My eatsperience

Food Trip at Ho Chi Min (Saigon) Vietnam

August 24, 2024September 12, 20241 Comment

Vietnamese food is one of my most favorite dishes because it always have a variety of herbs plus not salty and oily. They have numerous noodle dishes, and if I’m to compare it with my food experience in Hong Kong, this one is better- in my opinion. Aside from the taste, the price and servings are really good.

Our first day was spent in Ben Thanh Market looking for pasalubongs when we saw this stall with long line of tourists/customers. They don’t sell noodles but a soup with different shapes of sticky rice texture. At first I’m not sure of the dish’s ingredients but when we tried it, it’s all sticky rice in different sizes, shapes and texture. The soup is cold topped with soft fried pork cubes/crispy pork cubes, coriander, green onions and some garlic seasoning which was only VND 25,000 or almost 58 pesos. They call it Banh Beo Hue- a savory dish.

Another Benh Thanh Market finds is their Ban Cuon which is made from steamed rolled rice flour stuffed with minced pork and I think black mushroom with some sprinkled fried shallots and fish sauce on the side. If you experienced Vietnam already, you’ll agree that their fish sauce is on the sweeter side and not as salty as what we have in the Philippines. I can’t remember the price range but I think it’s less than VND 50,000 (~PhP 113).

This mixed Phoa is a unique one because it has combination of different meats with seafood and I’m not sure what it’s called. There’s shrimp, chicken meat, pork liver and tongue (I think), and siomai. There’s lettuce, onion chives with chili and fish sauce on the side. This is served on a small alley near Jovia Hotel in HCM. Price is below VND 50,000. This was our first Phoa on our trip.

We also tried the Cơm Tấm (Vietnamese Broken Rice) with grilled pork chop across Ben Thanh Market. They only serve this in the evening as a stand-up stall. And as common in Vietnam, you only get seated at the sidewalk with small chair and table. We just saw this stall when we strolled as hubby is craving for a rice meal. This is a complete meal as it has slices of tomatoes, cucumbers some greens, fried egg, bamboo shoots ( I think) and not really sure with the other one but it looked like a scrambled egg with mushroom. The grilled pork chop is juicy and like what we have in Manila – sweet, savory, peppery and soft to the bite.

Another new dish we had was a blood soup with just a few ingredients – garlic, onion chives, big cubed pork blood, dried shrimp, fried pork rinds (chicharon) and pepper. The broth is clear which is not what I initially expected – blood is equal to dark soup like “dinuguan” in the Philippines. As per hubby, the taste is soothing and nice since it’s our first time having this noodle-less soup.

Who wouldn’t want an Indian Food every now and then? This Indian Restaurant across Ben Thanh Market caught our attention -the Haveli Indian Restaurant located at the second floor. The price is a bit cheaper than in Manila because the serving size is bigger. The place is almost full but luckily, a table was just emptied when we got there. We had the Chicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala and local beer. The taste is authentic and all orders come with a small plate of white onion, lime and cucumber on the side.

Ben Thanh Market - the Haveli Indian Restaurant: Haveli Indian Restaurant: Chicken Biryani and Chicken Tikka Masala — Ben Thanh Market – the Haveli Indian Restaurant: Chicken Biryani and Chicken Tikka Masala

Another food we accidentally discovered (not on my list) but actually a Michelin Star Al Fresco Restaurant called Bếp Mẹ Ỉn in Lê Thánh Tôn. It was raining then saw a group of people, followed them and ended up here. We had Bánh Xèo or Crispy & Savory Vietnamese Pancakes (with shrimp and pork). The serving plate or bilao is medium in size so imagine how big this crispy pancake is. The half is for the leafy veggies that you can munch on with a dipping sauce that so savory and delicious. This costs VND 139000 (around PhP 315).

Bếp Mẹ Ỉn - Lê Thánh Tôn: Bánh Xèo (Crispy & Savory Vietnamese Pancakes) — Bếp Mẹ Ỉn – Lê Thánh Tôn: Bánh Xèo (Crispy & Savory Vietnamese Pancakes)

We also tried their Bò Lụi or Beef Skewer with side greens, pickled carrot and radish, dipping sauce and rolled glass noodles with dashes of green onions and crispy shallots. This is VND 239,000 or almost PhP 541. Nothing special here except that the sweet savory taste of the skewer or beef barbecue complements the noodles. It’s like eating a complete rice meal but not rice.

The last on the list of our Bếp Mẹ Ỉn in Lê Thánh Tôn experience was their Chả Giò Tôm Thịt or what we call Fried Spring Rolls which is around VND 139,000 (~315). Very few cuts of spring rolls and taste is very common but I do love the salad that went with it.

Vietnam experience won’t be complete without trying their Bahn Mi. And yes, we somehow regretted not trying this on our first few days. We were on our way to buy shoes and additional “pasalubongs” when we saw a long line of grab people (they’re wearing their green long sleeve uniform) but hesitated to check. That afternoon I browsed my notes which Banh Mi Stall to try then we realized that it was that long line we saw earlier so we went back to try. I went to the queue and the funny thing is, I’m the only person with non-green top until someone tap me and pointed me to the other side where customers are buying their Banh Mi. Here are the photos of the two stalls with just a few steps inbetween:

HUYNH HOA's Banh Mi Grab Queue — HUYNH HOA’s Banh Mi Grab Queue

HUYNH HOA's Banh Mi Cutomers' Queue — HUYNH HOA’s Banh Mi Customers’ Queue

Your Bahn Mi is prepared right infront of you (the customer’s queue) through the transparent window so you can see how generous the ingredients are. Hubby and I shared on 1 order and we almost didn’t finish it. The bread is big and crispy outside but soft when you bite. It’s a feast in your mouth because there’s too many flavours and it’s a good thing. You can never really guess what’s making your mouth enjoy it. It’s very tasteful for the price of VND 60,000 (around PhP 138-140), which is already a full meal because you have the meat, vegetables and bread. If only this size and price is offered back home, I’ll definitely have this everyday.

The vegetables are separated as shown below and you get a free wet wipes with your order which is not common in Vietnam takeaways. As you can see, the size of the banh mi is almost as big as my two hands. Overall, we were very satisfied with this Banh Mi, big serving, affordable price and very tasty and fulfilling.

HUYNH HOA's Banh Mi — HUYNH HOA’s Banh Mi

Another good noodle experience we had was in 236 Noodles Shop although its price ranges from VND 65,000 to 120,000 – a bit pricy compared to Benh Thanh Market and other noodle shops we tried. There maybe pricier noodle houses but we don’t really consider fancy restaurants on our travels so the price comparison here is with other side street food stalls. Their Mixed Noodle Soup has thin noodles, Char Siu, Shrimps, Ribs with fried shallots and green onions and the broth is so tasty which was VND 80,000 (~PhP181). The same price with the Rib Noodle Soup except that this only has pork ribs. Overall taste is also good (2 thumb up).

Some random street foods we had:

We saw a stall where an egg coffee is offered at Benh Thanh Market which was priced at VND 55K – I’m not sure if this is authentic though because the top tasted like condensed milk. We ordered the cold version because when we asked the baristas, they advised first timers to try the cold one then the hot version once we get accustomed with the taste. The overall taste was nice, although nothing special. Just like how coffee with condensed milk tasted.

Egg Coffee in Benh Thanh Market priced at 55K VND — Egg Coffee at Benh Thanh Market priced at 55K VND

Next was the mixed rice paper street food. We saw this multiple times in every corner of HCM and just had this as takeaway after our hop-on hop-off bus activity. It tasted unique because of the combination of sweet, spicy, sour and salty. The main ingredient is the rice paper cut into bite size (this is the spicy version) with green mango, dried shrimps, boiled quail eggs, green inions, coriander, other sauces and ingredients I can’t really identify. The overall taste is pretty amazing. I enjoyed it and it costs around VND 25-30K only.

The Banh Trang Rong Bien Chay Toi or Rice Paper Mix Seaweed is a good find in Mini Stop just beside our hotel. It was weird on my first taste but unable to stop because there’s a mixture of everything. The saltiness of the seaweed complements the blandness of the rice paper with bits of chili powder and the garlic taste is overpowering but on a good side. It’s VND 18,200 or around PhP 42 ( I kept my receipts by the way).

Banh trang rong bien or Rice Paper Mix Seaweed

Another street food we had was the grilled sweet plantain (Saba) with coconut milk. From different food videos in Vietnam I watched before our trip, I always see this street food so when we saw a cart near the Takashimaya Mall, we ordered two. I was able to eat a few bites and the other 1 got spoiled the next day. And I think you guessed the reason. The taste is not to my liking – if the banana is bit ripe, then maybe it will taste better but I’m still not sure because the coconut has a different texture and flavor. It may look like our ginataang saba but the taste is far from it. It costed us VND 50,000 (per order).

Grilled Banana Sweet soup with coconut milk Cart

Next was the the colorful Xôi Ngọt or Sweet Sticky Rice which is only VND 10,000 (PhP 22.59). This is another food that was not on our list from an old lady with a cart playing a pre-recorded voice over selling Xôi Ngọt in Vietnamese Language. We had 1 order and started munching when we got back to our hotel. I already consumed half of the cup – a combination of different colored sticky rice but each has a unique flavor – some are a bit salty, sweet, some with a hint of fruit/citrus springkled with sesame seeds and coconut and maybe milk (not sure). The overall taste is good. It’s like kakanin but on a different level.

Hubby and I always visit a Catholic Church on our trips – be it local or international. We’re unlucky to go inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in HCM because it’s under construction and the mass is non-english during our visit. So we just stroll around and found uncle selling this sweet and spicy squid. There’s like two couples waiting in line for this so we decided to try. The cooking process is a bit tedious for a price of VND 100,000 (~PhP226 ) – 1st, uncle grilled the squid then flattened it using a machine. Then he cut it into bite size, fried, and prepared the sauce (margarine, garlic, spices) on an open fire. Lastly, he mixed the grilled and fried squid with the sauce. The finished product is well seasoned squid – not crispy but not hard to bite. I’m not sure about the green leaves but it somehow added texture to every bite. Overall taste is good.

Another street food we had near the Notre Dame Cathedral was the crispy rice paper wrap – I’m not sure what it’s called. You can comment below if you have any idea. The cooking process is – a spoonful of margarine was spread evenly on the rice paper while placed on the small charcoaled griller. Then the lady added 2-3 quail eggs, dried baby shrimps, fried shallots, onion chives, ground pork and some seasoning. The price was VND100,000.

Here’s the finished product – crispy rice paper wrap. It’s surprisingly good for me but hubby didn’t like it because it’s a bit spicy.

My most favorite street food is the smoothie that’s freshly made from whole fruits. Below picture is a pineapple smoothie/shake. No milk is added, just a whole pineapple with some ice and liquid sweetener. Imagine a fruit shake from not a slice of fruit but a whole fruit is served per order with just a minimum price of around VND 25,000 (~PhP56).

The Blueberry Ice Cream Cone from Mini Stop is also a good street food find because it’s always available and only costed around ~VND 10,000-12,000 – can’t remember the exact price though.

The last one but definitely not the least was the Bún Thịt Nướng from a cart near Takashimaya (beside the grilled banana with coconut milk soup) which was around VND 60,000 (~PhP147) if i’m not mistaken. One order is good for 2 persons because of the generous amount of glass noodles and grilled pork chop. This dish had carrots, lettuce, nuts and I think radish and a pack of sweet and spicy vinegar with a big chunk of garlic. This is definitely a steal!

Staying in Vietnam for 5 days and 4 nights is still short to try more dishes. I can still find myself missing my daily routine in this country – very laidback. I miss the small tables and chairs on the side street where food and drinks are served and you get to see different people eating and just hanging out without rushing even on early weekday mornings. Hopeful to try other dishes from the other side of Vietnam next time. Oh by the way, I just learned that Ho Chi Min is the same as Saigon from this trip (May 15-18, 2024). Since the conversion rate that time was VND 1 = PhP 0.0023 we booked our hotel (Jovia Hotel) for 5 days and 4 nights which is a short walk to the famous Ben Thanh Market for food trip.

Table and chairs of a fruit drink stall in Vietnam

Hong Kong (HK) Food Trip (2023)

June 2, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

Hong Kong is known as a food haven in Asia and if you Google it, it has the highest density of restaurants in the world and once labeled as “Food Paradise” of the world. It’s listed in our countries to visit bucketlist and was able to tick the box last December 2023. I know… I know, it’s a bit late for my post but HK is the recent country we visited that I feel exhausted (in a good way) because there’s so much activities we had. And even if Macau is just a ferry away, we didn’t have time to visit it. We spent 4 days and 3 nights in HK trying different dishes as much as we can. Most of our meals are within reach from Tsim Sha Tsui where we stayed and it’s a good location for first timers in Hong Kong, by the way.

Our first meal (lunch) was memorable because it’s not part of my checklist. We just navigated nearby Tsim Sha Tsui and found a less crowded place which isn’t normal when it’s almost lunch time. Their roasted pork belly and duck is worth trying. The crispiness of the skin and softness of the meat are always the best. Even without the sauce, it’s really tasty. Usually, crispy skin of the pork belly are hard to chew but this one is on the softer side so you can forget about breaking your dentures. It costed around HKD 55 and HKD 45, respectively. The Tea is also a good pair to push down big servings of rice.

Hong Kong Restaurant selling roasted meats — HK Restaurant selling roasted meats

The picture above is where we had our roasted pork belly and duck. A tourist giving two thumbs up for the food and experience. I don’t understand the restaurant’s name so please do comment below when you happened to know it. Hubby remembered it’s within Temple Street, #89 stall.

For dinner we were able to scout the place and found the barrel-shaped building which is along the Woosung Street -Temporary Cooked Food Hawker Bazaar. I think the tables are color coded for each stall because after sitting, an auntie approached us with the menu list. The table is outside the roofed building so we’re not actually sure which stall is it.

Big groups of people are dined per table and we’re the only couple during our visit. Hubby ordered three dishes – 1 rice and 2 viands. We were surprised by how big the the serving sizes were. I can’t remember the price range for these but it’s not that expensive for big groups considering its serving portion.

We had the sweet and sour pork fillet – the sauce has a hint of spiciness which added a kick and the meat is not coated with too much flour.

Hong Kong Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet — HK Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet

You can never go wrong with fried rice. And you’ll know that it’s cooked on big open fire because it has this distinct taste, aroma and texture that’s really tasty. The ingredients were generously added like shrimps, pork cubes and egg which made this dish “ulam+kanina na”. The photo may not say it all but this is a huge serving and we’re not able to consume everything on the plate.

Last but not the least is the seafood dish – it’s an elongated seashell but can’t remember its name. We just pointed out the photo on the menu – I think it’s stir-fried. Hubby enjoyed this with a can of local beer. It’s fresh-tasting seafood and alot of meat is already removed from the shell, that whitish texture on the photo below.

Our second day was spent in Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) and we availed the Klook Vouchers both for our entrance pass and food. We chose the Royal Banquet Hall for lunch as they have positive reviews from other posts we read. Since it’s already past 11:30am, the hall is already crowded so we end up at the Korean Stall. We chose the Samgyetang because it looked like a Chicken Tinola Dish. The soup has Korean jujube, ginseng, garlic, and other spices with a clean taste. Even if you use a chopstick, the meat was so tender that it literally fell off the bone. The spices are inside the chicken but it’s not showed on the photo below. We appreciate that they served the whole medium-sized chicken that’s already good for two. This meal comes with a cup of rice, a glass of iced tea and a dessert. I was only able to save this photo but we also tried the rice bowl which is also surprisingly good. It came with a drink and a dessert if I remember it correctly.

Hong Kong Disneyland Royal Banquet Hall: Samgyetang — HKDL Royal Banquet Hall: Samgyetang

For dinner, we tried the Beef Rendang at the Tahitian Terrace, unfortunately, I didn’t liked it so no photo was taken.

On our 3rd day, we visited the Haiphong Road Temporary Market Cooked Food Hawker Bazaar but the stall we wanted to check was closed. I ended up ordering a veggie-less stir fried noodles (looked like a regular pansit bihon in the Philippines). I thought it would taste somehow authentic but it’s not. The noodles and the meat were a bit dry.

Stir-fried HK Bihon Noodles — HK Stir-fried Noodles

I’m not sure if I mentioned it on my earlier posts but hubby has this luck on picking good-tasting food from the menu. So as expected, I exchanged my order with his – it’s an egg noodle soup with beef and pork balls. This tasted more Hong Kong-like noodles. If I’m to compare it with my beef and pork balls noodle soup with my previous post (Indonesia), I like the Indonesian version better. Aside from the price and taste, the serving size is way better. But since I’m in HK, I’d pick this over the stir-fried noodles.

Hong Kong egg noodle soup with pork balls and beef balls — Hong Kong egg noodle soup

The rest of our 4th day in Hong Kong was more on food tripping so below photos are randomly picked while just strolling around the hotel’s neighbourhood. It’s always good to try foods that you seldom read or being featured on other blogs as they sometimes miss the good stuffs or you just accidentally discover a hidden gem.

One of this is near the Jordan Station – it was the only stall opened as early as 7am. Another good-tasting noodle which looked like a “pinapaitan” in the Philippines because the main star is the beef’s innards. It’s beefy taste noodle with generous beef innards meat. Add a little bit of chilli oil and that sealed the deal.

This Pork Dumpling Soup is a surprise because we were expecting it with noodles but this one is pure dumplings. I’m really not sure what’s inside because the taste is more like a combination of pork, shrimp and vegetable. The size of each dumpling is twice/thrice as big as what we usually have in Manila. You can eat this bare or order an extra rice.

This is how it looked like after taking a bite of the dumpling:

Next is the pork/beef-knuckle noodle soup. This is always on my husband’s order whenever he sees it on the menu. He said the strong taste of the the pork knuckles make the soup tastier – the fat and tendon when combined. Here are two orders of pork knuckle noodle soup from different eateries in HK:

HK pork Knuckle Noodle Soup 1 — HK Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup 1

We also tried the Tim Ho Wan in West Kowloon Station – it’s like a grand terminal with bus and train trips to nearby islands. This is difficult to find using Google Maps because it’s a multi-level transportation terminal complex adjacent to Kowloon train station. We were actually looking for the old Tim Ho Wan branch but we were directed by Google Maps here. We’re so tired of walking that we almost gave up. The map displayed we already reached our destination but in reality, we’re surrounded with construction buildings, equipments and workers. When we almost lose our hope, that’s when we realized there’s a complex below us.

Anyway, the food tasted similar to what is served in Tim Ho Wan SM Megamall so no notable difference at all, atleast for me.

Time Ho Wan HK Bean curd roll filled in Oyster Sauce

Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong Baked BBQ Pork Buns

TTim Ho Wan Hong Kong Pork and Shrimp Dumplings — Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong Pork and Shrimp Dumplings

The pork & Shrimp Dumplings’ shot is not clear because the steam just came out when I took it. One thing I observed is it’s bigger and tastier than in Manila.

Another discovery was the glazed fish belly – please do correct me because most of the food name/captions I used here is how it tasted or looked like. I don’t understand Chinese characters and most of the menu are only pictures with numbers. The fish meat is so soft and melts in your mouth. The saltiness and spiciness makes you want more rice.

On the same restaurant, I ordered what is picture-perfect on the menu but the taste is more like the “Laing” with pork meat. It’s a bit salty on my palate. The upper part of my plate is like soy pork then the lower part is like taro leaves although I’m not sure. I actually didn’t finish my order.

A dessert will always have a place in my stomach even if I’m too full to eat. I finally overcame my curiosity about this small ice cream shop that we always pass by, going to our hotel. It’s just a take out counter and can only serve two to three customers at a time. Also, the staffs cannot speak English well even if there’s English translation on the menu so you just point the pictures to order. We often see students and teens frequenting this shop even if the weather is really cold. I ordered one of their best sellers yogurt ice cream which is HKD 55 – priced like one meal already. It tasted simple but it ticks the right spots in your mouth. And that’s when I understood why alot of customers visit this place. It’s a matcha-flavored yogurt ice cream with generous serving of blue berry bits, cashew nuts and cubes of pudding-like jellies. The heart-shape bread topping has the texture and saltiness of a croissant that added flavor to every scoop of this ice cream.

Again, most of the dishes you read on this post are named based from the taste and appearance since we don’t understand Chinese characters from the menu. I’d appreciate any corrections. 🙂

Notes from our Hong Kong Trip: (1) If you’re not in a rush from the airport going to your hotel or vice versa, try to ride the bus so you can save a little and see so much of the city on your first day instead of train. (2) When going to Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) and other activities (e.g.Madame Tussauds), avail the passes and food vouchers via Klook, it’s cheaper than buying inside the park. (3) If you can take long walks, choose this over commuting especially if you’re visiting during cool months. It’s free exercise to burn your calories from the food trips you have. (4) Try to visit the tourist spots on weekdays (except Fridays) like HKDL to avoid too much crowd and long lines. Btw, HKDL is open all days of December since it’s expected to accommodate more tourists than any other months of the year. Make sure to check their website’s calendar. (5) Bring your most comfortable footwear. (6) Always check your octopus card’s balance via 7-11, the most convenient way if not online. (7)Check the conversion rate – we found it more practical to withdraw money from our Debit Card (Philippine-issued card) using ATMs in Hong Kong because the conversion rate is better than in money changers.

Wildspices Cafe Infinity at Angeles Pampanga

April 20, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

When craving for some non-fast food while travelling via NLEX (going south bound), try stopping at The Shoppe in Pampanga. It’s near Landers so if you’re on an errand to buy something, this is the place to be.

There are alot of food establishments in the area from Inasal Chicken, Filipino Food, American, Grilled Meats, Korean, you name it and I bet there’s always a place for you there. We discovered this place after visiting Landers in Angeles Pampanga with cravings for Birria Tacos and Chicken Biriani for hubby.

We were lucky to come across a Tiktok Account that featured Wildspices Cafe Infinity and it happened to be within the vicinity. We ordered the Birria Tacos for just PhP 290. They served two pieces which is almost half the price of Army Navy – Beef Birria Taco is PhP405. The only difference is that Army Navy offers a picked jalapeno with loads of onions and a tasty diluted dipping sauce. For this version of Birria Tacos, they have this mild-spiced sauce with lemon on the side. It tasted good except it’s a bit oily. They could’ve placed it on an absorbent paper towel a bit longer before serving but overall, I liked it.

Birria Tacos for PhP 290 — Birria Tacos at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 290

Next is the Chicken Biryani for hubby. The photo didn’t do justice with regard to the size of the actual chicken – it’s not this small and big neither. It’s on the medium size served with slices of cucumber and tomato plus the sauce that’s not too empowering. I love chicken biryani and have tried it from numerous restaurants within and outside Metro Manila so I can say that this can be one reason I’ll go back to this restaurant. The price + serving size + taste…thumbs up.

Chicken Biriani at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 300 — Chicken Biryani at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 300

Aside from the two, we also tried their Kani Salad, Chicken Pesto Pasta, Chicken Tikka Masala, Porterhouse Steak, Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce and Calamari Bites.

Kani Salad @ Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 240

The Chicken Pesto we had is bland and the pasta is a bit soggy. It’s a small serving like 5 fork-full then it’s gone. This is the only order we didn’t quite like.

Chicken Pesto at Wildspices cafe Infinity for PhP240

Their Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish that you would come back for many times. The saltiness and creaminess of the sauce goes well with the bread. It’s love at first bite for hubby. Like you can imagine the invisible hearts through his eyes when he tasted this.

For their Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce, I was expecting a charcoaled-like salmon as in black but it’s not. We opt for the mushed potato instead of rice because we already have too much carbs on our orders. It was good for a few bites but after some time, it’s kind of “nakakaumay”. Maybe because of the Aligue Sauce – it’s on the salty side. This is just a small portion but wasn’t able to consume all. The price is okay for the serving size as Salmon is really an expensive dish on restaurants.

Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce for PhP380 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce for PhP380

The Porterhouse Steak – the meat attached to the bone is somewhat hard to chew or cut although this is medium rare. The gravy sauce is good and so with the mushed potato on the side. If I have to choose between this or the Blackened Salmon, I’ll go with this one.

Porterhouse Steak for PhP380 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Porterhouse Steak for PhP380

And last but definitely not the least is their Calamari Bites with potato chips. The calamari is well cooked – it’s texture is chewable and not rubbery. You know when a squid is overcooked, it tends to be rubbery and really difficult to munch. Also the garlic sauce ( I guess) is a good partner of both the calamari and potato chips. I even used the sauce on my Blackened Salmon to negate the saltiness of the Aligue Sauce.

Calamari Bites for PhP230 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Calamari Bites for PhP 230

Our overall experience with Wildspices Cafe Infinity is a good one. Aside from the food, the servers and owners were friendly. We’ll definitely come back for their Chicken Tikka Masala and maybe Chicken Biryani. Else, we’ll try other food establishments in the area.

Siargao Food Experience (Isla de las Palmas)

March 11, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

Spent a long and nice weekend in the island of Siargao or what was originally “Isla de las Palmas”. ‘Tried different food varieties and I think the average meal price is around PhP 300 – 350 which is quite expensive. This maybe reasonable as the island doesn’t grow their own food. We weren’t able to scout for other food establishments outside Gen. Luna – where most hotels are situated, so the post below is within the touristy area.

Lunch at Apsaras Tribe Hotel where we stayed: Sky Restaurant. They have special menu for Chinese New Year on 2nd week of February by the way. We tried their steamed fish Lapu-lapu in sesame oil. Herbs were generously scattered that makes this dish so fragrant. The fish is medium in size and tasted good at first but the saltiness of soy sauce is too much after consuming half of it.

Steamed Fish Lapu-lapu in Sesame Oil for PhP588

Breakfast: Apsaras – Our breakfast is part of our hotel accommodation and I must say that these ones are good. The serving plate is big enough that makes it a heavy meal. You can also request how your eggs are cooked. And since food is a bit expensive in this area, might as well consider a package with breakfast inclusion.

Apsaras Tribe Fried Milk Fish Breakfast Plate (Filipino Breakfast)

Apsaras Tribe Bacon Breakfast Plate (American Breakfast)

The Food Truck Tacos – before going to Siargao, I did my homework on different restaurants or food that we ‘must’ try – meaning where there are lots of good reviews. So when we saw the Food Truck, we tried their sampler tacos. Almost all samplers from other restaurants include best-sellers so this is what I thought when I ordered. Not sure if it’s just a hype or I didn’t order the right one.

The taco is soft but I can still taste the fresh flour and it’s so visible to the naked eye- it’s a no for me. I don’t remember which one tasted best among the four – there’ s chicken intestine (1st taco), then the fish fillet (2nd), pure veggies and can’t remember the last one. No hot sauce was offered and the calamansi didn’t go well with the tacos – I preferred lemon or lime.

Dinner: Wellington Grilling Station – This is one of the best grilled meat I had as the marinade was so flavourful. This is a “karinderya-style” or “small eatery”turu-turo” and their grilled menu is only available in the afternoon until the evening. If I’m to rate this, it would be 10/5. I think nobody has reviewed this yet but it’s good – the meat is cooked to perfection, soft, tasty and affordable. We ended up ordering 2 plates of Chicken Barbeque, Chicken Intestine (isaw ng manok) and Pork BBQ. Other options are chicken leg and wings, pork intestine (isaw ng baboy), squid and not sure of the others as we had our dinner a bit late.

Wellington Grill House in Siargao — Wellington Grill House

Grilled Chicken, Pork Bbq and Chicken intestine Barbeque

Day 2 Lunch at Happiness. We dined here at around 11-ish and they still serves breakfast. I think they offer lunch menu at 12pm so on our 2nd day, we had two breakfast.

Super Banana is a combination of Chia seeds, peanut butter, tahini and ofcourse banana fruit. Ice was well blended and the sweetness is not too much. We liked this one. By the way, that’s a toasted banana garnish.

The Green Power Bowl is an energy booster made from Puree of mango, banana, pineapple, ginger, coconut milk topped with moringa, chia seeds, goji berries, banana, toasted coconut flakes and home-made-granola served in a wooden bowl. It’s a bit pricey for the serving size but I must say that this was surprisingly good. On my last scoop, that’s when I realiazed that the sourness of pineapple is overpowering.

Better Together Sourdough – It doesn’t matter if you eat this together or separately coz it plays with your taste buds. As the name suggests, it tasted better together. Both sourdough has their unique taste but the one with tomato overload is better for me. Maybe the spread complements the sourness of the tomatoes, I don’t know. It magically enhances the fruit. Yes, tomatoes are fruits. Although this one is delicious, the price is not affordable.

Better Together Toasted Sour Dough for PhP 320

Snack at Atabai Snack Bar is a snack bar at the roadside. They can only accommodate like 8 persons at a time – 4 seats at the front and another four on the side. We ordered the Nachos, Snow Special Burger with Fries, Winter Special Burger, Chocolate Milkshake and Caramel Macchiato. Their prices are reasonable for how it tasted and the service sizes.

The Nachos is not that tasty but for the price of PhP120, it can be considered an okay appetizer for a medium-sized plate.

Their burgers are bigger in person so don’t be fooled by my small photos. These were tasty burgers and the patties are thick with generous veggies. Although I’m still wondering how they come up with the burger names.

Atabai Snack Bar Snow Special with Fries for PhP 149

Atabai Snack Bar Winter Special for PhP 189

The glasses used on our drinks are bigger and as per the photos below, both drinks were overflowing. The caramel Macchiato is sweeter than the chocolate milkshake so I preferred the latter. Both drinks were good for the price.

Atabai Snack Bar Caramel Macchiato for PhP 120

Atabai Snack Bar Milk Chocolate for PhP 129

Dinner at Kanin Baboy on Day 2. Hubby and I tried our luck going to Cev (Ceviche and Kilawin) and since it’s crowded and fully-booked, we roamed around and ended up at Kanin Baboy. We ordered the spicy (for me) and non-spicy platter for hubby. When our orders arrived, the servings looked familiar and yes, it’s the same with what we had when we’re in Bali Indonesia. I’m sorry but this one is incomparable from what we had. Aside from the serving size and price, this one lacks the aroma and spices. This is just like you took a plate on a Filipino Buffet Restaurant and stuffed it with all pork dishes. Even the sambal sauce didn’t add anything on the pork dish. You can check my Bali Food here – .Warung Babi Guling Dolbi (https://myeatsperience.com/2023/11/22/bali-indonesia-food-experience/)

Day 3 lunch at Thai Foon. Their Papaya Salad is very fresh with good crunch from the nuts. Papaya was shredded to perfection and so with other vegetables in it. The only down side for me is the sourness of the vinegar which was too much maybe because it’s almost like a soupy dressing as shown on the photo below.

Som Tam Thai Foon's Papaya Salad — Som Tam (Papaya Salad) for PhP 190

Their fried spring rolls are nothing special and the common thing that should make it stand out is the dipping vinegar sauce paired with it. This lacks garlic and the sweet and sour taste. I’m also surprised that they didn’t cut their spring rolls which adds feast to the eyes when you’re able to see the filling.

Thai Foon's Fried Spring Rolls — Thai Foon’s Fried Spring Rolls for PhP 170

The Chicken Cashew is soy-based flavor and as per hubby, it tasted more like our Adobo. The good thing here is they didn’t skimp on bell peppers, cashew nuts and the other greens.

Thai Foon's Chicken Cashew — Thai Foon’s Chicken Cashew for PhP 280

Thai Foon’s Mango Sticky Rice is the best order we had, well for me. Let’s explain in detail: First the presentation. The white, blue and yellow color combination looked appetising. Agree? The blue rice color is from the blue ternate flower that is edible. The rice and coconut milk were unsweetened. I’m not sure which one has a hint of saltiness but it balanced the sweetness of ripe mango. We could have ordered another plate but we’re so full.

Their Coconut Juice is just so-so. For the price, I think I’m not just paying for the juice but also the coconut meat but wasn’t able to because of how it was presented. Too bad I didn’t ask them to open it. I also expected that coconuts are cheaper here because they have plantation everywhere.

Dinner at Cev (Ceviche and Kilawin) – We initially visited this on our 2nd night in the island but it’s full house so we’re advised to reserved a slot the next day. Almost all customers are non-Filipino and I got excited because they all seemed chilled, relaxed and enjoying the food. Fast forward, we came a bit earlier for our reserved 8:00pm slot but were immediately seated. On to our food orders:

I’m a bit bias on my review here because I compared it to the taste I’m familiar with while growing up. Fish Ball for 5 pieces – as a Filipino I still preferred the local taste of home-made fish ball made from Galunggong. I actually can’t remember how this tasted but I think sauce made it better and there’s no fishy after taste.

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Fish Ball — CEV’s Fish Ball for PhP 200

The Ceviche or Peruvian version of our Kilawin is consist of sweet potato (kamote), squash and bits of corn to lessen the spicyness of the dish. There’s crunchy onion on top. In short, I think our kilawin version or the one I tried in Davao is better (https://myeatsperience.com/2023/03/11/luz-inihaw-kinilaw-place/). Less ingredients but more flavor.

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Pacifico Ceviche — CEV’s Pacifico Ceviche for PhP 360

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's General Luna Kinilaw — CEV’s General Luna Kinilaw for PhP 360

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Garlic Rice — CEV’s Garlic Rice

Their Kilawin version has so much ingredients paired with garlic rice. Aside from the fresh fish meat, there’s mushed grilled eggplant, fresh and toasted onions, onion chives, mango, white and green sauces. The taste was foreign to me not like the regular kilawin I had so it’s a bit difficult to appreciate it but I give thumbs up on how they present their dishes. So far, their garlic rice was the star of my orders – no kidding. Ofcourse I finished all our orders because it’s pricey.

My food experience in Siargao is both a hit and a miss – mostly expensive but this is expected as Siargao Island is a tourist destination so prices are targeted to foreigners. There are other food establishments in Gen. Luna which we weren’t able to try so if I’ll be returning to the island in the future, I will surely have a different list. Food reviews are really subjective, but it’s still helpful when trying food on a new place for the first time. Again, these are based from my experience so one may agree or disagree.

By the way, prices of the dishes above are from February 2024 so it may differ when you visit Siargao.

Best Pasta-Pizza in Baler (Aurora Province)…so far…

February 19, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

Two of the many foods I really enjoyed while growing up were pizza and pasta and there was never a good restaurant as far I can remember in (my) Aurora Province. I only have my mom’s pasta (Pinoy Style Spaghetti) on Christmas Day. Pizza? I can’t think of any. When Aurora opened its doors to tourists because roads became accessible to any vehicle type, alot of business establishments opened and one of those was the best Pizza and Pasta Restaurant named Happy Huts. Does it make its customers happy? I believe so..

My brother in law (BIL) and sister discovered this hidden on a secret place somewhere in Baler and keep on asking me – do you know where the best pizza in Aurora is? It’s like exaggerating something that sounds unreal. My hubby and I didn’t try it first because the street to where ’twas previously located was narrow so it’s a no. Fast forward after a year when Happy Huts transferred to their new location – Smart Beach House, Querijero St. along Sabang Beach in Baler, that’s when we finally gave it a try. Although the street is still narrow, it’s passable passable and more accessible (1 vehicle at a time) than the previous one.

What we ordered? Not much, really…

For the appetizer: we had Sloppy Potato (PhP 269) and Chicken N’ Wedges (PhP 359) – photos below. The serving sizes are good for sharing as per the menu which is true if you have other orders, but if just one of these, then it’s not. The crispy shoestring potatoes with thick potato wedges smothered with ground meat, ranch and melted mozarella are good combination – though the photo didn’t justify how appetizing this was. The crispy Chicken tenders and potato wedges has two dips – ranch and honey mustard. The chicken meat is tender and goes well with the dips but I still preferred the Sloppy Potato over this. Oh and by the way, this is part of their “Mains” but it’s more of an appetizer for me.

For the Pasta orders, we had the Tuna Aglio Olio Pasta (Solo for PhP 189) and Creamy Tandoori Chicken or Leon’s Carbonara (Solo for PhP 189) – sorry I really can’t remember which one we ordered but the taste is more of a chicken carbonara and lacks saltiness on my palate. I’m a bit bias here as I really love anything about tuna so I vote for the Tuna Aglio Olio eventhough I can’t remember which one has a mild spicy taste (plus point if the tune pasta). The taste is simple but clean and leaves no fishy taste unlike in other restaurants. The solo servings are generous for its price so you’re a winner in either pasta meal.

This visit to the best pizza and pasta in Baler Aurora won’t be complete without the Pizza. We had the Duo Pizza which costed around PhP 339 for two flavors in one. It’s Texas Chicken BBQ and Margherita. It’s thin crust so it’s crunchy and loses it’s charm when left cold. Surprisingly, the crunchiness didn’t leave until we consume everything – I think around 30 minutes or so. 🙂 The combination was good ‘coz I’m not a fan of pure meat so this is better for my taste.

Last and definitely not the least, is their Pan-seared Fish Curry which was around PhP 299. The sauce topping is well blended on the fish and my hubby liked this. I can’t really identify the ingredients of the curry sauce but I’m sure there’s lots of tomatoes in it like sarciado but in a good way. The serving size is also big enough for its price.

Overall, I can say that this pizza-pasta joint is a must try when you’re in Baler. The prices are affordable for the quality and serving sizes of their offerings. They occupy two floors – air-conditioned on the ground floor and open-air on the second. The owners and servers are friendly and attentive so it’s a plus x2.

Prices above are from 2023 so to give you an idea, here’s their 2023 menu book:

Happy Huts Alcohol Snacks Drinks Menu — Alcohol / Snacks / Drinks Menu

Sincerity Cafe and Restaurant

November 27, 2023March 23, 2025Leave a comment

How we’re able to try Sincerity Cafe and Restaurant? My hubby was craving for a Chinese Food when we got to SM Megamall and found it at the basement of Building B. ‘Navigated their Facebook Page and their menu then decided to give it a try. We also observed that the tables and chairs were almost full past lunch time.

Their menu: the photos are feast to the eyes all the way down to our stomach as it really looked appetizing. The prices are not really that affordable like for the rice, a small cup is PhP 35 for plain while all other “flavored rice” ranges between 90 to a hundred.

We ordered the following: Canton (small order for PhP 145), Pork Asado (small order for PhP250), Chicharo Shrimp (PhP290), fried chicken (PhP215) and Sincerity fried rice (PhP80).

The Canton was served in a small bowl good for one person – it has more “other” ingredients than noodles. It’s a bit bland for me unlike the usual pansit canton from cheaper eateries. The Pork Asado was surprisingly good so the photo didn’t justify the taste. It also has small portion which is good for 1 person.The Chicharo Shrimp was not cooked as what I preferred – chicharo was slightly overcooked with a little bit of shrimps. Maybe if they added butter, it would be tastier.

Sincerity Chacanton or Pancit Canton with pork asado and 1 cup fried rice

Their Golden Fried Chicken has me thinking – “it’s a good thing I tried this”. It’s comparable with other fastfood chains selling fried chickens – crispy outside and juicy inside. Their half order (PhP215) was 5 pieces. While their sincerity fried rice is pricy for an PhP80 price point.

Overall, I’m not satisfied with the taste of most of our orders – It’s on the pricy side compared to other restaurants with the same price range but offer more delectable foods. It just looked affordable outside because of the setup. Maybe when you eat in groups it would somehow be cheaper. And after checking their facebook account, I think their food servings are better in Binondo Branches than in SM Megamall.

Have you tried Sincerity Restaurant in other location/s?

Bali (Indonesia) Food Experience

November 22, 2023September 12, 20241 Comment

Before I begin my food experience feedback during my 4-day stay in Bali Indonesia, let me share some things I observed from this beautiful island.

They place daily offerings along the side street of their business/homes made from banana leaf -half uncovered box with some flowers, biscuits and incense.
No beggar anywhere we went to, even on the far-end area of the island.
Their gates (home or business) are always extravagantly designed.
Incense here and there which may be the reason why…
No mosquitos flying around
No extra charge for early check-in (in our hotel)
Meals are more affordable than pasalubongs 🙂

On to my foodies… so after arriving early in the morning around 7-8am, our first stop was the Warung Babi Guling Dolbi. Side note, I just learned that “Warung” means a family owned business so whenever you see or hear an eatery name with “Warung”, you can assume that people working in it are mostly family members.

The ‘meal’ includes a medium-sized platter of all-pork dishes plus soup and chicken skin- there’s the crispy pork skin, shredded pork meat, crispy chicken skin, pork floss and vegetable side dish which I think is string beans with ginger and not sure if the yellow part was egg. Careful with this side dish as you can really get sweaty coz of the green peppers (string beans look-alike). The soup, though I’m not sure if it’s beef or pork, also has the aroma of different herbs and I couldn’t tell what are those. It comforts your throat all the way to your stomach on a hot day. This is the farthest eatery we tried by foot and also one of the good meals we had on our first day.

A few steps from our hotel, is the Warung Ketut’s which is owned by a couple right infront of Marriot’s Hotel in Nusa Dua. One blogger posted that the owners are very friendly but not intrusive. Like they always say hi/hello then smile but no pressure on having a conversation that may feel awkward.

They offer both local and western dishes. Their pizza dough is handmade, and all other dishes were priced affordably. My hubby really loved their Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng and I couldn’t agree more. They’re willing to adjust the spiciness as you prefer.

Our first Bakso Ayam was very memorable because we just passed by the foodcart on a mortorcycle and looked at the display. It looked yummy and so we tried it. ‘Twas around IDR 20, 000 or around ~PhP71-72. This is a hot soup (literally) which actually helped cool down our bodies on a mid day.

Almost everyday, we checked the foodcart since the soup is somehow addicting but we never succeeded getting our second try. Unaware we were, there was a better and cheaper Baksos just a few steps from the hotel we’re staying. When the door closes, there’s always a window that opens. hehe..
We loved the chicken and beef ball noodle soups and it only costed a few IDRs. Bakso Ayam (Chicken Ball Soup) and Bakso Sapi (Beef Ball Soup) were priced for 14,000 IDR and IDR 16,000, respectively.

In between our meals, we were able to get a few snacks here and there. Side story: when we saw a small store near the hotel that has these small packs of snacks, I initially grab 2-3 then the seller looked at me like she was surprised. I tried to talk in simple English words but I think she didn’t get me. Then my husband whispered “pang-alay ata” or for offerings. Then I realized that the small snack packs were for offerings since they also sell small banana leaf boxes (without cover). I just said thank you then I think she understood me and pointed us to another store.

Form left to right: I really don’t know the names of these snacks but I can still remember how it tasted. There were only two spicy snacks on the 1st picture – the 1st one has herbs on the crackers and the orangey color below it. The 1st is weirdly good. I really can’t describe the taste but I love it. Then the clover chips-lookalike is super spicy like my eyes were tearing and so my nose. haha. The snack on the upper right is just so -so. The 4th one really tasted like squid. The dark brown is like popcorns that were glued together and helped me counter the other spicy snack/s. It’s sweet and has chocolate flavor.

I wanted to highlight the 5th snack on the 2nd photo. It also has spicy kick – a bit hard on crispiness but it lasted until we got back to Manila. This can replace your coffee to wake your senses ‘coz just a small bite and sure enough your sleepiness will run away. Others included were crispy fish skin, sweet choco rolls (how it was tasted) and watermelon.

And the last or third photo shows a slice of green match cake with mocha and 2 cupcakes – chocolate and banana flavors. Can’t remember the price but I think these were cheaper but the tastes were heaven.

Here are the other meals we tried at Warung Made’s near our hotel – the first one is just so – so coz I thought the chicken was grilled as shown on their menu. While the Chow Mien with sambal was super peppery but tasty.

On our 3rd day, we travelled along the coast of Jimabaran which is famous for sunset dinners as it’s along the beach. You can actually see the airport from here and the sunset. I appreciate this place as it’s recommended by locals but to be honest, there’s nothing like the sunsets we have back home. The place is crowded with tables and chairs and I didn’t see anyone taking a dip here. Also, you can’t watch the sunset unless you dine in one of the restaurants along the beach – or we’re just not informed. Our driver dropped us at one of the restaurants with a nice view of the sunset.

How to order – choose any seafood on display, weigh then cook – fried or grilled were the only options you have unlike in Manila’s “dampa”. The set menu included a big bowl of rice – that green bowl with white cover is the rice ( and we’re not able to consume half of it), stir-fried water spinach (kangkong), a pitcher of water and 4 small slices of fruits – honeydew and watermelon. The grilled fish was seasoned with sambal as sauce so it’s peppery with a hint of sweetness. And yeah it’s well cooked but I can still get a whiff of the fishy smell.

We ordered a coconut juice – nothing special aside from how it was served . The straw and spoon were attached to the coconut as seen on the picture. The food is just okay for me but the price is around IDR 400,000+ which is pricey compared to how it tasted. I think other dishes we tried that were less than half of its cost were better and maybe you just pay for the view and not really the food.

On our last day at the airport, we checked Warung Made’s Nasi Goreng (for hubby) and Beef Rendang (for me).

Beef Rendang is mildly spiced not for me and I do love that did not overpower the beef and coconut taste. The dish is complemented with steamed water spinach (I think) with the yellow sauce from the tofu. I’m really not sure what sauce this one was, but it has mild taste which I no longer remember..yeah nothing special that I can remember.

Warung Made’s Nasi Goreng includes vegetable sidedish – thinly sliced cabbage, cucumber and carrot, then a small bowl of diced tomatoes and onion (I think it’s another kind of sambal) plus a big crispy cracker. When I asked hubby which one tasted better, he still preferred the Warung Ketut’s version.

I really miss Bali Island and their foods (+ beach). Hopefully we can visit other parts of Indonesia and experience their other cuisine that we haven’t tried.

Bye for now and will have more posts for my next food trip in one of Asia’s food haven. *wink*.

Random Eats around Davao City

April 21, 2023April 21, 20231 Comment

When I said random eats, it literally means not part of my list – saw it then decided to try.

I’m gonna start with the black ice cream. I know this is no longer unusual to many places in the Philippines, I bet most provinces have their own version of it but it’s my first time trying the black or charcoal flavored ice cream. It costs PhP30.00 on a cone. We had an early flight and since the hotel’s check-in time is around 2:00pm, we decided to stroll and stay at the People’s Park. I think it’s almost 10AM when Manong Ice Cream was there. The taste was more like cheese flavor with a hint of charcoal – I liked it. I also wanted to try the Durian flavor but wasn’o’t brave enough.

We tried the night market along Roxas Street on a weekend and loved their Flavore-filled Buchis. The choices are endless – from Chocolate, Nutella, Matcha, Strawberry, Blueberry, Cheese, Cream Cheese and the list goes on. You name it and they have it -almost. Per piece is worth PhP 5.00 so it’s a good buy. I tried buying the frozen ones so I can bring it back to Manila because my nieces love Buchi but did not succeed. The supplier’s location is far from the hotel we’re staying at.

So before the night Market visit, Hubby and I need to find Dod’s Ihaw-Ihaw – the one featured in “Biyahe ni Drew” because as per Drew, the Tuna meat is grilled to perfection – not dry and salty. We succeeded on finding it but not fortunate enough to try it. They were closed when we visited and advised us to just try the Night Market. We walked from our hotel to this place, like we had 5k steps atleast. Not sure if they are still serving their patrons or not because the place was empty.

