Very good and pretty authentic (flavorwise) Peruvian food in a quite stylish atmo. Place is on the…read moreoutdoor level of the upscale Shangri La Hotel where their gorgeous outdoor pool is. For the restaurant they have both indoor and outdoor dining. The outdoor patio is right by the pool with some tables even poolside. Great ambiance with nice Peruvian native artifacts as art pieces. Service pretty good but they tend to run out or not have certain items on the menu available. Aku Aku (P550/3.5) They were out of my first choice for a cocktail so went with this. Didn't love it just had a strange fermented taste that clashed with the tropical vibes. Maybe cuz it had Cachaca which is a Brazilian spirit that I'm not to familiar with. Also had spices, dragon fruit and grapefruit. It tasted better once I started eating. Ceviche de Atun al Recoto (P750/4*) Nicely uniform cubes of yellowtail tuna, finely slices of red onion and a recoto pepper leche de tigre. Marination was proper and you can tell they mix everything perfectly to order so that tuna doesn't get overly cooked by the citrus. Very light handed on the salting tho, which in my current taste I actually don't mind it as much. But a lot less salty than what I've had. Empanadas de Lomo (P600/4*) They use very puffy and buttery puff pastry dough for their empanadas. Not traditional but makes for a more dramatic plating as they are taller and more airy. The filling is diced up filet meat which is a huge upgrade from the ground beef versions I usually try. Well-seasoned beef with that cumin and pepper profile. Anticucho de Pulpo (P750/4.5*) Super tender big chunks (3 on a skewer) of tentacles rubbed with aji panca marinade which is a bomb Peruvian chile marinade bursting with red chile flavor then grilled pretty aggressively so that strong char flavor permeates without tasting burnt. Served with an herbaceous creamy sauce that went better with the plain roasted baby potatoes as the grilled octopus didn't really need anything. Causa de Congrejo (P700/5*) Love this dish and I usually try a Causa dish when trying a new Peruvian resto. To me it is uniquely and undeniably Peruvian in nature. It deals with Peruvians love for potatoes (they say this is where potatoes got their start for human consumption) and the addition of something from the sea, in this case...crab. Causa is a very smooth mashed (cold) potato salad. Except the Peruvians flavor that mashed salad with their flavors like aji amarillo in this case which produces a tangy yet slightly spicy flavor to that filling. Here they top these piped potato fillings with lump blue crab which is super tender and very 'crabby' in flavor. I loved their interpretation of this dish here. Arroz con Mariscos (P1450/4*) Basically a Peruvian paella. Rice had a perfect texture of al dente short grain rice, where it was very wet but not sticky. Big seafood flavor imbedded into that rice too but very rich as I think they use coral from the crab (crab's innards) and make a coral butter that they use to enrichen the rice grains. I loved it but honestly did not want to keep eating it as about 6-7 bites in I was totally satiated. My aunt is sensitive to dairy only had 2 bites Lol. The seafood included 2 large prawns shelled but head on. Some calamari and maybe a few small scallops. Outside of eating 1 prawn to myself, I actually found the rest of the seafood to be quite scarce like for the amount of rice there were. So maybe think of this as a rice dish first and don't put as much weight for the actual seafood. Merangado de Guanabana (P500/3.5*) Very dramatic dessert with east meets west vibes. A huge hollow sphere made of white chocolate arrives on a plate. It is filled with a Soursop cream (tropical fruit), studded with firm meringue stars, some nuts and coconut shavings for texture. Upon arrival they will pour some liquid nitrogen into that sphere so this cold 'smoke' starts to erupt. Then they'll instruct someone from the table to pick up that sphere and drop it onto that plate. The white chocolate sphere will then crack allowing all the components inside to spill out onto the plate, where everyone can now stick their spoons in for some bites. I gotta say I didn't love the taste experience as much as I loved the visuals. The tropical cream was a bit tart and clashed with the sweetness of the white chocolate and the meringue candy. The nuts were a nice textural break, but I just felt the flavors didn't meld as well as I was hoping. Still an unforgettable dinner roof top in a big city, poolside with beautiful lighting, very friendly service and surprisingly legit Peuvian flavors and techniques. A dining adventure I just can't skimp and dish less than a fiver.

I'd recommend Samba for the classy vibes. We chose to dine inside their dining room but their…read moreoutdoor seating areas sit adjacent to the Shangri La hotel pool which is beautifully lit at night, with the area nestled amongst the clean skyrisers in the area. Food-wise we found to stretch the wallet quite a bit, and even opting for the less extravagant fare, the lomo saltado dish was a tiny portion; 4 small and quick bites of steak considering the 1175 PHP tag. The parihuela sopa was very nice though, with excellent seafood portions, including a tasty octopus leg and large mussel, clams, and prawn. It was a tad too salty but not to a serious fault. Staff were very professional, positive, and helpful. Lovely presentation of meal. Would recommend for a date or small group looking for a quieter but trendy atmosphere compared to Forbes town noise 5 minutes walk from Shangri La's hotel entrance.

My taste buds went on a journey to South America and they didn't want to leave. Naxional South…read moreAmerican Diner is my new go to place in BGC! The patacones is small but packs a punch of flavor that your mouth will thank you for. A must try is the Naxional paella and pichana (churrasco steak) The steak cooked medium well is one of the best steaks I have ever had it is also decently priced. The desserts I finished both even if I was full, these bad boys packed the perfect combination of sweet and sexy. But still called me back after now that's dedication haha The ambience is of a high classes diner, they have beautiful art work and great a view near the Windows. I'm definitely coming back and you should definitely try it. This restaurant just opened a month ago. There so much selection here you won't get tired of it. Give your taste buds a ride they will never forget!

It was definitely a gastronomic journey. Worth the visit and the price is good for the quantity of…read moreeach dish.

Yesterday, we tried the newest Señor Pollo branch and thank God it's finally in the south!…read more The place is more cozier than the other branches and its perfect for a late night affordable dinning. The food is good but the one in Makati is much tastier and flavorful but it does not disappoint. Service is fast, our order came in for like 8-10mins and the staff are friendly and accommodating. My must tries: Señor Pollo's roast (always and forever) patatas bravas, spicy rice, tossed salad, mashed potato, soyrizo quesadilla and cheese and garlic quesadilla. Also, the melon shake is sooo goood! Its a bit pricy but it's really refreshing and sweet. Since its located in the newest bldg of Alabang town center, the parking space is huge and the peek hours are from 8pm onwards.

My friends and I always come here. We love their food especially the chicken sisig.. ahhh the best!…read morebest sides: spicy rice, garlic mashed potato, and mac&cheese. Senor Pollo is a must try when in alabang.

Have you watched the film Chef? I came out of the movie house with two overwhelming desires:…read more 1) Have a food truck 2) Try out a cuban sandwich And while I don't exactly have the means to have a food truck, I settled for a cuban sandwich instead. I searched high and low for Latin American restaurants and finally stumbled upon Sofrito, a little homey restaurant tucked in one of Salcedo village's side streets. The cuban sandwich is an explosion of flavors in my mouth, and if I close my eyes I can imagine myself hanging out beside the El Jefe food truck while Oye Como Va plays in the background. They've got deep fried plantain chips on the side too! Another thing worth noting from Sofrito are their empanadas. I havent had the chance to try their savory empanadas but by GOD you should try their dessert empanadas. My favorite is the guava and cream cheese empanada (don't knock it til you're having a foodgasm on the colorful tiles of Sofrito), which I could easily finish an order of, no problem. There's usually a puerto rican lady who's on the till, or busy in the kitchen, (who I am going to assume is the owner) and there is also her little shih tzu that hangs about in the dining room. (The dog is friendly and usually just lazes around on the floor, waiting for some handouts from the kitchen.) All in all, quite an enjoyable place to dine in, just a few blocks away from the heart of Makati, and relatively low key. Must try their cuban sandwiches and empanadas!

Sofrito is tucked at a quiet corner of Salcedo Village in Makati, in a block that has a couple of…read morereally interesting establishments. While the interiors are a bit pedestrian, the food is something else. I've never had Puerto Rican food ever, but my first visit didn't disappoint at all. The Mofongo Carnitas, a dish of fried plantain topped with pork, was savory and flavorful, and the Beef Empanadas were something else. For dessert, I had some Fried Banana Balls with some chocolate for dipping, and it hit the spot. But beyond the food, what I really liked about Sofrito was the homeyness of the whole place. I felt like I was hanging out at my Aunt's place as she cooked my favorite dishes, and for a city like Makati, that's really saying something. Sometimes, you just want a home-cooked meal, eaten at your leisure. When that mood hits you, come over to Sofrito. You won't regret it one bit.

Manila is full of stores that specialize in fried or roasted chicken. And I'm not even talking…read moreabout the big fastfood chains here. Anyone is sure to get in a rut when it comes to chicken meals when in Metro Manila. So imagine my excitement when I first learned about roast chicken with a Peruvian twist. I visited Don Andres Peruvian Kitchen along with my wife and brother. I was amazed at the number of diners inside. Good thing I called ahead for a reservation, which I suggest you should do if you're coming from outside Quezon City. When the waiter came to take our orders, he apologetically asked if we were willing to wait for twenty minutes for the roast chicken to cook. Ordinarily, I would go on a lecture about how inept a roast chicken place must be to actually run out of roast chicken. But it was a Saturday and I didn't want to ruin the night. To my mind, I was actually impressed that they ran out of their specialty. Their roast chicken must be very good and I just couldn't blame them! Indeed the roast chicken was unique. The three types of dips--Chimichurri, Spicy Orange and Mayo, and Aji-green--that accompany the chicken were all magical. I also enjoyed the Lomo Saltado as recommended by one of the staff. This is a popular Peruvian dish made with beef sirloin strips, fried potatoes, onions and tomatoes. One of the owners--who's name escapes me--was very accommodating. She checked on every table, talking with customers. She came to us a couple of times to exchange stories. Only street parking is available and it could be tricky as there are many other establishments competing for customers in the area. Don Andres is perfect for a weekend dine out.

Got a chance to visit Don Andres via a coupon from Deal Grocer. Don Andres serves authentic…read morePeruvian cuisine. The coupon entitled us to a soup of our choice: Pumpkin, Tomato, or Mushroom. We chose Pumpkin Soup and it was really flavorful and delicious. The addition of cumin and garlic gave it a nice aroma and a unique taste. For main course we had a half of their famous roasted chicken. The chicken was very tender even for the breast part. The spice rub of the chicken gave it an addicting feel. For the side dishes, we chose the corn salsa and the veggies with lime dressing. I love the corn salsa because it uses white and yellow corn. The texture was good and the sourness gave it a bright taste. The chicken was also served with three sauces: aji or spicy cucumber dip, chimichurri, and spicy mayo. The chimichurri was the best. The aji gave a cool taste with a spicy aftershock; and somehow the spicy mayo was a good dip for the chicken. Just these two dishes alone, it was money well spent. But we didn't stop there, we had to try their dessert. We ordered their Key Lime Pie and it was the best we ever had. The crust was flaky and the filling was citrusy yet sour and sweet. The entire pie blended together and explodes in your mouth.

I've been here several times. Sometimes I come out satisfied and sometimes I am just disappointed…read more I suggest you don't come too late because they run out of sides! One time they even ran out of their roasted chicken and only had fried chicken (which isn't as good as the roasted). Also there was a time they didn't have Mac & cheese as a side. But they have it back now thank goodness. Another side I like is the sweet potato mash. It goes great with the chicken. One time I got the chicken quesadilla. It came out cold. Nothing special. I could have made something better. Their chicken sisig is good! Comes out sizzling. Like I said some days it's good and some days it isn't. The chimichurii (green sauce) makes up for it sometimes :) Happy hour is 4-7pm!

Basing the stars of today's run-in with Señor Pollo. First time here. It's so close to other food…read morespots in Scout Rallos! I would've given it another star if there was seating on the ground level. This sucks as one would need to go a flight of stairs. I wish they'd put something for those with handicaps so they can also taste the goodness while enjoying it sitting down. They do have some seats downstairs but bar-like to the side. The interior design to the place is pretty swagged out. Cool art definitely. The chalk art on their menu downstairs is intriguing. The upstairs pieces are colorful too; check out the restroom as well. Meanwhile, I tried their Quarter Roast w/ a side of Patatas Bravas, and Fried Plantains. That's a hearty meal already. But it being the first time here, and it's QC (far north from me during the weekdays), I went to split the Chicken Sisig as well. * The Roast was so good. Tender and juicy chicken! The Plantains were a must. Glad I made that choice. The Bravas were a nice sub if you're looking to not eat rice. * The Sisig can possibly be good enough for 3! Big portion for it definitely. You can nicely pair it up with a cold brew. I'm definitely putting SP as a must or default spot to go to if in the area.

I was looking for a place to have merienda in Podium. I decided to try Brasas. Though they are more…read moreknown for their rice platters, I tried out their Picadas! The Patacones were plantain chips with pulled pork & the Arepas were Corn Cakes with grilled beef. Between the two, I preferred the arepas because the meat was juicy and I liked the flavors & textures :) The patacones were just a bit to dry for me and the plantain chips were a bit bland. Overall experience was very good! I would snack here again :)

Having not much latin american food in the country, Brasas was a refresher to the usual…read morefilipino/american/japanese palette that we're so used with. The restaurant offers various dishes, mostly in Latin, so you'd really have to read the descriptions thoroughly prior to ordering. One of my personal favorites would be Carne Asada Fries, which is served with beef sirloin, cheese, and pico de gallo. Always loved how the sirloin was cooked to perfection, with melted cheese on top -- the flavors really blend in and complement each other. Another would be Puerco Asado, which is roasted pork belly, served with rice, beans, and salad. It's served generously and the pork belly is bursting with flavors. The serving is just enough to make you feel full and satisfied. All in all, Brasas is a great choice if you feel like exploring other dishes, without sacrificing taste and satisfaction.

Perfect for lunch and if you're a fan of Spanish or Latin American food, Cocina Juan draws people…read morein with their colorful, charming facade and promising recommendations from diners. Stepping inside, we were greeted by their cupcakes, which I found slightly distracting from the whole Latin American concept. Apparently, it's a good representation of what to expect. Although the interiors were consistent with Cocina Juan's facade--small but beautiful and culturally apt, their dishes were a fusion of Spanish delicacies and American comfort food. I opted for the Chicken Cheese con Chimichurri (see photos). It was a hearty meal for P200: The chicken was moist and perfectly cooked, though I would have liked more heat on my chimichurri and perhaps a more generous topping of it; the cheese was a nice surprise, but I wasn't a big fan. I also would've liked a bit more cherry tomatoes to compliment the sweet sinful char of the grilled chicken. I found this meal perfect with their classic lemonade drink, which thankfully wasn't that sweet because I had a bit of a sore throat that day. Finally, we gave in to the sweet cupcake temptation. I had the red velvet just to be safe. Though it didn't disappoint in terms of flavor, I found the cake base a bit too heavy and sticky. The cream cheese though was the saving grace. Not bad if only their brewed coffee was available. (It did become available later when we were halfway done with our cupcakes.) Overall, it was a good lunch. Now I'm just dreaming about what their burrito and taco selections taste like.

Let's us all bow our heads and give a moment of silence to thank the powers of the universe that…read moreburritos exist. Okay, we're done and I would like to say that burritos are fantastically one of my favorite food ever. And all its Tex-Mex cousins like tacos and nachos have a special place in my heart too. That's why I'm so happy that Cocina Juan is back for Maginhawa for good. Cocina Juan serves Nicaraguan and Tex-Mex food in their hippie-vibe, free-spirit art restaurant. During the Maginhawa road works a year or two ago, they had to shut down for a while. But now they're back, and they have cupcakes! PROS: They renovated the place so it's roomier and I still love their décor; Food is as good as before. Their Everything-on-it Nachos is a family favorite. And of course, their burritos. Enough said; A bit of a wait time for made-to-order grilled food but the staff are so nice, you wouldn't mind. CONS: They don't serve complimentary nachos anymore; Serving sizes are still good enough but it was less compared to before they went on hiatus; A lot of their offerings got more expensive too. TL;DR: Cocina Juan is a restaurant with food so good that you'll come back over and over again.

By far, my favorite restaurant in Jazz Mall! I only live right above it, and I have had a lot of…read morechances to try everything twice over (Except for some choice retaurants that were way too nasty on the palate). The inside seems very... modern urban. The walls are covered in loud murals in black, white and red (which seems to be the recurring color theme for the whole chain). The chairs and tables are a mix of wood and metal. It seems very-- well, it seems like a good place to hang out with your mates and knock back a couple of beers-- or mojitos! As those are very good. (For non-alcoholic drinks, the agua fresca is very good! A refreshing summer drink.) The prices are steep, at 200-300 for just a plain meal (without sides or anything), but it's really worth it, if you like meat. Their best sellers are their ala brasa food choices, which is really just meat cooked over the grill. I loved the tender and flavorful carne asada (with rice! but they also offer it in a wrap, and it's more than enough to feed two hungry people.) Their saltado is if you want to have something more savory, and in my opinion, this is better paired with rice.

Mexican and Latin American restaurants are a dime-a-dozen in Manila and Makati these days, so much…read moreso that it's hard to choose the best one. Though I can't help you with that, I can say that Brasas is right up there in the top ten, maybe even the top five. My boss took us here during one of his generous days and treated us to lunch. He said, and the server agreed, that their best platters are Latin classics Puerco Asada and Carne Asada. And for less than PHP300.xx, the food did not disappoint! I ordered the Carne Asada and it came with a huge serving of beef sirloin, coupled with tasty Spanish rice, chimichurri, and slaw. Those who ordered the Puerco Asada looked extremely happy as well. I saw crunchy skin, hiding slices of roasted pork belly oozing with juice, paired with rice, beans, and slaw. All in all, it was a good lunch. SM Jazz is also a short jaunt away from our office, so here's hoping there's a second round of this generosity.

Every dish that Mandi's Grill Grub offers is grilled to perfection, be it pork, beef, chicken, and…read moreeven fish. For our appetizer, we tried the Sisig Surprise - a pleasant surprise! Each small serving is visually appealing already because of the very creamy mashed potatoes that envelope a wonderful surprise: LEAN and grilled sisig! Lean, as in it has no fat, so that's less guilt! The milky smoothness of the mashed potatoes complements the meaty goodness of the sisig. This appetizer is so good, it could very well be a main dish! If you want more meat, then go for their version of the American rib, which is a meaty slab that is at least half a foot long! It's almost like liempo, but much softer, making it a lot easier to slice and enjoy! No need for a knife! Each serving also comes with MGG's fried rice, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes. MGG is also not afraid to experiment, so they came up with a grilled version of the Filipino classic, pork adobo! I thought the pork slices were going to be dry, but no!!! The vinegar-soy sauce marinade very much permeated the meat, making it a highly flavorful dish! There is a separate container for the adobo sauce, but there's a good chance you won't need it for the meat anymore (mix it in your rice instead!). Moreover, the adobo meat is topped with freshly ground garlic (peelings and all) and chives, while the plain rice is topped with a sunny side up egg. Sarap! Another Filipino classic that MGG offers is tapsilog, with of course, grilled beef tapa. Like the adobo, the flavor of the beef is not compromised as it already has a vinegar-y taste that's perfect for tapa! Each beef piece strictly follows a precise measurement, allowing diners to easily eat the thinly sliced meat. This dish comes with scrambled egg, MGG's salsa, and fried rice. We also tried two blue marlin dishes: the pinaputok na blue marlin belly and grilled blue marlin. The former is wrapped in aluminum foil and upon popping it, you'll be greeted by a very delicious smell! It has a very generous amount of MGG's secret sauce, which can be a substitute for soup. I enjoyed eating the pinaputok even without rice, but for me, the real star is the grilled blue marlin. It's simply good. Nothing fancy about it, just a buttery glaze, crushed garlic, and chives. It's thick, huge, and good for sharing, but I know that I could eat an order all by myself haha! It's so delectable that I forgot to take a picture of it (even the pinaputok)! My stomach is growling as I type this - I want to go back to Mandi's ASAP! Oh, and it comes with chili-garlic sauce and calamansi for a spicier and tangier gastronomic experience! But my ultimate favorite at Mandi's is their CRISPY BABY BACK RIBS. They were a surprise to me because I never expected ribs to be coated in anything; di ba usually as is lang sila when cooked? Galing! The ribs are topped with bell peppers, nuts, and very rich, cheesy, and creamy Bechamel sauce (made from scratch!). Ugh, ang sarap - napakamay ako to make simot the ribs! :D On weekends, they have special dishes like ulang (huge frehswater shrimp), shrimp inasal, porkchops, etc. They have also been experimenting on some desserts and other savory treats, so diners can try something new from time to time! Mandi's Grill Grub is located at the ground floor of #73 Bent II (same building as Nail Cottage, Cupcake Bites, and Breakfast Brothers), Lilac St. SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina. It's a cozy place with American accent pieces like superhero tin signs, old school Kellogs tin cans, and vintage soda signage.

You need to must try their ribs! Their ribs have bechamel sauce that level up the usual meat.read more