First Bite: Pepeng Hapon

I'm a purist when it comes to Japanese food and I usually automatically dislike Japanese fusion dishes as soon as I see it or get a whiff of its strong aroma. But all that changed when I got to savor Ooma's crazy good dishes. And when a Filipino-Japanese restaurant reached out to me, I quickly said yes.

Hello, Pepeng Hapon. 

Pepeng Hapon is a Filipino-Japanese restaurant in Malate offering pocket friendly maki, takoyaki, and more. With some of its dishes at under PHP200, it isn't surprising for this place to become a popular spot for students and workers in the area. 

First Bite: Kartilya

New restaurants never fail to attract me like fly to light. I just have to try it ASAP. And so when T posted a teaser of her newest business venture, I got curious and plotted it in my foodie calendar. But I guess I was busy with other things and forgot about it till A shared an Instagram post announcing that the said restaurant is now open. 

Hello, Kartilya! 

This new Filipino restaurant sure made me drool with its photo of Liempo Queso Fundido. For Kartilya, liempo is not enough to tease the tastebuds that's why they drowned it with cheese. I showed the said photo to an officemate and he hurriedly called someone to have dinner there. (Do not underestimate the power of cheese!)

Since my favorite date is still miles away, I bugged some of my favorite foodies if they are game to visit this new restaurant on its first day. Well, most couldn't make it as they already made plans or were too far away to make it. A though, the instigator, changed his mind and decided to tag along.

We arrived around quarter to 7 and the place was half full. Not bad for a first dinner service. 

The restaurant, which used to be Wolf & Fox Gastropub, is well lit from the inside (it is dark outside and the place could be mistaken as closed) and the walls are decorated with capiz windows. The tables have dark finish too with designs that could pass as your furniture stored in your provincial home.

I was already a bit full from my quick stop at Poco Deli (which opened nearby) so I just went with the dish that made me almost bite my phone, Liempo Queso Fundido (PHP274). I wanted to stick to just one dish but I couldn't resist the Pinoy Baked Oysters (PHP152) and Pinoy Sausage Platter (PHP385). 

Service was quick and our Liempo Queso Fundido was served first.

It was not as overflowing with cheese as I imagined but it was still one cheesy dish. A noticed that the fatty part of the liempo was not charred till crispy. Apparently, you could request for the chef to grill the fat and serve it crunchy. We found out a bit too late though.