restaurant review – Page 52 – Jellybeans in the City

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Japanese food faves at Hanako, SM Pasig

Japanese restaurant Hanako got its name from a popular female given name in Japan which translates to “flower girl.”

Coincidentally, I recently dined at its SM Pasig branch after an all-girl’s outing with my mom and my daughter #ExhibitA. At this restaurant, we were able to sample tasty and authentic Japanese dishes which are also easy on the pocket (and made even easier by Zomato Gold… more on that later).

This outlet brings the color and vibrancy of Japanese street eateries inside the mall, attracting diners with its boldly colored banners and food posters.

Japanese food remains among my family’s favorite cuisines. We love the simple yet strong flavors and the contrast in textures that make each bite tasty and interesting.

Take our lunch orders for example:

Salmon Tartare (Php224). Small pieces of salmon mixed in mayonnaise, togarashi (Japanese chili pepper), tempura flakes and chopped scallions. A delicious start to the meal!

Ebi Tempura (Php279). Five large prawns battered then deep fried to a beautiful golden brown, then served with tempura dipping sauce. A mainstay in many of the fam’s Japanese meals!

(Trivia: Did you know that the method of preparing tempura was introduced in Japan by Portuguese Jesuits in the mid-16th century?)

Chicken Karaage (Php199). Boneless chicken thigh pieces are marinated in a mixture of ginger and soy sauce, then coated with starch and deep fried before being served with a side of Japanese mayo for its dipping sauce.

(Trivia: Did you know that in the US, chicken karaage is sometimes called JFC, or Japanese Fried Chicken?)

Tonkatsu (Php219). A juicy piece of pork cutlet, seasoned then panko-coated and deep-fried, then served with a salad of shredded cabbage and katsu sauce. How can you go wrong with this dish?

(Trivia: Did you know that ton translates to “pork” and katsu – a shortened form of katsuretsu – is a transliteration of the word “cutlet?”)

Chahan (Php79). Flavorful dish of rice stir-fried in a wok with some minced meat and chopped vegetables.

Our lunch of our favorite Japanese food is a happy cap to an outing of three generations!

This Hanako branch is located at SM Center Pasig, Frontera Drive, Bgy. Ugong, Pasig, open daily from 10am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5848708.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Regis Center, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Second Floor, The Rock Lifestyle Hub, Holy Spirit Drive, Bgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City
131 C. Armstrong Avenue, Moonwalk Village Phase 1, Paranaque
30-C Dona Soledad Avenue, Don Bosco, Paranaque

Classic Negrense cuisine at JT’s Manukan Grille, Tomas Morato

One particularly rainy day, a coworker was craving for barbecue for lunch. Well, for me, barbecue as the main highlight of the lunch meal would be too basic (Yes, sometimes, I’m a diva like that!)

After much debate, our group decided to have lunch at the nearby JT’s Manukan Grille to get the best of both worlds. She can have the pork barbecue she has been craving for while I get to experience authentic Bacolod chicken inasal.

The restaurant was started by award-winning character actor Joel Torre (hence the name “JT”) and his wife, Cristy. From its humble beginnings as a takeout counter, the brand has grown to eighteen outlets all over the metro.

The restaurant operates on four principles: masarap (delicious), mura (affordable), malinis (clean) and masaya (happy). All of these principles came into play during our meal.

Located at the corner of Sgt. Esguerra Avenue and Scout Borromeo Street, the restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating areas. It is marked by decor that denote its Negrense origins such as the Masskara masks painted on the walls and its association with the actor such as movie posters and that fun wall mural that offers a fresh take on The Last Supper that adorn many Filipino dining rooms.

Chicken inasal is made of chicken pieces marinated in a mixture of calamansi, pepper, coconut vinegar and annatto then grilled over hot coals while being basted with the marinade.

Our orders included Paa (chicken leg and thigh – Php120), Pecho (chicken breast and wing – Php135) and Pork Barbecue (Php35 per stick), which we enjoyed together with lots of chicken oil, the soy sauce with calamansi and chili pepper dipping sauce, flavorful garlic rice and bowl of hot broth.

I also got myself an Allmytea Iced Tea (Php50 for single serve | Php70 bottomless) which is a good partner for the inasal.

See? Sometimes, we can have the best of both worlds!

This JT’s Manukan Grille branch is located at Scout Borromeo corner Scout Ybardolosa Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9288085.

Other branches in Metro Manila are located in:

Quezon City: Valencia, Banawe, Libis, Eton Centris, Novaliches, Project 8, Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Blue Ridge
Makati City: Bel Air, Makati Central Square
BGC: Justice Drive, Sapphire Residence Tower
Pasig: Ortigas Home Depot
Manila: Ermita
Paranaque: Victory Food Market

Gong Cha, Tomas Morato

The name Gong Cha (“the emperor” and “contributed” in Chinese) denotes “the best tea contributed to the king from all possessions.” it now translates to the store’s central philosophy: to treats its customers as emperors and provide them with only the best products.

While the area in Tomas Morato is now teeming with milk tea shops, for the longest time, it was only Gong Cha in Il Terrazzo Mall that my officemates and I were aware of.

Recently, after lunch nearby with my officemates, I opted to drop by and give in to my personal milk tea obsession: to taste each milk tea shop’s version of pearl milk tea with salted cream.

At Gong Cha, this takes the form of Milk Tea with Pearl Jelly (Php85) topped with Gong Cha House Special Milk Cream (Php42).

Gong Cha’s pearl milk tea is made from premium tea leaves freshly brewed every day and served with chewy tapioca pearls. The special salted cream that tops my drink is rich and frothy, definitely complementing the tea’s flavor.

I enjoyed myself with this drink as my well-deserved afternoon indulgence at work.

This Gong Cha branch is located at Second Floor, Il Terrazzo Mall, Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Cyberpark Tower 1, Shopwise Araneta, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, SM Sta. Mesa, Fisher Mall, Trinoma Mall, SKY Garden and Main Building SM North EDSA, SM Sun Mall, Amoranto Street – Banawe, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, SM City Fairview, Ayala Fairview Terraces
Pasig: L&Y Plaza Ugong, Ortigas Technopoint, Ayala Feliz,
Marikina: SM City Marikina
San Juan: Theater Mall Greenhills Shopping Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Santolan Town Plaza
Mandaluyong: Greenfield District, SM Light Mall, Forum Robinsons
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall, SM Aura Premier, Vista Mall Taguig, Fort Victoria Building, Venice Grand Canal Mall
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Glorietta 1, Glorietta 4, SM Jazz Mall, SM Makati, Landmark, Greenbelt Hamilton Tower, San Lorenzo Place Condominium, Shell Magallanes
Pasay: Newport City, Met Live Mall, MOA Arena, Entertainment Mall MOA, SM by the Bay
Manila: 2 Torre Lorenzo, The One Grand Centre, SM City Manila, Robinsons Place Manila, SM City San Lazaro, G-2 Avenue of the Arts, Lucky Chinatown
Caloocan: SM City Sangandaan
Paranaque: SM City BF, SM City Sucat,
Valenzuela: SM City Valenzuela
Las Pinas: The Village Square Alabang, SM Southmall, Vista Mall Las Pinas, Evia Lifestyle Center
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Friendly meetup at Camp Curry, Ayala Triangle Gardens

Every time my friend Tina returns to the country, we try to get together to catch up. This has long-standing has been going on for some years now.

While we gravitate towards our favorite places in the Greenbelt and Glorietta areas for our meetups, every once in a while, we like to shake things up by trying out a new restaurant.

This time, I suggested we meet up at Camp Curry, the camping-themed restaurant in Ayala Triangle. This eatery’s interiors attempt to bring the outdoors inside through all the camping paraphernalia.

Armed with GCs I received from a previous event, I treated Tina to tasty dinner.

Now, as its name implies, Camp Curry specializes in dishes with curry. However, since Tina and I are not too crazy over curry, what we got ourselves for our meal instead included:

BBQ Pork Belly with Rice (Php249) and BBQ Beef and Mashed Potatoes (Php310). Tender pieces of meat freshly cooked right on the grill in the open kitchen and served with fluffy and creamy mashed potatoes (Tina had her mashed potatoes replaced with rice).

Camp’s French Toast (Php150). Milk infused bread dipped into egg batter then toasted in a hot iron skillet, dashed with a cinnamon mix and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Mango Lassi (Php150). Pureed mango is added to a spiced yogurt drink, resulting to a sweetly exotic drink.

The meal turned a habitual get-together between two friends into a gastronomic adventure!

Thanks to Camp Curry for the GCs!

This Camp Curry branch is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8516730.

Another branch is located at Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Our meal was sponsored by Camp Curry in the form of gift certificates I received.

Gelato break at Cara Mia, Robinsons Galleria

It seems that no matter the weather, frozen treats are a sure bet. Whether your find yourself in the midst of a sweltering summer or wet monsoon season, you can always take comfort in something cold and sweet.

Take gelato, for example.

This dessert which originated from Italy has become a mainstay in the Pinoy dessert scene. And why shouldn’t it? Made with a base of milk, gelato uses a lot less cream than ice cream, resulting in a denser and creamier dessert.

Premium gelato brand Cara Mia (“my dear” in Italian) got its start when Fr. Gianluigi Colombo, the Salesian Priest who started Amici di Don Bosco in Makati started selling gelato in one of the sections of the cafeteria style restaurant when it opened in 2001, in effect making it among the first to offer this kind of dessert to Pinoys.

Years later, Cara Mia was spun off into a separate brand with its own stores all over the metro, such as the kiosk in Robinsons Galleria that my son and I visited when we were in the mood for dessert after our steak lunch.

We gave up trying to walk off the calories and just opted to sit down at the kiosk and relax with our chosen cup of gelato.

I got myself a Coffee Mudslide (Php95), a sweet treat fortified by espresso shots incorporated in the gelato.

My son got a cup of Cookies and Cream (Php95), rich vanilla gelato interspersed with Oreo crumbs, definitely one of his favorites!

What a lovely end to meal and a way for mom-and-son to spend some quiet time together!

This Cara Mia branch is located at Level 2 Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Other branches include: Ayala Malls Feliz, Greenhills, Don Bosco, Tomas Morato, Ayala Triangle, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Manila, Estancia Mall, Trinoma, Fairview Terraces, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Greenhills Promenade, Festival Mall, Gateway Mall, Venice Grand Mall and Uptown Bonifacio

Cara Mia products can also be enjoyed inside Amici stores such as UP Ayala Technohub, SM Mega Atrium, SM North EDSA The Block and Katipunan Avenue.

Pinoy comfort food at Goto Tendon, Tomas Morato

Would you believe that Tomas Morato’s newest gotohan and paresan came about partly out of boredom?

As the story goes, Jenny Penaloza was feeling bored having given up her career to become a full-time mom. Her husband John then suggested making a business out of her culinary specialty: the goto.

Goto is a type of gruel dish popular in the country made with glutinous rice and beef tripe, simmered in a ginger-based broth.

The recipe was taught to Jenny by John’s grandmother, Lola Nena Penaloza. Since then, she has been tweaking the recipe until she decided to launch the goto restaurant her husband suggested.

Having heard good things from my officemates about this gotohan nearby, I decided to join my friends at Goto Tendon for lunch.

Our meal consisted of:

Goto Tendon (Php158 for small | Php198 for large). Based on this dish, among the tweaks that Jenny applied to traditional goto recipe is the addition of imported US tendon and quail eggs, making the porridge even heartier.

Beef Tendon Pares (Php158) and Sizzling Beef Tendon Pares (Php178). The traditional pares (beef stew paired with soup and garlic rice) is further enhanced with imported US tendon. It can be served as is or on a sizzling plate.

Tokwa’t Baboy (Php118). Fried tofu with pork bits served in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, chopped onions and chili peppers. This went so well with the goto tendon.

Considering that this was my first taste of beef pares (I had taste of lamb pares later in the week at ALTA by Relik), I’d say the experience was not bad at all. I wouldn’t mind returning for another taste of beef pares, especially with those chewy and flavorful bits of tendon!

This Goto Tendon branch is located at 49 Scout Tobias Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 3am and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 5am. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 518 5527.

Other branches are located at:

Maysilo Circle, Plainview, Mandaluyong City
Food Court, Ground Floor, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan City
Bayani Road corner T. Arguelles Street, Galas, Quezon City

Thai Milk Tea at Cha Tuk Chak, Greenhills

You could probably say that milk tea flows through my veins. With the exception of coffee, it has replaced all other beverages as my go-to drink when I go out or when I feel like having something delivered.

While I was planning my shopping trip in Greenhills this morning, I remembered to check my MetroDeal app for good deals in the area. I chanced upon the 40% off on Cha Tuk Chak drinks: in effect, I get Php165 worth of drinks for only Php99.

Thinking that I could probably bring home some for the kiddies, I got myself two of these Metro Deal vouchers which I presented to the Cha Tuk Chak branch in Greenhills after my brief shopping spree.

Thai Milk Tea is not as prevalent as its Taiwanese counterpart, which is kind of a shame, really. The difference mainly lies in its use of condensed milk. Add in the black tea leaves from Thailand that Cha Tuk Chak uses and you’ve got yourself a fresh set of flavors to like.

Today, I brought home:

Cha Yen (Php110/Php125). Thailand’s signature smooth and creamy orange-tinged milk tea.

Nom Yen (Php120/Php135). A Thai drink made of local palm sala syrup and milk.

Koko Yen (Php110/Php125). A gourmet dark chocolate drink crafted the Thai way.

Imagine the kids’ delight when I came home with these in tow!

And thanks to MetroDeal, I got these drinks for only Php208!

Want discounts on food, travel and entertainment around the metro? Download the MetroDeal app today! Use my code MDAJ40356 upon checkout to get additional Php50 off your first purchase.

This Cha Tuk Chak branch is located at Ground Floor, Lifestyle Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Centre, San Juan City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Paseo Center, Paseo De Roxas Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Devour Food Hub, 1216 E. Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
The Rock Lifestyle Hub, Holy Spirit Drive, Holy Spirit, Quezon City
Third Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila
120 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City
Pobstacion Food Park, B. Valdez Street, Poblacion, Makati City
Upper Ground Floor, The Parkway, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Dish 101, Pearl Plaza, Pearl Drive, Ortigas, Pasig City

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Zen dining experience at ICHO Japanese Restaurant, Greenhills

Located along the busy Annapolis Street, no more than a minute’s ride after turning right from the traffic-infested EDSA is a haven for Japanese food lovers.

ICHO Japanese Restaurant is named after the gingko trees in Japan. Known to be highly resilient as they can withstand pollution and salt in their native environment, they also beautify their surroundings and as well as provide nourishment and medicinal benefits.

ICHO brings the metro’s diners a piece of the serenity that gingko trees have come to symbolize through its calm and peaceful premises. Lightwood furniture, a tatami area and simple murals against concrete walls create a Zen-like atmosphere with which to enjoy the restaurant’s food creations.

The restaurant’s menu, designed by Executive Chef Rico Panoy, showcases the versatility and artistry of Japanese cuisine. The mix and match of ingredients as well as the time-honored cooking methods produce a well-curated list of dishes that appeal to both the eyes and the palate.

Together with my fellow foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited ICHO Japanese Restaurant and sampled some of its bestsellers which include:

Drinks: Icho Iced Tea (Php100), Matcha Milk Smoothie (Php200), Ripe Mango Shake (Php110) and Watermelon Shake (Php110).

Kani Salad (Php235). Crabsticks with Japanese cucumber and bits of mango that features the interesting interplay of salty-sweet flavors.

Spicy Tuna Salad (Php340). Spicy tuna tartar served with mixed greens. This one has quite a spicy kick but diners can always request for the spiciness to be toned down while ordering.

Hiroshima Kaki Motoyaki (Php285). Baked oysters with creamy mayonnaise-based sauce. Very rich and flavorful!

Sashimi Goru Mori (Php720). Five kinds of sashimi which illustrate the freshness of the ingredients and the chef’s mastery of presentation. I may have developed a taste for sea urchin because of this dish!

Salmon Saikyo Miso Aburi (Php110/pc). Lightly grilled pieces of salmon on top of sushi rice topped with sweet miso paste.

Foie Gras Aburi (Php250/pc). Lightly broiled goose liver with balsamic teriyaki sauce on top of sushi rice. Definitely a tasty indulgence!

Icho Roll (Php260). The house specialty maki sushi that has the right combination of textures and flavors that got me reaching for more.

Chef’s Special Nabe Hot Pot (Php695). Mixed seafood and assorted vegetables in light uni broth. Simple in taste and presentation but very comforting.

Robata Platter (Php885). Mixed grilled meat, seafood and vegetable skewers which include tender wagyu cubes and the resto’s namesake: gingko biloba!

Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich (Php300). A delightful confection made of vanilla ice cream in between slices of chocolate and vanilla sponge cake with mochi. A sweet and fitting end to a lovely meal!

So the next time you have a hankering for tasty Japanese food, head to ICHO where you can enjoy it Zen-like surroundings.

Many thanks to Chef Panoy, JM Tan and the crew of ICHO for the warm welcome and delicious food!

ICHO Japanese Restaurant is located at 6 Annapolis Street corner Purdue Street, Greenhills, San Juan City, open daily from 11am to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 535 0020 or +63 917 1346027.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended 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.

Premium milk tea at The Alley, SM North EDSA

Another Taiwan-based milk tea brand has come to our shores and it couldn’t be more welcome.

The Alley is famous for its Brown Sugar Deerioca Series, more commonly known as brown sugar pearls in creamy fresh milk. It opened its first branch in SM Mall of Asia in May of this year under a bit of controversy, given that there are some similarly named milk tea shops already operating around the metro.

Deerioca is actually The Alley’s version of the chewy, handcrafted tapioca pearls cooked in first-rate brown sugar, the kind that adds a new dimension of flavor to the drink. And in case you’re wondering, the Deerioca pearls take their name from the deer featured in The Alley’s logo. (As for why a deer is featured in the logo, that’s a question for another day. :-))

During one of our forays in SM North EDSA, just after our #happylunch, my boss and I spied the relatively newly opened branch of The Alley near the entrance.

And I thought: why not have a milk tea drink for dessert?

And that is how we went back to the office with The Alley drinks in tow.

Currently obsessed with milk teas topped with cheese foam, I got myself a Snow Velvet Deerioca Tea Latte (Php130). Aside from the inclusion of The Alley’s Signature tapioca pearls, it is topped with a thick layer of salted cheese foam.

My boss went for a simpler drink: The Alley Milk Tea (Php100) which provides a fuss-free milk tea experience.

The Alley’s milk tea drinks are characterized by a smooth and premium mouthfeel and the full-bodied taste of freshly brewed loose-leaf tea. I would say it’s worth the price and effort to go to SM North EDSA and buy this premium milk tea treat every once in a while.

This branch of The Alley is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Another branch is located at Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints: