Kai

Finally made it to Kai, one of the many, many Japanese restaurants located in Greenbelt!!! I heard this place is frequented by celebs, or just about anyone who has a little bit of extra cash to spare. Apparently Kai’s head chef used to work in Nobu, so you can expect the same high-quality Japanese food served here.

Interior.

Menu: Omi-Wagyu Festival Meal, Teishoku, Donburi, New Menu, (Sashimi ala-carte, Nigiri sushi ala-carte). Special Sushi Rolls, Vegetarian Sushi Rolls, Cold Appetizers, Salads, Hot Appetizers, Kushiyaki, Hot Dishes (Seafood, vegetarian, meat, soup, rice, noodles)

Seared Tuna Sushi. Look at this beautiful piece of artwork. It may look cooked on the outside, but the inside still packs the flavor of raw tuna, like a real sushi.

We ordered the Pork Steak Miso Yaki from their Teishoku set menu, which is comprised of Miso Soup, Mixed Green Salad, Tempura, Steamed Rice, and, of course, the pork steak. Pork steak was nice and tender, and had the right balance of fat and meat. I liked the tempura as well. I also tried a little bit of the salad, and it wasn’t that bad either! Very fresh and crisp, with a hint of sweetness from the dressing.

Shabu-Shabu with US Black Angus beef. Felt a little bit indifferent about this one.

Kai has a really delectable set of desserts, but the one I had to try were the Smores!!! I’ve tried a lot of Smore-flavored treats over the years, but this is actually the first time that I get to make/eat the real thing… Although I did do a crap job of toasting that marshmallow, hehe. Nevertheless, it still came out good in the end.

It was decent, but… As I had expected, the food is a little too expensive for my taste. But hey… At least it’s still a restaurant worth visiting, in my opinion. I would love to come back and try more of their desserts/sushi, though.

Ambiance/Interior: 4/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 4/5 (taste), 5/5 (presentation)

Kai is located at Unit 1-112 Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St Legazpi Village, Makati. Tel no: (02) 757-5209. Links: Facebook

Slice

When we think of healthy food, sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is vegetables, or any of those organic grains, fruits, or what not. Based on the healthy restaurants that I’ve been to, the food that they serve is either 1.) Pricey, and 2.) Unfamiliar to most diners. And because of these factors, some people tend to feel intimidated when it comes to dining in these restaurants.

Slice, owned by senator Pia Cayetano, is different – This is a café that focuses more on their yummy desserts, like cakes and cupcakes (Hence the name), although they do serve filling meals like brown rice, fish, and even champorado. The atmosphere here is warm, cozy, and serves as a great place for people to bring their friends and family over.

Interior.

Cake/Baked goods/Pastries!

Menu: All Day Breakfast, Eggs Benedict (Eggs florentine), Desserts, Starters (Slice chips), Soups (Thick tomato), Salads (Tropical salads), Sandwiches, Burgers (Mushroom burger), Slice Pairings, Pastas, Rice Melts (Veggies rice melt), Rice Meals (Tofu with spinach, Monggo with spinach and tofu).

Tasty granola for our appetizer.

Pumpkin Soup – Sweet puree pumpkin soup garnished with spinach and crispy bangus flakes. Comes with homemade bread sticks at the side. Very creamy, and the thin breadsticks were a nice touch.

Clubhouse with Potato Chips – Three layers of toasted whole wheat bread stacked with grilled chicken, bacon strips, maple cured ham, lettuce and tomato with thousand island dressing, served with a side of sweet potato chips. I normally dislike wheat bread (even though I shouldn’t) because I find it too grainy, but this was actually delicious!

Creamy Chicken pasta – Chunks of grilled chicken breast in fresh gourmet malunggay fettuccine. Oh wow, this was surprisingly good! I was initially hesitant to give this a try since I was scared that it was going taste bland – But it wasn’t. Heck, I even forgot for a short while that I was eating pasta made from healthy malunggay leaves.

For dessert, we had a slice of their Tres Leches cake – Ultra moist, creamy cake soaked in three kinds of milk and topped with freshly whipped cream. It’s definitely moist – And it was sweet too, but not to the point where the sugar was overwhelming.

Slice stands out from all of the other ‘healthy eating’ restaurants/cafes out there since it gives off a friendly, homely vibe and doesn’t try to intimidate their customers with high prices and dishes that use exotic ingredients. This place is proof that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring, and that pretty much everyone can enjoy these delights.

Ambiance/Interior: 5/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 5/5 (taste), 5/5 (presentation)

Slice is located at G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, West Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Tel no: (02) 553-7783. Links: Twitter 

Makansutra

(Food Blogger Warning: The amount of pictures in this post can be dangerous to your browser’s health.)

When my uncle posted a link about Makansutra on Facebook, I instantly knew that I had to pay this Singaporean restaurant a visit as soon as it opened, especially since there’s been so much hype surrounding it. This restaurant was successfully brought to the Philippines, thanks to a partnership between chef KF Seetoh, chef Him Uy De Baron, and chef JJ Yulo. I’ve watched enough shows on the Asian Food Channel to know that ‘makan’ is a Malay word translates to something food-related, hehe. I haven’t had Singaporean food in quite a while, so I was really excited to try this place out.

Interior. Gotta admit I was quite surprised when I first stepped inside the restaurant – I did not expect this place to look like a Singaporean hawker center! I’ve dined in an actual hawker center myself when I went to Singapore almost a decade ago, and the kind of fare that they serve here at Makansutra is pretty much the same as the genuine article.

There are twelve food stalls in total, with some of them already considered as household names in Singapore. And as with all of my entries that contain multiple restos/foodcourt-type places, I will first be showing the ones that we didn’t get to try:

Soooooo many options!

… And now on to the main makan! I had the Dry Beef Kway Teow Noodles – With beef tendons, beef balls, tripe, and daikon. Ordered this from Gooba Hia, which I believe specializes in beef dishes. The soup that they use here isn’t your typical noodle broth – It’s slightly thick, with an almost gelatinous consistency. It’s very flavorful though. The flat rice noodles were also chewy and went really well with the slices of beef and bean sprouts.

Fluffy and fresh Roti Prata from the adorably-named Curry Flurry.

Mom had the 6-Sticks Satay with Rice and Soto Soup from Alhambra Padang Satay and Muslim Food. The satay had a rather sweet finish to it, and the meat was tender too. The soup was a tad bit salty/greasy, though. (Side note: They need to open up more Halal restaurants here!)

Milo Dinosaur and Watermelon Juice from the Sips, Sweets, and Snacks stall.

We left the restaurant feeling mighty full and satisfied with our genuine (almost) Singaporean dining experience. And what an experience that was! In fact, I want to challenge myself and try at least one dish from every stall. It’s almost as if I teleported back to the country myself and got the chance to eat these authentic hawker delights once more. Makansutra is truly a feast for the senses, and I wish them luck in their venture.

Ambiance/Interior: 5/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 4.5/5 (taste), 5/5 (presentation)

Makansutra is located at Second Floor, Building A, SM Mega Mall, Ortigas Centre, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. Links: Official Website || Facebook || Twitter || IG: @makansutrasingapore

Bigoli

Bigoli is one of the few restaurants in Eastwood that has completely stood the test of time. This resto has been around for ages – I can still remember having dinner here with my mom back when I was in highschool, when the restaurant was still called Fazoli… And mind you, I graduated from highschool almost a decade ago. It’s quite amazing how much this place hasn’t changed, still serving its patrons with delicious Italian food.

Interior. Still as spacious as ever.

Menu. I desperately need a new camera….

Stromboli, aka rolled pizza. Very delicious and freshly-baked too, especially with the dipping sauce.

Italian Chicken with two types of pasta: Fettucine Carbonara and Spaghetti al Pesto. The sauce that they used for the chicken was a bit tangy, and the pesto could use a little more flavoring/color. Other than that though, it was pretty decent. AND THE BREADSTICKS!!! I think they shrunk in size, but they still have that lovely buttery/soft texture that I’ve always loved.

Another type of pasta we ordered – Abruzzo’s Aglio Olio, with bits of crispy bacon.

It’s so nice to return here again after a really, really long while – It feels like I went back to my highschool days, back when the only thing I had to worry about was whether or not I had put too much baby powder on my face, or if I had the capacity to finish all of my assignments come Sunday night. Stepping inside this resto brought back a feeling of nostalgia for me. And even though admittedly their food wasn’t as good as before, I would gladly come back here if given the opportunity.

Ambiance/Interior: 4/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 4/5 (taste), 3/5 (presentation)

Bigoli is located at Center Plaza, Orchard Rd Bagumbayan, Quezon City. Tel no: (02) 421-0416. Links: Facebook || Twitter  

Mama Rosa

A long time ago, there was a restaurant called Mama Rosa located in Timog QC that not only served homemade Filipino cuisine, but also had a small store where they sold their own brand of sauces and dressings. Its owners, a pair of siblings, named the restaurant ‘Mama Rosa’ after their late mother. The Timog branch grew to become really successful, that they opened up a second restaurant in Eastwood.

Unfortunately though, all good things had to come to an end – Both restaurants had to close down due to one of the owners suffering from several health problems. But it turns out, that was not the end of Mama Rosa’s restaurants – A new branch quietly re-opened in Kapitolyo several years later, with a brand new menu.

I vaguely remember eating at the old Mama Rosa restaurant in Eastwood twice when I was younger, and it never really occurred to me that the Mama Rosa here in Kapitolyo and the one in Eastwood were the same restaurant. Since it was located in Kapitolyo, I expected everything to be affordable, and as delicious as their previous incarnation was.

Interior + Deli.

Menu: Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Main courses (Fish/shellfish, Meats, Vegetables, Pasta/Noodles), Rice, Dessert.

Appetizer.

Guinataang Sigarilyas – Sauteed winged beans with smoked fish, simmered in coconut cream. Also comes in a spicy version.

Sinaing na Tulingan in Olive Oil – Slow-cooked tulingan (aka bullet tuna) in olive oil, dried kamias, and capers. Garnished with olives and finger chilies.

Halaan – Manila clams in sake-spiked, ginger flavored broth with pepper leaves.

Mango Chicken – Fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, kalamansi, shallots, and stuffed with green mango and lemongrass. Served with liver sauce and soy-kalamansi-green mango dip. Supposed to be one of their bestsellers. The chicken skin was light and crisp, but it had way too many bones in it. Meat was dry and tasteless, too. The dip/liver sauce, along with the skin, was pretty much this dish’s only saving grace.

As I mentioned earlier, I can’t even remember what the old Mama Rosa’s food tasted like, but… I sincerely hope it wasn’t as mediocre as this one. I can’t really tell if I made a mistake with my order, but… Ugh. I didn’t like the chicken at all. Even the appetizer tasted better >< I really hope they can improve their food so they won’t tarnish the real mama Rosa’s legacy.

Ambiance/Interior: 5/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 2.5/5 (taste), 3/5 (presentation)

Mama Rosa is located at 9 E Capitol Dr Kapitolyo, Pasig. Tel no: (02) 928-5893. Links: Facebook.

Sariwon

Sariwon first opened up in North Korea (Yes, you read that right – NORTH Korea) back in 1938 by Ms. Koo Bun-im, who named the restaurant after her hometown. She created her very own bulgogi broth recipe for her husband, who suffered from diabetes. This naturally sweet bulgogi broth was made from an assortment of fruits, veggies, and spices. The first Sariwon restaurant was a tiny, cramped space with only twenty seats available – But now, the restaurant’s branches can be found all across South Korea. In fact, it even won the ‘Best Korean Restaurant’ award from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the meat that they use has received accolades from the New York Times.

This isn’t actually my first time visiting Sariwon – I came to their first Philippine branch in BGC when it was still fairly new, and only had a handful of items on their menu. Now, they’ve added other Korean dishes such as bibimbap and soft tofu stew. I haven’t been to BGC in a really, really, really long while (There’s actually a reason for that, which I might discuss in a future entry)… And it’s nice to see that Bonifacio High Street Central hasn’t changed a bit, albeit more restaurants have been added… And removed *gets teary eyed*

Interior.

Menu: Legendary bulgogi (Deungsim yangnyeom bulgogi), From the grill (Chesaggeup yangnyeom galbisal, wang galbi, LA galbi, dak galbi), Other specialties, Rice and noodles (Jeonju bibimbap, dolseot bibimbap, mul naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon) Soup and stews (Galbi jim, soondubu chigae, doenjang chigae), Hotpot (Bulgogi jeongol), Dessert (Sizzling apple graham).

Banchan!!

Delicious Mandu Kimchi – Homemade Korean dumplings with minced beef, vegetables, and kimchl Toasted on the outside, nice and crispy on the inside.

We ordered the Woo Samgyup – Beautifully marbled premium fresh USDA Choice beef belly, thinly sliced for a tender and succulent flavor. Mmmmmm…. Look at that delicious plate of grilled Korean barbecue! The meat wasn’t too fatty, or too tough, and had this amazing smoky aftertaste. And just like what one normally does when eating Korean meat, I placed a little bit of the beef and some rice on a perilla leaf, dipped it in sesame oil (or pepper paste, whichever you prefer), and shoved it into my mouth. Sariwon only uses the best and the finest USDA Choice beef cuts for their barbecue, with all of them carefully selected for that beautiful marbling. A good marbling on the meat usually results in amazing and well-seasoned beef.

A few minutes after the barbecue, the waiter served us our Sariwon Bulgogi – Silky, thin slices of fresh USDA Choice beef grilled with broth on the table. Served with fragrant, signature Sariwon sauce and freshly made sweet potato noodles. More meat! I loved the taste and texture of the potato noodles as well. The sauce that they use for their bulgogi is made from twelve different types of fruits and vegetables, mixed with a splash of red wine and boiled over high heat for three hours. The sauce has a tangy, sweet, and flavorful taste to it that goes well with the beef.

A shot of sweet Sikhye for dessert.

As I mentioned before, this is not the first time that I’ve dined here at Sariwon, and after our meal here, it won’t be the last one either – It’s like our dining experience here just keeps on getting better and better. I can’t really tell if it’s my love for Korean food talking, but I’m already looking forward to our next visit.

Ambiance/Interior: 5/5
Staff/Service: 5/5
Food: 5/5 (taste), 5/5 (presentation)

Sariwon is located at UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central, West Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Tel no: (02) 621-3205. Links: Facebook || Twitter || IG: @sariwonph.