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Asian Flavors: Roti Shop

In a previous post, I talked about the new Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory restaurant in the newly-opened Estancia East Wing. Another restaurant in this spacious area is Roti Shop, which aims to spotlight a dish often relegated to appetizer or side dish.

Roti Shop boasts vibrant colors and clean lines with beautiful wall paintings.

The first thing I noticed was the interior design. Immediately inviting, Roti Shop boasts vibrant colors and clean lines with beautiful wall paintings. It’s mentioned in their menu that this was a deliberate decision – to steer clear from the stereotyped ‘dark and serious’ motifs of other restaurants selling roti.

To keep it simple, we ordered the Basic Roti Prata with Curry Sauce (Php150). The roti was flaky, soft, and buttery – just the perfect texture and flavor. My friend commented that, while good, it tasted pretty much like any other roti but I personally felt it was a little softer and fluffier than the usual flat ones I remember. The rich aromatic curry sauce also differed from the norm in its hint of lemongrass. It went incredibly well with the warm roti.

It definitely didn’t skimp on the spice.

I also got to try the Roti Dynamite (Php175), a roti filled with cheese, onion, and chili. With a wonderfully explosive taste, it definitely didn’t skimp on the spice. Although it tasted quite good on its own, I thought it tasted even better with the curry sauce of the basic roti. I’m not sure, though, if you can order the sauce on the side.

We also got the Satay Platter (Php400), which consisted of 3 sticks each of chicken, tofu, and pork satay. This one, I felt was quite basic. The sauce was the regular peanut-y satay sauce and the satay, while visually appealing, didn’t hold much flavor beyond the (once again) hint of lemongrass. The pork was the tastiest among the three. Nevertheless, they were all tender and cooked really well and, I think, a good option for a big group of people.

We got to try the Roasted Hainanese Chicken Rice (left) and the Hawker Chick Combo (right).

For the heavier main rice dishes, we got to try the Roasted Hainanese Chicken Rice (Half Chicken Php450; also available as Quarter Chicken Php250 or Combo Plate with Roti Prata Php300) and the Hawker Chick Combo (Php250), which has a smaller serving of the Malaysian-Style Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken (Php335) with Roti Prata. Both were very tasty with nice hefty servings. The combo plates, especially, are sulit if you want to have a main dish as well as their famous roti.

It’s not Asian without the noodles! Char Kway Teow (left) and Mee Goreng (right)

It’s not Asian (for me) without the noodles! We tried the Char Kway Teow (Php275), which also has a vegan option. I was expecting a little more texture, as I’d read that char kway teow has characteristic slightly charred edges. It was still tasty, though, especially with some calamansi and chili sauce. We also tried the Mee Goreng (Php275), which had a brighter flavor, with a lovely spice to round it off.

I think Roti Shop’s menu has a lot of enticing classic Asian dishes. As a fan of this beautiful melting pot of a cuisine, I’m excited to come back and try more dishes, especially the roti variants.

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NEW: Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Café

There’s a new restaurant in town and it’s the very first of its kind. The popular Japanese cookie stall Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory has finally opened a sit-down restaurant, featuring both savory and sweet dining options. It can be found in the recently opened new East Wing of Estancia Mall, Pasig City. (The first branch is in Ayala Malls Manila Bay.)

By the time we got to try it, thankfully the line wasn’t that long. We only had to wait a few minutes before being seated. Their famous fluffy pancakes, however, had a ONE HOUR serving time. We decided to order some of the savory fare while waiting for dessert.

Crunchy sourdough bread gave way to tender and juicy pulled beef with pickled coleslaw-style greens.

I ordered the 12-Hour Short Rib Sandwich (Php485), which came in a hefty serving with potato chips on the side. Crunchy sourdough bread gave way to tender and juicy pulled beef with pickled coleslaw-style greens. My first impression was that the taste was a little underwhelming. The ‘parsley aioli’ listed on the menu was barely noticeable. After a few more bites, though, I began to appreciate the minimalist flavor profile of the sandwich and devoured it soon enough. Still, I would have liked to have something to cut through the rather plain taste, maybe a slight smear of horseradish in keeping with the Japanese palate. The chips, although raved about in some reviews I’ve seen, just tasted like ordinary potato chips – some weren’t even that crunchy.

Fans of omurice will enjoy this filling plate.

My brother got the Hayashi Beef Omurice (Php395), which also turned out to be a big portion. I was expecting it to taste like curry but the beef was actually bathed in a more gravy-like sauce. The egg was cooked well, slightly on the runny side just as it should be. The rice had a hint of tomato, adding a little sweetness to the rich dish. I think fans of omurice in general will enjoy this filling plate.

Our table also got the Molten Mozzarella Hamburg (Php440). I didn’t get to taste these sliders but I was told they were quite good, if a little basic. They were also served with potato chips.

Finally, it was time for the star – dessert. To be fair, it didn’t feel like an hour had elapsed. Either they overestimate the time to avoid complaints, or we really just didn’t notice the time go by. My sister got the Plain Pancake (Php210), which were as fluffy as advertised and served with powdered sugar, whipped cream, and maple syrup.

The rich creamy sauce was so incredibly addicting.

I decided to order the Crème Brulee version (Php265), despite not being a ‘pancake person’. I braced myself for the overload of sweetness but was pleasantly surprised to find it a well-balanced taste. The rich creamy sauce was so incredibly addicting that the caramelized sugar bits almost felt like an afterthought. The pancakes were very light and fluffy in the mouth without being too airy or mamon-like. Not that there’s anything wrong with mamon, but I wouldn’t pay more than Php200 for it.

They also have a number of coffee drinks that you can pair with their desserts.

Overall, I found the food to be satisfying if a little on the pricey side. The only thing that marred my experience was the poor service and/or miscommunication. When I asked to order the Milk Pie, I was told they were still being prepared and that I would be informed once there were any updates. Because I assumed they’d forgotten (after all, the restaurant was packed), I asked four more times and each time was told there were still none. I understood completely. Until I saw four different people being served milk pies – people who had gotten there after me. When I asked a server about this, she said that perhaps those people had made reservations to have the milk pies once they were done, an option that had never been offered to me in all the times I asked about the pies. And when I asked if I could just order one now, I was told there were (again) no more available. I’m not sure if this was favoritism or just bad service, but I hope it doesn’t happen again.

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Premier the Samgyupsal

When it comes to Korean barbeque, I don’t have a personal ‘best’ restaurant because I think it depends on what you’re looking for. For LA Galbi it’s Masil, for gochujang-marinated beef it’s Romantic Baboy, and so on and so forth. But for the overall package, the first one that comes to mind is Premier.

Premier the Samgyupsal isn’t hidden by any means but it definitely doesn’t seem to be as well-known as other KBBQ chains, especially to people outside the Malate area. It has two floors and offers unlimited Korean barbecue as well as an a la carte menu. By now, much has been said about unlimited Korean barbecue restaurants. But sometimes it feels like a quantity vs. quality sort of thing… and oftentimes, quality loses. Not with Premier.

Premier’s interiors are clean and not cramped. There are a lot of side dish options (all unlimited), including some that I’ve never seen in other restaurants (like seafood soup!). The kimchi is one of my favorites – spicy but not too pungent, perfectly balancing the meat they offer. The rice and lettuce are unlimited as well. For the condiments, they have the usual sesame oil with salt and pepper, ssamjang, and a sweet sauce that goes amazingly well with their woo samgyup.

All their meat actually taste fresh and of high quality.

And now for the most important part – the meat. You can choose to avail of only pork and chicken (Unli Pork & Chicken, Php 450 for lunch, Php 500 the rest of the time), or a mix of pork, beef, and chicken (Unli Mix, Php 500 for lunch, Php 580 the rest of the time). All their meat actually taste fresh and of high quality.

If I’m being honest, all I really care about is the woo samgyup. Combined with their sweet sauce and kimchi, and wrapped in lettuce – ugh, a perfect medley. But I have friends who prefer the thick-cut samgyupsal (not at all like the measly strips in other places) so if it’s your first time, I definitely recommend trying everything to find out what you like. Then you can always order more of just those!

Fair warning though, if you prefer more heavily marinated meats, this might not be the place for you. But if you’re looking for good quality unlimited Korean barbecue, make sure to check out Premier!

Premier the Samgyupsal is located in:

A. Mabini corner Alonzo Street, Malate, Manila

Other branches (that I haven’t tried):

Maria Orosa St., Malate, Manila
The Rise, San Antonio, Makati City
Aseana Powerstation, Parañaque City
BLC Building, Banawe Street, Quezon City
Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
Tomas Morato corner Scout Luzano Street, Quezon City
The Pop Up Katipunan, Quezon City
Mitsubishi Citi Motors Building, Alabang-Zapote Road, Talon, Las Piñas City
Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City
Festival Mall, Muntinlupa City
Robinsons Summit Ridge, Tagaytay City

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Spicy Wonton Heaven: Mien San

Food is definitely a powerfully emotional thing for me, especially in the way it triggers memories. There’s something wonderful about how a bite can instantly transport you to another time.

We saw it go from a small hole-in-the-wall to a revamped two-storey restaurant.

Growing up, getting to eat out with family was always a special moment and there were quite a few places special to us. Mien San Noodle House is one of them. We saw it go from a small, slightly dingy, sketchy-looking hole-in-the-wall to a revamped, clean, often full, two-storey restaurant. The food didn’t change though – it’s as great as it ever was.

My favorite dish here forever and ever is the Spicy Wanton (Php 198, 6 pcs.). It’s honestly the best spicy wonton I’ve ever had. I know it doesn’t look like much (in fact, a picture of mine that I included in a food review was once censored because it apparently looked ‘gross’) but the cliché applies here – don’t judge a book by its cover.

You can order it with noodles, which comes with a peanut-y sauce.

I love how the sauce’s layers of flavors – sweet, spicy, umami – coat my tongue every time I bite into a silky soft dumpling. I love it so much that I cut all my wonton in half to soak up as much of it as possible. I even used to take home the leftover sauce and dip new dumplings in it. Thankfully, they started selling it in bottles and I don’t have to do that (slightly unsanitary) practice anymore. You can order it with noodles, which comes with a peanut-y sauce (Spicy Wan-ton Dry Noodle, Php 268) – I hated this a lot as a kid but now I quite like the contrast. I still do douse it in the spicy wonton sauce though because it’s just the best thing ever.

Another winner from Mien San is the Century Egg with Tofu (Php 168). No other version has come close to their take for me. Everything in this dish is perfectly balanced – the silkiness and clean taste of the tofu, the creaminess and earthy flavor of the century egg, and the sweet umami sauce that ties it all together. I personally don’t even need the pork floss on top. The serving plate is always wiped clean in a matter of seconds.

It had a nice savory soup and plump filling.

We also recently tried the Siao Long Pao (Php 198, 4 pcs.) It’s not my favorite xiao long bao that I’ve tasted, but it had a nice savory soup and plump filling inside a sturdy but soft wrapper – not bad.

Everything else is pretty standard Chinese fare, but good nonetheless so go ahead and choose your favorite dishes. Just do yourself a favor and don’t forget the spicy wonton, and the tofu and century egg.

Mien San Noodle House is located in:

42 Granada St., Valencia, Quezon City
Fox Square Bldg., 53 Connecticut St., Greenhills, San Juan City

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The New Best Gift: The Rustic Nook

I know a lot of people won’t agree, but food has always been a favorite of mine to give and receive during the Christmas season. I definitely see food as the 6th love language and nothing says “I’m thinking of you” like getting someone something yummy that you thought they’d like. And with so many options now, it can be difficult to find the perfect one.

Enter The Rustic Nook. A newcomer to the field in a way, but the owner has been whipping up great-tasting and wonderful-looking food for some time now. And we are so lucky that she’s opening the doors of her home kitchen to give us a taste of the recipe she’s perfected.

From the moment you receive it (only through Grab delivery or Lalamove, as of now), you know you’re in for something special. The packaging is absolutely beautiful and clearly suited for gifting. You probably won’t even want to open it.

Once you do, you’ll find these hefty palm-sized cookies, with chocolate chunks generously sprinkled all throughout. You can also see the coarse granules of salt, sure to balance the sweetness to make a wonderful harmony. I usually microwave my cookies that aren’t freshly baked anymore, but these didn’t need that. They were amazingly soft but still chewy and the taste of the batter was just right, complemented by the bittersweet flavor of the dark chocolate chunks. The best part, though, was the hint of rhum throughout the cookie. It tickled my taste buds and definitely made it stand out from the many cookies getting popular nowadays.

At Php550 for a pack of 6 huge cookies, I think they’re seriously a steal for how good they taste, especially compared to the other commercially available cookies out there that are just as big but fall flat in flavor. The only downside for me is how pricey the delivery can be, as it’s based in the Las Piñas area.

I still absolutely recommend trying it! This is the kind of gift that, once you receive it, you’ll know for sure that the gift giver loves you A LOT. Because I don’t think I could part with even one cookie after tasting it.

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Perfect for the Season: Wildflour Holiday Ham

Is there anything better about the holidays than eating great food with the people you love? And I’m sure everyone’s familiar with the ever-present holiday ham, often paired with queso de bola. As a child, I would have it as a sandwich everyday during the Christmas season, and even a little after it. But now, my favorite is a bit different from the usual.

If you haven’t met already, let me introduce the Wildflour Holiday Ham. If you frequent this unofficial Titas of Manila café, you might’ve noticed this enticing display. I’ve been ordering this ham for a few years now and it never disappoints.

You can get the ham at ½ kg for Php950 or 1 kg for Php1750 Either way, it comes with a small jar of pineapple glaze, a pack of bread rolls, and instructions – all packaged in a cute minimalist box.

If you just want to give yourself a little treat, you can cut one or two slices (or three or four…).

According to the instructions, there are two ways to cook it. To serve a big group, you can cut the whole thing into thick slices, place on a tray and bake in the oven, then serve with glaze on top and bread rolls on the side. If you just want to give yourself a little treat, you can cut one or two slices (or three or four…) then simply cook in a pan.

I do something somewhere in the middle of those options. I like to cut the whole thing then place the slices I don’t plan to eat back in the refrigerator, just so I don’t have to struggle to cut it every time I want some ham. An extra benefit of this is that the remaining slices get to soak up more of the marinade than when they were one big chunk of ham.

I then cook them in a pan – no oil needed! You see, this ham is more similar to pork belly than the usual cold-cuts-y ham you see at Noche Buena. The fat content is quite high, and all that renders down to fry the ham itself. Just be more careful with pans that aren’t non-stick. You could also still use the oven, but that seems like a hassle if you’re only cooking a few slices.

Cook them until they’re a nice golden brown, then serve with the pineapple glaze and bread rolls. Or anything, really! You can have it with rice, as part of a sandwich… I’ve even tried it with noodles a la Hanamaruken.

I’ve even tried it with noodles a la Hanamaruken.

One downside of this ham is that it is very fatty. As mentioned earlier, it’s more like bacon or pork belly. Some people like eating the fat on pork belly dishes, so this is great for them. I personally feel my heart hurting when I taste the thick bits of fat and I prefer to cut them, which is quite wasteful. Maybe you could use it to cook and flavor other meats?

I think the glaze adds a lovely layer of flavor.

If you don’t like it too sweet, you can forego the pineapple glaze. The marinade thickens after cooking and forms a nice sticky crust on the pork – a great taste on its own. Personally, though, I think the glaze adds a lovely layer of flavor. In fact, it might even remind you of tocino, but for a more delicate and balanced palate. The bread rolls are very buttery and while I used to find it the perfect partner for the ham, I’ve recently found wheat pandesal or baguette-types of bread to be a better counter for its richness. For the latter, I especially love the Barra from Toyo Bakery.

Whichever way you choose to have it, I think the Wildflour Holiday Ham is the perfect addition to your holiday feasts. It’s great for parties. It’s great for lazy cheat days. It’s even great for gifting, if you can bear to part with it. Whatever the purpose, I highly recommend making it a part of your celebrations this wonderful season.

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Japan 2019 Part 5: Gyukatsu Motomura

Before we left for Japan, I came across a list of food recommendations submitted by people. I noticed a restaurant that was listed more than once – Gyukatsu Motomura. Of course, since this trip was supposed to be more ‘go with the flow’ (we didn’t have a set itinerary), I didn’t bring it up or even put it on my mental to-do list.

On our second day, though, I got curious about where it was. I found out it was quite near where we lived! We decided to try it for dinner but we didn’t realize it would be such an adventure. It took us almost an hour because no one seemed to know what we were talking about, and the pinned location on Google Maps was way off.

And just when we had given up and decided to eat somewhere else, we finally found it. Now we know that there are two branches almost across each other. The one with less people was right after Tully’s Coffee, whereas on the map you still had to take a turn one or two streets down from the aforementioned café. We were all hangry. My family joked, “this better be good.”

I wasn’t sure if it was for decoration or warmth or for the food itself.

On our table were these black objects with Japanese characters on the sides. Inside each was a small but strong fire. I wasn’t sure if it was for decoration or warmth or for the food itself.

We were served almost immediately. It looked like the usual katsu set, with cabbage salad, miso soup, and rice. The salad came with a bright citrus-y dressing that was great for cutting through the rich taste of the main course.

We just assumed you were supposed to cook it yourself over the fire.

The thick slices of beef were covered in some sort of breading. The beef still looked raw so we just assumed you were supposed to cook it yourself over the fire. No one stared at us or corrected us, so I guess what we did was correct HAHA

The beef was so juicy and tender and it felt like it was melting in my mouth. Combine that with the crunch of the crispy fried covering and you get an amazing mouthfeel with every bite. The sauce complemented it wonderfully and I loved pairing it with a little bit of horseradish to give it a nice kick.

In the end, my mom, dad, and sister all agreed that it had been worth the treasure hunt. I guess it’s true what they say – nothing worth having comes easy.

And that ends my Japan 2019 series. Check out the other parts below! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️

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Japan 2019 Part 4: Kyoto

Food Highlights

So there’s this restaurant that we stumbled across during our first trip to Japan in 2015. It had no English name so we really had no idea what we were getting into, but we fell in love with it. The place had a wonderfully traditional interior design, and the beef tongue was so flavorful and tender. It was a pleasant surprise to find it again during our second trip in 2016.

It felt like a long shot to find it this time. The only marker I could remember was to “turn left at Baskin Robbins” and I had no idea what part of Kyoto it was even in. By a stroke of luck, however, while we were on the bus to a tourist attraction, I saw it. The pink and purple neon sign called out to me like a lighthouse at sea. I had no idea where we were but I just had a feeling. And lo and behold, when we turned left, we saw it.

And lo and behold, when we turned left, we saw it.

I felt a wave of nostalgia as we ascended the familiar wooden staircase and deposited our shoes at the lockers. We were even seated in the same exact room we were in the first time. I ordered the Beef Tongue, my order every time.

The beefy umami flavor was still great, but admittedly it felt tougher than I remember. I don’t know if it’s just because I had Kobe beef the previous day, or if their cuts really weren’t as tender as before.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the gustatory trip down memory lane. And, thanks to a friend who knows Japanese, I can now find it again even without Baskin Robbins!

For dessert, we doubled back to the crepe place we had passed earlier because I was intrigued by the Cream Cheese Brûlée Crepe that was prominently advertised. I was scared I would get ‘umay’ because I’m not a sweet tooth, but I shouldn’t have worried – the whipped cream and torched sugar were perfectly balanced by cream cheese, strawberries, and crispy bits (called ‘pie’ in their posters). It was so incredibly satisfying. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the stall, but it was in a side street near the Shijo Kamawarachi bus stop. Or maybe other crepe stalls have it too!

Others

On our way to the famed Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, we passed a couple of stalls selling food. We hadn’t had lunch, so we tried some out!

Assorted fried things on sticks – we tried beef, sausage, and pork mince. They tasted as you would expect, nothing special
Beef sushi – this tasted okay but I think the quality of the beef could have been better, it was a little chewy

Takoyaki – the cooking was a little on the gooey side, but it’s hard to dislike any takoyaki here, to be honest
Yakisoba – this had a weird surprisingly tomato taste to it. You look at it expecting a soy-based kind of flavor, but it tasted like spaghetti. The ginger did well to balance it, and I like that it had a lot of toppings, but it was, overall, just really confusing.

Taiyaki with custard cream filling – this began my sister’s obsession with all things custard cream. I would’ve liked a crispier outside for the batter, but the filling was good because it was creamy and not too sweet
Strawberry mochi – the sweetness of the mochi and the tartness of the strawberry made for a really yummy dessert, but I would’ve liked some sort of strawberry-based or cream filling to round it off

None of them really stood out to me, but I still enjoyed trying all the different food stalls. And at least now I know what not to get next time.

Takeaways
If you’re meant to find it, you will.
Don’t regret trying new things, even if you end up not liking them.
Don’t regret trying new things because sometimes, it turns out to be worth it.

Check out for the rest of my Japan 2019 series! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️

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Japan 2019 Part 3: Kobe

I’m sure you all know what the star of this post is going to be. After all, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Kobe? If you said Bryant or Paras you’re wrong because it’s BEEF.

During our last trip, we literally travelled to Kobe just to eat beef before heading back to Osaka a few hours later. Even though we decided to do more tourist-y things this time around, the Kobe beef was still the main attraction.

We chose a homier and more casual-looking restaurant.

Last time, we ended up in a restaurant that was quite fancy, with soup and salad courses, and thin slivers of beef that, while good, weren’t completely satisfying. This time we chose a homier and more casual-looking restaurant called 8 Eighth Beef, located on the ground floor of Mosaic, Harborland.

The Kobe beef was quite expensive, at almost ¥6000. But I was so glad that it came in thick cubes, as opposed to the thin slices we had before. I could better appreciate the tenderness of the meat and the umami-rich taste. It was served with a highly addictive sweet-savory dipping sauce, a small serving of mashed potatoes, a few roasted vegetables, and some sort of pickled relish that tasted like horseradish, a welcome flavor that cut through the richness of the beef. I was in heaven.

My family got the cheaper Shoulder Steak, which was around ¥1300. It was actually incredibly tender and tasty as well. In fact, if I hadn’t tried my order beforehand, I would’ve mistaken it as their expensive specialty – it was that good. Their orders also came with free reign over the salad bar.

Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my order and it’s a food memory I will cherish forever. But if I come back, I will probably just get the Shoulder Steak, or any of the other cuts (more expensive, but still cheaper than the Kobe beef). If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend it. Unless you’re a steak connoisseur, you might not even know the difference! And even if you are, I’m sure you’ll still enjoy it.

After lunch, we took a cable car up Mount Rokko to enjoy the beauty of Nunobiki Herb Garden. I loved the different displays of flowers and herbs, even categorizing them as ‘Cooking’ herbs, ‘Fragrance’ herbs, etc. My favorite part was the herbal foot spa, with a beautiful view overlooking the city. There were also hammocks placed in various areas, encouraging everyone to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Seriously, look at that view!

The tartness of the berries balanced the sweetness of the cream perfectly.

Before we left, we tried this berry dessert at The Veranda, a two-storey café making the most of the breathtaking view. I’m not much for sweets, but I absolutely loved this! The tartness of the berries balanced the sweetness of the cream perfectly, and the bits of cake and crunch added a wonderful texture.

A unique taste without being too overpowering

My sister also got this lavender ice cream cone on our way down. I like that it wasn’t too sweet, and the hint of lavender was just enough to give it a unique taste without being too overpowering.

TL;DR
– the Kobe beef was heaven but maybe not worth it the second time around
– the berry dessert from The Veranda was so good!

Check out the rest of my Japan 2019 series! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️

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Japan 2019 Part 2: Dotonbori

The last time we went to Japan, our decision to stay near Dotonbori in Osaka was the best decision we made – it meant we were never far from food. It only made sense to do the same thing this time around.

Dotonbori Street Food

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to try everything that was available. But the few things we tried were so good!

We loved this grill stand because of the variety of ‘food-on-sticks’ they had, and how much it filled us up. The different sticks were brushed with a soy-based sauce while grilling. We tried the following:

`The different sticks were brushed with a soy-based sauce.

Salmon belly – it had a nice umami taste but was too fatty for me, I would have preferred a leaner cut of salmon
Chicken/yakitori – this had the sweet-savory taste of the usual yakitori you can get at Japanese restaurants, which is not a bad thing, but the serving was so tiny that it really wasn’t worth it

Crabstick – I don’t know if this is already the ‘real thing’ but it definitely tasted more crab-like than the (fake) crabsticks we have back home

Scallops – this was our favorite, even causing us to return on the other nights. The scallops were huge and complemented well by the smokiness of the grill and the sauce.

We got gyoza from another stall – another successful first for my picky-eater sister. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a savory balanced filling. The sauce was the usual gyoza sauce but with the slightest hint of spice. This stall also had the best price among all the gyoza places we saw, so be sure to look around first before buying anything.

Of course, I also had lots and lots and lots of takoyaki but my priority was always to eat so I don’t have any pictures haha! In general though, the octopus pieces were big and satisfying. Some were too gooey inside, some were cooked just right. All had the right balance of flavors for the sauces. During our first trip, we made the effort to line up at the takoyaki stand that was popular online but now I think that you really can’t go wrong with picking any of the stands in Dotonbori.

Dotonbori Sushi Restaurant

On our last night, we decided to look for a sushi restaurant because we’d realized that we hadn’t had sushi yet the whole trip. Crazy, right?? Whereas it was my go-to almost every meal during previous trips, this time we tried other kinds of Japanese food. (Now that I think of it, we didn’t even have tempura.)

Clean interiors with a traditional design

We found a sushi restaurant with a long line outside… but we were so hungry, that we transferred to another nearby one with no line. At first I was worried that it wouldn’t taste good. But then I remembered that a less popular sushi restaurant in Japan might still be better than a popular one in the Philippines :)) The second place went to had clean interiors with a traditional design, and we even got a private room.

How can you go wrong with this Japanese staple?

Salmon sashimi – how can you go wrong with this Japanese staple? The slices were so thick and soft, but with a bite, and it tasted so unbelievably fresh. I was sad there were only 4 pieces haha

The thick sweet-savory sauce was perfectly balanced.

Unagi sushi – the thick sweet-savory sauce was perfectly balanced and the eel was cooked really well. I really appreciated that I didn’t notice any bones or tinik, which would sometimes ruin my experience with unagi back home.

Everything tasted fresh and was served at the right temperature.

Mixed sushi platter – what I looked forward to the most! Everything tasted fresh and was served at the right temperature. I think my favorite would have to be the scallop, because of the superb flavor and interesting texture, and also because it was my first time to have it in sushi form. But really, it was a tight competition. The crab legs amazed me – how did they get it out in one piece?? The fish roe was a wonderful burst of umami flavor and it didn’t feel like it needed anything else to go with it, as I usually feel with fish roe. Even the egg/tamago sushi tasted good, and I usually find it too sweet – here, the sweetness was balanced really well.

Overall, I really enjoyed our sushi dinner and if this is the less popular one, I can’t even imagine how good the one with the long line could be!

BONUS: Other Osaka Things

After our visit to Osaka Castle, we had tonkatsu at a restaurant somewhere in between the Castle and the Osakajokoen train station. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the price but I know I was shocked at how low it was for a 140g serving. It was crispy and juicy, and the pork was very tender. Definitely a steal. It was also interesting to note that the salad dressing used was a tangy citrus-y vinaigrette, very different from the sesame-based dressing usually used in the Philippines. This held true for all the katsu places we ate in.

Its maple, walnut, and cacao flavors blended so well with the creamy cheese filling.

I tried this special holiday cheese tart by Bake at a Starbucks café. Its maple, walnut, and cacao flavors blended so well with the creamy cheese filling that I had to get a second one the next day. I wish the Philippines branch would serve this holiday version too because it was amazing.

This super soft and fluffy pancake was really good.

My sister got this soufflé pancake at a bakery near Umeda station. I’m not fond of sweet things for breakfast but I have to admit that this super soft and fluffy pancake was really good. I would still prefer it for dessert though, or at least paired with a savory breakfast item haha

The tartness of the strawberry and the sweetness of the cream made for a yummy drink.

Lastly, if you’re into strawberries-and-cream-flavored things, this Japan-exclusive Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino hits the spot. The tartness of the strawberry and the sweetness of the cream, together with the surprise texture of the shortbread/spongecake layer, made for a yummy refreshing not-too-sweet drink.

My Top 3 from Osaka:
– Scallops on a stick
– Unagi sushi
– Holiday cheese tart by Bake

Check out for the rest of my Japan 2019 series! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️

Part 1 of 5: Ichiran

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Japan 2019 Part 1: Ichiran

During our first family trip to Japan in 2015, I was quite vocal about my dislike for ramen. Well, dislike might be too strong but I definitely wasn’t convinced by the hype. A few people immediately messaged me to tell me their non-ramen loving ways were changed by a particular ramen chain – Ichiran.

Their non-ramen loving ways were changed by a particular ramen chain – Ichiran.

Fast forward to today, there are a few ramen restaurants that have convinced me not to generalize (maybe reviews for another day) but I would still wonder about Ichiran sometimes. Even the Twitter threads discrediting it as the best ramen in Japan weren’t enough to discourage me, though I did take note of their alternate recommendations.

We immediately ran into the familiar Ichiran logo. But wait, it said “No Pork Ramen.”
Picture from Ichiran’s website because it was too dark outside

After leaving our things in our Airbnb, we headed towards Dotonbori for a late lunch and immediately ran into the familiar Ichiran logo. But wait, it said “No Pork Ramen.” I was confused. I told my family, “I don’t think this is the ‘legit’ one.” But we were already so hungry that we decided to give it a try.

The place was similar to what I’d read about. A vending machine to place your order and to pay. Individual stalls to eat in. I was relieved it wasn’t as claustrophobic as I’d imagined. The chopsticks, soup spoon, and drinking cup were already ready in each stall. I loved that there was a tap for water for each person, so you didn’t have to keep asking a server to refill your cup.

Like many locally popular ramen restaurants, you could customize your ramen to your preference – the richness of the broth, the spice level, the garlic, and the green onions, among others. If you didn’t want to think too much, there was also a recommended choice for each category. I chose those for everything except for spice level, where I chose Spicy (supposedly 2x the recommended).

When I took a bite, I immediately forgot this was the “non-legit” ‘No-Pork Ramen.’

Just by the appearance alone, I was excited to try it out. The rectangular bowl (is it still a bowl if it’s not round?) was so unique to me and the plating of the noodles, beef, and garnish was neat and enticing. When I took a bite, I immediately forgot this was the “non-legit” ‘No-Pork Ramen.’ It was so flavorful! The umami taste was on point and yet it wasn’t as ‘nakakaumay’ as many ramen bowls I’ve tried – it was heavy enough to satisfy you, but light enough that you could keep going without feeling bad. The spice felt just right too, exciting my taste buds but not requiring me to drink cup after cup of water.

My only complaint would have to be the noodles. I don’t know if I’ve just never had authentic Japanese noodles but it felt quite gummy, or a little on the soft side. I would have liked it a bit firmer.

Ichiran maintains its reputation of transforming non-ramen eaters into ramen lovers.

Overall, I was happy with my first Ichiran experience. I think it’s a great option for people who can’t have pork, but I don’t think it would be okay for our vegetarian friends – you can opt to not have the beef topping but according to an online article, the broth is chicken-based. And if what I read about the original still holds true (¥790), the non-pork version is pricier at ¥1180.

My family also loved our first meal in Japan. Even my picky-eater little sister, who’d never wanted to try ramen in her life, ended up finishing more than half of the bowl she was supposed to share with our poor mom. She even kept requesting ramen for the rest of the trip. I guess that proves that, even if it’s not the best ramen for everyone, it still maintains its reputation of transforming non-ramen eaters into ramen lovers.

TL;DR
– wonderful umami flavor but not as ‘nakakaumay’ as other ramen bowls
– noodles were too gummy, or soft
– pricier at ¥1180

This branch can be found at: Gurukasu City Building 2F, 2-4-2 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka-fu

Check out for the rest of my Japan 2019 series! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️

Part 2 of 5: Dotonbori

Childhood Comfort Food: El Pollo Loco

In my review of Mien San Noodle House, I mentioned how food is more than just a gastronomical experience for me. It brings up a lot of emotions and memories too. El Pollo Loco is one of those places that I would call ‘my childhood’ – my family and I would eat here after Sunday mass and it felt like a reward for sitting still for so long haha.

I still remember its old location in SM Megamall. The shiny seats and tables that were common in fast food restaurants. The noisy chaos of the dinner crowd. The gross smell of just-mopped floor that didn’t dry properly. The soap at the wash area that never felt like soap because my hands were always still oily after washing. I’m not making it sound particularly enticing but that’s just how much we liked the food – we still went, regardless.

Now, the new El Pollo Loco is smaller but homier. The chairs and tables are wooden and give a warmer feel. The area isn’t enclosed but is somehow quieter than before. But the food is just how I remember it – filling and relatively affordable.

The flame-grilled chicken is quite good on its own but it pairs exceptionally well with the salsa.

The flame-grilled chicken is quite good on its own, especially that addicting crispy skin! But it pairs exceptionally well with the salsa, which is what sets El Pollo Loco apart from other commercial chicken restaurants. You can choose between a mild salsa and a spicy salsa, or even mix the two together for just a slight kick if you can’t take too much heat.

Look at how juicy the meat is. I wouldn’t blame you if you couldn’t stop yourself from just eating the chicken. But you can also eat it Filipino-style – with rice! They offer a tasty yellow ‘Spanish rice’ that goes great with the chicken.

Personally, I like wrapping it in their tortilla. It takes a bit more time to prepare but it’s worth it. I shred some of the chicken (make sure to include bits of the crispy skin!), place them in the middle of a tortilla, top with spicy salsa, then wrap it up. Simple but so satisfying.

If you want a more filling meal, you can put the Spanish rice inside too, like a burrito. As you can see, I loooove putting a lot of salsa because I really enjoy the fresh taste of the tomatoes, but it’s definitely up to you.

Admittedly, there have been one or two times that the chicken was a little too salty. But El Pollo Loco remains one of my favorite go-to no-frills comfort food restaurants.

You can get the chicken a la carte at 2 pieces for Php185 and 4 pieces for Php360. To include rice or tortillas, it would be Php220 for 2 pieces and Php405 for 4 pieces, with higher prices if you want other side dishes instead of rice. They also offer 8-piece and 12-piece sets for big groups (or just very hungry people).

El Pollo Loco is located in:

Upper Ground floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

And I really don’t understand why there aren’t more branches.