Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant: The Silent Fighter

Amidst the much-hyped shops and restaurants at SM Megamall's new Mega Fashion Hall, one restaurant, called Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant, seems to prefer to stay out of the spotlight and would rather let the food do the talking. Do a quick Google search and you won't really find lots of info about it; they don't even have a website, though they do have a Facebook page that only gets updated every few days or so. All I've gathered from a few minutes of research is that the restaurant is named after a Japanese artist who passed away in 1959.

We were at the restaurant during the supposedly busy dinner hours (on the Saturday right after payday) but as the photo above shows, the restaurant was fairly quiet. Would-be diners didn't have to deal with long queues and overcrowding, which may be off-putting to some people. 

I really loved the interiors! Everything about it screams "legit". It reminded me of some of the restaurants I saw during my trip to Tokyo earlier this year. 

Rosanjin has a fairly extensive selection of dishes, and they specialize in set meals (although you can also order some of the dishes a la carte). I was pleasantly surprised at how reasonable their prices are! Most of their set meals are at the P300-P400 mark. Click here to see their menu.

Not too long after placing our order (maybe around 5-10 minutes later), some of the food we ordered began to arrive. Very impressive!

I got to try a bit of my mom's Tonkotsu Ramen (P280) which is apparently one of their signature dishes. I absolutely loved it! 

Two pieces of Crab Stick Sushi (P120). Good, but nothing too special.

My dad's Grilled Salmon Set (P390). This set meal includes one main dish, two side dishes, a bowl of "Japanese stew", and unlimited rice.

My brother and I both had the Special Burger Steak Set (P390)  which also had similar sides. I just wish they had something for dessert included in the set though. 

Looks good, doesn't it? Their burger steak is made with wagyu beef which sets it apart from the usual burger steaks. The beef is juicy, tender and very tasty. The sauce on top of it is quite good, too. I highly recommend this one. Amazing!

Overall, dining here was a pleasant experience. While they seem to be happy not relying on hype to attract more customers, I think they should at least do something to step up their game--their Facebook page would be a good start. This place has a lot of potential.

I will be back for sure!

Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant

3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

Facebook: Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant

Tok-Yu Sushi Bar and Restaurant: Satisfy your Japanese food cravings

I must admit, I haven't really been trying out new restaurants these past few months--I guess that's one reason why I haven't really been blogging as often anymore. Lately, my family and I have been sticking to tried-and-tested places where we were sure we wouldn't be disappointed.

Recently, however, we were feeling a bit adventurous and wanted to try out something new for a change. Our destination? Tok-Yu Sushi Bar at Pioneer Center, Pasig City.

We didn't exactly have this place in mind when we were at Pioneer Center--we were just looking for somewhere to satisfy our hunger before visiting my grandparents at the cemetery. After looking at different restaurants, we decided to settle here. 

The restaurant's exterior is anything but imposing. Take away the huge sign and the hanging Japanese lanterns and you might easily dismiss this place as a cafeteria or a typical neighborhood carinderia.

Consistent with the exterior, the interior only reinforces the whole cafeteria look and feel of the place. I didn't mind it at all, though. I actually even felt a tinge of excitement since I rarely get to try these hole-in-the-wall places. These hole-in-the-wall places tend to hold a lot of promise. Case in point: Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin-starred restaurant famous for their baked pork buns, started out as a small, hole-in-the-wall place in Hong Kong. 

While they don't exactly sell their food at cafeteria prices (read: CHEAP), I wouldn't say their prices are at par with some mainstream Japanese restaurants. Food here is priced very competitively.

We started off the meal with some Tamago (Japanese sweet egg).

The Sashimi was good and I do like the thick slices, though I noticed a not-so-fresh piece mixed in. I was unfortunate enough to actually get the not-so-fresh piece.

My dad's order: a bowl of Gyudon which, at P145, seems pretty decent. He finished off his bowl without any complaints.

My eyes widened as my mom's order of Seafood Ramen was placed on our table. Just look at all that seafood! If you're into seafood then I don't think this will disappoint. The serving size was huge, too.

My mom also ordered some Ebi Tempura for sharing. It wasn't bad at all, but it doesn't stand out for me. The restaurant doesn't try too hard to please customers with elaborate food presentations. Some people may actually find the simpler food presentations more appealing. 

My brother and I each had an order of Pork Tonkatsu, at P140 each. Again, food presentation was simple, but wouldn't make you feel like the chefs don't care at all. While the meat wasn't really too tough to chew, I was hoping for that melts-in-your-mouth feeling with each bite. Not bad, though.

