Kimono Ken Blue Bay Walk ***

For great Japanese food that's light on the budget, try Kimono Ken. The place actually has great tasting Japanese food that can please the Pinoy palate. For years it had been little restaurant at Bluewave Macapagal that wowed. But Bluewave has closed and Kimono Ken already established branches at SM Moa and Blue Bay, plus other areas.

Kimono Ken has a lot of maki choices, some of our favorites include the chicken teriyaki maki and the kani salad maki.

Crunchy wasabi wanton has so-so wanton much like the chinese pinsec frito but the wasabi mayo is the bomb.

Chicken Teriyaki

Tempura

The tempura is nothing to talk about but its affordable and big. Wish the breading was't so thick.,

Fried Rice

They also have a good fried rice, a cup is filling and freshly done.

Seafood Teppan

 

 

Cafe 1228 at New World Makati ***

Immensely enjoyed the buffet at cafe 1228.

The buffet spread may not be as lavish as other hotels but the food is an even balance of cooked classics and grill specialties. Loved the prime rib and the pasta station. 

Loved the big prawns you can ask them to grill for you on-the spot.

They were also very generous with the salmon sashimi. 

Service though, is a bit slow. And you'll have to really attract attention for the servers to refill your water or get your drinks.

Dessert: Strawberry sushi

I can't recall what this is but it's a fish dish

Cafe 1228 is at the ground floor of New World Hotel Makati. 

Buffet price is at 2099 per head. 

Manam is indeed Malinamnam *****

Filipino food never cease to amaze me.
There's just too many good things to experience.
Manam is one of those few places that has cooking that feels close to home.
From classics to fusion, they have managed to make Filipino food stand out
and re-invented with a modern spin. The food is portioned for one, four to a large group.

The Gising-gising is made with sigarilyas

The Tokwa't Baboy has lechon pieces and fried tofu in light soy

 Pork and Chicken Garlic Adobo

Iced Tea

Their Sisig is one of the best I've tried

The Calamares is done Chinese style with Salt and Pepper

 

La Lola's awesome churros ****

Do not fall into the trap of overbuying/hoarding because you lined up long for La lola's churros. There's nothing grandmotherly about these fried snacks. They are professionally prepared and each stick is crispy and well done. A medium order is good enough for two unless you're on a deathwish and go for the XL size without sharing.

The churros are fried in olive oil and the chocolate dip divine. The reviews were spot on and the cashier's slow speed can take its toll on the long lines. those in front can't help ogling at those golden fried sticks of pleasure. I can't help ogling either.

Chrurros Extruder

 La Lola Churerria

G/F powerplant mall

Love Shack *** Great Burgers at SM Aura

Love shack is at the far end of the earth. small and is at the end corner of aura, i almost missed it. But boy, they have great burgers! The menu is a weird mix of rice meals and other stuff that it suffers from an identity crisis whether it's burger place or an all in one casual restaurant. 

the burger menu

Come here for the burgers and you won't regret the experience, the Creation #2 has a tender beef patty with bacon and sauce that would definitely please 

all ages. Neatly presented in a wooden tray with potato croquettes,  the burger tastes as good as it looks. 

The other entrees that i ordered like the asian pasta was too sweet and forgettable. 

Try their Spareribs with a satay like peanutty sauce, this is delicious and the spareribs size is not bad

Will return for the burgers instead.

Spareribs - Good Sauce and filling

Asian Pasta - the sauce was too sweet for me

Love Shack

LGF Sm Aura Mall

The Fort, Taguig

Ramen Kuroda BF Paranaque***

Ramen places has been sprouting around town. This restaurant has been packing in huge crowds of diners for their  affordable ramen and Japanese specialties. Their ramen comes in these variants - shiro, kuro, miso, aki, chasyumen

We had the kuro ramen set with tonkatsu and the aki ramen set with prawns.

The shiro ramen is milky and flavorful. It sort of reminded me of santouka's shio ramen but this has light hints of spiciness. The ramon comes with seaweed, bamboo shoots a slice of chasyu and leafy greens.

 But i was blown away by the garlicky flavor of the aki ramen. This has a stronger umami taste and the noodles were firmer and aldente.

 The prawns were not exactly picture friendly but it does its job.

Here are the chefs at work in Kuroda

Ramen kuroda is located at Aguirre street, BF Paranaque.
About 300 per head.
There's parking outside.

Cafe in the Park (Century Hotel Manila) *

I remember during the late 90's and early 2000's, the weekend buffet at Cafe in the Park

Decades later, there still is a buffet at Cafe in the Park but the place looks so old it the 90's clock just stopped ticking. The good old charm of Cafe in the Park chefs are still there, and holding on to my plate I take a deep breath, as I look at their spread during a Sunday lunch to celebrate an aunt's birthday. 

The food selection is in a terribly sad state although some are cooked deliciously. The lechon kawali station is the crowning glory here but after one round this was never replenished. The service was really bad and the waiters were either non existent or they were really undermanned. A pity that the place has suffered as well as the food, avoid at all cost.
. 

 

Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain **

If you're around the BGC area, you won't help but notice the Farmacy,
the ice cream and soda fountain near Wildflour.

I love the 1950's era charm of the place. The interiors will take you back in time
when ice cream parlors were the rave. Think Pops' Choc'lit Shop of Archie comics.

The area is quite narrow as there are only rows where customers can have their ice cream fix. You may also have it by the bar or al fresco where more tables are set up. (Please be warned that there are a lot of mosquitoes outside, I don't know why)

Farmacy serves different flavors of their home-made ice cream, in scoops or in sundae,
soda fountain classics like thick milkshakes are also available.

3 scoops: Cheese, Double Milk Chocolate, Straciatella

 Ice cream flavors include: Vanilla, Cheese, Double Chocolate, Black Sesame, Strawberry, Banana, Melon, Starciatella, Butter Pecan, Mint Chocolate Chip, Green Tea and more. They also have sorbets like calamansi.

We ordered different scoops to try and I can't help but notice their ice cream melts easily.
The ice cream is too sweet for my taste but the Double Milk Chocolate is spot on. 

At night, Farmacy is a great place to hang out with friends, beer and local craft beers are served. Check this place out and do tell me the flavors you like




Farmacy Ice Cream & Soda Fountain
4th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City