Sakura oishii!

Gusto for Japanese food is what my friend and I share together. I can say that we are quite adventurous when it comes to food. Although I cannot consider us the very adventurous ones (we have a certain degree of reservation), we are on the other hand not afraid of trying cuisines that are not familiar.

Once in a while, we would crave for Japanese cuisine. And when we watched 2012 at MOA that craving surfaced. After about half an hour looking for somewhere to eat, we ended up with a decision to get some Japanese food. Since we have decided to try a Japanese restaurant where we haven't eaten yet, we thought of eating at the first Japanese restaurant that we would see.

Finally, we saw one Japanese restaurant at the ground floor near the arcade. It was a little place that also looks like a store. It has shelves on one side where they display things of Japanese influence. They have plates, cups, teapots, Japanese mayo, wasabe, and some other things as well. It also has a mini sushi bar and the kitchen area has glass panes where diners can watch from their tables as their food are being prepared. Although it might become a little crowdy when the place is jampacked (so better to go earlier or later than meal time).

When we have already placed our orders, I took in the place, and the ambiance. The left side wall has images of their food and was created in a way that it resembles an XOX grid. It was illuminated by small bulbs that made the rich colors of the images stand out. Those food pictures looks good and appetizing. And I can just wish the same for the "real deal".

First thing that was served to us is the miso soup that comes with the sushi combo that we ordered. The miso soup was a little bitter for my taste but the seaweed on it was perfectly cooked. Aside, from the bitterness, the soup really has no flavor at all. I am not sure whether it really should be that way, maybe to cleanse the palette or whatever. I was expecting bite size tofu squares in it but aside from the seaweed, there's nothing else in the soup.

Next that they served was fried gyoza. Compared to the other gyozas that I have tasted, the very obvious difference is that their gyoza is big. And I mean big. Next difference is that, those gyozas have thin wrappers, so it can only mean more filling. The meat filling also has a vegetable-herb-like taste, subtle and yet refreshing; a change from the usual just meaty taste of dumplings. The dumplings were real flavorful; and the dipping sauce is good too. It was like a mixture of soy sauce with a little bit of vinegar (just a hint of sourness), and chives. Next dish that was served was Sushi Combo 4. This has four types of maki and a tuna salad. The four makis include Tuna Maki, Tamago Maki, Kani Maki, and the ever famous California Maki. Four the first three makis, I can really say that there are nothing special about those. Except, the tuna is really fresh. The California Maki on the other hand is refeshing as always. The fresh cucumber strips, the very tropical mango cubes, and the crab sticks. But there's one point there that I was almost afraid of picking it up with my chopstick because the appearance of it looks like it might fall into mongrel pieces any time. But, luckily, I did not mess up anything.

My favorite from this Combo, is the Tuna Salad. It makes my mouth water just thinking of the Tuna Salad. Unfortunately though, those who are health conscious should think twice before trying this. Mainly because the Tuna Salad was drenched with fat. It is served mixed with a very generous amount of Japanese Mayonnaise. I do not know what they put to it but it is spicy. Not spicy enough that will make your tongue burn though, but it is hot. I think I can see speckles of green on the Salad but I am not sure if it is Wasabe. The Tuna Salad is simple and yet very very delicious. The salty-spicy taste of the Salad is just perfect. If ever I get the chance to eat there again, this would be a staple, I think.

For the drinks, we tried the Watermelon Shake and it is really fantastic. Unlike most of the watermelon drinks out there, this one is neither too watery nor too sugary. It has the right blend of watermelon and sugar and ice. It is extremely refreshing and perfect for summer. Plus, it ward off the spiciness of the Tuna Salad.

I definitely recommend Sakura both to the Japanese food eaters and non-Japanese food eaters alike. The food here is really excellent. Especially the Tuna Salad. Oishiii!

Starbucks Chicken Empanada

I now have a new job and so far, I love it. I love the place, my boss, my officemates, my job. Well, the location is near our home but the problem is the food. It is just a walking distance from a mall but as an employee like me who has a plan of taking up masteral next summer, eating out is very expensive. My dream of taking up masteral next summer would have to wait if I am going to spend a quarter of my salary for lunch.

Anyway, this morning, as I was running late (well.. I thought I was), I passed by Starbucks before going to the office, hoping for something that I could buy for lunch that wouldn't exceed P100. So there I was, doing a little window shopping of their pastries when I saw their Chicken Empanadas priced at only P70. So, I whipped out my wallet and ordered at the counter.

The Empanada do not look like any empanada's out there, like in Red Ribbon, Goldilocks'.. Starbucks' Chicken Empanada's are bigger than those. Actually it resembles to a croissant. When I bought it, I asked them to heat it for me, but come lunch time, it has turned cold already. The pastry itself is thick but soft. I am just not sure if it has been a little bit of flakey-crunchy since the empanada's crust is brushed with egg wash. But I love the feel of my teeth sinking in a thick, soft bread. And, it has the aroma and the taste of a croissant.

Inside the addicting croissant taste, the filling is oh so generous. I bit into it and got a chunk of chicken. And it is really a bite. Unlike other empanadas where they give you chicken shreds. Here, they give you chicken chunks. And big chunks. It also has the usual green peas, carrot and potato cubes. The sauce inside is thick, to prevent it from being runny and soggy, I guess it is a cream sauce. I cannot really describe the taste although I sensed familiar spices. But really, it is delicious. Heavenly even. And for just 70 bucks, it is a real great spend for a lunch from Starbucks.

Lurk at Turk's

I started to be addicted to Shawarma since the first time that I have tasted it. It has been a habit to bring home one after our usual supermarket day, since it is located near the supermarket area. Although sometimes, I choose not to buy and just shun off the craving because of the beef. Since, it is displayed for everyone to see, the beef sometimes do not look fresh and looks dry. Afraid that it might have been from the day before, I just look for something else to bring home as my dinner.

Then, there was a time where I saw a segment on TV where they interviewed an entrepreneur about her business; Turk's Shawarma. Since I am a fan of Shawarma, I tuned to it and watched intently, waiting for the list of their other branches. That interview was shot in their stall in SM Centerpoint. And as I watch in awe of the long queues, and the descriptions from the owner herself and the customers, comparing side by side, the craving inside of me gets stronger. I know I have to taste Turk's Shawarma myself, to know if it really is as good as how they say. I waited for the list of branches and was disappointed that there were none in SM branches near our area. I remember being slightly mad that they did not open a branch near our area since we have two SM's here.

It was only recently that I saw a stall of Turk's Shawarma in SM (branch nearest to us). It was a delight really, because finally, after a long wait, I will be able to taste it. The kiosk was recognizable alright, with their black and red combination and yellow brand name. The line was not that long, but as I walk over the kiosk, the line has been longer by the time I have reached the end of the line, which is approximately not more than 20 steps only. As I wait, I observed the kiosk itself, above it, just below the kiosk name hung a little signage indicating the variety of Shawarma they are offering and the price. There are only two variants there, the usual beef shawarma which consists of beef and vegetables, and the all meat variant. I also noticed that the crew wears uniforms of the same colors red, and black. Each with his own duties. One is slicing and chopping the beef, the other one prepares the orders, and the other one as the cashier. I thought it was a good decision because it actually prevents the one who is preparing the food to prepare it faster to be ale to accommodate the people, and at the same time prevents accidentally touching money and other things while handling food. And honestly it is one of the reasons why I liked it there.

When it was my turn to order, I chose the all meat variant, although the veggies are fresh as I see them. Watching the preparation of my order is also a joy. The guy has mastered the process. The swifting motion, so fluid, so smooth, and so accurate. From the slightly grilling of the pita bread, to the putting of the beef, rolling up the whole thing, and especially the sauces. It was a superb performance each time. I must congratulate the trainers of these people. It is like entertaining the customers while they are waiting for their food. So, after the entertainment, here comes now the most crucial part: the Shawarma. At first bite, it was already heaven for me. The pita bread does not seem to me a bread. It is like a cake or a pastry that is so soft but not soggy. It is chewy but not tough at all. It has a certain hint of sweetness yet not overpowering that it may be classified as a crepe. The sweetness is just perfect and goes perfectly well with the meat. The meat on Turk's Shawarma is juicy. Unlike those that are being sold on other Shawarmas that are dry and tough and bland tasting. Turk's is not at all anywhere near that. Their meat is flavorful, and has a taste of barbecue-like taste to it, that savory taste that I love. And, as it is like a barbecued meat, it also has a hint of sweetness to it. Just enough to complement the sweetness of the pita. The taste was just so perfect, so heavenly, and so filling. It really is a meal itself. The hot sauce also is not at all that hot the it will make your tongue feel scorched. Not at all, its only blended with the right hotness, just perfect to go with the sandwich itself. It only gives you a slight kick and do not intend to play as the star of the package.


Turk's Shawarma is now my favorite take out food. And as I blog about it now, my mouth cannot help but water. It really is sumptuous.

Yum Yum "Sushi-Yum"!

Sushi -yum is a little Japanese Restaurant in Benavidez St., here in Manila. It only has 10 to 12 tables for their dine-in customers and a mini sushi bar on the ground floor and the kitchen area on the 2nd floor. The place is quite small that you may miss it when you pass by the street if you do not know where it is exactly located. It have a signage though but still quite discreet at the midst of the busy street. The place is not that packed every time we arrive but as dinner time approaches, few people would come to dine and it is very noticeable that the delivery personnel would come and go to deliver phone-in orders.

I first tasted their food back when I was still in College, when my late uncle would bring home food from Sushi-yum. I have tasted their Tempura, which is delicious with its breading, but quite bland to me that you really have to dip it in the sauce that came with it. The shrimp on the other hand is cooked perfectly, not overcooked, so its not tough nor chewy. I have also tried their Breaded Porkchop. The breading is real crispy as it should be, and the porkchop, juicy. I like the coleslaw served as siding with their Porkchop, especially the Thousand Island Dressing on it.

Recently, I tried their Cheesy Chicken Roll, and it is really cheesy and delicious but, the chicken is quite tough. It is rolled and breaded, then fried but I think, fried too much. They also have this Ham and Cheese Japanese Pancake. Honestly, this is my favorite in Sushi-Yum. It is like a thick omelet. It has real ham on it and you can really taste the cheese inside, creamy, and tasty. And, it is quite heavy in the stomach so you have to limit your other orders if you would try this dish. It will make you full in no time. Thinking about this Japanese Pancake makes my mouth water.. Geez!

My food trip buddy, Minnie, and me went to eat there also and tried their sushi platter. One that includes basic sushi/maki variants like Kani, Tamago, California. It is quite good also, almost comparable to sushis and makis of more expensive Japanese restos. We also tried their Takoyaki which are like pancake rolled into balls with squid in it. It has Teriyaki sauce and dried fish shavings on it and I think, mayo-mustard and served as a snack in Japan. Their Takoyaki is the third Takoyaki I have tried and it is real good. But, the only thing that I missed on their Takoyaki is that theirs do not have fish shavings on them that would have given it the aroma and the saltiness that it should taste. Instead, the saltiness came from the Teriyaki Sauce.

We also tried their Kani Salad. It has mostly lettuce in it, of course the kani which is torn into strips and there are also mango chunks and strips of seaweed sheets on top. The mayonnaise on top is a delicious touch. Although, it is quite too much that the salad became a little too salty than how it should be. Otherwise, it is perfect. The sweetness of the Kani, the sweet and sour taste of the mango chunks.. If, however, you are looking for a refreshing salad, I am afraid this Kani Salad is not for you. Because of the generous amount of mayo on top of it, is quite heavy opposite of the light texture you are looking for in a refreshing salad.

As for the Makis, we picked Futo Maki because of the sweet center that I particularly love. Futo Maki has I think cucumbers, and a little chunk of Tamago, and Kani, and what appears to be preserved squid part. The sweetened one. Which, I think is where the sweetness is coming from. Lastly, we ordered their Chicken. It is quite spicy, but very juicy. It is fried and coated with sauce and served with sesame seeds on top. It is quite spicy so if you are the type of person who cannot take spiciness, then this dish is not for you because it can get spicier and spicier, bite after bite. But for those that can handle a little heat, then you gotta try this. Real winner!

As for dessert, we have tried their Ice Cream Tempura. The ice cream is dipped in Tempura batter and then fried. It is good also, but you have to eat it fast since the ice cream melts in no time. Another comment is that it is quite oily. They should have drained the oil first before serving it. Their red tea on the other hand is delicious and has a sweet aroma.

Overall verdict: If you are looking for an affordable Japanese food and you are near the Binondo and Benavidez area, Sushi yum may be the best bet for you. You get Japanese food comparable to more expensive restos and reasonably priced as well. Minus the traffic.

Korean Village

Located at Nakpil St., where Korean Restaurants are everywhere, a small and house-like structure embodies Korean Village. The exterior would not give clue that it is in fact a restaurant (except for a signboard), but it may be mistakenly identified as a home. Inside, the restaurant is quite dim thus picture taking is quite hard since you have to adjust camera settings accordingly. You will find ordinary wooden chairs and stove-top tables (is that how you call it?) inside. There's also a bar but I am not sure on the wine products that they have in there.

Looking around, I saw families, friends, business people, Filipinos, and foreigners dining there. Young and old alike. Eating there is comfortable because anyone won't feel different because people from almost all walks of life eats there. So basically, there is no intimidation.

When you have already placed you orders, they will give you complimentary appetizers. There's this one with pechay, the leafy part of it, mixed with i think its mayonnaise. Then there's the egg rolls, the togue and i think its kinchay, and then the seaweed sheets, the ever famous kimchi, and my favorite, dilis and tofu. The pechay seems to be bland to me. The egg rolls are soft and yet chewy. the togue and kinchay is quite crunchy. the kinchi is okay if paired with something bland like the pechay. And my favorite, the dilis. It is crunchy, sweet, and at the same time a little salty. It is really yummy. And the tofu is very smooth and silky.

For our main course, we ordered Bibimpbap, barbecue, and beef stew. The barbecue is a DIY. You cook these raw pork, liver, shrimp into your own liking. You do this on your table like when you eat in a shabu-shabu restaurant. I can say that these are fresh and its tasty too. The marinade used is good. As for the bibimbap, it is quite a big serving. I was very full after I ate it. I don't know what kind of rice they used but it is sticky and soft. Maybe it is the reason why its a little bit heavy in the stomach thus causing me to be so full. Basically the rice has only egg on it and some veggies. It also has chili on it then everything will be mixed. It is quite tasty even with only few things on it. The beef stew on the other hand is excellent! The meat is very tender and very juicy. It literally falls off the bone. Really tasty. I just can't have enough. I kept craving for more. The gravy is good and fragrant also. Its next to the dilis as my favorite in Korean Village. Real good! They also give another complimentary, this time fruits for dessert. Quite good right?!

It has now become as one of my favorite restaurants. I can't wait for my friends abroad to come home. I will surely take them there.

Razon's Halo-halo

I have seen this controversial halo-halo from a few TV shows before. And, according to the hosts, this halo-halo only has 3 things in it; aside from the shaved ice, it only has banana, milk, and leche flan. Unlike the traditional halo-halo wherein different colors are outdoing each other. But, they also say that inspite of its "lack" in ingredients, the taste is excellent. So, with so much intrigue built inside me, I decided to try and do my own taste-test. Last Sunday, was the big day. My friend and I went to Robinson's Place Manila and after a few rounds of walking, we did our food trip stop over at Razon's. As we are waiting for our turn to the counter, I casually told her about how I heard it is such a delicious one of a kind halo-halo even though it only has 3 things in it. The look at my friend's face was like "what the hell?...", obviously, she has never heard about a halo-halo that only has 3 things in it. She even said that it might not be good. But I told her that everybody who had tried it said it was good.

Then, after a few minutes of waiting on our table, the "Stars" finally came. Two glasses of two-toned halo-halo was served to us. I took its pictures, since I thought of making my review and a photo of it alongside my review wouldn't hurt. After taking pictures, we each took our halo-halo and prepared ourself for the big test.

It has two slices of leche flan on top of it, then the shaved ice, then the sweetened banana at the middle of the glass, and then the last layer of shaved ice. I took a taste of the leche flan first. It is neither too sweet nor too balnd. The next thing I did was to incorporate everything to my glass. My first spoonful was OK. My friend even commented that Chowking's is better than that glass of Razon's, I almost wanted to agree with her but as I was about to, my second spoonful already stopped me. I now understand how a halo-halo with only 3 things in it won over the halo-halo with almost every color on the color wheel in it. Razon's halo-halo was simply the best. Cliche it may seem but really, less is more. Simple is beautiful. A little goes a long way.

Razon's halo-halo has the finest shaved ice compared to those other halo-halo. The milk that poured in it really softened the ice shavings even more that its as if you are eating snow instead of ice. The sweetened banana is also excellent. It is not too sweet. It even has really soft, little macapuno strips. These macapuno strips are not like other macapuno strips because these are soft, and silk-smooth. Small banana chunks and small macapuno strips made up the sweetened banana. I think cutting it in small chunks helped it balance the taste because each bite only gives subtle sweetness, therefore not overpowering the wholeness of the halo-halo. The halo-halo is getting its sweetness from the combined power of sweetened banana and leche flan, and this combination made it simply the best.

Each mouthful of Razon's halo-halo was heaven for me. I did not realized at first that I have been saying "sarap" everytime I take a spoonful in my mouth. Well, thanks to my friend, fed up of hearing me say "sarap", she pointed it out to me as I was taking my heavenly spoonful of halo-halo into my mouth. Well, as shamefully as it may sound, but after finishing my glass of halo-halo, I just could not resist myself. I had to have another round of it. Which, I did. I ordered my second glass and repeated my journey to heaven with each mouthful of Razon's halo-halo.

Indeed, its a one of a kind halo-halo. The best so far, for me.

Hee-ya! to Ranch 88

A small, humble restaurant has recently opened along Dasmariñas Street in Binondo - Ranch 88, it was called. It is just a small place that houses approximately, 12-15 two-person tables. Small but quite cozy,indeed. I got the chance to try it last Saturday with my office mate and the experience was.. well... Good! The food are very affordable, really suits the office employees' budget. Well, I think that is their reason why they opened it in that area, mainly because commercial buildings are everywhere in Dasmariñas Street.

The place is clean, no sticky tables and got really comfortable not too stiff neither too soft sofa chairs. No sticky nor slippery floor also. The comfort room is also clean and as my office mate described it, it was beautiful (only she has gone to the restroom). Only, there is only one restroom for both genders.

As for the food, I ordered their Porterhouse Steak while my office mate ordered their Breaded Pork Chop. Entrees are served with java rice and some mixed vegetables. The Breaded Pork Chop is served also with gravy on the side, while the Porterhouse has its gravy pour on top of it, served on a hotplate. The Porterhouse Steak was a little thin but cut big. It was tender enough but came a little chewy on its meatiest part. The gravy was OK, nothing different from the usual gravy that you will get from sizzling food restaurants. The mixed veggies on the other hand, can do a little more color. I mean, the color was a little pale, maybe they could add a little carrots and green beans. The Java rice is quite good, and not too sour.

And, according to my office mate, her Breaded Pork Chop was delicious too. It was creamy and although it was breaded, was still tender. It was quite a thick cut so the tenderizing process, I guess was really good since it did not become tough to chew. It was, according to her, a real treat. In fact , she ordered another java rice which she does not normally do. They also gave each one of us one Polvoron, which I am guessing, was homemade. I don't know if they gave it to us as complementary because they just opened, since they are also selling these Polvorons. But it is sooo good. The pinipig is crunchy and it is not too sweet. You can just taste its freshness.

But what I am really really amazed for was their Chocolate Cake. For just Php36.00, a real generous serving of heavenly Chocolate Cake will be served. The Chocolate Cake was decadent. I have not tasted such good Chocolate Cake for that price. It was chocolate chiffon cake with caramel filling in between two layers of thick chocolate chiffon cake. The chocolate icing was very smooth, no tiny unmelted chocolate in it. Perfectly smooth. The cream on the side was smooth too and a little sweet, but not too sweet. The Chocolate Cake was so heavenly, as a whole, and per ingredient. Everything goes well with each other perfectly. Chocolatey goodness but not tooth-aching sweet. I just can't stop singing praises to this Chocolate Cake. Oh, did I mentioned it was homemade? Yummy!

Starbucks' Raspberry Mango Cheesecake

I have been to Starbucks last week with my friend to bond over coffee and catch up with each other. I ordered dark chocolate frap and hers was, I think, java chips frap. I am starving at that time since I only had a sandwich during lunch so I decided to order something else to go with my Grande frap. I chose their tomato, basil, & mozzarella cheese bagel and was tempted to also order one of their yummy looking cheesecakes. There were two variants to choose from: Oreo Cheesecake, and Raspberry Mango Cheesecake. At first, I was about to try their Oreo Cheesecake but since it is quite common, I decided to go with the Raspberry Mango Cheesecake.

The bagel was good. It is quite crunchy on the outside but is soft inside. I was expecting a lot of stringy mozzarella but was disappointed. The tomatoes are sweet and generally it is good. After finishing my bagel, I rested for a while to let my palette refresh so that I may taste the yumminess of the cheesecake without compromising it due to the taste of the bagel.

After sips of the cold frap and exchange of stories with my friend, I let the temptation take over me. I started to devour my slice of Raspberry Mango Cheesecake. The cheesecake has a mango filling at the center, with thick raspberry syrup on the surface, and finished with a swirl of white chocolate.

The cheesecake is awesome! I mean, the cheesecake itself is very light, very airy, and soft. It does not have the gelatin like texture that some cheesecakes do (which I really hate). The creaminess is there but not too creamy to the point that it almost coats your mouth with oil. It is neither too sweet nor too bland. The mango filling at the center is just right. But I find the raspberry syrup on top a little sour. Quite sour for the airiness of the cheesecake. It might have been okay if they have added a little sugar on it to make it a little sweet but at the same time, the tartness of the raspberry is not being overpowered.

The final verdict:
I loooveee the Raspberry Mango Cheesecake! The airiness of the cheesecake, the absence of the gelatin like consistency made it my favorite cheesecake. In fact, I think I can eat the cheesecake on its own, without fillings, nor sauces. Just the best cheesecake I have ever tasted.