Eat – Page 85 – Jellybeans in the City

Manam Comfort Filipino, Trinoma

Comfort food are fare that provide the diner with a feeling of consolation or well-being and are oftentimes associated with the food enjoyed at home or during childhood.

While these evoke nostalgia and sentimentality, they also excite the taste buds and stir anticipation.

After a typical morning at the office, my officemates and I opted to get some comfort and good eats at the newly opened branch of Manam in Trinoma.

We were welcomed by Manam’s friendly and accommodating wait staff as well as its well-appointed yet cozy interiors.

Manam was formerly known as NamNam, and it boasts of a menu that offers both the classic renditions as well as fresh twists on Pinoy cuisine.

That day, we feasted on these dishes:

Adobong Kangkong (Php98). Kangkong (water spinach) shoots sauteed in garlic and soy-vinegar.

Gising Gising (Php125). Sigarilyas and kangkong sauteed with pork and chilis in coconut cream and bagoong (shrimp paste).

Pinakbet (Php130). Okra, string beans, eggplant, squash and tomatoes sauteed in with pork bits and shrimp in bagoong.

Mangga at Bagoong (Php140). Sliced green mango and shrimp paste, this combo is famous for that sour-salty dynamic.

Caramelized Patis Wings (Php170). A twist on fried chicken, patis (fish sauce) flavors the zesty wings.

Crunchy Salt and Pepper Squid (Php280). Lightly battered squid pieces tossed in a crunchy mixture of stir-fried garlic and chilis.

House Crispy Sisig (Php398). Ranked as the No. 1 Sisig in Manila for two consecutive years, this dish features chopped pork jowl and cheek served sizzling.

Sinigang na Beef Short Rib and Watermelon (Php775 for family size). The sour broth of the beef sinigang is given a slightly sweet twist with the addition of watermelon.

Bibingka de Leche (Php125). A layer of leche flan (caramel egg custard) tops a pancake-like rice cake.

Kape, Sago at Gulaman (Php105). The samalamig (Filipino version of slushy drink) given a twist with the addition of coffee flavors.

Puto Bumbong with Muscovado Butter (Php80). The classic purple rice cake traditionally steamed in bamboo tubes accompanied by grated cheese, grated coconut and a bar of muscovado-enriched butter.

What a delicious way to get some comfort on a work day!

This branch of Manam Comfort Filipino is located at Ground Floor, Trinoma Mall Garden Wing, Bagong Pag Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79005750.

Other branches are located at:

Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati
Net Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
O Square, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan
South Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City, Paranaque
SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Ayala Fairview Terraces, Novaliches, Quezon City

Sourdough Cafe + Deli, Tomas Morato

Sourdough bread is a new food trend that gaining traction in the metro. It is made by fermenting dough using naturally occurring lactobacilli and yeast producing a sour taste compared to breads made with baker’s yeast. It also keeps longer, owing to the lactic acid produced by the lactobacilli.

For the health-conscious, sourdough may be used to improve the quality of gluten-free breads by enhancing their texture, aroma and shelf-life. Its glycemic index is lower than other types of bread which is good news for people watching their sugar intake.

It’s a good thing, then, that a cafe specializing in sourdough recently opened near my workplace.

With such an exciting item in its menu (in fact, the central item in it!) as well poshly designed yet comfy interiors ideal for quiet lunches or intimate dinners tucked away in an office building along Tomas Morato, Sourdough held an irresistible appeal to titas like me.

This is why during one of our lunchbreaks prior to the Christmas break, my co-titas in the office and I decided to have our meal at Sourdough Cafe + Deli.

This tita meal consisted of:

Complimentary Flatbread Slices. Dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with some parmesan cheese, these gave our tastebuds a good preview of Sourdough’s offerings.

Prosciutto Arugula Flatbread (Php345). Sourdough flatbread topped with marinara sauce, mozarella, arugula leaves and bits of prosciutto.

Pasta Carbonara (Php395). Al dente noodles tossed in a creamy sauce made with eggs, pecorino cheese, parmegianno reggiano, guanciale (Italian cured meat made from pork jowl) and pancetta (Italian salt-cured pork belly).

Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Php295). Four cheeses – gouda, yellow cheddar, mozzarella and grana padano – sandwiched between sourdough bread slices lightly spread with mayo.

Basque Burnt Cheesecake (Php195). Also a trending food item, this cheesecake is an offshoot of Spain’s tarta de queso. Its top appears toasted but the center has a soft custard-y texture. Combined the top’s buttery taste to the tanginess of the cheesecake filling, and you have a winning dessert you would want to taste again and again.

After lunch, we also treated ourselves to Sourdough Cafe’s handcrafted coffee.

Not bad for a bunch of titas out for lunch.

By the way, since wine and titas go together so well, you might want to check out Sourdough Cafe’s unli wine at Php599 per person.

Sourdough Cafe + Deli is located at Ground Floor, JSB Building, 104 Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Delagado Street, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 85259463 or +64 917 1889463.

2020 Meet Up Meal Deal at Shakeys, Tomas Morato

Think the treats are done just because the holidays are over?

Well, here’s some good news!

You and the gang can come together to enjoy good eats for just Php2,020 thanks to Shakeys’ 2020 Meet Up Meal Deal.

I discovered this great offer together with my office buddies when we went out to lunch.

Truth be told, we were actually supposed to eat at the a newly opened resto nearby but we were told that serving time would take longer than usual. Having meetings or tasks already lined up in the afternoon, we opted to eat somewhere else.

That “somewhere else” turned out to be Shakeys along Tomas Morato.

This branch has transferred from its previous location across the street to this new location which affords it some added floor space and reinvigorated decor for its interiors.

At my coworker’s suggestion, we decided to take advantage of the 2020 Meet Up Meal Deal which allowed us to eat our fill from these Shakeys specialties:

Two Large Thin Crust Pizzas. We opted for Shakeys’ No. 1 flavor, the Manager’s Choice which is loaded with ham, beef, Italian sausage, green bell pepper and onions, and Hawaiian Delight which is topped with ham and – I-don’t-know-why some-people-make-a-big-deal-about-this-and-I-don’t-care – pineapple tidbits.

Two Pasta Platters. We opted for a platter each of Skiletti (spaghetti which was served in a skillet back when I was a kid and I guess the name stuck), and Carbonara Supreme.

Ten Pieces Chicken ‘N Mojos. Crispy and juicy fried chicken paired with Shakeys’ famous mojos – breaded and deep-fried potato slices.

Ten Pieces Mozzarella Sticks. Sticks of mozzarella coated in breading and deep-fried to a a crispy golden brown on the outside and stretchy and melty on the inside.

One Family Tuna Ceasar Salad. Tuna flakes, fresh lettuce, cucumber slices and crunchy croutons tossed in creamy Caesar dressing and topped with grated Cheddar cheese.

One Pitcher of Iced Tea and One Pitcher of Soda.

All these can satisfy the appetite of ten people but since we were only seven in our group, you can imagine how full we were at the end of the meal. We ended up getting the remaining few slices of pizza and a sizeable portion of the carbonara for takeout.

Plus, the 2020 Meet Up Meal Deal comes with some bonuses you can enjoy on your next visit: a free Shakeys SuperCard and Php450 worth of gift vouchers.

Shakeys’ 2020 Meet Up Meal Deal is available in all Shakeys outlets until March 31, 2020. The price is for dine in and carry out only. Add Php100 for delivery.

This Shakeys branch is located at Tomas Morato corner Scout Rallos Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open 24/7. For delivery, visit shakeyspizza.ph, or call +63 2 77777777 (landline) or #77777.

Pre-holiday lunch at Chives Bistro, Lamp Quarters

It was the start of the holiday break, and my office buddies and I wanted to celebrate this short period of freedom by dining out together and catching up.

Together with my East-based coworkers, I hied myself off to Lamp Quarters in Marikina to have lunch at Chives Bistro.

This restaurant has a rustic industrial design with its combination of wood and metal furnishings and decor, but still retains homey vibe in line with its concept of combining European and Asian cuisines.

While waiting for our orders, we were provided with complimentary bread to be dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Chives currently has Weekday Lunch Specials for only Php195 which consist of a viand plus spring roll, choice between red or white rice and raspberry iced tea. Our orders included:

Set A. Grilled Gangnam Chicken.

Set C. Grilled Baguio Sausage.

These lunch specials do offer good value and I appreciate the novelty of the chicken and the longganisa as well as the option for a healthier rice given to the diner. The spring rolls, however, are heavily flavored with tinapa, the smokiness of which clashed with the main viand.

Our group also ordered:

Fried Chicken (Php195). Deep-fried chicken pieces coated in homemade sriracha marinade with a cucumber dip.

Truffled Mushroom Pasta (Php280). Fettuccine noodles tossed in alfredo sauce flavored with a bit of truffle oil along with shiitaki and shimeji mushrooms. Taking the place of bacon is the the etag crisp which is a type of cured pork made in the Sagadas.

Turones (Php130). Flambed bananas, chocnut and parmesan cheese in lumpia wrapper.

Celebrity Cake (Php150 per slice). A moist chocolate cake topped with rich chocolate ganache and and a pinch of pink salt. This dessert has been hailed by Spot.ph as the No. 1 Chocolate Cake in Metro Manila.

I find Chives’ concept and food curation exciting but some dishes, like the lunch specials, suffer a bit in the execution. Also, some items were not available when we were there which does limit our choices.

Still, I wouldn’t mind coming back and checking out Chives’ other dishes… especially if I could have my friends again with me when I visit!

By the way, two of us unlocked our Zomato Gold privilege so two of our orders are free! Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code JELLYB to get 10% off the membership fee.

Chives Bistro is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Nino, Marikina City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 88664158 or +63 927 8591926.

Another branch is located at EM Gems Building, L. Sumulong, Circumferential Road, San Roque, Antipolo City.

A tonkatsu lunch at Fumizen, Tomas Morato

It’s the first working day of the year!

And do you know what I’ve been looking forward to since the day started?

A #happylunch with my office buddies, that’s what!

For today’s foodie adventure, we decided to give the newly opened Japanese restaurant along Sgt. Esguerra Street a try!

Located within walking distance from our office is Fumizen which specializes in premium katsu. It is a local franchisee of a long-established Japanese restaurant which was founded over 40 years ago and patronized by Japanese officials and celebrities.

It has a cozy atmosphere and a minimalist aesthetic with polished wood and gray upholsteried furniture set against clean white walls sparsely decorated with silhouettes of bamboo.

Katsu refers to “cutlet” in Japanese. It is usually a piece of meat coated in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried to achieve a bright golden color and a crispy outer layer which gives way to tender. juicy and flavorful meat inside.

At Fumizen, diners can enjoy Katsu Sets which consist of a katsu variant plus unlimited rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage and fruit slices. The katsus may be enjoyed by dipping the pieces in Fumizen’s secret katsu sauce, rock salt or the resto’s signature truffle salt.

Our happy lunch at Fumizen included:

Rosu Loin Tonkatsu Set (Php375). This is the richer cut of pork loin owing to a strip of fat along one side.

Hire Tenderloin Tonkatsu Set (Php405). This is the leaner, less fatty cut of pork.

Fumizen also has ongoing Lunchtime Deals that some of my companions availed of. These deals give significant discounts on selected katsu sets such as:

Chicken Karaage Set Meal (Php199 from Php255). Japanese-style fried chicken best dipped (as we’ve discovered) in Japanese mayo with a bit of wasabi.

Menchi Katsu Set (Php199 from Php350). Patties consisting of two-thirds ground pork and one-third ground beef prepared and cooked katsu-style.

The katsus are well-cooked with the panko-breading adhering well and providing a satisfyingly crunchy texture to the meat. I found dipping the katsu in truffle salt winderfully heightens the flavor.

What could use a bit of work is the rice which could be a little stickier to serve as a foil to the katsu.

The wait staff is polite and accommodating but could use some more training on product knowledge.

Still, with the quality and afforadability of Fumizen’s katsu sets, it sure looks like my officemates and I found a new favorite Japanese resto in our area!

Fumizen is located at 34 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77931894

Lunch Buffet at Vanilla Cafe, Tomas Morato

The Tomas Morato area is definitely a foodie haven. At practically every corner is an old and familiar or a new and exciting food destination, something that will spark a foodie’s curiosity and appetite.

