Family Dinners at Hap Chan, SM Manila

Whenever I want cheap but delicious Chinese food, I only go to North Park (they currently have two stores along Macapagal Blvd.!). Now, there's also Hap Chan Tea House to satiate my Chinese food cravings. Since they opened a branch at SM Manila last year (I stand corrected), we've had family dinner there a couple of times already and each time, my family and I were satisfied.



Below are our some of our must-orders there:



Yang Chow Fried Rice (P230) and Lumpiang Shanghai (P250). I liked how their fried rice was not oily at all and contained lots of small shrimps, pork asado bits and veggies. Their shanghai rolls, on the other hand, were crispy, meaty (unlike others that had more veggies than pork meat) and seasoned just right. Their lumpiang shanghai actually got my mom's nod of approval at first bite.



Their Quail Egg Siomai (P75) hit the spot! It's now officially my fave siomai in the entire Metro Manila. Haha. I liked how each piece of dimsum was plump, juicy, packed with meat (and not just fat!) and was seasoned just right. No umay factor here.



These two were soya-based smoothies (P60-P65 per glass). The one on the left was strawberry and the one on the right was chocolate. I prefer the latter because it tasted more chocolate-y than tofu-flavored.

One time, we also tried their Buttered Chicken (P250) which was very good. Our order had around six to seven small chicken pieces which were fried to perfection. I could taste the butter in every bite so I could tell they didn't scrimp on ingredients.

Another time, my mom and I had dinner there and availed of their rice meals which were okay, too. Priced at P120-P150, they were quite delicious and filling.


with my mom and my two younger sisters during one of our family dinners at Hap Chan, SM Manila

Hap Chan
4/L SM City Manila
Natividad Almeda-Lopez, Ermita, Manila

(+632) 484-3229


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Lunch Buffet at Circles Event Cafe, Makati Shangri-La

Armed with two GCs I won from the raffle at a Nissan event the hubby and I attended sometime last year, we had a lunch buffet at Circles Event Cafe of Shangri-La Hotel Makati one fine Monday. The food selection wasn't as massive as that of Sofitel's Spiral, but we enjoyed the cozy and intimate ambience and the very attentive staff. I secretly wished, though, that they had fresh crabs and scallops but unfortunately, those were not available during our visit.



Below are the various kinds of food I got from the buffet spread:



These breads were nice to eat. Soft and chewy center with crunchy edges.



I started my meal with this salad. It looks messy but it was bursting with flavors.



This miso soup tasted okay. I got a lot of leeks because it's one of my fave veggies.



I liked how plump and juicy and fresh the mussels were! I requested for these to be cooked in butter and garlic and it proved to be a good decision.



I requested the tiger prawns to be cooked Singaporean style and the chef at the cooking station happily obliged. This was yummy! The sauce had a good balance of saltiness and sweetness and the tiger prawns were well-cooked. I ate everything because the hubby is allergic to seafood. Lucky me!



I requested this carbonara from the chef at the pasta station. A few minutes after, this lovely plate of creamy goodness was served to me. It was pretty good.



The tempura was crunchy and thinly-breaded, which I appreciated. The dimsum were okay but nothing special.



When in a buffet place, I try to eat some Indian food, too. And steak, of course. The steak was memorable because it was juicy and fork-tender and had a little fat in the center.



I never leave a buffet place without trying their ice cream whether it's homemade or commercial. At Circles, they had homemade sorbet and gelato. I got raspberry sorbet and yogurt gelato. I so looooove the latter! I'm a big yogurt fan, you know. But believe me when I say that the yogurt gelato was very good. So creamy, tangy and just a little sweet. It was perfect, IMHO.



I ended my meal with fruits. I made sure to get some for fiber. Haha.


my eating buddy!

Next time, we'll try the dinner buffet and compare it with our lunch buffet experience, food and service wise. :)

Circles Event Cafe
Shangri-La Hotel Makati
Ayala cor. Makati Avenues, Makati

(+632) 813-8888


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Erra's Ramen: The Cheapest Ramen in Manila!

The hubby is a self-confessed ramen fan. So far, we've eaten in a few ramen places already but that doesn't stop him from finding more ramen places to try. A bowl of ramen in most Japanese restos can go anywhere from P280 to P450. Sometimes, even higher than that. Good thing we chanced upon this ramen place in Malate that serves unbelievably cheap ramen at less than P100 per bowl -- Erra's Ramen. As we have found out after eating there, their ramen is not just delicious but can give those high-end ramen places a run for their money. Like, seriously.

have you been to this side of Malate?

Erra's Ramen is just a food cart beside Erra's Grill (same owner, I heard) and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) but you'll be amazed by how the place is always packed with people. So far, we've visited twice already and ordered the same ramen flavor each time: Tantanmen for the hubby and Miso for me.



My Miso ramen was delicious with just the right amount of flavor and heat from the tasty broth and spices. The noodles were chewy and firm, characteristics of good, homemade ramen noodles. The egg mixed in was hard-boiled, though, and didn't have the yellowish, runny appeal of a real ajitsuke tamago. But still, the ramen gave me the warmth and joy I'd usually get whenever a bowl of good ramen is in front of me. And for just P70, what more can I ask for, right?

OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Kokoro Ramenya, Roxas Blvd.
Yasuo Japanese Restaurant, Robinsons Place Manila
Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Yoshinoya, SM Manila

The hubby's Tantanmen ramen, P80, on the other hand, was on the spicy side (as it should be), but the heat was tolerable according to him. He finished it in no time so I guess he liked it as well.



Should you want more soup, noodles, pork, egg or whatever, just ask the staff and they'll be glad to serve it to you in exchange for a few pesos.

check out the prices, people!

Cleanliness may be a bit of an issue here because it is situated on the side walk and everything is prepared by hand, but if you're willing to get your hands dirty for a taste of good ramen at a dirt-cheap price (pun intended!), then this is the place for you! :)

Erra's Ramen
Adriatico cor. Nakpil Sts.
Malate, Manila


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Ramen Set Meals at Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes

One random Saturday night, the hubby and I met up with our two family friends Eric and Joy. We had dinner at Ramen Kuroda, one of the many restaurants inside BF Homes, Parañaque. We availed of their ramen set meals which were incredibly filling and provided full value to our money.

We ordered four different ramen set meals but I only have a photo of my tray to show you:

Ramen + Karaage set, P420

I chose karaage (Japanese fried chicken) to go with my ramen. Aside from these two, my set meal also had three side dishes, two desserts and Japanese rice. My three companions, on the other hand, asked for gyoza, katsudon and tonkatsu to go with their ramen.

OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Erra's Ramen, Malate
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Kokoro Ramenya, Roxas Blvd.
Yasuo Japanese Restaurant, Robinsons Place Manila
Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Yoshinoya, SM Manila




When it comes to my ramen (I asked for their miso one), the broth was tasty and flavorful but I found the noodles thinner and less firm than those served in other ramen places I've visited. I liked that my ramen had the usual Chashu (slow-roasted pork), some veggies like bokchoy, leeks and mushrooms as well as half hard-boiled egg and black sesame seeds. It made my ramen bright, colorful and delightful to eat!

group photo

My three companions and I were one in agreement that Ramen Kuroda's ramen set meals were good (but nothing exceptional) and very filling. Next time, we'll order ala carte so we could try their other dishes. :)

check them out, guys! (click the photo to enlarge)

Ramen Kuroda was filled with people during our visit but the service was amazingly fast. Parking outside is limited so you might want to go early if you're bringing a car. :)


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Foodie Find in the South: Marky’s Chicken

One random Saturday, the hubby and I went to Festival Mall-Alabang to unwind. When we got hungry, I thought of where we could eat without breaking our wallets. Then I remember about this food stall called Marky’s Chicken inside Save More supermarket (same mall) that serves cheap and tasty chicken. I actually heard about it from a blog I follow. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a restaurant version of this somewhere in Parañaque.



When we got to the stall, I didn’t waste time and ordered food immediately. I got two orders of two-piece soy-garlic chicken with rice (P100) and an order of spaghetti (P35). During that time, there was an ongoing promo for the chicken meals so we ended up getting freebies: buttered corn and iced tea. Nice!



The hubby highly approved of their chicken. He said it has the right amount of saltiness and sweetness though it would have been better if the chicken was served to us hot instead of just warm. It could have made the chicken’s skin crispier and more appetizing. The temperature of the food is something that matters to my husband, obviously.



While I have to admit the chicken was big and juicy, I find the flavors lacking. I don’t know, but Manang’s Chicken is still the better one for me.

As for the spaghetti, it didn’t leave a lasting impression to us.

Price wise, I think Marky’s Chicken is very affordable. Their chicken is also bigger than those served in most fast food restos. I hope they keep the size for long. :)

While dining, I also noticed that many employees (mostly men) order food from Marky’s Chicken. It’s probably because they get full value for their money there. If ever you’re in the area, do try it and see for yourself if their chicken will be to your liking.

Marky's Chicken
Save More Supermarket
Festival Mall, Alabang
Muntinlupa City


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Unlimited Pasta and Pizza at The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH)

When I learned about the eat-all-you-can pasta + unlimited pizza promo at The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH), I immediately suggested it to the Tropang Gala (a group composed of my husband, my superfriend Nice, my friend Carmela and myself) in time for our scheduled dinner date which happened last Tuesday night at TOSH - SM Manila. For P150 per head, the eat-all-you-can pasta sounded like a good deal to us. We also availed of the additional P50 for unlimited pizza and P65 for bottomless iced tea. To be very honest, we got full from the food but we were not quite satisfied with the service.


There were four kinds of pasta on offer: pomodoro, carbonara, pesto and Viatnamese. For the pizza, there were three flavors: pepperoni, five cheese and Hawaaian. There's really not much to expect here. Spaghetti is the type of noodle used for all four sauces while all pizza was served on thin crust. Here are some food photos to give you an idea of what we ate there:


pomodoro pasta with five-cheese pizza


pesto, carbonara and pomodoro pasta with Hawaiian pizza


Vietnamese pasta with Hawaiian pizza


pesto pasta with pepperoni pizza

During our visit, I liked that the spaghetti was cooked "al dente" and some of the pizza slices were still hot when they landed on our table. We got to the restaurant at around 7:30 pm and left when the nearby shops started closing their doors.

Unlike in other restaurants where eat-all-you-can translates to having a buffet style of serving the food, at TOSH it's kind of personalized. The wait staff go around, table by table, serving the pasta and the pizza.

If we wanted what the staff was showing to us, all we had to do was ask for some. If we wanted a different pasta or pizza, we would ask them for it, too. The problem was, the wait staff wasn't that attentive even if only five tables were occupied that night. We had to call their attention twice, sometimes thrice or more, before we could get whatever food we were asking for. It didn't help that they looked exhausted and couldn't even give out a friendly smile. It was a good thing I was in good company then that these setbacks didn't affect my happy mood that much.


our group

But, if ever anyone from TOSH could read this, kindly remind your wait staff about good and proper customer service. It'll be for your own good, not mine. But even so, I'll appreciate it very much.

The Old Spaghetti House
4/F SM City Manila
San Marcelino St.
Ermita, Manila

(+632) 353-8674


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Late Night Snacking at 8 Street Bites Restaurant

Right after watching the 6:30pm screening of Maleficent at SM Manila last Friday, my mom, my two sisters and I had a late snack at 8 Street Bites Restaurant, also on the fourth level. It’s fairly new, serves American-Mexican fast food and we had never eaten there until that night.


the restaurant's facade...


and interior

We were supposed to get only snack items from the menu but mom wanted to try the chicken tenders that happened to be a rice meal. And so she did. She shared that with my sister Nyam who got an order of fries to pair with the chicken tenders. They both thought it was good. An order had five chunky pieces. The chicken was deep-fried, crispy on the outside but the meat retained its juices somehow. The sauce that came with it was honey mustard and tasted yummy, too. I knew because I had a bite of the chicken with it. Haha.


Chicken Tender Bites, P148


Nyam's fries, P28

My sister Jodie and I, on the other hand, shared Freeway Nachos (P98) and a Banoffee Pie (P58). The nacho sauce was delicious but tasted like it came straight from the can. (Not that it was a bad thing, just saying.) It had a few kidney beans and meat. There were fresh tomatoes, onions, sour cream and cheese sauce on top, too.



This banofee pie satisfied my sweeth tooth. It was pretty basic but I liked the thick cream a lot.



with my sister Jodie

For the small food servings, I thought the prices were just right. The service was a bit slow during our visit and I guess the staff felt that, too. We ended up getting a complimentary dessert in the form of a pana cotta which had a good balance of creaminess and sweetness.



I’d love to go back to this resto and try the other items soon. :)

8 Street Bites Restaurant
4/F SM City Manila
Natividad Lopez St.
Ermita, Manila
(+632) 585-4211


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Indian Lunch at Assad Cafe, UN Avenue

I've long wanted to eat at Assad Cafe, a small Indian resto on UN Avenue, Manila. I finally did last month with the hubby. We were running some errands then and I suggested we go there for lunch. It was one delicious and affordable lunch that I'd like to have all over again.




Assad Cafe has a very straightforward menu. Ordering is easy as the wait staff know the resto's offerings well. The food takes time to arrive (around 30 minutes during our visit) but once it lands on your table, a pleasant gastronomic experience ensues.

Below were our orders:



The Beef Quorma, P170 was delicious. The curry flavor was mild, just like how it should be. There were four small pieces of fork-tender, lean beef in our order and the hubby paired it with rice because he's a rice person. Haha.



Paneer Matar, P145. This vegetarian dish consisting of green peas and Indian cheese was a revelation. It looked so simple when I saw it but when I tasted it, it packed a lot of flavors. The cheese's texture and taste is similar to that of feta. Along with the soft green peas and the rich curry-based sauce, this dish is best-paired with a Nann (P17 per piece) or a Parata(P39 per piece).


Nann

My personal choice is parata because it's sweet, buttery and chewy. It's so good I can even eat it on its own.


Parata



Even their Sweet Lassi (P60) was good. The hubby isn't a fan of yogurt-based drinks, but I am, so this went to me. I loved every sip of this refreshing yogurt drink which complemented the heat and rich flavors of my food well.


with my fave food buddy a.k.a. the hubby

Assad Cafe isn't your posh and dainty resto. The interiors are plain and old-looking and there's minimal ventilation provided. It's the kind of place where you come for the food and nothing else. But if you're looking for some cheap yet authentic Indian food, then this is the right place for you. :)

Assad Cafe
1268-D Midtown Executive Homes
U.N. Ave. Paco, Manila

(+632) 404-0319


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We Love Todd English Food Hall!

Todd English Food Hall was still in soft-opening when we dined there last Valor Day (April 9th). It's like a big food court (albeit very posh, well-lit and well-ventilated) with nine cooking stations that make the atmosphere so festive and alive. The restaurant sits on a 900sqm space. It was really huge, I initially thought people were just exaggerating.



After waiting to be ushered inside (there was a long queue, I tell you), we got seated to the bar area. We didn't mind so long as we got to eat because we were starving already. If I remembered correctly, we waited for almost 45 minutes. Haha.



Just like when dealing with newly-opened restos, we played safe and ordered food based on the crowd favorites. The hubby, my SIL Albie and I shared all the food so we could taste everything.



Todd English Slider, P390. The three sliders were gone in seconds! They were that good. The patties alone were bursting with flavors. And no extenders, whatsoever. The buns were soft, had a nice texture and not crumbly. The other fillings were lightly-seasoned, perhaps the chef didn't want them to overpower the patties which were the star of the show.



Fig and Prosciutto, P530. The flatbread pizza had sticky-sweet fig jam and salty prosciutto as toppings. These two ingredients work so well and the pungent gorgonzola cheese made it all the more appetizing. It's the ultimate sweet-salty treat anyone will love and in my case, crave for on a regular day.




a tiny fire grill was provided to warm the meat or cook it further



U.S. Hanger Steak, P590. I asked the beef to be cooked medium-well. It turned out to be succulent, tasty and tender enough. The sides of potato wedges and veggies I didn't touch but based on my companions, they were okay. The bone marrow was tasty, too, but I found nothing special to it. I loved how Todd English was generous in their food servings. Like this beef, for instance, which had a big slab sliced into three chunky pieces. More food always equates to happier tummy!



The OMG Dessert (P420) was insanely good. The chocolate-y goodness was evident in the photo, isn't it? It had chocolate ice cream, chocolate cereals, chocolate sauce and chocolate bits. I sensed some Milo in it, too. I treasured every bite of it and momentarily wished I had it all for myself. Haha.



Definitely, our first time at Todd English Food Hall won't be our last. We need to go back for the other must-try dishes! :)

Todd English Food Hall
5/F Sky Park
SM Aura Premier
McKinley Parkway, McKinley Hill
Taguig City

(+632) 621-4002


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