restaurant review – Page 23 – Jellybeans in the City

Sweet Sunday meetup at Sundays, Marikina

During pre-pandemic times, one of the highlights of my workday is the #HappyLunch I used to enjoy with my officemates.

We used to scope out the various dining spots in the vicinity of our workplace and choose a new place in which to spend that precious lunch hour. These midday adventures not only presented us with gustatory delights, they also provided our group with a welcome break from our work environment and an opportunity for some levity in between periods of being good little workers.

Well, things happened (some officemates transitioned to other companies, and, of course, COVID-19 reared its ugly head in the metro, which curtailed opportunities for dining out), so we haven’t been able to get together for almost two years.

Thanks to the loosening of community quarantine restrictions, I was able to meet up with two of my former office friends for brunch at Sundays Cafe & Restaurant.

One of the newest dining spots in foodie-friendly Marikina, Sundays offers breakfast, comfort food and coffee. Located along J.P. Rizal Street, it’s housed in a single-story Spanish villa-inspired building, with clean and minimalist interiors well-suited for intimate gatherings as well as a pet-friendly al fresco dining area.

Quite fittingly, I met up with my friends on a Sunday morning for brunch. After experiencing some confusion in the drive over (note to self: rely on Waze, not Google Maps, for directions in this part of Marikina, especially with the one-way streets), I was able to snag the last remaining parking spot, quite ably assisted by the parking attendant.

One of my friends was later in arriving than me and had to park quite a distance away from the cafe.

In between various chika and catching up on events in each other’s lives since we last saw each other, my friends and I broke our fast with Sundays’ cafe staples, which included:

Mocha (Php145). A chocolatey version of the restaurant’s cafe latte, served hot.

Eggs Benedict (Php250). Sundays’ version of my favorite breakfast dish consists of fluffy brioche buns topped with slices of homemade bacon and poached egg drenched in hollandaise sauce, with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.

Homemade Bacon Slab on Kimchi Rice (Php320). This breakfast food given a Korean vibe consists of thick slices of homemade bacon, a fried egg (sunny side up, per our request) on top of flavorful kimchi rice served on a skillet.

Tres Leches (Php130). I indulged my sweet tooth with this light sponge cake soaked in a sweet milk mixture and topped with sweetened whipped cream with a sprinkling of cornflakes for texture.

The restaurant was still on soft opening mode during our visit so hopefully, it will be able to smooth out some kinks in its operations, particularly some delays in serving our food and in providing the bill.

That said, the restaurant was true to its proposition of providing “Great food. Great memories.” It certainly was a memorable brunch meetup with my friends over delicious food!

Sundays Cafe and Restaurant is located at J.P. Rizal corner V. Gomez Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 8am to 11pm. For reservations, call +63 917 1572634.

5 reasons to hold your next get-together at Sometimes Music Barbecue Hotpot Restaurant

Ah yes, the holiday season…

It’s the time of warm wishes, gift-giving, and, of course, get-togethers!

Whether its an intimate gathering of the gang or a boisterous office party, Christmas shindigs are all about fun, friends and food.

And here are five reasons why you should enjoy all of these at Sometimes Music Barbecue Hotpot Restaurant.

1. It’s very accessible.

Located at the corner of Mayapis, Bakawan and Yakal Streets in Malati’s Barangay San Antonio, this restaurant is a just short ride from the CBD’s office buildings.

2. It has a well-stocked bar.

Nothing gets us into the holiday spirit quite like, well, spirits! Feel free to let loose and enjoy your favorite tipple or discover new ones at the bar, such as: local and imported beers, classic and signature cocktails as well as a wide array of liquors including blended whiskey, rum, tequila, cognac, single malt, vodka, gin, wines and liqueurs, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

3. It’s great for big events.

With its sprawling dining area that can seat up to sixty people and above, complete with dining amenities, use of audio equipment plus buffet packages starting at Php1,100 per head, organizing a rockin’ shindig for a large group becomes easy and hassle-free.

4. It also has function rooms for smaller gatherings.

If you’re with a smaller group but would like to have a space all to yourselves, you can also opt for a Videoke or VIP Room.

5. Here you can enjoy unli hotpot and barbecue from 11am to 9pm.

Eat all the hotpot and barbecue you possibly can for just Php688 per person from Mondays to Thursdays, or for Php799 per person from Fridays to Sundays.

Start by ordering your soup base (one soup per person). Choose from Sizhuan Spicy, Thai Tom Yum, Mushroom or Satay flavors. Then select up to eight food items for your hotpot (maximum of three orders per item) such as:

Meats: Beef Karubi, Pork Belly Slice, Lamb Slice, Beef Throat, Shrimp Slip, Crispy Bell Roll, Duck Blood, Duck Intestines, Chicken Feet, Chicken Gizzard, Beef Tripe and Quail Egg
Balls and Tofu: Sea Urchin Ball, Taro Stick, Cheese Ball, Mini Sausage, Lobster Ball, Crab Stick, Squid Ball, Beef Ball, Fish Ball, Chiba Tofu, Fish Tofu, Cold Tofu, Skin Tofu, Fried Yuba and Fried Tofu
Seafood: Fresh Shrimp, Fish Fillets, Scallops, Squid Flower
Rice and Noodles: Special Fried Rice, Plain Rice, Fried Noodles, Noodles, Sotanghon, Ramen
Vegetables: Enoki, Crab Mushroom, Korean Radish, Japanese Corn, Togue, Fungus, Seaweed, Tomato, Baguio Pechay, Lettuce, Water Spinach, Taiwan Pechay, Winter Melon, Potato, Cucumber and Cabbage

You can also order freshly grilled barbecue such as BBQ Chicken Wings, BBQ Skewers, BBQ Pork Belly, BBQ Sausage, BBQ Gizzard and Fried Mantou.

So if you’re looking for a place to accommodate your group, as well as your appetites, Sometimes Music Barbecue Hotpot Restaurant just might be your best bet.

Sometimes Music Barbecue Hotpot Restaurant is located at Unit 2 Southway Condominium Building, Mayapis Street corner Bakawan and Yakal Street, Barangay San Antonio, Makati City.

It is open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 2pm and Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 5am.

To book your tables or inquire for your events, call +63 927 5781253 or +63 923 5183734.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting event hosted by this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Snack time with Chef Park’s Chikin Sliders

After bouts of binge-watching Korean dramas, don’t you sometimes wish you can also get a taste of the Korean Chicken that your K-drama idols are wolfing down between gulps of soju or beer?

This style of cooking and enjoying fried chicken is characterized by crisp boneless chicken pieces with tender and juicy meat smothered in flavorful glazes, giving rise to new chicken possibilities.

Online K-Chicken store Chef Park has been releasing exciting flavors to excite and tantalize the metro’s foodies such as Truffle Honey and Korean Buffalo, both released earlier this year.

With just a few days remaining in 2021, Chef Park launches a new K-Chicken innovation: Chickin Sliders!I

In case you’re curious, these small burgers were given the moniker of sliders in the 1940s because of their greasiness and smaller size (“in just one or two bites, the burger will slide right down”).

Well, I’m happy to discover that Chef Park’s newest menu item is totally in keeping with its promise of being 100% addicting. For just Php375, you get four sliders consisting of crunchy and flavorful Korean chicken sandwiched in soft Korean buns along with a side of sweet potato chips.

You also get to mix and match among four delicious flavors:

Spicy and tangy Yangnyum with Kimchi
Savory Cheesy Bacon
Buttery and garlicky Garlic Parmesan
Spicy Jalapeno

These sliders are perfect for my family’s snacktime! There’s a flavor that will appeal to every one in the fam.

Chef Park’s is a cloud kitchen that operates from #23 9th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City (between Col. B Serrano Avenue and Liberty Avenue), accepting orders from 10am to 7pm daily.

To order, call +63 977 8030111, email chefparksph@gmail.com or visit its website.

Payments via Paypal, credit cards, BPI bank transfer and GCash are accepted.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to facilitate this feature.

New flavors made with #HeatToPerfection at 390 Degrees

Do you know what it takes to get a sumptuous meal of Western dishes that appeals to the Pinoy palate?

The answer is 390 Degrees.

That’s the name of the vibrant and well-appointed restaurant located at Sequoia Hotel in Aseana Business Park, Paranaque.

That’s also the temperature maintained in the restaurant’s signature charcoal brick oven which cooks all the viands it serves, all masterfully curated by Chef Mark Griffin.

Operated by the same team behind Ombu Kusina in Quezon City led by its owner, Edison Lo, a veteran in the Filipino F&B scene, and its Marketing Manager Tammy Lim, 390 Degrees brings imaginative takes on classic Western dishes, served in generous portions and in a luxurious setting.

I had a sneak preview of its offerings in time for Valentine’s Day almost two years ago and was looking forward to its grand opening. However, the pandemic struck and 360 Degrees’ grand launch was postponed.

In the meantime, the restaurant set about making its signature dishes available to the dining public despite the lockdowns and restrictions on the restaurant industry by innovating on its offers. Thus, its much celebrated party trays and DIY Black Burger Kit made their way into many a foodie’s heart during the community quarantine.

A little under two years after its soft opening, 390 Degrees is finally ready to unveil its delicious signature dishes for dine-in, which include:

Tomato Soup with Ravioli (Php240). A comforting bowl of roasted and pureed local tomatoes topped with spinach-cheese raviolo.

Beef Brisket Sandwich (Php490). Tender slices of 5-star Angus beef topped with lettuce, tomato, crispy-fried onions, caramelized shallots and seasoned mustard served inside house-made charcoal activated buns.

Chicken Skewers (Php360). Flavorful and juicy grilled chicken pieces in house-made sauce served with buttered vegetables on thyme-infused rice pilaf.

Signature Iced Tea (Php120). House-brewed black tea infused with pineapple and lemon.

Thinking of having a get-together here with family and friends? You can reserve the place for exclusive private dining (with a sanitized set up) for three hours. The place can accommodate a maximum of thirty people (to be able to observe physical distancing and other safety measures) for a consumable food and drinks order of Php15,000.

Want to bring its delicious dishes to your home or office parties? Check out 390 Degrees’ party trays of charcoal grilled creations good for six to seven people.

Beef Brisket (Php880 ala carte | Php3,490 quarter slab | Php5,900 half slab | Php10,700 whole slab). Five-star Angus beef slab slow-roasted in 390 Degrees’ oven.

BBQ Pork Ribs (Php1,370). Oven-roasted pork ribs dressed in house-made BBQ sauce.

Blackened Salmon (Php2,650). Oven-baked salmon fillet with creamy dill sauce.

You can even bring home desserts from 390 Degrees’ Breads and Pastries line such as these decadent Chocolate Banoffee Pie (Php150 pie | Php575 box of four) and Mango Banoffee Pie (Php150 pie | Php575 box of four).

Its grand opening may have been derailed by the pandemic, but with all its innovative and delicious offers, I still stand by my prediction that 390 Degrees is all set to be hottest foodie destination in the metro.

Many thanks to Edison, Tammy and Chef Griffin for a wonderful meal and a fun event that became a mini-reunion of foodies. Our group missed each other during the lockdowns and appreciated the opportunity to come together again.

390 Degrees is is located at the Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel Manila, Aseana City Business Park, Entertainment City, Paranaque, open daily from 10.30am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82845110 or +63 921 2446502. It accepts safe and cashless payments via Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Taste real and authentic Thai dishes and the original noodle soup at RODDEEDED

Do you feel like going on a foodie adventure? How about giving Thai noodles a try?

It wouldn’t be too hard to indulge yourself in this new gustatory experience, especially now that Thailand’s best noodle shop for the past fifty years has finally branched out to the Philippines with its recently opened store in Mandaluyong City.

Here at RODDEEDED, foodies in the metro can get a taste of authentic Thai dishes that showcase the intricate balance of sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy flavors, lightly prepared but with strong aromatic components.

The restaurant started out in its native Thailand as a small and cozy eatery specializing in hand-crafted beef noodles, a hallmark menu item that is brought all the way to its Philippine branch along with a select curation of Thai food favorites.

Original Noodle Soup. This delicious journey begins by choosing the soup base (original or spicy), then the rice noodles (Sen Lek which are linguini-like or Sen Mee, the rice vermicelli, then the meat to go with the noodle soup such as meatball + beef slices (Php195), meatball + brisket (Php235), meatball + beef slices + brisket (Php265), meatball + brisket + tendon (Php295) or mixed (Php295). The original soup base is friendlier to the Pinoy palate but the spicy one is closer to the Thai preference.

Stewed Brisket in Claypot (Php295). Tender beef slices stewed in a broth infused with lots of herbs and spices.

Green Chicken Curry (Php265). Boneless chicken thighs stewed in coconut milk infused with Thai green curry paste.

Chicken Pad Thai (Php275). Stir-fried rice noodles with chicken bits, peanuts, bean sprouts and other vegetables, beautifully encased in a net made of delicate scrambled eggs.

With such tasty and exotic viands, one couldn’t help but wonder what else will go well with them. Well, the restaurants creamy house Thai Coffee (Php90) and Thai Milk Tea (Php90) are perfect companions to the Thai dishes and may also be enjoyed by themselves. A Pineapple and Passionfruit Sorbet (Php90) is a refreshing dessert that perfectly caps this Thai meal.

So if you’re game for a change from your usual culinary scene, or have a hankering for Thai food, just drop by or call RODDEEDED.

RODDEEDED is located at 126 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 8.30pm for dine in, takeout and delivery.

For inquiries, reservations and orders, call +63 949 6734702.

For regular updates on its promos and offers, follow RODDEEDED on Facebook and Instagram.

Midnight snackin’ with Burger Jack

With so many great reasons to stay up late nowadays, sometimes the only downside is the lack of snacking options when the witching hour approaches.

Well, here is where Kraver’s Kanteen comes to the rescue.

This cloud kitchen partnered with several food brands to deliver a variety of mouthwatering food items practically at all hours to the metro’s hungry denizens.

One such brand is Burger Jack which prides itself on bringing a jacked-up burger experience to its customers from the classics all the way to insane burger ideas.

When the fam felt the stirrings of hunger in the middle of our TV binge-watching session, it’s lucky we had our had these Burger Jack items to snack on:

Smashed Burger (Php179).

Burger patty smashed to enhance its beefy flavor, then slathered with Burger Jack’s secret sauce and topped with caramelized onions and placed in between golden brioche buns.

We loved the layers of flavors and textures with each bite!

For full burger enjoyment, a Jacked Smashed Burger Set (Php299) is a smashing choice. It includes a Smashed Burger, a serving of fries and house-blended insani-tea.

Brooklyn Dog (Php149).

A hotdog sandwich that calls to mind the good ole’ sandwiches from classic American diners. Large and juicy hotdogs are sandwiched in soft buns then topped with diced pickles and relish, ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard.

Filling, meaty with a bit of tanginess from the pickle and relish, this hotdog goes a long way towards satisfying anyone’s hunger pangs.

Kraver’s Insanitea (Php59 cup | Php170 liter).

Kraver’s Kanteen own house-blend iced tea, a fitting companion to the Burger Jack’s burgers and sandwiches.

Whether you’re looking for a mid-day meal or midnight snack, or anything in between, Burger Jack’s got you covered!

Order now from Burger Jack through Kraver’s Kanteen’s website or via GrabFood.

Kraver’s Kanteen also houses Let’s Get Litson which specializes in litson baka. Read more about it here.

Other brands housed by Kraver’s Kanteen include:

Black Kimchi
Breakfast for 2
Century Tuna
Cloud Cakes and Shakes
El Nacho Libre
House of Rendang
Kyoto Sushi Bake
Osaka Cafe
Potatoville
Rico’s Lechon
Sheikh’s Kabab
Tokyo Don
Wicked Waffle

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature story.

Crowd faves from Ping Pong Diplomacy, now back and available for delivery

Do you remember the part in the movie Forrest Gump where, after recovering from battle injuries, our hero became proficient in table tennis, joined the US Army Team, and even competed against Chinese teams during a goodwill tour.

That exchange of ping pong players between the US and China in the 1970s is a depiction of ping pong diplomacy. This paved the way for normalizing relations between the two countries then at opposite ends of ideological spectrum – the US and the People’s Republic of China – and aided in the stabilization of global politics.

This historical snippet just goes to show that it’s oftentimes better to work together to achieve mutual benefit than to always oppose each other.

In much the same way, Chinese and American cuisines found a way to work together with the return of Ping Pong Diplomacy as a cloud kitchen at The Grid Food Market.

It brought back crowd favorites from its previous store that are now served in aluminum trays good for sharing for two to three people (reheating instructions included!). These are great when enjoyed at home or wherever the adventurous foodie may be in the metro.

These best-selling dishes include:

Dan Dan Rice (Php515). Japanese fried rice is stir-fried with the house Dan Dan paste and oil, along with squash, green peas, shiitake and ground pork, then served with two fried eggs, crispy chicken skin and crushed peanuts.

To reheat:

Option 1: Transfer to a microwavable container and heat in the microwave in high heat for one minute.
Option 2: Remove the egg and stir-fry the rice in a hot pan until heated through.

Simple Fried Egg (Php290). Four crispy deep-fried eggs topped with pork floss, hoisin sauce, crispy chicken skin, sauteed shallot, chili and spring onions.

To reheat:

Heat for three to five minutes in an oven or toaster pre-heated to 270 deg F (132 deg C).

Not Mapo Tofu (Php475). A new twist on the classic Mapo Tofu dish wherein steamed soy custard is covered in house mapo tofu sauce then topped with fried leeks, ground pork, sesame seeds and ground Szechuan peppercorns.

To reheat:

Option 1: Remove plastic lid and cover the tray with aluminum foil, then steam for 10-15 minutes until the tofu is warm.
Option 2: Partially submerge the container in hot water for ten minutes until the tofu is warm. Leave at least one inch from the top to avoid getting water on the tofu.

With local culinary greats like Chefs Him Uy de Baron and Noel Mauricio helming Ping Ping Diplomacy’s kitchen, food lovers can expect more of the exciting blend of Chinese and American flavors that they love from Ping Pong Diplomacy.

Ping Pong Diplomacy is open for pickup and delivery at thegridfoodmarket.com or bit.ly/shop-ppd. It will also soon be available for dine-in at Stall 8 at The Grid Food Market, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati.

To know more about its offers, follow Ping Pong Diplomacy on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Antipolo Resto: Yellow Bird Cafe x Kitchen

Up in the suburbs of Antipolo is a refreshing and delicious escape from the urban jungle called Yellow Bird Cafe x Kitchen.

I discovered this when I took my parental units out on an Antipolo joyride (!) as my advanced birthday treat for my dad.

To be honest, I was supposed to take my parents to another cafe in Antipolo but had to make a last-minute change of plans upon finding out that the other cafe’s premises might not be suitable for seniors.

With only minutes to spare, I scanned my Facebook feed for a place where the parental units would be more comfortable and I came upon Yellow Bird Cafe x Kitchen.

So, together with my daughter #ExhibitA, I picked up the seniors and off we went to this Antipolo resto which is luckily a mere twenty-minute drive away from our homes in Pasig.

The cafe is a welcome surprise that will greet your eyes as you turn from the busy highway and take your pick among the available parking spaces around the bend. From outside, the lush greenery surrounding the glass-walled structure looks both picturesque and inviting.

Since the restaurant is operating only on a fraction of its original capacity, there is already a queue of people waiting to be seated by the time we got there, despite the considerable seating spaces in both the ground and upper floors, as well as in the al fresco area.

As I have seniors in my party, we were seated at the al fresco area on the other side of street from the main dining hall. While this dining space may be quite hot during the early afternoon of our visit, the discomfort is somewhat eased by the presence of plants artfully arranged around the place.

Our light and delicious afternoon repast included:

Potato Wedges (Php130). Thick, deep-fried wedges of potatoes lightly seasoned with salt and pepper.

YB Nachos (Php210). Crisp toasted nachos drizzled with melted cheese and topped with sauteed beef, tomatoes, green onions and parmesan.

Club Sandwich (Php195). Two layers of sliced ham and chicken, lettuce and tomato in creamy dressing in between slices of toasted homemade bread, and served with a side of YB Nachos.

Wagyu Cheeseburger (Php365). Thick grilled patty of Wagyu beef topped with melted cheese and sandwiched together with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and burger sauce in between lightly toasted and buttered homemade burger buns, served with a side of YB Nachos.

Grandma’s Chocolate Cake (Php155). Decadent chocolatey treat made with chocolate sponge cake covered in rich milk chocolate icing and topped with dark chocolate shavings with thin layers of caramel filling inside.

Sans Rival (Php165). Alternating layers of buttercream, meringue and chopped cashews made even more special with the addition of white chocolate.

Despite the nearing holiday season, it was quite a hot and humid afternoon, so we ordered these drinks to cool down.

In between delicious bites, my daughter and I were able to catch up with the news from my mom and dad.

Dad also seemed happy with his birthday blowout!

If you want to have a quick escape from the metro for a foodie adventure, do check this place out!

Yellow Bird Cafe x Kitchen is located at Lot 3 Blk 2, Mission Hills Blvd., Mission Hills Subd., San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal. It is open weekdays from 9am to 8pm and weekends from 7am to 8pm.

Call +63 925 7155287 for inquiries, and follow Yellow Bird on Facebook and Instagram to get updates.

Here and there: Shake Shack

Oh yes, burger joints do abound all over the world and diners have their choice of where to get their burger fix.

The challenge, really, is for the burger establishment to have something extra going for it that will drive people to seek it out, try its offerings and (hopefully!) come back for more.

While it started out as a roadside food stall (that didn’t even sell burgers!) in Manhattan, Shake Shack has evolved into a burger eatery with a fine dining mentality, where high quality versions of the usual burger joint offerings are served up in a more upscale setting.

During a family trip to the US nearly three years ago, we decided to have our lunch at ShakeShack’s outlet along Hollywood Boulevard.

It seemed to be a popular joint as we had to line up for a few minutes before getting to the counter.

We tried an assortment of burgers such as the ShackBurger (ShakeShack’s famous cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce), the Shroom Burger (crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melter muenster and cheddar cheese topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce), and the SmokeShack (cheeseburger with Applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShakeSauce) which we all found to be very tasty and filling enough to fuel us for the rest of our sightseeing that day.

Of course our order wouldn’t have been complete without ShakeShacks crinkle-cut fries and shakes.

It was among the foodie experiences that we had in the States that we wish could be replicated back home in the Philippines.

And wouldn’t you know it: by the time we got back to Manila, Shake Shack was already here!

It opened its first store in Bonifacio Global City in May 2019, a second branch in SM Mega Fashion Hall in December of the same year, a third one in Greenbelt Makati in October 2020, and finally, a fourth outlet in Alabang Town Center in July 2021.

Well, life got in the way so we haven’t been able to visit any of these local outlets from the time we got back, until Hubby and I went on an errand run in SM Megamall recently.

There, we espied Shake Shack’s sprawling premises while we were walking around, and decided to have lunch right then and there.

While I decided to go for a ShackBurger, Hubby went for a Chick’n Shack (crispy-fried chicken breast with lettuce, pickles and buttermilk herb mayo).

To complete our meal, we also got some crinkle-cut fries and softdrinks.

Because of COVID restrictions, there were not a lot of people in the place (only fully vaccinated people can dine in) and just a fraction of the store’s capacity is allowed to be used.

Now that the restrictions are loosening, I hope I can bring the kids over soon so we can relive one of our fun-filled adventures.

Shake Shack’s outlets are located in the following areas:

Central Square, Bonifacio Global City (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 82553240)
Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 83664059)
Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati (open daily from 10am to 9pm | Tel +63 2 79336824)
Corte de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center (open daily from 10am to 8pm)

Shake Shack also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

3 ways Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina is perfect for your family holiday gathering

It’s been a year and a half into the global pandemic, and we are just now feeling some loosening of the many restrictions.

With the Metro Manila recently de-escalated to Alert Level 2, kids are now allowed out of doors, emerging from more than a year of being stuck at home.

With Christmas just around the corner, extended families are surely looking forward to the time they can all gather together and catch up.

I know just the perfect venue for such gatherings: Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina.

Let me tell you why:

1. Going there is like being welcomed into a family home.

Mang Ding’s is located in a quiet neighborhood in Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina.

Restaurant owner Dindo Cleofas inherited his father’s (the original Mang Ding) love of grilling and wanted a restaurant where he can continue his father’s legacy as well as have a place where he can relax and chill with friends. Together with his wife, Dotie, he converted their home’s garden area into an outdoor dining space where he can serve customers his specialities, hot and fresh from the grill.

The space is shielded from the elements by a roofed pergola and surrounded by lush greenery, most of which were planted and nurtured by their family.

This open-air dining area is well-ventilated, equipped with fans to keep the air circulating and the surrounding plants adding refreshing color and coolness to space.

Walking into Mang Ding’s feels like visiting your favorite tita’s house; it’s a place where you feel right at home.

2. It can serve as your kids’ introduction to Pinoy comfort and street food.

A few months ago, I brought my parents here for dinner and upon seeing and tasting the familiar Filipino comfort food served to us, both my mom and dad waxed nostalgic about the dishes they grew up with. They regaled my daughter with stories about their foodie adventures back in the day.

If your kiddos are the “just fry me a hotdog, Mommy” type, it may be high time to introduce them to the simple yet sublime joys of good, down-home Pinoy cooking. You can be sure that lolos, lolas, titos and titas will waste no time in telling stories about their own experiences with Pinoy comfort food during your family party, and will help instill among the little ones healthy respect and appreciation for our culinary heritage.

You can count on Mang Ding’s to bring to the table an array of MALINIS, MASARAP at MURA dishes such as:

Ensaladang Talong (Php75).

Sizzling Tokwa Special (Php160).

Quarter Leg Chicken BBQ (Php150).

Boneless Chicken BBQ (Php180).

Isaw Manok (Php20).

BBQ Platter (Php575).

Boneless Bangus Overload (Php265).

Pompano (Php380).

Grilled Pusit (Php425).

Tuna Panga (Php485).

And if the children still want the hotdogs, longganisas and fried chicken that they’re familiar with, you can still accommodate their requests here, and even give them a sweet treat for dessert.

Grilled TJ Jumbo Hotdog (Php50).

Grilled Longganisa (Php55).

McJolly Pakpak (Php225 half kilo | Php400 kilo).

Belgian Chocolate (Php150 slice).

Since good food help spark great conversations and great moments, your fam is in for a memorable experience when you hold your get-together at Mang Ding’s.

3. You can enjoy its tasty dishes at home.

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the get-together. You can bring home the yummy Pinoy BBQ at home with you, thanks to this handy box. For just Php599, you get fifteen sticks of Mang Ding’s signature barbecue and isaw served with grilled corn as well as calamansi and siling labuyo for the dipping sauce.

On the other hand, if your family opted for a virtual reunion, you can still partake of the same meal during your Zoom party by sending them Mang Ding’s Ready-to-Grill Pinoy BBQ packs (basting and dipping sauce included) that they can cook at home in a jiffy.

These include, among others:

Liempo (Php360/500g).

Pork BBQ (Php600/20pcs) and Isaw Manok (Php460/20pcs).

Chicharon Bulaklak (Php325/500g).

So whether your clan decides to have a physical get-together or a virtual party over the holiday season and beyond, Mang Ding’s is surely your best bet!

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City, open for dine-in, pickup and delivery on Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays for 11am to 10.30pm.

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering or book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks by calling +63 916 2853031.

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