Ramen Bar

Two of my friends own a condo in Eastwood. Whenever I drop by to visit them, I always get so curious with this row of newly opened restaurants in the new Eastwood Mall. What really caught my eye first was Ramen Bar and I was so excited to try it. For the past four times that I've dined here, I always ordered the same thing.

Sapporo Miso Ramen (P320)

It has tamago -- soft boiled egg marinated for 48 hours

Sapporo Ramen is a miso infused tonkotsu (pork bone soup boiled for 20 hours) ramen. It has nori, tamago, corn, butter, negi (spring onions), naruto (sliced fish cake), and chasyu (sliced pork). I love this ramen and have been constantly craving for it. It's very tasty and rich but not too overpowering. I know some people who don't like butter on their ramen but for me, it's part of perfection. It was served warm, not piping hot. I kind of like it that way because that means I can immediately dig in and not wait for the soup to get cooler so it won't burn my tongue. A bowl of this is good for two so I suggest sharing it with someone -- that is if you still want to sample Ramen Bar's other dishes.

Yakiniku Beef Rice Topping (P165)

The thinly-sliced grilled meat is tender and sweet. It's perfectly marinated in Chef Masa's special sauce. I like its simple and clean taste although I've seen an order of Yakiniku Beef a la carte (P195) with so much meat on it that I think it's better to order this instead next time then just order extra rice to go with it.

Kakuni Buns (P180)

The kakuni buns look like your typical cuapao but they taste so much better. It's small but very filling. The tender braised pork belly just melts in your mouth and it's combination with the lettuce, japanese mayo, secret sauce, and the mantou is heavenly.

I've also tried the Spicy Kakuni Buns (not pictured) during another visit. I have to say that I didn't enjoy it that much because instead of the secret sauce, it was topped of with some chili sauce. The beef was still perfectly tender but it came out a bit bland. Would've been better if they kept a little of the secret sauce and then doused it with chili sauce.

Tempura Ice Cream (P120)

During the time visited Ramen Bar, which was just a few weeks old, they only had one dessert -- the Tempura Ice Cream with a chocolate dip. According to the waitress, even the ice cream they use comes straight from Japan so there are times wherein they would run out if this dessert, just like what almost happened to us. Luckily, we got the last batch of the tempura ice cream. The downside was, it was not worth buying. It's worth trying out once just to end your curiosity, but it did not taste good to me. The batter was too salty and too thick that we couldn't taste the ice cream anymore. I hope they would be more generous with the serving of the ice cream next time.

Ramen Bar

G/F New Eastwood Mall, Libis

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 570-9457

BRGR: The Burger Project

Some of my friends from UP Diliman have been recommending this new burger joint inside the Teacher's village for a while now. So one Saturday, my friends and I finally decided to try it.

I find the "personalize-your-own-burger" experience refreshing and exciting. I went up the counter, filled out a form, and started choosing my own burger. I named mine "The Karen Pineda," 'cause I couldn't think of a creative name. It consists of poppyseed bun, Angus beef burger patty, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, caramelized onions, sun dried tomatoes, and sauteed mixed mushrooms with the Special BRGR Sauce. The lettuce, tomato, and pickles come free with the burger just like the poppyseed bun. The total price is P275.00.

I was pleased with my own creation. I really like the generous amount of sun dried tomatoes inside. The sauteed mixed mushrooms are really good. I highly recommend this topping. The only thing that I didn't like is the Special BRGR sauce. It was too sweet for my taste and did not really go well with the patty. I was also supposed to get the Gruyere cheese and the guacamole but unfortunately, they ran out.

Chunky sun dried tomatoes

Caramelized onions

Here's the price list of your customizable burger:

1. Burger Patty
100% Angus beef (P125)
100% local beef (P95)
Tofu (P75)
Chicken (P95)

2. Bun
Poppyseed Bun (FREE)
Potato Bun (P15)
Oatmeal Bun (P15)

3. Cheese (P35)
Bleu
Mozzarella
Gruyere
Cheddar

4. Premium Toppings (P25)
Bacon
Chili con Carne
Caramelized Onions
Canadian Bacon
Pepperoni
Onion Rings
Guacamole

5. Basic Toppings (P20)
Mango Salsa
Pineapple Rings
Jalapeno Peppers
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Egg
Sliced Onions
Sauteed Mixed Mushrooms

6. Sauce (P15)
Wasabi Mayo
BBQ
Teriyaki
Marinara
Pesto
Buffalo Wings
Special BRGR
Garlic

Sweet Potato Fries with Cayenne Pepper (P60)

I also ordered a side of Sweet Potato Fries with Cayenne Pepper. The fries are big and chunky and the serving size is good for sharing. I loved how the sweetness balances off the saltiness and spiciness of the fries. The cayenne pepper gives off a subtle amount of kick.

Onion Rings (P65)

The onion rings are also good for sharing. The breading is perfectly crunchy and the onion inside is soft and thick, so you would really get a taste of it unlike other onion rings wherein you could only taste the breading. 

BRGR: The Burger Project

122 Maginhawa St., Teacher's Village, 

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 351-7474

Open Daily 11:00am - 12:00mn

Crisostomo

My friend Inna had an intimate birthday dinner two months ago in Crisostomo, a new Jose Rizal-inspired restaurant that serves Filipino cuisine. Like the name of the restaurant, which pertains to the lead character in two of Rizal's greatest work in literature, the dishes are also named after the other characters of the same novels.

Calamares ni Tales (Fried Golden Calamares, coated with Desiccated Coconut,  served with Garlic Mayonnaise dip) (P225)

Their calamares was perfectly cooked. It was not rubbery at all. I was a bit skeptical at first when I read about the desiccated coconut but you can hardly even taste it. It tastes like normal breading to me, which was good because I'm not really a big fan of desiccated coconut.

Crazy Sisa Squid (Green Mango with Crispy Squid Salad) (P200)

This salad was just so-so for me. It is lightly dressed in like a sweet asian sauce that coats every piece of vegetable. The squid on top was crispy and gave a nice bite to the dish.

Don Rafael (Crispy Pata with Garlic Sauce and Soy Vinegar) (P550)

The crispy pata was especially good. The skin was crunchy but not tough. The meat was fork tender and tasty. This dish was gone in a span of minutes. I also liked how it was served with two different sauces so you get to choose which one you like or you can mix both of them if you wish.

The different sauces for different dishes

Sinigang Gomez (Sinigang na Baboy sa Sampalok) (P365)

I really enjoyed the way the sinigang was presented to us. It was served in a cute (and rather small) ceramic bowl that was heated by a candle placed right under it. The dish itself was also not disappointing. The vegetables are perfectly cooked, still vibrant in color and not yet wilted. I wish it were more sour though. I love my sinigang extremely sour but I guess the taste was just right so it could be enjoyed by everyone, even those who don't like their soup too sour. The pork was tender and a bit fatty.

Salo Salo Sari Saring Sinugba (Pork BBQ Liempo, Chicken, Pusit, Bangus, Oyster, Inihaw na Talong at acharang Ibarra) (P1, 200)

This platter is perfect for a group of diners. It has a lot of assortments that everyone can try.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a photo of the whole restaurant. It has a nice and classy ambiance. The interior does not look typically Filipino at all. It actually kind of reminds me of the baroque French era. Nevertheless, it has a quiet and enjoyable vibe. This restaurant is worth trying even though the dishes are smaller and more expensive than the usual Filipino restaurants.

Crisostomo

2/F New Eastwood Mall, Libis,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 710-1693

8 Spices Thai Cuisine

I was out with my siblings and my cousin for lunch and we were having a hard time deciding where to eat. We couldn't agree on Japanese, American, or even Italian food so we decided to eat somewhere we haven't tried yet. 8 Spices was just on the second floor and it wasn't crowded so we agreed to give it a try. 

Phad Thai with Egg (P240)

The first thing that we ordered was the Pad Thai -- the seemingly staple Thai food that everyone orders. It was good and tasty. The serving was also big so it was perfect for sharing.

Crispy Fish with Mango Salad (Yam Pla Ploo) (P385)

Green Mango and Tamarind Sauce that goes with the Crispy Fish

This is still my favorite Thai dish. The catfish is very light, airy, and crisp but still flavorful. The tangy bite of the green mango with the sweetness of the tamarind sauce gives depth to this dish that makes it really interesting and addictive. The combination is excellent. I highly recommend this dish.

Pomelo Salad (Yam Som-O) (P285)

My mom loves having pomelo salad and so I've tasted a couple of versions of this salad. I have to say though, I've had better. I'm not a big fan of the combination of coconut milk with pomelo. I personally think it tastes a bit off. This salad is too bland for my taste. It's nothing special.

Sauteed Morning Glory with Crispy Pork (Phak Boong Fai Daeng Moo Krob) (P310)

The pork tastes just like lechon kawali. It's not salty at all and it remained moist, which I liked. The sauteed morning glory was a nice balance to this dish. It's tasty but again, it wasn't too salty.

Stir-fried Spicy Chicken with Basil Leaves 1/2 (Gkai Thod Kapao) (P380)

This was an interesting dish for me. The chicken itself is not that spicy. If you're not used to eating really spicy food, I suggest avoiding the chopped chili garnished on top. The fried basil leaves gives sweetness to this dish and makes it even more flavorful. This wasn't my favorite but it was pleasing.

Bagoong Fried Rice (Khao Krook Gapi) (P275)

The bagoong fried rice is worth a try. Not to worry, the saltiness is just right without sacrificing the taste of the shrimp paste.

Thai Pork Spareribs with Garlic (See Kong Mroo Thod Kratiam) (P315)

The pork spareribs itself was good. I liked that it was still moist inside even though it was roasted. The one thing that I didn't really like was the sauce. It kind of reminded me of the local homemade barbecue marinade of banana ketchup with soy sauce.

The place is spacious enough. There is even a private room on the right side of the establishment that can be used for parties or meetings.

8 Spices Thai Cuisine

Il Terrazzo Mall

2nd Level, Lower Ground Level, 

35 Tomas Morato Avenue cor. Scout Madrinan St.,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 332-1896

Cyma Lunch

After getting stuffed from our breakfast Cravings, my friends and I decided to head to the nearest Cyma restaurant, which is in Eastwood, Libis. We decided to have lunch really late and didn't order so much because we were still full from the buffet. 

Tonnos Salata (P460 to share)

This is my favorite salad from Cyma. I always have to have this whenever I dine here. Every ingredient in this salad is well-seasoned, filling, and very fresh. I especially love the seared tuna slices on top and the homemade sardines.

Chicken Gyro (P160) with Greek Roasted Potatoes add-on (P130)

They have pretty reasonable prices for their gyros. It's very good plus the pita bread is really stuffed with meat, as seen above. I also love their Greek roasted potatoes, which are perfectly cooked, chunky, and left with their tasty skin on.

Cyma Lamb Chops Shoulder Loin Chop with either rice stuffed pepper or Greek roasted potatoes (P460)

This is an interesting meal for me. I love lamb. It's one of my favorite dishes since I was a kid. They did a wonderful job here it because it was perfectly cooked. What makes it interesting is that the skin was light and crispy and reminded me so much of the peking duck skin!

Cyma will always leave me satisfied. Even though I obviously have my favorite meals here, I always make it a point to try something new in the menu. We were supposed to order the new panna cotta - four tiny mounds of panna cotta each with a different fruit topping. Too bad they ran out. The table next to us literally got the last batch.

Cyma Greek Taverna

New Eastwood Mall

E. Rodriguez Jr., Avenue (C-5) Bagumbayan,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 709-1955

Cravings Breakfast

Last August, my friends and I decided to wake up early and have breakfast together for a change. We decided to give Morning Cravings a try. For P188, you get to choose a platter among seven choices (East Coast, Continental Breakfast, West Coast, European Comfort, Manila's Best, Visayan Choice, Ilocandia's Plate) plus you get to enjoy a breakfast bar with unlimited bread, eggs, cereals, congee, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Omelette

If you want eggs, just go to the buffet counter and tell them how you want your eggs to be done. My friend chose the classic omelette with cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, ham, and herbs. It's actually good.

Continental Breakfast P188

East Coast (P188)

I didn't like the sauteed mushrooms and tomatoes because, well, it didn't taste like it was sauteed. It actually didn't taste like it was cooked at all. It was like the mushrooms and tomatoes were chopped then served immediately. The sausage was just okay. There was nothing special about it. I liked the hash brown. The potatoes taste really fresh and I would like to think they are made fresh daily. The bacon was the best part in this platter. For me, this is how bacon should be cooked. Long strips of perfectly crisp meat without an overpowering saltiness to it.

Ilocandia's Plate (P188)

Sliced Baguette with (L-R) Spicy Pineapple Jam, Pineapple Jam, Orange Marmalade with Butter, Herbed Butter

Surprisingly, my favorite spread would have to be the spicy pineapple jam. I'm not a fan of pineapple unless it's fresh or it's canned but this marmalade is pretty good. It's not too spicy at all. It has a subtle hint of spiciness that rounds out the sweetness and tanginess of the pineapple.

(Clockwise from Upper L: Cereal bar, main breakfast bar, coffee and omelette station, bread station)

(Clockwise from Upper L: Rich hot cocoa, lobby, C2 area beside the stairs, Cravings area)

I'm very particular with my hot chocolate drink. I like it thick, not so creamy, not too smooth, and not too sweet. So far, I have only tasted the perfect hot cocoa drink in one restaurant, which is The Chocolate Kiss inside UP Diliman. Craving's hot cocoa comes in second. I like how thick and rich it is.

Overall, the platter meals are so-so. In short, you get what you pay for! What makes it really worth spending for is the unlimited breakfast bar that comes with it. This Morning Cravings promo is valid from 7am to 10am daily.

Cravings Center

287 Katipunan Avenue,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 426-6681 to 87

Mien-San Noodle House

 

Before entering college, I used to always pass along Granada street going to and coming from school. I've always noticed the little shops and restaurants lined up on both sides. Most of them have come and gone. Just recently though, a Chinese restaurant located here caught my attention because of all the cars double-parked along the street -- mostly causing traffic. Apparently, Mien-San has always been there since 1995 (talk about a hole-in-the-wall restaurant) but the owners renovated it recently to accommodate more customers. I decided to check it out and see what the fuss is all about.

I dragged my family there a little before 10 pm and was surprised to see the place still full. We were lucky enough to get a table in the second floor.

Century Egg with Tofu (tofu not pictured) (P88) and Sea Cucumber Salad (P45)

 

I ordered these two appetizers. I love a side of century egg to start my Chinese meal but I must say that I especially liked the sea cucumber salad. The only downside was that the serving size was so tiny -- even for an appetizer.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (P128)

 

Their fried rice is good for 2-4 persons. It reminds me of the good old Yang Chow fried rice that I  used to have.

Beef with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce (P258)

 

This is definitely my favorite among all the dishes that we ordered. We usually just automatically order this because this is one of those staple dishes that people usually have at Chinese restaurants. But after taking a bite of that tasty, tender, perfectly-cooked beef, I realized that a simple dish like this can actually taste really good! For some reason, it kind of tastes like steak. I highly recommend this dish.

Hot Sour Soup (P88)

 

I didn't like their hot sour soup so much. In fact, we didn't finish the entire bowl. It was too spicy for my taste and left my throat burning.

Vegetable Tofu Soup (P88)

 

I liked this soup better. It may seem a bit bland to others but I like its clean taste. It helps balance everything out.

Deep-fried Spareribs (P248)

 

Their salt and pepper spareribs are really good, too. It's crunchy on the outside but still tender and moist on the inside. It's not too salty, which is good, although it lacked more of those chili sprinkled on top.

Steamed Shrimp Radish Dumplings 6 pcs. (P88)

 

I was excited to try their dumplings because I'd heard some great reviews on them. I was a bit disappointed with their steamed shrimp radish dumplings, though. It had some pretty strong and distinct taste to it. I didn't quite enjoy this dish.

Xiao Long Bao 4 pcs. (P60)

Their Xiao Long Bao was so-so. I even found the broth inside a bit "malansa." Other than that, the dumpling wrapper still had a bite to it because it was perfectly steamed.

Fish with Black Beans and Vegetables (P258)

 

This was another pretty tasty dish. The fish was cooked just right and the sauce was neither too salty nor too bland.

Second Floor

Mien-San at night

 

Overall, Mien-San has some really good (and affordable) dishes to offer that are worth trying. It has earned quite a following from its loyal customers that is why it is jam-packed almost every night. I shall go back next time and try their other interesting dishes that seem very promising.

Now that I have already experienced Mien-San, I'm curious to try the other tiny food establishments beside and across it as well.