Good times and good eating with Hodai’s newest Daebag Set

With all we’ve been through during lockdowns and quarantines, one can’t help but hold out hope for better times ahead.

At the same time, we can’t help but look back on all the things we used to enjoy, like dining out to savor our favorite and spending fun times with family and friends.

Personally, I miss going out for Korean BBQ (or “mag-samgyup” as we Pinoys like to term it). The sheer adventure of grilling our own food as we talk, laugh and banter with our companions always proves enjoyable.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

A prime destination for this experience is Hodai Restaurant in Quezon City. Located in a remodeled two-story house along Examiner Street in Barangay West Triangle built in the 1960s, it lives up to its name (“Hodai” translates to “all you can” in Nihongo), it’s where you can get your fill of unlimited meats and side dishes.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

To mark its recent re-opening, Hodai Restaurant celebrates the good times ahead with its Daebag Set. For just Php599 per person, this set brings together everybody’s Korean BBQ and yakiniku favorites, plus more, into one table for everyone to enjoy.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

Seafood. Includes salmon sashimi, assorted sushi rolls (California Roll, Kani Roll and Mango Roll) and Salmon Sushi (Torched Salmon Sushi with Spicy Sauce, Salmon Maki with Mustard Sauce and Salmon Sushi) as well as fresh shrimp.

Hodai Daebak Set
Salmon Sashimi
Hodai Daebak Set
Assorted Rolls
Hodai Daebak Set
Sushi
Hodai Daebak Set
Fresh Shrimp

LA Galbi. Barbecued beef short ribs cut thinly along the bone usually served during special occasions.

Hodai Daebak Set
LA Galbi

Cheese Spicy Ribs. Tender pork ribs marinated in gochujang sauce with stringy mozzarella cheese.

Hodai Daebak Set
Cheese Spicy Ribs

Five kinds of pork. Includes Herb Pork Steak, Daepae Pork, Plain Pork, Yakiniku Pork and Gochujang Pork.

Hodai Daebak Set
Herb Pork Steak
Hodai Daebak Set
Daepae Pork
Hodai Daebak Set
Plain Pork
Hodai Daebak Set
Yakiniku Pork
Hodai Daebak Set
Gochujang Pork

Five kinds of beef. Includes Enoki Beef Roll, Plain Beef, Herb Beef, Yangnyeom Beef and Gochujang Beef

Hodai Daebak
Enoki Beef Roll
Hodai Daebak Set
Plain Beef
Hodai Daebak Set
Herb Beef
Hodai Daebak Set
Gochujang Beef

Side dishes. Includes Beef Tteokbokki, Galbi Fried Chicken, Potato Marbles, Kimchi, Japchae, Fishcake and Sour Radish.

Hodai Daebak Set
Beef Tteokbokki
Hodai Daebak Set
Galbi Fried Chicken
Hodai Daebak Set
Kimchi
Hodai Daebak Set
Japchae
Hodai Daebak Set
Fishcake
Hodai Daebak Set
Assorted Side Dishes

Did you know that “daebag” translates to “Awesome!” in Korean? In Korean dramas. it’s usually uttered as an expression of surprise at a positive situation. No doubt you will echo the same sentiment when this sumptuous spread is laid before you and your companions.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

Such a delicious bounty sure seems like a portent of great things to come, doesn’t it? Well, invite more good fortune into your life by gathering your nears-and-dears and celebrating being alive and being together over good food. (While practicing physical distancing, of course!)

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

If you feel that luck is on your side, here’s your chance to win a free Daebag Set. From September 27 to October 10, paying adults ordering the Daebag Set can play a fun game wherein they can choose one out of four boxes containing a dalgona candy with an imprinted shape. They will be tasked to trim away the candy outside the imprinted shape using just a toothpick. Any customer that successfully accomplished this feat will be awarded a free Daebag Set.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

(You might be getting flashbacks to similar scenes in the Netflix Show Squid Game, but this activity is actually a favorite pastime of Korean kids.)

So if you feel that you have been without fun times with family and friends over good food for too long, go meet up at Hodai Restaurant and feast over the Daebag Set.

Hodai Daebak Set
Hodai Daebak Set

Hodai Restaurant is located at 14 Examiner Street, Barangay West Triangle, quezon City, open daily for dine-in from 12 noon to 10pm. Note: Al fresco diners is available for all customers regardless of vaccination status while indoor diners are required to present their vaccination cards.

To reserve your table, call +63 956 4605848.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items were served to facilitate this feature and were not paid for by the attendees.

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Unli premium meats and Jap-Kor dishes at Yoshimeatsu

If you love unli grilled meats like I do, I’m sure you’ve been missing your yakiniku or samgyup adventures too.

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

There’s something about cooking meats on a tabletop grill as you take the time to catch up with your family and friends.

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Well, actress Arci Munoz recently opened a branch of Yoshimeatsu in Greenhills where foodies can enjoy unlimited yakiniku premium meats and other tasty dishes for just Php599 per person (minimum of two diners).

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

These include:

Meats for grilling such as beef (plain, curry, spicy, shoyu, fatty), enoki beef rolls, sakana tofu, seafood cheeseball, pork (herbed, yangnyeom, spicy, shoyu), enoki pork rolls and tebasaki teriyaki and chicken yakitori.

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Side dishes such as gohan (steamed rice), buttered kimchi rice, cheese dip, lettuce, sushi (yoshi ebi maki, California maki, spicy tuna maki, Kyoto beef roll), ebi tempura, kani salad, seasoned egg, aji tamago, pamuchim, kimchi, and shitaki (garlic butter, teriyaki).

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Plus, dessert!

For an additional Php49, you can quench your thirst on unlimited Nestea Iced Tea and Nestle Pineapple drinks!

You might be wondering: what exactly is yakiniku? This Japanese term refers to the style of cooking bite-sized meat on gridirons or griddles over flames fueled by charcoal or a gas/electric grill. While its precise origin has been the subject of some debate, it is generally considered to have been inspired by Korean barbecue.

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Wherever it came from, I’m just happy it made its way to our shores, and, with the opening of Yoshimeatsu in Greenhills, is all the more accessible to foodies like me.

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Excited to try Yoshimeatsu’s premium meats? Here are more reasons to hie yourself over there stat:

It’s Let’s Eat to Win BTS Fiesta promo has been extended until July 25, wherein BTS fans will get freebies and a chance to win cool merch and a trip to Korea!

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

You can also present your vaccination card to enjoy free bottomless iced tea!

Sushi platters are also available for takeout for Php499 (good for four), Php799 (good for ten) and Php949 (good for twelve).

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

So give in to your yakiniku craving and book your table at Yoshimeatsu Greenhills now!

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

Yoshimeatsu, Greenhills

This Yoshimeatsu branch is located at Second Floor, O-Square 1 Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue corner Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila. It is open for dine-in Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries, call +63 915 8988148. To reserve a table, fill up this form. It accepts cashless payments via GCash and Lyka.

Yoshimeatsu Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sushi bake delivery from Meatsumo Premium, Panay

I admit: I’ve grown quite worried about how restaurants will fare in The New Normal.

Particularly vulnerable are the samgyupsal places wherein unlimited meats and other food items are served for table-top grilling by the diners. These places require groups of people to gather around the table as they grill their food.

One such place was Meatsumo Premium located in Panay Avenue in Quezon City. Located a few minutes’ ride away from my office, it was the perfect place to indulge my craving for all things samgyup. No wonder then, that I found myself dragging my more fellow samgyup lovers at work to this resto a few weeks after it opened.

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

What made Meatsumo Premium stand out from similar restos is Japanese dishes it also offers alongside its Korean fare. For just Php549 per person, we were able to enjoy eleven kinds of meat (including plain pork, pork galbi, regular and spicy pork yakiniku, pork gochujiang, plain beef, peppered beef, beef bulgogi, regular and spicy beef yakiniku and beef gochujiang) as well as twenty different side dishes (including my favorites such as cheese, kani salad, kimbap, California Maki and California Temaki).

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Oh, such happy times…

But then, the enhanced community quarantine happened. I knew then that I had to bid adieu to Meatsumo.

That is, until it re-opened a few weeks ago, offering a “Create Your Own” Samgyupsal Set as well as its Japanese-Korean fusion dishes ala carte.

However, what drew my attention was its newest menu item: the Sushi Bake (Php480).

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

This trendy dish akin to a sushi casserole. The usual Japanese maki elements such as sushi rice, kani (crabstick), mango, zucchini, Japanese mayo and tobiko (fish roe) are there. With all these, you’ve got one scrumptious dish!

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

To eat, just scoop out a portion (mine tend to be overly large but I don’t care), place it in the nori strip provided, add a bit of finely chopped spring onions and tempura flakes for one tasty bite!

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

I ordered this for the fam’s lunch, along with Tempura (Php150) and Karaage (Php120), and all proved to be certified hits with kiddos!

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Meatsumo Premium, Panay

Well, I’m glad to see that Meatsumo Premium was able to deftly pivot its business and innovate on its offerings. It sure looks poised to meet the challenges of The New Normal head on.

Meatsumo Premium is located 23 Panay Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City, open for delivery from 9am to 3pm.

To order, fill out this form, send a Facebook message, or Viber +63 933 1346534.

Meatsumo Premium Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Unli Samgyupsal at Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

I gotta say: there’s something irresistible with these unli Korean barbecue offers sprouting all over the metro.

Sometimes, even the most budget-conscious will agree to a group lunch at a resto with this kind of offer. Knowing that everyone would be able to eat their fill of the barbecued meat and banchans (side dishes) is enough to entice them to join in on the lunch outing.

That’s how my officemates and I enjoyed our lunch prior to the holiday break at Oh My Samgyup.

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

This Korean grill restaurant is located just across the street from our office so the ease and convenience of getting there is a big plus.

The resto’s decor has also been recently given a makeover, resulting to an airier feel and a hipper vibe.

We also took advantage of its Christmas Promo wherein the per person rate of Unli Pork , Chicken and Beef (already includes unli side dishes, rice, cheese and iced tea) was slashed from Php499 to Php389 everyday from 11am to 4pm.

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Well, by the time we left the place, our tummies are full but our wallets were not empty. Yey!

Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

Oh My Samgyup’s Christmas offer may be over but here’s some good news! Until January 31, enjoy unlimited chicken pork and beef from 11am to 4pm for only Php399 per person and from 4pm onwards for only Php499 per person, thanks to the resto’s January offer.

So what are you waiting for?

Oh My Samgyup is located 139 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 0916 6007505 or +63 0920 3066314.

Oh My Samgyup Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

 

Korean BBQ Lunch at Geonbae, Tomas Morato

The battle for supremacy among Korean barbecue joints rages on and Geonbae Modern Korean Bar and Grill puts up quite a fight.

Considering my affinity towards K-BBQ, it’s ironic that my foray here was by accident. My coworkers and I were planning to go to another restaurant nearby which happened to be closed for lunch on that day.

We scouted the area for another place to eat and found ourselves walking to Geonbae.

The restaurant’s name was coined from the Korean term for “cheers” or “bottom’s up.” From its dimly lit interiors with spotlights on the grill and the vibrantly colorful accent decor, Geonbae presents itself as a hip n’ happenin’ place for friends to hang out together while indulging their cravings for Korean barbecue.

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Given our brief lunch hour, we decided to just go for Geonbae’s Php499 package which include unlimited refills of meats such as samgyeopsal (plain, spicy yakiniku, ginger, gochujang), smoked pork belly, spicy yakiniku pork ribs, spicy yakiniku moksal, herb pork jowl, pork bulgogi, pork intestine, sausage, woosamgyeop (plain, oyster, gochujang) and ginger chicken breast. To be honest, the sheer number of meats was already quite overwhelming and we found ourselves gravitating towards tried-and-true variants such as plain samgyeopsal and woosamgyeop.

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

The package also includes unlimited refills of banchans such as fried and steamed mandu, fried takoyaki and kimchi, as well as soup, rice and cheese.

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

I just have to say: Geonbae really holds up well in comparison to other Korean barbecue joints in the area in terms of ambiance, variety of offerings and value for money. It also does well when it comes to service: the dishes are served and refill requests are seen to quite promptly.

And since my coworkers and I availed of a Booky Prime privilege that gave us a Buy 3 Get 1 deal on our meal, we ended up paying leas than Php420 each for our meal. Not bad, huh?

Geonbae, Tomas Morato

This Geonbae Modern Korean Bar and Grill branch is located at 115 Scout Delgado Street, Bgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 4298549.

Other branches will open at Maria Clara Street, Bgy. Sto. Domingo, Banawe, Quezon City and at Third Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.

Geonbae Modern Korean Bar & Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unli Korean BBQ at YumEaTeh!, Marikina

Korean barbecue fans, you definitely have something new to be happy about.

Marikina, already home to a vibrant and varied food scene, now has another place that offers all the meats, seafood and side dishes you can eat at super affordable prices.

Located at the Wood Park Food Hub along E. Santos Street, YumEaTeh! has been serving up exciting Korean barbecue packages (named after Japanese icons, of all things!) to Marikina denizens since it began operations early this year.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

As explained by the co-owners, Eric Tan and JM Alcantara, “YumEaTeh” has the same sound as the Japanese word for “stop.” They conceptualized their offers to be so filling that diners will eat their fill until they just want to stop.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

Well, let’s take a look at its much-vaunted unli meal sets, shall we?

All of these already come with soup, plain rice, chao fan (Chinese fried rice), an assortment of banchan (side dishes) like tahong (steamed mussels), lettuce, quail egg bombs, potato salad, cheesy corn, apple slaw and kimchi, not to mention an array of sauces for the meats that include cheese, gravy, chili oil, wasabi mayo, gochujang (Korean red chili paste), ponzu (Japanese sauce) and honey mustard as well as Aice ice cream treats to cap the meal.

Ninja (Php198) gives you four delicious pork flavors such as salt and pepper barbecue, gochujang marinated pork slices, tonkatsu and sisig.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

With Sempai (regularly priced at Php299 | available to YumEaTeh! Loyalty Card Holders for Php249), you can enjoy four different meat flavors that include the pork flavors included in Ninja, as well as chicken, which include salt and pepper, teriyaki and yangyeom (sweet, sour and spicy); squid, which include salt and pepper and yangyeom: and beef, which include salt and pepper, bulgogi and sukiyaki.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

Hokage (Php399), on the other hand, gives you twelve different meat flavors that include the pork, beef, chicken and squid flavors included in Sempai, as well as five-spiced boiled crab, salt and pepper shrimp and ginger garlic mussels.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

Lastly, with Hokage Supreme (Php499), you can enjoy twelve different meat flavors that include the pork, beef, chicken and squid, crab, shrimp and mussels flavors included in Hokage as well as deep-fried and butter garlic crab, butter garlic shrimp and tempura, hotpots of laksa, tantanmen and tomyum/sinigang, deep-fried squid and chicken poppers. This set also comes with a free liter of iced tea for every four people.

YumEaTeh, Marikina

All these sets are guaranteed to satisfy your K-BBQ cravings!

YumEaTeh, Marikina

Celebrating your birthday soon? Take advantage of YumEaTeh!’s Bigger, Better Birthday Promo which give you discounts on your Sempai (Php249) and Hokage Supreme (Php499) meals within ten days of your birthday depending on the number of companions you bring to YumEaTeh!:

  • One full paying adult: 20%
  • Two full paying adults: 30%
  • Three full paying adults: 50%
  • Four full paying adults: 80%
  • Five full paying adults: FREE


  • Thank you to Hungry Byaheros for extending the invitation, and to Eric Tan, JM Alcantara and the staff of YumEaTeh! for having us.

    YumEatEh! Is located at The Wood Park, E. Santos Street, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11.30am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11.30am to 11.30pm. For inquiries, call +63 966 4664907.

    YumEatEh! Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held here. 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 posts about other Korean restaurants:

    Family Korean Food Feast at Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Whenever the fam is in Eastwood Mall and is in the mood for Korean BBQ (which is quite often), Soban K-Town Grill is our go-to place.

    This resto boasts of clean and modern interiors, warmly lit and giving that casual yet cozy vibe.

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    We were ushered to a table that can seat our family of four, but had trouble accommodating all the food brought to our table.

    Since we prefer unmarinated meats over flavored ones so we ordered a Classic BBQ Combo Set (Php1,780). Good for our group of four, it is composed of 180g fresh beef belly, 180g pork belly, 180g boneless fried soy garlic chicken chops, one japchae (stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables), one pajeon (savory Korean pancake), half a serving of gimbap (Korean version of sushi rolls) and four refillable cups of either plain or kimchi rice. Adding to our table’s load are the refillable side dishes which include my favorites: egg cakes and sugared peanuts.

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    The meats that we grilled were of good quality, and I loved dipping slices of them in salted sesame oil and ssamjang paste, then wrapping them in crisp lettuce leaves together with some kimchi rice before taking a bite.

    The soy garlic chicken, on the other hand, was tender and yummy; it suited the tastes of my little boy just fine!

    Plus, since I presented one of their flyers from one of the take-one boxes at the parking area, we were each given a free coffee jelly dessert!

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    Soban K-Town Grill, Eastwood Mall

    It was a wondrous feast for our family of four, one dining experience we wouldn’t mind repeating.

    This Soban K-Town Grill branch is located at Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 11pm and Sundays 10am to 10pm.

    Other branches are located at:

    • Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
    • Level 3, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
    • Level 2, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, 28th Street Corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
    • Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
    • Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
    • Third Floor, Bridgeway, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

    Soban K-Town Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

    Premium Korean BBQ at Fantastic Baka, Tomas Morato

    Craving for your fix of Korean-style grilled meats?

    Look no further than Fantastic Baka, one of the newest Korean BBQ restaurants to open in the vicinity of the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area.

    Located at the Grandia Place right across ABS-CBN, it offers a premium selection of meats and dishes expertly prepared by three-Michelin star awarded Chef Jang Jungyun, considered one of Korea’s A-list chefs.

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    At the invitation of Fantastic Baka’s mother company, Tong Keun So, my officemates and I made our way to this restaurant for our pre-holiday lunch.

    The resto has a sizeable dining area with grills built in to the tables and exhaust tubes extended down from the ceilings. The combination of dark wood and pine, as well as the black-and-white color theme in furnishings and decor give the place a sleek and modern feel.

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Our group of four were served items from the Unlimited Php799 package which includes eight kinds of beef and seven kinds of pork such as plain and seasoned plate, plain and spicy bulgogi, brisket point, plain and seasoned prime chuck eyeroll, hanging tender, regular and thinly sliced pork belly and more.

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    We requested for several refills of thinly sliced beef plate and the more premium beef variants. We had to grill the meats ourselves but fortunately, our waiter gamely gave us some grilling tips and we managed (thankfully!) to get ouselves fed.

    My preference towards Korean-style grilled meats leans towards the unseasoned variants. I just dipped the cooked pieces in salted sesame oil and the savory ssamjang prior to wrapping them in the crisp lettuce leaves provided.

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Banchan (side dishes) were generously served, with our group showing marked preference for Jap-chae, steamed egg, stir-fried fish cakes and cole slaw. We also got a taste of Fantastic Baka’s famous cheese sauce in which we dipped some of the cooked meats.

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    While the regular meat variants are yummy enough by themselves, the premium beef cuts are absolutely superb: they have a tender, juicy and buttery feel as you bite into them.

    At Php799 per person for unlimited servings of 15 beef and pork variations, or Php599 per person for unlimited servings of 11 variations, Fantastic Baka might seem a bit pricey but the premium beef cuts are worth it.

    With this treat from Fantastic Baka, my coworkers and I were able to embark in another epic happy lunch adventure. We went back to the office smelling like barbecue but you won’t hear us complaining. 🙂

    Fantastic Baka, Tmas Morato

    Want to dine at Fantastic Baka but on a budget? Dine from 11am to 4pm on weekdays and get Php100 off on the Unlimited Php599 menu. Kids below 3 feet dine for free and kids between 3 feet to 4.2 feet will be given a 50% discount on the Unlimited sets.

    Fantastic Baka also has a Php200 penalty for leftovers so do finish off all the meat refills you requested for.

    If Korean Barbecue is not your thing, you might want to check out Fantastic Baka’s Bento Meals. At only Php280, you can enjoy Sweet and Sour Chickeb, Pork Bulgogi or Spicy Pork Bulgogi served with soup, Japchae, stir-fried fishcake, fresh salad, kimchi, iced tea and unlimited rice.

    Fantastic Baka is located at 143 Grandia Building, Mother Ignacia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 915 8455899.

    Fantastic Baka Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    Disclosure: Our lunch was hosted by Fantastic Baka. The food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and were not paid for by our group.

    Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

    Now available at Gangnam Wings, Megamall: Samgyeopsal Sets!

    My love for Korean food is well-documented in this blog and in my social media accounts.  This love has only been further stoked when, urged by my husband and daughter who are both K-drama fanatics, I started watching Goblin.  Everytime I see Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook and Kim Go-Eun either wolfing down or sedately eating samgyeopsals or ramyuns, I would find myself near to salivating.

    I was happy to discover this Korean chicken-and-beer joint located at SM Megamall during a recent Zomato Foodie Meetup.

    Named after the upscale district in Seoul made famous by Psy’s earworm of a song, the place had a lively and informal vibe, with playfully designed interiors (check out those rubber chickens!) and K-pop music videos playing in the background (yes, including songs from Goblin OST). Gangnam Wings is well-suited to the after-office crowd who will be craving for their chimaeks (chicken and beer) after a day’s work.

    This resto is well-known for its authentic Korean fried chicken: crispy skin and tender juicy meat enhanced by distinct sauce coatings. Even its dishes have that playful vibe with its most popular orders named (not surprisingly) after famous Korean dramas: Goblin Wings (Php280 for half dozen pieces), which is a combo of three sauces – the Original Crispy, Garlic Soya, and the Sweet and Spicy – Php280; and Descendants of the Chicken (Php548 for ten pieces), which consist of any 2 combinations of sauces from Korean Buffalo, Korean Barbecue, Honey Garlic, Soya Yogurt and Spicy Asian.  These sauces indeed have distinct flavors but, surprisingly, I liked them all, even the Korean Buffalo which was quite spicy.

    I would recommend pairing the chicken with Beef Bulgogi Fries (Php298).  These consist of thick fried potato wedges topped with beef bulgogi bits, aromatic herbs and a special mayonnaise.

    A surprising piece de resistance is the Ginseng Chicken (sorry, I didn’t get the price :-)).  A whole spring chicken is boiled, together with herbs and seasonings, for an hour with rice inside, such that the rice cooks while inside the chicken.  The closest it comes to texture and flavor is the arroz caldo but with significantly less rice and a lot more falling-off-the-bone chicken.

    For dessert, we had Rockmelon Bingsu (Php280), shaved ice with melon balls served in the melon shell and topped with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream.  I can imagine myself eating this with my kids to ward off the summer heat in the near future.

    I also sampled two of its Sojuritas (soju cocktails): the Watermelon Soju (Php688)and the Yakult Soju (Php248).  Both were refreshing drinks with a little kick but I had to stop myself at two shots apiece as I still had to drive myself home.  (By the way, I much preferred the tangy sweetness of the Yakult Soju, but then again, I was never a big fan of watermelon anyway.)

    However, the real star of the show is the affordable Samgyeopsal Lunch Set which are now available for lunch and dinner.  From 11am to 2pm, diners have the choice between Unlimited Pork at Php349/head, or Unlimited Pork and Beef at Php399/head.  From 5pm to 8pm, on the other hand, Unlimited Pork is priced at Php449/head, while Unlimited Pork and Beef is priced at Php499/head.  These sets come with unlimited meat, rice, ice green lettuce, side dishes (such as kimchi, mini potato balls, sweet fishcakes, vinegar radish, bean sprouts and onions, all prepared fresh in the kitchen) and iced tea.

    Currently, all of these Korean barbecue sets will be composed of unmarinated meats but marinated variants are being considered for future offerings.

    A concern that was raised was the absence of exhaust pipes to suck out the smoke from the cooking meats on the dining tables.  Surely, the lunch crowd will not appreciate smelling like inihaw when they get back to their offices after their meal break.  Owner Rinky Tuano assured us that this concern has been considered and will be addressed by air conditioning and the exhaust in the kitchen.

    Gangnam Wings is located at the Megastrip Unit 1-114 Upper Ground Floor, outside Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.  Other branches will open soon in San Fernando, Pampanga, Sta Rosa, Laguna and in Antipolo, Rizal.

    Gangnam Wings Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant.  All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

    At the request of Gangnam Wings, this post was updated to reflect the new pricing of the Samgyeopsal Sets.