8525 Blue Diamond Rd #130, Las Vegas, NV 89178
Monday-Sunday 11 a.m – 8 p.m
Apple Pay and cash accepted
Grade: B+
A small building called “T & B Cafe Express” is in between a dentist’s office and a gas station. The atmosphere is loud as cars rush by and pull in for the gas station next door. At first it was hard to find due to its lack of signage, but it is new to the area so I didn’t expect it to have one yet. Luckily there is a bright yellow flier on top of the building exclaiming, “Now Open!,” guiding me towards the cafe. The exterior was disturbingly plain and the windows were tinted, barely allowing me to see inside from a distance. Looking closer, I caught a glimpse of the delicious menu items along with the names of food displayed on a TV with a bright yellow sign by the cash register. Seeing these details is what compelled me to enter.
Entering the cafe, it was much cozier and welcoming than the exterior made it seem. I was welcomed by a cute wall decorated with cartoon animals, such as a pig, giraffe, and elephant. The sight of fuzzy, cuddly critters immediately made me feel at ease. To top it off, each table had an alternating blue and pink pattern, with fake roses to match. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was how unclean the walls were. There were dark stains along the walls that darkened the vibe, and the lighting relied on the dim sunlight that came from the bright sky outside.
The place seemed a little understaffed because the person I was ordering from was working alone; however, she was kind to me and allowed me to take my time ordering. She had a bright personality while we made small talk. When I ordered my food I got the chicken wings ($7.25), gyoza ($6.25), and spring rolls ($5.95) which each came in a pack of four. But because they were understaffed, it took approximately 15 minutes for my food to be finished. Surprisingly, I was compensated for my time as I had received an extra spring roll for my wait.
The first thing that I ate was the gyoza which came with a teriyaki sauce. The gyoza had a savory, delicious burst of flavor, in which you could taste the veggies immediately after you took a bite. It had a good balance between hard and soft; the first bite would be crunchy, followed by the juice from the light broth filled with vegetables, creating a nice soupy texture. The umami flavor works hand-in-hand with the compelling texture of the gyoza, making it a memorable dish.
The next item I tried was the spring roll paired with a sweet and sour chili sauce. The spring roll was oily, making the dish a bit messy to eat, but the sauce enhanced the outer shell of the spring roll making it crunchy, sweet, and salty. It was pleasantly warm and easy to enjoy despite the overwhelming variety of tastes. Since the variety of flavors was like a sweet and savory snack put together, it pieced together the sweet feeling of joy in my inner soul. If I’m ever craving a snack that flawlessly pairs sweet and salty, I will be going here again for the spring rolls.
Lastly, I had the chicken wings. As one would expect, the chicken wings were nice and crispy, cooked to just the right temperature, and had a perfect amount of grease; not too messy, but not extremely clean. There was just enough meat on the bones to satisfy one’s appetite. The chicken wings also came with a honey mustard sauce that enhanced the flavor to be bolder and more flavorful, but there was a subtle kick that made it a bit hard to eat. But, its sweet aftertaste made up for it.
Overall, this place had a nice atmosphere. The decor was still cute and welcoming, and it felt like a nice safe space to go whenever I’m thirsty or hungry for Asian cuisine. The customer service was sweet, and I would definitely come back again whenever I’m craving the perfect chicken wings or even gyoza, which I can proudly say were my favorite among my options. The perfect texture of each item enhanced my experience more than anything, and despite the long wait times, the food is well-worth the trip.
