where to eat in greenhills – Jellybeans in the City

Just like old times at SGS House of Minis, Greenhills

One of my most cherished childhood memories is celebrating important occasions and milestones with a special steak dinner.

Whether it’s a significant accomplishment (a school award, a new job or promotion, etc.), a birthday or anniversary, marking the event through a multi-course meal at the House of Minis is just the ticket!

That was how I was introduced to this restaurant. During my childhood, important family celebrations were marked by our special meal at the local House of Minis along C5 in Pasig City, where I experienced what was to me then a markedly leveled-up way of dining. In contrast to fast food outlets where self-service was the rule, or the family-style casual dining places where all the dishes are served together, this steakhouse serves its food one course after another.

Since it’s been quite a while since we’ve dined at House of Minis, we decided to have lunch at its branch in Greenhills when we were out for some holiday shopping.

The experience starts with ordering our mains (regular-sized T-bone steaks, grilled to medium doneness), then we waited for our courses to arrive.

The meal starts with hot creamy soup served with house-baked dinner rolls accompanied by unsalted butter.

Next comes a light starter salad of fresh vegetables with Thousand Island dressing.

We ordered some starches to go with our steaks: Hubby opted for a serving of gravy mashed potatoes, while, for me, good ole’ steam rice is the way to go!

Then our steaks made their grand entrance.

These are slabs of perfectly grilled fork-tender T-bone cuts beef served on hot plates with some buttered vegetables on the side. When doused with the house gravy, their hissing sound and appetizing aroma sure got us salivating.

This is a meal that is to meant to be hurried over so we took our time in enjoying our steak meal.

Afterwards, we opted against getting coffee after our meal but instead went for servings of vanilla ice cream.

(Actually, Hubby gamely gave his ice cream serving to me! Awww!)

While some aspects of this steak meal (such as the restaurant location and serving sizes of some of the courses) may have changed, I’m glad to say that it feels pretty much like old times at this House of Minis.

Got a similar steakhouse childhood memory? Relive it at House of Minis in Greenhills!

SGS House of Minis is located at Lower Ground Floor, Shoppesville Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open Mondays to Fridays from 11am to 8.30pm and Saturdays from 11am to 6pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 87211410 or +63 922 8640628, or Viber +63 927 8717896.

It also delivers via FoodPanda.

To know more about its updates and offers, follow SGS House of Minis on Facebook and Instagram.

Explosion of colors and flavors at Sala Thai Kitchen, Greenhills

Thai food remains one of the world most popular and influential cuisines in the world. From the humble street food that can be enjoyed in Thailand’s marketplaces to the Thai-inspired dishes served by high profile chefs, Thai food continues to entice, titillate and satisfy the imagination and taste buds of foodies throughout the globe.

Its appeal can be attributed to its wide range of flavors and textures – combining fresh and crisp veggies, bold spices, sweet coconut and earthy savory peanuts. Aside from incorporating many nutritious ingredients and employing mostly healthy cooking methods, Thai food also offers a lot of delicious options for people with dietary restrictions and preferences.

This is why the opening of a new Thai restaurant in one of the metro’s busiest shopping areas is happy news to me and my foodie friends.

Sala Thai Kitchen welcomes its guests with a chill yet elegant vibe which also integrates elements of Thai culture and aesthetics from its backdrop of knick-knacks to its delicately designed tableware.

We immersed ourselves in a delicious flavor journey with these scrumptious dishes:

Starters

Crispy Spring Rolls (Php195). Also known as paw pia tod, these are flavorful rolls made with chopped veggies, ground pork and glass noodles encased in translucent rice paper wrappers then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served with chili sauce for dipping.

Pomelo Salad (Php220). Also known as yam som o, this is a bright and fresh mix of green leafy veggies, aromatics and chunks of pomelo tossed in citrusy dressing along with ground peanuts and garnished with mint leaves.

Rice & Noodles

Shrimp & Pineapple Fried Rice (Php370). The Thai put a special spin on fried rice through the use of shrimp, stock, seasonings and pineapple bits. This dish is also as khao pad.

Thidin Pad Thai (Php330). One of Thailand’s most well-known dishes made with stir-fried noodles and chicken bits in a sweet-savory-sour sauce garnished with an omelette, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

Siam Chicken Noodles (Php340). Noodles flavored with a coconut turmeric sauce topped with black pepper chicken.

Meat

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (Php320). Grilled boneless chicken breast marinated in coconut milk and seasonings and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce.

PatPong Wings (Php320). Crispy fried chicken wings covered with a sweet-and-savory glaze and garnished with chilis, chopped green onions and cilantro.

Beef Green Curry (Php380). Tender strips of beef and eggplant braised in Thai green curry paste and coconut milk. This dish is also known as gaeng keow wan.

Dessert

Creme Flan (Php140). The Thai version of the creme caramel which incorporates coconut cream.

Mango Sticky Rice (Php160). Also known as khao neeo mamuang, this is a popular Thai dessert made with glutinous rice mixed with sweetened coconut milk, topped with slices of fresh mangoes and drizzled with a coconut milk sauce before being garnished with toasted sesame seeds.

Drinks

Thai Milk Tea (Php120). An earthy and nutty take on the milk tea made with strong assam black tea sweetened with condensed milk.

Thai Coffee (Php120). Coffee sweetened with condensed milk and flavored with spices. Available hot or iced.

With these beautifully presented and delectable offerings, you can be sure that your meal at Sala Thai Kitchen is a feast for the senses.

So drop by while you take a break from your shopping spree or make this new restaurant your prime destination for a wonderful flavor journey to Thailand without having to leave the metro.

Sala Thai Kitchen is located at Ground Floor, O Square 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 977 2186165 or +63 919 2836155.

It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow Sala Thai Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Hanako’s newest branch at Promenade Mall Greenhills now on soft opening

Got a hankering for Japanese food in between bouts of retail therapy?

Don’t worry because you can now feast on #HandsDownGoodFood at Hanako’s newest branch at the Promenade Mall in Greenhills Shopping Center!

Long known for its easy-on-the-pocket Japanese dishes, Hanako is now serving its signature authentic cuisine to both shoppers and foodies who frequent one of the metro’s busiest shopping districts.

So be sure to take a break from your shopping binge and indulge yourself with your favorite Japanese food and explore new ones to enjoy!

Sashimi and Sushi

Tuna Sashimi (Php259).

Salmon Sashimi (Php299).

Torched Cheese and Salmon (Php329). Fresh salmon topped with cream cheese and Japanese mayo on sushi rice and drizzled with teriyaki sauce.

California Gunkan (Php239). Sushi rice, kani and cucumber wrapped in nori and topped with tamago, ebiko, mango and fried salmon skin.

Ultimate Dynamite Roll (Php309). Sushi roll made with tuna, salmon, kami, togarashi and topped with crunchy tempura flakes.

Hanako’s Best (Php1,419). A platter full of sushi favorites from Hanako: eight pcs California Maki, eight pcs Spicy Tuna Crunch, eight pcs Philadelphia Roll, eight pcs Tuna Sashimi and eight pcs Salmon Sashimi.

Starters

Miso Soup (Php74). Hot broth falvored with miso paste, leeks, tofu and wakame.

Gyoza Sampler (Php199). Includes two pieces each of the classic pork, beef and chicken versions of the Japanese potsticker gyoza.

Kani Salad (Php269). Cucumber sticks, kani, mango slices, ebiko and nori strips dressed with creamy Japanese mayo.

Chicken Karaage (Php284). Japanese-style fried chicken served with mayo on the side.

Beef Sukiyaki (Php274). Beef strips, sotanghon noodles, carrots, onions, cabbage and egg in a sweet-savory donburi sauce.

Donburi

Beef Gyudon (Php329). Filling rice bowl topped with slices of high-grade beef, white onions, leeks, shibazuke and egg flavored with a mildly sweet sauce.

Chicken Teriyakidon (Php309). Japanese rice bowl topped with strips of grilled chicken breast marinated in house-made teriyaki sauce along with leeks, bean sprouts, shibazuke and sesame seeds.

Pork Belly Don (Php229). Strips of pork belly on a rice bowl flavored with gyudon sauce and topped with pickled radish.

Salmon Teriyaki Don (Php334). Grilled salmon on a rice bowl topped with leeks, pickled cucumber and sesame seeds flavored with teriyaki sauce.

Entrees

Beef Omurice (Php229). Beef strips and rice wrapped in a delicate omelette.

Ebi Fry (Php204). Breaded shrimp with toasted sesame and katsu sauce on the side, served on a bed of rice.

Shrimp Tempura (Php219/3pcs | Php319/5pcs). Deep-fried battered shrimp served with tempura sauce.

Mixed Tempura (Php179). Deep-fried battered shrimp, kani and vegetables served with tempura sauce.

Drinks

Thirsty? Hanako’s got house-made drinks to refresh you.

Now you know that whenever you’re in the Greenhills area and you #CraveHanako, there’s a branch here ready to serve you!

Plus, here’s some good news: Hanako is bringing back its Tempura-All-You-Can promo to welcome diners to this store. Enjoy unlimited Ebi Tempura all weekdays of December when you dine at Hanako Greenhills.

This newest Hanako branch is located at the Food Court, Ground Floor, Promenade Mall, Annapolis Street corner Missouri Street, Greenshills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Other branches are located at:

4th Floor, East Wing, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City
30 Doña Soledad Ave., Better Living Subd., Brgy. Don Bosco, Parañaque City
83 B Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City (beside Car Doctor)
131-C Armstrong Ave., Brgy. Moonwalk, Parañaque City
GF, SM Center Pasig, Ortigas East, Pasig City
2nd Floor, The Rock, Holy Spirit Drive, Brgy. Don Antonio, Quezon City
Robinsons Townville Regalado Ext Ciudad Verde, Quezon City

You may also order online at cravehanako.ph.

To stay updated on Hanako’s offers and promos, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Check out my previous posts on Hanako:

Hanako, Katipunan — Sate your Japanese food cravings at Hanako, Regis Katipunan

#ItsAnIllosThing: Buffet Weekends at Illo’s Home, Greenhills

During the past two years which saw the world reeling from the pandemic crisis, celebrations at home offered a few, much-needed bright spots for Pinoys.

These occasions modestly spent with family and a few close friends gave us a look back into what our pre-pandemic lives used to be and a promise of what we can look forward to once this crisis is behind us.

For many of us, Illo’s Party Trays were a great part of these home celebrations during quarantine. Founded by food connoisseurs Chef N and Anne Rovillos in December 2019, this venture showcased the possibilities that good food presents to people who are stuck at home for celebrations.

Guided by its principle of families dining at home as they celebrate life everyday, Illo’s Party Trays launched its “Dine at Home,” “Celebrate at Home,” and “Date at Home” concepts.

These feature great-tasting, hotel-quality food delivered by Illo’s own fleet from its cloud kitchens and commissaries to anywhere in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Antipolo, Cavite, Laguna, Tagaytay, Batangas and some parts of Pampanga and Quezon, enabling people to have the means for merry-making with their nears-and-dears in the safety of home.

Illo’s Party Trays’ novel concepts generated social media buzz which further drove this food delivery service to remarkable growth.

With the pandemic slowly but surely easing its hold on the country, and with more urbanites looking for reasons to go out for their celebrations, Illo’s now offers venues where they can enjoy a superb dine-in experience: Illo’s Home.

The first of these restaurants opened in BF Homes Paranaque in February 2022, bringing an excellent selection of local and international cuisines to its dining public.

The second outlet of Illo‘s Home opened a month later at Greenhills Elan Hotel, where diners can enjoy the same menu of scrumptious fare that Illo’s has become known for in a homey yet decidedly posh setting, which include walls with cascading water feature and displays of paintings by local artists.

To add one more reason for the metro‘s foodies to venture out of their homes and dine out, Illo’s Home hosts Weekend All-Day Buffet at its Greenhills branch.

Here, foodies can enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat spread of appetizers, entrees and desserts for just Php1,200++ per person. These include crowd favorites from Illo’s Party Trays such as: Crispy Binagoongan, Paella Valenciana, Paella Negra, Seafood Paella, Baked Penne, Baked Salmon, Beef Kare-Kare and Roast Beef.

So treat yourself and your loved ones to a memorable celebration of food and life at Illo’s Home Greenhills. You will discover that the moment you spend with great food and great company, is, well, an Illo’s thing.

Illo‘s Home Greenhills is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Greenhills Elan Hotel, 49 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan. All-Day Buffet is served during weekends: lunch from 10am to 2pm and dinner from 5pm to 9pm.

Book your table by calling these numbers:

0969 230 0735 – Dan
0956 508 7588- Mau
0947 594 4117 -Alex

To stay updated on Illo’s Home’s offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

To order from Illo’s Party Trays, visit its website or call 02 8522 9268. For more details, follow it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Tiktok.

Disclosure: I attended an Influencer Event held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were not paid for by the attendees.

Unli premium meats and Jap-Kor dishes at Yoshimeatsu

If you love unli grilled meats like I do, I’m sure you’ve been missing your yakiniku or samgyup adventures too.

There’s something about cooking meats on a tabletop grill as you take the time to catch up with your family and friends.

Well, actress Arci Munoz recently opened a branch of Yoshimeatsu in Greenhills where foodies can enjoy unlimited yakiniku premium meats and other tasty dishes for just Php599 per person (minimum of two diners).

These include:

Meats for grilling such as beef (plain, curry, spicy, shoyu, fatty), enoki beef rolls, sakana tofu, seafood cheeseball, pork (herbed, yangnyeom, spicy, shoyu), enoki pork rolls and tebasaki teriyaki and chicken yakitori.

Side dishes such as gohan (steamed rice), buttered kimchi rice, cheese dip, lettuce, sushi (yoshi ebi maki, California maki, spicy tuna maki, Kyoto beef roll), ebi tempura, kani salad, seasoned egg, aji tamago, pamuchim, kimchi, and shitaki (garlic butter, teriyaki).

Plus, dessert!

For an additional Php49, you can quench your thirst on unlimited Nestea Iced Tea and Nestle Pineapple drinks!

You might be wondering: what exactly is yakiniku? This Japanese term refers to the style of cooking bite-sized meat on gridirons or griddles over flames fueled by charcoal or a gas/electric grill. While its precise origin has been the subject of some debate, it is generally considered to have been inspired by Korean barbecue.

Wherever it came from, I’m just happy it made its way to our shores, and, with the opening of Yoshimeatsu in Greenhills, is all the more accessible to foodies like me.

Excited to try Yoshimeatsu’s premium meats? Here are more reasons to hie yourself over there stat:

It’s Let’s Eat to Win BTS Fiesta promo has been extended until July 25, wherein BTS fans will get freebies and a chance to win cool merch and a trip to Korea!

You can also present your vaccination card to enjoy free bottomless iced tea!

Sushi platters are also available for takeout for Php499 (good for four), Php799 (good for ten) and Php949 (good for twelve).

So give in to your yakiniku craving and book your table at Yoshimeatsu Greenhills now!

This Yoshimeatsu branch is located at Second Floor, O-Square 1 Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue corner Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila. It is open for dine-in Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries, call +63 915 8988148. To reserve a table, fill up this form. It accepts cashless payments via GCash and Lyka.

Japanese seafood dinner at Omakase, Greenhills

In our bid to eat a bit healthier after a bout of errands in Greenhills, Hubby and I opted to have an early sushi dinner at Omakase.

This Japanese resto started out as a takeout counter in Quezon City. The term omakase actually translates to “I leave it up to you.” In Japan, diners can sometimes leave it up to the chef to serve his recommended selection of seasonal specialties instead of ordering their preferences.

While that is not the system set in place in this restaurant, it does boast of an excellent selection of maki and sushi.

Hubby and I dined on a sampling of this selection with our orders:

Sashimi: Salmon (Php300) and Tuna (Php300). Raw fish sliced into thin pieces and served with soy sauce and a little wasabi.

Spicy Maguro Roll (Php310). Deep-fried spicy tuna topped with ebiko and scallions.

Chirashi Don (Php385). Assorted raw seafood over sushi rice served with miso soup.

Ebi Tempura (Php370). Five pieces of lightly battered and deep fried shrimp served with tempura sauce.

These classic seafood dishes (our go-to fare whenever we’re at a Japanese restaurant) were promptly served by the wait staff. The raw fish in the sashimi and chirashi don were fresh and flavorful.

This Omakase branch is located at Ground Floor, Connecticut Carpark Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 84709807 or +63 930 2523575.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz
Marikina: ESJ Building Gil Fernando Avenue
Quezon City: Il Terrazzo Mall Tomas Morato, Holy Spirit Drive Isidora Hills Subdivision
Muntinlupa: Molito Commercial Complex Alabang
Makati: Grab Kitchen Glorietta 2

No time to visit an Omakase branch? Have your orders delivered to you via Food Panda.