restaurant review – Page 15 – Jellybeans in the City

Ramen Who: Meet the new delicious name in ramen

One of the most welcome sensations that December brings to us Pinoys is the feel of brisk morning air and cool breezes throughout the day.

These cool climes also make for delicious ramen weather.

And if you happen to be near The Lipa Outlets in Batangas, you’re in luck because you can indulge your craving for delectable ramen to warm you up during these chill days.

Ramen Who boasts of flavorful and creamy broth, a product of sixteen hours of careful boiling and melding of ingredients to achieve that delicate balance deep flavor and umami, without making it too rich or thick to enjoy. Together with their firm perfectly cooked noodles and its various toppings and flavorings, Ramen Who’s ramen offerings sure make the trip to the restaurant worthwhile.

It recently launched new ramen variants that are sure to excite the taste buds of ramen lovers.

Let’s start this foodie journey with the Tita Tori Paitan (₱385). Its milky white broth is made from boiling chicken bones which results in a flavorful soup that is not too rich. Its topping of grilled chicken slices go very well with the broth.

Next up is the Boss Gyu Beef Ramen (₱405), definitely a boss-level combination of soup stock made from beef bones and topped with thinly sliced strips of grilled beef.

Last is the Pinoy Ramen which adds a decidedly Filipino twist to the ramen, thanks to its pares-style beef and grilled eggplant toppings.

Another exciting debut in the menu is the Who Burger, served deconstructed so you can enjoy the sheer fun of layering its components – grilled beef patty, brioche buns, housemade sesame soy sauce, minced nori chips, wasabi mayo, goat cheese and slaw – into an extraordinary burger.

Personally, no meal is complete without dessert, and Ramen Who serves up the sweets with its new confections: Mango Chizu (₱180) and Choco Toptop (₱150).

Got a hankering for sushi rolls to go with your ramen or to snack on with your companions? Opt for Sushi Mixes, then. These consist of twelve pieces of sushi rolls of three yummy variants: Aburi Dreams Mix (₱535 – California Sunrise, Ultimate Unagi Aburi and Wango Tamango Aburi) and Sushi Dreams Mix (₱565 – California Sunrise, Spicy Salmon Crunch and Ebi Tempura Crunch).

Also, you can never go wrong with a bit of crunchy Ebi Tempura (₱405); it’s always a hit with Japanese food lovers, after all!

If you want to go for your classic ramen faves, you can always opt for the Vice Tonkotsu-San (₱395) and Mr. Tantanmen (₱405).

So go ahead and cuddle up with your Significant Other and go on a Ramen Date, or huddle up with your gang for a Ramen outing at Ramen Who!

Whatever your food trip is, any weather is perfect weather to sip, slurp and savor a heartwarming bowl of ramen at Ramen Who!

Ramen Who is located at The Outlets at Lipa, Lipa City, Batangas. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8078901.

Stay updated on its promos and offers by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Specialty coffee and gourmet dishes at The Coffee Academics Cafe in Makati

During an overcast Saturday morning in Makati’s Central Business District, you would think that the cafes there would be nigh deserted. After all, office workers who rely on their cuppa to energize them for their workday are mostly at home, enjoying the extra time they can spend in bed snoozing.

However, such is not the case at the Coffee Academics Cafe along Carlos Palanca Street. In this cozy yet well-appointed establishment, there is a hustle and bustle of activity: patrons coming in for their takeout orders, some staying to enjoy their coffee and light meal inside as baristas and servers hasten to serve up the drinks and dishes.

The world standard in coffee

The Coffee Academics Cafe is the first Metro Manila presence of Hong Kong’s favorite coffee hotspot, joining its sister branches in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. Known for setting the standards in specialty coffee and for delivering unique coffeehouse experiences to its clientele, TCA is a welcome addition to Makati’s gastronomic scene and prime destination for serious coffee aficionados.

Specialty Coffee

TCA sources only the top 5% of specialty arabica coffee from sustainable and fair-trade institutions worldwide, with the aim of ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and local livelihoods. Since its founding in 2012, it has garnered awards and recognition from global industry bodies and media outlets for its coffee products and practices.

Its strong grounding in its trade allows it to make delicious coffee creations that wow its customers, such as:

Specialty gourmet dishes

Your foodie adventure at TCA does not stop with coffee, however. With its unique takes on cafe fare, you can sate your hunger while indulging in your favorite brews.

