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  • Review of Moon Rabbit Cafe and Restaurant (San Juan, Metro Manila)

    Review of Moon Rabbit Cafe and Restaurant (San Juan, Metro Manila)

    Located on a quiet neighborhood in San Juan, Moon Rabbit is a house-turned-restaurant and its dining area feels like it was designed specifically for big, lively groups of diners. The energy was abundant when we came, since many Chinese families celebrated Chinese New Year on the actual CNY day. It was our first time here and we were thrilled to find excellent dishes on the table. Through and through, we were served with delicious Chinese food that looked great as they tasted. By the way, we discovered Moon Rabbit through spot.ph’s list of the best restaurants in Manila in 2019.

    Review of Moon Rabbit Cafe and Restaurant (San Juan)

    Ambiance:

    Moon Rabbit seemed a fun place to hang out. Its location is a bit off-the-grid versus the “restaurants area” like Wilson Street, Missouri Street, or Little Baguio in San Juan, but that’s only one part of what makes it more special. Its big parking space outside is a plus so you don’t have to worry about parking.

    Upon entrance, we were greeted with a tall shelf of figurines, which served as a room divider to enhance the ambiance and add a touch of flair. It’s great because it doesn’t completely block the view from one side to the other, allowing the spaces to still be connected. There’s a main dining area which felt casual and homey, and a cozy bar area on another side for coffee and cocktails (where we stayed). High ceilings and sleek lighting fixtures make up this modern space. Love the indoor plants and, Chinese lanterns, and colorful pillowcases that act as creative accents! Tables filled up quickly at around 7pm and there were lots of reservations that night. A little more guidance: make a reservation if you don’t want to wait.

    Food:

    We started dinner with the appetizing Black Pepper Beef (PhP 320). It’s something that might not pop out to you at first when you see it on the menu, but you need to get it! It ended up as one of our favorite food at Moon Rabbit. Filled with peppery goodness and really tasty, it’s made with black pepper sauce and onions. Eating rice with it is a must. 🙂

    Their Crispy Squid (PhP 280) was one big exclamation mark. The tiny pieces of squid were super crispy and flavorsome, especially with the accompanying sweet black vinegar sauce. It’s a totally safe option, and one that’ll ease you into a meal here.

    Ama’s Homemade Meatballs (PhP 220) indeed tasted like “homemade” with the same familiar taste of my mom’s or grandmother’s cooking. Tender and moist, these savory meatballs can be addictive. They’re great alone but for a little oomph, tangy ketchup helps welcome a bright finish.

    Cooked in a clay pot to tender crusty perfection, Duck Claypot Rice (PhP 260) looked like a glorious mess. The duck breast was aromatic and meaty, the Chinese chorizo was yummy, and greens provided a nice crunch.

    Definitely a crowd-pleaser, Moon Rabbit’s Singaporean Noodles (PhP 320) were a fab affair, with a combination of spicy and savory. We’re so glad that the serving portion was enough for all of us six people. Made up of curry noodles, asado, bell peppers, and seafood, the noodles were far from bland or dry and the ingredients were generous.

    Scallop Fried Rice (PhP 180) was another dish that didn’t scrimp on ingredients and flavor. It was immensely comforting and pretty filling, bringing fried rice to another level.

    The Orange Spare Ribs (PhP 280) was interesting since it’s not often that you come across pork spareribs cooked with orange sauce. The taste of orange though was tad overwhelming so make sure to pair rice with it. The spareribs remained juicy and tender. We thought it’s worth a try!

    For desserts, both the Moon Rabbit Panna Cotta (PhP 175) and the Grass Jelly with Red Bean (PhP 95) were enjoyable. Made in the shape of a rabbit, their panna cotta was on point. It was frozen and the texture was quite hard then the vanilla cream melts in your mouth. Inside, we were surprised to see a crimson-colored strawberry purée with just enough sweetness to suit our liking. The inherent sweetness of the red beans was beautifully conveyed. Augmented by the pleasantly chewy grass jelly, this light dessert was creamy and satisfying. It’s the type that fills you up without weighing you down. 🙂

    Price for Value:

    Moon Rabbit Cafe+Restaurant in Greater San Juan doesn’t stick to the traditional definition of authentic Chinese cuisine, and that’s what makes it alluring. It offers a good balance of classic Chinese food and unique elements served in a modern style and setting. Overall, the dishes we tried were decent and good. Prices were not modest considering the serving sizes, but not too extravagant either. I think you get what you pay for.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/moonrabbit.mnl/” name=”Moon Rabbit” description=”Moon Rabbit is located at 2 Ledesma St. Corner F.Benitez San Juan. For reservations, contact 529-4706.” rev_name=”Moon Rabbit” author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2020-02-02″ user_review=”4.5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Hanamaruken Ramen (Trinoma Mall, Quezon City)

    Review of Hanamaruken Ramen (Trinoma Mall, Quezon City)

    Trinoma is relatively close to our home but we super seldom visit this mall for unknown reason. Anyway, we thought of watching a movie there recently. Before then, we had lunch at Hanamaruken Ramen. Originating in Osaka in 1982, this ramen joint exudes a street-style charm in a modern setting. Its branch in Trinoma is apparently its first outside Japan, so we were much excited to try some Japanese food classics right at the spot.

    Review of Hanamaruken Ramen (Trinoma Mall, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    The ambiance offers good spaces for seating large groups. I like how Japanese decors were placed inside a glass wall, and the cage lighting inside even added up to an attractive visual display. A consistent gray color scheme and clean lines were followed throughout, giving a casual and upscale vibe.

    Food:

    The menu features recommendations and clear descriptions, names, and photos of food. Louie ordered Hanamaruken’s Signature Happiness Ramen (Half, PhP 445) without batting an eyelash. It’s the signature ramen bowl that’s said to be a masterpiece created by Founder Takaku Arakawa himself. For sure, it must be something really special. And indeed, it was a comforting dish with hearty ingredients and a rich aroma. We were surprised to learn that the half size is still actually quite large. A sheet of nori on the side has the words “Happiness is coming” written in Japanese. The broth is a mix of shoyu and tonkotsu, delivering both salty and savory flavors with pork undertones.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TZprhnsMD/

    I got Hanamaruken’s Tan Tan Mien (PhP 390). Made with a porky, opaque pale broth, their version of tonkotsu came with a sticky-lipped intensity and tiny nubbins of fat and minced pork swimming around on the surface. Sesame paste and curry tasted great, with tolerable heat. No doubt, this is the ultimate meal-in-a-bowl for me and one of the things I’d think of when you say comfort food.

    For our standalone side dishes, we got a serving each of Tiger Prawn Tempura (PhP 580) and Gyoza (PhP 240). The tempura was tagged with a hefty price, but it was worth it! With a gorgeous crunch, it’s one of best tempuras we’ve had. I fell in love with my first bite. 🙂 The freshness of the prawn was so evident, and we thoroughly enjoyed the flavor and natural sweetness that came from it without being distracted by the crispy tempura skin.

    Their Gyoza was fine as well but not an absolute must-try. The filling was nicely seasoned and tasted better with the dipping sauce.

    Price for Value:

    Hanamaruken Ramen is known for serving bowls of soul-satisfying ramen that bring happiness. Prices are not too friendly to the budget, but patrons don’t mind. The signature taste, aroma, and flavors of each dish drive people to explore more and more into a heavenly happy ramen world. Bring your family here to experience slurp-worthy ramen, and you can’t go wrong. We’re also willing to try their rice bowls next time!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/hanamarukenph/” name=”Hanamaruken Ramen Philippines” description=”2/F Trinoma Mall, North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City Tel. No. 720-9283; 628-1603 Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Thursday) and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Friday to Sunday)” rev_name=”Hanamaruken Ramen” rev_body=”Hanamaruken was created by a family of butchers in 1982. It is a subsidiary of the Arakawa Pork Company, a reputable supplier of high-quality meat in Osaka, Japan.” author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-11-01″ user_review=”4.3″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Wangfu Chinese Cafe (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Review of Wangfu Chinese Cafe (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Located in Il Terrazzo, Wangfu in Tomas Morato serves Singaporean-Chinese comfort food that’s simple yet incredibly delicious. Walk inside and there’s no mistaking what you’re here for. There are so many different ingredients at play on their menu, and the sum of their parts is outstanding. Since it’s housed in a strip mall, it’s a good place for a casual weeknight dinner or a quick lunch. If you’re in the area craving Singaporean or Chinese food, stop on in! 🙂

    Review of Wangfu Chinese Cafe (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    The ambient lighting, the comfortable and chic chairs, the cool palette or grays, orange and crystalline reflections as well as accents make up a casual vibe at Wangfu. This is a Chinese cafe where good conversations, heartfelt laughter, and great moments come to life. I love how the walls were made to look like the exterior of Singaporean shophouses. These cultural features bring the feeling of being transported to Singapore.

    Food:

    The Hong Kong Style Pork Chop Rice (PhP 198) came with a generous serving of rice, topped with a cheesy cream sauce and tender pork chops. A very cozy sort of dish.

    If you’re ordering a rice bowl, it will be hard to resist the urge to get the Nanyang Milk Tea (served hot or cold) so just let it happen (add P40). The milk tea tastes authentic with just the right balance of milk and tea.

    Stir Fried Ramen (PhP 138) was quite enjoyable, with excellent plump and juicy noodles and a nice chewiness.

    Salted Egg Fried Squid (PhP 398) demonstrated a mix of crispy and supple textures that played well. Taste was salty and savory yet flavorful you’ll be messaging your friends before you even wipe your fingers off! We’re big fans of this dish.

    Price for Value:

    Wangfu in Il Terrazzo delivered pretty much exactly what it advertised: a mash-up of Singaporean-Chinese food favorites that hit the spot. Prices may not be on the cheap side but are reasonable given the quality and tastes of food served. We’re excited to visit for another great meal! Dimsum, Cereal Prawns, Wangfu Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Hong Kong Style Seafood Rice all look awesome on the menu. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/WangfuChineseCafe/” name=”Wangfu Chinese Cafe” description=”Il Terrazzo Bldg. Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Philippines” rev_name=”Wangfu Chinese Cafe” rev_body=”Contact 7090569 for any inquiry or reservation.” author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-10-31″ user_review=”4.6″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Yoshimeatsu (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Review of Yoshimeatsu (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Craving for Korean bbq and Japanese food at the same time? Yoshimeatsu has your back! This restaurant offers the best of both worlds for a great lunch out with friends or family. I love that it has a clear differentiating factor vs. the usual Korean unli samgyupsal restaurants that line the city. Here you can get unlimited servings of ebi tempura, sushi, and more–on top the fresh meat cuts for grilling on the table—for only P549! 🙂 We had been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time now. Thankfully, the queue wasn’t long when we got there on a weekend, and we were escorted to our seats immediately. Here’s a review of Yoshimeatsu.

    yoshimeatsu in tomas morato

    Review of Yoshimeatsu (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Yoshimeatsu’s interior design and decors aren’t much of a turn-on, but you’re not here for anything except for their fantastic servings of food. The ventilation is quite good but there’s no assurance that you won’t walk out smelling like the intensely smoky meats. The setting is pretty casual, with Korean MTVs (videos of K-pop idols) playing on loop on a TV.

    Service:

    Hands down to their super fast and efficient staff! The kitchen prepares orders and releases beautifully plated meat for grilling so the waiters just have to serve them as requested. Customers order through the tablet mounted per table, so there’s no need to desperately call the attention of the busy staff.

    We also noticed that this branch of Yoshimeatsu at Tomas Morato employs a lot of staff, so rest assured that you’ll quickly get their attention if needed. Used plates and napkins are out of the table at once, grill is replaced before it gets totally burned, and glasses get refilled with water before you know it.

    One thing I also liked about Yoshimeatsu is that all basic orders are already set on the table once the customers arrive. If you’re hungry, you won’t get hangry. 🙂 When someone is celebrating his birthday, the team of staff will harmoniously sing the Happy Birthday song and give out a cake made of stacked sushi. Excellent customer service overall!

    Food:

    Yoshimeatsu’s dishes are all pretty good and tasty. Be ready to get smoked and grab some friends to share delicious meats cooked up over charcoal grills. Japanese food staples for the “banchan” make all the difference. The menu features a section of side dishes and another for grilling. We got one of each and later ordered seconds. Our favorites were everything except the sakana tofu, weiner sausage, chicken liver, and pork intestine. It was surprising that their mashed potato was exceptionally good, too.

    Here you get to grill your tenderly-marinated meat to your own liking, while indulging in free-flow kani salad, buta dumplings, Kyoto beef roll, spicy tuna maki, ebi tempura, and California maki among others while enjoying Korean kimchi as well. The round barbecue grill has a groove on the outer ring where the server pours beaten egg into the ring for you to cook it just the way you like, runny or firm. The eggs apparently help to soften the spiciness from the meat. Very thoughtful! All meats are already marinated so dipping them into the bean paste or other condiments is optional. Wrap a piece up in a lettuce leaf with some kimchi and you get a full kick of flavors. For dessert, their mango and leche flan soft served ice cream with a cone is also a must-try.

    Price for Value:

    Metro Manila is a blessed city for Korean BBQ. The spots are basically located in one corner next to one another, and many of them are very good. Check out Yoshimeatsu in Tomas Morato for another great K-BBQ experience. At only P549 (promo rate), their grilled meat and Japanese food staples bring dining to a new level you won’t elsewhere at this point.

    Yoshimeatsu, Tomas Morato Menu

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.facebook.com/Yoshimeatsu” name=”Yoshimeatsu” description=”Tomas Morato Ave cor Sct Fernandez, Quezon City” rev_name=”Yoshimeatsu” author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-10-29″ user_review=”4.5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of King Kaijoo Fusion (Banawe, Quezon City)

    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! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pg/kingkaijoo/posts/” name=”King Kaijoo” description=”589 Banawe Street, Quezon City, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call Call 0917 187 2168″ author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-09-19″ user_review=”4.2″ min_review=”4″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Romantic Baboy (Banawe, Quezon City)

    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!

    No photo description available.

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

    Image may contain: Rochkirstin Sioco and Louie Siocs, people smiling, stripes and closeup

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RomanticBaboy/” name=”Romantic Baboy” description=”625 N.S. Amoranto Corner Palali Street, Siena, Banawe, Quezon City” rev_name=”Romantic Baboy Retiro contact number: 02 7569409″ author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-09-17″ user_review=”4.6″ min_review=”5″ max_review=”0″ ]

  • Review of Fantastic Chef Taft (Leon Guinto, Manila)

    Review of Fantastic Chef Taft (Leon Guinto, Manila)

    Taft Avenue in Manila is filled with food stalls and restaurants that cater mostly to students and thus offer items that are budget-friendly. Walk every five feet and literally you’ll wind up in a great dining spot. Walk some more and you’ll find Fantastic Chef in Leon Guinto Street. A sister company of Fantastic Baka, Fantastic Chef Taft is a swish restaurant that’s perfect for giving friends an intro to the joys of unlimited samgyupsal and savory banchan. Check it out.

    Review of Fantastic Chef Taft (Leon Guinto, Manila)

    Ambiance:

    Fantastic Chef Taft is one of the newest entrants to the Korean bbq craze in the metro. The restaurant is bright and spacious, and the earthy tiles making up a rustic backsplash look chic and attractive. Orange chairs and yellow accents on the sides of the table are a nice change of pace as pop of colors in the seemingly mundane setup. All tables are equipped with a grill stove and a hanging induction equipment to take care of proper ventilation and make sure you don’t smell of smoke after a few rounds of sizzling meat. K-POP songs played on the background, which made the ambiance feel more Korean.

    Food:

    Haven’t tried Korean grilled bbq before? You can’t go wrong with pork, chicken, or beef cooked on the tabletop grill at Fantastic Chef Taft, where quality cuts of top-notch marinades and a good variety of sides combine into a memorable meal.

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

    Food is prepared by Chef Jang Jungyun, a 3-star Michelin awardee and one of Korea’s A-list chefs, the same chef responsible for the food in Fantastic Baka. With this, you can order with confidence and choose from different cuts of meat, ranging from your usual suspects like pork belly and spicy pork bulgogi to some less routine stuff such as jowls and skirt meat. When in doubt, come with your friends or family so you can order and share everything, like we did. 🙂

    We started lunch with steamed egg which was fluffy and light. Then we had kimchi, japchae, cabbage salad, fish cake and soup as appetizers and enjoyed them as well with meat. For mains, we got one serving each of skirt meat, seasoned pork neck, cheek, rack, pork belly, spicy pork bulgogi, jowls meat, thin pork belly, spicy chicken bbq, seasoned chicken bbq, and beef plate.

    Like in any Korean bbq place, you don’t need to be a master chef to cook. My husband did most of the cooking and cut the meat with scissors to serve. We were pretty satisfied with the tender and tasty pieces of meat that came out with beautiful char. Meat with a hint of smoky notes and those marinated with sweet and spice stood out most for me. 🙂

    In the interest of doing Korean bbq right and getting the most out of your meal, here are some tips to consider:

    • Eat Korean bbq with banchan. When cooking, place meat on the center of the grill plate for about two minutes on each side. While waiting, dive into your banchan and feel free to snag pieces of meat to eat right off the grill.
    • Banchan is not merely an appetizer. These side dishes are usually served at the start of the meal, but they’re meant to be sampled all throughout, as they typically have acid and vinegar. Try it and you’ll appreciate when the acid cuts through all the rich flavor and fats of meat. For the ultimate flavor rapture, eat kimchi with pork belly in a single bite. Be adventurous!
    • Balance meat with some veggies (and maybe rice). Take some lettuce and aim to make each wrap a two-bite affair, not an overstuffed burrito. Wrapping meat in lettuce with rice and kimchi also wouldn’t hurt.
    • Order enough for the first round before asking for another. Don’t worry if you’re confused on which and how much meat to order. Unlike at a steakhouse where you might order an 8-oz steak for yourself, here you’re ordering for the group. The portion per course is enough for 1-2 people to share, so if you think you can’t finish all, take your time and don’t hoard food quickly. Later you can decide which item you would want seconds of. Fantastic Chef Taft charges PhP 200 if you have leftovers. So love food, don’t waste!
    • Ask for a new grill if you need one. In Fantastic Chef, the server swapped out the grill for us as it looked burned.
    • Dip grilled meat into the special melted cheese. If you love cheese, you’ll be happy to savor the best ever cheesy samgyupsal with special melted cheese dip.

    📢 To wash all food down, take advantage of their promotion until May 18, 2019: buy 1 fruit soju worth PhP 280 and get 1 free soju fresh. To catch all the latest offers and discounts, follow Fantastic Chef Taft on Instagram and Facebook.

    Price for Value:

    Craving for samgyupsal? Fantastic Chef Taft can be your next regular stop. It’s reliable for platters and platters of meat and all the good stuff. The good news? There’s no time limit!

    At PhP 499, you get unlimited orders of skirt meat, seasoned pork neck, cheek, rack, pork belly, spicy pork bulgogi, jowls meat, thin pork belly, spicy chicken bbq, and seasoned chicken bbq. Just add PhP 50 and take beef plate and seasoned beef plate to match your appetite. Overall, we’re pleased with the quality of food and the reasonable and affordable price. Fantastic Chef Taft is a must-try foodie destination and it’s certainly worth a shot! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/FantasticChefTaft/” name=”Fantastic Chef Taft” description=”2472 Leon Guinto Street Taft, Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, email fantastictaft@gmail.com” rev_body=”Famous unlimited premium Korean BBQ at an affordable price!” author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2019-04-08″ user_review=”4.8″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Spiral (Sofitel Philippine Plaza, CCP Complex, Pasay City)

    Review of Spiral (Sofitel Philippine Plaza, CCP Complex, Pasay City)

    Spiral has always belonged to the top 5 answers my friends say when asked about their most favorite buffet restaurants in Philippine hotels. For years, I have been aspiring to come back and re-experience a “gastronomic voyage nonpareil.” My first time at Spiral in Sofitel Philippine Plaza might have been a decade ago, so I thought spending our wedding anniversaries here with my family would be an epic moment.

    Last March 26, we celebrated our second wedding anniversary, and my parents’ had theirs last February. We agreed to have lunch last Saturday in this multi-awarded dining destination. I didn’t plan on eating breakfast on the day to prepare for the sumptuous spread, but since I woke up early, I had to give in and had a light meal. 😉 Thankfully, my appetite hasn’t waned and I still came with a hungry stomach.

    Review of Spiral (Sofitel Philippine Plaza, CCP Complex, Pasay City)

    Ambiance:

    A Sofitel flagship, Spiral presents a bewildering array of choices with different cuisines available. The setting is quite modern and cozy, with an intimate and classy vibe and accommodation capacity is huge. This excellent buffet restaurant is divided into 21 dining ateliers. It features lustrous white marbles and glowing glass counters, where guests can watch how chefs masterfully prepare food right in front rather than in the back kitchen. At prime times, lines can go on forever, especially for tempura and ice cream, so remember to get there early.

    Food:

    At first glance, you’ll have a hard time choosing which station to hit first, but the good thing is that you can try all of them like we did. 🙂 While there’s a ton of dishes, I must say none was particularly outstanding and it’s hard to pick one or even a few favorites. I suggest planning ahead to choose your best bets and get your time and money’s worth. 😉

    Here are some suggestions:

    First Round: Appetizers. For starters, make your way to the 1. Salad and Appetizer and grab some fresh locally grown produce and organic colorful vegetables. Next, head out to 2. L’Epicerie, where meat and cheese lovers would discover heaven. Feast on a wide variety of premium aged hams, charcuterie, smoked fish, artisanal cheese from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Pair them with olives, herbs, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, sauces and condiments for an outstanding gourmet experience.

    Second Round: Japanese and Pizza. Love tempura but hate waiting? Get to 2. Hot Japanese quickly so you can be one of the first in the queue for ebi tempura, if you’re into it. 😉 Here, you can also enjoy a selection of traditional grilled seafood, meat and vegetables cooked at the robata or at the teppanyaki. Before returning to your table, take a few pieces of fresh sushi, sashimi, temaki, or nigiri from the 4. Sushi Sashimi Station, or try a slice or two of traditional wood-fired oven pizza at the 5. Wood Fired Oven.

    Third Round: Chinese Food. Travel to the Chinese counters and delight your senses with 6. Asian Noodles drenched in your choice of broth, sauce, soup stock, and condiments. You may wait for noodles to boil and cook, or request delivery to your table. If you choose to wait, just beside is the 7. Peking Duck Oven. Taste the perfection of roasted Peking Duck. Take another few steps and you’ll find the 8. Chinese Wok station and choose from a selection of Wok cooked Chinese dishes reflecting all parts of China whether Cantonese, Hunan, Sichuan or regional. End your Chinese food trip with 9. Steam Baskets and savor authentic steam and fried dim sum such as hakaw, siomai, wonton, and spare ribs.

    Fourth Round: Various Asian. Continue chowing down on Asian food. Visit the 10. Korean food bar for sizzling plates and freshly tossed vegetables. We tried their kimchi, bulgogi, squid chili barbecue, and other banchan. Adjacent to Korean is the 11. Thai food station where you can find fiery flavors of soups and curries. Next up, 12. Filipino food. Satisfy your palates with a delectable array of traditional Filipino dishes like beef tapa, adobo, kare-kare, and crispy pata.

    Fifth Round: Meat and Seafood. When it comes to meaty entrees, you can peruse the 13. Rotisserie station with rich portions of meat and poultry, such as roasted chicken, slow cooked lamb, beef, and pork seasoned with assorted herbs and spices. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try tandoori-spiced meats with Indian and Asian bread and sauces at the 14. North Indian food bar. Get your share of naan and tandoori as well. Love surf and turf? Balance meat with a helping of seafood. 15. Churrasco offers juicy skewered seafood, while 16. French Stove has grilled seafood.

    Fifth and Final Round: Desserts. Sweet endings are the perfect way to conclude a memorable dining experience. Succumb to the temptation of freshly baked French pastries of all shapes, fillings, textures and sizes at 16. La Patisserie. Craving for chocolate? Don’t miss the 17. Chocolaterie and indulge in artisanal chocolate, truffles and pralines. One bite of these will surely make you euphoric with its intense flavors and colors. To top it all, finish your meal with ice cream. 18. Creamery offers different ice cream flavors that are both fruity (mango, strawberry), and citrus (calamansi) along with coffee, chocolate, and ube. You can also request for a crepe topped with a scoop of ice cream.

    Note: I don’t have photos of food per station up close because one of the waiters came up to me when he saw me shooting with my camera. He said only shooting with a phone camera is allowed. I didn’t understand the logic behind so I asked why. He turned his back and walked away. Snotty behavior or he really just didn’t hear me? I asked the second time but he ignored me and didn’t seem to bother. Oh well.

    Price for Value:

    SPIRAL at Sofitel Philippine Plaza isn’t just one of the most buzzed-about hotel buffet restaurants — it also offers one of the best and most lavish food selections. It’s not known as Asia’s grandest buffet for nothing! So while you’re here, make the most out of your visit and eat to your heart’s desire.

    SPIRAL Manila’s rate per person is originally priced at PhP 2,750 for Mondays to Saturdays lunch buffet, but since I purchased through MetroDeal, I got a 27% discount and paid PhP 1,999 per head instead. Price is still expensive but it’s as expected of an indulgent experience. This buffet restaurant can pretty much satisfy any craving. Once you hit the dessert station afterward, you’ll just have to roll home. Food coma!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.spiralmanila.com/” name=”Spiral Manila” description=”Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For booking and reservation, contact +632 8326988 or email H6308-FB12@sofitel.com” author=”Rochkirstin Sioco” pubdate=”2019-04-02″ user_review=”3.7″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]