Rochkirstin | com

Category: Search by Type

  • Review of Zao Vietnamese Bistro (Promenade 3, Greenhills Shopping Center)

    Review of Zao Vietnamese Bistro (Promenade 3, Greenhills Shopping Center)

    The only Vietnamese restaurants I have ever tried before were Pho Bac and Pho Hoa Vietnamese Noodle House, so I’m first going to make a disclaimer here. I won’t pretend to be an expert on Vietnamese food, but when it comes to saying whether food is delicious or not, I may qualify for that. 😛

    Here’s the story: One Sunday, we got the chance to test this Vietnamese restaurant in Promenade 3, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan called Zao Vietnamese Bistro. Their menu has vast items and in one quick reading, I thought there are enough reliable interesting dishes for diners to try and come back for a number of times without having to reorder the same thing.

    Other restaurants in this new wing in Promenade also piqued my interest. But because Zao’s staff offered the most warm welcome in introducing their must-try food in the reception area, we trusted that this Vietnamese restaurant would bring our taste buds immense pleasure for dinner.

    Review of Zao Vietnamese Bistro (Promenade 3, Greenhills)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    This modern Vietnamese restaurant in the mall is built with two floors. Decorated with conservative colors, both areas are well appointed and are large enough to accommodate guests without having people to wait long. Getting a table is not a pain.

    Seats are positioned with ample distance between customers, making a cozy vibe that’s more on the private and formal side—appropriate for a date and also good for a trendy crowd. The classy ambiance is magnified by the beautiful ceiling set with elegant lights.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The wait staff acted chill and totally professional. They were always ready to move on their feet whenever they see customers raise their hands to call attention. This is the type of customer service that deserves respect and will also earn you a reason to go back and have another amazing dining experience at Zao Vietnamese Bistro.

    Food: ★★★★★

    Something every table seemed to order was the Appetizer Sampler (PhP 565). We had it as a solid starter and nothing went wrong. This sampler featured a nice presentation of all sorts of appetizers in one plate: fresh rolls, vegetable salad, spring rolls, pork and chicken satay and sugar cane shrimps.

    They were all rich and pretty tasty. I especially liked the sugar cane shrimps. It’s a new discovery for me and I found it very unique. The satay were hard to chew. The spring rolls were standard fried goodness with dipping sauce.

    But if you prefer not confusing your palate with an assortment of food with differing flavors and textures, feel free to order them individually, as follows:

    • Fresh Rolls (PhP 215) – with shrimps, noodles, pork, bean sprouts, greens and yellow bean-hoisin sauce
    • Crispy Spring Rolls (PhP 245) – with pork, glass noodles and mushrooms served with lettuce wrap
    • Pork/Chicken Satay (PhP 195) – grilled Vietnamese satay with Zao dipping sauce and pickled vegetables
    • Sugar Cane Shrimps (PhP 345) – deep fried shrimp paste wrapped on sugar cane served with lettuce wrap

    Zao’s Vietnamese Beef Stew (PhP 365) consisted of chunks of slow-cooked aromatic beef simmered in star anise and basil, swimming in a bowl of reddish stew. It’s a good rendition, with a delicious mix of sweet and heat. Cooked well and full of flavor, the beef chunks did the heavy lifting, which deserved to be scored an A. Pairing this dish with steamed white rice was great and just proper.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    I’m not a huge fan of Vietnamese food but this restaurant is approved! 🙂 If you’re in search of something new and good to eat, come check out Zao Vietnamese Bistro in Greenhills. Prices of food here are not cheap, but servings are big, the kind that will fill you up without hitting your wallet so hard. One a la carte dish can be shared by two people, take note.

    Side trivia: Zao means “life” in Vietnamese. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/ZaoVietnameseBistro” name=”Zao Vietnamese Bistro” description=”Promenade 3, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, San Juan ” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 705-1066″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-08-29″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other branches:

    • Unit 1 C, 16 Serendra, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global city, Taguig | Contact number (02) 856 2819
    • 2nd Level, Eastwood Mall, Orchard Road, Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City | Contact number (02) 470-7587
    • 5th Level, Shangri-La Plaza Mall – East Wing, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Shaw Blvd. cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong
  • Review of Red Spatula Chiffon Cakes (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Review of Red Spatula Chiffon Cakes (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Yesterday, we came across Red Spatula in Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo at the Weekend Gourmet Market after going grocery shopping at Metro Supermarket. The staff offered free tasting in a very friendly manner, and their sweet specialties on the table looked so good that it was hard to refuse. My mom and I took a small portion of their butter mamon (chiffon cake), liked it and so we quickly decided to take home a box of Red Spatula chiffon cakes in all six flavors: Mocha, Butter, Cheese, Rocky Road, Dulce de Leche, and Peanut Butter. 🙂 Yum yum!

    As told by the staff, Red Spatula started only last August 1, 2014. Right now, stalls are exhibited only in Lucky Chinatown Mall and in Eastwood Mall every weekends from Friday to Sunday. What’s interesting is that Red Spatula is owned by the Mercado family, the same [previous] owner of Red Ribbon Bakeshop (acquired by fastfood giant Jollibee Food Corporation in 2005). This explains why the Filipno mini cakes taste almost the same. The only prime difference is that Red Spatula’s current version is not too airy and light but more “siksik” and fluffy.

    At PhP 25, each piece of Red Spatula’s chiffon cake is hand-made and freshly baked every day and is “Rated “M” for mmmmm.” What’s not to love? I liked that the chiffon cakes are made buttery and not too sweet (probably less sugary than the one in Red Ribbon). However, they lack the moist crumb to stand up to what I expected. Also, if you’d allow me to pour creativity in, I’ll suggest adding a dollop of whipped cream and a smear of cherry or blueberry preserves on your own to add a spark of texture and more flavor. 😛 I’m salivating at the idea!

    Every variant of Red Spatula mamons is that kind of smile-worthy mini chiffon cake that will keep you lapping up bite after bite until it’s gone.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/redspatula88/” name=”Red Spatula – Baking the Sweet Life” description=”For inquiries, call (02) 424-6887 or 0915-1937470″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-08-25″ user_review=”4″ min_review=”4″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Hard Rock Café (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    Review of Hard Rock Café (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    I’m done complaining about the first set of dishes we tried in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia back on our first day of travel. Thank goodness, our griping ended there. From the second day to the last, we met great-tasting food! Hard Rock Café located in the ground floor of Wisma Concorde (walking distance from Bukit Nanas Monorail Station) was one that got our base covered.

    This “rock-and-roll” restaurant was recommended by our local tourist guide/driver and we could not thank him enough. We needed plenty supply of energy for our busy day exploring KL mostly by foot that day, and Hard Rock Café was perfect as it served us excellent Malaysian food without much gimmicks. There was no secret dungeon or basement and no guy wearing a mask inside. What we had were simply the best things about Malaysian food available as part of their regular menu. Yes, there’s authenticity present in all of it. 🙂 Know more below.

    Review of Hard Rock Café (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    I’ve read one blogger say that “just like McDonald’s and Burger King, Hard Rock Café is the same wherever you are in the world.” That part is exactly true. It’s good to see a similar relaxed ambiance and rustic theme of Hard Rock Café-Malaysia with those branches in the Philippines. To some degree, this made me feel at home while in a foreign country.

    Records, memorabilia, signed CDs and posters of rock stars were displayed on the walls, easy to catch the eyes of customers. The bar setting, as well as the stage for the live band at the front, was especially nicely furnished. Football jerseys for the World Cup Season were hanged everywhere. Everything else spelled retro! They also have a small gift shop where Hard Rock fans can buy souvenirs.

    All these make this restaurant a nice place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing in KL. Despite expected large crowds nightly, I bet that Hard Rock Café can play host to the next great time you will hardly forget.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was first class. The staff was very friendly, helpful, efficient and available at all times. He really focused on our every need. Response time of ordering and receiving said orders was quick.

    Food: ★★★★★

    As a starter, the Tupelo Chicken Tenders (RM 22) may not be the sexiest on the menu, but you can’t go wrong ordering it. The dish consisted of boneless, seasoned and breaded chicken tenders, served with honey-mustard and hickory barbecue sauces on the side. Without adding the condiments though, the chicken would not be worth much of anything. So we went ahead and loaded it up with as many as we pleased. The result is what I call glorious messiness! 😛

    The Grilled Chicken Quesadilla (RM 20) was made with grilled chicken and pineapple, tossed in tangy barbecue sauce with melted Jack cheese and stuffed in a chill-dusted tortilla. It was served with fresh guacamole, freshly made salsa and sour cream. This quesadilla was incredible. It was more like a large and soft taco from the griddle with a lot of melted cheese and rich flavor. You’ll be happy to take one, or several.

    People often say that when in Malaysia, try the Nasi Goreng—and we did. Good lord, the Nasi Goreng (RM 25) was awesome! It consisted of delicious fried rice with prawn and vegetables topped with fried egg. Eat the chicken satay with prawn crackers, and you are in business. With a good contrast of textures and complementing flavors in one plate, Nasi Goreng is a dish you should not dare miss when in Hard Rock Café in Kuala Lumpur. 

    Other Asian all-time favorites that looked good on the menu:

    • Seafood Char Kway Teow (RM 25) – stir-fried flat noodles tossed with bean sprouts, fish cake, egg, prawn, squid and a sweet and spicy soy sauce
    • Curry Laksa (RM 25) – a spicy curry coconut gravy served with yellow noodles, prawns, chicken, fried beancurd puff, bean sprouts, long beans, eggplant and boiled egg
    • Teriyaki Salmon (RM 43) – grilled salmon fillet glazed with teriyaki sauce served with rice and vegetables

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Prices are high compared to other restaurants in KL. However, this is Hard Rock Café we’re talking about, so that’s acceptable. I’m not only rating the price for value solely on the food quality but on the totality of our dining experience. I enjoyed every bit of our time here. If money is not a problem, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. Whether you want to get some snacks and drinks or are hungry for a full meal, there’s something for everyone. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/hardrockcafekualalumpur” name=”Hard Rock Café” description=”Ground Floor, Wisma Concorde, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” rev_name=”For inquiries, call +60 3-2715 5555″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-08-18″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Yuen Kee Restaurant 源記餐廳 (Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)

    Review of Yuen Kee Restaurant 源記餐廳 (Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)

    The first day of our itinerary in Hong Kong was so jam-packed, but still we found a weeny bit of time to explore Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) and go “panic shopping” even for two hours before calling it a day. From Hong Kong Ocean Park 海洋公园, we asked our tour bus driver to drop us at TST and he gladly did. In TST, we saw high-end brands of clothing, shoes, bags and accessories. Ahead of shopping time, dinner came as priority. It was a must to eat, or else our energy level would be down to zero. The least I aspired for was to be knocked unconscious because of hunger. 😛 So, this brings us to the question: Where to eat in Tsim Sha Tsui?

    Finding a decent local Chinese restaurant where we could taste local Hong Kong food ate up much of our time. Apparently, we were down at Kimberley Road, which is like the little Korea town in Tsim Sha Tsui. Lots of Korean restaurants and shops stood, and they even expand to the neighboring roads: Nathan Road, Chatham Road South and Cameron Road. Eating other cuisines than Chinese didn’t sound appealing. We walked and walked and walked (too tiring leh) until we found Yuen Kee Restaurant 源記燒味粉麵茶餐廳. Oh finally, God must have answered our prayers!

    Review of Yuen Kee Restaurant 源記餐廳 (Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Upon first glance, Yuen Kee Restaurant was as unassuming as it gets. Nothing fancy. No bells and whistles. As we went in further, we appreciated the interior design more as it was simple, much like those fair Chinese restaurants we have back home in Chinatown, Binondo, Manila. Some recipes of their menu were displayed via back-lit LED pictures on the wall. Overall, the place was well lit and spacious. Bright, busy and packed with dining customers, Yuen Kee was glamorous as a Hong Kong-style fast food establishment.

    Service: ★★☆☆☆

    The staff understood little English; it was better to speak with them in Cantonese for efficient communication. They acted fast and accommodated our requests from entrance to exit. However, they lacked warmth and cordiality with regard to serving and treating guests. How exactly?

    I asked for iced cold water. The server gave hot water. We ordered an additional bowl of steamed rice, and it never came. Not wanting to waste and throw away leftover food, we asked for it to be packed. We were given an empty Styrofoam and plastic bag. The waiter told us to wrap the food ourselves and left us hanging. No guidance or help was provided when we asked how to separate the sauce and food in the Styrofoam to prevent spill-over. Thus, they would certainly not realize that mom already had just taken away one of their sauce containers with the sauce.

    I guess that was an instance of culture shock for us. We have grown too familiar with Filipino customer service, which I describe as generally polite, full of cheer, and knowledgeable. And I was terribly missing those all the time when we were in Hong Kong.

    Food: ★★☆☆☆

    Food presentation impressed the camera, but the food tastes fell short on my expectations. We ordered Two Poultry Legs with Rice 雙脾飯 (HKD 68). The chicken meat was hard to chew and didn’t seem fresh. The flavors were not intense enough to polish our plate. This is a dish you would not dare to order on your second trip back. Unfortunately, the portion was hearty. I don’t know if it’s meant for sharing, but good luck in advance if you plan to finish it alone.

    We also tried their Noodles in Oyster Sauce with Shrimp Wontons 雲吞撈麵 (HKD 33), which as well didn’t deserve to merit high marks. The egg noodles were springy in texture (that’s okay); the wonton balls, fully stuffed with shrimp popping out in every bite; and the broth of the soup, too light and almost tasteless. It’s not the version of shrimp wonton noodle soup that I crave.

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    Considering the quality and taste of food and the customer service we have experienced, the price for value is really not that good and not worth for a regular dinner. It wasn’t as good as I wished. So if only I was not too hungry that night, I would have rated Yuen Kee Restaurant’s food lower. 😐 See Yuen Kee Restaurant’s menu here.

    [schema type=”review” name=”Yuen Kee Restaurant” description=”27-33 Kimberley Road, Shop 6-10, G/F Wing Lee Building, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong” rev_name=”For inquiries, call +852 21919339 ” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-08-16″ user_review=”9″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Crystal Lotus Restaurant 晶荷轩 (Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong)

    Review of Crystal Lotus Restaurant 晶荷轩 (Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong)

    I wasn’t only excited to go to Hong Kong Disneyland for the theme parks’ attractions and rides. Of course, as a foodie, I was over-the-top thrilled for the highlight…and you guessed it right—food! Seeing cute pictures of Disney Character Dim Sum Lunch Set being served at Crystal Lotus Restaurant (Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong) 大嶼山香港迪士尼樂園酒店 made me want to pack my bag and travel to Hong Kong right away! (Read the rest of our activities in Hong Kong and two-day trip itinerary here.)

    Because the restaurant website states that at least 48 hours of reservation is required to avail of the Disney Character Dim Sum Lunch Set, I took a long-distance call to book for two sets in advance. I knew it was going to be a delightful treat both for our eyes and stomach, and it turned out I wasn’t wrong after all. 😉

    Review of Crystal Lotus Restaurant 晶荷轩 (Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    We rode the Disney Resort Shuttle Bus (free service) from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to the Disneyland Hotel. 10 minutes passed and we found ourselves lurking our way to Crystal Lotus Restaurant while directing our gaze to everything beautiful and elegant inside the hotel.

    “True to its name, the décor of Crystal Lotus takes the theme of the majestic lotus.” The chandeliers were magnificent, pretty close to jaw-dropping.

    The wall-to-wall design filled with crystal panels from the outside was stunning. Arranged in Victorian-style but still with Disney touch, the comfy chairs matched with the family-friendly tables well; it was a shame we couldn’t fit them in our suitcases. 😆

    Service: ★★★★★

    I mentioned my name to the restaurant receptionist and she immediately escorted us to our seats. The table was reserved for six of us, and we successfully contained our excitement seeing the menu for the first time (it’s not available online).

    After quick checking, I realized that the Disney Character Dim Sum wasn’t listed on the menu. I had to ask the waiter for it and he reiterated about their policy (that it can only be served to those who have pre-ordered 48 before visiting on Mondays to Fridays). The staff had to validate with the hotel receptionist I talked with about my booking.

    Finally, they confirmed and said that waiting time would be three minutes for the appetizers and the rest of the food on the character dim sum set will be released in half an hour’s time. Good grief. Proper timing was observed and our requests were accommodated with no issue.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Food items were all so cute that we almost didn’t have the heart to bite into them. If you’re worried that the food is good only in visual presentation but not in taste, fret not. The food quality and standard here are generally at par with any first-rate Chinese restaurant.

    For appetizer, we had Mickey’s Seafood Glutinous Pancake (米奇煎薄饼) which were perfectly browned on the sides, with tender, flurry insides. Shaped in Mickey Mouse face design, these pancakes were extra chewier than regular pancakes and less sweeter, so I suspect a combination of only rice and flour was in play. The twist? Tasting light in flavor, carrots and greens were mixed in the pan and fried until crispy.

    Another appetizer was the Rice Pasta With Shredded Chicken in Sesame Sauce (麻酱鸡丝分皮) which consisted of cold rice noodles, cucumber and lettuce topped with shredded poached chicken and drizzle of sesame sauce. Motivating and sweet, the rice pasta had a good texture cooked just right not to mushy or slimy.

    Next to arrived was my most awaited set: Disney Style Dim Sum! All praise be to the chef who executed the designs; what came out are these bun wonders that are surprisingly good. Even if it took us some time to eat them (because I was taking pictures for like five minutes in different angles), the warmth still permeated until the last bite. We slowly savored the Little Pig Barbecue Pork Bun (蚝汁叉烧猪仔包) and Little Green Men Pork and Vegetable Bun (绿色小人菜肉包).

    The Little Pig Barbecue Pork Bun was filled with sweet barbecued pork (asado), and the Green Three Eyes Alien (character from Toy Story) was filled with vegetables. While I was instantly seduced by how they looked, I thought the fillings were lacking in the quantity department.

    Moving on, we had the Double-boiled Sea Whelk and Stuffed Whole Dried Scallops in Mickey Winter Melon Soup (米奇元贝炖鸡). The chicken broth-based soup featured Mickey’s head which was actually winter melon cut-out, with stuffed dried scallop at the center and and carrot as the ears. The saltiness of the dried scallops imparted a lot of taste in the soup.

    For the Chinese, the winter melon soup is known to increase energy, nourish the heart and tranquilize the mind. It’s definitely tagged as healthy! 🙂

    The Wok-fried Shrimp and Disney Root Vegetables (豉汁芥兰度炒虾球) was one of my favorite in the array of dishes in the set, because I love eating vegetables. Joined by wok-fried fresh king prawns, the kale stems and carrots were crunchy and great with no additional seasoning required.

    We were warned that the Braised de-boned Short Rib in Spicy Sichuan Sauce (彩椒双菌牛柳粒) would be spicy. Yup, it was a little spicy but not to the point when one should drink a glass of water (or maybe tea) to choke it down. The sauce which resembled almost beef soup had strong flavor, and the beef cubes were really tender and juicy.

    Like in traditional Chinese dining, rice came last, just before desserts. The Fried Rice with Crispy Eel and Pickled Vegetables in Golden Nest (金盞脆鱔炒飯) was served with satisfying aroma. I didn’t seem to taste the eel as its taste was disguised as char siew. On the other hand, the pickled vegetables’ crunch and taste were evident and the thin deep-fried crispy wonton skin was so yummy.

    Another batch of food we almost went insane for was the Combo of “Duffy” Steamed Red Bean Puree Bun (迪士尼小熊) and Chilled Dual “Mickey’s” Pudding. Duffy (a Disney bear, not chipmunk)’s inside was filled with not-too-sweet red bean (红豆). Screaming fall, the yellow-orange pudding was composed of pumpkin and almond. The green one—er, I forgot. Sorry! 😛 Anyway, it was also deliciously indulgent.

    My dad is a strict vegetarian/vegan so he could not have anything on the Disney Character Dim Sum Lunch Set except for the dessert. For his main course, he had Si-Chuan Style Tofu with Mushrooms (HK$ 95) from the à la carte menu. The tofu was marinated before frying in the hot wok, and the result was flavorful, soft and chewy tofu with firm exterior. To anyone who likes tofu, I’m sure this is something you can enjoy.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    We were not hotel room guests so price of the Disney Character Dim Sum Lunch Set was more expensive (HK$ 378), exclusive of service charge (which I recall to be 10% of the bill). Yes, the price is heavy but we had two sets shared by five people and the meal was enough to call lunch. The unique presentation and decorations of food was my main reason not to deter, aside from the hotel dining experience. Oh well, Crystal Lotus Restaurant is a winning Chinese restaurant inside Disneyland Hotel, so there’s nothing more that I can say.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/hotels/latestOverview?name=HotelDiningPage#crystallotus” name=”Crystal Lotus Restaurant 晶荷轩 (Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong)” description=”Lobby Floor, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Lantau Island, Hong Kong” rev_name=”For inquiries, call +825 3510-6000″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-08-05″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Claypot Chicken Rice 瓦煲雞飯 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    Review of Claypot Chicken Rice 瓦煲雞飯 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    On the night we reached KL, we were sent straight to Hotel Pudu Plaza. After checking in, we looked for a nearby restaurant that seemed decent for dinner immediately. A lot of hawker restaurants serving local  Malay food were available, however the dishes were just not presented in a way that could easily capture my attention. Finally, we set foot in 瓦煲雞飯 (wa bao ji fan) and decided to try their signature Claypot Chicken Rice, which every table had.

    Review of Claypot Chicken Rice 瓦煲雞飯 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

    I glanced over at the menu posted on the wall and learned that it was only a listing of drinks.

    Since they didn’t have a food menu, we had to specifically ask the staff to order. The boss and everyone else were speaking only in Mandarin and Malay. And apparently, they thought I was Japanese so they (including some other customers who heard me) were surprised when I spoke in Chinese. 😛

    We had their signature Claypot Chicken Rice (瓦煲雞飯), Wintermelon Soup (冬瓜湯) and Chinese Stir-fried Lettuce (生菜). While waiting, I observed that it was interesting to see how the rice was being cooked using charcoal fire. Serving time was slow, since cooking rice in a claypot is really a slow process, but the result is worth the effort.

    The claypot rice itself was done well. The bottom and sides developed an excellent crust that soaked up most flavor. However, I found that the claypot rice was dressed with too much black soy sauce and too much oil. Toppings consisted of savory chunks of skin-on, bone-in chicken, Chinese sausage (lap cheong) and mushroom. The chicken was a bit dry but plenty rich. Studded with fatty meat, the lap cheong was tender, sweet and smoky. The serving size was enough for two to share. The taste of 瓦煲雞飯 could get a little monotonous if you’d finish the entire portion alone.

    Bright in color, the Chinese lettuce was good, crispy and fresh. It was a great side dish to the claypot chicken rice.

    Any soup would be comforting for us that night, and we got the ever-nourishing and soothing Wintermelon Soup (also Cantonese in origin). It was cooked with pork bones and velvety cubes of wintermelon. The winter melon’s delicate white flesh had no distinct taste of its own, absorbing only the broth’s flavor.

    Instead of going over the list of drinks all unfamiliar to us, we got the honeydew drink and sour plum juice. Their pictures were posted on the wall and somehow they looked good.