These include:

Nori Nachos and Hummus (Php350). Homemade nori rice chips served with mixed pea hummus topped with Harissa chili, Lucban Longganisa and Kesong Puti.

Eggs Royale Bibingka (Php445).Toasted Quezo Bibingka Muffins topped with young pork tocino and poached eggs drizzled with dalandan Hollaindaise.

Prawn & Aligue Pasta (Php495). Buckwheat pasta on a bed of coconut cream sauce topped with seared prawns and crabfat, garnished with fried basil and nori rice chips.

KFC 2.0 & Kimchi Fried Rice (Php445). Boneless fried chicken thighs doused in Korean-style garlic soy glaze on a bed of kimchi and spam fried rice topped with furikake flakes with a side of caramelized sweet potato.

Steak Rice (Php795). Bistro steak and seared mushrooms on a bed of Japanese-style steak rice topped with furikake, Asian chimi and homemade demi glace.

As you can see, you can definitely do more than just enjoying a cuppa (or two!) at The Coffee Academics Cafe!

You can come in for a leisurely coffee break, a light snack or a filling meal.

Savoring your coffee and food in this relaxing atmosphere is an experience in itself.

You can also bring your TCA experience to your home, as it retails its signature coffee blends in whole beans, Nespresso-compatible capsules or drip bag sets.

The Coffee Academics Cafe is located at 109 Don Carlos Palanca Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, open daily from 7am to 12 midnight.

A new branch is set to open soon at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang.

Know more about The Coffee Academics through its website, or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Backyard roasts and great brews at Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express

Who would have thought that pit roasts and coffee would go so well together? Well, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Mandaluyong’s Maysilo Circle, you can find out for yourself!

In this busy meeting point in the city’s center, the first Metro Manila branch of a popular Cavite eatery is now serving up its signature dishes and drinks to cater to the metro’s foodies.

This exciting combination of grill and coffee shop was brought to Manila by entrepreneur Matt Matel who partnered with the owners of the original Cavite outlet. Together with his passionate crew of pit-masters and servers, he is serving up savory roasts with a delicious twist featuring distinctly Pinoy ingredients (some of the produce are also grown through hydroponics) as well as premium coffee blends, all available for dine-in or delivery.

From the fire pit

If you’re craving for meats that are tender and flavorful, Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee has perfected its roasting methods: from infusing them with flavors through imaginatively concocted marinades, slow-braising them to produce meat that falls off the bone, to serving them with sauces and sides to add new dimensions of flavor.

A sampling of its best-selling dishes include:

Whole Rack Barako Ribs (Php1,050/platter). A slab of pork back ribs, roasted to tender perfections and slathered with the restaurant’s own barako marinade. It is served on a bed of Java rice and is accompanied by your choice of sides. This dish serves 4-6 persons.

Barako Ribs with Java Rice and Slaw (Php340/single serving). A single serving of ribs, rice and tangy coleslaw that’s more than filling for one person. (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Whole Honey Chicken BBQ (Php550). A perfect blend of barbecue sweetness and smokey-savory flavors, also served on a bed of Java rice and served with your choice of sides. This dishes serves 4-6 persons.

Honey BBQ Chicken with Java Rice and Slaw (Php260/single serving). Want your barbecued chicken as a solo meal? Check this out! (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Oziris Chicken Wings (Php215/platter). A delightful combo of patis (fish sauce) and honey makes this twist on the fried chicken a delectable appetizer or an entree in itself.

Mango Atchara. Our favorite pickled side dish that goes so well with grilled food gets an upgrade with the addition of slivers of sweet mango.

Cold brews just for you

Who says coffee can’t calm you down?

With these chill and tasty brews, with beans especially grown and roasted in South Cotabato, you can definitely get in the mood to relax and chill a bit.

Well, the good news is that we denizens of the metro don’t have to travel all the way to Cavite for a taste of Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee’s celebrated offerings. We can simply drop by its Maysilo branch to dine-in or get our food to go, our course our orders for delivery via FoodPanda.

Don’t miss its Grand Opening promo, available on December 15, 2022: Buy one single order of Barako Ribs and get a single order of Oziris Chicken for free. Offer is valid for first 50 customers only!

Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express is located at 93 Maysilo Circle, Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City. For reservations or orders, call +63 919 5167672.

For news about its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Revenge dining with friends at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, BGC

Ah yes!

