Last Thursday, my maternal grandmother (阿婆) has celebrated her 76th birthday at Vikings, one of those restaurants you can always count on, when it comes to buffets. After work, I met with my family at this restaurant by the bay (between Movie Stars Cafe and The Lab Gastropub) for dinner.
Believe it or not, I have not been to Vikings before—despite how popular it is as a luxury buffet that tops many food and restaurant trending charts almost all-year round and despite that it’s too near from my workplace. Thanks to this occasion and to Uncle Peter for treating us, at last, we’ve filled our tummies with sumptuous food from one of the hottest restaurants in the Philippines right now. 😉
This high-concept elegant buffet restaurant is perpetually packed for its modern interpretation of European, American, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino food. Basically, Vikings has a bit of each of these cuisines. If you did not book for a reservation (1-2 weeks of lead time), you may have to fight for seats or wait a long while, but once you’re seated, you will be in great hands.
Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (Seaside Boulevard, MOA Complex, Pasay City)
Ambiance: ★★★★★
“What is Vikings?” I run a quick search through Google and learned that Vikings refers to any of the Scandinavian seafaring pirates and traders who raided and settled in many parts of northwestern Europe in the 8th–11th centuries. Sure enough, the decors of Vikings Restaurant in MOA Complex show a pirate theme but in a stylish fashion. Food was arranged on a “Viking boat,” and this exhibition is a plus for the design overall.
The decorative hanging lantern lights were obviously not pirate-y, but they provided good atmosphere.
The space in the dining area is almost as wide as in Buffet 101. The main difference is that the buffet tables are scattered all over the dining area, unlike in Buffet 101 where they are all clumped together. There’s also a lot more types of chairs and tables for seating. We were at the rounded tables and sofa chairs. Although the furniture and placing looked nice, it was hard to move about on those chairs.
Service: ★★★★★
I commend the staffs of Vikings Luxury Restaurants for being quick whenever we requested for extra utensils. Used plates on our tables were immediately taken without us having to repeatedly ask for clean-up. Our pictures were taken with grace. While food was not easily replenished on the respective trays and containers, diners could request for reservation and even have a plate full of the selected entree separated to make sure that they won’t run out once they’re out again for feasting.
For birthday celebrants, aside from having the perk of eating for free, a serenade by the staff and management of Vikings and a cupcake with the Vikings sign were delivered.
Food: ★★★★☆
Food was well-executed and everything tasted as delightful as it was a feast for the eyes. Just like in other buffet restaurants, my sister and I walked around first to get a glimpse of everything before deciding which to take. We only took the ones that seemed really appealing and gave up those that we’re already too familiar with. With the best bites, we left satisfied and definitely full.
Random:
Chinese food:
Desserts:
The ones we liked most were:
- Appetizers: potato salad, colorful tacos with cheese, Chinese dim sum
- Mains: all Japanese food
- Desserts: green tea / macha ice cream, avocado ice cream, red velvet cake, brownies
- Drinks: four seasons and iced Milo
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
Vikings is a must-go restaurant, a place to visit on occasion but certainly not every night. I find the costs justified because there’s plenty of choices for everyone’s delight. It’s like eating buffet in a hotel with the quality of food, warm and friendly service and classy ambiance. Once you enter, buckle your seat belt. It’s time to take your palate for one heck of a ride. Click here to view the rates (vary for lunch and dinner, kids and adult).
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00am to 12:00mn
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About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Wow! Looks like you had a fab time and that really does look like a lovely place to eat out, all the food looks so delicious (I adore chinese food!):)
Yeah we really had a great time here. With the huge selection and variety of food, Vikings can easily pass as a diner’s heaven.
yay! i will definitely visit this store most especially the creamery area! :))
The creamery area is full of tempting food fare. There was a joke we exchanged saying that it’s a wise idea to grab those desserts first before the mains to make sure that we won’t be so full we couldn’t have more of the sweets. 😛
Wow! That restaurant looks absolutely fantastic! I would have loved to experience the food there but unfortunately I am all the way in US 🙁
I’m sure there’s more restaurants there that serve a plethora of food. I’ve heard that US is the right place to be – everybody there loves to eat, and food is a big deal. 😉
Roch! Are you going to Siklab on Thursday? 🙂
I thought it was last Thursday. Oh is it going to be this coming Thursday? Well, I still can’t if the event is scheduled at 2PM because I have work and we’re really busy this week. 😐
I’m not much of a buffet person, because i’m so kiasu (doesn’t like to feel like i do not get my money’s worth) since i cannot eat that much in buffets (weird because i can eat a LOT of rice. Typical Asian i guess) *LOL*, but everything looks yum! And that pink chocolate fountain #pinkaholic !!!
Me too lah same as you – kiasu one and also proudly cheapskate haha. But I believe we have to try these and delight ourselves with extravagant food once in a while. 😀
Definitely one of the restos on my list! The food looks really delicious!
Some tips for you: if you’re coming for lunch, you can have a really simple and quick breakfast; if you coming for dinner, don’t take any snack in the afternoon so your stomach would have ample space for more food. Plus, you get to crave and long for delicious food! 😀
As soon as I lose weight …maybe lose more than the goal so I can save a space for Vikings! I haven’t been here hehehe soooo tempting!
Haha it sounds like a good plan! I hope that you succeed with losing weight soon. 🙂
What a fabulous place to dine-in and to explore their food offerings.
Definitely once you see the buffet setting, you’ll know that you’ve stumbled upon a fantastic and fabulous dining place. Everything you could ever want is there. 🙂
Ohhh I’ve been here once last year! super sarap ng food! Most of the time nasa Dessert area ako :)) I wanna go back here maybe on my bday. Belated to your grand mom! 🙂
Thanks, Genzel! 🙂 I would also want to spend my birthday here if magiging free pala ako. ♥
i love Vikings too!!! You just need to book ahead of time because its always fully packed
Yes. That’s rule # 1 when you want to dine in at Vikings. 😀
I’ve heard nothing but high praises with Vikings, food and customer service-wise. Lots of my friends have celebrated their birthday here and I’m looking forward to celebrate mine this March (which I hope we don’t forget to book in advance hehe!) 🙂
Btw, you have a small typo error in the 1st paragraph (‘ny’ instead of ‘my’) 🙂
Thanks for the correction! I just updated it. 😀
Wow! the food looks so delicious! 🙂 I have visited Vikings already,and i totally agree with how you reviewed it. Thanks for the info! 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂 Their dishes are great and most of the food will keep you happy.
I liked the their food varieties and the place is superb; classy and cozy!
With Vikings, you don’t have to painstakingly browse through a restaurant’s menu over and over again in minutes and then decide to switch restaurant in the end. 😛 Haha admit it, that sometimes happens. Here, you can determine the best bets by looking at every food displayed with your naked eyes. As for the choosing, you can do this sensible thing: get them all (even small bits for tasting) or at least the ones you think you can finish. During the “taste-test,” you would know which are the few clear winners (and losers) and then maybe recommend them to friends. 🙂
Wow! That looks awesome. They serve different cuisines? I have to try this out!
Yes. Vikings is a fine dining restaurant where you get to satisfy your taste buds and tummy at a cost – expect high rates and high calories! While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself on occasion, do it consciously. Go through the buffet tables and select only those items you’ve decided you really want. 😉
Foods and prices are satisfactory. Aren’t they? Ambiance and service are perfectly. I hope this is an honest review as others are just doing them favorably for they receive freebies and other giveaways from the resto which invited them and requested them to make a review.
Hi Gil! Yes, this is an honest review. I was not paid or given anything to post and share my experience here. When you get there yourself, you would know what I’m talking about. 🙂 I have not read bad reviews of Vikings so far. Every blog post I’ve read gave them good accolade. The most we dislike is paying the large bill, but I think that already comes as expected.
Believe it or not, I haven’t tried eating at Vikings too. I have known this resto for quite some time already but never had I tried eating there. And the only reason why I didn’t try is because I think it’s prices. That is why I checked your review about pricing immediately when I read this post.
Same with you, it’s the prices that turn me off. Anyway, if you’ll dine here on your birthday and bring your companions, you will get to enjoy Vikings without paying for even a single centavo. 😀
We also have VIKINGS here at SM LANANG. I haven’t visited the placed yet, but heard positive reviews about their food, restaurant and service. Well about the pricing other said it is too expensive. Anyway, belated bday to your LOLA.
Thanks, Pal Raine. 🙂 None of this comes cheap, but Vikings is not a casual restaurant. You come here to be pampered and doted on, and one the restaurant’s greatest assets is the low-key-but-totally-professional work ethic of servers who set the room aglow with their exuberance.
Vikings had already create a stir among the foodie across the Philippines. The wide array of food choices surely makes it more expensive. Too bad I wasn’t able to sample it when I got home last December. Maybe we’ll try it when we revisit Phils by June.
Sure. Vikings also has a branch in Davao (SM Lanang Premiere). You may want to check that out if you’re staying near there. 😀
I am excited that there’s a Vikings restaurant opening in the Jazz Residence near us. By the way, how do you keep slim even with buffet meals like this?
Whoa. Vikings is opening one branch after another huh. It must be really successful!
I eat at buffet restaurants once in a blue moon. You should see what I eat and the amount of food I consume every day to know how I maintain my figure. 😛 Actually I myself have wondered about that ’cause I’m so afraid to get fat. I used a food and fitness planner to monitor my calorie intake daily, a web app where I log my food taken for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. I found that I never reach the supposed calories for my age, height and gender, except when I attend foodie events where I have to take more. 🙂
Wow, a good restaurant near Pasay! Will be staying in Pasay for a vacation this summer. I will surely visit the place. The siomai and ice cream captivated me.
Actually these food are all so passé, but the feeling of being free to get and eat whatever you want out of the vast selection is grand. You can stay there for hours – even do push-ups if you have to for a break. 😛
I have heard a lot of good things about this place but I still haven’t had the chance to try it myself.
Prepare your stomach to carry a large amount of food 😛 and prepare to confess especially after meeting the sweets at the desserts section. Their funky small cakes are sinful but yummy no doubt.
I always get super full whenever I go to Vikings. Sarap ng food tapos ang dami pa. One of the best buffet restaurants. 🙂
Yup and it seemed that customers were concentrated on the food they eat more than on conversations with other people. There were no phones out, too, smart or otherwise most of the time. That was how focused everyone was! 😛
After your perfect description of the restaurant I ll defenetly try to find and visit one. I do loved your description and the food seems delicious. Thank you ♡
Wow, perfect description? Shucks, thanks, Eri. 🙂
The place seems so cool!! And the food looks so cool!! If I ll ever have the chance to visit it I defenetly will do 🙂 thank you
Go on and help yourself. 🙂 Ako out muna and break from eating too many. I can feel the pounds adding up!
My girlfriends love going to Vikings. I haven’t had the opportunity as I only stayed a short while last time I visited Manila. Your food pictures look absolutely delicious!
It’s hard to quantify the “best” food of any cuisine. If you’re in Vikings Luxury Buffet, you can get a glimpse of every item and determine which one is best among the different cuisines being offered. This restaurant serves more unique and varied representations of food than any other buffet restaurant we’ve come across so far. The best that can rival this has to be Buffet 101, I must say. 😀
I just reconquered Vikings 2 weeks ago and I spent time on desserts since I wasn’t able to eat even a single one! I was happy that I finally conquered it! 😀
Hahaha desserts talaga ang pinuntirya? OK iyan. 🙂 When you come to Manila and want just desserts, hunt down Banawe area. I know there’s Love Desserts that offers buffet desserts only for PHp 199 pax. You might love it there.
I’ve heard about Vikings before na talagang maganda ang service and masarap ang food.
Yup. Better try it out yourself. Di naman iyan aalis so you have more time to plan. 😀
it was an experience indeed… i love the place, the food, the service… but not so much the price… haha. glad you finally tried it. Yahweh bless.
Same tayo hehe yup I am in love with this place. 🙂
So loving your template girl. So posh!
Thanks, Elal! 🙂
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Your grammar is awful. At any rate, thank you for the review.
You’re welcome. Thanks for your comment! 🙂 I’ll remember to revise this post when I have some free time.
[…] Venue is located just beside Vikings SM Mall of Asia By the Bay. We visited this newest branch of Vikings last Sunday at lunch […]
Where is this located in MOA? Inside the mall or …?
It’s at SM by the Bay, not inside the mall.
thanks so much!