Final Lunch of 2015 at Nihonbashi Tei, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Philippines

For our last lunch of 2015, it was decided that we would be going for Japanese. We set our sights on the newly opened branch of Nihonbashi Tei in Tomas Morato.

Don't let the facade fool you, it may look a bit old & decrepit on the outside...

... it's all brand spankin' new on the inside :) 

Got reservations for their mini function room which can fit 6-8 people easy. While waiting for our to-grill meats to arrive, we ordered a few items from the appetizer menu.

California Maki (Php 250)

 We got 2 orders of their California Maki to start us off. Food-Stars Verdict? The rice was sticky enough to hold its shape and there were mango slices in each one so there's that. But overall, it tastes just like any other california maki.

Clams with Asari Sake Mushi (Php 180)

 Fresh clams dipped in this tasty sauce is a nice start.

Toro Spicy Sashimi (Php 270)

This orange tinged sashimi is a must try. You get to choose either salmon or tuna, we got the tuna version. The spicy kick plus the crunchy fried bits on top are the perfect complement to the fresh tuna. Food-Stars Verdict? Yummy but the serving size will definitely leave you wanting more. 

What I love about old school Japanese restaurants nowadays is the fact that they give bang for your buck when you dine during lunch. At Nihonbashi Tei Tomas Morato from 11am-5pm, every main dish/ ala carte order comes with miso soup, salad, appetizer, rice & iced coffee. Can you say sulit? ;)

Ebi Tempura (Php 380)

Surprised to see that each order had 4 pieces of tempura only. Fried 'til crunchy, Nihonbashi Tei's version was not bad. Oh, and Ebi Tempura counts as a main dish so you get all the works with this order.

Now on to the meats. 

Korean Night at Korean Village Restaurant, Malate Manila, Philippines

It's been awhile since we've been in the Malate area either for errands or for eating. If I remember correctly we only traverse the streets of Malate for 2 restaurants, either Tao Yuan or Korean Village Restaurant. The choice for tonight was Korean.

Korean Village Restaurant

Korean appetizers

The last time we were here was years ago for a cousin's birthday. All I can remember is that it was a night of good food. So I was hoping that through the years, the taste stayed the same. 

To make things more interesting, aside from ordering ala carte we also wanted to do a bit of grilling.

Here's our for-grilling orders.

   We take our grilling seriously. We got shrimps, chicken, pork & squid. As the designated chef of the night, it took a few tries before I got the right cooking temperature for each. ;)

The seafood (shrimp & squid) were the quickest to cook. Shrimps curl up when done & the squid "pop" up. Our Food-Stars Advice is don't overcook the squid; they become rubbery and hard to chew.

The meats take a much longer time to grill. For the chicken, leave them on a bit until the sides get a bit blackish-brown. As for the pork, as soon as the whole piece becomes brown then you're all set. 


And now for our ala carte choices of the night.

Beef Rib Stew (Php 250)

Although the beef slices were juicy & tender, it lacked flavor. It didn't have that spicy kick as well that I love in Korean Beef Stews. Sigh. 

Tempura Shrimp (Php 240)

These were just okay; crunchy & lightly breaded. 

This chicken dish was cooked just right; juicy & flavorful. 

Spicy Squid (Php 300)

This comes to your table piping hot; you can even see the steam in the picture. Our Food-Stars Recommendation is to order this rather than grilling it yourself. It's a bit spicy so eating it with rice is a good idea.

Chopchae (Php 200)

This was the surprise of the night; I couldn't stop eating this. The glass noodles had just the right amount of sweetness and loved the fact  that Korean Village Restaurant serve theirs hot. Thumbs up in my book! ;)

Food-Stars Verdict? I'm having mixed emotions. The dishes that I previously liked before were just so-so but I'm glad to have found news ones to like. ;9

SERVICE:

TASTE:

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:

Korean Village Restaurant

566 J Nakpil StMalate, Manila(02) 524-4958

'Til our next Good Eat!

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Simple Supper at Jay-J's Inasal, Timog Quezon City

Before going for a visit to see our friend's baby (Hi Radley!), we decided to have dinner at one of our favorite food stops in QC. 

Jay-J's Inasal, Timog QC

Compared to the brightly lit Burger King just a few meters away, Jay-J's simple exterior of green walls and huge brown doors is plain-looking. You might've driven by without even giving it a second glance. But this is one of FS' favorites for a reason. Read on to know why.

Brown tables

White lights

Bamboo walls

More than anything, the decor was evoking a jungle vibe, somewhat woodsy and dark. They added splashes of color on the walls to liven the place up a bit. Note: The wooden benches are super heavy, lift with both hands if you must.

Dinner Dud at Dencio's, Harborview Square

This is the end of hiatus.. and we're starting off with a BANG! :)

** This is actually a leftover post from last month.**


 After going on a "cruise trip", we had dinner at a nearby place. This was our first time to step onto Harborview Square. It was a toss up between Army Navy or Dencio's. Rice with sisig won... again :) 

Dencio's, Harborview Square

Take Two with Bamboo

With music blaring from the outside as well as in, the place didn't feel as empty as it looked.

Jungle Fever

While waiting for our orders to arrive, I took pictures. With the orange light fixture (that looked like cocoons), plants all around and bamboos on the sides, it felt quite a bit like you're in a safari adventure. Haha.  Drums nalang, jungle na :)

Birthday Bash at Chili's Greenhills

To celebrate a friend's birthday, we were invited to have dinner at Chili's Greenhills last Saturday (October 1, 2011).

Chili's Greenhills

With it's big chili logo and bright red light, you can't miss it. 
Birthday dinner with friends + alcohol = a hell of a good time! :)

Welcome sign

Just in case you forgot where you are, there is a large blackboard that welcomes you to Chili's. Their friendly and attentive staff is right there to greet you and help you to your table. It was 8:30pm on a Saturday night and business was booming!