Tsinoy Foodies

When something opens in my side of town, I definitely need to check it out. So one afternoon after my yoga class, I decided to drop by 24 Chicken Pedro Gil Branch.

As shown by its logo, it specializes in food delivery.

You can also take out as it has a dedicated order and pick up counter.

What I didn't expect was that it had a dine-in area located at the 2nd floor. Yes, there's a staircase behind this wall.

I especially like the nook area overseeing the busy Pedro Gil - Taft streets.

Food

To be honest, I not so enthusiastic to try another Korean Fried Chicken after witnessesing the Korean Fried Chicken craze fizzle out. Seems Bochon and Kyochon are the few Korean Fried Chicken chains from Korea that are still visibly dominant in the market. A few brands I've tried from Korea like Smoper Chicken and Holdak were short-lived.

Coincidentally, I met my couple blogger friends from Yogo and Cream who were so excited to try 24 Chicken again. They said that 24 Chicken is their favorite so I got really epicurious.

3 pcs Rice Meal

Yangnyeom (108 php)

When I got my order of Yangnyeom 3 pcs. Rice Meal, I was instantly impressed with the serving size for the price of only 108 php. Then when I got a bite, I was instantly understood why this is such a hit. The blend and the crisp brought comfort to my soul.

Limited Edition Cheese

I loved all the flavors even the Limited Edition Cheese.

Boneless Half and Half (2 Flavors)

Yangnyeom x2 and Yangnyeom Garlic (Boneless Whole 388 php)

How conveneint that 24 Chicken has various flavors that captures different taste profiles. Being a spicy and garlic lover, I was captivated by the Yangnyeom x2 and Yangnyeom Garlic. The
Yangnyeom x2 is not overwhelmingly spicy but has some sweet tones to it. The Yangnyeom Garlic is loaded with raw garlic. Actually, you can order any flavor and just top the raw garlic for an addition of 20 php.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
24 Chicken has three factors for success which I refer to the 3 Cs: 1.) Comforting blend of flavors and crunchiness 2.) Cheap price 3.) Convenient with quick delivery and take-outs. I find its name very appropriate because with the 3 Cs,you'd want and you could enjoy 24 Chicken as often as you can.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		24 Chicken Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

24 Chicken Delivery Manila
Branches	Vito Cruz (DLSU) Branch 2472 Leon Guinto St. Corner Estrada St. Vito Cruz Taft, Manila (0927) 122-3550 \| (0945) 679-7297 P. Noval (UST) Branch Crown Galleria P. Noval Corner Dapitan St. Sampaloc, Manila (0905) 479-2282 \| (0905) 479-2283 Legarda Branch 2355 Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila (0916) 797-4072 \| (0916) 797-4073 Pedro Gil Branch CTC Bldg. Taft Avenue Corner Pedro Gil St. Ermita, Manila (0977) 425-3754 \| (0977) 425-3755 P. Noval Espana Branch (0977) 425-3756 \| (0977) 425-3757
Business Hours	10am-9pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	100-300
Free WiFi	No

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Tendon Akimitsu has arrived in the Philippines for quite some time. Finally, it opens its first solo shop in Glorietta 1 Top of the Glo.

I was really surprised to find that Glorietta 1 recently opened a roof deck area called Top of the Glo. Although I have only explored its Japan Town, I hope to come back and check out more.

Tendon Akimitsu boasts of its awards as displayed by its counter. Seeing these made me want to try it out with excitement.

Maki

♥ Aburi Salmon (350 php)

Although specializing in tempura, I highly recommend wleting your appetite with the Aburi Salmon as a starter. Just looking at this makes me fantasize of having this again.

Tendon Set

♥ Nami Tendon Set (410 php)

If you want to try a wonderful seafood tempura mix, order the Nami Tendon Set which is composed of Ebi Tempura (tiger prawns), scallops, whitebait fish, shrimps, okra and sweet potato.

♥ Nami Tendon

Although Tendon Akimitsu is one of the new Tendon restaurants in Asakusa being established only in 2015, I trully believe that it deserves to be awarded for its Tempura. It is indeed one of the best I've had. The meal is very filling and worth the price. Though, I felt the need to ask for more tempura sauce which the servers happily adhered to.

Donburi Set

Beef Don (350 php)

As delighted as I was with the Tempura, I felt the opposite when I had the Beef Don. Being a fan of gyudon, I can't recall having one as dry and tough as this one.

Pork Don (320 php)

The Pork Don was also tough and dry.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Tendon Akimitsu proves worthy of having garnered mulitple awards for its Tendon. So glad that it has more branches, I will head on over when craving for Tempura. As for the donburi, I hope to give it another try next time as it did not meet my expectations.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Tendon Akimitsu Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Tendon Set \| Tempura Set \| Tempura Set 2 \| Soba Set \| Don Buri Set \| Don Buri Set 2 \| Ala Carte \| Sashimi \| Maki \| Maki 2 \| Maki 3 \| Maki 4 \| Maki 4 \| Extra \| Extra 2 \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Tendon Akimitsu
Business Address	Top of The Glo Roof Deck Glorietta 1 Ayala Malls Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	350-600
Free WiFi	No

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Now on its fourth year is the SM Hypermarket Street Food Festival2019. It is said to be bigger and better than the previous ones.

Although it is the first time for Tsinoy Foodiesto partake in this event.

The event kicks of at SM Mall of Asia with the 8-foot SM Giant Turon with Langka. Inside, it is filled with 500 pieces of SM Markets Turon with Langka.

The SM Streetfood Festival 2019 Roadshow continuous to other SM Malls and back to SM Mall of Asia as follows:

August 10-11: SM City Fairview
August 17-18: SM City Baliwag
August 30-31: SM City Clark
September 6-7: SM Center Pulilan
September 13-14: SM City Molino
September 20-21: SM City Muntinlupa
Oct 5-6: SM Mall of Asia

So, allow us to give you our top five (5) reasons for you to check this event out!

1. Meet and Greet

There are programs which will allow you to meet and greet your favorite celebrities like Ruru Madrid and Derrick Monasterio. You can also get a chance to catch the pioneers of the famous street food chains like Reymont Chuachuy of Sam's Everything on Sticks, Marlene and Beejay Burog of Khaleb's Shawarma, Larry Cortez of Super Bagnet, Joey Leonardo of Bulacan Lugaw Kitchen, Gloria Marin of Gloria's Goto, Rica Penalosa of Ate Rica's Bacilog, Lauro Convencido Jr.'s of Mang Larry's Isawan, Jonathan So and Carlo Macandangdang of Sgt. Sisig.

2. Photo Ops

You can also take some photos with street food props courtesy of Lakbay Museo just like what celebrity chef Boy Logro did.

3. Free admission and Prizes

Ruru Madrid and Derrick Monasterio meet and greet

The event is free! Plus, aside from the meet and greet, you can also win some freebies.

4. Affordable Prices

Because it is a collection of Streetfoods, you can expect the pricing to be affordable.

Thus, it's an instant affordable activity for you and your companions.

For as low as 12 php, you can enjoy your favorite street foods.

Just like in the streets, you can see the food being cooked right before you.

You can be assured that the food is hygenic too.

While some of the food are the typical pinoy street foods...

there are also unique ones.

5. Free Tastes and Promos

Who doesn't enjoy free tasting? Be honest.

I loved these healthy snacks called Oh So Healthy Fruit Crisps. I was supposed to buy the Jackfruit, Pineapple and Banana variant but they only had sample stocks. =( I will definitely buy from SM Hypermarket or Kultura whenever I have the chance to.

There are promos and mascotts too.

That sums our Tsinoy Foodies'SM Streetfood Festival 2019 experience and hope you find it interesting enough to check out too!

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I have never been mystified by a food establishment until I encountered BOA Kitchen + Socials. Like an abstract art, there are so many aspects of it that requires to be deciphered.

The name BOA was conceptualized from the boa in the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry called "The Little Prince". Ironically, my mom who is not a book reader at all, loves that book so it was one of first books that I have read.

Although there are many philosophical interpretations to the boa in book "The Little Prince", what BOA Kitchen + Socials wants to depict is written on the wall (in what seems to be reptillean scales) "always change".

Food

For breakfast and lunch, it serves Australian-inlfuenced dishs. Then, at night, it transforms (symbolized by the revealing a hidden wall with an enchanting lady and a boa) into a social place with drinks and Asian-inspired dishes.

Lunch

Small Plates

♥ Tinapa Cream Cheese Toast (175 php)

You'll find that every dish presented by BOA is a masterpiece. I never encountered an open-faced multi-grain toast as sophisticated as the Tinapa Cream Cheese Toast. Ah... how I love the comforting savory flavor of the tinapa-cream cheese...

Sandwiches & Waffles

Chori Burger (295 php)

BOA's interpretation of the Chori Burger offers a full meal in itself. See there's the peppery chori patty, black brioche bun, coleslaw, fried egg and crispy potato chips on the side. I would definitely prefer this over a longsilog.

Mains

♥ Steak and Eggs w/ Fries (495 php)

BOA's Steak and Eggs w/ Fries is a highly recommended steak meal. For such an affordable price, you get tender rib-eye steak with creamy mushroom gravy, double fried runny eggs and potato chips.

English Breakfast (325 php)

Even in hotels, I always opt for an English Breakfast amongst other offerings. I can always expect it to be heavy and fulfilling. BOA's version is no different. It comes with 2 pcs. of toast, 2 pcs. of breakfast sausage links, roasted herbed tomato, potato hash, 2 pcs. bacon and 2 pcs.of fried egg.

Pasta

♥ Alfredo Pesto Pasta (285 php)

Calling all pesto lovers! If you're searching for one of the best pesto dishes in the Metro, I present to you BOA's Alfredo Pesto Pasta. I really like the harmony of the pesto and alfredo sauce. The ricotta cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomato are also my favorites.

♥ Pasta Vongole (285 php)

The Pasta Vongole is another well-executed dish. All quality ingredients (al-dente spaghetti, baby clams, garlic and lemon) are balanced in a way they are evident in every mouthful.

Dessert

Banana Pie (175 php)

This is my first time to encounter a Banana Pie like this one. At first sight, I even mistook the caramelized banana for apple bits. At first bite, I was able to distinguish the wonderful texture the banana bits had to offer. The crumbs and vanilla ice cream tones down the sweetness of the caramel to a soothing level.

Small Plates

Sisig Croquettes (225 php)

The dinner menu is just as facinating as the lunch menu. The Sisig Croquettes was a creative idea. I especially commend the innovation for the toyo-mansi aoili.

Wonton Nachos (245 php)

Looking for the perfect finger food to share? Then order the Wonton Nachoswith fried wanton, pulled teriyaki chicken, sriracha mayo, cilantro aioli, shredded cabbage, onions and cilantro.

♥ Salmon Tatar (345 php)

I like how Asian flavors from the oriental dressing, wasabi mayo, furikake and ebikowere infused in the Salmon Tatar. It offered a more explosive flavor than the usual Salmon Tartar dish.

♥ Pulpo (Grilled Octopus) (345 php)

Hands down my most favorite dish in BOA is the Pulpo. This Spanish tapa dish had a very tender and deliciously smokey octopus. Together with the potato puree, chorizo crumbs, paprika-thyme oil, it was overall a savory and comforting dish.

Noodles

Char Kwaey Teow (365 php)

There are only a few places that serves qualityChar Kwaey Teow like this one. Enjoy this hot for best experience!

Pad Thai Chicken (375 php)

For noodles, I personally prefer light and refreshing Pad Thai Chicken. It has the usual pad thai fare: stir fried glass noodles, tamarind sauce, egg, tofu, bean sprouts and chicken strips.

Mains

♥ Beef Rendang w/ Cococnut Lime Rice (425 php)

This has got to be one of the best Beef Rendang w/ Cococnut Lime Rice I've had in awhile.

♥ Thai Fried Chicken

Funny how I have tried several Thai restaurants and yet this is my first time to try a Thai Fried Chicken. Because I enjoy tumeric and curry flavors, I trully enjoyed this together with the sweet chili sauce and curried mashed potato.

♥ Crispy Pork Sambal (445 php)

I've never appreciated pork sambal until I tried BOA's Crispy Pork Sambal. The pork belly cooked like cripsy lechon kawali is good on its own. It is even better when it comes with the sambal sauce and slaw.

Dessert

Deconstructed Star Anise Cheesecake

Surely, when you see the Deconstructed Star Anise Cheesecake, you'll think that it's a basic dish you can whip up on your own. That is, until you try it!

Drinks

Bar + Shots

I'm not much as a drinker as I am a foodie but BOA's drink are as equally interesting.

Aside from the usual blends, there's some color changing element too.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
BOA Kitchen + Socials is a chillout place that will definitely leave you a lasting impression. I really had a great time and would definitely love to come back. I hope Quezon City warmly welcomes concepts like this as it progressively evolves.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		BOA Kitchen + Socials Menu
Ambiance	★★★	(to follow)
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

BOA Kitchen + Socials
Business Address	Mezzanine Floor, 45 ABDC Building, Scout Rallos Corner Scout Tuazon, Laging Handa, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	9am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 290-3103
Other

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Bonifacio Global City is one of the most progressive places in the Metro. Malls continue to be bigger and better. Market! Market!has recently opened its new C5 Wing where Mr. Korea BBQ established its pioneer branch.

Mr. Korea BBQ is a sister company of Jin Joo Korean Grill. While we enjoyed the Chesse Deung Galbi(치즈등갈비) of Jin Joo, wehave yet to try the unlimited k-bbq with 10 flavors there. So, imagine how thrilled we were to discover that Mr. Korea BBQoffers 14 flavors!

The interiors of Mr. Korea BBQ is modern, hip, colorful and creative. It has the industrial feel with grilled pipes, steel wallings and neon lights. It gives a comfortable feel that let's you dine as long as you want.

Drinks

Mr. Korea BBQ is the first unlimited korean barbecue concept we have encountered to offer an unlmited self-service juice bar.

Food

Each table is provided a set of side dishes or banchan (반찬), three dipping sauces or ssamjang (쌈장), cheese sauce dip and lettuce wrapor ssam (쌈). Yes, like its sister company Jin Joo, it also has the awesomecheese sauce and its refillable to your heart's content.

Banchan (반찬)

banchan (반찬)

Since we dined for the first time, we assumed the banchan may vary as it is the usual practice in korean restaurants. Nevertheless, we give a full thumbs up for the banchan we tried (in clockwise order):

Cabbage Kimchi (양배추 김치)
Gamjachae Bokkeum (감자채 볶음)
Yangpa Jangajji (Soy Pickled onions) (양파 장아찌)
Sigeumchi Namul (Seasoned Spinach) (시금치 나물 반찬)
Gamja Salad (Mashed Potato Salad): (감자샐러드)

On the grill were additional complimentary dishes: Beef Bulgogi and Tteokbokki (Sticky Rice Cake) (떡볶이). The Beef Bulgogi is exactly the same as one of the flavors so we recommend that you just have this replenished from time to time. Small serving is better. Its best to remove the Tteokbokki from the grill so as not too overcook it.

Three Dipping Sauces or ssamjang (쌈장)

1. DoenJang (Korean Soybean Paste) (된장) and Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste) (고추장)

This is the main sauce for grilled unmarinated meats such as the Samgyupsal (삼겹살구이) and Woogyupsal.

2.Gireumjang(Sesame oil, Salt and Pepper sauce) 기름장

This sauce goes well with the marinated grilled meats.

3. Wasabi and Soy Sauce (간장 와사비 소스)

This sauce brings out the flavor of grilled meatseaten on its own (without being wrapped by lettuce)

Meats
Under Mr. Korea's Rules, you can only order 2 kinds of meat for 4 full paying adults and 3 kinds of mats for 6-full paying adults at a time. We suggest that you order a variety of comabinations (i.e. rolls, unmarinated and marinated pork and beef).

Pork

♥ Pork Teriyaki Enoki Roll

The Pork Teriyaki Enoki Roll is one of our favorites! Try dipping this with Mr. Korea's cheese sauce. The flavor is akin to a cheesy bacon dish.

Beef

♥ Dry Rub Woosamgyup

The Dry Rub Woosamgyup is so flavorful that you can enjoy this better with lettuce wrapor ssam (쌈) or rice.

Korean Chili Pepper Woosamgyup

The Korean Chili Pepper Woosamgyup is suitable for those enjoy powdery and pepperish dishes.

Korean Hotpot Set

Unli Hot Pot Set (Add 50 php)

We don't recommend the Unli Hot Pot Set since the broth even with all the ingredients lack flavor. If you opt to avail of this option, you can try to add some cheese sauce into it for a more wholesome umami flavor.

Unlimited BBQ plus Unli Hot Pot Set (Add 50 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Mr. Korea BBQ offers an enjoyable unlimited Korean BBQ experience for a reasonable price. With 14 flavors of meat and unlimited cheese dip, we guarantee that you will have a very fulfilling Korean BBQ meal.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Mr. Korea Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Meat Menu \| Beverages and Rules
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Mr. Korea
Business Address	Ground Floor, C5 Wing, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Business Hours	10am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-600
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0927) 688-9555
Other

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While we love Singaporean Cuisine, we've noticed how restaurants serving Singaporean food in Manila are slowing withering away one after another. Just last June the long standing TTK Authentic Singapore & Asian Foods has transformed into Ho Asian Food Services.

We have always wanted to try TTK for the longest time. One of the hindrance that deferred our visit is the fact that it is closed during Sundays. Finally, we managed to dine but surprised that it is now Ho still with numerous offerings despite dropping the Singaporean distinction. Singaporean Cuisine is well-known for having one of the most diversified food choices having influences from the Chinese, Indian, Malay and more so you can say that it is a substantial representation of Asian foods.

The dining set up is casual and spacious. Ho also has a function room which you can reserve for a bigger gathering or events and offers catering services.

Food

Light Meals

♥ Roti Pratha Plain (with Curry Sauce) (278 php)

If Ho can boast of one thing, it would be its Roti Pratha. This Roti Pratha served hot, soft and chewy makes it one of the best in the Metro.

Rice

♥ Hainanese Chicken Rice (888 php)

The Hainanese Chicken Rice is quite good. However, there are better options out there.

Soup

Bak Kut Teh (288 php)

The Bak Kut Teh is milder than we expected. Yet, some may find it soothing.

Noodles

Singapore Laksa - Seafood (288 php)

The Singapore Laksa - Seafood is another mild version. Flavor is, of course, subject to preference so this could be what you are yearning for.

Nasi Goreng (288 php)

I rarely encounter a Nasi Goreng, which literally means "Fried Rice" in the Indonesian and Malay language. From the appearance, it could look like any fried rice. However, the secret ingredients that define the Nasi Goreng are the (1) kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and (2) shrimp paste.

Drinks

Hot Tea

While you can be satisfied with Ho's really good tea...

there are a lot of Singaporean beverage options.

♥Singapore Teh Tarik Cold (80 php)

You can't go wrong with whichever you choose.

♥ Singapore Coffee Hot (58 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

There are only a handful of food establishments like Ho Asian Food Services that offers an expansive Asian menu. The price point too is average for a diner situated within the busy district of Makati which makes it a reasonable option when in the area. We feel that this place deserves more appreciation but just lacks the both formal and informal marketing.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ho Asian Food Services Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Appetizers \| Rice \| Ala Carte \| Ala Carte 2 \| Steamboat \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ho Asian Food Services
Business Address	Noli Santos International Tower, 1061 Metropolitan Avenue, Santa Cruz, Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11am – 3pm Dinner: 6pm – 10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	250-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 511-1227
Other

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Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort is the freshest Anilao Batangas hangout. While you can wallow the day away in their comfortable huts, there are also many fun activities for the more adventurous soul.

Of course, when you hear Anilao Batangas, the first thing that comes to mind is snorkeling and scuba diving as the area has one of the most amazing marine life in the country.

Actually, Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort is the new and revamped Anilao Beach Club. It now has quirky-decorated themes rooms which represent activities you can do by the beach.

The place has become fresh, hip, colorful and fun! It pioneers its own activities such as coastal clean-ups and Saturday night beach BBQ during summertime.

Brunchin' at the Beach

Last August 17, 2019, Saltitude just launched its Brunchin' at the Beach which is available every Saturday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Even if you're not staying at Saltitude, you can avail of the Brunchin' at the Beach for a drop-in rate of 699 php. The rate is inclusive of the unlimited drinks with a choice of Infused Water, Orange Juice or Brewed Barako Coffee.

Just for the launch, we had an Intercontinental Brunch from American to Italian Cuisines. For the next Saturdays, it will changed to other themes such as Spanish, Asian, Mexican and the like.

Every dish we tried was delicious!

With this kind of execution during the launch, we have no doubt that it will be even better as it continuous.

The Asian selection was quite luxurious with California Maki and

Steamed Fish which is a typical Tsinoys' favorite.

With so many choices, remember to save room for dessert!

So clearly, Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort has it all! Eat. Drink. Dive. Snokle. Windsurf. Do them all at Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort.

Saltitude Dive & Beach Resort
Business Address	Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines
Business Hours	Brunch Hours: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	Drop-In Rate: 699 php
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0927) 422-0428
Other	Website

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Crabs for us represent something special. These premium and luxurious treasures of the sea are so expensive that they are only served during special occasions. ButTemplo changed my perspective!

Templo is offering an Unlimited Szechuan Experience which includes Shrimps and Crabs.

Before proceeding with the food experience, let me share with you where you can find Templo. Templo is located in a small complex nearBanawe called Dapitan 55. It offers limited capacity for around 30 persons so I advise that you call for reservation.

Unlimited Szechuan Experience

Price as of Sept 2, 2019

There's no time limit or option limit at a time. Per dish order is a platefull of 200 grams.

Crab

Crabs

It's been a very long time since we specifically aimed for unlimited crabs. After the Red Crab craze, there hasn't been any famed unlimited crabs place in awhile. Even the most luxurious hotel buffets cannot be expected to offer unlimited crabs or even just having some of it.

So when we heard about Templo's promo, we instantly came to check it out. To be honest, we were expecting to have small crab species like what we Filipinos refer to as "alimasag". But, instead we got huge well-cleaned mud crabs. To prove to you that they cook it fresh, Templo also sells live ones!

The menu offers two options: Soy Garlic Crab and ♥ Salted Egg Crab. But, there's also a third off-menu option which is plain Steamed Crab. You can't go wrong with any option. But based on experience, the Salted Egg Crab should be the pricier variant so those who are naturally calculative in nature should opt for it.

Shrimp

♥ Soy Garlic Shrimp

For Shrimp, you should try all three options: Soy Garlic Shrimp,Sweet Chili Shrimp andSalted Egg Tempura. The Soy Garlic Shrimp offers the lightest flavor that complements the natural shrimp taste.

Sweet Chili Shrimp

The Sweet Chili Shrimp was not as spicy as we thought. The mild spiciness gave a slight spike to the taste buds after being aroused by the delicious sweetness.

♥ Salted Egg Tempura

The Salted Egg Tempura was different from the Japanese-style tempura. The batter is close to our Filipino dish Camaron Rebosado. But, we loved this not for the batter but for the really soft and juicy shrimp under the delicious salted egg coating. Mind you, this is quite addictive!

Meat

Szechuan Sliced Pork

Though the Crabs and Shrimps on their own could be the main reason for availing of the Unlimited Szechuan Experience, the Meats are also not to be missed! You can really savor the authentic spiciness of Szechuan as the dishes have a hint of chili oil.

♥ Szechuan Pork Intestine

We especially enjoyed the Szechuan Pork Intestine which was pleasurably chewy.

Szechuan Duck Breast

The Szechuan Duck Breast is a first try for us. It was really good!

Others

Crab Rice

With all the Crabs that Templo is serving, we can all assume that the juices were somehow infused into its Crab Rice which was packed with crab flavor.

Ala Carte

Seafood Combo Platter

If you or any of your friends are not heavy eaters, no problem as you can also avail of Templo's ala carte menu. So there's really no excuse for the killjoys to miss a good dining experience together haha!

Drinks

Templo Signature Milk Tea (115 php)

For drinks, you can go for the Templo Signature Milk Tea which is similar to a Thai milk tea with jelly.

Lick Iced Tea (138 php) and ♥ Lick Mango Juice (138 php)

You can also choose Lick variants. The minty Lick Iced Tea and the almost puree tasting Lick Mango Juice are our favorites.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Templo'sUnlimited Szechuan Experience may not be as expansive in terms of other buffets within the same price range but you get really quality seafood! Templo does not even restrict you with any time limit so you can stay as much as you can and fill buckets full of seafood. So, yes! Give Templo a try and we encourage you do so with a prior reservation.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Templo Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Ala Carte
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Templo
Business Address	Dapitan Lifestyle Complex, 55 Dapitan Corner D. Tuazon Street, Lourdes, Banawe, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 244-7640
Other

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The craze for unlimited Samgyupsal has taken over Manila. Can you tell what is coming next? We know! Four in Love BBQ and Hot Pot Buffet offers an upgraded unlimited buffet experience by combining four different Asian cooking techniques in one.

So allow us to invite you to try Four in Love BBQ and Hotpot Buffet especially now that it has a 20% off opening discount until October 7, 2019.

Four in Love BBQ and Hot Pot is located at the lower ground floor SM Manila. This is only the pioneer branch and more branches will be sprouting soon!

Four in Love BBQ and Hot Pot offers three sets at different price points. Naturally, the higher the price, the more inclusions.

Harmony Set (Unli 399 php)
The most basic set is the Harmony Set (399 php) which limits its inclusions to the ones on the buffet spread which includes:

*Sushi(which may vary)

*Three (3) raw meats: (fixed)
~Pork slices
~Pork in sweet marinade
~Pork in spicy marinade

*Sauces

You can mix and match your own sauce...

or follow Four in Love's guide.

*Cold dishes (which may vary)
~Side dishes (like banchan)

~Salads

♥ Tonkotsu

*Six (6) kinds of hot dishes (which may vary)

♥ Gyoza

*Desserts (which may vary)

Wealth Set (599 php)

Includes in addition to those above:
*Premium beef chuck

Premium beef chuck in sweet marinade

*Premium beef chuck in sweet marinade

Premium beef chuck in spicy marinade

*Premium beef chuck in spicy marinade

*Chicken thigh cut
The chicken thigh parts served were really tender and soft to chew.

Chicken thigh in sweet marinade

*Chicken thigh in sweet marinade

♥ Chicken thigh in spicy marinade

*Chicken thigh in spicy marinade

*Pork belly
*Beef rib eye
*Squid
*Mussels
*Salmon belly
*Shrimp
*Korean Spicy noodle

♥ Beef short ribs in mozzarella cheese dip

*Mozzarella cheese dip

Abundance Set (799 php)
Includes just adds three (3) quality food items which for us makes it very worth it:

♥ Beef short plate

*Beef short plate
*Beef short ribs
We love these the most!

♥ Scallops

*Scallops

Now that we have all the ingredients, let's talk abut the four (4) Asian cooking technique that Four in Love has to offer.

We can divide them into two (2) major categories:

Grills

(1) Thai Mookata (add 99 per table)
(2) Korean Samgyupsal (included in price)
(3.1) Japanese Yakiniku

Hot Pot (add 99 for 1 soup and 159 for 2 soups per table)
(3.2) Japanese Shabu Shabu

♥ Mala Soup

(4) Chinese Hot Pot Steamboat (火锅)

Drinks (add 39 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Four in Love BBQ and Hot Pot Buffet offers a top-notch bbq and hot put buffet experience. For the 20% off price, the Abundance Set is definitely worth a try! Because of the soup and mookata add-on price, its best to bring at least three companions. Overall, weTsinoy Foodiesenjoyed the grill, hotpot and sauce mixing experience. We also liked the three price point for the sets so you can choose depending on your appetite and budget. Perhaps, for simplicity though, the price could be more inclusive for the soup and drinks.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Four in Love BBQ and Hotpot Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Four in Love BBQ and Hotpot
Business Address	SM City Manila, Lower Ground, Ermita, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 2923095
Other

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Residing in Manila has limited our foodie exploration around Alabang. In fact, our rarity in the area is evident by our number of Alabang posts. So, we're happy to share the our latest discovery in the area called Southbank Cafe + Lounge.

Yes, we traveled all the way to the South because there is no existing food establishment in the Metro Manila area yet like Southbank.

The long operating hours of Southbank Cafe + Lounge from 7 am until 1 am is complemented by its versatile and expansive food and drink offerings. As a Melbourne-inspired food establishment, Southbank seeks to be the melting pot of cuisines and drinks.

Southbank's coffee concoctions are produced using Victoria Adruino espresso machine and hot air roasted beans of Allpress Espress (quality coffee branch from New Zealand since 1989). It is proudly the first cafe to offer Allpress Espresso.

It also offers cocktails and wines.

Cafe

Coffee

♥ Mocha (190 php)

Fellow coffee enthusiast, we highly recommend Southbank's premium bold and flavorful coffee. We tried the Mocha which was by far the best one we've tried yet!

Cold Drink (with Vanilla Ice Cream)

♥ Iced Coffee (190 php)

Another must try is its Iced Coffeethat comes with Vanilla Ice Cream with milk chocolate bits. Its amazing how the coffee maintains its richness despite the ice and ice cream. We'd say its even stronger in flavor than other cold brew brands we've tried. It's also a plus that it used plastic free straws which are made of 100% biodegradable PLA cornstarch which decomposes after 200 days.

All Day Menu

Breakfast

♥ Classic French Toast (370 php)

Southbank's french toast isn't just savy with all the colorful dusts and edible flowers, it is also so delicious that all my companions preferred this over pancakes. It was an interesting discovery for us that whipped ricotta adds a complementing creamy texture and wholesome flavor to the Classic French Toast.

♥ Croquettes (350 php)

We've always been a fan of croquettes. We loved Southbank's version comes with potato, cheese, sous-vide egg and roasted capsicum.

Southbank Pancakes(390 php)

The Southbank Pancakescomes with mixed berries jelly. You'll love this if you enjoy berries with maple syrup.

Mains

♥ Ricotta Salad (390 php)

The Ricotta Salad is rich and fresh. Thus, it delivers a perfect combination of pleasure and healthy eating.

♥ Southbank Burger (580 php)

The juicy 100% beef patty and the truffle mayo for us was the winning factor that made the Southbank Burger as our top choice amongst the dishes we tried.

♥ Squid Ink Pasta (450 php)

The Squid Ink Pasta was another amazing dish to try. There's a lot of things going on with this pasta dish like some tinge of spiciness, zesty cheese and tangy tomato sauce and they all worked wonderfully well with the squid ink capellini.

♥ Tiger Prawn Risotto (580 php)

The Tiger Prawn Risotto is a medley of all our favorites: prawn thermidore, mushroom and sun-dried tomatoes so it was instant love upon first taste. When it comes to risotto, another essential factor is the texture. As you can see, it is creamy and the rice isn't too sticky, heavy or mushy so it was pleasurable to eat.

♥ Salmon Aburi Bowl (620 php)

At its price point, we could compare Southbank's Salmon Aburi Bowl with Your Local's famous Torched Salmon Donburi. Quite frankly, we love this better!

Hickory BBQ Pork Belly Bowl (420 php)

The Hickory BBQ Pork Belly Bowl is so tender and deliciously smoky and sweet. This is a great comforting meal.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Southerners are surely lucky to have Southbank Cafe + Lounge just around the neighborhood. We'd definitely love to have some of the food and coffee as much as we can. Aside from having one of the best coffee we've had, Southbank also offers free WiFi and power outlets which makes it our ideal work station. For those who aren't from the South, we still recommend Southbank for your foodie exploration. It is definitely worth the trip especially if you haven't been to Melbourne or can't afford the average dish rate in Melbourne pegged at around 20 USD per meal.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Southbank Cafe + Lounge Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Southbank Cafe + Lounge
Business Address	Central Plaza, Westgate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa CIty, Philippines
Business Hours	7am-1am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-1,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(0916) 247-8516
Other

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From Chef Robby Goco of Cyma, Chester Villas of Akulturado Vancouver, and Jon Balangay of Le Monet Hotel comes 1950 Restaurant.

2nd Floor Dining Area

1950 Restaurant takes its setting in a 2-storey American Contemporary house of the Santaromana Family which offers a spacious dining area and sufficient parking.

It delivers a warn and vintage vibe brought about by the merger of newly furnished interiors with the old furniture and fixtures.

Food
The food fare in is 1950 Restaurant Modern fusion inspired from the travels and familial recipes of Santaromana family. You'll surely find the menu selections quite intriguing.

Soil

♥ Kale Soba (400 php)

While the Kale Soba makes used of the Japanese Green Tea Soba (or buckwheat noodles), it is depicted like an Italian Pasta. Thus, theSoba is engulfed in cashew cream Alfredo sauce and topped with wild mushrooms. The flavor was sophisticated yet wonderfully pleasing!

Caesar Salad (400 php)

We found that there's not much distinction with 1950'sCaesar Salad from the usual fare. The grilling process was not evident in terms of taste and texture.

Land

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bites (300 php)

The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bites is a levelled up version of the popcorn chicken. It comes with spiced honey and brown butter gravy to boot.

Sea

♥ Grilled Octopus (325 php)

The Grilled Octopus is a work of art. Somehow the subtleness of all components highlighted the tender Grilled Octopus.

Lobster Bisque (600 php)

The Lobster Bisque delivered a foretaste and aftertaste of cream rather than lobster or crab which made us wonder if we didn't mix it enough.

Filipino Classic

Baked Hipon and Laing (375 php)

The Baked Hipon and Laing had a a rich and creamy coconut milk with a light spiciness. Some of my companions were yearning for the sharp spicy kick. Well, we reckon the interpretation here is more on harmonious blend rather than dominant spiciness.

♥ Adobo Classics (350 php)

The Adobo Classicsoffers four (4) kinds of adobo: Adobo Classics sa Gata, Chicken Adobong Tagalog, Pork Belly Adobo sa Dilaw and Adobo sa Flakes.

Sweets

Bavarian Cake (280 php)

The desserts at 1950 were all very pleasing to the eyes. But, it failed to followthrough for the other aspects. When it comes to pastry, it is a given that the texture was too bring comfort. Well, the Bavarian Cake like the other desserts we tried were all too dry.

Molten Lava Cake (280 php)

The Molten Lava Cake looks really impressive. However, it wasn't oozing with molten lava as we cut into it. It was too dry for our liking.

Baked Alaska (280 php)

This is the loveliest Baked Alaska we've ever encountered. Those who love sweets will definitely appreciate the fluffy meringue that shelters the strawberry ice cream and chocolate crumble. The sourness of the strawberry and blueberries offered a great contrast to the sweetness. While the strawberry ice cream complemented the chocolate crumble well.

White Chocolate Blondie (280 php)

The White Chocolate Blondie was our least favorite among the desserts. It was a huge chunk that was dry and tough to chew.

Toasted Ensaymada (80 php)

This is the first time we encountered an ensaymada that did not captivate us to finish in one seating... The Toasted Ensaymada is better when dipped in the hot chocolate and topped with candied bacon bits. However, even then it isn't anything spectacular.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Oh 1950 Restaurant, the concept seems fun and timeless. Yet, it wasn't so evident in the execution of the dishes. Perhaps, we need another visit to know you better...

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		1950 Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★	N/A
Taste	★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

1950 Restaurant
Business Address	14 Castilla Street, Near One Castilla Place, Valencia, Quezon City
Business Hours	11am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0917) 816-2599
Other

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Every time we visit Fully Booked, there is always something new to learn. This time however, it is not book-related. For such a long time, we've been visiting Press by Fully Booked solely for its beverages that we buy before or after we check out the book.

To our defense, look at Press by Fully Booked's logo? You see two things: a book and a beverage cup. We'd also like to add that it serves really good coffee and lemonade.

Food

One of the distinct characteristic for us with Fully Booked is that although it is a mass-scale of a bookstore, you can still feel that it is inviting and has a personal touch to it. It's the kind of a charm of "The Shop Around the Corner", a small boookstore that is depicted in the movie "You've Got Mail" that was casted by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

We had the same feeling with Press by Fully Booked and its menu. Aside from its regular menu, it also has seasonal offerings like the Christmas Holiday Meals.

Soup
Since we love classics, we'll start of with items in the regular menu.

Mushroom (160 php)

As far as cream-based soups, our favorite since childhood has always been cream of mushroom. Press'Mushroom soup is one of the best we've had in years.

Salads

Classic Caesar (250 php)

All the dishes we're tried like the Classic Caesar made use of the freshest ingredients. Because of that, the price here is quite reasonable especially for this branch which is located in Rockwell Power plant.

Pasta


Agli e Olio (200 php)

The serving size is also quite generous.

Carbonara (250 php)

Both pasta dishes we've tried:Agli e Olio andCarbonara had a comforting blend.

Holiday Set Meals
For this Christmas, Press by Fully Booked has prepared a Holiday Group Meal Set inspired by our Filipino Nocha Buena tradition.

Arroz Valenciana

Set A (999 php)is the budget meal choice with Arroz Valenciana, Homestyle Fried Chicken and Press Iced Tea. Because the Arroz Valenciana had bountiful toppings (which you can see!) and the rice was so sticky and heavy, we foundSet A to be an already fulfilling choice.

Homestyle Fried Chicken

The Homestyle Fried Chicken is not breaded like the fast-food ones. Instead, it was adequately spiced and goes well with the gravy.

Lechon Belly

The perks with Set B (Php1,499) is the addition of theLechon Belly. For many, a Filipino celebration is not complete without this.

Cakes & Pastries

Chocolate Cake (1250 php/whole)

Chocolate cakes are one of the most popular cake variant available in the Metro. Till the time we've encountered Press'Chocolate Cake, we thought we've tasted all the best ones. We've read all sorts of top lists or best chocolate cake in Manila list and none of them has mentioned Press by Fully Booked. What a wild card! What a hidden gem! This Chocolate Cake is rich, bitter sweet and oh so soft and moist. Although huge and thick, you won't hesitate to take each and every bite.

Holiday Pastries
Like the meals, Press also has holiday pastries.

Ube Custard (650 php)

Raise your hand if you're a ube andleche flanlover! This Ube Custard is for us! Compared to the Chocolate Cake, the Ube cake layer is a bit dry. Hence, the smooth and creamy leche flan give it the nice fine finish in every forkful.

Four Seasons Cheesecake (Php1,350)

Variety is always well-appreciated in every potluck. Can't decide on which cheesecake to bring? Take the Four Seasons Cheesecake withOriginal, Caramelized Banana,Queso De Bola and Hazelnut and let your guests decide for themselves. But for you, we highly suggest that your take from theQueso De Bolacheesecake part right away cause it is surely the first one to be wiped! The Caramelized Banana and Hazelnut is also an interesting pick. We were so surprised with the Hazelnut which delivered cute little crunchiness in every bite. We rarely encounter a hazelnut product that makes used of fresh tiny bits of the actual nut itself so we were really impressed.

Cookie Sampler (Php440)

And, because variety is well-appreciate, there also a cookie and bar counterpart with the Cookie Sampler with Chocolate Chip, Cranberry & Raisins, Double Chocolate and Double Mint Chocolate Chip...

Bar Sampler (550 php)

and the Bar Sampler with Food for the Gods and Butterscotch.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Like every visit to Fully Booked, we found our visit to Press by Fully Booked to be a wonderful experience. We found all the dishes we tried to be affordable and in generous portions. We also found the bright yet solemn atmosphere which makes it conducive for reading, meetings and conversations to be a great consideration for dining here.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Press by Fully Booked Menu
Ambiance	★★★	NA
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Press by Fully Booked
Business Address	The Powerplant Mall, 3/F, Rockwell Center, Lopez Drive, Makati, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	NA
Budget/Person	250-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 7901-4177
Other

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While some may be lucky enough to visit Japan for its Cherry Blossom Viewing as much as they can. Many of us are not able to due to time and monetary constraints. Fortunately for us, we have the newest milk tea concept in the Philippines inspired by the Japan's Cherry Blossom Viewing tradition - Sakura Hanami. It now has several branches and Sakura Hanami Taft in Arrow Food Park is the one we recently got to visit.

Sakura Hanamiwhich directly translates to Cherry Blossom Viewing is a millennia-old tradition in Japan which still has a growing popularity up to present. In fact, around 5,000,000 million tourists fly to Japan just for this in a year. It gets so crowded and popular that some viewing spots even charge a lot just for exclusivity.

At Sakura Hanami, you can enjoy your choice of tea in a pink floral atmosphere. It also has a long operating hours from 10 am to 12 midnight so it's easy and quite convenient to drop by anytime.

You see its menu covering all four seasons shows how much variety it offers.

It has three sizes for cups. The tallest one you see is already one (1) liter!

Winter Blends (Hot)

Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea (195 php)

One of the distinguishing features of Sakura Hanami is that it serves hot floral tea variants. One pot is good to share for two to four people.

We tried the Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea which had a generous amount of real edible cherry blossom flowers. The Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea has a lot of health benefits like anti-inflammatory and anti-aging. But, due to the preservation procedure of the cherry blossom flowers, the taste may not be for everyone. The taste is mildy sweet and salty with a plum-like after tone. Because we are Tsinoys who are used to eating preserved plums (kiamoy), we enjoyed this! You can add as much honey as you want to fit your taste profile.

Autumn Blends

Lava Pearl Latte (180 php/XL)

The Lava Pearl Latte just shows us that Sakura Hanami caters to all types of tea drinkers. While we found the Lava Pearl Latte at regular sugar level too sweet for our liking, we do know a lot of sweet tea lovers who will crave for this. For a slightly lighter sweetness, you can opt for the Okinawa Roast Milk Tea (95 php/regular).

♥ Classic Milky Bubble Mousse (155 php), ♥ Matcha Creme Milk Tea with Sakura Pudding (140 php/Regular) and ♥ SakuraSignature Bubble Tea (95/regular)

For those who want to appreciate the authentic strength of black tea, contrast to the sweet Lava Pearl Latte, we suggest to have the SakuraSignature Bubble Tea with mildly sweet sugar level.

♥ Matcha Creme Milk Tea with Sakura Pudding (140 php/Regular)

The most impressive drink for us was the Matcha Creme Milk Tea with Sakura Pudding. This is a legit matcha drink! We bet that if you order the XL, you'll really feel the caffeine kick from this drink. It's so bold and rich just the way we always wanted our matchabut rarely could have. We also love the rosy flavor of the Sakura Pudding that perfectly matches the matcha.

Bubble Mousse

The Bubble Mousse is a dessert snack packaged in cute bottle with pink ribbon. We tried the
Classic Milky Bubble Mousse (155 php) and fell in love with it! The strength of the tea flavor, the silky melt-in-your-mouth texture of the mousse and the soft to chew pearls on top gives a wholesome experience. We just found this a bit pricey especially the other variants that cost 175 php per bottle But, if you can splurge then we guarantee the even biteful is heavenly! The sensation is so appealing that we would probably try the Strawberry Bubble Mousse or Matcha Creme Mousse next visit!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Sakura Hanami depicts the Japanese philosophy that highliughts premium quality hence the "kaizen" (かいぜん) concept which is actually rooted in the way they genuinely care for people "omoi-yari" (思いやり). The drink quality and service is superb. To sum it up, we,Tsinoy Foodies, guarantee that you can find satisfaction in Sakura Hanami with a reminder that premium variants comes with a premium price.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Sakura Hanami Taft Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	NA
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Sakura Hanami Taft
Business Address	1021 P. Ocampo St, Corner Arellano Ave, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-12pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	none
Budget/Person	90-200
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0917) 655-5584
Other

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It is 2019 and the Philippine food industry is still as progressive as ever as many global brands are opening its branches in the Philippines. But, did you know that The Bistro Group was one of the first restaurant groups that boldly brought a foreign food concept here in the Philippines? In December 11, 1994, it opened TGI Fridays as the first American Casual Dining restaurant in the Philippines.

To date, TGI Fridays has 26 branches within the Philippines. With such success, of course, it has to celebrate its 25th Birthday!

We usually dine at TGI Fridaysfor dinner or post-dinner. But, last December 11, 2019, we decided to try them for lunch for a change.

Complimentary Nachos

During lunch time at its Trinoma branch, it offered a laid back kind of vibe.

French Onion Soup (245 php)

The French Onion Soup atTGI Fridaysis one of our favorites. It's just so hearty and fulfilling.

Calypso Calamari Salad (425 php)

What we love about TGI Fridays is its comprehensive menu selections. We decided to go for a guilt-free lunch with its Calypso Calamari Salad that comes with its tangy citrus lime dressing.

Milk Tea Cheesecake (290 php)

Since we're milk tea lovers, we just have to give TGI FridaysMilk Tea Cheesecake a go. IUt was good to try but we'd go for the classic Oreo Madness next time. Perhaps, we're more into oreos than milk tea after all.

25th Birthday Bash Surprise

25th Birthday Bash Surprise

At exactly 1 pm, a birthday song played and we got a FREE Fridays Chili Ballpark Nachos.

Fridays Chili Ballpark Nachos (495 php)

What an amazing treat! Happy 25th Birthday TGI Fridays!

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While many would go to Seascape Village to buy fresh seafood and have them cooked ("paluto system"), we go there the lauriat set meals that the Chinese restaurants there offer. Golden China is one of the most luxurious Chinese Restaurants we have tried to date.

Because Golden China is pricey, the family only dines here during special occasions. For casual dining, we prefer Asian Taste Seafood Restaurant.

Although both restaurants occupy a significant portion of both ground and upper floor of Seascape Village, Golden China has a more upscale ambiance similar to a five-star hotel. The second floor is entirely reserved for private rooms with its own marbled rest rooms. The dinning style is like Glorias Mari's Sharkfin Restaurant in Greenhills but since this is newer, the design is more modern.

You have dedicated staffs allocated for your table. It also offers fine wines that is well-aerated through a decanter.

Food

When we first dined at Golden China, we found it to be too pricey and the food was not impressive.

Complimentary Peanuts

But, from our second and subsequent visits, the price has been adjusted and the menu was improvised to sooth the typical Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) taste or at least our taste.

Sharksfin with Shredded Chicken Soup

During our first visit, we just trusted the server to serve us the best set meal offered. We were served a clear soup with what we thought was ground chicken but turned out to bea baby shark. So on our second visit, we went for a more eco-friendly option and chose the one with Sharksfin with Shredded Chicken Soup.

Whelks?

The highlight of our dining experience is the ♥ North Pole Shell Sashimi. It wasa large rectangular plateful of assorted shells. Some of those were unfamiliar to us. All the edible mollucs served were so clean that there's not a sight of sand from it.

♥ Roasted Goose Hongkong Style

The Roasted Goose Hongkong Style was perfectly cooked. The hot plate was an excellent idea.

♥ Steamed Live Lapu-Lapu

We appreciate the Steamed Live Lapu-Lapu which tasted so sweet and fresh and also de-boned for our convenience.

♥ Stewed Abalone with Red Beans

The Stewed Abalone with Red Beans requires an excellent technique to accomplish. We are very impressed!

♥ Baked Shrimp with Plums

We are glad to discover the Baked Shrimp with Plums. We will probably order this again.

♥ Sauteed Asparagus with Black Fungus and Chinese Yam

Our bad recollections of Chinese Yam exuding earthy flavors were extinguished by the delight brought about the Sauteed Asparagus with Black Fungus and Chinese Yam. We didn't expect that this simple dish could be so addictive.

Baked Crab with Salted Egg Yolk

The Baked Crab with Salted Egg Yolk was wiped clean. No further descriptions need!

♥ Birthday Noodles

This is the best Birthday Noodles we've tried yet. The noodles were light and there was no evident oiliness upon eating it.


Snow Fungus Soup

This the first time that a Chinese Restaurant here in Manila served us Snow Fungus Soup for dessert. It has a resemblance with the bird's nest soup but it was blander with a more solid form. Taste-wise, it wasn't outstanding but when we were told that this has tons of health benefits then we did not hesitate to finish it.

♥ Golden China Egg Tart and Puff Pastry

The Golden China Egg Tart was really good! We'd even prefer these over Lord Stow's. The texture was superb. There was no oiliness that would stick to your hands and it was so light and crisp that the crust crumbles gently in every bite. The puffs were also delicious!

Mixed Fruit Platter

The previous Mixed Fruit Platter we've had were more extravagant but since this was only complimentary so no complaints here.

See every inch of the place is so grand!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

The price range at Golden China is the same as a fine dining hotel restaurant. You can also expect the top-notch food quality, ambiance and service that justifies the cost. Thus, it is one of our top considerations for intimate family occasions.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Golden China Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	NA
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Golden China
Business Address	Seascape Village, Pasay, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-2:30pm 5:30pm-10:30pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	no service charge
Budget/Person	1,000-2,500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 8-856-1999
Other

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With all prices hiking up, people are continuously in search for the best meal offers. Well, we Tsinoy Foodies, recently discovered Holy Cow! Sizzler's Meat All You Can for 399 php.

And, we're going to give you our Top 7 Reasons to Go For the Meat All You Can for 399 php.

1. No Lines

Holy Cow Sizzlers has two spacious branches that offers the meat all you can for 399 php. Both of them are so spacious, they can even cater to parties and functions.

We prefer the one in Ayala Trinoma Mall because we find its mall location to be quite convenient.

2. Ready to Eat

Although there is a time limit of 2 hours, all the dishes that you order are served fast (within 5 to 10 minutes), cooked, ready to eat in a hot sizzling plate. Yes, in essence this adopts a sit down and "order all you can" concept which is rarely offered.

Chinito (chicken na prinito?)

How great is that? You save time from 1) lining up and 2) cooking that you can spend all that time for eating. In fact, we were able to eat here during our work lunch break.

Chicken Fillet

3. Smokeless
Although the dishes here are served hot on a sizzling plate, it does not involve cooking the food on the table so its smokeless. Thus, you won;t have smoke sticking into your clothing. You can eat here on a lunch break and not worry about taking the smell of smokiness back to your office. You can take clients here for meeting too.

Beef

4. 5 Premium Meats

Aside from the full service experience, they also offer an expansive selection with many types of premium meat (with sauces!) and side dishes.

Pork Belly

There are 5 types of premium meat dishes:
1.) Beef
2.) Pork Belly
3.) Chicken Fillet
4.) Chicken Chinitos
5.) Fish Fingers

Fish Fillet

You see, others are limited to just pork and beef so you couldn't really eat that much. But, here they offer four kinds of meats so you can bring along even your non-meat loving friends because they can still be satisfied with the chicken, fish and side dishes.

Fish Fillet

5. 5 Flavorful Sauces
Don't we love to eat our rice dishes with sauces? Holy Cow knows this so well that it offers 5
signature sauces:
1.) White Sauce (for the Fish Fillet)
2.) Soy Garlic (for the the Pork Belly)
3.) Spicy Barbecue (for the Beef, Pork Bellyor Chicken Fillet)
4.) Peppercorn Gravy (for the Beef, Pork Bellyor Chicken Fillet)
5.) Trio Mushroom Gravy (for the Beef, Pork Bellyor Chicken Fillet)

Garlic Rice

6. 10 Side Dishes
1.) Garlic Rice
You can simultaneously order any premium meats and side dishes that you want. I'm sure those who cannot eat a meal without rice will order the Garlic Rice first.

Mashed Potato (the signature sauce works for the side dishes too)

2.) Mashed Potato
Who could resist Mashed Potatoes?

Macaroni Salad

3.) Macaroni Salad

French Fries

4.) French Fries
The French Fries were thick cut and mushy just the way we wanted it.

Mojos

5.) Mojos
If you want potato in crisp and crunchy form then the Mojos is for you.

Sweet Potato

6.) Sweet Potato
The Sweet Potato is an addictive choice for those with sweet tooth.

Cheese Croquettes

7.) Cheese Croquettes
If we were to order just one side dish, hands down it would be the Cheese Croquettes. This is our first time to have this item for eat all you can. In fact, croquettes are usually offered in a Spanish restaurant for an expensive price. Take Terry Bistro's cheese croquetas for example, an order of 6 pcs. is already 480 php (as of the time we wrote this).

Corn & Carrots

8.) Corn & Carrots

Coleslaw

9.) Coleslaw

Buttered Vegetables

10.) Buttered Vegetables

7. 399 PHP All Inclusive Price

You get everything presented in the Meat All You Can Menu for an all inclusive price of 399 php. The published rate is clear and simple unlike others who will present the lowest price only to find out that you have to add more for more options.

Unlimited Iced Tea (70 php)

Bonus Tip: The Unlimited Iced Tea here is also affordable as it is offered for only 70 php.

With those 7 reasons to try Holy Cow! Sizzlers' Meat All You Can for 399 php, we, Tsinoy Foodies, guarantee that you will feel that you get your moneys worth for it!

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Since the onset of websites and social media, rarely do we encounter a hole-in-a-wall joint that literally under the radar like Arab Asian Resto Cafe.

You see it does not have a good visibility as its signage is only a small tarpaulin that is usually blocked by parking cars.

Good thing it has a good landmark which is the Masjid Al-Dahab or the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila.

Although this Arab Asian Resto Cafe is marked in google maps, it has no reviews in Zomato or Tripadvisor and the like so it has no online presence. But, we've sharing about it now because we believe it should have. This humble place serves very affordable and delicious dishes and drinks.

We discovered this through Meaningful Travel's Muslim Immersion Tour and we were told then that in contrast to what we hear about them from the media, Muslim's are actually peaceful and simple. In fact, some of them just live within the Golden Mosque compound. The owner of this establishment is one who also stays there.

Food

♥ Paratha + Sweetened Milk (25 php)

Unfortunately, we were planned to have a meal elsewhere so we only had a light snack here. We had this comforting hot, soft and chewy Paratha + Sweetened Milk for an affordable price of 25 php. It was quite satisfying!

♥ Lassi (40 php)

We also tried its Lassi which was so refreshing against the hot weather.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Arab Asian Resto Cafe serves affordable, halal, natural and healthy food and drinks that are worth the try when you are in the area. We hope to try more of its heavier meals in the future.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Arab Asian Resto Cafe Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Food Menu \| Drink Menu
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Arab Asian Resto Cafe
Business Address	334 Gunao, Quiapo, Manila, Metro Manila
Business Hours	7am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	50-120 php
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0995) 735-9544 \| (0939) 621-0799
Other

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J. Park Garden Restaurant has recently opened at Jose P. Laurel Foundation Building. We've been passing by the area for decades but never had we imagined that the place could be so beautiful and lively.

J. Park is a 24-hour spacious two-story restaurant fully surrounded by glass panes. It's greens and classy interiors is like a paradise inviting every passer by.

j park garden restaurant

A step inside will even offer an overwhelming comfort with its clean, fragrant and cool vibe. Aside from the casual dining area on the first and second floor, the second room also provides more privacy with individual rooms by the back hallway.

Food
While J. Park offers unlimited Samyupsal for only 500 php (minimum of two [2] persons), we opted to order ala carte because the menu had a lot more to offer.

Pajeori (파절이)

The Pajeori (파절이) literally means seasoned green onion in Korean. This is a basic Korean barbecue companion especially for marinated meat.

