Discover places you'll love in the Philippines

Look at this massive piece of pork! I really love this place. Always feels homey to me. Seems like they updated the menu already and so nice to see all the food photos. I I don’t remember what this is, I think it’s a country fried steak that came with mashed potato and gravy. Look at the fork on the second for reference. The pork breading was crunchy, definitely to share because I couldn’t have finished this without the help of my little girl. Needs work on the gravy. Steel Plate Cooked Butter Salpicao is so rich and tasty. Beef was very tender. If we had more bread we would probably soak all that butter on it. It’s cooked well here, unfortunately, as my dining companion requested for well done *cry*. Seemed like the dessert got smaller too. Still good thought. Try the cookies! The ones with cornflakes on them. They are chewy delicious. Pass on the custard.

I'm glad I have been into spicy dips and food for years now. Because of this, I enjoy it eating than avoiding them. Asian restos serving spicy dishes in the country multiplies so quickly. One of these, Mala-Szechuan in Met Live Mall opens last October this year. MALA sauce is a popular oily, spicy and numbing Chinese sauce which consists of Szechuanese peppercorn, chili pepper and various spices simmered with oil. MALA or a "numbing", "hot" is a term to describe the feeling in the mouth after eating the szechuan spicy sauce. These are what they generously prepared for us to try... CORN & SPARERIBS SOUP P480 is a hot broth soup with corn, pork and carrots. Served in a Large bowl perfect for big groups. SATE LAPU LAPU P1680 Lapu Lapu covered with sauce, dried chili, mushrooms, potatoes cucumber,and cabbage. I love that it's fried and really really tasty. SZE CHUAN CRISPY CHICKEN POPS P480 small fried chicken cuts with veggies cubes. This is perfect when drinking beer. SLICED BEEF IN SIGNATURE CHILI BROTH P880 this is extremely spicy but very delicious along with other vegetables. DEEP FRIED SHRIMP SKEWERS P680 I love this!!!! Its super crispy and savory. The Shrimps are seasoned with different spices and the skin so crispy you'd want to eat it whole. SPICY CRAYFISH P1880 about 12pcs Crayfish with sweet potatoes and special red sauce. STIR FRIED PORK INTESTINES P480 Warning, this is hot! Aside from the spicy sauce, it has green peppers to make your mouth flame in fire! GRILLED SCALLOPS P680 The first to be devoured. Good as 10pcs with chopped sauteed garlic on top of each piece. SHRIMP DUMPLINGS P380 The special mixed sauce best poured and not dipped. Yummy dumplings with veggies and shrimps inside. CENTURY EGG with Green Pepper P260 this is on my top list. Legit rich Century Egg. SPICY BEEF P480 thinly sliced, chilled tender Beef. It's good. DUCK HEART P428 flavored duck hearts cut into twos. Yes, this is hot & spicy too! BEEF, LAMB, LIEMPO BBQ P58-68 Chicken Feet P58 Golden Needle Mushroom P38 affordable BBQ skewers, perfect with Beer. MAPO TOFU P280 soft white Tofu bathing in a red spicy sauce. SOUR & HOT POTATO SHREDS P280 looks like a Papaya Salad to me. Best to pair with rice and other dishes with sliced labuyo on top! My favorites are deep fried Shrimps, Scallops, Lapu Lapu and Spicy Beef. Every serving ia good for group sharing. All I've tried are recommendable to spicy food lovers like my husband! You should at least try one dish here, you'll definitely have more then. Thank you, EJ B for the invite!

While most of the coffee shops in the metro offer planners and Holiday drinks. Costa Coffee launched Wish Upon a Costa, which features their holiday desserts and drinks. I find their Frostino very sweet and I'm not really a fan of sugary drinks. But the marketing team mentioned that the sweetness level for these drinks can be lowered and that's a good info to keep in mind. Each of these Frostino are all priced the same. Php 185 (Primo), Php 195 (Medio) and Php 210 (Massimo). - Salted Pistachio Mocha Frostino - Golden Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Frostino - Candy Cane Frostino As for their hot Holiday drinks prices are same for each. Php 180 (Primo), Php 190 (Medio) and Php 205 (Massimo). Billionaire's Hot Chocolate Base is chocolate topped with caramel syrup and cookie bits. If you are looking for a chocolatey drink. This one is for you! Salted Pistachio Mocha Chocolate Coffee base with salted pistachio syrup. Golden Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Dark chocolate base mixed with roasted hazelnut syrup comes with cookie. My favorite drink among the 6 drink. Not as sweet as the others 🏼 Each costs the same: Php 185 (Slice), Php 1665 (Whole). I would totally go back for the first two. Purple Glaze Cake I love ube! Sooo I’m biased for this cake. It has caramel layers too. Candy Cane Cake Moist vanilla chiffon cake with layer of cream cheese. Love this cake! Minus the candy cane - I’m not a fan of candies 🏼 Choco Mint Cake I enjoy chocolate mint treats. This one was ok, I would still go for Andes chocolate for choco minty cravings. Gingerbread Cookie (Php 45) light taste of that typical gingerbread flavors: cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Cheesecake Yule Bar (Php 125) talk about cream cheese. Yum! Another sweet treat I would come back for. Thank you Roegan T for having me.🏼

I think they moved from Eastwood Mall to this place. Since our manager from the US came here to visit our team, we had to do usual team dinner before sending him back home. I was assigned to look for a place and then I recommended Eastwood City. It was a struggle to find one decent place at 2:00 in the morning because almost all of the places that opened were bars only. Good thing that we stumbled upon Uncle Cheffy after several searching. We ordered the group meals which I forgot the name but it was around P3,000. It is composed of garden salad, paella, dori fish, lechon, panizza, steak, dessert, and ice tea. We all enjoyed eating the panizza even without the veggie. It was a bit oily but damn, the cheese was so good. My taste buds were so happy! The paella's serving was too huge that all of us eight didn't consume the entire of it. The steak, however, needs a little bit of improvement as it was a bit salty for me. Other food was good but not really that remarkable. Obviously, I would definitely be back for the panizza! I'd like to try other flavors.

The holiday season is the perfect excuse to give in to cravings as most coffee chains bring back their seasonal drinks. Got to try Costa's festive food and drinks via a #LoolooRendezvoos last week: They have 6 drinks. 3 are served hot - The Golden Hazelnut Hot Chocolate, Salted Pistachio Mocha and Billionaire's Hot Chocolate. My favorite was the Salted Pistachio Mocha, as I looove pistachio and it's the only coffee-based drink among the three. There are also 3 frostinos or their version of an ice-blended drink - The Candy Cane Frostino, the Salted Pistachio Mocha Frostino and the Golden Hazelnut Frostino. The Candy Cane Frostino was a little too sweet for me, but for people who love sweet drinks, this one is perfect for you. For the food items, my favorite was their Purple Glazed Cake. An ube sponge cake layered with just the right amount of yema. I also liked the Cheesecake Yule Bar. Although their Candy Cane Cake definitely screamed Christmas for me, I think there was too much buttercream but it would definitely be a good pair with an iced americano. They also have a Merry Choco-Mint Cake and Ginger Bread Cookies. Overall, their festive drinks and food are a must-try especially if you have a sweet tooth. They are available until the 1st week of January and I'll definitely squeeze in a quick coffee break on their 2nd floor with a Salted Pistachio Mocha paired with a slice of the Purple Glazed Cake. ️ (PS: I think I overused the word 'sweet' in this review. Sorry.)

Trying out this newly-opened café in Eastwood on a gloomy afternoon. I used to pass by this place whenever I’m heading to Eastwood mall from my workplace and it caught my attention with its distinctive mural inside the café which depicts a ghostly tree. Upon entering the place, I instantly noticed a mural of some of the popular Filipino mythical creatures such as aswang, manananggal, tiktik, etc. I was able to speak with one of the baristas and gave me a little walkthrough on their menu particularly with their coffee selection. He added that the owners of this “magical” café are also the same crew behind the Exchange Alley Coffee house in Alabang, thus, they’re using the same coffee beans for their coffee. I just went for a hot cup of Latte priced at PHP 160. I’ve never tried Exchange Alley coffee house yet, so I can’t make a justified comparison between the two…for now. I like their coffee, but it’s not as strong as Toby’s or YDG (which I both love). It’s a bit light for my taste but not too creamy or milky. Would love to go back and try their other coffee especially the Flat White, and one of their signatures which is the Chocnut Latte. By the way, they’re also serving Homemade cocktails aside from coffee and food. This café is also a perfect #coffice / #alcoffice place as there are outlets inside. Having coffee or cocktails while working can be so good, right? Giving this visit a 4-star rating for now.

Chateau Hestia is one gem tucked in a wonderful forest-garden setup. Serving great wine, deli and good coffee, Chateau Hestia is probably one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tagaytay. Surely, this place will give you subtle joys that nature has to offer. The main dining cabin is clad in greens, a long, wooden bridge brings you to the beautiful flora and fauna that surrounds the place. Breads and coffee are served fresh. We tried the margherita pizza and the beer caramelized onion gruyere, and they were nothing short of our expectations. An open dining area is also available for those wanting some bonding with nature, or to simply feel the cold mountain breeze. Light comes naturally between foliage, further contributing to that magical experience. This is our first time here after planning to visit almost a decade ago. We enjoyed the place, despite the long wait. Bed and breakfast is available but subject to reservation as there are only five available rooms. Chateau Hestia has its own exclusive parking that can accommodate a good number of vehicles.

It's my first time to try out Cocina Peruvia at the new Podium Mall during a foodie meetup and I was really impressed by their Peruvian dishes. The interiors give that Latin American vibe which reminds me of friends and good times spent while eating and drinking (that's exactly what we did here). Finding out that its menu was curated by Chef Him Uy de Baron, I got excited to try what they prepared for us. Here are the dishes that we tried: >Nachos Peruanos. Nachos topped with chicken marinated in lomo sauce and aji panca, onions, tomato, and cucumber, drizzled with purple olive mayo. At first glance, I thought it was sisig because of its color. I must say that their nachos are really good and this is my favorite pick among all the dishes served. I couldn't get enough of the toppings, too. >Ceviche Mixto. Octopus, squid, shrimp, and mussels in aji rocoto and citrus juice. Chill seafood appetizer with some spice. >Mixto Anticuchos. Grilled beef heart, salmon belly, and chicken thigh in skewers served with chimichurri and aji anticucho sauce on the side. The beef heart reminds me of wagyu and the chicken thigh was also good. My favorite was the salmon belly, it's really tender and tastes good. I'm very picky when it comes to cooked salmon and this one did really well. The only downside with the salmon is that you have to be careful when eating it from the skewer because of its tenderness, it can break and fall off easily. Still really good for me. >Salmon Patacones. Fried bananas topped with salmon and mayo mix, parmesan cheese and sofrito sauce. I didn't notice that it was banana. It's good. >Gambas con Saltado. Marinated shrimp and bell pepper, sauteed in aji panca and oregano. It's rich in flavor, well-seasoned, tastes good, and best with rice. >Lomo Saltado. Marinated beef tenderloin, sauteed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, fried potatoes, and lomo sauce. It reminds me of our beef steak. The meat is tender and tastes good. The fries are also good. >Adobo Peruvia. Slow cooked pork belly in cream sauce, topped with salsa creole. This is my second favorite dish after the nachos. The pork belly was thinly sliced, with a good balance of meat and fat--it melts in your mouth. It's indulging and delicious. >Arroz Verde con Pollo. Rice stir-fried with cilantro puree and sauteed marinated chicken and mixed vegetables. It tastes great and is really sating. >Galera de Chocolate. Baked chocolate tart with dark chocolate ganache, topped with blue chips and dried figs in rehydrated syrup. Made by Chef Miko Aspiras (the Chef behind Le Petit Souffle), you are sure to have an indulgent treat with Galera de Chocolate. The chips are salted which makes a good contrast with the sweetness of the chocolate. It's very soft yet compact and has a smooth texture. Another brilliant work of Chef Miko. Cocktails >Move On: a concoction of fresh watermelon, white rhum, dark rhum, whisey, and tequila. This drink feels refreshing and light but definitely packs a punch; Dark Mojito: classic mojito with a twist - a mix of rhum, lime, soda, and sugar syrup; Daiquiri: simple and sexy, this drink is made of white rhum, lime, and sugar syrup; Whiskey Sour: subtly sour and sweet, the whiskey sour consists of whiskey, lime and sugar syrup; Mango Margarita: the classic margarita made fruity with fresh mangoes.

Yay for Long Weekends! Best spent in Cebu! ️ What did I enjoy in Crimson? -The Pool foam party -The food in Azure Bar -The staffs are friendly and accommodating. -The homey & comfy room and the freebies(sodas,chocolate,beers,coffee,tea and bottled waters) Overall, I really had fun spending my weekends in Crimson. The only thing I didnt like though is the rocky and slippery seashore. I didn’t go much to the beach and spent more time swimming in the pools instead. Place-🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖 Fun factor-🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖 Food-🏖🏖🏖🏖 Service-🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖 Value for money-🏖🏖🏖🏖

My sisters and I were craving for Korean BBQ one night after doing errands in Robinsons Magnolia. While I was away for a year, my family apparently found a place that my dad loves For only Php580 per head, you get unlimited all kinds of meat (8 kinds) with refillable doenjang jigae, the seafood soup and the steamed egg! Other unlimited Korean BBQ places only give the table 1 serving of stew and 1 serving of steamed egg. My dad loves their steamed egg here so he usually gets like 2 or more pots just for himself. Talk about cholesterol? But he eats more of the egg than the grilled meat. One of my sisters love seafood and she enjoys the seafood soup so much that she asked for a second helping. But she kindly asked if we can just get the soup only, even without the seafood. But we got a full pot with all the different varieties of shellfish! Service was quite okay, although expect it to be lagging when there are tons of people. Just keep asking and they’ll eventually give it to you

It's crazy how obsessed people got into samgyupsal these days (myself included). There have been a lot of restaurants opening to cater to the KBBQ-hungry crowd, but there is one name that has been gaining praises, if not dominating the industry. Romantic Baboy may not be the first restaurant to offer Korean BBQ to the public. It may not be the most popular all-you-can-meat chain, but it sure has been expanding rapidly with almost 20 branches, most of which are located in North. We already have a go-to samgyupsal place that's more accessible for southies like me, but what is Romantic Baboy doing right that made it this successful? I just had to find out. We traveled to Romantic Baboy's SM Light Branch to have an all-you-can-meat afternoon. The plan was to arrive the place on an off-peak schedule so we can avoid the long queues, but to our surprise, we still had to wait a good 30 minutes just to get seats. Romantic Baboy offers 8 kinds of meat with their special marinades, 6 side dishes, lettuce, rice, soup, cheese dip, and egg, all of which are for your unlimited consumption for only P499. |Cheese Dip I was most excited about their cheese dip, since I read that they offer mozzarella (for real???), and they've got the best tasting cheese dip compared to other KBBQs. No, they don't offer mozzarella (dream on!), and they use the same cheese as Samgyupsalamat. |Sides Their sides include a coleslaw, japchae, fried chicken fillet bites, scallion salad, fish cake, and kimchi. Everything tasted good, although they are not the typical Korean side dishes I am used to. There are 8 meats to choose from, one for each letter that comprises the word "romantic", and each comes with a description for the meat. R - HeRb flavored samgyupsal (pork belly) O - WoO Samgyup (thinly sliced beef brisket) M - Moksal (Seasoned pork neck) A - DAepae Samgyupsal (thinly sliced pork belly) N - YaNgyum Galbi (marinated pork ribs) T - RomanTic bulgogi (sweet marinated korean style beef) I - SpIcy beef (thinly sliced beef in spicy sauce) C - Curry beef (thinly sliced beef in curry sauce) |Herb Flavored Samgyupsal |Daepae Samgyupsal |Moksal We were able to try 3 of the pork offerings by Romantic Baboy, but I honestly didn't taste the difference between the three of them, despite having different seasonings, cuts, and part. |Woo Samgyup I have always liked my samgyupsal simple, which is probably why the woo samgyup would have to be my favorite among all the meats from Romantic Baboy, although it still wasn't that impressive. |Yangyum Galbi The yangyum galbi, from what I know, has a sweeter marinade that is similar to a yakiniku sauce. It was supposed to be good. I've had them at other KBBQ places, but Romantic Baboy's yangyum galbi was just sad. You can already tell by just looking at it. It lacked the flavor I was expecting, plus the cut was thick, and thus tough and chewy. Overall, we finished eating after trying out 5 out of 8 of Romantic Baboy's meats. We felt heavy and full from all the eating, but not really satisfied. Everything we had tasted similar to each other and lacked flavor. I don't know if it's because the meats were underseasoned or because they are of lesser quality. It's also possible that the quality of food and service is not consistent across all branches, and we happened to try a bad one. It's a good thing we did not have to wait in line for too long, or we would have ended up more dismayed. Do you have a favorite Romantic Baboy branch? Let me know so I can give it another shot!

Known as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, Hawker Chan finally opens its doors in SM North EDSA! To give a brief background, Hawker Chan was opened by Chan Hong Meng, a Malaysian chef, in 2009 in a small store at Chinatown Complex in Singapore. He served soya sauce rice that caught the attention of all the diners across the country. And now, with their 2nd branch here in the Philippines, Hawker Chan continues to serve affordable and delicious dishes. Thanks to Foodee Global Concepts for bringing in new food taste for us Filipinos to try. From their humble beginnings to offer affordable meals especially the soya rice chicken made them very popular in Singapore. Now, they continue to expand their restaurant to offer wide variety of mouthwatering and affordable dishes. Fortunately, I've got the chance to be invited by looloo team to Hawker Chan's soft opening. During the event, we tried the following: ▫️THAI-STYLE TOFU Fried tofu with strips of green apple, onions, sweet chili sauce, and peanuts. I liked how this dish can be sweet and tangy. The light taste of the crispy tofu was a good appetizer though. As a tofu lover, I would recommend this dish. ▫️SEASONAL VEGETABLE Steamed gai lan with fried garlic bits. Among all the dishes that served to us, this was my least favorite. I found this just a regular dish with a bitter aftertaste. ▫️SOYA CHICKEN Unlike the usual roasted chicken, Hawker Chan's version is juicy from its skin up to its meat. It has this sweet and salty taste which is very similar to Chinese flavors. I liked how the juice of the chicken made it more flavorful. Indeed, this deserves a Michelin-star rating! ▫️3 COMBINATION PLATTER This dish has char siew, roasted pork, and pork ribs together with either rice or noodles. I chose the latter as this may be something new to me. We all agreed that the roasted pork got the top spot for the most flavorful. It's also crispy just don't mind the fatty meat. The char siew, on the other hand, is like an asado dish, similar to other Chinese restaurants. This one has a sweet and salty taste. And lastly, the pork ribs were my last choice among them as I found it hard to chew because of the bony meat. ▫️ALOE VERA JELLY This dessert can help ease the umay taste of the meat dishes. Taste, for me, was a little bit bland. ▫️ROSELLE TEA This drink has an authentic tea taste. You can skip the soda intake and you might want to pair this up with their dishes. Located at the Upper Ground Level, City Center near SM Hypermarket, this branch can accommodate 56 seats. The location has a very good spot for customers who want to taste cheap and yet satisfying meals right after grocery shopping. Part of their opening, they are giving away Soya Chicken on Rice for the first 100 customers on Dec. 3 & 4! ▫️1-10 Customers = 1 Year ▫️11-30 Customers = 6 Months ▫️31-50 Customers = 3 Months ▫️51-100 Customers = 1 Month Thank you for the Roegan T invite and Hawker Chan and Foodee Global Concepts for having us!