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Category: Food Reviews

Review of Muhan Samgyupsal (Greenhills, San Juan City)

We suddenly craved for Korean bbq last weekend and decided to try Muhan Samgyupsal in Greenhills. Muhan PH surpassed our basic expectations of a regular restaurant offering unlimited samgyupsal and K-meat dishes. It also offers shabu-shabu and not only grilling. This time though we just availed their P449 package which includes unlimited pork, beef, side dishes, lettuce, egg stew, soup, and rice.

Review of Muhan Samgyupsal (Greenhills, San Juan City)

Ambiance:

Want reliable and tasty Korean unli samgyupsal in San Juan area? Check this place out. Muhan Samgyupsal uses a smokeless electronic grill that cooks fast. Every table has a high-end tabletop grill and duct to minimize smoke. In addition, if you get the unli 3 package, they’ll bring out a shabu shabu grill as well to allow customers to enjoy and experience shabu-shabu dining and barbecue at the same time. The ambiance felt calm, classy and casual. Three c’s! That said, Muhan Samgyupsal in Greenhills is the perfect place to indulge in a big lunch, a leisurely dinner, or a fun night out no matter the occasion.

Food:

The menu isn’t as extensive as Romantic Baboy‘s or your upscale Korean bbq joint, yet every dish has layers of enjoyment and surprise. Unfortunately, out of the eight items on the menu, two were unavailable–Bulgogi Beef and Gochujang Bulgogi, to be specific. To compensate for the “loss,” we were billed P399 per person instead of P449.

Our favorites were Yang-nyum Beef, Yang-nyum daepae, and Daepae Samgyup. These are thinly sliced pieces of quality meat that taste so good you would cry if it dropped to the floor. The Yang-nyum Beef (Prime Angus Beef)and Yang-nyum daepae were marinated in a special tasty seasoning so you can really relish the goodness of every bite even without dipping in any sauce. But to add oomph to the flavor and pleasure to the mix, dipping the meat in melted cheese is recommended. Yum!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2y5UoEn0Dx/

Beef Samgyup and Tong Samgyup were also good. The juiciness and tenderness of the meat was apparent and we loved it. Yang-nyum Moksal (not in photo) had spiciness and I couldn’t tolerate; it was just too much for me. It’s the only thing I wouldn’t recommend ordering if you’re not a fan of food that’s too spicy you couldn’t enjoy the flavor anymore.

Price for Value:

Overall, I think the selections at Muhan Samgyupsal are okay and prices are fair and reasonable. It’s best to go when you have a bunch of friends to share the food with. You can order with freedom and try a bit of everything, safe in the knowledge that it’s not going to get expensive. It will only set you back at P399 (Unli 1-Pork dishes only) or P449 (Unli 2-Pork and beef). It’s not a crowded restaurant even at peak lunch time when we went there, so if you want to avoid a long wait and you know you’re craving for unli samgyupsal, you need Muhan Samgyupsal. Walk-ins are welcome but you can also call and make a reservation ahead. Contact +63 956 3912240 for inquiries.

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September 26, 2019
Review of King Kaijoo Fusion (Banawe, Quezon City)

Fusion is what King Kaijoo is all about! 🙂 Literally, Kaiju is a Japanese word which translates to “strange creature,” “monster,” or “giant monster.” It refers to large creatures mostly seen in movies from Asia. King Kaijoo Fusion uses this as inspiration to promote different cuisines and form harmonious a fusion to satisfy customers. We were impressed by the creativity of not just their food, but also how they described them as well on their menu. You’ll see what I mean below! 🙂

Review of King Kaijoo Fusion (Banawe, Quezon City)

Ambiance:

Just beside Chinatown’s Best Food, King Kaijoo Fusion is located in Banawe, where a culinary innovation is booming in new concept restaurants. The space doesn’t look anything festive or atmospheric but rather cozy. This is ideal for those looking to dine in a quiet and reserved place while not having to drive far away from Banawe area. Spotlights and dark upholstery fabric suggest an ambiance of class and set the mood for intimate conversations. One wall is covered or decorated intentionally with a map, which provides a hint that food here are inspired diversely from across the globe.

Food:

Mimiga (PhP 248) didn’t strike me as the love-at-first-bite type, but its texture was spot on, positively and delightfully crunchy. It’s a good snack to have as a conversation starter that you can eat by your fingers. Made of crispy pig’s ear with shichimi, it was served with vinegar dip on the side. It wasn’t greasy at all.

Next came the Giddora Onion Soup (PhP 178) which four of us shared. 🙂 It’s a blend of three onions, cooked with beef stock, and topped with cheesy croutons. It’s one of the better onion soups we’ve tried.

Given our penchant for tacos, West Coast Tacos (3 pieces, PhP 288) was obviously a must-order item, and boy, did it ever deliver. The miso and black sesame seeds just added a fantastic depth and savor to the sashimi, which was then utterly balanced by the brightness of wasabi aioli and coriander.

Miso Monster Wings (PhP 348) were presented as 6 pieces of chicken wings in a platter. These chicken wings showed off a wonderful back-and-forth of the combination of salty, sweet, earthy and savory elements of the miso glaze. Make sure to squeeze out the lemon to add a citrus accent and freshness to the harmony.

Volcano Kimchicken Nuggets (PhP 298) was another standout as it imparted an almost explosive rendition of kimchi fried rice. The kimchi was spicy, but not in-your-face spicy as you can still relish the flavored taste of the rice. Gooey cheese sauce, fried chicken nuggets, and spring onions were all superb ingredients making up the dish.

Furi-Kareizee Fries (PhP 278) were fluffy yet crunchy on the tooth, with a subtle taste of bacon goodness, masterfully made with furikake (dry Japanese seasoning). When you’re done, you’ll have that same sense of surprise as when your fingers hit the bottom of a bag of chips you thought you only just opened. Yummy!

The Legendary Seafood Pasta (PhP 378) was similarly enjoyable. With a oceany character that married well with Thai herbs, the pasta was cooked with green curry and a mix of seafoods, it had a creamy consistency but still light on the palate. Like their other dishes, this recipe welcomes creativity. Imagine marrying the taste of carbonara and laksa. It’s uncomplicated and soothing for any meal.

KFC Sandwich (PhP 288) looked chunky and tasty. It’s Korean fried chicken, gochujang glaze, sriracha mayo, brioche bun, with fries.

For desserts, we started with their Chocolate Tempest Tempura (PhP 298) as it’s recommended on the menu. What set this one apart was the interaction between the hot deep-fried snickers and cold vanilla ice cream topped with a caramel swirl. It resulted in a lovely sweet, hot and cold creamy interplay. Quite nice!

Lastly, their Fire and Ice (PhP 248) was indulgent, with a slightly over the top presentation and a little bit boozy. It’s neopolitan ice cream, meringue, and brandy surprise. Inside, expect to chew a crumbly texture with subdued sweetness of chocolate and vanilla well-matched with the tartness of strawberry.

Price for Value:

Prices won’t set you back much, but they aren’t cheap either. But what’s important is that you’re happy as you walk out of their door. We left King Kaijoo almost button-burstingly full and also impressed. King Kaijoo in Banawe isn’t the flashy type of restaurant, so it might not be one of the places you’ll consider for a weeknight date or a family meal. If you like creative fusion food with a hodgepodge of global influences, it’s worth a try! 🙂

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September 19, 2019
Review of Romantic Baboy (Banawe, Quezon City)

When we think about Romantic Baboy, immediately two things come to mind: unli samgyupsal and long queues! This was especially true during the first months of this Korean barbecue restaurant in their Tomas Morato branch. We live nearby and even at non-peak meal hours, we could see that the line outside was still considerably long. We noticed that it usually requires almost 2-3 hours of waiting before you could actually get a table. They don’t accept reservations and they can’t hold an empty table.

I don’t have the patience to wait long. Fortunately, Romantic Baboy has been branching out to more areas since last year. People continued to line up, and it’s just one solid proof that cooking meat right at your table is fun and great for an affordable group outing or an out-of-the-box date. We tried our luck one Saturday in their Retiro (Amoranto Sr. Banawe, Quezon City) branch, and we finally got a chance to dine in. 🙂 Here’s a review and a sharing of our Korean bbq experience.

Review of Romantic Baboy (Banawe, Quezon City)

Ambiance:

Romantic Baboy plies quite an extensive menu of traditional Korean grill barbecue meat (pork and beef) in a no-frills atmosphere. Seats aren’t cramped but rather comfortable for large groups. Rightly so, each table is fitted with an exhaust grill hood. The restaurant looks spacious despite being packed, and the vibe exudes a feel-good facotor where everything feels right. Casual, convenient, and friendly, this is the spot to be.

Service:

The staff greeted us nicely and led us to the table, handed out the menu and explained that we can order only two things at a time for our unli dishes. Fair enough! Banchan was first served, then the soup and rice. We followed the simple instruction and gradually we were able to try everything on the unli menu. A la carte offerings (optional) can be seen on the flip side of their menu. Since we were already too full, we didn’t get any from there. Overall, service was speedy, courteous, and considerate of our needs.

Food:

It’s fascinating that ROMANTIC in Romantic Baboy actually is a made-up acronym for the names of the dishes available on their unlimited pork and beef menu. (See their menu below for reference.) We had a couple servings of Daepae Samgyupsal and Woo Samgyup, and one each of the rest.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2gZYmXH-3c/

We started to cook meat as soon as they were served on the table, without realizing that some pieces would take longer to cook than others. Anyway, cooking was a breeze. While things were grilling, we dove into the side dishes and then wrapped some cooked meat with lettuce, aiming to make each wrap a two-bite affair. My favorites were the curry beef (very aromatic and savory – the curry flavor worked well), romantic bulgogi (sweet and perfectly marinated), and the daepae samgyupsal (I really appreciate the thinness of slices). Tempered by a lovely touch of char, the herb flavored pork belly was also interesting as it arrived herby indeed.

Romantic Baboy Unlimited Korean Grill is an answer to your Korean bbq cravings = food coma! We savored the goodness of meat as we dipped them in cheese and ate some with kimchi. These accompaniments provided a depth of flavor that further heightened the intrinsic goodness of the samgyupsal.

Price for Value:

There’s no doubt that Korean bbq has entered the foodies’ lexicon and it’s up there with milk tea and mango float. At only P499, we were pretty satisfied with our experience at Romantic Baboy. It offers a good price given the value, quality, and selections of their meat, and suffice to say, it’s the type of restaurant you need in your arsenal. This kbbq trend shows no sign of waning as there’s more restaurants being opened every month. This chain, most especially, is growing too quickly, and patrons are all happy with their expansion. More reason to cheat from your diet! 🙂

Here’s a copy of Romantic Baboy’s Menu (from their Facebook page). Enjoy!

The bill came with a pink rose. How romantic! ♡

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September 17, 2019
5 Reasons to Try Hearty Bread’s Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Bread

My husband has been trying out the keto diet for several months now. He has subscribed to keto meal plans in the Philippines which deliver food daily straight to our door. During the weekends though, we usually dine in restaurants or cook meals at home. It gets difficult to choose where to eat and which recipe to try when considering only keto-friendly food. For pasta and rice, we have miracle noodles and quinoa as good alternative options. For bread, Hearty Bread Philippines supplies gluten-free and low-sugar-free bread nationwide. Here are five reasons to try their products.

5 Reasons to Try Hearty Bread’s Products

1. Hearty Bread provides a good range of bread at reasonable prices that can work for varying diets.

Gluten-free and sugar-free options for sliced bread have improved a lot over the past decade, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to find the best ones to suit your needs, preferences, and budget. For people who can’t tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, Hearty Bread is worth a try.

2. Their bread tastes good!

Mostly, I find gluten-free breads denser and drier than regular bread. This is why I prefer toasting gluten-free bread instead of using them for sandwiches. This makes a heart-healthy breakfast that’s nutrition-dense and delicious, too. My husband and brothers-in-law share the loaves of bread with me and they agree that the Banana (Saba) Sourdough Loaf and Cheesy Charcoal Almond Loaf are among the best.

2 pieces of Cheesy Charcoal Almond Loaf (PhP 250), 2 pieces of Banana Sourdough Loaf (PhP 200) and Green Tea with Kombucha

3. They are transparent with their labels.

Their nutrition facts are accessible online and their product packaging includes clear and easy to understand notes with a QR code that links directly to their website. The bread’s label and packaging includes the product information, specification if it’s gluten-free and/or sugar-free, its weight, and serving size. This is especially useful and important for those who are on a strict diet or those who have allergies or sensitivities.

4. You get to taste the real fresh taste of bread without sugar.

Traditional homemade bread does not contain sugar but it’s added to many packaged breads to retain moisture, add softness and a mild sweetness. If you’re having trouble finding a loaf without added sugar or contains little amount of sugar, keep in mind that ingredients are listed by weight. The farther down sugar is listed on the ingredient list, the less the bread will contain.

To provide a healthier alternative, Hearty Bread Philippines offers sugar-free bread that’s wholesome and yummy. Their Ezekiel bread and Cheesy Charcoal bread, which are made out of almond flour, are must-orders. Ezekiel bread is a low glycemic bread without added sugar that’s packed with nutritional value that transforms your living.

Half Loaf of Bread

5. Sourdough bread is also available!

Sourdough bread is made through a fermentation process that boosts its digestibility, improves the availability of certain nutrients, and lowers its blood sugar effects. It’s a hard crust bread that tastes a bit sour and a bit tangy. You can eat it on its own or try using cubed pieces as stuffing for holiday dishes, making it into a bread bowl for soup or bread crumbs, or using some toast slices in bread pudding. Their moringa sourdough pandesal tastes really nice and I especially like the large size! It can be a staple for breakfast. 🙂 Dip it in coffee or pair with a hot bowl of champorado. The possibilities are endless.

Moringa Sourdough Pandesal (PhP 40), Sarabeth’s Fruit Spreads, and Unsweetened Soy Milk

Pumpkin Carrot Sourdough Loaf (PhP 280) with Matcha Latte

Premium Sourdough Loaf (PhP 105) with Woodstock Organic Peanut Butter and Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding

Multigrain Sourdough Loaf (PhP 115) with Vegenaise Egg-Free Mayonnaise

Half of the package of Multigrain Sourdough Loaf – Look at the seeds!

Wrap Up

People who are avoiding bread as part of a low-carb or ketogenic (keto) diet will often wonder what they can use to replace it. Bread alternatives from Hearty Bread are here to save the day. Avoiding sugar or gluten shouldn’t mean giving up on bread! The healthful replacements available in their stores help satisfy any craving and now allow people to continue enjoying some of their favorite bread, making it easier to stick to a particular diet. They also have the ability to surprise. Not only does the flavor of the bread shine, but it also combines a great texture and toasts beautifully.

Here’s the menu from their website.

August 12, 2019
Review of Menya Kokoro (Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig)

When people think of ramen, tonkotsu, shoyu or miso broth ramen would first come to mind. But there’s also dry ramen. Known as Mazesoba, it’s actually a common dish in Japan. Mazesoba literally translates to mixed noodles, and it’s one of the best iterations of soupless ramen you can try now.

Originating from Tokyo, Japan, Menya Kokoro by Japanese Chef Takuma Ishikawa specializes in tasty bowls of mazesoba, and the good news is that it’s now in the Philippines! We visited its first branch in Uptown Mall, BGC last weekend and had a great dining experience. At Menya Kokoro, soba made from whole wheat noodles is made fresh and it’s mixed with the house special sauce and signature ingredients that are all good and tasty.

Chef Takuma

Review of Menya Kokoro (Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig)

Ambiance:

The setting at Menya Kokoro in Uptown Mall is casual and cozy. At the far end of the dining room (behind the counter) are chefs who seriously know what they’re doing as they craft bowls of beautifully done noodles with rich sauce and fresh and interesting ingredients. With washed out gray wall, the ambiance is where you want to feel calm but not catatonic. It exudes elegance and the combination with wooden fixtures couldn’t be more perfect. The palette presented is a great style for a modern Japanese restaurant. Tall glass windows bring a reflective natural lighting to the space.

Food:

For our appetizer, we tried their Takoyaki (PhP 140) which came with a contrasting sweet and savory taste. Topped with a generous amount of Japanese mayo and bonito flakes, this delicious Japanese treat was fried on the outside while the inside remained gooey. Yum!

Apart from Takoyaki, Menya Kokoro’s Karaage (PhP 200) was lovely as well. The Japanese-style fried chicken was juicy and came out light, crispy, and solid on flavor. It’s a total crowd-pleaser.

For the mains, we got their best sellers, Tokyo Mazesoba (PhP 350) for me and Zenbu Mazesoba (PhP 470) for Louie. We’re told that the best way to eat a bowl of mazesoba is to mix everything evenly. Tokyo Mazesoba had a mix of elements such as the spring onions, chives, and runny egg over a medley of minced meat. I liked the springy and chewy texture of the noodles, and the thickness was also quite satisfying for every bite. Adding a splash of their kombu vinegar can help cut through the creaminess of the sauce. Portion your noodles and give this a try!

With almost the same components as the Tokyo Mazesoba plus more, the Zenbu Mazesoba looked more enticing and it also burst with savory flavor. Give them a good toss and relish the delicious explosion of flavors! The bamboo shoots and slow-braised char siu (braised pork belly) were definitely great additions to the dish.

Both Zenbu and Tokyo Maseoba are available (per request) in a non-spicy version. We tried the spicy version and the heat was tolerable. I think spice-lovers will love this rendition.

Curry Mazesoba (PhP 430)

Vegan Mazesoba (PhP 380)

All their mazesoba are served with a complimentary bowl of mushroom shoyu (soya sauce) soup on the side–not to be poured over the bowl of mazesoba. Once you’re almost done eating the noodles but still have a handful of tasty ingredients and sauce in the bowl, raise your hand and ask for the Oimeshi. It’s Japanese rice that goes perfectly when mixed with the remaining sauce and toppings.

Cheese Mazesoba (PhP 430)

Menya Kokoro whole wheat noodles

For desserts, we had their Matcha Ice Cream (PhP 90) and Kurogoma Ice Cream (PhP 90). Both these ice cream flavors remind me of our Japan trip, particularly Arashiyama and Kuromon Ichiba Market. More than the matcha though, here I liked the black sesame more because of its creamy sweet nutty finish.

Price for Value:

Menya Kokoro is the largest mazesoba restaurant chain in Japan, and it’s definitely showing no signs of slowing down. Here, even without the soupy ramen, there’s no denying the beauty of a great bowl of mazesoba. The springy noodles, the great quality of ingredients, and the creaminess of the sauce all bring a successful dish that justifies a good value for its price tag. It’s pure bliss, even on the hottest of days, and the good news is there are more variations of mazesoba you can expect to try at Menya Kokoro in the coming months. Check it out.

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July 14, 2019
Review of Royal Indian Curry House (Poblacion, Makati City)

We had a triple birthday celebration at Royal Indian Curry House (RICH) in Poblacion near A. Venue Mall and Century City Mall. It’s been a while since we last dined in a restaurant serving Indian cuisine, so I was definitely excited to give it a try. Royal Indian Curry House is known to serve some of the best authentic contemporary classic Indian food and Pakistani cuisine in the metro. As it’s located in a quiet street at noon, you could easily walk past its nondescript exterior. But once you get through that door, things change. RICH is the kind of approachable place where you could learn to appreciate Indian food. Check out their menu here.

Review of Royal Indian Curry House (Poblacion, Makati City)

Ambiance:

Royal Indian Curry House is favored by a clientele of locals and tourists blessed with good taste. The five-story building houses a dining room (where we were at), sports bars, private rooms, and a sky lounge. The dining room is furnished with high-backed dining chairs upholstered in crushed velvet, wood-sculpted swirl patterns on posts and on walls, paintings of Indian women in various settings, tinted pendant lamps by the staircase, and sculptures of subjects reminiscent of India. Lighting is soft and Indian music plays softly in the background.

Food:

Royal Indian Curry House nails the Indian food staples. For our starter, RICH’s Samosas (PhP 209) were rich in taste and in aroma. They’re light, fluffy and a good way to kick off your feast. It’s delicious on its own, but even better when dipped in the paired sriracha sauce, tamarind, and mint chutney.

The Murg Makhani (PhP 449) was incredibly tasty. The buttery chicken was perfectly cooked, and the sauce had a silky smooth rich texture which provided an overarching, luscious creaminess and richness to the whole dish. Perfectly balanced and superb.

RICH’s Palak Paneer (PhP 409) was a brazenly simple, yet profound dish with a vegetal smack providing a key counterweight to the gravity of the dish. It’s all the pureed goodness you need, a satisfying and an easy, pretty healthy, quick option for lunch. We ate it with Plain Basmati (PhP 189) and got some thick and chewy Cheese Naan (PhP 209) to dip it with for that little something extra.

Their Afghani Chicken (PhP 449) was a delectable version of the chicken curry. It’s also creamy thus pairing it with basmati rice will emphasize its lip-smacking flavors. Nice.

To wash it all down, Rose Lassi (PhP 219) gave a fragrant, refreshing and cooling taste. It could easily win the race for my next favorite drink. It’s a delicious twist on the traditional lassi; the sweet yogurt was flavored with rose syrup.

Price for Value:

Overall, our experience was quite positive, and I can definitely see why the place is so popular. Prices aren’t too steep for the value, and their signatures are really worth trying. Royal Indian Curry House in Makati is a nice place to get tasty, dependable preparations of classic North Indian fare; I would have no qualms about coming back. There’s no modesty in the name, but perhaps there doesn’t need to be. Royal and rich flavors and aroma of dishes are to be expected, and with their elaborate spices and good ingredients coming into play, this restaurant is great at what it does.

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July 9, 2019
What’s Your Favorite Restaurant? Take This Survey and Vote for The Choice!
The Choice Year V: We’re now in a Golden Age of Philippine Restaurants and Hotels that we’ve never experienced before. In the first six months of this year alone, over 500 new restaurants opened… and that’s only all over Metro Manila! The construction boom in hotels and resorts all over the country is likewise accelerating at a rapid pace.

Our Awesome Planet and The KTG Presents The Choice!!!

Every month, every week, and almost every day it seems, there’s a new restaurant opening its doors. There are a lot of great new dining choices, side by side with the perennials, the classics that we grew up with. As food bloggers, writers, and members of the F&B industry, we’re always very curious about the crowd favorites. The popular vote, if you will. What are the beloved favorites? Who is truly the profit boss for delivering quality and tasty food with substance this year? Let the voice of the people be heard! Click this link to take the survey and vote for The Choice.

Our Awesome Planet, the country’s #1 food blog and one of the Top 50 travel blogs in the world; and the Food Writer and Blogger Collective known as the KTG (Kain Tulog Gang); together with the prestigious World Food Expo (WOFEX), The Ultimate Food Show Experience, have partnered to conduct the People’s Choice for the Favorite Food, Restaurants, Hotels, and Chefs…. or simply, “The Choice.”

THE CHOICE 2018 Awardees

About The Choice

Since our first ceremony in 2015, The Choice Awards have become more influential every year, and are now considered to be the most prestigious People’s Choice Honors in the F&B Industry. Through the first four years, we have celebrated the Best of the Best, and have elevated the most beloved restaurants to the Hall of Fame after winning their category three times. This year, we celebrate our landmark Year V!

We conducted an intense first round of voting among ourselves, and our resulting Finalist Lists have made us very pleased: we feel it’s a very diverse and fair representation of all our favorites from many diverse categories.

Click this link to take the survey.

The Survey Parameters
1. For the Favorite New Restaurant category, our coverage period includes restaurants that opened between July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.
2. There are 45 questions in this survey, and answering this survey should take only around 10-15 minutes. It is best to give a definitive answer to each question, but feel free to skip if you can’t decide.
3. All answers are considered final once you click on the submit button.
4. Strictly one completed survey will be counted for each person voting.
5. Please provide us your name and email address for our random validation of the survey responses; rest assure that all information submitted will be kept confidential.
July 5, 2019
Kainan Sa E. Rod: 6 Food and Drink Concepts to Look Out For

Kainan Sa E. Rod is a brand new food hub where you can hang out with friends while enjoying different types of food and drinks in one setting. Looking for landmarks? It’s located inside Crabaholic Resto along E. Rodriguez in Quezon City, corner Banawe near Mercury Drug and Honda, in front of Value Plus. 🙂 This casual spot works for anything from group dinners to solo meals. Order food on the ground floor and be seated on the second floor, where food and drinks will be served.

Kainan Sa E. Rod: 6 Food and Drink Concepts to Look Out For

1. Cheesylog On-the-Go

Want a one-bowl meal that’s significantly filling and satisfying? Cheesylog On-the-Go provides rice bowls topped with a choice of beef tapa, bacon, ham, or burger steak and fried egg. The best part? It comes with cheese, hence the name Cheesylog (“log” is short for “itlog” or egg). Everything is yummy and perfect for hungry people in need of a quick, hearty meal before or after a long day’s work. Combo meals can be served in a few minutes, all piping hot. You can eat the cheesy rice bowl on-the-go or seated.

2. PaUmPuGa (Pambaon sa Umaga, Pulutan sa Gabi) at Lugawan

PaUmPuGa celebrates the joyous bounty of pork as it does its sisig, kinilaw, and tokwa’t baboy best. If you’re anywhere nearby and are craving for scrumptious pork-centric Filipino dishes, please drop by and make yourself feel right at home.

At PaUmPuGa, you’re encouraged to open your palate to a variety of bold and daring food. Their food are much like home-cooked meals and price-wise, they’re very affordable even for students. Isahan (rice with one viand of choice) only costs PhP 39; Dalawahan (rice with two viands), PhP 59; and Tatluhan (rice with 3 viands), PhP 69. If you’re familiar with these food, you’ll know the flavors are classic, but you haven’t really tasted them until you’ve eaten them together! 😉

3. Mangan Tamo

Mangan Tamo literally translates to “let us eat.” This food stall features home-cooked Pinoy meals such as fried boneless bangus, grilled tilapia, grilled boneless bangus, grilled pusit, and papaitan (a famous Ilocano soup dish mostly composed of cow or goat innards). These are fairly standard versions of the familiar local dishes, and they’re so good with rice. This is the kind of meal that’s just incredibly simple yet glorious.

I love the squid (pusit) as it hits the mark with its assertive flavor and texture. There’s a good balance of inherent sweetness, bitterness, acid, and a little heat from the chili and soy sauce. Papaitan (with the innards and all) took a different direction in taste but it gave a mouthwatering spice at play. The grilled milkfish was homey with the tangy tomatoes bringing out a vibrant zest. A few mouthfuls can transport you to a beach only moments away.

3. Dimsum Republic Hong Kong Fried Noodles

Take your taste buds to the tropics with the delightful layers of flavor. At Dimsum Republic Hong Kong Fried Noodles, crispy and saucy, the pan-fried noodles form a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-in-the-middle texture, a classic Hong Kong dish. Bowls can be customized to your liking. Choose your own toppings then mix your own sauce.

For the base, you can have either Noodle Bowl (Plain), Dimsum Bowl (2 pieces of siomai), or Oriental Bowl (Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, or Oriential Sausage). It’s a quick and well-rounded stir-fry. For the sauces, choose any of these accompaniments: peanut, sate barbecue, teriyaki, hoisin, and/or sweet chili. Each chopstick pinch picks up strands of fried noodles and some portion of the toppings, all coated in the flavorful sauce. Still feeling hungry? Getting a jumbo siopao (asado or bola-bola) on the side will definitely add an extra oomph to your meal.

4. Crabaholic Resto

Love crabs, shrimps, and mussels? You definitely have to check out Crabaholic Resto. Here, you can order a la carte seafood or go unlimited! Unli crabs, shrimp buckets, group bundles for the whole family and entire barkada? You have it. Roll up your sleeves and dive into a delicious spread (or heaping) of seafood. For first-time diners here, their Mixed Seafood is a must-order, and while you may not have woken up thinking you’d eat seafood today, you absolutely should. 🙂

Crabs in Crabaholic Resto are a must. We tried butter garlic but I bet it’s also great to order the Singaporean crabs and Cajun flavor crabs next time for some spice. Yum! See their menu below and you’ll be surprised how affordable their group bundles are!

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6. Double Tea

It’s milk tea o’clock! When you’re in Kainan sa E. Rod, don’t miss Double Tea and quench your thirst with their creamy and tasty milk tea. Double Tea is the first BUY 1 TAKE 1 milk tea in the Philippines. What it means: Double Tea forever serves buy 1 take 1 milk teas and it’s not a limited-time marketing promotion. They put a lot of love into the drinks they make.

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Milk tea with pearls or jellies offers an extremely fun experience of simultaneously drinking and eating your dessert. Select from various milk tea flavors, customize your drink with sinkers (by default, an order comes with a sinker but you can top up some more with additional cost), choose your preferred sugar level, and choose your preferred size (starter – small, superior – medium, or VIP – large). You can opt to get two of the same flavor or two different ones with the same size. All their drinks have a classic black tea or oolong tea base, and the ingredients are sourced from Taiwan. Milk is used to enhance the flavor and not to disguise the flavor of the tea.

We had two orders, basically four milk tea flavors: Okinawa Milk Tea, Chocolate Avocado, Honeydew, and Creme Brulee. My two personal favorites are the Okinawa Milk Tea (their bestseller) and the Crème Brûlée. I love the latter for its appealing creaminess that lingers on the palate. 🙂 Very refreshing and satisfying! Double Tea also offers fruit teas, btw. Check out their menu below:

June 27, 2019