shaved ice – Jellybeans in the City

Goto Tendon: Mandaluyong’s new Pinoy comfort food destination

In the fast pace of city life, finding a spot that serves comforting, familiar food can be a real treat. For me and the fam, Goto Tendon on Boni Avenue is exactly that place—a haven for anyone in need of hearty Filipino dishes that remind us of home. This restaurant has quickly become a favorite for those who appreciate the simple pleasure of a well-cooked meal that feels like a warm hug.

A Family Legacy Transformed

The story of Goto Tendon starts with Jenny Peñaloza’s search for something new. After dedicating herself to family life, she wanted to create something meaningful. Along with her husband John, they took Jenny’s beloved goto—a recipe handed down from John’s grandmother, Nena Peñaloza—and turned it into a restaurant. The result is a place that doesn’t just serve food; it serves up a slice of family history and tradition with every bowl.

Convenient Location, Comfortable Atmosphere

This new Goto Tendon branch is conveniently located along Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City, making it an easy stop whether we’re heading home, to work, or school. It shares a building with Itmiro Oyster Bar & Kitchen, and there’s even a hidden staircase connecting the two (more on this on my next post).

Inside, the restaurant is clean and air-conditioned, with plenty of seating, definitely an upgrade to the neighborhood gotohan. It’s a comfortable spot to enjoy a meal, though parking can be tricky, especially in the evenings when Itmiro is busy.

A Menu That Hits the Spot

The menu at Goto Tendon has something for everyone, and here’s what my family and I keep coming back for:

Beef Tendon Mami (Php288): This egg noodle soup with beef and tendon is a staple for my hubby. It’s comforting and rich, making it a favorite of my husband, especially on chilly days.

Beef Tendon Pares (Php238): This dish features tender braised beef stew with collagen-rich tendon, garlic rice, soup, and a homemade chili sauce. It’s a hearty meal that’s quickly become a go-to for us.

Beef Tendon Pares Noodles (Php288): My son loves this version with dry egg noodles and a side of soup. It’s the same great beef stew and tendon, but with a different twist that keeps it interesting. Of course, he gets an extra order of Garlic Rice (Php45) because carbo-loading is life.

Sizzling Burger Steak (Php338): The 100% U.S. beef served on a sizzling plate with garlic rice, egg, and gravy is always a hit. The sizzling effect adds a bit of excitement to each bite.

Sizzling Bulalo (Php498): This dish includes corned beef and bone marrow in gravy, served on a sizzling plate with garlic rice. I like how its flavors are deep and satisfying, and the sizzling presentation makes it stand out.

Bone Marrow (Php158): Grilled and seasoned, this bone marrow can be enjoyed plain or with pares sauce. It’s a rich, savory treat that pairs well with the other dishes.

Sweet Treats to End Your Meal

No visit to Goto Tendon is complete without trying its shaved ice desserts and the fam has certainly tried out the entire roster:

Final Thoughts

Goto Tendon’s Boni Avenue branch stands out for its combination of traditional recipes and modern comfort. With its rich heritage, convenient location, and satisfying menu, it’s a spot worth visiting whether you’re a local or just passing through. If you’re in the mood for some genuine Filipino comfort food, Goto Tendon is definitely worth a try.

This Goto Tendon branch is located at 656 Boni Avenue corner Ligaya Street, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 12am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 53102802 or +63 917 875 1188.

Know more about Goto Tendon by visiting its website or following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Goto Tendon:

Pinoy comfort food at Goto Tendon, Tomas Morato

Holiday kakigori flavors at Shari Shari, BGC

Given that we’re in a tropical country, we shouldn’t have to wonder why ice-based desserts have so much appeal.

Even now, having entered the supposedly “brrrr” month of December, we can still find the metro’s heat and humidity quite oppressive.

Yes, icy desserts are definitely the way to go, and luckily, all kinds of these frozen treats are readily available in the metro.

The kakigori, for example, is fairly new to Pinoy foodies. This shaved ice dessert originated from Japan and has been around since the 11th century when blocks of ice saved during the stockpiled during the winter months are shaved to a snow-like consistency and served with sweet syrup to the aristocrats during the summer months.

Today, icy treats are a lot more accessible to us year-round, thanks to technology (yey for refrigeration!).

And with specialty shops like Shari Shari, we Pinoys get to have a taste of authentic kakigori.

This dessert shop was founded in Hong Kong but soon found its way to the Philippines. It opened its first shop in Serendra, BGC where it serves bowls of its signature shaved ice desserts. Using special ice custom-made from different kinds of water, shaved with a special machine imported from Japan and flavored with syrups made fresh everyday has allowed Shari Shari to offer kakigori with the look, taste and texture consistent with those in Japan.

And you would be amazed at the sheer variety of flavors possible with the kakigori: from fruity versions like strawberry, melon, mango and banana; classic dessert flavors like chocolate; to more exotic variants like Coffee Tiramisu, Earl Grey Milk Tea and Matcha Cream. There’s something for almost every sweet craving at Shari Shari.

Plus, be sure to check out Shari Shari special holiday flavors available beginning December 1:

Pistachio Raspberry topped with whipped cream and a candy Santa. This combines the nutty taste of pistachios with the sweet and fruity tartness of raspberries.

Choco Hazelnut topped with whipped cream and a chocolate gingerbread man. Dessert lovers would really go for its combination of nutty and cocoa flavors.

Every spoonful is a burst of icy sweetness in my mouth, a great way to relax and cool down, warm weather or not!

And what a sweet and cool (or icy!) way to get in the holiday spirit!

Shari Shari Kakigori House is located at Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Disclosure: I visited Shari Shari during its mini blogger get-together where the holiday kakigoris were served for free to facilitate an honest review.

Bingsu treat at Hobing Korean Dessert, BGC Stopover

Bingsu treats have grown in popularity in the metro, especially now with the searing summer heat. Bingsu is a Korean dessert characterized by shaved ice sweetened with condensed milk and topped with fresh fruits, yogurt, ice cream and bits of yummy baked goods.

While the fam is exploring options for lunch in Bonifacio Global City during a particularly hot summer day, we came across this branch of Hobing Korean Dessert and couldn’t resist having our dessert here. After eating our lunch at nearby Tenya Tempura Tendon, and, eager for something cool and sweet to counter the hot and humid weather, we proceeded Hobing.

Despite being billed as the Korean halo-halo, bingsu is best enjoyed when the shaved ice and toppings are not all mixed together. This allows you to enjoy the varying textures and flavors that went into the bingsu.

We ordered a large serving of Mango Cheese Bingsu (Php320), thinking that a regular serving will not satisfy all of us. What we got was a delectable and prettily presented confection: finely shaved ice flavored with mango syrup, surrounded by huge cubes of ripe mango and topped with rich New York Cheesecake bits, vanilla ice cream and slices of roasted almonds.

We are definitely eager to try Hobing’s other bingsu offerings soon.

This branch of Hobing Korean Dessert is located at the 3rd Floor of BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive cor 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City. Other branches of Hobing Korean Dessert are located at: