Rochkirstin | com

Category: Manila

  • Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    “Shabu” is a slang term for the drug methamphetamine used in Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Double the word and you get a different meaning altogether. Funny how definitions vary just by adding a few repeating syllables, sometimes. Here is one example.

    Specifically, “shabu-shabu,” a term also introduced by the Japanese, is a dish which traces its roots back to the Chinese’ hot pots. Like sukiyaki in style, this dish is soup-based with all ingredients (meat and vegetables) put and boiled together to form a unique and savory taste.

    It has been quite a while since we’ve last dined in a shabu-shabu restaurant. Last Sunday, my uncle treated us to one of the restaurants he mostly frequents when he’s in Manila: Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant.

    Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★☆☆☆

    At Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu-Shabu Restaurant, you can expect to see typical Chinese restaurant styling. What are those? Bright fluorescent lights, paintings and Chinese ornaments hang on the walls, simple chairs and white tables (no tablecloth) that are ready to catch the oils and sauces that inevitably fly as noodles are slurped and slippery slivers of meat and veggies splash into the boiling broth.

    To be exact, the place isn’t visually appealing compared to the elegant digs in restaurants in malls in the city. This is not the perfect venue for a chatty group because sizzles of shabu shabu and conversations from everywhere in the room can be heard.

    The poor ambiance may be a sign that Lau Chan serves to reinforce that diners are there for the FOOD, which gives it all the credit in that section (see below).

    Service: ★★★★☆

    The wait staff was outgoing and very attentive to our needs. Orders came quickly maybe because they were served as raw. We didn’t have designated cooks at the table so everyone just joined forces to make a good meal.

    If it’s your first time attempting to eat shabu shabu and are unfamiliar with the whole shabu-shabu experience, it would be best for the waiter or waitress to explain the process to you. In addition, if you do not know which soup base to choose, staff would have to recommend the safest one for your preference.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    You can order several different ingredients and flavor of the broth for the soup in hot pot to create a hearty combination. If you’re fond of eating meat, then meatballs, slices of beef and pork insides can be your best bets.

    For us seafood lovers and vegetarians, we had two plates of Chinese spinach (polonchay) (PHp 75), watercress (PHp 50) and vermicelli (sotanghon) and a platter of each of the following: lobster balls (PHp 140), Japanese sweet corn (PHp 40), golden enoki mushrooms (PHp 70) and tofu (PHp 35). Additionally, we ordered fresh wanton (PHp 100), sliced chicken meat (PHp 80) and fried rice. For the soup, choices were plain, sate, yuan suey, Chinese medicine and zhi chuan malat teng. What could those other soups taste like? We didn’t want to venture out of our comfort zone so we settled for the one most familiar aside from the plain soup, which was “sate” (PHp 60).

    The vegetables were fresh and crisp, and everything was delicious especially when dipped to sauces that help to balance the taste. The sate was not too salty and not too spicy. We waited only for a few seconds to cook the food through the boiling water on electric stove. It was a pretty standard shabu shabu, but it was good! We left very full and satisfied. 🙂

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    There’s no pomp and only modest circumstances at this small, nondescript restaurant, but foodies on a budget can still get a culinary thrill at Lau Chan. Overall, ingredients for the shabu shabu were tasty and wallet-friendly. They also offer other Chinese dishes (not for shabu shabu) with price ranging from PHp 200 to PHp 400 on the average, for lunch and dinner.

    Note: it’s cash only here, so be sure to bring your billfold.

    Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu
    1204 A. Mabini Street, Malate, Metro Manila, Philippines
    For inquiries, contact +63 (02) 5224699 or +63 (02) 5218800

  • Review of Piadina Italiana (Robinson’s Place, Manila)

    Review of Piadina Italiana (Robinson’s Place, Manila)

    This was the nth time we were dining in a restaurant in Robinson’s Place, and we made sure we tried another one we have not been to before. After one round of evaluation, Louie decided to go Italian for dinner: Piadina Italiana. According to its website, “Piadina serves the best kinds of Italian cuisine.”

    “Piadina” sounds weird to me and a quick reference from Wikipedia revealed that it is a type of flat, round and unleavened bread that traces its history back to the 4th Century. While Filipinos favor rice, Italians choose piadina as one of the staple food in homes and in restaurants, regardless of their social class.

    I was not specially hungry that time but I get a hankering for something savory. Too bad, Piadina was not the one to match the cacophony of flavors I was aiming to have. Nevertheless, here’s my review of the food and establishment.

    Review of Piadina Italiana (Robinson’s Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    After stepping inside Piadina, it became apparent that this restaurant, contrary to how its website promoted it, is not as hot as it’s supposed to be. We were the only customers. But maybe because the time at the clock read a little past 6:30PM, it was too early to judge. At the strike of 7PM, people came gushing to eat there. And yes, it was some sort of a gathering place for them.

    The interior’s theme was all red. The couches were comfortable to sit on. The lack of decor might be their way of reinforcing diners to concentrate on their food.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    There were two chefs and one service crew taking orders and bills. They were quite fast and efficient.

    Food: ★☆☆☆☆

    As a starter, we had Grilled Mozzarella with Anchovies Sauce (PHp 140) which was like French toast with chewy mozzarella in between. The taste was subtle and it stood out only when I added a drop of chili sauce.

    Next was Rimini Mare (PHp 380), a classic tomato-based pasta dish, served with piadina, a thin Italian flatbread made with white flour. I’ve shared before in this blog that I don’t like pastas with white sauce. Now I say that pasta with red tomato sauce that is not sweet does not also appeal to me either. Probably I have grown so much familiarity with Filipino’s version of spaghetti which is sweet that I detest anything that is not closely like it. The texture was okay though.

    Another dish which saddened me was the piadina caponata with bell peppers, celery, eggplant, tomatoes, raisins, mozzarella and lettuce (PHp 170). This order came with cream of celery soup which also did not help to convince me that Piadina’s food and other offerings are any good. As someone who is a fan of cream of “some vegetable” soup and purees, I knew that Piadina’s version of the cream of celery soup was particularly a disappointment. It missed the mark by the widest margin, as it was too oily. The taste did not do good justice to the original celery.

    Exclusive to those who are willing to risk their appetite to enter a relatively barren, personality-less restaurant with almost tasteless food, Piadina is the place to beat.

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    There’s no shortage of places to eat in Robinson’s Place. I think that my experience is enough testimony that you should not risk going to Piadina if you don’t want to waste money. Prices of food are not that affordable compared to the value of ingredients used, the presentation and the taste.

    Piadina Italiana
    2/F Robinsons Place Manila, Padre Faura Wing, Adriatico Street, Ermita, Manila
    For inquiries, call (02) 567-6527

    Update: This branch was already closed a few weeks after I published this post. 😐

    Other branches:

    2/F EDSA cor. Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City.
    637-5809

    Megastip, Bldg. A, Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City
    687-7345

    4/F Food Park, 6766 The Enterprise Center, Paseo de Roxas cor. Ayala Avenue, Makati City
    752-5019

    G/F Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi Street, Ayala Center Makati City
    752-5019

  • Review of BRGR: The Burger Project’s Newest Fries (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Review of BRGR: The Burger Project’s Newest Fries (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Oops, we did it again! 😛

    We had been to The Burger Project before and had a great casual dining experience. You can refer to my post here for the review.

    This time around, with the same gal pals, we had our second visit to BRGR for lunch two weekends ago.

    Originally, I planned to design a burger with a different set of ingredients from our last visit. But it just so happened that I had my braces newly adjusted in the morning, so I could not chew on hard food. Alternatively, I was greeted by The Burger Project’s newest food offerings for the month of January: the fries!

    Why hello there, gorgeous simplicity!

    French fries have always been my top comfort food. However, I seldom eat them because I am well informed of the fact that fries are made up of bad carbs are deep fried in trans fats.

    Anyway, while my girl friends ordered DIY burgers…

    Review of BRGR: The Burger Project’s Newest Fries (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    I had my take on the Animal Fries and the Chili Cheese Fries.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The animal fries consisted of cheese, minced garlic, grilled Onions, special BRGR sauce, cheese sauce and cheddar all over. The serving was enough for two, when both diners have their own burger. As for myself, I had managed to finish all because I didn’t have other orders apart from the super thirst-quenching vanilla milkshake.

    I also tried the chili cheese fries and they are equally as good. You can take one bite and your eyes roll back into your head, savor each tiny morsel until you’re using your finger to lick up every last bite from the plate. 😀 They are like KFC fries, only flavored with condiments.

    Ambiance and Service: ★★★★☆

    Still as pleasant as our previous experience

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Each order of the fries cost PHp 135, while the vanilla milkshake put a dent worth PHp 145 off my wallet. I find the items a bit pricey, when compared to the prices of regular fries and milkshakes in other restaurants. I mean, there was nothing special in taste and in presentation so I won’t give much credit.

  • Review of Mexicali (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Review of Mexicali (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    For the most part, I don’t like eating burritos because I thought they are food stuffed with too much meat. But when learned that Mexicali offers steaming affairs of burritos with grilled vegetable stuffing, we just had to get in and try.

    Review of Mexicali (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Everywhere was colorful and vibrant. The dining area was rectangular with limited seating capacity. The design did not exactly have a semblance with Mexican restos but was pleasant anyway.

    This branch of Mexicali is not one with glass enclosure but that which only has one wall where the counter table stands against. The seats faced people walking in the mall, so if you are conscious on how you look while eating, this restaurant won’t be for your liking.

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    Service was as expected. Mexicali is pay-as-you-order restaurant. The dishes would be served by the staff later on the table.

    Food: ★★☆☆☆

    Tightly rolled, Mexicali’s vegetarian burrito (PHp 145) did not taste so well until I tossed on some salsa and other condiments. The chilli sauce brought sneaky heat. It was that sort of hotness that could build pressure enough to sympathize with cartoon characters who get so red in the face that steam comes out of their ears.

    To tame the flavor down, I drank water and had bites of the Mexican nacho chips (PHp 119 for solo and PHp 239 for sharing) that let my tongue dance. Yup, the nachos were that crispy as any other chips are. No big deal.

    I give two stars this time since Mexicali’s vegetarian food, though made with quality ingredients as claimed, did not satisfy my well-trained taste buds. 😆 I might visit next time and order a different set to give this restaurant another chance. Fajitas, grilled shrimp plate, quesadillas and their combo meals look good on the menu.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Compared to American-style Mexican restaurants that sell basic Mexican food, Mexicali is rated relatively cheap. Each order is priced at about Php 101 to Php 300.

    Mexicali
    2nd Floor Robinson’s Place Manila, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico St., Ermita, Manila, Ermita
    For inquiries, call (02) 400-6869

    Other branches:

    • Upper Ground Level, Bldg. A, SM Me gamall, EDSA corner J. Vargas Ave., Brgy. Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City, Wack-Wack | 635-6079
    • EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City, Ortigas
      American | 636-7775
    • Promenade Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, San Juan, Greenhills | 725-3921
    • 3/F Yuchengo Tower RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., Makati City, Central Bus. Dist.
    • Trinoma, EDSA corner North Avenue, North Triangle, Quezon City, North Avenue | 916-6477
    • The Link, North Drive cor. Makati Ave., Makati, Metro Manila, Central Bus. Dist. | 701-2350
    • New Glorietta Mall, Ayala Center, Makati City, Central Bus. Dist.
    • G/F The link, Ayala Center, Makati City., Central Bus. Dist.
    • G/F JVR Bldg., 5782 Felipe St. Bel-air, Makati, Bel-Air | 895-1919
    • 2/F Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Makati, Central Bus. Dist.
    • 4th Floor (near cinemas), SM City North EDSA, North Avenue cor. EDSA, Quezon City, North Avenue | 442-0096
    • Quirino Avenue cor Regalado St., Greater Lagro, Quezon City, Fairview, 1121
    • Podium 3, 3rd Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat, Makati, Makati
      895-1919
    • 3rd Level, Eastwood City Cybermall, 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Quezon City, Quezon City
      687-3336
    • The Block, SM City North Edsa, North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City, North Avenue
    • Mall of Asia Complex, J.W. Diokno Boulevard corner EDSA, Bay City, Pasay City, Pasay
      556-0810
  • Review of C2 Classic Cuisine Philippines (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Review of C2 Classic Cuisine Philippines (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    If you’re curious about what constitutes redesigned and refreshing Filipino cuisine, you can check out C2 Classic Cuisine Philippines. Taking its literal name, this restaurant offers everyday classic Filipino comfort food, operated by the Cravings Food Services Inc. You can celebrate anything here with your family and friends (especially foreigners) who want an innovated taste of the Filipino culture.

    We often do pass by one of its branches every time we go to Robinsons Place, Manila. Last Sunday, when Louie bought us tickets to the Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013 movie), he received a C2 Classic Cuisine voucher (free Sotanghon Guisado worth PHp 265) over the counter as well as a Red Mango coupon (buy one take one promotion). 😉

    So before the movie, we had dinner at C2 Classic Cuisine. Let’s see how it fared on my test here.

    Review of C2 Classic Cuisine Philippines (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    The ambiance did not represent the customary Filipino restaurants such as those of Cabalen and Kamayan, but I liked the interior design and the orderliness of the space. The ceiling was designed with swirls of lights and spotlights that brought an orange glow on the orange-and-brown theme.

    Service:★☆☆☆☆

    For customer service, I give only one star for the waiter who served us free appetizers while waiting for our orders.

    Beyond that though, the waiting staffs were not awesome. They missed our calling every time we raised our hands up high and every time we called “Miss” or “Mister” out loud. (Maybe it was Piolo Pascual’s fault as he was singing live on the background and people were screaming at the top of their lungs for him.)

    But that should not be an excuse for them to ignore dining customers! Apparently, they were having dinner at that time, in one table, altogether. How sweet. 😯 They should have found a way to get a door (since the restaurant had no door) or gate to close when they are not free to entertain guests. When it was time to request for the bill, Louie just stood up to approach them. (They all turned their backs on customers.) What if we just walked out without paying on purpose for them to learn their lesson?

    In sum, I am not exaggerating when I say they had a lack of attentiveness. Their minds were in their own little micro-bubble within a bubble within an even tinier bubble.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Beautifully presented, in a tidy square plate that’s almost too pretty to touch, the Sweet and Sour Fish (PHp 385) featured a generous helping of fish fillet smothered with sweet and sour sauce with bell peppers and thinly sliced carrots. The fish fillet was slightly crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside. The flavors of the vegetables meddled together nicely.

    Another appealing dish was the free one we got from the voucher as mentioned: Sotanghon Guisado. I thought it would be dry but it turned out to be soft and smooth. It was made of rice noodles cooked in soy sauce and chicken stock with chicken strips, local vegetables, peanuts and topped with scrambled eggs.

    C2 had us licking the plates clean. Not literally, though—because that would be a frigging embarrassing act! Also, we got super full after finishing almost 3/4 of the food.

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    Prices of the dishes on the menu range from PHp 300-500 in average. I thought I can eat more palatable food in other restaurants offering similar dishes. Simply put, these two stars mean: Go if you’re in the mood. It’s good, but there’s nothing special.

    C2 Classic Cuisine Robinsons Place, Manila
    G/F Robinsons Place Manila, Midtown Wing,
    Adriatico St cor Pedro Gil Ermita, Manila
    Contact Number: (02) 567-2402

    Other branches:
    Summit Ridge Hotel Tagaytay
    Cravings Center Katipunan: 426-6681 to 87
    18 Missouri St. Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City: (632) 723-2347
    Shangri-La Mall: 636-1510
    SM Megamall: 470-1149
    Robinsons Midtown: 567-2402

  • Review of California Pizza Kitchen (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Review of California Pizza Kitchen (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    If there’s one thing I noticed on the California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) menu, it’s the creativity. I’m not speaking about design (but yes, that part is also true) but on how the ingredients are packed together and are called as one dish labelled with a relevant-sounding name.

    CPK serves mostly pastas and pizzas that are tweaked from the norm to perfection. After reading its menu from cover to cover, I deem that CPK has no shortage of exceptional entrees. In fact, it’s hard to think of another restaurant as jam packed with these many great food finds. I mean, where else can you find Adobo Pizza, Peking Duck Pizza, Thai Pizza and Jamaican Jerk Chicken among many other interesting food in one store?

    While we were smack dab in the middle of deciding which one to order, I thought that CPK has been in the Philippines for years now. Actually, it has been 15 years since the first branch opened in Glorieta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. But I have only dined in here and actually called out orders this once. (Better late than never, right?)

    I also must say kudos to Global Restaurant Concepts Inc. for bringing the brand in the Philippines. I read reviews of CPK in other countries and found out that the dishes available to us are different from theirs. Why so? Their website indicates that CPK sells “100-percent Filipino-made and conceptualized” global-inspired dishes with a California twist.

    Review of California Pizza Kitchen (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Who doesn’t love to watch chefs work their magic in the kitchen? In California Pizza Kitchen, diners can catch the action at the open counter which appeared like a fireplace at the back. The lights gave a classy feel and the wall decors contributed as well to the noble setting. Tables can be transformed and assembled to be longer, from squares to rectangles. Seats are of different shapes and sizes: long-seat sofa, regular chairs, high chairs for elevated tables and the individual soft-foam chair.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was flawless, and I can’t say anything more.

    California Pizza is smart in developing enticing marketing gimmicks that make customers coming back again and again. Upon receipt of the bill, the waiter introduced their membership card program: Subscription fee is PHp 100, for a lifetime (no recurring annual renewal fee). Points are earned and derived from 10% of the current bill and may be used in the next dine-in session for payment. 1 point is equivalent to PHp 1 when used. Card is non-transferable. I was sold on the idea so I got myself a card.

    Another thing that can make customers feel good is that for every PHp 1000 spent, CPK gives two pieces of PHp 100 gift certificates that can be used next time in any branch with no expiration.

    Food: ★★★★★

    We ordered the Mushroom Cappuccino Soup (PHp 190), Vegetarian Pizza (PHp 535), Original BBQ Chicken Pizza (PHp 375) and the Fettuccine with garlic cream sauce (PHp 475).

    The mushroom cappuccino soup was made with fresh button mushrooms, abalone, Shiitake cream soup topped with milk froth and nutmeg. It almost felt weightless on the tongue but gradually as I mixed the froth with the mushroom soup, it surrendered to multiple waves of nutty melted mushroom purée. I think this soup can be further improved by adding on cubed sautéed croutons and drizzling it with small white marshmallows on top. This recipe can then pass as on a five-star dish and in years become a classic that truly won’t disappoint.

    Next, the pizzas. The vegetarian pizza’s toppings were composed of broccoli, grilled eggplant, button mushrooms, red onions, pine nuts, roasted kettle corns and goat cheese. On the other hand, the Original BBQ Chicken pizza was in full-effect amazing. I had never thought that pizzas can be made this way—with defined barbecue flavor and not with the regular tomato base or cheese base sauce—with diced chickens. Both had set our palettes for goodness piled over goodness. Crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, the pizza crusts turned out wonderfully fragrant. And the condiments (chilli flakes, salt, pepper and hot sauce) we infused fitted outrageously well.

    You don’t have to resort to blotting the pizzas with paper napkins when you see grease spreading over the top of semi-coagulated cheese like an oil spill, dripping off the edges of a slice, making the whole endeavor treacherous, as there’s none. CPK bakes their pizza with grease just right, unlike most pizza joints do.

    As if we weren’t full enough, Mom ordered the Chicken Tequila Fettuccine but requested it to be cooked and served without the chicken. Although without any other add-on, this white-sauce pasta can’t be said as one with light calories attached. It’s creamy, tasty and just satisfying.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Price didn’t come cheap, but given the quality of their food and the unique tastes, the price fitted the bill reasonably to me. So I don’t have to be drugged, handcuffed and dragged against my will to spend extravagantly to get my next pizza from California Pizza Kitchen.

    Sorry, Pizza Hut, Sbarro, Shakey’s and Greenwich, I found my new favorite pizza place. 🙂

  • Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)

    Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)

    Tea bars and cafes are sprouting more in the number of brands and their branches across the city. So there’s really no excuse for me (and you) not to try one at least—unless you’re following a super strict diet. I don’t have any addiction or obsession with teas but I appreciate the taste of bitter and sweet together.

    Today together with my office colleagues, I visited a friend’s franchise of Infinitea, another tea haven, to discover how good (or bad) their teas taste like. This post intends to showcase my thoughts on its best recommended drink: Wintermelon Milk Tea. To give more justice to this post, let me share what I think of this branch on the whole.

    Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    This Infinitea branch is small but a thing of beauty. It had its first anniversary yesterday but the place was newly renovated, so its ambiance is really fresh and invigorating. With the limited floor space it covers, this tea house seems to possess a special charm that inspires intimate get-togethers apart from casual walk-ins.

    Interior theme is a mix of green and brown from the walls, counter, tables and chairs. It’s a place where you can stay without worrying about time. It gives patrons encouragement to huddle over a cup while chatting with friends. Three types of seats are available for customers: regular chairs, sofa seats and the ones outside for those who prefer natural air and those who smoke.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Navigating the menu at Infinitea can be a bit tricky. Why? It’s broken down into sections: milk teas, coffee selections, flavored fruit teas, original teas and add-ons. How much should you order, and which one? The dizzying parade of flavors would make your head spin, with each one looking better than the last.

    Good enough, their staff offered recommendations and helped us choose the customers’ favorites of all time. After shaking the concoction up and down, they’ll signal the drinks that are ready for pickup at the counter with a gadget with a number.

    Drink: ★★★★☆

    Customers may choose the amount of sugar and ice put into the drink, from 100% full sugar, 70% less sugar, half sugar, quarter sugar and no sugar. Mine encompassed the default which was probably half sugar. It did not lean toward the sickeningly side of sweet at all. The pearls were very chewy and they did not give my dental braces a hard time.

    In a fantasy world, I’d probably buy myself one Infinitea drink per week (or a couple more times). But since I’m watching my weight sternly, I prefer to be stuck to my discipline and take these refreshments once a month at most. Health benefits and fitness take precedence over anything else, in my world! An exception maybe is when their drinks would be pinched in with ashitaba—a rare case I pray would materialize in the future. 😛

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    For the price range of PHp 40 to PHp 80, Infinitea drinks can provide you with a good introduction to the world of milk tea. It caters to the Class A-B market. This little tea shop serves a good artisan teas with bounty of flavors that add fuel for the soul.

    Infinitea’s milk tea is not one to be messed with. Aside from milk teas, Infinitea at Benavidez now also serves coffee mixes! Since it’s near the Chinese schools in Manila (just across Hope Christian High School), I guess Infinitea drinks would be perfect to release stress of students from completing assignments and studying hard for exams. They can also serve to please anyone’s afternoon on the dock and satiate people’s craving for desserts after lunch (or dinner, for those who have tutoring sessions at night).

    Another plus of Infinitea is that it offers delivery service for free, with a minimum order of four cups—to nearby areas reachable via bicycle. 😀

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Infinitea-Benavidez-Branch/298615203507009″ name=”Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)” description=”1227 Benavidez Street, 1006 Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”Mobile Phone: 09468411100, 09154842500, Delivery Hotline: 359-5349; 09322936203″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-01-19″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Kogi Bulgogi (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Review of Kogi Bulgogi (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    The Philippines has been invaded by the Koreans in the last few years. This is not an invasion of our territory in a bad way but one that we’re pleased about. In fact, Koreans were the top tourists in the Philippines last year. Over 100,000 of them already are residing in our plains permanently.

    In a nutshell, their cultural references are being shared to us little by little. And we are accepting and embracing them now as part of our mixed culture. Joining many others, my family and I are also happily riding the Korean wave. There are the likes of Korean makeup and beauty products, Korean hairstyle, Korean fashion, Koreanovelas, K-pop and Korean food that we’re all fond of. We have not eaten Korean food for a long time (over a year); so I felt obligated to bring my family to a Korean restaurant last Sunday.

    Specifically, we went to the branch of Kogi Bulgogi in Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo. This maybe is the nearest Korean restaurant from our house—and the first outlet of Kogi Bulgogi in Binondo area. I have tried eating in their branch in Eastwood City, Libis with my IBM colleagues back in 2010, and it was a great!

    I was not writing reviews back then though. Now would be the perfect time to do a proper review thus.

    Review of Kogi Bulgogi (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The interior was designed with a very modern yet zen ambiance—spacious seats inside and outside, sufficient white spotlights for lighting, artificial green plants, and peaceful background. It gave us a unique gourmet experience.


    Service: ★★★★★

    This branch of Kogi Bulgogi is crewed by more than six sharply-dressed friendly Filipino servers who greeted us ann-yeong ha-se-yo 안녕하세요 and kam-sa-hamnida 감사합니다 before and after meals. In summary, customer service was A++++!

    They explained the menu to us plus their recommendations. They were also patient when we could not decide on what to order. We didn’t have to wait for our food for several minutes, considering that cooking Korean food can take a longer time for the many different side dishes that go with it. They stopped by once in a while to check up on us. They gave us four cups of tea and four glasses of chilled water. They were super fast in refilling the side dishes (twice at max).

    Staff members deserve a special pat on the back for such exquisite team service. They did all these excellent tasks without charge!

    Food: ★★★★★

    Before entering their premise, we had to conduct three checks. First, as always, was if they have vegetarian-friendly dishes. Second was if viands are budget-friendly. Thirdly, they must have good-looking pictures; else, my mom would not bother to order based on text-based descriptions only. :)) Three markers passed and so we continued placing our orders.

    Upon gazing at their menu, I was spoilt for choice. After several minutes spent for decision-making, we ordered: Spinach & Golden Mushrooms (buttered spinach with golden mushrooms), Nude Kimbap (8 pieces of seaweed rice roll with meat, egg and vegetables), Salmon Bibimbap (smoked salmon with raw egg and vegetables–carrots, radish, cabbage and bean sprouts in claypot), Bulgogi Dub Bap (beef bulgogi marinated with sweet sauce) and Chicken Ssambap (rice with bite size chicken and lettuce).

    Complimentary Korean side dishes or the banchan consisted of two sets of young corn, okra with tomato catsup, kimchi (fermented spicy radish), braised Korean tofu, glazed sweet potatoes, seasoned bean sprouts (kongnamul), stir-fried dried and sweetened anchovies (myulchi bokum) and a mix of diced vegetables with cream salad.

    Sorry, this time I would just go straight to the point and describe the food in three words: YUM YUM YUM! At the end of the meal, we were way too full, super satisfied.

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    Damage to the budget was PHp 1058 for those five different enticing Korean dishes in huge servings. Individual prices were very reasonable and all worth it! Everything is highly recommended. If you’re craving for Korean food, just come here and don’t think twice. You can thank me later! 🙂

    Kogi Bulgogi
    3F Lucky Chinatown Mall, Reina Regente St. corner Dela Reina St., Binondo, Manila
    For inquiries, call (02) 755-3084
    Facebook

    Other branch:
    2/F Eastwood Mall, E Rodriguez Jr Ave Bagumbayan, Quezon City
    For inquiries, call (02) 470-6884 to 85