First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's Jeepney Avenue

Filipino cuisine will always have a special place in my heart (and tummy). Its comforting flavors never fail to make me feel at home or remember the good ol' days with the family. And I was giddy to spot Jeepney Avenue at Eatogether.

Hello, Jeepney Avenue.

Jeepney Avenue is one of the first stalls you'll see when you enter Eatogether. Situated right beside the counter to get your Vikings Card, its mouthwatering display of crispy pata will get your attention.

First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's L'Italiano

I miss Italy and its wonderful flavors. Just visiting a local supermarket could score you a five-star meal. And I was happy to discover a new place to get Italian pasta close to the ones I've fallen in love with. 

Hello, L'Italiano. 

L'Italiano is one of the many food concepts housed by Eatogether Food Hall. It focuses on three items--bread, pasta and pizza. 

First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's Hawker Lane

Eatogether is the newest food hall in the metro. Its innovative cashless system makes ordering and paying hassle-free. It is not surprising that this hip place is getting a lot of attention, not just from millennials but foodies of all ages. And one of the busiest stalls here is the one that offers Asian favorites.

Hello, Hawker Lane.

Hawker Lane is tucked inside Eatogether and you have to go past all the tempting stalls by the entrance to get here. But you'll surely see it if you plan to grab some drinks as this right beside the bar.

First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's Salad Station

I love it how our insatiable need for Instagram-worthy spaces has changed the food court scene. The birth of food halls (and food parks) added spark to our mundane quick lunch breaks and put extra oomph in our social media feeds. And one food hall spiced things up with a few taps here and there. 

Hello, Eatogether Food Hall. 

Eatogether Food Hall is yet another concept by the Vikings Group that adds new twists and flair to the current food scene. 

Singapore in Manila: Nanyang

I have been a fan of Nanyang's delicious Kaya Toast ever since I got hold of it last December. It has been one of my favorite afternoon spots in BGC. But ever since I started working in Quezon City, I hardly get to visit its High Street branch. Thankfully, it opened a branch at SM Megamall which is closer to work. 

Hello again, Nanyang!

Its SM Megamall branch is quite smaller than its BGC counterparts. But its prime location at the ground floor of building A (beside Breadtalk) makes it hard to miss. 

First Bite: Mihimihi

I hardly go out these days as I find Manila's traffic unbearable. But when I do, I see to it that I get to visit at least one new restaurant. And I was so thrilled when I accidentally discovered Mihimihi on my way home.

Hello, Mihimihi.

Mihimihi is a popular bakeshop from Guangzhou, China known for its eclair-shaped French puff pastries that come in different flavors and fillings. I've seen its shop a few times but our jam-packed Canton Fair schedule doesn't really allow me to explore the city that much. Luckily, these raved about baked goodies found its way to Manila. It opened its first store in SM Fairview last March and its second one opened in SM Megamall just a few weekends ago.

Now Open: Soban K-Town Grill SM Megamall

Soban has been one of my favorite Korean BBQ joints since 2016 and it keeps whipping up more delectable reasons for it to stay in my top 5 loves. And this April 8, 2019, Soban finally opens in Ortigas. 

Hello, Soban K-Town Grill.

Soban is one of the three Korean concepts under Happy Foods Group. With dishes developed by the talented  Mr. Sung Rah of Sariwon, Seoul, Korea, expect nothing but flavorful and succulent premium meats here. 

First Sip: Hui Lau Shan

Summer's here and it seems to be way hotter than before. Thankfully, there are several refreshments to choose from to keep us sane. One new addition to the list is Hui Lau Shan.

Hello, Hui Lau Shan. 

Frequent Hong Kong visitors would be familiar with Hui Lau Shan's inviting yellow signage. Though its cutesy mango illustration may seem like this is brand is just a few years old, it actually has a long history under its belt.

Ippudo Launches Zero Ramen

Ippudo has been one of my favorite ramen joints in town. It has the right balance of flavors--umami yet not overwhelming. And to celebrate Ippudo's 33rd year anniversary and 4th year in the Philippines, it goes back to its roots and features its base ramen--Zero. 

Hello, Ippudo.

I was invited to Ippudo's anniversary celebration not knowing what to expect. So it was a big treat to be able to sample the ramen that started it all. 

First Bite: Tori Chizu

Cheese is probably one of the best creations ever made! I love cheese so much that I could finish a quarter of a cheese wheel in one sitting. I love it with crackers, wine, fruits and even ramen. And when I found out that there's a place that offers baked rice with cheese, I just have to check it out!

Hello, Tori Chizu. 

Located at the busy ground floor of SM Megamall, it would be easy to spot Tori Chizu if you frequent Building A. 

First Bite: Bliss Bowls

My Instagram feed was filled with beautiful bowls of mouthwatering bowled treats for weeks and I could not help get curious by it. Upon quick research, I found out that these Instagram worthy treats are from Bliss Bowls, a new player in SM Megamall that offers healthy smoothies in a bowl. 

Hello, Bliss Bowls!

Archery 101: Arrowland by Gandiva

One thing I do not like about Manila is the lack of fun activities one can do in the city. Unlike other places like New York, Seoul and the like, we do not have parks, easily accessible mountains, or even spacious and well maintained zoos to spice things up and avoid mundane activities such as shopping and watching movies. Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoy shopping and catching the latest blockbuster but there are times when I crave for adventure or simply do something different. And I found the solution when I stumbled upon Gandiva in Ortigas. I had a blast firing arrow after arrow but I didn’t like the heavy price I had to pay for an hour of fun. Thankfully, Gandiva heard my prayers and created Arrowland.

Hello, Arrowland by Gandiva. 

I’m sure you’re wondering what makes this different from Gandiva. It’s also an archery place with pretty much the same set up as Gandiva which just happens to be located inside the always busy and packed SM Megamall. 

The venue alone already serves as a clue on what differentiates Arrowland from Gandiva. It made archery a lot more affordable and accessible to everyone interested to try being Katniss or Hawkeye by offering this action-packed activity in sachet-like packages.

First Sip: Satchmi

I have been hearing a lot of good things about Satchmi, a hipster café located at SM Megamall’s posh Fashion Hall. I’m actually familiar with the brand as I know one of the owners way back when they were still selling vinyls in bazaars. Satchmi sure is a brand that shows how passion plays a key role in a business’ success. Anyway, this entry is about my coffee experience.

Hello, Satchmi!

It has been almost a year since I have planned to visit this place. However, the place is always packed whenever I pass by. 

As an impatient foodie, I simply could not wait more than 10 minutes for a cup of coffee especially when there are a lot of coffee shops nearby. But my last Megamall visit was a lucky one as I spot an empty spot at the communal table when I passed by the adorable café with inviting interiors. 

First Bite: Yayoi Philippines

It is so hard to resist good food especially when your foodie godfather invites you to the media launch of a Japanese restaurant. This time, the invite was for Yayoi, a reputable Japanese restaurant with branches all over Japan, USA, Australia, and now in Manila. 

Hello, Yayoi! 

I've heard about Yayoi from one of my friends working in Ortigas. He was quite excited to try this place out since he was starting to get tired of the usual restaurants in one of the busiest malls in Manila. And finally, it is open to the public! 

After crawling our way out of EDSA for half an hour, we finally reached SM Megamall and scurried towards Yayoi. And we made it just in time! 

We were greeted by the friendly PR team and owners of Yayoi. We were quickly ushered inside and I couldn't help gush over the mix of traditional Japanese ambiance with its wooden walls and technology through the iPads stationed on each table. (The iPads serve as the menu and platform to place your order.)

After feasting on some Edamame (PHP120), we headed to the photo table and joined other bloggers, media personalities and Instagrammers take some mouthwatering photos of Yayoi's highlighted offerings. 

Our orders were served after the welcome remarks of the hosts and we soon indulged in some serious Japanese dishes. 

First served was the Mix Toji Teishoku (PHP425) or breaded pork loin, deep fried shrimp and sukiyaki beef simmered in special sauce and egg served with rice, miso soup and two sides. 

I loved the sweet and salty taste of the sauce which complemented the succulent katsu and breaded shrimp. I also enjoyed eating the egg base with Japanese rice while slurping some hot miso soup. The tofu side dish helped balance the taste and avoided the main dish from being cloying. 

First Bite: Yo! Panda

It frustrates me whenever there are new restaurants quite far from me. It frustrates me even more when I see its mouthwatering dishes. But thanks to some errands, I managed to swing by SM Megamall and finally got to try Yo! Panda.

Hello, Yo! Panda. 

I saw a handful of posts about this place last weekend and it gave me an impression that it only offers egg waffle sundaes. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that what I thought to be a dessert store offers other modern Hong Kong dishes such as baos, noodles and rice bowls. Without much thought, I decided to have lunch here instead of going to another restaurant that I have been eying for months.  

Yo! Panda’s area is small and quite cramped especially for those sitting by the walk way. It was also quite hot inside. I guess it was because it was a bit crowded and the location of the restaurant, being near the exit, makes it harder for the A/C to do its magic. There were some flies too that remind me of Uptown Mall where the fly to human ratio is 1:1. The place is charming though.

I quickly ordered the recommended Cantonese Style Beef Brisket (PHP280) and a glass of Premium Hong Kong Milk Tea (PHP130) while my sister went with Scallion Chicken Chop (PHP230). My mom arrived a couple of minutes after and ordered Burger Steak & Rice (PHP280) and a glass of Yo! Panda’s Signature Iced Tea(PHP100). My mom and sister also ordered Mango Cheesecake Vanilla Soft Serve Waffle (PHP180) for dessert.

My rice bowl arrived first and after a few snapshots here and there, I took a mouthful.

The beef brisket was undeniably soft. It was almost the melts-in-your-mouth type of meat. And simply typing those words make me salivate. 

Love at First Bite: Milkcow

Cotton candy on ice cream??? Whuuut? That was my reaction a year ago when I heard about Milkcow. I wanted to visit its first branch in Eastwood several times but every time I try to visit, it gets cancelled. I recall that my first attempt was unsuccessful because of the long line. My second attempt was a failure too because the people I was with were rushing. My third attempt went kapoof because that Hot Star cheap-o sundae was just to tempting. But I was finally successful last weekend!

Hello, Milkcow!!!

The brightly lit place was full of cow decors. There are cows on the wall, on the mirror and even on macaron divider. It was screaming adorable!

When I was about to order, I was surprised that there were a lot of options to choose from. I thought they only have less than 10 variants. In short, I was a bit overwhelmed and ended taking my sweet time to choose "the one".

I was torn between M1 Milky Way (PHP110), which is the plain ice cream and M8 Milky Crisp (PHP170) which has rice crispies and macaron. However, my desire for a nice and colorful photo won and I ordered M8. (It seems to be more Instagram-worthy.) My friends ordered M3 Milky Cube (PHP170), M4 Snow Drop (PHP170), M5 Milky Pearl (PHP150) and M12 Milky Pop (PHP150).

While waiting for my ice cream (which was not a long wait), I quickly took photos of my friends' orders before they (or the heat) ruin the nice swirl of ice cream. 

Now to taste 'em all...

I noticed that the ice cream base is indeed very creamy. Though not as smooth as gelato, it was very rich in taste. It was undeniably milky. 

My rice crispies topping added crunch to my dessert and the macaron (I chose salted caramel) added more taste. I sparingly put macaron per spoonful though as I find it too sweet. The macaron (priced PHP60 per piece) though was good. Consistency and taste could easily compete with other pricier macarons (except Laduree and Tuileries Confections). 

The M4 Snow Drop or the ice cream with a huge fluff of cotton candy was lovely. No wonder a lot order this one. I thought they just buy it for its Instagram-worthy look. 

First Bite: Maisen

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart. But the very next day, you just made me fat. Yep, it was the season to get fatty two weeks ago and I have done nothing but munch, chew and munch some more. And when I was invited to tag along to visit this "most famous" katsu place (in Japan), I just couldn't say no. 

Hello, Maisen!

The place looks a lot classier than the other restaurants in SM Megamall. Not sure if it was the yellow lights but the ambiance sure was nicer.

There were a lot of katsu to choose from. R went with Maisen's bestseller Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set (PHP630) while I ordered the Salmon Katsu Set (PHP550). Both comes with cabbage, rice, miso soup, pickle set and fruits. 

It took about 20 minutes or so to prepare our orders so I was quite famished when my dish arrived.

First one served was R's Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu and it was perfectly golden brown. 

The set includes a katsu sauce specially paired with kurobuta. It was slightly thicker and lumpier than the sauce from other katsu places. 

First Bite: BLK513

I'm quite hooked to Looloo these past days and I can't help but notice the numerous reviews on BLK513, the newest yogurt place in Manila. Okay, you might think that it's nothing special because it's just another yogurt shop which brands such as Red Mango, Pinkberry and White Hat made popular. Buuuut... this yogurt is black. BLK= black. And since new food or restaurants are very appealing to me, I just have to try it myself! 

Hello, BLK513!!!

It has been several weeks since I first saw a post on this "activated charcoal" infused yogurt. Charcoal on yogurt??? Well, it is definitely not your lump of coal on top of smooth and delectably tangy yogurt. Activated charcoal is actually used in hospitals and even at home. Some of the benefits you get from it are (1) reduces high cholesterol (2) anti-aging (3) digestive cleanse (4) toxin removal; and (5) prevents hangover.

Okay, sold!

R's family scheduled a katsu lunch at Maisen a few days back and I thought that it was perfect since I hardly visit Megamall these past months. (Holiday rush, traffic and SM Megamall is an equation for headache!)

After lunch, R and I went to BLK513 for dessert and I opted for cup (PHP185; PHP175 for cone) so that I could get more toppings/layers. I went with caramelized cookies (which tasted like Speculoos or Biscoff) for crunch, kiwi and strawberries for fruits and Nutella for syrup.

And tadaaaaa...

My first spoonful didn't give much of an impression. It tasted like your usual tangy yogurt which you get from Red Mango, only darker. But the second spoonful with the layers made it more delectable.

New Restaurant Alert: The Halal Guys

Yes, it is finally happening. After almost a year of waiting (or was it over a year?),  The Halal Guys is finally opening its first store in Manila!

I still remember the first time I saw The Halal Guys Opening Soon tarpaulin signage at the quirky SM Mega Food Hall. I squealed like fangirl and anticipated its opening which was supposedly July of this year. But just like most stores’ opening dates, The Halal Guys’ was also moved. They said that the cause of the delay was that they wanted to make sure that they get the quality right. Sounds reasonable to me as long as I get the real deal!

And THIS IS IT. The Halal Guys already announced it in its Facebook and Instagram accounts that it will open tomorrow and here’s the good news… first 100 customers get free meals! Yes, FREE MEALS! Woohoo… for you. As much as I want a free meal, it’s logistically impossible for me to be one of the first 100. *cries*

Sale Alert: H&M Anniversary Month-Long Sale

Remember when there was a big crowd in front of SM Megamalllast October 17? Yes, it was a year ago when traffic madness happened because of the opening of H&M Philippines.

Forgot why there was a long line just to shop? Well, H&M was giving away several gift certificates for the first 100 or 200 customers and a lot were hopeful to get one. (Though others say that those people who lined up were paid to create buzz about the opening of the awaited retail fashion brand. But that's another story.)

To celebrate its first anniversary in the Philippines, H&M is treating its customers with a MONTH-LONG sale. Yes, a sale during the whole month of October! Shop and buy several OOTD at 50% off.

See you there!

H&M branches are in SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Makati, SM City North EDSA, SM Fairview and Robinsons Manila.