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.

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.

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.

Like it a lot, unpretentious chill staff. Typifies dinning experience in Poblacion with fair…read moreprices. Exposed brick dimly lit space gives it that mysterious cool vibe. We had the 3 tacos - chicken adobo, lengua, and Sisig all excellent Sisig being the stand out. Also had the gizzard and kabob - both excellent.

The food was good a few things were different. The beans were lentils and not black or pintos. The…read moreMexican rice was like home. The guacamole was pretty water no thickness like in California. The service was nice and fast. The ambiance was fine customers enjoying their drinks while waiting on orders. I would return to try some different items on menu.

This place is right downstairs from my apartment, so I knew I'd have to try it eventually. For the…read moreAmerican pallet this place can be summed up in one word: nasty. I don't know how it's possible to mess up baby back ribs, but they did. They were flavorless and tough as an old shoe. The taco was filled with canned chili. Very disappointing for my first Tex-Mex meal in the Philippines. Not coming back talaga!

This place tops our recommended "Cheap Eats in BGC" as the overall experience is without…read morecompromise. Service is attentive and accommodating, internet is available and stable, ambiance is lively and refreshing, and the overall value of the food is just the right premium. Original 1/2 Chicken with 3 sides (360+ PHP) Meaty portions of juicy roasted chicken with 3 side of your choice. We had the mashed camote, regular mashed potatoes, and Mexican rice - minced tomato. It's an amazing deal. We also had the Adobo Blackmole Taco (99+ PHP) a saucy pulled-pork filled soft-taco piece with a more than satisfactory punch of subtle flavours. The distressed wood panels, faux grass, and cheerful Palette of colours give the place a lively ambiance. Definitely a place where you'll spot us when we crave for a simlle roast chicken meal.

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 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.

As indicated by Yelp, a 3-Star means (A-OK.), which best describes my reaction when I saw their…read moremenu prices. Be prepared to spend upwards of 1500 for 2, (1) Appetiser, (2) main dishes, and (2) drinks. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending money for food, but my sensible thoughts just has to comment. Their location is definitely far from prime, parking is limited to 3 slots and might be difficult for larger vehicles since you have to manoeuvre through a narrow road. Full Parking? Well, you'll have to find a vacant slot along the road, good luck with that. If you must visit them come on a Saturday or Sunday. The overall interior may be colourful, but the furnishings are tighter than expected for a dining oriented restaurant, in fact their food presentation requires a lot of space thanks to the separate sauces plate, pita plates, and the main dish itself. Okay that's enough of the practical stuff, let's get down to where it matters. Do they taste good? Without a doubt, yes! CHEF MIKEL "KEL" ZAGUIRRE of Locavore and Taqueria 101, definitely knows how to get you to say Empingao! Elena Ruz (480 PHP + 10% S.C.) Wow! This sandwich will make you wish for more of it. Every bite is pleasurable and guilty, This is so good, but so expensive for what it really is, but I don't care right now. The crisp toasted bread and the moist insides is just too good to say no to. Oozing cheese and sweet strawberry jam amidst the warm meaty turkey, is just too much of a good thing, an empingao! moment. It's sided with banana chips, which works well for the savoury goodness of the sandwich, but potato fries would be even better. Lomo Saltado (540 PHP + 10% S.C.) More sauce please! Stir-fried beef tenderloin in an amazing pool of sauce that has to be paired with rice, but let's go with the "flour tortilla" for now. Honestly 3 pieces of tortilla is not enough for the amount of beef in the pan, but I have a feeling it is to limit the "sharing capabilities" of this dish. You start by taking a piece of tortilla, put some beef tenderloin and around 2-3 pieces of potato fries. The you choose either one or more of the 5 sauces to spice up your mix. Then finally you roll it and enjoy. Remarks: For the premium price, I expect corn tortillas and more than 3 pieces of it, at least 5. Salmon Tacos (290 PHP + 10% S.C.) 3 pieces of hard-shell tacos stuffed with lightly grilled salmon pieces and garnished with spices and an orange piece for a zesty punch. It's worth a try, wait for their promos that they advertise on their FB page.

I've been wanting to try Empingao out since I saw their ad on Facebook. It was more…read morehole-in-the-wall than I expected, but the food is amazing! Flavorful, a great mix of textures and color. I'm no expert in Cuban cuisine, but this is a great intro to this exciting new flavor adventure. At first, I felt the prices were steep (for the general look of the place), but when the food was served, the flavors and portions justify the prices, so no complaints!

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.

The food is great as well as the services. The ambiance is excellent. I love the food priceread more

AMBIENCE Restaurant is situated where Jamba Juice used to be…read moreand it also has a second floor. When we entered, the entire first floor was packed and lines were long for ordering and claiming. The crowd eventually lessened as several minutes went by but there were still a lot of customers. FOOD We tried the 3PC Chicken Tenders and the 1PC Chicken and both had different textures especially on the coating. Tenders were typically good but the Bold BBQ dip was the star flavor in this combo; tasted really good! 1PC had tender white meat and a really thick coating, which tasted good but made the chicken actually look smaller. Biscuit was just as good as before and still somewhat plain, which I totally appreciate. At first, I thought the flavor was infused into the biscuit but turns out you put it in like you would with butter. Our flavor was honey but the experience of placing it in the biscuit was more interesting than the actual flavor. Spaghetti had a sweet and subtly unique taste. Fries had a nice and crispy texture. Among our orders, I still think only about those good and plain biscuits. SERVICE We had to wait quite awhile because there were lots of customers, and one number was called several times sometime before ours. The customer of that number never came and I was able to eventually get our order. I'd like to suggest that they use a TV screen (unless they have one upstairs already) or a pager to call out the number especially for customers upstairs.