My friend kept telling us that we have to try this Korean shaved ice, I'd never had it before and…read moreit wasn't on my list of must tries but finally we went along and I'm glad we did, first of all the regular size could be shared with multiple people so I would say try that size first and see what you think, we were a group of 4 adults and a child and we split 4 of them, it's a small store but there was enough space since it wasn't crowded at the time, the prices are inexpensive but that's in my opinion with my USD, the flavors we tried were mango, choc/matcha, Ube and strawberry, I can't compare to other shaved ice since it was the first time I had it but I enjoyed it, the fruits were fresh and flavors good, it's something I would go back and try again especially because it's not really dairy based besides the ice cream on some of them, I'm here for another week and I'm sure I'll have it again before leaving

Who's a gelato lover? I am! A few years back, it would be so rare to be able to get your hands on…read morequality gelato here in the Philippines and only recently where there have been mushrooming establishments of artisanal this, homemade that and what not, and craft ice cream is not an exception. Manila Creamery is something to watch out for. As of now, they don't have a physical store yet as they have only recently launched last April 2015 at EDSA BDG, however you will find their humble stall in bazaars and event functions for the time being. It's a start up business by two young individuals but don't be fooled for they deliver you nothing but quality! They have the staple flavor selections but have also created their own unique trademark flavors. When you are able to catch them on bazaars, I suggest you try the cereal milk flavor! It's one of their own unique creations. This one is very promising! I must say, Manila Creamery is almost at par with my own personal favorite gelato brand!

Another gelato brand has entered the market and it is indeed not the typical one! Manila Creamery…read morewas spearheaded by Filipino gelato specialists who went to Italy and studied the craft of making artisanal gelato. They only use fresh ingredients of high quality to make delicious and unique flavors for everyone to enjoy. I came across their pop-up store in Glorietta 4 and tasted all the flavors available. These flavors were Vanilla Almond, Coffee, Kinder Bueno, Pistachio, Double Chocolate, Black Sesame and my personal favorite that day, Mangga't Suman. Its main ingredients were Mango and a famous Filipino delicacy called Suman which is a rice-based dessert. Everything tasted good, that's for sure! Their gelato was carefully made and tested. I could really tell because of how it was rich and flavorful. I think if I did a blind taste test, I'd know more or less what the main ingredients were! I'm not much of a dessert kind of person but Manila Creamery's gelato has made its mark on my taste buds. I can't wait till their next pop up! Know their whereabouts through their Facebook page (Manila Creamery) and Instagram account (@mnlcreamery). Talking about it can only go as far so go and try their exciting flavors for yourselves!

I honestly think that yema is one of the best Filipino food inventions ever. I like a creamy, sweet…read moreand thick custard made out of eggs and milk, and it is always a favorite snack to munch on by itself. When some brilliant mind thought about putting yema on a chiffon cake, I thought it just shot through the roof as one of the best local desserts to be ever conceptualized. Remilly's is not a very well-known brand, but it is slowly gaining popularity because of its caramel and yema cakes that are subtle and delectable. I like how its not too sweet, yet it has that essential yema taste and texture without the "umay" factor. The Buendia-bound FX that plies the espana route sometimes takes a detour in the street where Remilly's is at, and I have always been curious as to what the cakes taste like. One time when it was just horribly congested because of road repairs, I got off the FX to grab something to eat because I was bored and hungry, and I got a slice of their yema cake, which was great. I also tried the pastillas cake ,which was incredibly milky and delightful. I think with the right marketing and with the spread of word of mouth, Remilly's will be able to break through and go mainstream.

A date with my sister usually involves a movie and/or shopping, popcorn, crepes, and milk teas!…read moreSince we live nearby, out go-to mall is Robinson's Place. Crepes and Cream may be ubiquitous in the metro's malls, but that doesn't mean their products are automatically inferior. What I can appreciate is that they offer a variety of flavors, from the savory to the sweet; their stalls and are clean and uncluttered; and they make the crepes fresh and fast. (It's quite addicting to watch their staff turn the batter into perfectly thin crepes that, no sweat! And I've always marveled at how their crepes don't tear or break down at all despite being filled and folded in a rush.) I recently triend their Kani Crepe while my sister had the Taco Crepe for lunch. Though the filling is not as abundant as I would have wanted, the simple but yummy flavor of the crepe made up for it. They were quite filling, too, lasting us till dinner while we strolled around the mall.

I love crepes. The first time I was introduced to this wonderful desert was when my sister ordered…read moreit at the Makati Shangri-la when we were kids. BAck then I was the type who played it safe by ordering ice cream instead of something as exotic as crepe. Nowadays, more people are familiar with this particular slice of dessert than I know. Crepes and cream is a bit special to me because it was the first establishment that showed me that crepes could be savory too. Before I tried this place, all the crepes I ever had were of the desert variety. That said, the stuff on their menu isn't that expensive. The quality of the crepe is great at least when compared to most of the places I've been to. Give it a try, once again, since you'll do little wrong in spending your money here. I sure as heck didn't regret it when I did.

It was 7:00pm and we're looking for a place to eat in Banawe. All the restaurants are either for…read morewaiting-list or no parking. Chanced upon Kabigting's and we thought of something light to eat. This restaurant is popularized by its version of halo-halo, unique pinoy dessert that primarily uses shaved ice as a base. Every part of the country has a different take on Halo-halo. Kabigting's cup is printed with a branding: The Pride of Arayat. Each serving is priced at P100. The main components are Carabao Milk, beans, creamed corn and PASTILLAS. I like halo-halo with less ingredients. The only thing I disapproved of is the intense sweetness. Good thing I ate it with a plate of Lumpiang Sariwa. We were the only customers that time (who in the right mind would eat Halo-halo for dinner). The service is quite fast. Kapampangan cooking is popular with different establishments that sprung out in Manila. Pampaga is the origin of the buco pandan of Nathaniel's, tibok-tibok of Susie's, and even halo-halo of Razon's. They must be really imaginative with the 2 popular names of halo-halo coming from the same province.

For me, this is the BEST HALO-HALO IN MANILA!!!! Sorry to Razon's lovers, but this is just simply a…read morenotch higher than Razon's. Just like Razon's halo-halo, Kabigting's halo-halo only has three ingredients: pastillas, sweetened beans and corn. I suppose the halo-halo in Pampanga is more leaning on to the minimalist rather than those from the Tagalog regions' smogasborg compounding of ingredients. What I really rave for this halo-halo is the creaminess. It does not only come from the milk but from the pastillas. It's actually a sweetened carabao's milk, hence, another source of milk in your halo-halo. The sweetened beans make the halo-halo thick and gives you quite an exercise when you mix your halo-halo. The corn gives the slightest crunch. The three ingredients don't overlap each other in terms of taste, it actually compliments each one. Compared to the ice of Razon's, the ice in Kabigting's halo-halo is very fine. The simple flavour of the halo-halo is just perfect for me. It's a creamy, sweet, and milky desert everyone must try.

Love this place for many reasons…read more Great coffee, FREE and reasonably fast Wi-fi (a hard find in the Metro) and not overly crowded. I'm almost double thinking writing this review now to keep this place all to myself. Afters is a place for good coffee based drinks and desserts. I wouldn't really go here to grab lunch/dinner but you can. Like I've said, unlike the Starbucks' and Coffee Bean's of the world, Afters is rarely packed and you can usually find a cozy place to spot inside to coffee-tate and get your Wi-fi fix in. Personal Faves: -Afters Frappe, an iced drink with 2 shots of espresso, cream, syrup and a bit of cinnamon. Doesn't even get bland when the ice starts to melt away. -Chocolate & Cheesecake Symphony, awesome combo of cheesecake and chocolate layers for those with a sweet tooth. -Also be sure to use the bathroom, wash your hands and smell their hand soap. BEST SMELL AROUND. I kid you not.

I went here after a huge Chinese dinner at Wang Fu just beside it. I was craving for something…read moresweet to cap off the oily, savory meal I just had, while my friend wanted coffee. Afters just seemed like the perfect place. True enough, they had a wide array of coffee offerings. The price range is expected for a coffee shop with this vibe--artsy interiors, wooden furniture, paper menu on a clipboard, etc. To my surprise, they even had gelato, which I heard they pride themselves for. I ordered their Sea Salt Caramel and found it a bit too salty, which isn't to say that their gelato wasn't good. The texture was nice and pasty, not too thick but also not too watery. I would honestly come back to try the other flavors and perhaps to sample their third-wave coffee, too.

Icebergs is my go-to place for halo halo when I'm here in the Philippines. I've never been a fan…read moreof the food they serve here, but the desserts are definitely their strong suit. Service is always top notch. I haven't had a bad experience yet.

This was my first time trying this place from a recommendation from a friend to try their halo…read morehalo. Long story short this place has the worst customer service ever that I've experienced girl at counter took my order but totally was rude while doing so and instead of helping me directly she instructed another girl working to tell me what she needed to tell me including having the other girl give me my change WTF!! and she was the one running the register and taking my order. To add insult my order was a dine in order but she made it a to go order. Will never return to this establishment and will definitely recommend others to do the same. 2 thumbs down plus a negative star.

D. Tuazon has seen the growth of restaurants along it's street for a few years now. It might become…read morethe next Maginhawa or Kapitolyo if this trend continues. Along the street, there's a noticeable restaurant with white brick wall that says 'Garnish by TYK.' I'm not really sure what TYK means, but I guess the owner's acronym. Entering the cafe feels like an open pastry kitchen. With some fondant cakes on the side, mirrored pastry kitchen, and cake display from the first glance. On the side, there's a small staircase that leads you to the loft or the second floor of the restuarant. In here, it is interiored more like a living room, with a small shelf of familiar games. The menu consists of comfort food and pastas. We tried their spicy tuna spaghettini, chicken parmigiana, garnish ribs, almond tofu, and their triple fromage cake Japanese cheesecake. The spicy tuna is their bestseller for their pasta. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. It was nice and flavorful, but need a little more heat. There's a bite, but doesn't really have the spicy kick. The Asian chicken is their bestseller for their pasta. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. It was sweet and savory, similar to a kung pao chicken pasta i've tried before, but need a little more heat. There's a bite, but doesn't really have the spicy kick. Garnish Ribs is one of my highlight for this restaurant. It's not your usual bbq ribs that is slathered with thick, sweet bbq sauce. It's their own signature ribs coated with a thin, sweet, light bbq sauce. It was topped with mandarin oranges that cuts through the richness of the sauce. The ribs was soft and tender. Almond Tofu in Sweet Chili wasn't my cup of tea. The sauce was too thick and flavorful for the delicate tofu. Like a agedashi tofu with a very thick sauce topped on it. It destroyed the subtle flavor of the tofu. The star of the day was the TRIPLE FROMAGE CHEESECAKE. It was a half chiffon, half Japanese cheese cake, dusted with cheese. Each slice is like heaven, it just melts in your mouth. It's light, foamy, and creamy. Your braincells gets confused if its a cheesecake or a chiffon. It that soft and delicious. It's like eating 'cotton clouds.' P.S. order the cheesecake 2 days in advance, it's always sold out. #TheFoodCrawlers #OngsFoodprints #SplatMNL

HIGHLIGHTS Garnish Ribs (315 PHP)…read moreIt's more than just another BBQ coated rack of ribs, the light and sweet home-made bbq sauce and the topping of mandarin oranges creates a feel good flavour that's deep within the meat. The fries or ice in the side makes the whole plate better. FOOD Spinach Dip (260 PHP) Minus the grated cheese a=on top and you'll be getting a delicious classic spinach dip that's familiar. The Asian Chicken Spaghettini (295 / 585 PHP) A little more punch on the spice and this plate of pasta will surely make it to my favourite pasta list. Almond Tofu in Sweet Chili (260 PHP) This has to be my least favourite among my sampled dishes, it burdens the whole idea of tofu as an ingredient. The heavy and thick coating of the chili masks the light and delicate attributes of the tofu, adding minimal impact of positive flavour. It wasn't spicy enough just really heavy on the tofu. Chicken Parmigiana (215 PHP) I enjoyed the overloaded topping of cheese over the crisp batter that incase the otherwise bland chicken, I do think a little seasoning of the chicken will highlight the rest of the positives further. Triple Formage Cheesecake (120 PHP) While most of my friends like this cheesecake, I found the it just normal, which is a good thing for Japanese cheesecakes, but I feel it still lacks further refinement that I enjoy from Japanese treats. AMBIANCE their colourful interior and setup can make anyone smile. Entertainment from the decent collection of pocket magazines that one can sift through the entire day. The cool and relaxing vibe of the 2nd floor is spacious and comforting for long stays.

After a long day of work in the Tomas Morato area, I decided to find a place to sit and just chill…read more(because I was in no rush to be stuck in 2 hours of traffic going home). After dinner at Mr. Graham's Sandwich Shop (which is right next door), I needed something sweet to end my evening. Thankfully I was the only customer that night. So, I didn't have to wait and I had the whole place to myself! The cafe is cozy and has around 6 tables inside. In the corner, there are board games for guests to play with. They also have a small ship that sells crafts from independent owners in the area. Now, about the food, of course they are known for their Macarons and their Butterbeer. Just to be clear, this is not the same Butterbeer they serve in Harry Potter. This is the Mrs. Graham's version and, I swear, it is definitely buttery. In my opinion, it's like drinking Sans Rival! :) Also, they serve Cookie Shots here. I wasn't able to try it though because I ordered most of the macarons available that night (check out the photos I took)! Among the macarons I tried, you must try the Bibingka, Ensaymada, Smores and the Bittersweet (their Valentine's flavor that has become a main stay). :D

I only got to try two things, the cheesecake (creme brule style) which was pleasant, not too…read moredecadent with a refreshing lemon tinge. And the flat top cake (tasting really like flat tops) which brought a smile to my face cause of the flat top taste. Looking forward to trying their butter beer. Ambience: Great, cute and whimsical Taste: Good, tasted as expected Presentation: Great, served nicely Value: Good, average value Service: N/A Overall: Good, would try it out again :)

One of the best casual meals I've had in Manila. Chicken katsu was crispy, Korean style pork was…read morevery delicious and the Banana Rhuma sweet lumpia was incredible. I couldn't remember what it was called, so I looked it up just now and learned that this place is the birthplace of the recipe! Wow! Totally recommend.

Mang Tootz is a large carinderia just beside UST. It is also absolutely the best carinderia in the…read morewhole wide world. While other carinderias settle themselves with the usual fare, Mang Tootz serves dishes nobody would even dream of sticking in a virtual hole-in-the-wall. The place is absolutely brilliant. The joint first became famous because of their Chicken Tenders, and after having them for myself, it's not hard to see why. Tender, juicy, delicious, with just the right amount of breading, these tenders wouldn't be out of place in a more upscale restaurant. In fact, we should ask these upscale restaurants to check out the tenders for themselves to see how it's done. You have a selection of sauces to choose from, including tartar sauce and teriyaki, so you can really enjoy these tenders the way you want to. Mang Tootz is now famous for their most excellent turon, which they call "Banana-rum-a" (I hope that's how it's spelled). Small, finger-sized turon, deep-fried with an infusion of rum and a dusting of cinnamon powder, the brilliantly crispy candied outer shell covers a banana core that is, to borrow from Masterchef Australia, "Barstin' wid flavah!". And if these two dishes aren't enough, they have a whole selection of food to choose from, from the expected but brilliantly done (Liempo and Sisig, my goodness that sisig), to the unexpected (Korean Beef Ribs, Kebabs, etc).