Was excited to try Peruvian fare and so we went to dine at Cocina Peruvia. It is a sit-down…read morerestaurant but it gives you a feel of a fastfood chain. It's small, simple but colorful. Much like the fabrics that Peruvians weave. The food looked enticing but it's a little lacking in taste. The seafood in the paella were overcooked and dry. The salmon skin chicharron was good, as well as the chicharron de calamar. However, servings were wanting. The lomo saltado can be a little bit more tender. Though I loved the flavor of the pollo a la brasa. 3 favorable out of 5 dishes we ordered, I'd say that's fairly average. It's fairly new when we visited. I won't mind going back in and trying it again.

Had the dory set for Php190. The presentation was lovely and the dish indeed looked very…read moreappetizing. Appreciated that the dish included a lot of rice but disappointingly, the dory was bland and did not have any flavor. Got to try a little bit of their adobo flakes which was promising and tasted a lot more flavorful than the dory. Tip: Come on Mondays to get a 20% discount!

2018 Update: they took off almost all of the ceviche and seafood dishes. Used to have a really…read moreinspired menu, but now mostly about chicken and beef. Pretty much all my old favorites are gone now. Original review: Very unique restaurant. If you like sushi, try this place! They have a great selection of ceviche & other dishes using raw fish, but using Peruvian flavors, sauces & spices. Try the salmon skin chicharon for a slightly healthy, low carb crispy snack. Their beef items were also very good. Lots of attention to detail in the food. Nice ambiance. Small place. They deliver around BGC. Right now they offer 20% off on Mondays too. Definitely worth a try!

Amazing 4-Course (300 PHP net) and 6-Course (500 PHP net) for either Lunch or Dinner. Outstanding…read morevalue and flavour, foodies should pay a visit to sample the future of culinary excellence. Bistro Kalzada upgrades the food scene to a whole new level. Dining here starts with their palate cleansing pineapple lime slush, it gets you ready for the flavourful bites on the menu. (1) Spicy pate with bread Toasted bread pieces allow you to scoop up the strong pate. (2) Grilled pork neck with pebre sauce, salsa, and pico de gallo on spoons for bite-sized goodness. (3) Flatbread topped with Mozzarella with a red wine and butter base. (4) Peruvian chicken - The soothing punchy flavours decorate the tender and moist chicken. (5) Green-tea covered panna cotta over a cream cheese base - it ends a pleasant meal on a high and light note. AMBIANCE Expect a cozy 10 to 12 seater indoor space, it's best to call in advance to get a customised menu for your group. The chef couple that runs this humble restaurant takes extra effort in making every visit memorable. Their vast experience abroad with parts of it within the kitchen of Chef Sauli Kemppainen a Michelin star chef.

Kalsada is a small place along Malingap St., just beside Big B's. It is owned and operated by a…read morecouple that patterned their concept as a pop-up food concept in their establishment. They don't have a fix weekly menu, but it's always a surprise, especially for the set menu they are offering. The place is small and can be packed at 20 pax only. They have a shortlist of menu offering, but for the set menu, it needs a reservation. Everything's fresh and prepared the same day as the event, rest assure that everything is not pre prepared or have been stored for a long time in their storage. Our meal was started off with their liver pate served with toasted bread and pico de gallo. I like how their liver spread was smooth and creamy, it doesn't have the bitter, iron-y taste that is usually present in the liver pate. The second course was pork neck served in tablespoons. It was tender and flavorful. This is one of my favorite part of the meal. The pre-main course is their mozzarella flat bread. It is basically freshly made bread topped with mozzarella cheese, some tomatoes, onion, chimichurri, and another sauce. It is like a thick crust pizza. The bread is soft and the flavor combination was good, but I find it bland and lacks of seasoning. A little more salt or flavor would do. This is my highlight for the night, their Peruvian chicken. The chicken was nice and moist, the flavor of spices has penetrated the meat. It was slow cooked in its own fat, as a confit. It was just sooo good. The dessert was a panna cotta, mangoes, and matcha. The matcha was subtle that it just highlights itself and not overpower anything. The panna cotta was just too stiff. Too much gelatine that made it more like a creamy jello than a panna cotta. I informed the owner about it, so the next time I comeback, it would be better. The whole experience was wonderful and for the price of P500. It includes a 6 course meal and warm service from the owners. #TheFoodCrawlers #OngsFoodprints #SplatMNL

Menu is exciting. Unfortunately, it did not deliver. Salmon risotto: risotto is way too salty…read more Salmon could have been a little bigger. Pork belly was trash: LITERALLY ZERO MEAT. It was ALL FAT. Chicken teriyaki was average. Calamari was ok, but it had a little too much sauce, and it wasn't crunchy. The char siu bao was pretty good, but I will never order it again. Nigiri was good, but if you want sushi, go ACROSS THE STREET into the mitsukoshi; 2nd floor. Service was great, food was disappointing. Drinks were ok. I would never come back. I guess people come here for the ambiance: located right in a busy corner with outside seating.

Never been to a Japanese/ Peruvian fusion spot. Food was good and the service was good as well…read more Note that the bathroom is upstairs and they only have stairs so it might be hard for elderly people who can't walk.

Tldr; pretty good Japanese and preuvian fusion restaurant…read more Ambiance: modern and Japanese inspired, Lots of wood and relatively good number of seating. It's comfortable but the bar seating felt like there was ac straight on my seat. Service: service was good. I noticed food kept coming out and each time whoever was able and close by took the order to the same table! They had three people serving that same table food. Had to ask for my hot water twice but was prompt as soon as I asked the person behind the counter. Food: I really liked the soft shell crab, I want to try the others next time. I only ordered half which was 5 pieces, I liked that you could do this. The udon was good the noodles were different that what I'm used to and slightly too soft but still Al dente. The soup was slightly too salty for my taste but still flavorful. I was disappointed in the duck portion but it was enough. The duck was very tender and went well with the soup. Overall would go with a different protein for this udon next time, and focus on sushi rolls.

Wanted to try this place for lunch. Interior is nice, wooden chairs and tables and a little dark…read more We were seated in the far end where a huge ladder was situated (safety hazard! More on that below) We had a total of 4 dishes to share between my sister and I. We ordered a tuna ceviche which was fantastic - fresh and tangy just the way i like it. The sushi rolls can be ordered in pieces of 5 or 10 and so we got 5 pieces of the Salmon Miso rolls (one of their best sellers) and 5 pieces of the Uni rolls (also popular). The salmon sushi rolls were very good and fresh. We then ordered and shared a main - the tuna and uni cheese Risotto which was good. Overall the food was good. For drinks we had their Sake Sangria which was a little too strong for my liking. Oh and when we left the place my cousin exited near the ladder which wobbled and nearly fell... um i understand the aesthetics but having that there is pretty dangerous.

Fresh, delicious fish accompanied with great service. Will definitely recommend to family and…read morefriends. Massaro!

Food and service was a 10 out of 10 just coming into Aruba. It is a perfect restaurant for a great…read morefood great energy and not that pricey.

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.

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.

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.