Verdict: While the food here isn't spectacular by any means and service could still be improved (it took about 20-25 minutes for our orders to reach our table, and we were the first to arrive before the rest of the lunch crowd trickled in), I would still recommend Tok-Yu Sushi Bar to those craving for affordable Japanese food and those just looking for something more different from the typical Japanese restaurants. 

Tok-Yu Sushi Bar and Restaurant

Pioneer Center, Pasig City

Facebook: Tok-Yu Sushi Bar

My First Morielli's Inn and Diner Experience

We had our company team-building session in Batangas recently, where we stayed overnight at a resort in the town of Talisay, just along the shores of the Taal Lake. Before travelling back to Manila, my co-workers and I headed over to Tagaytay for lunch, which is around 30 minutes away via a 9-kilometer long road with steep climbs and sudden twists and turns. After that slightly nerve-racking ride, we finally reached our destination: Morielli's Inn and Diner.

If you're travelling on the Silang-Tagaytay Road from Sta. Rosa, to get to the place you have to turn left upon reaching the end of the road. Travel a bit further on and you will see Morielli's on the right side of the road.

We--our large group of 14--pretty much had the place to ourselves. The restaurant was fairly empty except for another table occupied by a lone (male) diner. Since it was my first time to try this place (I've never even heard of it before--we usually turn right after reaching the end of the Silang-Tagaytay road), I'm not exactly sure if the place is normally empty, or maybe because it was a weekday.

The restaurant wasn't ostentatiously-decorated unlike some of the "trendy" restaurants we have nowadays. Decorations were simple and kept at a minimum, giving the place a homelier feel. I actually quite liked it.

Now, on to the food and drink:

Their "crowd favorite" (according to their menu) Bottomless Iced Tea (P55). It surely tastes different from other iced teas, but it was a little too sweet for me.

Dinuguan w/ 2 pcs Puto (P98). I think pretty much everyone in our group loved it that we had to order more of it. One of the best putos I've ever tried! 

Their Chopsuey (P189) is another one of their specialties. Yum!

I don't eat fish that much so I never got to try this Fried Tilapia w/ Side Salad (P140). Can't comment on this one.

The Lechon ala Morielli's (P190) was okay, but I felt like it lacked something to make it stand out from all other lechons. Nothing too special about it, really. I loved the achara though.

What's a trip to Tagaytay without having bulalo? Unfortunately, Morielli's Bulalo (P280) failed to impress me. It was bland and lacking in flavor. I had better bulalo at another place when I was at Tagaytay with my family a few days prior.

By the end of the meal everyone was already so full but I was one of the few who was brave enough to order dessert. They don't have that many choices for dessert, but Creme Brulee (P85) was one of them. Great way to end the meal!

It's apparently customary for Morielli's to give first-time diners a little present after the meal. Since all of us in the group were first time-diners, we all got this certificate with descriptions such as the origin of the person's name or a little description about that person. We had fun sharing to each other what was on the certificates! The descriptions were fairly accurate, too. Thanks, Morielli's!

Morielli's Inn and Diner

Calamba Rd. cor. St. Francis Drive, Tagaytay City

Restaurant hours: 7:30 AM-10:00 PM

Website: www.moriellis.com

Facebook: Morielli's Inn and Diner

Kyochon: Now in the Philippines!

Kyochon, one of South Korea's largest and most popular fried chicken chains with some of the largest names in the K-POP industry as endorsers, has finally opened their first store in the Philippines in late April. 

The restaurant chain was brought in to the country by the same company that franchised several other chains including The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, BreadTalk, and Chops Chicago Steakhouse. Kyochon, with over 1,000 stores in South Korea alone, is fast expanding abroad as well, with the Philippines as one of the target countries. 

One of Kyochon's main selling points is the fact that they only use natural ingredients, thus making their fried chicken healthier. They also offer more varieties, (four vs. the two of that other major Korean chicken chain whose name starts with a "B" and rhymes with Kyochon), to suit different tastes.

If you want to avoid queuing, it's best to arrive early (11-11:30 for lunch, perhaps). Prepare to wait in line if you come during peak hours!

The walls of the restaurant are decorated with posters of their fried chicken's primary ingredients, such as rice and honey. One side of the walls also has this large projector screen showing some Korean music videos. They also have Korean music playing in the restaurant as well. Overall, I particularly like how the restaurant looks and feels, although it is a bit cramped. 

Kyochon, by the way, is not a fast food restaurant. Like all other sit-down restaurants, you will be led to a table by a waitress and you will be given menus.

To start off, we got this Green Salad with Grilled Chicken and Orange Dressing. I absolutely LOVED the bits of chicken! The meat was very flavorful (a bit smoky, too) and tender.

The main agenda for the day: 8 pieces Chicken Drum Stick (original series). While I love the initial burst of flavor once you bite into the chicken skin (comparable if not even better than the "B" Korean chicken chain), I was hoping that the flavor would somehow last a bit longer. 

Thankfully, their Kimchi Fried Rice is quite tasty and helps further enhance the flavor of the chicken. 

Unlike the more commercialized teas out there that are loaded with sugar, their Green Tea is very natural. When you first take a sip, it feels like drinking water through a straw, but the flavor then kicks in not too long after. The flavor may take some getting used to though, but this drink is really refreshing.

Kyochon 

Ground floor, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

10:00 AM-10:00 PM daily

Website (under construction): www.kyochon.ph

Facebook Page: Kyochon

Instagram: kyochonph

Twitter: @KyoChonPH

Coca But Not Cola: COCA Restaurant at SM Aura Premier

SM Aura Premier at the Bonifacio Global City is fast becoming one of Metro Manila's top foodie destinations. Over the past year since the mall's opening, so many restaurant chains previously not available in the country have opened, giving Metro Manila residents a wider variety of restaurants with different concepts.

COCA Restaurant, which was founded way back in 1957 in Thailand, is one of them. Founded by Mr. Srichai Phanphensophon and his wife, this restaurant has built its reputation around its Thai-style "Suki" (hotpot) steamboat dining. Today there are several branches found in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Japan, Korea and now, the Philippines. So far, their restaurant at SM Aura Premier is their only location, and they do not really have any immediate plans to open another branch. 

The restaurant is actually quite spacious. We didn't get to go further in though, since we were seated at one of the tables close to the entrance near the glass windows.

Our appetizer: Seafood Durian Spring Rolls. The creamy durian filling was a bit overpowering, but I actually liked it. Do not forget to order this one when you drop by!

The Sweet and Sour Pork was just right--not too sweet contrary to what I was expecting, judging it based on how it looks. The meat wasn't too tough, either.

The Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts is also worth a try.

I don't really like shrimp that much but I still had some of the Prawns with Salted Egg that we ordered. I only ate a little bit of the prawns but I did eat A LOT of salted egg, which went well with the other dishes. It's just so good!

It's too bad we didn't get to try the Thai suki (hotpot) which this restaurant is supposedly famous for. I'd love to give it a try when I do get the chance!

COCA Restaurant

Sky Park, SM Aura Premier

Facebook Page: COCA Restaurant Philippines

A Taste of Flavors at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati

The Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, located at the Ayala Center in Makati City (right above the renovated Glorietta 2), opened its doors to guests in April 2013, adding to the roster of hotels in that area. It also provides visitors a cheaper option, since the other hotels in the area like the Makati Shangri-la, Fairmont Makati and Raffles Makati are luxury hotels and are therefore more expensive. 

Naturally, dining here is also cheaper compared to those other hotels I mentioned. At around Php1,200 per head, Flavors, the hotel's buffet restaurant, "features an exciting and contemporary buffet that will satisfy our guests' discerning palate and treat them to a sensory culinary experience", according to their description on their Facebook page.

So, was it indeed a treat to the senses? Read on and see for yourself.

The restaurant was quite empty that day. Several tables remained empty while my co-workers and I were there, so the environment was very peaceful and relaxing.

I like how the place seemed bright and airy, thanks to the large glass windows that offered a great view of the Makati skyline. Smokers (or those who just want to dine under the sunlight) could also choose to stay at the outdoor seating areas, but that area was empty when we were there since it was raining on and off that day.

Flavors, by the way, is located at the Lobby level of the Holiday Inn. To get there, we had to take the elevator going up after we entered the hotel through their entrance located along Palm Drive (which is to the left of the Glorietta 2 entrance).

Admittedly, I had already lowered my expectations prior to coming here. Based on reviews, the buffet selection here isn't as extensive as other hotel buffet restaurants, and the food isn't as good. However, I was a bit relieved that the buffet selection, while not as varied as some other places, wasn't as limited as I thought it would be. They had several stations offering a fairly decent selection of dishes. They also had a carving station, a noodle station, and even a kids' station that was appropriately decorated and had dishes like pasta and fish fingers that would appeal to children. 

For starters, I began with my usual sushi-and-maki course:

They only offered two varieties of sushi and three varieties of maki. However, they tasted good and the ingredients used were fresh. They're not exactly very attractive-looking though (to me, at least).

My first plate included dishes like Yang Chow Fried Rice, vegetable curry, crab cakes, grilled fish, potatoes, an additional piece of maki, and lamb kofta. The fried rice was too buttery for my liking and the potatoes were soggy and bland. The fish and the crab cakes were quite bland, too. The lamb kofta was pretty okay, however--not too bad for my first taste of lamb meat. 

My second plate: pancit canton and fish fingers (from the kids' station), lechon kawali, yet another piece of maki, and pita bread with hummus. I particularly liked the pita bread with hummus--they also had other types of spread but I was already getting full and I still wanted more room for dessert! #firstworldproblems

The pancit wasn't to my liking either, while the fish was "saved" by the sweet-and-sour sauce that came along with it. The lechon kawali was just your typical lechon kawali--not particularly something worth raving about.

My (only) dessert plate: an assortment of cakes, one macaron, and something that resembled a cookie with gooey caramel inside (I don't remember what it's called). The two cakes on the left as well and the caramel-filled dessert were good, although the macaron didn't appeal to me. I prefer my macarons soft (like the ones at Bizu or Chez Karine) or chewy (like at Tous Les Jours). The macarons at Holiday Inn & Suites Makato were too crunchy, crumbly and sweet.

This particular cake was...interesting (and that's putting it nicely, mind you). The bottom layer tasted bitter and the top layer was somehow both sour and sweet. I wasn't really that too keen on finishing it (I was planning on letting go it after just a bite or two) but I still ended up finishing it off. The first few bites may put you off from finishing the rest--you have been warned.

Overall, I do believe improvements can still be made, especially in terms of the taste (they're called Flavors, after all) and quality of the food they serve. The variety of dishes was acceptable, although I'm sure they can still do better. Kudos to the staff, though, for being very attentive to the guests' needs, but the lack of too many diners may also have been a big help.

Rating: 5.5/10

Flavors Restaurant

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City

Facebook page: Flavors Restaurant, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati

Tel. 909-0888

Good Noodle: Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles

Lately, I've been persuading my family to be more open to trying out different restaurants. My parents are usually more comfortable dining at restaurants that are already tried and tested, and being the blogger that I am, I would usually be the one to drag my family to eat someplace different. 

Just over the weekend, we tried out Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles at the SM Supercenter in Pasig City. Curiously, that place has been around for a few years now and we've always been doing our almost-weekly grocery shopping at the SM Supercenter, but the thought of eating here as never actually crossed our minds. 

Normally the place would be full of people, (especially during the peak hours). Strangely, the restaurant wasn't so full that day, considering it was lunch time on a Saturday. We were lucky to have scored a table in a little corner of the restaurant, giving us a bit of privacy. 

The restaurant, by the way, is located just across the Classic Savory restaurant which I've blogged about back in December 2013 (check out my review of Classic Savory here). 

Moving on, we decided to start off our meal with their 5-in-1 Appetizer Sampler (Php240), which includes Sliced Beef, Beef Tendon, Black Fungus with Jellyfish, Century Egg and Seasoned Carrots. Unfortunately, they had run out of Century Egg so we were informed that they would instead be adding more Black Fungus to the platter to replace the Century Egg. Umm, yeah. Sure.

Our not-so-5-in-1 (4-in-1?) starter platter. In terms of taste I could barely tell them apart, probably because of the sauce they used.

The jellyfish meat was interesting, though. Spongebob Squarepants would not approve. Also, if you don't get the Spongebob Squarepants reference in the title, you missed a part of your childhood.

The Pork Siomai (Php90) was...okay. Nothing too special about it, though. 

On the other hand, I think their Shrimp Hakaw (Php125) deserves some love. I give it a thumbs up! It was very tasty and juicy--much different from the dry Hakaw I've had in some other Chinese restaurants. It was also packed with filling so it doesn't break apart that easily, even after you've already taken a bite. I love it!

My mom, brother and I each had a bowl of Braised Beef Noodle Soup (Php165) which is one of their signature dishes.

The noodles that are served at Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles are meticulously prepared by hand (well, duh). If you look inside the kitchen through the glass, you will be able to see how much effort the chefs put into making sure that the noodles meet certain standards. 

As a result, the noodles are firm and thick. The broth too, was very flavorful and tasted authentic (my mom said it reminded her of Hong Kong), and the beef chunks were cooked just right--not too tough but not too soft, either.

This dish was amazing even on a hot summer day--imagine how perfect it would be on a rainy day!

Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles

G/F, SM Supercenter, Frontera Verde, Pasig City

Other branches: Timog, San Juan, Marcos Highway and SM City Manila

Facebook: Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles