ECQ Food Delivery: Bowl'd

While many sharpen their culinary skills during the lockdown, I heavily relied on food deliveries. And I was so happy that the list of restaurants offering food deliveries grow each day. A new addition to my list is Bowl'd. 

Hello, Bowl'd.

Bowl'd has been around since 2018 and was a favorite by budget-conscious foodies. With its rice bowls priced under PHP200, it's hard for anyone to go wrong. 

First Bite: Lola Cafe + Bar

Lola Cafe + Bar is one of the most recommended restaurants in Tomas Morato. Known for its quaint ambiance and interesting menu, I've been wanting to visit this place for years! And finally, after three long years, the stars aligned and off we drove to this foodie district. 

Hello, Lola Cafe + Bar. 

We visited Lola on a Tuesday night and the restaurant's parking was packed! We were told that we could park nearby as long as we get to have half the car up the sidewalk. 

Restaurant Favorite: Yoshinoya

Dining out can be very tiring. Aside from squeezing your way through Manila's horrendous traffic, you're also bombarded with so many options where to eat. And the fact that there are restaurants opening left and right every week doesn't really help. At most times, I end up finding myself going back to one of my classic favorites--Yoshinoya.

Hello, Yoshinoya. 

Yoshinoya has been one of my go to places when I couldn't decide on where to eat. With its no fail Beef Gyudon Rice Bowl, I'm set to have a filling and satisfying meal! 

More than just Milkshakes: The Lost Bread

The Lost Bread has been one of the Instagrammable brands in town and probably one of the messiest too. I fell for its milkshake topped with cotton candy that I braved the humid and crowded food park of Maginhawa to try one. And it was an unpleasant experience. I never visited The Lost Bread for years and avoided it even when it opened in malls. But a post on Let's Eat Pare showing ChocNut Ice Cream made me think that it's time to give this shop a second chance.

Hello, The Lost Bread. 

I was surprised that The Lost Bread in SM Megamall offers more than just drinks. Aside from its picture perfect drinks, The Lost Bread also offers pasta, burgers and rice bowls to complement its sweet beverages. 

First Bite: Fantaste

I've been frequenting China for the past few years and each starts as a business trip and ends as a gastronomic adventure. We'd visit several provinces and key cities, each having unique dishes and flavors I've never had before. And I have to admit, all these trips made me appreciate Chinese cuisine in a whole different level. Needless to say, when I found out that a new Chinese restaurant was opening in Makati, I was giddy and couldn't wait to check it out. 

Hello, Fantaste. 

Located at the ground floor of Easton Place, corner Valero and V.A. Rufino, one could easily spot Fantaste with its bold red signage with a panda which would remind one of Po from Kung Fu Panda. 

First Bite: Hanamaruken

I have been hearing a lot of good feedback about this ramen joint at The Grove. It made me curious when two of the foodies I know and trust mentioned that this is their favorite place for their noodle fix. However, I could never seem to find time to visit as I usually head elsewhere. Luckily, I got the perfect opportunity to drop by last Saturday.

Hello, Hanamaruken.

Restaurant Love: Chaya

A trip to Chaya is always one of the things that excite me whenever R and I visit Baguio. Discovering this hidden gem along Legarda Road has been one of our fondest Baguio memories. Just thinking about its superb sashimi and sukiyaki make me drool for hours. And a few months back, we decided to escape the scorching Manila heat and headed to Baguio one rainy Friday late afternoon. As we reached Baguio with grumbling tummies, we couldn’t think of anything else but Chaya. 

Hello again, Chaya! 

Unlike our first visit, the place was packed with locals and tourists alike. As we were expecting to hear the dreaded phrase, “we’re full and could not accommodate you”, we were ushered to the back part of the restaurant which happens to be a dining area as well. 

When In Hong Kong: Go Crazy Over Salmon!

If I were to choose only one thing to eat the rest of my life, I would choose salmon. I just love it. I love the texture, the color… everything! (Well, except maybe the smell when it is still raw and extremely fishy.) And I saw a gold mine of salmon during our recent Hong Kong trip.

While exploring our hotel’s surrounding area, we noticed that there’s a line of stores near our hotel (located in Causeway Bay, near Canal Road) that sell salmon and hairy crabs. We decided to go to the one that sells ready to eat salmon and got Salmon, Salmon Roe and Sea Urchin with rice (HK$90) and Fried Soft Shell Crab Cutlet with rice (HK$38).

Despite the long queue, service was quick and we got our orders in less than 10 minutes. 

We enjoyed our rice bowls while standing as there were no dining tables or chairs available. They only had those bar tables on the opposite side of the showcases.

I first had a bite of the salmon bowl and it was so good. Though slightly expensive, you’d see that the store was generous with fresh salmon bits. The serving of sea urchin was a tad stingy but it was still okay given the price. The uni was soft and the taste made me reminisce the sea. The veggies added texture and crunch to the dish making it even more scrumptious.

The Fried Soft Shell Crab Cutlet was also delectable but it was quite dry without any sauce. I just wish that it had some salmon or something fresh and not deep fried. Then again… that price tag for one bowl is very attractive.

I wish we have this in Manila. 

First Bite: Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda

I have lost count on how many times I visited Tagaytay last year. R and I head there whenever we need a quick getaway from the busy Manila life. Though it is sometimes traffic in Tagaytay, at least we get to enjoy the slightly cooler and fresher breeze. And last Christmas, my family opted to head there too and we decided to stay in Tagaytay Highlands for a much needed family bonding.

Hello, Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda!

Whenever R and I visit Highlands, we would head to The Highlander Steakhouse for some of its delectable prime ribs. But this time around, my family opted to try the restaurant in the Sports Center Veranda for some casual comfort dishes.

The menu is extensive and a mix of different cuisines. I went with Breaded Pork (PHP280) while my sister ordered Mac and Cheese (PHP280) and cheese quesadillas for my mom. I also ordered a glass of buko shake and a bowl of mango caramel ice cream for dessert.

Service was quite fast as food was served in less than 10 minutes. I guess it also helps as we were the only diners that time.

I didn’t get to taste my mom’s quesadillas but it was a bestseller with the kids. I guess it was really cheesy for kids to love it.

Restaurant Discovery: O’Rice

Table for one, please.

For some reason, I still feel awkward saying that. But it makes me giddy at the same time. Eating alone doesn’t make me one lonely individual. In fact, there are times that I truly enjoy it. Plus, there’s the perk of ordering whatever I want.

I was planning to have a quick lunch at McDonald’s but it was packed. Since I had to go back to the site (yes, I was in my construction worker mode that time) ASAP, I decided to look for another place to have lunch. And that’s when I spotted O’Rice.

Hello, O’Rice!

The Korean restaurant was pretty busy too though there were still a few tables available. I got a table near the counter and ordered right away. I went with Beef Bulgogi Fried Rice (PHP248), Black Bean Noodles (PHP198) and a glass of Brewed Iced Tea (PHP95).

First served was the iced tea and it sure was sweeeet. Too sweet. I had to wait for the ice to melt for it to be more thirst quenching.

Food Truck: Tako

Food trucks. It is starting to create a wave here in Manila. There are now Mexican food trucks, ice cream trucks, and even a fruit juice truck. (Jamba Juice, anyone?) But in other countries, there are more choices. N and I spotted a Korean food truck on our way back from San Francisco and we just have to eat there (since we needed a break from Chinese food—as our tour guide kept on bringing us to Chinese restaurants throughout our 3 day tour!). 

Hello, Tako!

This Korean barbeque fusion food truck has a simple menu (well I think most if not all food trucks have simple menus). You have 6 choices for meat—bulgogi, spicy pork, spicy spam, short ribs, spicy chicken, and tofu. The fun part is that you can have it on rice, tacos, or even turn it into a burrito, quesadilla or burger. Since the drive’s still pretty long, N and I opted to have rice bowls instead.