I know it's not just me…read more.. But don't you just want to buy everything when you go into Santis? I don't think it matters if you know how to cook or not but all the ingredients you can find there would definitely make you want to experiment in the kitchen. At first I only went to Santis because of the cheese selection which they have a wide variety of and I guess I just love the feel of the place itself but then the sweet section started to catch my eye and so did the meat section. You can have your orders cut in which ever way you want or you can have them prepare it for whatever dish you had in mind. And it's not just that though but the little things you'd find there that you've always been looking for but forgot that you ever did. Going to Santis is always a fun experience for me and I really do want to take everything home with me and experiment in the kitchen. I also like this branch because of where its near my area and I love the over all feel, does that make sense?

The combination of this Santi's cheese and meat selection with the underground Rustan's grocery…read moremakes it an ideal spot to source ingredients. I find it hard to plan ahead for the meals I'd like to cook. I think the day I stopped deciding and listing ingredients before I go to the grocery was the day I had all the ingredients for mushroom risotto except Alphaland Rustan's was out of Arborio. So I prefer to just take a look at what's available and plan as I shop. This Santi's always has a good selection of meats if you're willing to pay for the quality. If it's not about the protein, you can dress up your meal with the appetizers or the drinks. You're probably familiar with Santi's selection of cold cuts and jarred imported dips and sauces. (Try both! I really enjoy apricot preserves served with young manchego.) This branch tends to have good deals for casual-end Italian wines, so check the corner wine section for today's wine sales.

Teppen is my favorite Korean Japanese store. My friend shared his discovery to us one time when we…read morejust wanted to go to a different convenience store other than the nearest ministop near our office. Here we discovered the least expensive Melona being sold so far. It's so cheap that my friend was able to buy a lot and sell to people in the office for a marginal profit. How enterprising! The cubed French Vanilla ice cream being served as dessert in Chung Mi Rae, the Korean resto in Timog, is also being sold here for I think only 11 or 13pesos! Another discovery was this sesame-flavored instant noodles that is sooo, so good! It's 50pesos for the one in the cup container, and slightly cheaper for the one in plastic. There's a spicy version too. I don't know the name because it is in Korean, but it comes in yellow packaging and has an egg yolk in the photo. Teppen is well-stocked compared to other Korean Japanese stores and I am glad I found it. In fact, it's time for another trip!

I've gone to a lot of Japanese-Korean groceries all over Manila, but Teppen started my love affair…read morefor foreign groceries. Teppen has somewhat become a small community 'hangout' for the Koreans that frequent the church on the same building, as well as other Japanese-Korean expats nearby. Inside the store you can often find foreigners sipping on coffee and playing chess. My mom's office used to be at Marvin Plaza, and when I was younger she would take me to Teppen so I could get Korean ice cream and bottled peach ice tea. When I switched to a vegan lifestyle and my mom changed workplaces, Teppen was still a place I frequent for a few lazy-meal essentials. If you love dumplings, Teppen has quite a selection of various types of dumplings. For vegan dumplings, get the mushroom and leek varieties (Wang was the brand, if I recall correctly). They're so easy to prepare (Just steam! Frying them makes them less flavorful) and are so good dipped in a little Kikkoman. Their prices vary from cheap to very reasonable, compared to a lot of Japanese/Korean grocers that are on the pricier side. Other kitchen essentials I get here are kimchi, nori sheets and dried shiitake mushrooms. Though if there's one thing I can really recommend you get to fix that salty food craving, try the roasted salted seaweed snacks! They come in really handy small rectangular packs with a few sheets of seaweed inside. It's perfect for an afternoon office snack...or really, any-time-of-the-day snack. Some taste more roasted than the others. Some are saltier, while some are a bit spicy. It's really a matter of trying them all to find out the best taste that suits you, I think. Though I'm not very particular, I'll happily eat any kind. I just love them so much it's ridiculous.

I love to try cooking different cuisines and I was lucky enough to get a cooking demo class from my…read moreKorean friend. Most ingredients can be found in Landmark grocery or Rustan's but I always like to venture off and find an authentic grocery or mart to find the closest kind of ingredient the cuisine calls for. I also enjoy Korean ice cream like Melona or those fish-shaped cones filled with red bean and vanilla ice cream, or the corn-shaped cones filled with corn flavored ice cream. When my friend showed me this mini-mart in BGC, I was delighted to splurge a little to get not just some ice cream but also some quality Korean ingredients and supplies to get my cooking on! Prices are moderately reasonable (you will find yourself asking how much all the time because they don't use price tags) but all in all they have good quality products, fresh and frozen ingredients, snacks and treats to tempt you, and even household supplies you might find an excuse for needing!

For the longest time, The Food Bin has been the go-to place for hard to find food items like Trader…read moreJoe's Speculoos, various flavored Oreos and basically all your favorite imported snacks that aren't always available in grocery stores. So why is The Food Bin creating so much buzz these days? Three words: Bagoong with Chicharon. While that may sound like the worst idea in the world, it made the Filipino kid in me jump for joy! Imagine taking this bagoong with rice and local barbeque--possibly the yummiest thing you'll ever have. Maybe add chopped tomatoes for good measure. Sold for P280, its a jar of caloric goodness that I recommend you indulge in.

This tiny delicatessen hidden along Leviste Street can go easily unnoticed for a distracted…read morepasser-by, since the façade makes you feel it's just one more comercial business. But go beyond first impression and you'll see what this little place has to offer. There you can find cold cuts, cheese, fruits, fresh greens, vegetables and also gourmet products from many different countries. I just love it! When I need some moroccan couscous or some nice pasta to cook, I just drop by there. If you have time, I suggest taking a sit there (there are a few tables inside) and trying one of their sandwiches or pizzas. My favourite is the salmon spread sandwich, but it's always hard for me to choose what I want to eat. Oh, I can't forget to mention: there you can find different artisanal ice cream, like the famous Carmen's Best. If you intend to have a beer there, though, forget about it. They only sell beer to take out. It's not allowed to drink there, unfortunately.

It is easy to pass by LP Leviste Street and fail to notice The Market. The shop's signage is…read moreinconspicuous and simple. Last Saturday, however, I was finally able to set foot inside the establishment and only because the coffee shop I was planning to chill out in is full. The Market is really what its name implies. It's a small shop that sells deli, cheese, fresh vegetables, imported food items, and frozen meat and fish products. What really caught my eye was the artisanal ice cream that they carry. Not only do they have the now popular Carmen's Best, but they also have Sebastian's and Adam's as well. As a deli, they have sandwiches, salads, pizza, and coffee. On the downside, the shop has a very limited seating capacity. I was lucky to visit on a Saturday afternoon. According to the cashier, their store usually fills up with customers on weekdays, especially during lunch and merienda hours. The hot summer afternoons of recent weeks make this a good place to unwind and drink coffee. Most probably to maintain the freshness of their goods, the temperature inside the shop is cool.

If you have a hankering for Korean comestibles while in the Ortigas area, Sonamoo Mart is the best…read moreplace to satisfy your craving. While not exceedingly large, this establishment is still bigger than most places of this type, and it uses this size to great effect by carrying a wide array of food and drinks from the owner's native land. The instant noodles are perhaps the best reason to drop by. Not only is the selection among the widest I've seen locally, the prices are also probably the lowest. Being authentic Korean noodles, all packaging is in that language so ask one of the attendants if you want to be sure about what you're buying. Be warned, the spicy one are really spicy. Korean ice cream carries flavors that are quite different from those made here, and Sonamoo has a lot of types available. If you're not already a fan, the fish-shaped one will make you a believer (and, no, it doesn't taste of fish). In addition, Sonamoo also carries many brands of dried seaweed (don't knock it till you try it), and some exotic canned stuff like silkworm pupae (don't try it; I did and wish I didn't indulge my curiosity).

One of the cleanest markets that I've been to that is situated in metro manila specifically in…read moreQuezon City. I love how they cater to different needs of the buyers. But I love their food stalls the one facing Dapitan Arcade. This is where I buy big bilaos of California maki at a very affordable price. Their small bilao will cost P200-300 good for family size and the biggest bilao ranges from P750-800 only and can feed almost 25 people. There are also some stalls selling Filipino dishes and kakanin good for to go. The only that's hassle is here is when during peak hours it is hard to find parking because of traffic and a portion of the lot is allotted to shuttle services. The best time to come in is 10AM after all the hustle and bustle are done and all the food stores are open.

Super fresh meats, fish and seafood and chicken. Also vegetables are very fresh with a great…read moreselection. Prices are fair and competitive. A fairly clean wet market. Cooked foods and desserts are very good to great.

If you want a snack of siopao, you have to try them at Hen Lin. We were walking at the mall and…read morecame across Hen Lin. It's a small stall but we noticed the siopao displayed. We stopped and decided to try them. We ordered the bola bola and asado siopao. The size is about right for one person. The price is also reasonable. If you want a quick bite or a small snack while shopping around, this place can put a little energy.

Food same as before always a comfort food. Ambience is excellent right inside the mall. Friendly…read morestaff and service is top notch.