for making this night happen! read more

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An Indian version of Chic fil a is a great way to describe Pok Pok Po/Bol. We were served various bites including their fried chicken slider, fries, lamb over rice bowl, pappadum with spiced avocado, and chicken wings. Their mango lassi was refreshing as well. My favorite bite, however, was definitely their fries with vanch sauce - very flavorful! Overall this event at Pok Pok Po/Bol was a good one (aside from the malfunctioning AC) and I'll be back again. Thank you to the kind staff of Pok Pok Po/Bol and also to Jando and Farrah for organizing this event. Can't wait for the collab with Shawn the Food Sheep! read more

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I loved Pok Pok Po and Bol! Chef GK, the general manager, and the owner are all really passionate about this restaurant and it really shows in their made from scratch food! Other than the AC issue, I still thought the ambiance here was great for a fast casual concept. The service was top notch to me even though others may not have had the same experience. I was luckily seated in middle of the main part of the restaurant though near where the portable AC unit was blowing. How did I get so lucky? As far as the food goes, I loved all of it! The mango lassi was super refreshing, and their seasoned fries with the white sauce was probably my favorite thing! Those fries are so well seasoned, other restaurants need to take notes! Indian Chick-fil-A is definitely a funny way they described the restaurant, and I'd agree that I'd pick their chicken sandwich over Chick-fil-A anyday haha. Pok Pok Po and Bol are great additions to the lunch scene in the midtown area. Thank you Jando, Farrah, and the rest of the Yelp community for a great HAPI event. I loved getting to try these 2 new concepts, and I'll definitely be back soon to try their collab with Shawnthefoodsheep! read more

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I have mixed feelings about the event. Pros: - my first yelp event and it seemed like a cool experience with the Houston food-loving community. - From Yelp's end the event seemed organized - got to meet cool people - the food I got to taste was good - it was great to hear from the manager, chef, and owner during the event - definitely piqued my interest in returning for a quick meal another day Con: - the food delivery seemed disorganized as a few tables didn't get a wide variety of samples. I understand not getting to try all the menu items advertised but I was surprised my table only got the fries, lassi, chicken bite, chicken wing, and pappadum chips. I was really excited to try the bōl salad/bowl/wraps but sadly we didn't get any of those read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Chicken bites & mango lassi - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

Sure, AC was down, and it was hard to see what was going on, being in separate part of the rooms, and maybe a little chaotic with the food selections coming out, over all the experience was good. Thank you Yelp and the people of Pok Pok Po/ Bol for showcasing your dishes. I do enjoy the occasional indian food, and so i was pleasantly surprise to have a fast casual dining experience. I understand that not all the dishes came out, as some tables got certain dishes, n others didnt. but for what I got, it was a wonderful selection. Mango Lassi 5/5 this was a great mango drink, that wasnt too sweet, and great consistency, where it wasnt too cold or thick, that was easily drinkable. Chicken Slider 5/5 This burger had a pretty good kick. crispy chicken on a potatoe bun. The mixed veggies gave it a kick of kimchi! House Fries 5/5 This was also really good. perfectly crips and seasoned with their special house spice. It was lightly sweet and salty Wings 3/5 well seasoned and crispy, but i think cause it came alil late, it was dry n cold when i got it on the Bol menus we had a couple of nice options this place reminds me of chipotle combined with halal guys. which totally works. I believe i got the lamb bowl with basmati rice, lentil beans, pickled onions, kachumber salad and masala yogurt on top. 4/5 everything was good, lamb was tender and well seasoned. mixed with a refreshing salad and lightly zing of yogurt. the rice was slightly dry. i also got a chicken masala bowl with spinach and pickled onions. this was also well seasoned and refreshing. the spinich balance out the spice well. the rice was soft and moist. 4/5 read more

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Unfortunately this event was disappointing. Pok Pok Po and bōl are conjoint fast casual restaurants straight in the middle of Midtown drawing inspiration from both Texas and Indian culture. Pok Pok Po's menu centers around cage-free, antibiotic free chicken, while bōl can be described as a kind of "Indian chipotle," serving bowls, burritos and sandwiches. What didn't go so well at this event was the food offerings. Admittedly, I do not eat chicken, and you may ask, why would I sign up for an event that is half chicken-based, well for bōl! Bōl's menu has both vegetarian and vegan options are available. I was interested to see how Indian flavors would come together in a fast casual format but unfortunately the center section of the restaurant where I was sitting did not get to try any of the bōl menu items. Several rounds of chicken wings and bites passed by, but unfortunately none of the samosas, veggies, or burritos as listed on the event description made it to our section. I ended up with some of the fries, richly seasoned and served with a tasty mint sauce, however this was all that I ended up with for the event. Listening to Chef GK speak about the culinary vision behind the establishment, it's clear that there is passion. Each sauce is prepared fresh on a daily basis, spices are ground by hand, and ingredients are sourced to ensure high quality. This was refreshing in a day and age in which there is often a hyper-focus on efficiency. Overall, I feel like there could have been better food sample preparation for this event, especially considering that this was the experience from the first of the two sessions. While the dining experience wasn't the best, it was great to meet veteran elite Mark W and new elite Sarah W! read more

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Thankfully we were already informed about the AC situation before arriving, and although it was unbearable inside for the few hours we were there, the event was worth it and everyone was having a good time! I've been wanting to try Pok Pok Po for some time now and I had never heard of bol before, so this was a cool experience! Once we sat down, we were handed some mango lassi, and my goodness was it refreshing and delicious! It did take some time in between to get some of the food items because the side I was sitting at was sorta forgotten, but the managers made sure we got our food no matter what. The next thing we tried was the chicken slider, which was good. Better than a traditional chicken slider. Next we had the spicy fries and omg those were my favorite! We had a piece of pappadum next, which I'm very familiar with and was happy with, although I didn't care too much for the hummus. The spicy wing was good and the yogurt sauce helped cool it down. Lastly, we finally got to try a chicken bol, which was ok but lacked flavor for me. Overall this was a great experience and I'll be back for sure to both places to try more menu items! Thank you Jando, Farrah, & everyone else who helped put this event together! read more

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So much parking. I love that and never take it for granted. The garage is also very well lit! The mango lassi was so good. Perfect consistency, temperature, and flavor. I'd come here just for that. We were served a very good saucy fried chicken slider. No notes!! The fries were a little too spicy. I don't know if it was the seasoning or the cashew-based dipping sauce. I'd still eat it. Served these chips and a brownish thick dipping sauce. Not sure what it was but I ate it happily. The wing was so good but again very spicy. Even with the yogurt dipping sauce I thought it was spicy. Lastly we were served this chipotle styled rice-rice-lettuce bowl. It was so good. But wow those potatoes were spicy and took me out. Good service. I think we might've missed a couple of items but everyone was really nice. read more

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I attended the second session for this event and was very excited to try the offerings Pok Pok Po + bol listed out on their menus. I very much appreciated that they had a parking garage! Staff were friendly and the owners/management were hospitable. Sadly, our table did not have the opportunity to try many of the offerings that were listed; we did not realize what was being served to the other side of the room to follow up about it. However, of the items we did try, I really enjoyed the fries!! I think I'd go back for that alone. The mango lassi was also yummy. Thanks Yelp, Pok Pok Po and bol for having us! read more

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Thank you Jando for this amazing experience! It was my first time at this restaurant, and I really enjoyed it. Since we arrived the service was amazing, the waitresses were really kind and attentive. Sometimes they even let us repeat some of the items. The food had very original flavors that I had not tried before. I really enjoyed the bowl sample, I thought the lamb was delicious. All the staff did a great job and we definitely enjoyed our time there. read more

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Aside from the AC not working (which made things a bit uncomfortable), the staff was super pleasant and helpful throughout the event. Shout out to Stacy the manager, she really made sure we were taken care of. She also gave us the heads up about the value menu priced items during happy hour and let us know that they had wings on the menu (which turned out to be really tasty). Shout to Chef GK and the GM who told us more about the menu items and conception of the restaurant. It did seem like they were a bit overwhelmed by the crowd. Hopefully the second session was smoother that our session. We missed alot of samples early on, but things picked up later, and by the end of the night, I ended up getting to try the items: * Chicken slider * Crisfries * Mango lassi * Chicken strips with sauce and fries * Wings and a wrap * Pappadum with guacamole Overall, not too bad of an experience I wouldn't mind giving them another try, especially now that I know about the happy hour entrees. I enjoyed the spicy chicken and the chips and quac mainly. Thanks Jando for setting this up for us! read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Happy AAPI Month! Thank you to Yelp and Pok Pok Po/Bol for another tasty HAPI experience! Shoutout to Pok Pok Po in doing the best what they can given a tricky situation. The last-minute cancellations by a few vendors and a non-functioning AC was always gonna be a tough setup and they made the best of it to accommodate the Yelpers. (not their fault as it was mentioned ahead of time in the emails) The mango lassi was a refreshing start. We were then treated to a small sampling of dishes like the chicken sliders, fries, and wings - my favorite being the lamb bowl. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try much from the Bol side. The distribution was a bit uneven entire night, but I appreciate the effort the team made to keep things moving. GM Sandy was warm and welcoming. It's nice to hear from their team as they shared their concept and vision. Thank you to the hard working staff at Po and Yelp (Jando and Farrah) for organizing. Looking forward to hearing more about the collab with Shawn! read more

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Although we were notified of the AC situation, it was unfortunate that the AC was not working because it made the experience much less enjoyable. It did make the experience a bit unbearable but it's understandable, Houston heat is no joke! There's two sides to the restaurant. One side is an order at the counter concept and the other side appears to be like an Indian version of chipotle concept. We were greeted with mango lassi which was really good and refreshing! Then the staff started to bring out different rice bowls which were really spicy! My favorite bowl was the one with cucumbers and pickled onions. The other bowls were too carby for my liking. The chicken sandwich was okay, it was also pretty spicy. The chicken wing was very interesting, it had a really strong vinegar flavor. The fries were good and really well seasoned! They also have different sauces to dip your fries in as well. This is a good place to grab a quick Indian bite! read more

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Ooooof, as others have mentioned, this one could have been a bit better served. We arrive about 10 minutes late so I knew we would have missed a few bites, but truthfully we were only served a total of 3-4 times. I saw many other samples being served, but unfortunately they never made their way to us as serving focus was to the tables and we sat at the back of the restaurant by the high top area since it was the only seating left when we arrived. First item sampled was the mango lassi. I love mango lassi. This wasn't the best mango lassi I've ever had, and I felt it could have been a bit more chilled. 3/5 mango lassi. Chicken and rice - 4/5 - I enjoyed this one and felt it all paired nicely. Chicken was tender, juicy, paired deliciously with the rice and corn. Chicken tenders with the sauce - 3/5 - tenders were okay. Sauce was okay. Nothing to write home about. I felt the tenders were a bit lackluster but considering the quality of the chicken (non GMO, cruelty free, etc) I felt it deserved a bump in rating Chicken burrito - 1/5 - I wasn't a fan of this. A bit mushy for my liking. The AC being out was a bummer, but I also understand that is out of their control. I do feel it would have been nice to be offered a fountain beverage considering the circumstances. They did have small water cups tho. I thought it was very nice of them to give away prizes and do a small fun trivia after telling their story. That part of the event was nice and engaging. There is free parking around the corner in the garage attached to the building, so that was nice. Overall, it's a nice place that prides themselves on fresh ingredients and good customer service. I do feel there is potential here but today's experience could have been better. Thank you Pok Pok Po & Bol, Yelp, & Jando for hosting us! read more

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I'd like to start off with Chef GK and Sandy killing the pitch for the restaurants. They both showed a lot of passion. Chef really believes in her products and what the brands stand for! The event was a little disorganized but the food was delicious. For me this is what Yelp is about. Trying new places and things so that we can learn and share our experiences. The lamb bowl was delicious and the chicken slider hit the spot. While food was sporadic at best you could tell the team wanted to try and make sure everyone had a good experience! I love spicy food but without the AC the sweat factor was real... My table mates all shared the different sauces with the fries which was nice to try all the options. For a fast casual restaurant I will definitely be back. I tip my hat to the chef. read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Chef GK - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

Let me start off by saying that some of the samples tasted phenomenal. The chicken strips and fries would make for an incredible cheat meal. The chefs sounded very genuine, and I might pay this twin establishment a visit in the future if I'm close by. The event itself ran into a ton of logistical problems. Out of the 12 menu items advertised in the email, my table only received about 6 or 7 of them with a lot of downtime in between each serving. At one point, our table saw others getting the chicken wings and asked why we hadn't been served any yet; the staff either forgot about us or had a mix up. I got tired of waiting around for food and left around 7:55pm. The designated time slot for session 1 was 6-7:30pm, and there was no way that the staff would have been able to serve the rest of the menu items before session 2 at 8pm. It didn't help that the AC went out and several alcohol vendors had to back out last minute. I sat right in front of the portable AC near the Bol entrance and still felt sweaty; I can't imagine what the middle of the Pok Pok Po side felt like. I try not to let these inconveniences penalize the rest of the experience but when combined with major lapses in food and service, I have to give this event an underwhelming rating overall. On a positive note, at least I discovered a hip South Asian restaurant that I can return to when the A/C is fixed and the service makes some changes. Thank you to Jando, Farrah, the Yelp HTX team, Chef GK, and GM Sandy for making this event a reality! read more

Even with broken AC, the staff did their best to be accommodating and cheerful. Aside from that, I could tell the owner and manager were enthusiastic and passionate about their business which I appreciated. My table was only able to try the mango lassi, chicken slider, fries with the curry dipping sauce, green sauce & greek yogurt sauce, hummus and a chicken bowl with greens and rice. From the looks of it, this was all that was served for everyone versus the list of items presented in our email reminder. The event seemed a little chaotic but nonetheless staff tried their best. The food was good but nothing really stood out to me. read more

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Thank you Jando, Farrah Yelp Houston team for the work and planning that goes into putting together the events. While it's not ideal to go somewhere and the AC be down in Texas, always have to pivot and it makes for an experience. Thank you to the staff and owner of Pok Pok Po + bōl for hustling and doing their best to provide us and constantly filling the fans for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Ambiance: Parking is thankfully convenient as it is located next to the parking garage in midtown, where it's usually a headache to park. The inside is spacious and has two sides one for the chicken and the other for the bowls. But also it's like sitting in day and night. We sat on the night side and fortunate side with fan blowing right at us. Service: The staff was extremely friendly and did the best they could to provide us with all the options but unfortunately at times seemed they were distracted and we'd miss some of the food options. They likely were overwhelmed and haven't experienced a crowd to the magnitude of the event. Food: Chick-fil-A with Indian spice flair. It wasn't make you sweat spice, but had subtle hits that I enjoyed. The masala rice was my favorite, it was flavorful with a kick of spice. The spice might have been turned down for events since not many people like spicy, but feel it takes away from the experience and the authenticity of the restaurant. But grateful we got to try a variety of bowls and would actually return to try full serving. Thank you again to the staff, enjoyed the getting to know the history and story and opportunity to win a prize! read more

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I was really looking forward to this event; however it ended up not meeting my expectations. The AC was not working but we were informed well ahead of time that there would be portable AC. Unfortunately the portable AC was not strong enough to cool the restaurant and it was pretty uncomfortable the entire time. The staff was friendly and kudos to them for working in such a hot environment. I definitely did not get all the samples, and the staff was disorganized and didn't have a reliable way to keep track of which guests had already been served. The food was okay but nothing special. read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

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A pretty decent event with good fast casual Indian food. We arrived to a small venue with seats for everyone. We were greeted with a mango lassi, which is one of best ways to be greeted. It was delicious and refreshing. The food slowly came out and was unevenly distributed between the tables. Each person bringing food was different and went to different tables. Midway, there were tables that were getting to go boxes because they were so full, while several tables on the other side didn't get to try half the dishes. I don't expect to be fed a full course meal, but it's disappointing when you can't try everything or even half the items. We were all sitting. I understand that this isn't the normal prep and serving mode of this venue but we were contemplating leaving during the session because there was so much time between items being brought out and our table was consistently missed. The waitstaff seemed overwhelmed as they probably don't serve this way normally. When we let the waitstaff know that we didn't get some of the items, we got a lot of blank stares. Only Jando took personal responsibility. The food was overall pretty good. The chef and manager obviously take a lot of pride in what they do. The chicken dishes really stood out to me as they were plump, juicy and flavorful. The chef mentioned the chicken didn't have antibiotics and the spices were freshly ground. I would come back to have the wings and chicken tenders. The chicken and waffles also sounded really interesting. read more

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What a spicy event let me just say I can handle spice and I love me some spicy. But this event had definitely kicked my butt with a spice and I don't think I was ready even without the ac it was still very thrilling to see the Indian infused pieces of fast food here in Houston! Will be back!! read more

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Indian Chick Fil A was exactly why I had this place in my bookmarks. And it's been in my bookmarks for a while, so you can guess my relief in not having to convince a crowd to try this new spot with me just so I can try more than one item on the menu. So seeing a list of 10+ items on the list prior to the event only fueled my anticipation. Normally I'm not one to complain, especially when it comes to free food and drinks. The A/C was out, but we weren't the only ones suffering, as the kitchen looks quite small, and restaurant kitchens are known to be abnormally hot even when the A/C is working. All the staff inside and outside the kitchen looked like they were trying their best. But on the long list of food items we were shown, our table only got the mango lassi, chicken slider, 1 chicken wing, spicy chicken bowl, fries, and the chips. All the chicken were spicy, but within my near non-existent tolerance, which I enjoyed. Favorite was probably the slider - tender meat between toasted hawaiian buns. The chicken bowl was a notable mention too. The hummus that came with the chips was NOT the flavor for me, or anyone else at the table. My main disappointment is that the other tables, especially on the Bol side, got at least 3 or 4 items in addition to what we got. Waiters were quite disorganized because it didn't look like they were assigned to tables. One waiter would serve us an item, but then for the next item (that we haven't received), they would go to a different table. Or sometimes they had a whole tray of food (that we haven't tried yet), but only served ONE person at our table before leaving to serve another table. Then we sat for the second half of the event constantly wondering when the next item will be served to us, watching the waiters skip our table again and again. #351 read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was so glad that we received an email informing us that the A/C was out. They had a portable floor fan, which worked in the beginning until the place got busy. The Yelp swag (hand fan and hair tie) came in handy. We didn't get to sample all the items. It looks like the tables near the kitchen were lucky. We had to inform the staff about the missing samples. I enjoyed the mango lassi and the desi kimchi. The palladum was salty, the chicken slider was okay, the beef bowl was flavorful, the wings were a bit salty and I prefer the pok pok one. As for the sauces, my favorite is the white yanch sauce. Thanks to Jando, Farrah, and the Yelp team for this event. read more

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This place seems like a good place to grab quick bites with an Indian flare. I'm happy to be able to go. However, it was HOT. Horrible timing for the air to be broken but they made it work for half the group. The dark side was coolest, pending where you sat. I am always grateful to be chosen to attend these events. It is so cool how it was open to the community and not just Elite. read more

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What a fun event showcasing so many flavors and foods offered by Pok Pok Po and Bol! Coming in, it was definitely an event, music, folks walking around with food. Yes, the AC went out and it was a bit hot but they did what they could to keep us cool and comfortable through the event. I loved learning about the concept and that food is made fresh daily, sauces and condiments made in house, and that even spiced were ground fresh, and you could definitely taste it in the food. I loved the cardamom in the mango lassi and found it so refreshing, esp as the ac was out. I thought the bowl was amazing and as an"Indian Chipotle" I can def see myself coming back for some bowls. The chicken side of things were also really good, I'm sad I missed the slider and the fries as I heard great things but just means I have a reason to come back! I'm glad Yelp brought me out to this place as I had no clue it was out here. Finding a great spot in Midtown, with free parking, feels like hitting a bit of a food jackpot for me. Thanks again to the teams at Yelp and Pok Pok Po/Bol, I'm so happy to have a new Indian spot close by and can't wait to come back, Chicken and waffle weekend, say less! read more

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Crazy that I've driven past so many times and didn't know about pok pok po. I love fusion restaurants so this was right up my alley. Some of my favorites were the mango lassi, chicken wings and lamb bowl. At first we thought we missed a couple of items. However after conversation with the owner they explained the event we weren't all supposed to taste e the same foods. Everyone was so personable and enhanced the event with their infectious smiles. Thanks Jando and the entire team! read more

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I thought the event was done extremely well, for the most part. My group of friends arrived and we all sat together and after about 10 minutes, the food started to come out. It seemed like initially each section of the restaurant had a server tending to them so the circulation of food was great. We got the chicken sandwich which was 10/10 delicious, fries with a green sauce and the "yanch". And then we got chicken bites with yum yum sauce, "yanch" and another cashew-based sauce. They had really great music playing and the atmosphere was pretty energetic despite the AC being out. Yelp did provide us hand fans and that really helped when it started to feel a little too warm. Somewhere along the way, we started to notice our server for the right side of the restaurant had disappeared and the left side was getting a variety of food options that we weren't being offered. I'm not sure how many items we missed but after speaking with Jando and the staff, we got a few make up items. The staff also acknowledged that they would adjust their disbursements to be more even for the next group. All in all, I still had a great time. Their staff were super friendly and apologetic. The food was delicious, fresh and hot. I will definitely add this to my list of places to return to in the very near future. read more

HAPI Yelp Event: Pok Pok Po + bōl - Fries, various chicken and their respective sauces and mango lassis - Yelp Events Near Me - Houston, Texas

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You can smell the friedness and spices from outside. I love that it's a blend of southern fried and Indian spices. This a twofer joint so if your not feeling fried there is yumskiii bowls in the same building. Pause Their ice machine is hospital ice grade drop. Just saying. Unpause My favorite dishes were the fries and cilantro spicey sauce, the chicken sauce with delicious sauce, and the curry bowl with corn and rice. Be sure to hydrate as the food will make you thirsty ...in a good way. Lol I will be back. As customer service was friendly, the establishment was clean and portions filling. Parking is tricky but if you find street parking after 6pm ...it's freeola. So glad we had an event here as I am always looking for good fried chicken! read more

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I was super excited to get the opportunity to try this spot out. It's been on my radar for a bit and now will likely be a go to spot! I really loved the rice bowl and the nice spin on the mango lassi. I loved hearing from the team that makes the magic happen. Their enthusiasm for their product really shines through and makes me want more! Excited to try the new heights spot as well. As always, big thanks to Jando and the Yelp team! read more

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A welcoming speech would've set a positive tone for the event. We all sat in a very hot room without any direction of what to come and it felt extremely disengaged when the samples were slowly rolling out. When the speeches were finally given, I was even more confused because the owners Preet, Surpreet, and Chef Jassi Bindra owns Amrina, one of Houston's finest upscale restaurant. While, Pok Pok Po derived from a kitchen experiment and was made into a casual concept. Part of me wanted to taste a little of Amrina in Pok Pok Po, but the correlation between two restaurants wasn't really connecting. The food did not live up to the expectation, a sliver of cabbage wedged into a sandwich doesn't scream innovative and heavily seasoned fries isn't flavor. I want to thank you Jando & Farrah for enduring both Sessions 1 & 2! Your time and effort is always accounted for. I'm just happy to participate and yay to more HAPI events. read more

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The menu they provided to us before the event and posted at our table, was rather extensive and I thought no way they're going to get all this done. But you know, I have seen it happen so I had faith in that!! Had no idea what was going on in the other room, or other tables. The AC issue didn't help so I just stayed put in my area cause, hot. But apparently...everyone got different dishes to try because they wanted this to be a showcase of what they offer (as explained by the GM in her speech at the end). My table ended up getting 5? samplings plus the mango lassi. I thought the staff were all so great and friendly and did the best they could. Amazing enthusiasm from their team. I'm sure they were working their tails off in the kitchen and shoutout to them for sure! the food gaps were noticeable and I hate to say it but I left disappointed :( always always appreciate the Yelp crew for organizing these events and getting word out to us! It is such a unique experience to be able to do and that's the fun part of it. read more

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Thank you Pok Pok Po & Bol for your hospitality this evening. The staff was really accommodating and cheerful, even in the second session without central AC. On the counter of Bol I found the menu I attached in my photos- I wish I got to try all of these dishes and was underwhelmed by the quantity of food we were offered. I was able to try the wings (7.5/10), chicken slider (8/10), lamb Bol (8/10), Bellie Bellie fries (8/10), mango lassi (8/10) , and the popodum chips (6/10). Would've loved to try the samosa and the wrap. A cold beer also would've helped the discomfort. Super cool to hear from the passionate team and hear from the owner about other concepts to come. It was hot and loud, but y'all did a great job keeping the energy high. They also sell really cute shirts & hats. I will be back to check out other foods. read more

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This was my first time trying this particular restaurant, and honestly, this is why I love Yelp. It introduxsz you to places you may not have found on your own. The mango lassi was full of flavor and tasted super fresh, with a great balance of yogurt and fruit. The fries were perfectly seasoned and crispy, so much so that I didn't even need any of the sauces they offered. A simple dab of ketchup did the job. For some of the dishes, I wasn't always sure what I was eating, since it was a little hard to hear the names being shared. But none of them disappointed. My favorites were the chicken slider (SUPER soft potato bread), the chicken bowl and the vegetable bowl with the huge chunks of cauliflower. Everything was so well seasoned that I didn't even miss the meat in the veggie dish. The staff was super sweet and welcoming. They also had the cutest merchandise. The GM, Sandy Chef Oak ans Manager GK were full of energy and constantly moving through the room to check on guests and support her team. The staff kept the dishes coming quickly and made sure everyone got a chance to try everything, even if it took a few times for other tables to flag them down. At the end of the event, they even held a trivia round with gift baskets as prizes. It was a fun way to reinforce key info about their business while also building a personal connection between the staff and future (returning) customers. I'll definitely be back for the happy hour special. It's an unbeatable deal and a great way to revisit some of the favorites I tried during this visit. For the A/C malfunctioning, I still felt comfortable during this particular event. read more

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First off, a 5/5 to Chef GK and GM Sandy for their hospitality. I called ahead of the event after reading some other Yelp reviews of the restaurant and asked if a nut allergy could be accommodated for, given that their primary frying is peanut oil. They found me during the event and brought me a few dishes, so I was very grateful to have the chance to try the sunflower oil substitution that they had! My review is for seating on the Pok Pok Po side. The cancellations by their alcohol vendors and broken A/C do not factor into this review as we were well informed of them ahead of time. We were let in at a timely manner and the advice on where to park (in the garage) was useful. We were welcomed in with a delicious, smooth mango lassi. Not too sweet, so I'm a fan. Following this, my table got several dishes: The chicken slider, some fries with various sauces, a rice dish, one chicken wing with a yogurt dip, and some puffy chips with guacamole. Out of these, I got the chicken slider and fries with the one green curry sauce that did not have nuts. I though the chicken slider was a bit dry without any sauces, but the green curry sauce with the fries were a banger! The last dish I got was a chicken wing, which was small but well spiced. Unfortunately, that's where our service stopped, around halfway into the duration of the event - both for me, and for the rest of my table. None of us got dishes from the bol side of the menu, which we did not realize at all was served to the other side of the room and so we didn't follow up to ask about it. No one else came by for us to ask and we incorrectly assumed that the staff were in the kitchen working on the next batch of dishes. (Yes, it was mentioned to ask if we missed anything, but we thought they were just prepping the next course until the mic was picked up - I don't think anyone on our side saw a samosa or burrito. I didn't, until I read the reviews from the first session). In summary, my table got five small bites (plus the Mango Lassi), and I got three (which I am thankful for the accommodations) out of twelve that were sent out ahead of time. I'm definitely interested in returning to try things from Bol given that their mango lassi was a refreshing starter, and the hospitality of the chef and owner. Thanks to Jando and the team for inviting us out! read more

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