samgyeopsal – Jellybeans in the City

Samgyup Time at Leann’s Teahouse, Tomas Morato

For quite some time, Leann’s Teahouse has been one of the go-to places for Korean BBQ for me and my officemates.

Located a short distance from my workplace, it’s where we can get our K-BBQ cravings satisfied.

For only Php499 per person, we can enjoy all the samgyupsal and woosamgyup out hearts desire, as well as the side dishes we so love.

Once, my friends and I applied a Booky discount and we ended up just paying Php375 each! Quite a good deal, yes?

Plus, this resto’s Bibimbap (Php210) and Spicy Pork (Php220) are not to be missed.

When the community quarantine is lifted and I’m back to reporting to my office, a silver lining would be the chance to eat here with my samgyup co-conspirators again.

How are you K-BBQ fans on quarantine? Missing your favorite freshly grilled samgyeopsal and woosamgyup yet?

The good news for you K-BBQ lovers in Quezon City is that you can enjoy these at home as Leann’s Tea House has made available frozen meats by the kilo, marinades, dips, appetizers, noodles, rice and kimbaps for pickup and delivery.

Leann’s Tea House is located at 105-R Mother Ignacia Corner Sct. Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries and to place your orders, send a message via Facebook, Viber +63 917 3240959 or call +63 2 7916356.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

A new Korean food haunt – Yoo’s Korean BBQ, Ortigas

For some time now, I’ve been singing the praises of one of my first and favorite Korean BBQ joints in the metro: Jang Ga Nae along Escriva Drive in Ortigas Center.

That was where I had my first real taste of Korean food like samgyeopsal, woosamgyup, bibimbap and tteokbokki. Whenever the fam had a craving for Korean food, Jang Ga Nae was on top of the list.

Imagine my family’s dismay late last year when we went there, eager for our Korean food fest, and then discovered that it was closed and the place was being renovated.

Well, months later, we got to meet its successor: Yoo’s Korean BBQ, which now occupies the space vacated by Jang Ga Nae.

It also offers many of our faves from Jang Ga Nae (apparently, it’s Jang Ga Nae under a different name… and maybe under new management?)

Whatever the reason for the change of name, we’re just glad we are still able to enjoy the Korean BBQ fare we love.

It has an unli offer which includes refillable servings of Bacon Pork Belly, Sliced Pork Belly, Chicken Fillet, Beef Shortplate and Beef Bulgogi for just Php445 per person, refillable banyan (side dishes included).

We also ordered our go-to Korean dishes such as Dolsot Bibimbap (mixed rice and veggies in a stone pot – Php350) and Jeukbokeum (spicy pan-fried pork – Php350).

After our very satisfying meal, we went to Yoo’s Korean Grocery next door and got ourselves some Korean ice cream. Yum!

With the metro under the Enhanced Community Quarantine, we were worried that our family’s enjoyment of Korean BBQ would be curtailed.

Thankfully, Yoo’s Korean Grocery offers pre-packed frozen meats and other items for pickup or delivery. The other day, Hubby and I got a 500g of Beef Bulgogi, a kilo of Fishcakes and a bag of Korean rice which we incorporated into our Samgyupsal-at-Home last night. We grilled the Beef Bulgogi along with some Bacon-Cut Pork Belly from the supermarket, while my daughter #ExhibitA whipped up some Gimbap (Korean sushi rolls) using the Korean rice and some Deokbokki (Spicy Fishcakes and Ricecakes).

Well, now we know that we don’t have to break quarantine (or the bank!) to enjoy our Korean food faves.

Yoo’s Korean BBQ is located at Ground Floor 8137 Plaza, Escriva Drive, Barangay San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila. For inquiries, reservations or to order for delivery, call +63 2 6336960, +63 956 5164926 or +63 998 9311113.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Took a ride on Seoul Train Korean BBQ, Tomas Morato

Don’t worry: this ain’t the train to Busan.

This is Seoul Train Korean BBQ, oppas and unnis, the resto with the back of a green train for its facade along Sgt. Esguerra Street in Quezon City.

Last Thursday, I took a ride with my fellow foodies on a gastronomic adventure during Seoul Train’s #ChewChewThursday Media Event to mark its reopening after it was temporarily closed for renovations at the end of last year.

There, I seemingly took a quick trip in SoKor as I explored the resto’s unique interiors, from its train station-like hallway, its cabin-type dining area and the downtown Gangnam feel of its upper floor which houses a mini-mall selling K-Pop items.

Seoul Train was the brainchild of renowned concert producers Happy Sy-Go and Vernon Go. The resto’s design concept and menu is a fusion of their love for great food and traveling.

During the event, Seoul Train launched several things that Korean food lovers are sure to love:

The upgrade to smokeless charcoal grills which takes away much of the “amoy usok” we associate with Korean BBQ joints. During grilling, the smoke is sucked away by the built-in vents, greatly reducing the smoke.

The inclusion of new dishes in the menu such as Jajamyeong (black bean noodles), Tteokbokki (rice cakes in spicy sauce), Dakbal (spicy chicken feet), Tangerine Chicken, Naejantang (beef tripe and intestines in broth) and Kimchi Godeungo-Tongjorim Jigae (spicy fish stew).

The introduction of the Dosirak, Korean bento meals available for take out. K-food lovers can choose from nine different dishes – Dry Beef Bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi, Yangnyeom Galbi, LA Galbi, Samgyeopsal, Ssamjang Samgyeopsal, Dak Gui and Bul Dak Gui – and enjoy their choice of viand along with rice, kimchi and fishcake.

With such exciting new additions to its facilities and menu, Seoul Train is the destination for Korean food lovers.

Many thanks to Jillian Subido of Pulp Media for the invitation and the management and crew of Seoul Train for the fun event!

Seoul Train Korean BBQ is located at 28 Sgt. Esguerra Street, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 2.30pm and from 5.30pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82872446 or +63 917 7722203.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a media event held in this restaurant. The food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unli Samgyupsal at Oh My Samgyup, Tomas Morato

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what are you waiting for?

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

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Korean BBQ Lunch at Geonbae, Tomas Morato

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

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

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

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

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.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Three reasons to get your K-bbq fill at Woorijib, Tomas Morato

Korean barbecue joints have been popping up all over the metro, most offering unli meats as part of their come-on to diners.

Personally, I get excited everytime a new one opens simply because it’s another place where I can satisfy my craving for freshly grilled premium meats.

Well, the newly opened K-bbq resto in the Tomas Morato area has a lot more going for it. Check out these three reasons why you will opt to go Woorijib Home of Korean Buffet to satisfy your Korean barbecue craving.

One: Its sprawling premises won’t make you feel fenced in.

Being located in a newly constructed building in Scout Borromeo sure is working for Woorijib. “Woorijib” means “home” in Korean and the place makes you feel the comforts of home as soon as you enter.

Its dining area can comfortably seat up to a hundred diners and there’s space left for photo opps (with Korean costumes, to boot) against a colorful background and a spot for musical entertainment.

Two: Its selection of unli meats will satisfy the carnivore in you.

Make sure to bring your appetite with you when you visit Woorijib because its meat combos are sure to leave you well satisfied. Consider:

3 Meat Combo (Php299/person). Consists of plain, spicy, sweet and kal (fattier pieces)pork samgyeopsal, along with 7 unli side dishes, rice and soup.

6 Meat Combo (Php399/person). Consists of plain, spicy and sweet pork samgyeopsal, mokshimsal, along with rice, soup, iced tea, unli side dishes from the buffet and dessert.

12 Meat Combo (Php599/person). Consists of plain, spicy and sweet pork samgyeopsal, mokshimsal, apdari sal, deungshimsal, plain and spicy beef belly, beef bulgogi, spicy chicken and chicken bulgogi, along with rice, soup, iced tea, cheese, unli side dishes from the buffet and dessert. Plus, 1 serving of chamsekal samgyeopsal and a round of your choice of cocktails or mocktails.

All Beef Combo (Php699/ person). Consists of galbisal, plain and spicy beef belly, beef kal samgyeopsal, and bulgogi, along with rice, soup, iced tea, cheese, unli side dishes from the buffet and dessert. Plus, 1 serving of chamsekal samgyeopsal and a round of your choice of cocktails or mocktails.

The meat cuts are quite premium and are immediately refilled by the attentive wait staff. The resto’s smokeless grills also ensure that you and your companions won’t leave the place smelling like you’ve been roasted, too, hahaha!

Note that these combos have a 2-hour limit, with no take outs. Leftovers will be charged Php499/person.

Three: Use my code and get 10% off your food bill.

For all combos (except 3-meat at Php299) as well as other food orders from the ala carte menu or even an event/party or catering package, enjoy a 10% discount on your food bill when you use my code: WOOGEL108.

You can have a very happy birthday here when you bring 3 full paying adults and order any of the unli meat combos: you get your biffet meal for free. Just present a valid ID to the staff.

Dining with a large group? No problem! For every group of 10 guests, 1 gets a free meal.

So the next time you, your friends and your family have a hankering for Korean barbecue, give in to your craving, head on to Woorijib and feel right at home.

Thanks to my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH for joining me on this foodie adventure and the wonderful folks of Woorijib for having us!

Photo Credit: BJ of @eatingpinoy for the dessert pics. All other images are mine.

Woorijib Home of Korean Buffet is located at Ground Floor, Victoria de Morato, Scout Borromeo Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 1am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 915 8931148 or +63 998 2681367.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unlimited Korean Barbecue at Samgyeopmasarap, SM Marikina

Apparently, my extended family shares my love for Korean barbecue. It’s no surprise then that, for my niece’s birthday, we all met up at the SM Marikina branch of Samgyeopmasarap.

The restaurant occupies a relatively large area at the mall’s third floor. As is the standard for Korean barbecue joints, it boasts of tables with built-in grills and exhaust pipes. The layout is comfortable and conducive to dining.

The number of diners queueing for their turn is proof of the resto’s appeal, owing largely to its unlimited Korean barbecue sets:

Unlimited Pork BBQ (Php399) includes pork belly, marinated pork belly bacon slices, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Unlimited Beef BBQ (Php499) includes plain and marinated beef bacon slices, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Unlimited Chicken BBQ (Pho349) includes boneless chicken, six kinds of side dishes and rice

Our party of eight ordered four unli beef, 3 unli pork and 1 unli chicken so there were enough varieties of Korean barbecue for all of us to enjoy.

I would have loved seeing more varieties of beef and pork given the price of the meal sets.

That said, the family still had a great time gathering to celebrate my niece’s birthday. I’m glad that there’s a Korean barbecue joint in SM Marikina where we can opt to go when the craving hits us.

This Samgyeopmasarap outlet is located at Third Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City, open daily from 10am to 10.30pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 908 7978868.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Connecticut Carpark Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan

Ground Floor, Intelenet Building, Le Grande Avenue, McKinley West, Taguig

Calle Bistro, Ground Floor, Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City

Second Floor, SM North Towers, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City

Lower Ground Floor, Mall A, SM City Bicutan, Don Bosco, Paranaque

Second Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila

Second Level, SM City BF Paranaque, BF Homes, Paranaque

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unli Korean BBQ at Every Samgyeop, Tomas Morato

For years now, there’s a proposition that’s sure to get me all excited: all-can-eat samgyeopsal.

Ever since I had my first taste of juicy flavorful pork and beef pieces freshly grilled right in front of me, seasoned with sesame oil, salt and pepper, and given that distinct Korean flavor with a bit of ssamjang and thin garlic slices, I knew a new gastronomic obsession was born.

And that obsession holds true to this very day.

This is why I was overjoyed to be invited to a foodie meetup at Every Samgyeop. Not only is it a Korean resto specializing in samgyeopsal and other Korean barbecue variants, it is also located just a stone’s throw away from my office.

I first dined at Every Samgyeop early last year and have eaten there several times since but today was special: my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and I were being treated to its “Eat All You Can: Unlimited Meat and Rice” set which was not yet in place during my previous visits.

For only Php499/person, you and your friends can enjoy unlimited plain and marinated meats which include:

Samgyeopsal (thick slices of pork belly)

Deepee Samgyeopsal (thinly sliced pork belly)

Soy Sauce Samgyeopsal (pork belly slices marinated in soy sauce)

Gochujang Samgyeopsal (pork belly slices in the traditional Korean spicy sauce)

Honey Butter Samgyeopsal

Hangjeongsal (jowl meat)

Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin)

Soy Sauce Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin marinated in soy sauce)

Gochujang Woosamgyup (thinly sliced beef loin in the traditional Korean spicy sauce)

Bulgogi (Korean sweet beef stew)

Dakdarisal (marinated chicken thigh fillet)

These meats come with special side dishes (called banchan) which include:

Kimchi

Ddangkong Jorim (soy braised peanuts)

Eomuk Bokkeum (stir-fried fish cakes)

Korean Cabbage Salad

Pickled Vegetables

Calamaris

You can also add Php50 to your meal set to get another order of calamaris as well as a bowl of steaming hot ramyun (Korean-style instant ramen).

Aside from its sheer variety of meats available, Every Samgyeop is also notable for its tender and flavorful pork cuts. Their secret is the dry aging process that they subject their pork cuts to which allows the enzymes present to further break down the meat resulting to enhanced taste and texture.

I had so much fun taking my turn to grill our meats, eating my fill and spending time with my foodie friends at Every Samgyeop and I look forward to my next visit!

Every Samgyeop is located at 58 Sgt. Esguerra Street (across ABS-CBN Main Building), Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 6212032 or +63 927 273555.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #SaanSaPH, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unli Premium Korean BBQ at Muhan Samgyupsal, Greenhills

My love affair with Korean BBQ has already spanned more than a decade and I welcome every chance to enjoy it, especially with my family in tow. Really, what’s not to love about it? Sizzling strips of tender beef or pork cooked right before our eyes, a proliferation of side dishes (called banchan) to munch on while the meat is cooking, the interplay of tastes from the meat wrapped in crisp lettuce accompanied by the complexly flavored ssamjang paste.

This past week, I was quite fortunate to try out one of the newer entrants among Korean barbecue restaurants: Muhan Samgyupsal.

This resto is situated in a newer buildings along Ortigas Avenue in the Greenhills area, and it boasts of ample parking space as well as expansive and well-appointed interiors.

As I have come to expect in all Korean barbecue joints, this branch of Muhan Samgyeopsal is equipped with exhausts to suck the smoke from the meats cooking on the table-top grills.

Its menu is refreshingly simple but packed with value. The choices consist of:

UNLI 1 (Php369/person for lunch available from 11am to 3pm and Php399/person for dinner available from 3pm to 2am): unlimited refills of 5 kinds of pork barbecue

UNLI 2 (Php399/person for lunch available from 11am to 3pm and Php449/person for dinner available from 3pm to 2am): unlimited refills of 5 kinds of pork barbecue and 3 kinds of beef.

UNLI 3 (Php449/person for lunch available from 11am to 3pm and Php499/person for dinner available from 3pm to 2am)): unlimited refills of 5 kinds of pork barbecue, 3 kinds of beef and shabu-shabu.

All these come with soup, unlimited banchans and steamed egg.

Plus, the resto currently runs a Lunchtime discount promo wherein a group of four diners get to enjoy, not just the discounted pricing on the Unli sets, but also a free 1.5 liter Coke. Now, isn’t that a great combination?

The fam opted for Unli 2 so we were able to enjoy various options of marinated and unmarinated pork and beef. Granted, our tastes veer towards the unmarinated kind.

The premiumness of the meat cuts was apparent in their flavor, juiciness and tenderness, which, together with the clean and comfortable surroundings and the warm and friendly assistance from the wait staff, makes the price of the menu items so worth it.

We all enjoyed our first dining experience at Muhan Samgyeopsal and we look forward to our next visit.

This Muhan Samgyupsal branch is located at the Ground Floor, Eton Square Building, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 956 3912240.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, One Archers Place, Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila (Tel: +63 2 7175627)
830 Padre Noval Street, Sampaloc, Manila (Tel : +63 955 4957585)

Disclosure: Part of this family lunch is sponsored by Muhan Samgyupsal through free Unlimited Meals good for two people, the balance of which was paid for.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

1223 Grill: A hidden gem for Korean BBQ in Pasig

Korean barbecue has grown in popularity in recent years. I sometimes think that I can’t pass through an area without seeing at least one Korean barbecue joint.

Apparently, there was an area between Pasig and Pateros where there was a dearth in K-BBQ eateries. That is, before 1223 Grill came along.

The only K-BBQ joint in a relatively quiet residential area just off the C-5 highway in San Joaquin, Pasig City, 1223 Grill usually caters to local residents as well as students of a nearby school. This restaurant approximates the usual location, look and feel of similar eateries in Korea: homey and located off-the-beaten-track.

Together with other food bloggers from Saan Sa PH, I was invited to check out 1223 Grill’s Korean food offerings, which include the Samgyeopsal and Chadolbaki Unli Combination (Php429 for lunch | Php449 for dinner). The most popular (and ubiquitous) among K-BBQ variants, unmarinated pork belly and beef brisket slices have a special appeal. Since no flavoring was applied to the meats prior to grilling, the flavor has to come from the meats themselves and the what you put on them once they’re off the grill. Personally, I like dipping them into sesame oil seasoned with salt and pepper, and into ssamjang (soy bean paste) before wrapping them in the crisp lettuce leaves along with a thin slice of raw garlic.

But the Korean BBQ fest does not end there! Add a pan of creamy melted Cheese (Php100) into the fray for dipping and what have you got? An explosion of flavors with each bite that’s just heaven!

For more than just a bit of heat, we had the Spicy Chicken and Pork with Cheese (Php289) and the Teokboki Spicy Rice Cake (Php120).

The Budae-jjigae (Php399) is a hearty soup of flavorful broth, noodles, tofu cubes and chopped aromatics along with processed meats. Did you know that its name translates to “army base stew?” It came about after the armistice that ended the Korean war, when home cooks scrounged for food left behind in the US bases. Today, it is usually consumed along with beer or as a lunch item.

Rounding up our viands are the Japchae (Php150), stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables, and Beef Bibimbap (Php280), rice mixed with julienned cucumber, mushrooms, soybean sprouts, spinacha and beef, flavored by gochujang (red pepper paste). I like placing small amounts of bibimbap into my samgyeopsal in lettuce wrap to get an interesting mix of textures and flavors with each bite.

And of course, as is customary among Korean BBQ joints, our viands were accompanied by several types of banyan (side dishes) that we can munch on while waiting for our meats to cook.

1223 Grill prides itself on having premium ingredients; many of its meats are actually imported to capture the authentic taste of Korean food.

The servers were also quite attentive and accommodating, despite our group’s many requests and inquiries.

It seems that 1223 Grill’s combination of great and affordable food and friendly service is well-appreciated by its patrons. Plans are already underway to expand the store’s area to accommodate more customers.

It was quite a Korean food adventure; we even had some shots of soju mixed with Sprite to cap our meal!

1223 Grill is located at Unit 1-A, Angeles Residences, F. Angeles Street, San Joaquin, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 2pm to 12 midnight, and Fridays to Saturdays from 2pm to 1am. For inquiries, call +63 2090 62206843.

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

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila

Level 3, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City

Level 2, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, 28th Street Corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Ground Floor, ATC Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City

Third Floor, Bridgeway, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Premium Korean BBQ at Fantastic Baka, Tomas Morato

Craving for your fix of Korean-style grilled meats?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Unli Korean BBQ Buffet at Saram, Sikatuna Village

Let’s face it: the Pinoys’ love affair with all things Korean will not be going away anytime soon. (And, truth be told: do we want it to?).

Case in point: the proliferation of restaurants offering unli Korean barbecues all over the metro.

One such eatery is Saram Korean BBQ Grill Buffet. Located along V. Luna Extension in Quezon City, it provides unlimited meats for grilling as well as a wide array of banchan (small side dishes) that you can munch on while cooking or can add to the lettuce wrap along with your grilled meats for added flavor and texture.

Here’s what you can expect to enjoy at Saram:

Plain Meats
Samgyeopsal – thinly sliced pork belly
Woosamgyup – thinly sliced beef

Flavored Meats (available in regular and spicy variants):
>Dwaeji Galbi – marinated pork ribs
Bulgogi – thinly sliced marinated beef
Dakgalbi – marinated chicken pieces

Banchan:
Kimchi – fermented vegetables; no self-respecting Korean resto will find itself lacking this dish
Namul – steamed, marinated or stir-fried vegetables usually seasoned with minced garlic, sesame oil, vinegar, chopped green onions or dried chili peppers; my favorite among these are the Sigeumchi Namul (spinach) and the Kongnamul (bean sprouts)
Gyeran-jjim – mixed and season eggs steamed in a hot pot; already great by itself but do try adding a bit to your meat lettuce wrap. I’m sure you’ll love it!
Pajeon – thin and slightly soicy pan-fried pancakes flavored with scallions
Japchae – Korean glass noodles sauteed in a slightly sweet garlic sauce along with chopped vegetables

(You can get all the banchan you want from the buffet table, while the meats will be served at your table upon request.)

Well here’s some great news: Saram has an ongoing Christmas promo which allows diners to enjoy unli grilled meats and banchan at very affordable buffet rates.

Check out the options available:

Set A: unlimited plain meats at Php249/head for lunch and Php299/head for dinner

Set B: unlimited plain and flavored meats at Php299/head for lunch and Php349/head for dinner

Set C: unlimited all-beef meats; add Php100 to the lunch or dinner rate

You can also get a Pork/Beef Ramen at Php220 or a Seafood Ramen at Php249. Both are good for two people.

So if you find yourself in Sikatuna Village and want to satisfy your Korean food cravings, head on to Saram.

Saram Korean BBQ Grill Buffet is located at 109 V. Luna Extension, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City (beside Mercury Drug), open daily from 11am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 7443817 or +63 917 8852185.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

New Masil branch at SM Mega Fashion Hall now open

While doing some errands at SM Megamall, Hubby and I were arguing about where to have dinner. We were bandying various restaurant options until we saw that the Masil Charcoal Grill Restaurant is already on soft opening. At that point, our argument was moot because being avid Korean food lovers, we headed straight to the resto.

We usually frequent Masil’s branch in Tiendesitas; it is one of our go-to places when the fam is craving for Korean food.

A noticeable difference from the Tiendesitas branch (and most other Korean restos) is the absence of exhaust tubes hanging from the ceiling. The exhausts in this Masil outlet are actually built-in to the grills, sucking the smoke through air vents above the sunken grills. (This is good news to people who hate smelling like barbecue after dining at a Korean barbecue joint.)

Similar to the Tiendesitas branch, however, is the resto’s delightful generosity when it comes to side dishes! My absolute faves are the fish cakes, egg pancake and steamed eggs.

For our Korean barbecue dinner, we went for our usual orders:

Chadolbagi (Php450). 180g thinly sliced beef brisket.

Sam gyeop sal (Php370). 180g of thickly cut pork belly.

And since we wanted to try something new, we ordered Galbi kkotsal (Php1,500), 160g of USDA high choice boneless short ribs.

All of these were expertly grilled by our server while we ate, changing the grill implements after each grilling. The Galbi kkotsal, in particular, was smooth, buttery and tender, bursting with flavor as I bite into it.

I just loved assembling my Korean barbecue lettuce wrap according to my preferences.

Looks like we have found our Korean food haven at SM Megamall!

This Masil branch is located at Fourth Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Its other branch can be found at Tiendesitas, Frontera Verde, Ortigas Avenue Corner C5, Ugong, Pasig City, open weekdays from 11.30am to 3pm and from 5.30pm to 10pm, and weekends from 11.30am to 10pm.

A new branch is set to open in February 2019 at Ground Floor, Unimart Supermarket, Oranbo, Pasig City.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Japanese-Korean Buffet at Firefly Roofdeck, Poblacion

Dining at a roofdeck restaurant affords you a spectacular view to enjoy together with your meal. Aside from the stunning vista of city lights, you also get to enjoy cool, clean and calming breezes far removed from the busy streets below.

Despite my acrophobia, I have a special affinity for roofdecks: I guess the peace and relaxation I experience when situated far above my normal concerns outweigh my chronic fear of heights.

This is why I was excited when Zomato invited me to a foodie meetup at Firefly Roofdeck.

Located at the 32nd Floor of City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati, Firefly Roofdeck provides a chill ambiance in which you can relax and while away the workday’s stresses. The resto’s ceilings, spacious dining area and al fresco setup give you an expansive background for your get-together with friends or solo chill-out drinks while waiting for Makati rush hour traffic jams to abate.

Firefly Roofdeck’s view of the Makati skyline is quite simply breath-taking. Especially during evenings, you will see a wide expanse of blue-black sky awashed with pin-points of colorful lights and skyscrapers jutting upward.

Firefly Roofdeck recently launched its Japanese-Korean buffet, coincidentally, two of my favorite cuisines. It boasts of an extensive menu of new and favorite Japanese and Korean dishes, giving diners a wide selection of viands to choose from.

These include:

Salad Bar (with choice of Wafu, Ponzu, Yangnyeom Jang dressing): Kimchi, Sigeumchi Namul, Oi Muchim, Hobak Bokkeum, Gaji Namul, Gamja Jorim, Mu Saengchae, Pajeori, Eomuk Bokkeum; Chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard dish)
Japanese Bar: assorted maki rolls and takoyaki
Cook-to-Order marinated Chicken and Pork
Assorted bread rolls
Soup: Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)
Carving Meat/Centerpiece: Buta no Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork Belly)
Main Courses: Seafood Cheese Tteokbeokki (Spicy Rice Cake), Chicken Nanban (Deep-Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce), Gaji Namul (Steamed Eggplants) and Japchae
Rice: Tori Chahan and Steamed Rice
Dessert: Sata Andagi (Okinawan Doughnuts), Fresh Fruits and Chef’s Discretion Desserts

At only Php800+ per person, it is available only for dinner until November 30, 2018.

The sheer variety of food on offer can be quite overwhelming at first, but as I’ve often advised when eating at an eat all-you-can buffet, concentrate on food that are your absolute faves or try out ones you don’t get to eat often. This way, you get to maximize your savings and the experience.

Some menu items could use a few tweaks such as offering mild and spicy ssamjang dipping sauces to go with the grilled pork and chicken, replenishing the ebi tempura more often, offering more dessert choices (hopefully bingsu!) and lessening the sweetness of the teokbokki.

Other than those points for improvement, the upscale ambiance and the superb servicing of Firefly Roofdeck’s wait staff make dining at Firefly Roofdeck truly memorable.

https://flic.kr/p/NyN6qK

Aside from the Japanese-Korean Buffet, diners can opt for other menu items ala carte such as:

Rooftop Barbecue (includes vegetables and choice among rice, French friends or mashed potatoes):

Grilled Squid (Php650)
Grilled Liempo (Php325)
Beef Tenderloin (Php780/200g | Php1,395/400g)
Lamb Rack (Php728/200g | Php1,195/400g)
Rib Eye (Php840/200g | Php1,395/400g)
Salmon Fillet (Php875)
Tiger Prawn (Php595)
Chicken Breast (Php295)
Hungarian Sausage (Php575)
Veal Bratwurst (Php575)

Bar Chow

Mezclado Nueses & Patatas Fritas (Php195)
Lechon Kawali (Php495)
Tinapa Salted Egg Roll (Php225)
Buffalo Itik (Php625)
Grilled Tuna Panga (Php850)
Grand Chicharon (Php150)
Adobo Potato Wedges (Php225)
Lechon Sisig Overload (Php350)
Crispy Crablets (Php245)
Papas Fritas (Php195)
Chicken Fingers (Php295)
Cerveza Pescaito Frito (Php325)
Nachos A La Queen (Php395)
Camaron Picante (Php425)
Pollo Palomitas en Parilla (Php295)

Firefly Roofdeck is located at the 32nd Floor of the City Garden Grand Hotel, Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 5543429.

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

Need some tips to maximize your eat-all-you-can experience? Read my buffet survival guide.

Check out my reviews of other buffet restaurants: