Mongkok

Original date: March 26, 2007

If you're craving for good dimsum, Mongkok is definitely the place to go. It serves Chinese cuisine *hehe..obvious from the name* with cheap prices to boot. They'll give you a menu with the dimsum & main dishes, but waiters also go around and offer you their dimsum in a cart. Once they open the lid, you'll be mesmerized by the delicious smell coming from the steam. I was so excited to eat, I didn't even get to picture the food one by one. *yup, it's that good!*. Only fault here is the seats seem to have been taken from a canteen, and some branches don't accept credit cards.

Mongkok Siomai - PhP 65 (really meaty, but not the best among the 40 types of dimsum they offer..yep, 40!)Seaweed & Crabstick Roll - PhP 65 (for me this is the best dumpling that they're offering. just looking at it makes me want to go there)Etc. (told you I didn't have a chance to take a picture of the others.. bawas na nga yung isa o! hehe)From left to right; top to bottom
Seafood Roll - PhP 85 (soft fish with crabstick pulled together by a noodle strand)
Mongkok Siomai - PhP 65 (already mentioned above)
Sharskfin Dumpling - PhP 65 (ick. don't order this.)
Seaweed & Crabstick Roll - PhP 65 (already mentioned above)
Yang Chow Fried Rice - PhP 90 (big serving considering the price.. it can even be eaten on its own!)
Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic - PhP 180 (just ordinary..but goes well with soy sauce, calamansi & lots of chili! Mmm..)

Mongkok
Phone: (02) 756-5112
Address:Concourse Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive corner Estrella St.
Makati City, Metro Manila

Don Henrico's

Original date: March 24, 2007

Originally from Baguio, Don Henrico's has crawled into the Metro Manila scene... well, that was a few years back.. today the hubbub is gone, but the taste is still the same. We visited Don Henrico's in ATC *sorry it's almost always in ATC, we're from the south*. The place, surprisingly, was packed; hence we were seated near the wash room. :S The place was dimly lit, which to me goes against their aimed reputation as a family place. If not for their yummy mozarella sticks & buffalo chicken, I wouldn't go back to this place anymore. No prices in the pictures... will update it as soon as I remember. Hihi.

Petite Mozarella Stick (not really petite.. :p just the right size, just eat it right away..it's not delicious cold)Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza (didn't like the coleslaw & tomatoes on top of the pizza, it made it soggy)Buffalo Chicken (super yummy.. right amount of sauce, still juicy in the inside and crunchy outside.. perfect with the sour cream dip)
Don Henrico's
Phone: 850-3915 to 17
Address:2nd Level Festival Mall, near Bridgeway Entrance Filinvest, Alabang
Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila

Tempura Japanese Grill

Original date: March 17, 2007

One of the more famous cuisines Filipinos love is Japanese. Personally, I haven't tried a lot of the Japanese restaurants around. Whenever I'm craving for it, automatically, it's Saisaki for me. But since Saisaki's buffet is aimed to be mass produced, the quality of the food you're getting isn't really at its best. Good thing my bf told me about Tempura Japanese Grill.

The place is very casual and the prices are just right. The branch we visited was at ATC near the cinemas. The service was okay and the waiters were nice. What's also nice about them is that they serve house tea which isn't like the free tea in other restaurants. It wasn't just "essence of tea" but actually really good tasting green tea. The ebi tempura is their specialty and can be ordered in 3's, 6's & 9's *if i remember it correctly*.

Sake Sashimi - PhP 140 (tasted fresh and cut at just the right size & width)California Maki - PhP 100 (very cheap considering they didn't scrimp on the ingredients)Gomoku Chahan (similar to Yang Chow) - PhP 41 (funny because the only shrimp it had was the one displayed on top, but all in all, it was yummy)Ebi Tempura - PhP 135 (super yummy! crunchy but not all flour.. you can really taste the shrimp inside.. unlike in Tokyo Tokyo where you can't even see it :p)
Tempura Japanese Grill
Phone: 751-2140, 751-12-89
Address: Alabang Town Center
Alabang Commercial Corporation

Brothers Burger

Original date: February 18, 2007

Nowadays it's hard to find a fast-food type of burger that you can actually taste the meat. Have you noticed that Wendy's & Mc Donald's patties are now so thin it can cut your tongue? *okay I may be exaggerating a little* Point is, Brothers Burger offers these sandwiches with meat thick enough to give you a heart attack. :p The burger is really yummy with all of its juices coming out. The bun is not your ordinary bun because it's not all air inside and it has oatmeal instead of sesame seeds on top. One order is good enough for 2 people *unless it's your first time, I suggest having 1 whole for yourself*. Even the side dishes are great, onion rings or fries... *downfall is they don't offer much side dishes*. The only flaw I saw (I went to the Magallanes branch) is that the place is poorly maintained. The airconditioning is bad, there were some flies flying around, and worst of all, it smelled of a toilet disinfectant. My suggestion, have it delivered to your place.

Brothers Pounder Burger - PhP 202

Brothers Burger
Phone: (632) 854-9180 854-3701
Address: Unit 103 & 105, Oakridge Plaza,
Paseo De Magallanes, Makati City

Giligan's Island

Original date: February 17, 2007

It seems like more and more grill type of restaurants are popping out of Manila. I for one get confused between Gerry's, Dencio's, Congo Grill, Giligan's Island, Pier One, etc. They seem to be offering the same type of food. You can even take a menu of just one of these, and order in the other. Maybe it's the affordability of the prices that makes pinoys just go back for more, and for these restos to popup everywhere.

Of all the restos mentioned, I have to say that my favorite is Giligan's. Ambiance wise, I think they have the best compared to their other contenders. The prices really don't differ much, but the serving is definitely bigger compared to Dencio's *Dencio's is the worst for me in terms of everything.. sorry!*. Giligan's is a good place to hangout with friends and drink, specially if you're treating a lot of people! For this trip, we went to Giligan's in Alabang... in front of Alabang Town Center. It's fairly new which means not much people! yey!

Sinigang na Baboy - PhP 140 (too sour for my taste but my bf loved it)
Tenderloin Salpicao - PhP 195 (Just the right type of slice...so juicy.. love it!)

Pinakbet - PhP 80 (Yummy.. except that it had too many ampalaya.. blech.)

Sizzling Pork Sisig - PhP 145 (has pork rinds and mayo which makes it different from other sisigs)

Giligan's Island Restaurant
Phone: (+632) 850-4443 to 44
Address: In front of Alabang Town Center

First Serving

After much thought if I should start a blog, I've finally decided to do it. I've never really been into writing... it's the eating I'm good at. :p So inspired by Anton *reading his blogs really made me go out and try the restaurants he has suggested*, & Wysgal *who has, for me, a younger taste in food*, here's the first serving of my blog.

All of the food places that I'm gonna post are restaurants found here in our beautiful capital of Metro Manila. So here we go... my first take at foodtripmanila. :D