    Light and refreshing, the honeydew juice turned out to taste like a hefty combination of green apple and melon juice. It was way better than the sour plum juice (suan mei, on the right), which was far from heavenly. Ugh, it tasted like salt and plum water (mouth-puckeringly sour) put together. I swear I won’t be salivating over this in a lifetime. It was so bad, but because Louie (the 壞人 that he is) chose the honeydew and inisted that I finish the sour plum one, I had no choice but to drink it. 🙁

    This wasn’t the best meal we had in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In fact, it was the worst. 😛 But for one who loves authentic Malaysian-Cantonese food, it’s a damn solid one. The salty and crusty claypot rice would do justice for your hunger. Considering that we paid RM 20 for everything in this meal, it’s was a reasonably good deal.

  • Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Hitting the spot in Tokyo as Ramen Nagi and in Hong Kong as Butao, Ramen Nagi Manila was opened in December 2013 by Ramen Master Ikuta Satoshi. Tasting different flavors of ramen is a great deal for ramen lovers in Manila today, and tomorrow could be better.

    Gone are the days when we are much satisfied with cheaply packaged noodles only. With more and more ramen joints, we learn to better appreciate noodles with spring and bounce, tender and luscious toppings and rich flavor of ramen broth. These are three elements that we had happily found in Ramen Nagi Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, one of the best restaurants serving specialty ramen now in the Philippines.

    Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Since we came at the peak of lunch hour, it’s no surprise that the line started forming heavily from the outside. The ambiance of Ramen Nagi at SM MOA was busy and bustling; the setting, very casual. Cramped tables and chairs greeted us as we went in. There were no privacy booths to eat tonkotsu ramen and no other frills to look around except for the pictures of ramen and actual ramen bowls hanged up as accents on the wall behind.

    Service: ★★★★★

    We initially asked for a reservation, however the staff said that they don’t allow reservations when customers are not physically present. This is understandable since the seating capacity is limited. So I suggest you plan an early outing before the small place gets filled up.

    While waiting for two tables inside to be available (to accommodate seven of us), it was nice that they offered us to be seated outdoors and start deciding what to order. Fortunately, wait time didn’t take too long. Staffs were professional and efficient, with tables turning fairly quickly.

    Food: ★★★★★

    G, H and I wanted to sample more ramen flavors than what our stomach could handle and finish in one sitting. Hence, we brought along some members of the family to join in our taste test. Indeed, the more, the merrier! 😀 We finished five variants of Ramen Nagi ramen (distributed to seven small bowls) and shared one short order of gyoza.

    The Way to Order

    Customers are given a sheet of paper to mark for their orders. This is what’s called the Omotenashi style. As first-timers, we were advised to select and follow the Chef’s Recommendation but we didn’t. Instead, we thought about using our right to customize according to our liking. Following the written instruction on the paper, we had encircled varying items for every bowl of ramen to differentiate.

    Here are the choices:

    • Richness of Taste: Light, Normal or Rich
    • Special Sauce: None, Light, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy
    • Garlic: None, Light, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy
    • Pork: None, Pork Shoulder, Pork Loin or Pork Belly
    • Vegetable: None, Green Onion, or Cabbage
    • Butao Home Made Fire Sauce: Spiciness level 1-10
    • Noodles Texture: Extra Hard, Hard, Normal, Soft, Very Soft
    • Add Ons: Tamago, Pork Shoulder or Pork Belly, Nori (Seaweed), Extra Noodles, Green Onion, Cabbage, Kikurage

    Green King Ramen – Nagi’s fusion of gourmet cultures

    The Green King (Midorio) (PhP 410) could be put as Japanese ramen that’s infused and inspired with Italian cooking as it’s oozing with pesto flavor and topped with Parmesan cheese, basil and olive oil. Love trying fusion food or anything unique? This one’s for you. The broth mixed with pesto is so rich that it can coat your mouth and throat as you slurp on it. Mmmmm…yummy!

    Original King Ramen – Luscious signature tonkotsu pork-broth

    The Original King (Butao) (PhP 390) is probably the most basic and simple-tasting bowl of ramen in Ramen Nagi. If you just want to taste Ramen Nagi’s tonkotsu broth and hakata noodles to its original form, get this. Every element was so well executed—from the rich, savory tonkotsu broth to the bright, fresh toppings. I just wanted to dive in and demolish my share of this ramen variant at once.

    To give it some much needed pep, I suggest that you add on Aji Tamago (PhP 50) like we did. 😉 The soft-boiled eggs were soft on the outside and liquid-y yolk on the inside, just perfect.

    Red King Ramen – The ultimate in savory spiciness

    Next, I’m extraordinarily happy to report that the Red King (Akao) (PhP 410) was actually the best one we’ve tried! With that said, hot and spicy food lovers (myself included) must not skip this flavor when figuring out what to order in Ramen Nagi. With a fireball of miso-minced pork and the hottest cayenne pepper as toppings, the Red King Ramen Akao had a hot, assertive red broth that’s beautifully spiced. Oh, how I wish throat/cough medicine tasted like this! 🙂

    Black King Ramen – Sumptuous jet-black aroma and flavor

    My least favorite was the Black King (Kuroo) (PhP 410), which I’ve heard, is the crowd’s favorite. Nevertheless, I commend the creativity of incorportaing squid (calamari) ink and blackened garlic with tonkotsu broth. The soup’s texture did not suffer flatness but satisfied on that deep, visceral level that any superb ramen should. There was also a little mound of spicy chili mixture we could sense in the blend.

    The Ebi King Ramen (PhP 410) – Limited edition

    Ramen Nagi serves limited editions of ramen occasionally. We had the chance to order one of them: the Ebi King (Ebio). This ramen had a thick prawn bisque broth, nothing that you’d call traditional by any stretch of the imagination. The dried shrimp taste was really evident, with a right balance of saltiness! Was it worth a try? Definitely. This is one of the more unique and delicious things on the menu.

    Ramen Nagi’s sizzling Gyoza Dumplings (PhP 125) were well-steamed, with more vegetables than meat. The fillings were light and juicy. With golden brown bottoms, the crusty skin stayed crisp as it was served. The gyoza wasn’t so remarkable but quite respectable.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Much had been written about Ramen Nagi Manila’s sumptuous ramen, but knowing about it through blogs and word-of-mouth is never enough. You have to taste the ramen (at least one bowl/one flavor) and get the dining experience yourself.

    Final verdict: At PhP 400+ per bowl, ramen here isn’t cheap but the quality and taste of the ramen were so good, making us want to eat more. (Can you blame us?) 😛 Plus, the serving size is big so a bowl can easily be shared between two or three people. I award Ramen Nagi 4/5 stars for price for value.

    Aside from their branch in SM MOA, Ramen Nagi Manila also has branches in SM Aura, SM North EDSA and Robinsons Magnolia. If you’re far from these places, all I can say is… make the pilgrimage as it’s really worth it! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RamenNagiManila” name=”Ramen Nagi Manila” description=”Ground Floor, South Wing, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5502394″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-07-24″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Wee Nam Kee (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Review of Wee Nam Kee (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Last Saturday, we have sampled Wee Nam Kee’s latest incarnation of dishes this 2014. Wee Nam Kee in the fashionable Glorietta 2 Makati was last among all WNK branches to release the chain’s newest menu of reasonably priced plates of Singaporean-Chinese cuisine. The servings are matched with creative drinks and desserts options, and I really appreciated them all.

    Review of Wee Nam Kee (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    By far, this is the largest Wee Nam Kee branch in the metro, in terms of floor space. Upon entrance, Wee Nam Kee in Glorietta 2 displays bird cages that I found somewhat irrelevant to the theme. Later, I learned that they’re placed there to symbolize chicken and the role is to entice diners to have chicken rice. Did I get that right? Honestly, I wasn’t convinced. 😐

    Moving on, unlike the ambiance of Wee Nam Kee branches in Singapore, Wee Nan Kee branches in the Philippines are designed in a modern European slash Asian fashion. This one in Glorietta 2, for instance, is a stark opposite to the typical gloomy and uninviting hawker-like WNK dining areas in SG.

    Walk to the function room and you’ll see a wall where framed pictures taken in Singapore are hanged. They serve to inform or remind people that it was in Singapore where Wee Nam Kee was first established and gained popularity. Other pictures consisted of SG sites, and one of the most recognizable was the Singapore Flyer. Overall, the great atmosphere makes this branch ideal for a crowd.

    Service: ★★★★★

    This restaurant is not a palace by any means, but the staff did care for diners and acted upon requests and orders quite fast and kindly. They were unobtrusive most of the time yet were readily available to serve customers in a tranquil way.

    Food: ★★★★★

    Before you continue reading down below, note that everything served here was for sharing, so you may assume that the number of dishes we had was at the direction of the Wee Nam Kee’s marketing manager and not because we’ve gone mad. :mrgreen:

    We started with the Crispy Mantou Bread with Condensed Milk (PhP 78), which had such a beautiful golden color with a lovely, firm crust. If you don’t know yet, mantou is a fried but fluffy bun that looks and tastes an awful lot like a doughnut. WNK’s mantou wasn’t airy but soft inside, and I would prefer it to be eaten really hot. Slather it with condensed milk and you have a combo of the best flavors; it could not have been better.

    Another appetizer that landed on our table were the Prawn Paste Chicken Wings (PHP 218). Equally superb, the skin of the chicken had optimal crunchiness with unique flavor of prawn paste and the chicken meat had a burst of salty freshness. An order of this dish will give you six pieces of bite-size heaven.

    Next served almost simultaneously were the nine mains. My favorites have to be the Salted Egg Chinese-style Fried Chicken (PhP 295), Hainanese Chicken Curry Noodles (PhP 225/solo, PhP 368/sharing) and the Wok-fried Chicken with Cashews and Sun-dried Chili (PhP 270).

    I’ve had my fair share of Wee Nam Kee’s Salted Egg Crabs and I had tried also quite a lot of Salted Egg Prawns cooked the Singaporean way when I was still living in Singapore. Hence, pleasure was all mine when Salted Egg Chinese-style Fried Chicken met my palate. Dressed with soft, jelly-like texture of salted egg, the chicken tasted great. Imagine tasting food that’s been battered before frying and the shaved yolk melting in your mouth as it effectively forms a sauce for the dish.

    With alluring fragrance, the Hainanese Chicken Curry Noodles (Wee Nam Kee’s version of laksa) can be put as an iconic culinary treasure of Singapore. It’s made with Hainanese chicken and Thai noodles with curry sauce in a concentrated, creamy and not too spicy laksa broth. Again, I was looking forward to more heat!

    You’ll also not regret ordering the Wok-fried Chicken with Cashews and Sun-dried Chili. Powerfully savory, flavors are here in full force. As it’s packed with spices, the crispy wok-fried chicken is best eaten with plain and steaming white rice.

    While the Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet (PhP 280) was, relative to the others, nothing new as it’s almost customary to see this in other Chinese restaurants’ menu. However, on a positive note, it was also memorably good.

    Stewed Pork Belly with Steamed Buns (PhP 365) are commonly paired as one. The twist here? Every single cut of meat wasn’t thrifty of fat that’s edible, containing much more moist than a chop.

    I came round to think that the unassuming steamed buns made the dish as a whole even more elegant. They sop up the fatty juices of the pork.

    Mmmmm! The glistening plate of Cashew Coffee Spareribs (PhP 298) was by far the most adventurous and unique entree we had that day. I haven’t ever encountered any dish cooked with cashew coffee. It was fortunate that my first time to taste it made an instant good impression. The tender pork ribs had the intensity and clarity of coffee flavor that suggested the spareribs were made in the kitchen by a chef who cares about delighting its guests.

    We were taken aback by how the Butterflied Tilapia with Singapore “Chili Crab” Sauce (PhP 385) was presented. I mean, look at that! The tilapia had crispy skin and the fish meat was simple and hearty. On the average, an order is weighed at 800 grams of seafood. You should not pass up the chance to eat it together with the chili crab sauce. Still, I would want the sauce to be spicier filled with chili and aromatics.

    Then, the carbs. Wee Nam Kee’s Pineapple Fried Rice with Pork Floss (PhP 250) was cooked with mixed veggies, roast pork and shrimps. I thought it’s quite Thai in nature. Regardless, this is a great addition to any meal. To say this was just merely fried rice would be an understatement. With the light, thread-like seasoned dried pork product otherwise known as the pork floss, this rice dish just got a whole lot better.

    Being reasonably copious, the Spicy Sambal Rice Noodles (PhP 295) featured a distinct taste of sambal with a gentle spicy comfort. These springy noodles will make you feel truly full and satisfied. The taste lingered with a rounded, fragrant and transportive bowl that will bring you mentally closer to Singapore. 🙂

    The presentation of the Three Flavor Chocolate Truffle Buchi (White, Dark and Milk Chocolate) (PhP 128) proved the desserts to be a best-selling treat. Predictably tasting good, the three variants of chocolate were so rich, delectable and sinful! This is a must-try in Wee Nam Kee.

    Each of us tried a different drink. I got the Green Tea Vanilla Freeze (PhP 130) because individually, green tea and vanilla are always my go-to flavors. At first slurp, I knew they particularly go well together. These two are the perfect duo! A daub of whipped cream on top added to the drink’s yummy-ness. Will I order it again? Maybe yes, when I have a slot for more calories in my body. For macha lovers out there, this one’s for you. 😛

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    All the food above are worthy of their prices. I hope by now you’ve learned to order dishes other than the great Hainanese Chicken Rice when in Wee Nam Kee.

    Given that Wee Nam Kee has been in the Philippines for merely two years, a generous degree of experimentation and errors is only to be expected. The recipe of these dishes came from the master company in Singapore and I hope that their work will click with Filipinos’ taste. Most certainly for me, each one had exhibited a certain level of proficiency as authentic Singaporean cuisine. I am excited to bring my family along in my next visit. 😛

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/WeeNamKeePH” name=”WEE NAM KEE Hainanese Chicken Rice Philippines” description=”Ground Floor, The New Glorietta 2, Makati City Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday 11.00am to 11.00pm” rev_name=”For inquiries, call +632 478-8477 or +63917 828-5016 or email info.ph@wnk.com.sg” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-07-18″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]