The holiday season is finally here, and it comes in the wake of pandemic panics and crazy quarantines.

After feeling isolated and restricted for almost three years, the metro’s denizens are now beginning to feel some semblance of freedom, particularly when it comes to dining out.

It’s time for some “revenge dining,” wouldn’t you say?

As we step out of our homes and into the outside world, we are rediscovering our appetite for dining out: the hunt for an erstwhile undiscovered location, the thrill of tasting new dishes, and, of course, the sheer fun of sharing these experiences with our friends.

That’s what I did recently at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar in Uptown Parade, BGC. Together with my friend, Tina, who’s home for the holidays from Singapore, I went on a revenge dining spree.

Thanks to Peri-Peri’s Holiday Epic Feast Chicken and Pasta Grupo, Tina and I indulged ourselves on a delicious selection of classic and fresh flavors from this restaurant.

At just Php1,399, this group meal is packed full of dishes that make for a filling meal for up to five persons. Super-sulit, right?

Want to know what you can enjoy with this meal package? Check these out:

One Whole Chicken.

Peri-Peri brings about this famous dish by marinating a whole chicken overnight in a special mixture of peri-peri (bird’s eye) chili, herbs and spices, then charcoal-grilling it to a gloriously golden hue.

This flavorful and juicy grilled chicken dish is best enjoyed with one or a combination of the restaurant’s eight signature sauces representing various gastronomic destinations, ranging from mildly sweet (Cajun Remoulade, Hoisin Sesame and Sweet Soy), medium spiciness (Garlic Brew, Spiced Vinegar and Mesquite BBQ) and hot (Chili Peppa and Harissa Exotica).

Four Side Dishes. The group meal also comes with your choice of four side dishes to accompany the Peri-Peri Chicken and add new flavor dimensions to the meal.

Four Java Rice. The package also comes with the preferred rice dish for grilled or barbecued dishes.

One Pasta to Share. As if the previous inclusions are not gut-bustingly filling enough, the meal also includes a platter of your choice between creamy Pasta Carbonara or savory Chorizo Bolognese.

One Liter Drink. A liter of house-made iced tea or lemonade completes the meal.

While exploring the wonders of Peri-Peri’s delightful dishes, Tina and I were able to catch up on each other’s news. There’s nothing like a good meal to spur good conversation, right?

You, too, can #LetYourFlavorBegin by taking your pals to Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar for some flavorful revenge dining.

Happy and delicious eating!

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar is located at Ground Floor Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global, Taguig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays from 10am to 1am and Saturdays from 10am to 11pm.

Other Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar outlets are located at:

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

To enjoy this feast at home, order from Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s delivery website or call +63 2 73747374 for Metro Manila orders and +63 917 7747374 for provincial orders.

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken:

Peri Peri Chicken, SM East — Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, SM City East Ortigas

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tomas Morato

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Capitol Commons

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Gil Fernando Marikina

Delish family dine-in with Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s Hearty Flavor Feast

Holiday Epic Feast for the fam at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Eastwood Mall

Hooray for the holidays!

We’re now at the final stretch of the year and it’s time to slow down and spend time with the people we love.

If we’ve been too busy hustlin’ and bustlin’ over the course of this year to catch up with our folks over a good meal, this period gives us the perfect opportunity to do so.

That’s exactly what I did with my extended fam at the Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar branch at Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City.

Here, my folks and I enjoyed a laid-back and comfy setting in which we can let loose and go on a fabulous flavor adventure together.

And with its Holiday Epic Feast Chicken & Riblet Grupo, a delicious curation of the restaurant’s best-selling specialties, there’s something for every family member to discover and love.

Of course, the star of this feast is the restaurant’s very own speciality: the Peri-Peri Chicken. This dish originates all the way from Africa, where peri-peri, the pepper which lends the dish its name is cultivated. Together with other spices and herbs, this pepper flavors the special mixture where a whole chicken is marinated overnight, then charcoal-grilled to a gloriously golden hue prior to serving, accompanied slices of lime.

The restaurant is also known as a sauce bar, and rightly so, given that it carries eight signature sauces, all made with natural ingredients, to add new dimensions of flavor to its signature chicken dish. Representing various international flavor profiles, the sauces range from mildly sweet, to medium spiciness and hot. Diners can choose any of these sauces (or mix and match them!) to tailor-fit their meal to their palate.

Well, the flavor adventure doesn’t stop there. The feast also features hefty hunks of BBQ Bourbon Riblets, tender and meaty barbecued ribs glazed in smokey bourbon infused sauce.

Being a lightly-spiced rice dish, Java Rice is the perfect companion to grilled and barbecued dishes. This feast brings eight cups of them, guaranteeing a filling meal for the whole fam!

Here’s a confession: half the pleasure of eating grilled meat is wolfing it down between bites of one’s favorite side dish. For the eight regular side dishes included in the Holiday Epic Feast, I opted to include the fam’s all-time go-to side dishes: Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese, Coleslaw, Fries and Mashed Potatoes.

Completing the meal are a liter each of the restaurant’s refreshing house-blend drinks: Iced Tea and Lemonade.

Would you believe that you too could treat the fam to such a deliciously filling Holiday Epic Feast for just Php1,999, saving you Php620? This meal is good for eight to ten persons, giving you the perfect opportunity to gather your nears-and-dears and enjoy a lovely meal.

Planning a more intimate get-together with the barkada? You can opt for the Holiday Epic Feast Chicken & Pasta Grupo, good for four to five persons for Php1,399 (which saves you Php255). This meal includes one whole chicken, one pasta to share, four cups of Java Rice, four regular side dishes and one liter of houseblend drink.

This Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar is located at the Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, 116 Eastwood Avenue, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 11pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12am and Sundays from 10am to 11pm.

Other Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar outlets are located at:

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

To enjoy this feast at home, order from Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s delivery website or call +63 2 73747374 for Metro Manila orders and +63 917 7747374 for provincial orders.

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken:

Fresh and healthy drinks at Jack’s Lemonade, Market! Market!

With the weather becoming more erratic lately, and a case of the sniffles (or something worse) is always around the corner, now is not the time to let up on your health.

As our work, family and community activities increase as everyone in the metro steps into the holiday season, you should make sure that you keep our body in prime condition.

And what better way to keep yourself in fine fighting form than to treat yourself to something fresh and healthy every day?

Well, with a Jack’s Lemonade stall nearby, you can easily grab a freshly made cup of citrusy drink that’s not just tasty, but is also quite good for you!

Each drink is made with juice from freshly squeezed lemon, giving you thirst-quenching refreshments packed with health benefits such as:

Vitamin C. This nutrient helps protect cells from free radicals, lower blood pressure and prevent colds.
Hydration. Its appealing flavor encourages us to top up on our liquid intake.
Antioxidants. These nutrients help our bodies battle illness, and even improves our skin!

The good news is that something so good for you need not be boring. With thirty flavors available at any Jack’s Lemonade outlet, you can go for a whole month without repeating a lemonade flavor. Thanks to its home-cooked sugar syrup, the use of plum salt (also known as kiamoy) and a host of add-ons and poppers, Jack’s Lemonade demonstrates the sheer versatility of this beverage.

Take its Lemon Cheesecake (Php105/Php130). With the addition of powdered milk, condensed milk and grated cheddar cheese, your Jack’s Lemonade is turned into a yummy dessert!

If you want something a bit more herby but still has that burst of fruity sweetness, you can go for a Cucumber Lemonade with Honey (Php75/Php105) topped with strawberry poppers.

You can also welcome the holiday season with the fresh and fruity flavors of a Peach Ginger Lemonade with Basil Seeds.

You can also take a liter of freshly made lemonade so you can craft your own lemonade variants at home. These are available in various flavors:

Classic (Php220 regular | Php270 sugar-free)
Cucumber (Php250 regular | Php300 sugar-free)
Ginger (Php250 regular | Php300 sugar-free)
Tamarind (Php250 regular | Php300 sugar-free)

So if you feel like treating yourself to a refreshing drink but don’t want to let up on your efforts to stay healthy, drop by the Jack’s Lemonade stall nearest you!

Plus, you and your pals can take advantage of Jack’s Party of 5 pack, which brings you five tasty lemonade drinks for just Php499:

Lemon Cheesecake with Coconut Jelly
Basil Rich Tamarind (Sugarfree)
Peach Ginger Lemonade with Basil Seeds
Cucumber Lemonade with Honey (Sugarfree)
Strawberry Lemonade with Poppers

This Jack’s Lemonade stall is located at the Fourth Floor, Market! Market!, 6th Street corner C5, Bonifacio Global City Taguig. Other branches are located at:

Activity Center, Glorietta 4
3rd level, Glorietta 1
Food Forum, Shangri-La Mall
Food Choices, Ayala Malls Feliz
Ground level, Phase 1, U.P. Town Center
Cloud Kitchen, Guadalupe, Makati

Call in your orders for delivery at +63 917 1587439 or +63 956 5184911. Jack’s Lemonade also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Follow Jack’s Lemonade on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on its products and offers.

Check out my previous posts on Jack’s Lemonade:

Refreshing lemon drinks at Jack’s Lemonade, UP Town Center

Summer all-year-round at Jack’s Lemonade, SM Megamall

Dessert drink at Jack’s Lemonade, Shangri-la Plaza

Jack’s Lemonade serves up fresh takes on a classic drink

Fresh Thai beverage possibilities at Jelly G, Market! Market!

Now that the strict quarantines and strictures on going out are behind us, it’s time to treat ourselves to a little bit of adventure, isn’t it?

While our budgets may prohibit us from traveling overseas to experience different cultures and taste exotic flavors, we can always go on an exciting flavor adventure that’s a little closer to home.

One such adventure is delving into the wondrous varieties to enjoy Thai beverages at the Jelly G store in BGC’s Market! Market!

For instance, while Thai milk tea is not as ubiquities as its Taiwanese counterpart, it’s been a favorite among foodies for quite some time. Normally, this exotic drink can only be enjoyed in Thai restaurants, but Jelly G has been serving it up in various flavorful guises, along with other Thai beverages, since 2010.

The store takes pains to make its Thai milk tea as authentic as possible while still appealing to the Pinoy taste buds. Made with assam black tea – the variant with the boldest and more complex flavor – and enhanced with crushed anise and tamarind seeds, then sweetened with condensed milk – all imported from Thailand – Jelly G’s Thai signature drink is a welcome break from our usual thirst quenchers.

Enjoying your Thai milk tea also has the added bonus of being good for you:

It helps to reduce cancer risk as it’s made from black tea leaves which are rich in anti-oxidants
It helps in your blood circulation as consuming it expands your arteries
It helps in weight loss through its stimulating caffeine content

Specials

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea (Php165/Php195). The classic Thai milk tea is given a deliciously cheesy twist with the addition of cream cheese plus generous toppings of grass jelly and grated cheese.

Pink Sala Milk (Php135/Php155). Here’s another reason to drink milk: how about flavoring it with sala syrup and topping it with luscious coconut jelly for a refreshing boost of energy?

Chocolate

Chunky Oreo (Php120/Php160). Want a sweet dessert in a drink? Check out this concoction of chocolate milk topped with cream cheese and chunks of chocolate cookies.

Fruit Tea

Lychee Fruit Tea (Php95/Php115). Enjoy a healthy lychee flavored fruit tea topped with yummy strawberry poppers.

Thai Coffee

Prince Coffee (Php115/Php135). Freshly brewed Thai coffee made from imported arabica beans is mixed with condensed milk makes for quite a pick-me-up experience. Plus, you can enjoy this hot or cold!

Milo Cream Christmas

Milo Thai Milk Tea (Php145). Welcome the holidays with a blend of the exotic Thai milk tea given fresh twists that takes you back to your childhood: toppings of decadent cream cheese and gooey Milo!

By the Bottle

Want to get more of your favorite Jelly G drinks to enjoy at home or share with family and friends? You can get them freshly steeped by the bottle for Php300, in flavors that include Thai Milk Tea, Tamarind, Sala Milk and Hazelnut Coffee, among others.

Try your hand at whipping up new ways to enjoy your Thai drinks at home using these bottled drinks and your favorite ingredients!

As you can see, with the myriad possibilities in Thai beverages available at Jelly G, you can go on an exciting adventure without leaving the metro!

Did you know you can party with friends on delicious drinks from Jelly G for just Php499? Take its Chakrii’s 5 offer and enjoy the following:

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea
Caramel Thai Coffee (Sugarfree)
Pink Sala Milk
Wintermelon Red Assam
Lychee Fruit Tea

This Jelly G branch is located at the Third Floor of Market! Market!, 26th Street corner C5, Bonifacio Global City Taguig. Other branches are located at:

Cinema Level, Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Jelly G also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To know more about Jelly G’s products and promos, follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Check out my other posts about Jelly G:

Healthy Thai Milk Tea at Jelly G, UP Town Center

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, Ayala Malls Feliz

Enjoy Thai milk tea at home with Jelly G

Family steak lunch at Beeffalo by Hotrocks, Marikina

There’s something about biting into a juicy and flavorful piece of steak that makes one feel all good inside, right?

Each bite releases flavor, tenderness and juiciness, a powerful combination that simply makes you look forward to the next delicious bite.

However, steaks don’t come cheap.

Back in the late 2000s, my fam had a go-to place for delicious cuts of beef grilled to juicy and flavorful perfections: Hotrocks. It was a no-frills steak place located along C5 in Libis in Quezon City where we can enjoy steaks without having to break the bank.

Well, it disappeared when the area went through some renovations, much to our dismay, but we were gladdened to discover that it found a new home in the Marikina suburbs.

It even took on a new moniker: Beefalo by Hotrocks. Plus, it adopted a look as well: it transitioned from the down-home, cafeteria-style steakhouse (complete with wall decors of plates autographed by celebrity diners) to a more Western ranch-style roadside house with a spacious garden-style al fresco dining area and interior punctuated by brick walls and decorated with vintage appliances and bric-a-bracs.

During my visits there with my family since I discovered its re-emergence in Marikina, I welcomed its change in aesthetics (as well as the improvement in creature comforts that titas like me look for) but I was also glad to see our favorites still on the menu, such as:

Caesar Salad (Php 175 solo | Php345 for sharing). A bowl of crisp romaine lettuce tossed with bacon bits and croutons in Caesar salad dressing, then sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese is just the ticket for starting a great meal, wouldn’t you agree?

Porterhouse Steak (Php520 for 250g | Php795 for 450g). This is the steak that started it all: hefty cuts of porterhouse steak with spartan seasoning and served with mashed potato made from scratch, buttered veggies and the tangy housemate sauce. No-frills but still quite an indulgence.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (Php195). If memory serves, Hotrocks served me my first taste of this rich confection more than a decade ago. A cheesecake crust at the bottom is covered with a layer of milk-infused cake, which is then covered with a thick milky cream frosting. What’s not to love?

A family meal at Beefalo by Hotrocks is always a welcome foodie adventure for our family of steak lovers.

Beefalo by Hotrocks is located at Lot 6, Block 3, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City, open weekdays from 12 noon to 10pm and weekdays from 11am to 10pm for dine-in, takeout and delivery. For inquiries and orders, call +63 2 89676008 or +63 939 1130772.

Stay updated on its latest promos and offers by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Family lunch at BOTEJYU, SM City San Mateo

After being mostly stuck within Metro Manila during the lockdown, the family heartily welcomed an out-of-town trip to San Mateo.

Venturing out from our comfy accommodations at Timberland Highlands Resort to SM City San Mateo for a spot of lunch and a bit of shopping, we decided to dine at the BOTEJYU outlet located there.

BOTEJYU is a Japanese restaurant that originated from an okonomiyaki eatery established Osaka, Japan in 1946.

Its menu expanded to include other popular Japanese dishes such as the ones we enjoyed during our visit:

Tuna Sashimi (Php395). Fresh tuna slices served with wasabi and Japanese soy sauce.

California Roll (Php255). Sushi roll made with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, prawn egg and BOTEJYU’s original mayonnaise.

Edamame (Php110). Lightly salted boiled green soy beans that serve as an appetizer to many Japanese meals.

Prawn Tempura (Php670/10pcs). Crispy battered prawns served with tempura sauce.

Tender Pork Tonkatsu (Php275). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of shredded cabbage with tokatsu sauce.

Tender Pork Tonkatsu Curry (Php425). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of rice with Osaka-style curry sauce poured over it.

Diced Beef Garlic Steak Bowl (Php545). Steamed rice bowl topped with diced beef garlic steak.

Sukiyaki Teishoku (Php540). A set meal which consists of beef cooked in sukiyaki sauce with noodles and soft-boiled egg, served with miso soup, salad, rice and kimchi.

While the menu offerings are a bit pricey, we found the quality to be reliably good, and the service to be prompt.

It’s great to see that BOTEJYU has established its presence in Rizal, thanks to this branch.

This BOTEJYU branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City San Mateo, Gen. Luna Avenue, Ampid 1, San Mateo City, Rizal, open daily from 11.15am to 7.45pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8524673.

BOTEJYU branches in Metro Manila are located in:

Alabang: Festival Mall Expansion Wing
Caloocan: SM City Grand Central
Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala Greenbelt 3, Ayala North Exchange
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall The Atrium
Manila: SM City Manila
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay, SM City Bicutan, SM City Sucat, SM Southmall
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia Galileo Wing
Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall Capitol Commons, SM City East Ortigas
Quezon City: Ayala Vertis North Mall, Fisher Mall, Robinsons Place Magnolia, SM City Fairview, SM City North EDSA, Trinoma Mall Garden Area
San Juan: O Square 2 Greenhills Shopping Center
Taguig: One Bonifacio High Street Mall

BOTEJYU also accepts orders for delivery through its website and via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To know more about its latest offers and promos, follow BOTEJYU on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous post about BOTEJYU:

Chinese American fast-food at Panda Express

Chinese food spans a gamut of cuisines, with various regional, religious and ethnic influences into this kind of cooking found within China and abroad.

The development of Chinese cuisine in the United States was driven by small-town restaurants that catered to Chinese immigrant miners and railroad workers as well as the local population which are largely unfamiliar with Chinese food. At the same time, these incorporated local ingredients and adapted the dishes to a more American taste, thereby giving rise to Chinese-American cuisine.

A famous example of eateries that serve Chinese-American cuisine is Panda Express. Founded in Glendale, California in the 1980s as the quick-serve, mall-based version of the sit-down restaurant Panda Inn, this line of business grew to 2000 locations as of December 2017.

Panda Express made its way to Philippine shores in December 2019 when, through a partnership with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corporation, it opened the first Panda Express branch in SM Megamall, generating long-lines of customers who want to be among the first in the country to sample the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Today, Panda Express has nine outlets, situated in both malls and free-standing locations.

Because of our busy lives, the long lines outside its branches, and then the lockdowns due to the pandemic, it took some time for my family to check out Panda Express’ branches in Metro Manila. (We did dine at Panda Express’ branches in Seattle, Washington during our US trip in early 2019).

After the loosening of lockdown restrictions (as well as the waning of the long lines of people waiting to dine in), we were finally able to treat ourselves to the filling and fulsome offerings of Panda Express.

Diners at Panda Express have several choices when it comes to serving size:

Bowl (starts at Php225) – consists of one entree and one side dish (with 394 to 1105 calories)
Plate (starts at Php310) – consists of two entrees and 1 side dish (with 544 to 1595 calories)
Bigger Plate (starts at Php395) – consists of 3 entrees and 1 side dish (with 694 to 2085 calories)
Kid’s Meal (starts at Php190) – consist of a junior-sized entree, a junior-sized side dish, a 12oz drink and dessert (with 330 to 1000 calories)
Family Feast (starts at Php1,290) – serves a group of four to five persons and consists of 3 large entrees and two large side dishes (with 590 to 2233 calories)

Given our appetites and our own strong preferences among Panda Express’ menu items, is there any wonder why the fam members opted to each get a Plate serving?

Our orders included:

Sides:

Fried Rice. Steamed white rice wok-fried with soy sauce, eggs, peas, carrots and green onions.
Chow Mein. Stir-fried wheat noodles with onions, celery and cabbage.

Entrees:

Orange Chicken. Panda Express’ signature dish inspired by General Tso’s Chicken made with crispy chicken pieces wok-tossed in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.
Kung Pao Chicken. A Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
Shanghai Steak. Wok-seared steak with fresh string beans, onions and mushrooms in a savory sauce.
Savory Shrimp. Juicy shrimp, stir-fried with green onion and bell pepper in a savory sauce.
Honey Walnut Shrimp. (included in one of our delivery orders after our store visit) Large tempura-battered shrimp, wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.

We found these Plat servings very filling indeed, with the varying textures and flavors of the dishes complementing each other.

Given that all the dishes have been pre-cooked, serving the food was quick and efficient.

This Panda Express branch is located at Upper Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Madaluyong City.

Other branches are located at:

Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Shell SLT Southbound SLEX, Mojito Lifestyle Center
Panaranaque: Soledad Place Betterliving
Pasay: DoubleDragon Center East
Quezon City: Holy Spirit Drive Don Antonio, Greenmeadows Bagumbayan, SM City North EDSA

Panda Express also delivers via its website, as well as through GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To stay updated about its menu and offers, follow Panda Express on Facebook and Instagram.