Dod's Ihaw Ihaw Place Davao — Dod’s Ihaw-Ihaw Place

Fast forward, we bumped into the Tuna Choice Place – it’s more of a karinderya. You choose the Tuna Panga for example and they will weigh and grill it. We had Tuna Panga and Sizzling Tuna’s Eggs.

For the Tuna Panga, there’s an uncooked side of the Panga but overall not dry. Very common taste in all grilled pangas I tried outside Davao City. The surprising taste of Sizzling Tuna Eggs was really good. The butter flavor complements the bitter taste of the eggs so you won’t really taste the bitter side of the dish. It’s sweet and garlicky flavor, I even poured the sauce on my rice. I forgot how much we spent on these two dishes but I think if I remembered it correctly, the Panga was like PhP680.00 while the Sizzling Tuna Eggs was around PhP 200.00+.

Grilled Tuna Panga and Sizzling Tuna Eggs

Here is the menu price of Tuna Choice Place. This is near the night market along Roxas Street.

Tuna Choice Place Menu — Tuna Choice Place’s Menu

Last but not the least was the Singaporean hot chocolate drink. It’s so sweet that I’m unable to finish the cup and just requested to “takeaway”. I worked in Singapore for about 6 months on 2010 and sorry but this is not how it tasted. For the record, it’s good like you’re drinking a hot condensed milk with a dash of chocolate taste but I was expecting brownish milk chocolate drink. Though my photo won’t justify that it’s a bit whitish. My bad, I didn’t ask if it’s white or milk chocolate and the cashier didn’t mention what it’s gonna be. So there’s a communication gap in there. The price I think ranges from PhP 120.00+.

Hot white chocolate drink — Hot Chocolate Milk

A piece of advice when you’re visiting Davao from outside Mindanao – rent a car if you know how to drive to maximize your time and visit tourist spots since these are not located on the same area. We’re able to do this on our 3rd day because riding a taxi from point to point is really expensive. 🙂

Rekado’s Kalderobo of Davao City

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023Leave a comment

So I’m not yet done with my food trip in Davao City last February 2023 so the posts still continue…please bear with me 🙂

When I heard and read the word “Kalderobo”, the initial idea I had in mind was the red sauced beef Kaldereta with a hint of Adobo. I really love these two dishes and was excited to try the infusion of their unique flavors. Yes I pictured it like Kaldereta but there’s a sweetness, vinegar-sour taste and garlicky flavor like Adobo.

Fastforward to February, I finally had a chance to visit Rekado Restaurant, which I think introduced this dish. Unfortunately, I’m not quite happy even though it’s one of their signature dishes and own version of Adobo. Hubby said the same.

Why?

Here it goes… The dish is more on a tomato-based sauce. Adobo is almost dry to my liking but this dish is a bit soupy and on the sweet side. No vinegar taste or garlicky flavor. But the beef is so tender that it almost melts in my mouth – high five to that. The serving is small so if a couple only ordered Kalderobo, you’re not gonna fill your hunger. One order is PhP 400.00.

Here are the other orders hubby and I had and surprisingly, it made out visit to Rekado (out-of-our-way) worthy.

We had the Crispy Tokwa’t Tenga for PhP 330.00 per small order. I think they are more on the small-to-medium sized servings. The pig’s ears were cut into strips, coated then deep fried to make it crispy – same with Tofu. Adding to the flavor was the side dish that went with it – the burong mangga. Its sourness made the tokwa’t tenga stand out in your taste buds.

Crispy tenga ng baboy and tokwat with burong mangga — Crispy Tokwa’t Tenga

Another dish that I love was the grilled Norweigan Mussels. We spent PhP 510.00 on one order. Remember I had an almost similar order (bakes scallops) from Marina Tuna on my other post that’s cheaper but won’t try again? This is how I liked it. Oozing with cheese and toasty or burned flavor.

Grilled Noweigan Mussels — Grilled Norweigan Mussels (with Mayo & Cheese)

I don’t want to rate the restaurants I tried because I have high respect and appreciation to the team especially to those inside the kitchen that make and serve foods for people like us who love to eat. Will I try it again when I go to Davao in the future, the answer is YES because I still want to their their other dishes.

If you’re visiting Rekado’s in Davao City, make sure you alot around atleast PhP1,000.00. Check their menu below (last February 2023):

Luz Inihaw Kinilaw Place

March 11, 2023March 11, 20231 Comment

Imagine eating a Tuna Kinilaw with only four ingredients – Tuna Meat, radish, onion and just Calamansi, sans vinegar, cucumber and salt. Sounds bland right? What if I tell you that it’s one of the best kilawin I ever tasted?

Luz Inihaw Kinilaw Eatery is located in Davao City only has these ingredients and it really tasted good because of the fresh Tuna Meat. Using radish is new to me because tuna kilawin usually has cucumber in it. I believe it’s not just hype which I thought at first but after trying it out, I assure you you won’t regret it.

They only serve two kinds of dishes – Tuna Kinilaw and inihaw (grilled) of different sorts. Luz Inihaw Kinilaw Place price range may be on the expensive side for locals because one order or Tuna Kinilaw in a small saucer (platito) is PhP200 pesos (two hundred pesos) but I think it’s worth the taste. It may not be the best Tuna Kilawin yet because I haven’t gone to other places in the Philippines that serve this same dish but it’s one of my top favorites so far. It’s so plain and simple but will definitely stay in your memory.

We also tried their Inihaw na Bagaybay (grilled Tuna’s sperm sac) which is my first time. It has toasty taste on the outside but soft inside. Like half-cooked inside because it’s so soft and mushy. The soy sauce with calamansi and siling labuyo makes it perfect. It costed us PhP350 pesos (three hundred and fifty pesos) so yeah a bit steep or on the expensive side.

Grilled Fish's Sperm Sac — Inihaw na Bagaybay

Our orders came with two free Tuna Soup – it’s like sabaw ng nilaga (stew) but instead of pork or beef, they used Tuna Meat. It didn’t smell fishy (malansa) at all and it’s good on my palate. You can taste the tuna but on a positive note with some green onion leaves. I’m not sure how to describe it but the taste is refreshing and not salty at all.

I wish we were able to try other grilled dishes but we’re still full that time so we didn’t order rice and just a bottle of softdrinks makes the ending so sweet.

If you happen to visit Davao City, try this place and I guarantee that you will enjoy what they offer. They have big parking space behind the eatery so it won’t be a hassle if you bring your car. It’s along the highway of Salmonan Quezon Blvd, Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur. They are close on Sundays but you can dine in as early as 7am from Mondays to Saturdays. It’s not air-conditioned but ceiling fans are plenty so it won’t be a problem during summer, I guess. It’s a typical eatery or karinderya so don’t expect much of the place but food is what you’ll come for, right?

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