One such destination is Vanilla Cafe along Mother Ignacia Avenue. Formerly known as Vanilla Cupcake Bakery, it has expanded its repertoire from cupcakes and pastries to pastas and classic Filipino food.

Enter its doors and you will be taken to a place of fun and cuteness with pastel-printed walls, plush floral couches and dainty chandeliers.

Guess what: come around lunchtime and you can eat your fill at Vanilla Cafe’s Lunch Buffet where you can enjoy a delightful curation of Vanilla Cafe’s food offerings served with delicate country style flair.

Have a sampling of these dishes:

Prettily prepared canapes and veggie dips.

Freshly made pastas.

Binagoongan and Tinapa Rice.

Classic Pinoy Favorites: Sizzling Tofu, Sizzling Sisig, Bagnet, Fish Sarciado, Chop Suey, Chicken Adobo, and of course, Vanilla Cafe’s famous Kare Kare.

And since there’s always room for dessert, have a cupcake (or two… or more!) because, why not!

This buffet is best enjoyed with pals as a barkada lunch date…

Or as part of a festive celebration!

So check it out: the Premium Lunch Buffet is available at Vanilla Cafe Tomas Morato on weekdays from 11am to 2pm for only Php398 per person (+10% service charge).

This branch also has a Boomin’ Breakfast Buffet available everyday from 7am to 10am at Php228 for adults and Php114 for kids ages four to eleven (plus 10% service charge). Kids below four years old eat for free.

This Vanilla Cafe branch is located along Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 7.30am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 7.30pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 2 83743783 or +63 918 8264552.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Garden Wing, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Second Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Pinas City
20 Villamor Street, Lualhati, Baguio, Benguet

Planning a get-together? Why not order one of Vanilla Cafe’s Party trays? Pastas, entrees, salads and rice trays are available for order at any Metro Manila branch.

Maximize your buffet restaurant visit. Read the tips in my buffet survival guide.

Return to my katsu love at Yabu, Ayala Malls Feliz

It’s been some time since I last had a taste of premium tonkatsu. I’ve been craving those flavorful pork cutlets, breaded with panko, deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown and accompanief by fluffy Japanese rice and its own katsu sauce.

But first, how about some trivia about one of my favorite dishes? For example, did you know that…

Katsu is a shortened form of katsuretsu which means “cutlet?”
The dish was introduced in Japan in the 19th century during the Meiji period when the country opened its doors to the West?
At first, beef was used for katsu bit was later eclipsed by pork as the meat of choice by the 1900s, hence the rise of the term tonkatsu with ton referring to pork

Well, what comprises tonkatsu anyway?

You will know that you’re enjoying good quality and authentic tonkatsu when these are present:

Thick cuts of meat. Expect generous cuts of meat of at least 0.75 inches, giving you a viand that’s flavorful and filling.
Premium pork. Only the finest pork from local farmers delivered fresh to the kitchen should be used to ensure meat that’s tender and juicy.
Fresh panko. The panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) that coat the katsu should be freshly made, resulting in long, light and crispy flakes that adhere to the meat and gives a satisfying crunch to the bite.
Heat. The katsu should be cooked at precisely 165 degrees C and allowed to rest properly to help it retain its juiciness and tenderness.
Bright and golden. The resultigg katsu should be served fresh with a bright, golden color and crisp coating.

With these to look forward to, I went to the Yabu House of Katsu branch at Ayala Malls Feliz for lunch for my return to katsu. My solo food adventure was a Hire (Pork Tenderloin) Set (Php375 for 80g) which consisted of a thick and juicy pork cutlet with no fat, plus refillable Yabu staples which include steamed white rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage and fruits.

I also got myself a glass refreshing Ripe Mango Juice (Php125) to go with my katsu meal.

What a happy return to an old favorite!

This Yabu branch is located at Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82531746.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ayala Malls the 30th
Quezon City: Robinsons Galleria, UP Town Center, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Vertis North, SM North EDSA The Block
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Taguig: SM Aura Premier
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Glorietta 2
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Pasay: MOA Main Mall

A delicious taste of Asia at KopiChan, Cubao

Cubao in Quezon City is a hustlin’ and bustlin’ place with various malls, shopping centers and bus stations in the vicinity.

Well, there’s a piece of good news for the hungry shopper or commuter in this area as a new and exciting restaurant just opened last month.

KopiChan translates to “coffee eatery.” It’s a place to have a sip of coffee while munching on some tasty and affordable Asian dishes.

The restaurant is styled after the old-timey Chinese restaurants in Binondo which are near and dear to us Pinoys, albeit with a few modern and colorful touches.

Together with my fellow foodies, I got a taste of its food offerings crafted by Chef Isaac Bravo and his team, which include:

Kung Pao Chicken (Php218 for solo | Php398 for sharing). Tender fried chicken fillets tossed with peanuts in a sauce made of sweet chili and soy sauce.

Soy Chicken (Php178 for solo | Php335 for sharing). Poached chicken leg in soy sauce with steamed bokchoy.

Tausi Beef Ribs (Php278 for solo | Php518 for sharing). Beef ribs with tofu cubes in tausi sauce.

Shrimp Paste Pork Ribs (Php248 for solo | Php458 for sharing). Pork spare ribs marinated in shrimp paste.

Beef Rendang (Php258 for solo | Php498 for sharing). Mildly spicy Indonesian-style beef stew in which the ribs are coconut milk.

Beef Noodle Soup (Php198 for solo | Php378 for sharing). Tender braised beef pieces in beef broth together egg noodles and bokchoy.

KC Spaghetti (Php138 for solo | Php248 for sharing). Spaghetti noodles topped with Asian spaghetti sauce and curry cheese sauce.

Salt and Pepper Squid (Php268 for solo | Php518 for sharing). Lightly battered pieces of fried squid tossed in salt and pepper.

KC Chopsuey (Php188 for solo | Php368 for sharing). Stir-fried mixed vegetables with shrimp, chicken, Chinese sausage and quail eggs in oyster sauce.

Gravy Eggs (Php48 for solo | Php118 for sharing). Hard-boiled eggs in Asian gravy.

Rendang Eggs (Php48 for solo | Php118 for sharing). Soft-boiled eggs in spicy Rendang sauce.

KC Clubhouse (Php218). KopiChan’s take on the clubhouse sandwich with bacon, egg, ham and special KC spread.

Kaya French Toast (Php198). Milk-soaked loaf bread toast topped with kaya spread, condensed milk and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Banana Pancakes (Php258). Pancakes with caramelized bananas and crunchy peanut butter.

Salted Egg Pao (Php98). Steamed salted egg custard bun.

Fried Kaya Buns (Php88). Fried mantou stuffed with kaya custard and served with vanilla ice cream.

KC Sundae (Php178). Three ice cream flavors – salted caramel, cookied and cream and vanilla – topped with crunchy cornflakes.

KopiChan will also launch new items on the menu soon so be on the lookout out for:

Yang Chow with Egg. A sunny side up egg is added to stir-fried rice with Chinese sausage, ham, egg and vegetable.

Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang and Boiled Egg. A rice meal featuring the fragrant Malaysian rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, accompanied by beef rendang and boiled egg.

Nasi Lemak with Charsiu Belly and Fried Egg. Another take on the nasi lemak, this time as KopiChan’s approximation of the Pinoy tocilog with charsiu pork belly and a sunny side up egg.

Soy Chicken Congee. The Asian style of rice porridge (similar to the Pinoy lugaw) served with a piece of soy chicken.

Enjoy your meal with tasty drinks that the kitchen can whip up for you:

Coffee with Condensed Milk (Php100). KopiChan’s take on the Vietnamese ca phe sua nong but this time, the condensed milk is poured into hot freshly brewed coffee.

Teh Tarik (Php100). The national drink of Malaysia, it is made from strong black tea blended with condensed milk.

Milo Dinosaur (Php135). Also known as Milo Tabur, it is a popular drink in Malaysia and Singapore wherein undissolved Milo powder is added on top of an already prepared iced Milo drink.

Horlicks (Php195). A cold drink flavored with horlicks powder primarily made of malted wheat and malted barley.

With Kopi Chan’s extensive array of affordable Asian food choices, Cubao just got itself a new foodie destination that opens of new worlds of dining for its locals and visitors!

Many thanks to Chef Isaac and team for the delightful meal and the warm welcome and to Harvard of AlwaysHungryPH for extending the invitation.

KopiChan is located at Shopwise Arcade, General Romulo Street, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, open 24/7. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82515863 or +63 977 7486064.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a food tasting held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other Chinese restaurants:

Shi Lin, Robinsons Galleria

Taiwanese cuisine’s claim to fame isn’t just it’s wildly popular milk tea.

It is also marked by the creative use of spices and the inclusion of fresh local produce.

The country’s food is heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine because of Taiwan’s proximity to the mainland’s south provinces and especially due to the Koumintang retreat, as well as by Japanese cuisine due to the time of its occupation.

Being in a crowded island, the Taiwanese had to look for sources of protein other than their farmlands which led to the prominence of seafood in their dishes.

These culinary influences came into play when my family and I had dinner at Shi Lin in Robinsons Galleria.

Our Taiwanese meal included:

Original Xiao Long Bao (Php170 for 6pcs).

Mushroom and Vegetable Dumpling (Php175).

Fried Rice with Shrimp, Pork and Egg (Php175).

Stirfry Brocolli (Php100).

Braised Beef Noodle Soup (Php310).

Spicy Spare Ribs (Php395).

Half Shi Lin Chicken (Php380).

Chinese Pepper Shrimp (Php475).

It was a filling and flavorful dinner which provided a welcome respite from our usual home-cooked meals.

We also got some dishes free when Hubby and I unlocked our Zomato Gold privilege!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code JELLYB to get 10% off the membership fee.

This Shi Lin branch is located at Level 3, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 9am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 9am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86377503 or +63 916 3040185.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Estancia Mall
Mandaluyong: The Podium Mall
Taguig: Serendra BGC
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit, Greenbelt 3
Quezon City: Trinoma Mall
Manila: Lucky Chinatown Mall
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center

Check out my reviews on other Taiwanese restaurants in the metro:

Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken, SM East Ortigas

After hibernating at home since New Year’s Eve (and eating yummy leftovers!), the fam and I decided to go out for dinner on the second day of 2020.

So off we went to our neighborhood mall, SM City East Ortigas, where, as luck would have it, a new branch of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken just opened.

Peri-peri (also spelled as piri-piri or pili-pili), is a type of chili that is grown in Southeastern Africa, taking its name from the Swahili term for “pepper.” Also known as the African bird’s eye chili, its cultivation and culinary use was spread by the Portuguese to their Indian territories.

When combined with salt, garlic, lemon, oil and vinegar into a sauce, called the peri-peri sauce, it provides a distinctive flavor to the chicken dish that also bears its name.

Peri-peri Charcoal Chicken prepares its birds by trimming excess fat and marinating for at least a day prior to grilling to achieve that tender and juicy meat that explodes with every bite.

Every order of chicken comes with your choice of mild or spicy sauce. Feel free to ask your server for their recommendation.

For our first dinner out of the year, we feasted on:

Sebastian Salad (Php210). A manifestation of Hubby’s resolution to eat healthier, this salad is made of lettuce greens topped with shredded crabsticks, wedges of hard-boiled egg and cherry tomatoes served with a roasted sesame dressing.

Chicken Group Meal (Php799, good for four persons). A fully loaded meal that includes a whole peri-peri chicken, four bowls of Java rice and four side dishes – we chose coleslaw, corn and carrots and bacon mac ‘n cheese.

Four Cheese Flatbread (Php315 family size). Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s version of pizza which my son immediately demanded, because, as everyone knows, he is a pizza monster.

Carafe of Iced Tea (Php130). Eating these flavorful viands work up quite a thirst so we get ourselves a family-sized pitcher of Peri-Peri’s house-blend iced tea.

As the branch is still fairly new, there were some operational hiccups such as the sudden unavailability of hummus (Hubby’s preferred side dish) and some billing concerns which were easily straightened out. That said, our family dinner here was still a yummy start to 2020!

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Santa Lucia, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches in Metro Manila may be found at:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Tomas Morato, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Parade BGC, Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall