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Category: Marikina

  • Review of Miguel and Maria (Lilac Street, Marikina City)

    Review of Miguel and Maria (Lilac Street, Marikina City)

    Dining at Miguel and Maria in Lilac Street is my mom’s dream-come-true. Ever since we featured it on Poptalk, she has been hinting at us to visit the restaurant as a family and try the same dishes we had in the “food crawl” episode (click here to watch) back in 2015. A few days before Mother’s Day, I still didn’t have a good place in mind, so I asked her for some suggestions. Without hesitation and as fast as she could type on Facebook Messenger, she replied “Miguel and Maria.” Her wish was granted. 🙂 It was a happy Mother’s Day indeed!

    After 1.5 years, I was back in Miguel and Maria. The restaurant layout and quality of food remained the same. One difference I noticed was the wall. Well, our pictures are on it. 🙂 I was too surprised. Thank you, Miguel and Maria! This “comfort food” restaurant is truly reliable, one that won’t smack you or your credit card across the face.

    Review of Miguel and Maria (Lilac Street, Marikina City)

    Since it was Mother’s Day, the restaurant was packed, a testament to the management’s commitment to quality dishes that draw huge lines and massive crowd appreciation. We were, as I remembered, fifth in the list, so we stayed in the car and ordered ahead. We got a table after an hour. Food was immediately served and everything was absolutely worth the wait. We started lunch with the Bacon Chowder (PhP 80). It was creamy, rich, and comforting with a smoky jolt from bacon. Yum!

    Coated in sweet, salty, and savory flavors, the Salted Egg Wings (PhP 220) had a crisp crust and a drippingly juicy interior. The skin gave way with a satisfying crunch to the steaming insides. The chicken wings were delectable alone, and similarly so when consumed with Miguel & Maria’s mayo jalapeno. Aside from salted egg (an ongoing food trend), there wasn’t anything fancy going on; it’s just hearty, satisfying soul food that sticks to your ribs.

    We love salmon and almost always order it when present in a restaurant’s menu. The Honey Garlic Salmon (PhP 300) looked more interesting than usual and it definitely deserved a space on the table. It was garlicky, made with sweet-seasoned baked saffron, and served on a bed of mashed potato with a side of roasted vegetables. The fish came out deeply flavored, moist, and tender. The kick of garlic and the sweet, floral notes of honey are a match made in foodie heaven.

    Presented as a generous slab of baby back ribs, Miguel & Maria’s Baby Back Ribs (PhP 265) was marinated and perked up by the zing of their homemade rib sauce, grilled to perfection, and served with coleslaw and java rice. The meat itself was suitably tender, almost falling-off-the-bone, but with just enough bite, and a pleasant amount of char. It was tad fatty and fortunately not overwhelmingly so, with a good fat-to-lean ratio. So good!

    Creamy Pesto Shrimp (PhP 220) would be a true standout for fans of pesto since it’s lustily-flavored with pesto sauce and filled with a lot of thick, creamy goodness. The pasta took in the summery flavors of freshly picked basil leaves, topped with shrimps, and served with garlic bread. Shrimps were the tender element that made the dish more scrumptious.

    We also enjoyed the crispy and crunchy Roasted Pork Belly (PhP 290) with garlic parsley rice. There are better versions of pork belly that I’ve had in recent memory, but this one also passed with flying colors. Flavor was bold, staying true to the quintessence of Filipino dish. It’s an awesome addition to any meal and a treat that’s hard to beat. Veggies on the side were a good accompaniment to the taste and texture overall.

    For a sweet ending, we shared a slice of Blueberry Cheesecake (PhP 150) and an ample serving of Stuffed Nutella Cookie Ala Mode (PhP 150). Loaded down with cream cheese, the blueberry cheesecake was worth every calorie. It’s a classic, a darling dessert that seemingly never goes out of fashion. The warm cookie, on the other hand, was also good. It had just the right amount of sweetness, and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it instantly took our taste buds on an island vacation. 🙂

    Price for Value:

    Again, Miguel & Maria in Lilac Street didn’t disappoint, and we’re happy to have celebrated Mother’s Day right here. Featuring a comfortable theme and a casual vibe, this restaurant delivers excellent and delicious dishes with attention to detail. Enlivened with modern presentation for great style and flair that was complemented with friendly service, the food receives a special nod that leaves diners feeling cherished. Prices are fair based on value. We’d be glad to return for another visit next time! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/miguelandmaria/” name=”Miguel & Maria” description=”89 Lilac St, Marikina, 1811 Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 0998 972 2456″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2017-06-04″ ]

  • Pop Talk GMA News TV Guesting: Lilac Street, Marikina Food Crawl

    Pop Talk GMA News TV Guesting: Lilac Street, Marikina Food Crawl

    Thanks to the endorsement of my KTG Dad, Richie, I had another opportunity to guest on a national TV show, meet interesting people, and gain new experiences that I might not have otherwise had. We filmed a “food crawl” episode of Pop Talk last month in three restaurants that are within walking distance of one another along Lilac Street in the second district in Marikina. It will be airing this Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 8:00PM on GMA News TV so please mark your calendar and watch it. 😀

    Hosted by Kuya Tonipet Gaba, “Pop Talk” features different trending restaurants, travel destinations, and innovative gadgets to audiences weekly. At the end of program, host and guests in the show decide and conclude whether the restaurant/destination/item reviewed is a “pop” or a “flop.”

    Pop Talk GMA News TV Guesting: Lilac Street, Marikina Food Crawl

    When food crawling, pacing is an absolute key and walking in between is always good. Adapting the two-bite strategy sounds most ideal, but when faced with food that look so good, it’s tempting to opt in and eat more to make the most out of the dining experience.  💡 

    Together with Kuya Tonipet (TV Host, GMA Network), Chef Mark E. Bernardino (CEO, Center for Asian Culinary Studies-Subic Bay and Owner of Organico Gourmet), and Ashley Ortega (Artist, GMA Network), I embarked upon the journey of adventurous eating where we sampled a total of 20+ dishes from three of the hottest restaurants now in Lilac Street.

    People working behind the scenes were amazing. I saw how a team of program writer, researcher, camera men, make-up artist, host and guests collaborated and worked to make the show happen—rain or shine.

    First stop: Miguel & Maria

    Freshly modeled and boasting a stylish modern interior, Miguel and Maria has just joined the pioneering old restaurant favorites in Marikina last February 16, 2015 to create a much more vibrant food culture in the neighborhood. Dishing out an inspired mix of ultimate comfort food, this joint served us with hearty European cooking executed with precision and well-sourced ingredients.

    with Ash and Miguel

    Did their food specialties successfully appeal to our palates? With a price point of PhP 180-PhP 300 per dish, does this restaurant deserve a return visit soon?

    Location Address: 89 Lilac Corner Panaroma Street, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
    Contact Numbers: (02) 4232624, +639989722456
    Opening Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11AM to 2PM, 5PM to 10PM, Fri-Sat 11AM to 2PM, 5PM to 12MN

    Second stop: Brad and Pit’s Ribshack

    A sweet addition to the row of restaurants left and right along Lilac Street, this charming rib shack offers a delicious Latin American menu written on the wall behind the counter. Focusing on ribs, wings, sandwiches and inventive drinks, Brad and Pit’s Ribshack is festooned with design elements that preached immense impression of a funky and casual vibe.

    Will this restaurant be able to inspire first-timers to become regulars? With food prices ranging from PhP 149 to PhP 335, is dining here deceivingly expensive or reasonable?

    with Brad
    with Chef Pit

    Location Address: 116 Lilac Street, SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
    Contact Number: (02) 503 1656
    Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 10AM-10PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-11PM

    Third stop: Burrito Brothers

    For four years now, Burrito Brothers has been churning out Mexican fare including tacos, burritos, flauta, quesadilla, nachos and wraps in Lilac Street. While filling food and tasty sides keep customers queuing at this al fresco setting, did we all agree that it’s an impressive place that’s worth checking out?

    Burrito Brothers owner

    Can Burrito Brothers possibly be at the forefront of the “burrito revolution”?

    Location Address: 69 Lilac Street, SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
    Contact Number: (02) 5009637
    Opening Hours: 11AM-11PM daily

    Wrap Up: The Verdict

    The dynamics of guesting as food/restaurant reviewers in Pop Talk included not just stuffing ourselves with enticing food and discovering what’s recommended and what’s not but also judging and describing them critically while in the spirit of a day-long binge on camera.

    To deliver our verdict in terms of food tastes and quality, restaurant ambiance, and price for value after the Marikina food trip, we moved to Breakfast Brothers to reveal and explain our “POP or FLOP” votes individually. Which of the restaurants are a hit and which of them are a miss? My lips are sealed for now. 😛

    UPDATE: Here’s the video uploaded on YouTube. 🙂

  • Review of Pan De Amerikana (Concepcion Dos, Marikina City)

    Review of Pan De Amerikana (Concepcion Dos, Marikina City)

    Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant is one of the target restaurants foodies wandering in Marikina would want to dine in. This place has a truly incredible, one-of-a-kind setting where you can find and enjoy pan de sal, ensaymada and other breakfast items all day. If you are a sucker for great bread or one who’s fond of incorporating it into meals any chance you get, this fine restaurant in Marikina must be in for your liking. 🙂

    Review of Pan De Amerikana (Concepcion Dos, Marikina City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The layout and design is absolutely gorgeous. No doubt, Pan De Amerikana is built as a charming place. The luxury of is interior is breath-taking as it almost looked like Wonderland. There’s a lot of quirky stuff that should pique your interest, so keep your eyes open and don’t forget to bring a camera. 🙂

    The décors are effortlessly classy, bringing a sense of nostalgia without the tackiness. I was especially fascinated by the giant chessboard with 3.5-feet high plastic chess pieces imported all the way from New York City, life-sized wind-driven Netherland windmill, rope bridge (on the second floor, sorry it’s not in the pictures), koi pond, traviesa benches, calesa, Italian colonnade European ruins, frames on a wall and the indoor tropical rainforest plants that serve a purpose—to give a nice feel-good factor as they lift your spirits while blending well in the background.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The wait staff took good care of us. The kind management makes customers feel at home and grant them their own privacy. Everyone is allowed to pose and take pictures. For photography enthusiasts and bloggers, I know that this alone would make visiting Pan De Amerikana in Marikina be worth a shot!

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Our wholesome meal started with Mega-sized Wheat Pan De Sal (PhP 6 per piece) which tasted better than the regular pan de sal you find in most bakery shops. It was soft and the dough of the bread was very well done.

    Next, we had the Mega-sized Wheat Ensaymada (PhP 12 per piece), which appeared to be the regular ensaymada with sugar and butter we know. There was no additional oomph of creaminess or softness I was looking for to describe the item as exceptional. Nevertheless, this should not be missed!

    Filled with bean sprouts (toge), the vegetable spring rolls or Lumpiang Gulay (PhP 55) was standard. I’m happy to report anyway that these rolls had a perfect crisp without being greasy. Slather them to the vinegar-based sauce or ask for chili to make the flavor intense.

    The Bangus Sisig (PhP 140) was salty, fishy (not very fresh) and quite dry. It lacked onions and probably to improve this dish, mango salsa should be added to the concoction because a squeeze of calamansi was not successful in giving enough tartness and dimension to the sizzling course.

    I ordered a variant of everyone’s favorite egg dish: the omelet. Pan De Amerikana’s Mushroom and Cheese Omelet (PhP 70) came stuffed with mushrooms, which were not the most visually inspiring element on the plate. It was sad that I had neither seen nor tasted the cheese at all when I initially had hoped that the cheese would be an equalizer. Their runny, half-moon omelet can be said as your average solid brunch comfort food, but I think I prefer sticking to more unique offerings for now.

    Lastly, the Beef Tapa (PhP 70) was a hearty treat served with a mound of rice and egg. Though dried, the beef jerky was still somehow tender, with only minimal tug-back. I feel it could also go nicely when eaten together with the wheat pan de sal. Unfortunately, I have yet to test this idea.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    If you’re in the quest to try dining at a restaurant in Marikina with unique ambiance, your adventure should bring you to Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant. However, don’t expect the food to be exemplary. These are comfort food that will make your mood neutral and just satisfy your hunger while enjoying the relaxing vibe.

    Apart from this main branch in Marikina, Pan De Amerikana has other branches that are also guaranteed to give every customer the best experience of their lives with every visit. Worth to mention is the branch in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City which is actually the first and only upside down restaurant in Southeast Asia. Just wow, right! 😆 It is open from 6am to 9pm every day except Sundays (6am to 3pm).

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pan-de-Amerikana-Official/121119677926007″ name=”Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant (Concepcion Dos, Marikina)” description=”92 General Ordonez Street, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City, Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 4752398, +63 9175308824″ author=”Rochkirstin SAntos” pubdate=”2014-06-24″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Marikina Branch Operating Hours:
    Monday to Saturday 6:00AM to 7:00PM
    Sunday 7:00AM to 3:00PM

    Other Branches:
    Pandesal Since 1950’s – 118 Katipunan Avenue, White Plains, Quezon City
    Telephone: +632 421-1966, +63 917 881-1884

    Unit 4, Madison Building, Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan
    Telephone: +632 384-6741, +63 917-5664424

    Constellation Drive corner Makati Avenue, Belair, Makati Avenue
    Telephone: +632 387-9413, +63917 571-2224

  • Review of Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)

    Review of Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)

    We love trying different cuisines and socializing with friends. Dining out is hence an indulgence and an essential part of our weekend getaway. In Marikina, I’ve observed that there’s no shortage of good restaurants that promise both great ambiance and food. Café Lidia is noted as one of the spotlights for impressive style whether the occasion calls for casual or fine dining.

    In this feature, we handpicked Café Lidia in Calumpang for dinner last June 7, 2014. Read through this post to decide if this restaurant is one that you would want to add to your wish list. 🙂

    Review of Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    A steward in the local dining scene in Marikina, Café Lidia is like a spacious house affixed with calming vibes of old and wooden furniture. The interior is mixed with modern and traditional touches. Its walls are accented with bricks and horizontal lines, and the color gave a good complement to the patterned floor tiles. There are separate dining areas for those who want to have a family-style or big-group meals and also for those who come in smaller groups or a couple date.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Service was prompt and we didn’t have to wait long for our dishes to arrive. The waiter was knowledgeable about food offerings and was friendly to talk with. Food was nicely presented and landed on the table. The staff here didn’t disappoint.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    We had gone for almost all Café Lidia’s signatures. As an appetizer, the Buffalo Wings (PhP 180/six pieces) were a classic done well. We enjoyed the savoriness of this simple comfort food. I’d recommend it with some reservations. It’s a nice palatable appetizer that could be better with some spice.

    Sufficiently warmed up, we proceeded to the Pasta ala Lidia (PhP 160) with anchovies, salty and distinct olives, capers, tuna and tomatoes in olive oil.  I don’t always applaud pasta, but this platter was pretty solid and tasty. The pasta noodles were light and springy and the ingredients delivered brightness

    The House Special Pizza (PhP 230/8 slices) made with pepperoni, ham, bacon, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and pineapples was not something I’d try again. The cheese didn’t taste high quality. 🙁 I consider a pizza really good if it exceeds the sum of its parts, but this one was wee bit tired. Nothing fresh and new about it.

    The Seafood Rice (PhP 205) was quite like a typical bowl of paella rice. The green peas and bell peppers brought a tasty, balancing sweetness to the equation, and the egg exhibited a pleasant change to the overwhelming flavor of mixed seafood (shells, shrimps and squid rings).

    The Beef Salpicao (PhP 225), served with garlic rice and salad, was not too tender and easy to chew. It’s not to die for, but I can bet that this version of beef salpicao is a dish that will always hit home for Filipinos.

    With crackling skin, the Porchetta (PhP 230) is pork covered and wrapped in fatty pork. How awesome is that? 🙂 My friends say you can’t go wrong with this treat. The fatty belly had a portion rich in juices and its connective tissues ostensibly helped to keep the meat moist. It looked good but not enough to tempt me successfully.

    The pounded chicken breast pan-fried and then smothered in a rich marsala mushroom pan sauce was wonderful. The dish is called Chicken Marsala (PhP 265), featured with mushroom sun-dried tomato and marsala wine served with mixed vegetables that you would be oohing and ahhing over.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Prices are friendly on the wallet and overall food tastes are fair, so I see clearly why dining at this restaurant often requires a wait for a table. Still, I hope Café Lidia’s food entrees (at least these ones we’ve tried) would improve more. Having good ambiance and customer service, it has the potential to grow into another great foodie/culinary destination in Marikina.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Lidia/138852266155246 64 ” name=”Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)” description=”Calderon Street, Calumpang, Marikina City, Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 6477606″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-06-21″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Rustic Mornings by Isabelo (San Roque, Marikina City)

    Review of Rustic Mornings by Isabelo (San Roque, Marikina City)

    Last weekend, we stayed at a friend’s family rest house in Marikina overnight. For the most part, our bonding activities included playing fun board games such as Jenga, Guesstures, Pictogram, Taboo and Suspend Family Game and food tripping. We had dinner at Café Lidia, breakfast at Pan de Amerikana and lunch at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo.

    Of the three, it was Rustic Mornings by Isabelo which I’ve always wanted to visit. In fact, it’s in my bookmarked list in Zomato. 🙂 I’ve heard lots of great comments on Rustic Mornings’ surroundings and less on its food. Despite the rumored downside, I felt ecstatic when I learned that we’ll be dining in this “hidden gem” in Marikina the next day! Visiting this quaint and beautiful restaurant can be a lifetime’s worth of good memory. You can pretend otherwise, but I’m not going to. 😛

    Review of Rustic Mornings by Isabelo (San Roque, Marikina City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    As expected through pictures posted online, the ambiance in Rustic Mornings by Isabelo is just perfect! It’s the perfect setting for a first date, romantic proposals, and any celebratory milestone or event that requires you to leave a nice impression on someone or something. The background music consisted of a playlist of evergreen songs from 70s to 80s. I reckon thus that anyone who’s born in those years would love to linger at Rustic Mornings to enjoy the music and reminisce their good past.

    The theme of the restaurant explodes mostly with white and blue, which looked very serene and pleasing to the eyes. The pieces of furniture are unique with a consistent rustic feel.

    The dining areas are separated into the outdoor garden and the air-conditioned room that’s best described as homey. Both areas are massively decorated with cute trinkets and interesting displays (china dishes, pretty silverware, vases, jars, etc.).

    With chandeliers and lamps that illuminate and make the space more enchanting, you can trick your mind for a moment and feel like you’ve been warped through a downright fairyland-princess-rainbows-and-unicorn inspired extravaganza.

    Note: Reservations are a must in Rustic Mornings by Isabelo.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    The service was fine but an improvement I can suggest is to make the staff look and present themselves in a more cheerful and welcoming way, to match the ambiance at least. When we first came in, I thought the indoor dining room would be an almost blind spot since most waiters were outside, but there remained one staff who accommodated requests so we did not have to go out or wait long.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    We ordered Rustic Mornings’ best-selling Waffles, Buffalo Chicken Strips and Salad Served with Marinara Chipotle (PhP 250). The buffalo chicken strips were disappointing. The pieces tasted almost bland and not at all noteworthy. The greens were fine, but the best was really the waffles which came with the helping of creamy butter. The waffles were plush, soft with a texture closer to pancakes than our traditional crunchy breakfast waffles. They were steamy and served still warm.

    Rustic Mornings offers three types of burritos: beef, chicken and fish. I preferred to order the fish of course but Louie wanted the Crunchy Beef Burrito (PhP 185). He won—and so two large cuts of beef burritos made into our loop for lunch. He said the burritos were delicious, and I respectfully disagreed. The burrito had rice and crispy beef bits jammed into a fried flour tortilla. I had imagined the flavor to be strong but it was not. The meat was not grilled to the point where you could taste the char; it was rather dry and that’s unacceptable.

    As well, the flavor of Cheesy Chicken Fricasee (PhP 300) didn’t quite hit the note for me. With heavy cream, it came out to be literally too cheesy—the type that you’d get easily grow tired of eating. In Filipino, this is what we call nakakaumay. So definitely, the bowl of “nakakaumay na dish” must be eaten with rice and shared by at least three people.

    The next dish is a brunch staple: 3-Egg Cheese Omelet (PhP 240). It was made with three kinds of mushrooms (fresh button, portobello, shiitake) served with two slices of crunchy ciabatta bread, herbed butter and fruit jam. The taste wasn’t inventive but was good. I liked that the egg was set on the outside but still fluffy and pillowy on the inside.

    Our friends had the following drinks, the sugar bombs which I deprive myself of: Vanilla Speculoos, Chocolate Milkshake and Super Sunrise (Pineapple, Orange, Strawberries, Red Grapes).

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    In the end, based on the food alone, having a meal in Rustic Mornings can be a hit or a miss depending on what you order. Food prices were not wallet-busting but were okay considering the taste, presentation and the size of serving. When dining at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo in Marikina, it’s best not to let tight budgets mean tight belts. Think of it as buying the entire experience and you’ll love every mouthful. 😀

    This was Louie’s birthday treat!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RusticMornings” name=”Rustic Mornings by Isabelo ” description=”11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5106914, +63 9178146824″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-06-12″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    Review of Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    Many of people I know say that I look more Korean than Chinese, because of my eyes and complexion perhaps. Add my large-framed glasses and I’d look Korean even more. So when Bulgogi Brother’s staff welcomed me in their door and greeted me another “anyong-haseyo” (meaning hello or how do you do?) then asked if I already have company inside, I should have replied back in straight Korean!

    네. 잘 지냈어요. 내 친구를 찾고 있어요. 실례합니다.
    Ne. Chal ji-nae-sso-yo. Nae chinguleul chajgo iss-eoyo. Shilyeh hamnida.
    I’m fine, thanks. I’m looking for my friend. Excuse me.

    Nyahaha. Yup, I could have totally nailed it. Kidding lah! 😛 Moving on, let’s go down to business…

    My friends and I doved into Bulgogi Brothers at Greenbelt 5 because we have not been there before and we have not heard of other amazing restaurant reviews in the area apart from the usual. (So if you’re reading this, you can help us by posting a comment of your suggestion below. I’d appreciate to learn about unique and fairly new places to dine in at GB, Makati.) Also, we are fans of restaurants by the Bistro Group as all of them serve really great food.

    Operated by Creative Restaurant Concept (CRCI) and opened on September 10, 2011, this branch of Bulgogi Brothers is the first ever Bulgogi Brothers franchise outside Korea!

    Review of Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    The interior was sleek, classy and modern. It was extremely clean, with everything you could think of provided. What I liked most here was the coziness of the room; what I didn’t like was the dim lighting. Whenever I’m eating out, I prefer lights shining bright like diamonds (♫) to vividly see the food and maximize satisfaction through vision.


    Like Kogi Bulgogi, Bulgogi Brothers has an induction cooker to cook raw meat installed on the dining tables. So if you are worrying that you might smell like food afterwards, don’t. This restaurant has a good ventilation system that won’t let the smell of food stick onto your shirt or hair.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Members of the staff were responsive and very accommodating. The waitress assigned to our table handed the menu and served banchan (appetizers) composed of corn, boil sweet potatoes and quail eggs, kimchi (spiced preserved cabbage) and some sliced vegetables before the main meal like in true Korean-style eating arrangement.

    Later, another waiter made a show at our table when he cooked the Bulgogi Brothers Special for us, and he was quite helpful to seek our other requests. ^_^

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    We started with the Dubu Steak (PHp 295), an ala carte which featured six pieces of triangular fried tofu steak with Teriyaki sauce, bean sprouts and minced beef. I was not happy with the taste and texture of the tofu. It was not anything special and I rate it inferior to the one we normally purchase from the tofu factory in Divisoria. Korean tofu should not taste this way; Bulgogi Brothers can do better than that, considering that tofu as a canvas where culinary art is made can be mixed with a lot more exotic Korean ingredients and absorb different flavors like a sponge.

    Next in queue for our palates was the Haemul Bibimbap (PHp 430)—rice topped with assorted vegetables. seafood (shrimp and squid) and an egg. This one lacked flavor and I’m not sure if it’s because we only asked the waitress to pour only half of the hot sauce in and mix it all up for the rice dish. Frankly, this bibimbap wasn’t that enjoyable to eat.

    The last food we ordered was delivered smartly as it commanded all our attention. Bulgogi Brothers’ signature dish, Un-yang Style Bulgogi (PHp 595), came with six pieces of heart-shaped marinated marbled beef, sweet potatoes and onions. It was as much adventure as an ordinary plated dish, which prompted us about a solid 10 minutes of excitement without guaranteed conversation. (We were so mesmerized by the presentation and we were so busy eating that we forgot to talk.) It came with a bowl of white rice, by the way.

    Who can miss Korean ice creams for desserts? Not us. We had the espresso Cledor bar (PHp 95) with hard chocolate shell cut into three. It tasted like the classic Pinoy Pinipig Crunch, double the crunch and the frozen deliciousness. And for the sake of sharing and documenting, the drink on the left (see picture below) was the Raspberry Tea Mint (PHp 150)—raspberry tea concentrated and garnished with mint leaves—ordered by my friend.

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    The food got minor credit from me. Prices are expensive for the little serving. Assume a budget of PHp 500-800 for a single dish if you want to dine in at Bulgogi Brothers. If that doesn’t sound affordable, go to Kogi Bulgogi instead for a much reasonable spending and sink your teeth into a more advanced level of “pretty good.”

    Bulgogi Brothers
    3/F Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St Legazpi Village, Makati
    For inquiries, call (02) 621-6216