All the ban chan (also known as side dishes) it served on our table was gloried in terms of ingredients and portions. As you can see some of the ban chan are served in big bowls too. And, if its not enough, the servers are happy to replenish them upon our requests too.

Beef

Special Wagyu Beef (Rib-Eye) (2800 php)

As indicated in its menu, all meats used byJ. Parkare Monterey Meat. As you can see, the Special Wagyu Beef (Rib-Eye) is as promised. Of course, this is so delicious when grilled perfectly!

Kkot Galbisal (Grilled Beef Prime Ribs) (1,600 php)

With delicious beef variants like the Kkot Galbisal (Grilled Beef Prime Ribs), you would agree that opting more than Samgyupsal is the best way right?

Pork

Samgyeopsal (Fresh Pork Belly) (400 php)

But if indeed you want to get the best out of your money, they avail of their limited offer for Umlimited Samgyeopsal at 500 php. Being we ordered the Samgyeopsal as ala carte at 400 php! Imagine, just add 100 php more per person and you can eat your heart out!

Meals

Bulgogi

Unfortunately, you can only cook either grill or hotpot in a single table. We were lucky to dine in a big group so we were able to get some dishes from the nearby tables. Both the grills and theBulgogi we had were delicious and price-worthy.

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Kimchi Jjige (Kimchi Stew) (400 php)

Aside from dishes that you can cook on the table, we ordered other stews and soups too. For spicy lovers, the Kimchi Jjigewill give you the spicy tinge in the taste buds that you yearn for and the delightfully hot soup will give you that warm massage in every sip.

Dwenjiang Jjigae (Soybean Stew) (400 php)

The Kimchi JjigeandDwenjiang Jjigae are both stews. The Kimchi Jjige is dominated by the flavor of kimchi. While the Dwenjiang Jjigae is dominated by soybean flavor.

Galbi Tang (600 php)

Who needs a chicken soup for the soul when you can have a healthy and comforting serving of Galbi Tan? The pork ribs slowly falls of the bone as it simmers in the hot bowl. Parts of it are melting and mixing into the mild tasting soup which is slightly sweetened by the juju berries.

Side Dishes

Japchae (500 php)

It was a hard choice between the Japchae and the Janchi-guksu for our noodle dish. Here in Manila the Japchae is more common and popular so it was what we chose. However, in Korea, the Janchi-guksu is what they have in every occasion. The word "janchi" literally means banquet or feast in Korean. While "guksu" simply means noodles in Korean.

What we appreciate with Korean restaurants is that the management is very hands on. You can see that the Korean owners and managers are the ones doing the hard labor as well.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Overall, J. Park Garden Restaurant is the hippest and grandest 24-hour Korean restaurant in Manila. This is highly recommend for all types of diners. Given the beautiful and luxurious appeal, the pricing is quite affordable too. For private rooms and big groups, it is better to reserve since the place is usually crowded during peak hours. You can contact them via mobile or Facebook.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		J Park Garden Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu \| Menu 2
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

J. Park Garden Restaurant
Business Address	Jose P. Laurel Foundation Building. Pedro Gil Corner M.H del Pilar Street, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-7am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	350-2,800
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0936) 785-3625
Other

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When visiting Bacolod, the first thing that comes in mind is to try the local specialty Bacolod-style Chicken Inasal. According to my local friends, the best Bacolod-style Chicken Inasalis the one served byNena's Rose II Shopping Branch.

Yes, to my surprise, they recommended that it has to be this specific branch out of the many branches!

The fame of Bacolod-style Chicken Inasal has reached Manila. As we've shared, we've tried several brands in Manila such as Aida's Chicken, Inasal Chicken Bacolod, Bok Bok's Inasal, Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Yet, we're still so excited since naturally, a local specialty at the place of origin is expected to offer the best experience.

Nena's Rose II Shopping Branch offers a clean, modern and spacious dining facility. On the right side, it even has an a hand washing area equipped with more than five sinks (each with liquid hand soap dispensers).

If you want to eat like a local, you have to eat your meal using your hands. But, since I'm a foreigner, I requested for utensils.

Food

Bisaya (150 php)

Among the Bacolod Chicken Inasal establishments we've tried in Manila and in Bacolod, Nena's Rose II is the only one we've encountered that serves Bisaya. As we've researched, Ilonggo's refer to all native food ingrediats as "Bisaya". Thus, this s a native chicken cooked in the Bacolod-style inasal way. It is priced higher than the usual chicken but it was an addition that we would simply shoulder willingly. This is hands down the best Bacolod Chicken Inasal we've ever had.

Talaba (60 php)

Aside from Chicken Inasal, you can also find a lot of places serving Talaba or Oysters. You can find them in most Chicken Inasal establishments like Nena Rose or you can find it in a less fancy but more specialized place along the street side which the locals refer to as "Talabahan".

Talaba (60 php)

The oysters here are so cheap! For only 60 php, look at how much Talaba I got to enjoy! The size is pretty good too right?

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Nena Rose Shopping II hands down offers the best Chicken Inasal in Bacolod among the famous Chicken Inasal establishments that we've tried. We will definitely stop by this place whenever we are in Bacolod City!

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Nena Rose II Shopping II Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Nena Rose Shopping II
Business Address	6th St, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines (6100)
Business Hours	8am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	100-300
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(034) 432 1434
Other

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It's been a more than a month since the lock down. It made us miss the times which seemed like usual and ordinary. I recall the last time the family randomly stopped over for One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶.

Side Story

With so much time, I didn't feel like blogging until now. The urge to blog had sparked from a strange yet vivid dream where all the nostalgic moments (that I blog) of places I've explored, dishes I've tried and expensive things I've bought were in the form of bright orbs that were absorbed by my soul and compromised who I am. It reminded me of how much I love this game of blogging where I get to test myself each time I make an entry on (1) how present I was at that moment and (2) how well I can replay that precise moment in my mind.

Because we don't have any eat outs, it's so easy to recall that drizzling milk tea Sunday. While on our way home from my cousin's spa opening, my sisters were looking at the milk tea stores around Banawe one by one. One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶 got our attention and we all agreed that it was the one we wanted to have. Some of us have not tried it so it was the perfect opportunity since this branch had no lines at that time.

I told my mom I'd treat her but she said that she wasn't in the mood for it since we just came from a heavy Chinese lauriat lunch. My sister and I went on ahead to the store to purchase. The "It's a MATCH" from its Top 5 Drinks appealed to me the most. My little sister, on the other hand, ordered the "Taro Delight".

After we made our order, someone ordered 20 or more milk teas. Then, my mom and siblings called us to order for them too. What luck right? We decided to spend our time taking photos while waiting.

It also allowed me to observe a tapioca making machine for the first time. One Zo is famous for making its own pearls. The pearls are special as they were flavored pearls.

♥ It's a MATCH L (165 php) and ♥Taro Delight L (130 php)

We all enjoyed our drinks. I liked the It's a MATCH very much. The matcha flavor was just right. I wouldn't be bothered if it was a bit stronger. Yet, the subtlety was appreciated in this instance since it was complemented by its specialty pearls.

♥ It's a MATCH L (165 php)

All its flavored pearls delivered a consistent pleasurable chewy texture. The sweetness of the flavored pearls varies so you have to try them out and see what you like. Since One Zo introduces special flavored pearls of the day, it somehow increases the chance of you trying out a new flavored pearl in each visit.

Quarantine Tip: One Zo is open for delivery through GrabFood, foodpanda and Lalafood.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

We all love novel ideas. Novelty makes anything easier to remember. Hence, you can be assured that One Zo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶's novelty flavored pearls will grant you a fun and memorable milk tea with pearl experience in every visit.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		OneZo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶 Menu
Ambiance	★★★	N/A
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

OneZo Tapioca Milk Tea 丸作食茶
Business Address	Banawe 779-A Banawe Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Banawe, Quezon City, Metro Manila Greenhills Food Court, Ground Floor, Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	12 pm - 10:30 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	100-200
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0925) 510-0096
Other

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