Offering a fun way to choose meals, Red Bowl Mongolian Stir-Fry customers get the chance to gather their own ingredients before watching a chef cook their meal.

The interactive style of cooking is modeled after a legend that says 12th century Mongol warriors, led by Genghis Khan, heated their shields over open fires to grill food in the fields of battle.

The Mongolian-inspired paintings and dcor of the restaurant also show the inspiration of the centuries-old culture. Customers aren't likely to get transported back in time thanks to the two flat-screen televisions broadcasting sports programs. The piped-in classic rock music also keeps diners firmly planted in the 21^st century.

The build your own bowl approach allows customers to pick their own fresh veggies or fruits, protein, seasoning and sauce.

Bowls cost $8.99 at lunch time and $9.99 at dinner with the option to order a bottomless bowl (all you can eat) for $10.99 and $12.99, respectively.

There are 10 stir-fry meals to build or you can get adventurous and combine whatever ingredients you like.

Some bowls are spicier than others if customers stick to the suggested seasonings. Topped with teriyaki sauce, Dragon Sauce and Old Bay powder, the Red Bowl Teriyaki Chicken is listed as mild while Warriors Chicken and Bay Town Seafood are spicy. Some bowls aren't spicy at all, like the Mongolian Empire, which is seasoned with garlic sauce, bourbon sauce and garlic salt.

After you hand over the ingredients of choice to the chef, a waiter brings out your meal.

While there is only one size of a bowl to choose from, portions are generous. The bowls themselves are shaped with half of the brim lowered so customers can scoop food in their mouths' with ease.

Red Bowl features eight appetizers ranging in price from the $2.50 spring roll to the $6.95 minced shrimp in lettuce wrap. There is also a small assortment of desserts and a kid's menu called "Future Warriors Meals" for children 11 and under. All kid's meals cost $5.99.

Red Bowl Mongolian Stir-Fry

12312 Barker Cypress Road

Cypress 281-256-1888

www.redbowlstirfry.com