Nostalgic Mongolian Bowls & More A Katipunan classic, Sweet Inspirations is best known for its Mongolian rice bowls, where you can load up on meats, veggies, and sauces. At ₱599 for unlimited bowls, it's a great deal--pile it high and fill up to your heart's content! Beyond Mongolian, the menu has Filipino and Western comfort food, including Pork Spareribs, Grilled Boneless Chicken, and Lengua with Mushrooms. Portions are average and best for solo diners rather than sharing. Their bakery selection includes classics like Ensaymada (₱50), Spanish Bread (₱30), and Cinnamon Rolls, along with cakes such as Chocolate Decadence, Sans Rival, and Tiramisu. While the variety is nice, the cakes tend to be on the dry side. The ambience is simple, but it's a spot packed with nostalgia, especially for former Ateneans. If you're craving a customizable, hearty Mongolian bowl, this is the place to go! Verdict: Unlimited Mongolian bowls are a steal! Cakes are dry, not the best for dessert lovers Other dishes are decent, but portions are just okay Would I come back? Yes--for the Mongolian! read more

The cheapest buffet I've ever had at only (240 PHP or 5 USD) and it comes with unlimited coffee. Selection is basic, they have; scrambled egg, mixed chopped buttered veggies, crispy tawilis (salty), embutido, beef tapa, plain and garlic rice, arroz caldo, champorado, and some desserts. Their food can't be faulted at their price point and their pros out weigh the cons, but to dine here is for convenience and not as a dining destination. Look at this way, if you just want egg and rice, this is the best deal anywhere, because it's unlimited and ready for the picking. AMBIANCE Marble floor and walls designed to a homey feel, in fact it looks like a house from the outside. Interestingly enough they haven't increased their price since they opened in 1990. read more

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This place is one of those comfort places where you would want to relax and enjoy your weekends with family and friends. The shop is known for its bakeshop and has been around for over 25 years. This old-looking house-like shop also offers buffet breakfast for only Php240.00. While Sweet Inspirations did some catering at our office before, which I am highly unsatisfied, I am writing this review for the experience of their buffet breakfast. Surprisingly, the restaurant is full during breakfast, with a lot of old folks having a reunion. Haha! The buffet spread is simple as it does not have a lot to choose from, but has all the essential items you want in a Filipino buffet. I am not sure if their menu changes, but for this visit, it served: arroz caldo, champorado, crispy tawilis, buttered vegetables, garlic and plain rice, beef tapa, embotido, scrambled eggs, and some crispy fish. For desserts, they have fruit selections, and Filipino kakanin like bibingka and puto bumbong. Food tasted normal. It was not bad, and it was cooked well, but there was nothing special. Scrambled eggs were the best among the food served. For desserts, I prefer the puto bumbong. Arroz Caldo was okay, but since I love congee, I ate two cups (not bowls). Service was a little slow, and I opted to do self-service for almost everything. While the food refill was fast enough, the utensils, well, you need to ask for it. Parking space is located at the back. It is free when you dine in, just show receipt. I still recommend the restaurant to try since it is affordable. Do not expect a lot though. Oh, breakfast also comes with unlimited coffee. read more

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My barkada and I couldn't decide when to meet, lunch or dinner, so we ended up staying at Sweet Inspirations from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM for both. I had to leave early but my friends are probably still there, enjoying seconds and chatting the night away as I write this review. Holy crap. That's 10 hours. No wonder the waiters kept staring at us. But there's no sign that says we have to quit their Mongolian Buffet at any specific time during the day. So, you know, might as well make the most out of the all-you-can-eat buffet, right? It was my first time ordering anything other than cake at Sweet Inspirations and I now believe that the Mongolian Buffet is their best deal. For only P360, we were faced with at least 30 options of rice toppings, vegetables, sauces, and ingredients to mix all within one bowl, after which the chefs would cook our meals in the kitchen. You can return to the buffet as many times as you want. I had a friend who came back for not 2, not 3, but 6 BOWLS in total. And she regretted nothing! That, my friends, is how to get your money's worth at Sweet Inspirations. read more

Cafe Sweet Inspirations - Imagine that cooked! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Quezon City, NCR

When my dad told me that Sweet Inspirations was still around when he was in college (the late 80s) I was really shocked! I couldn't believe the place was older than I was. I went there because my teammate recommended the Mongolian buffet after a stressful week, and I decided to treat myself out. I was presented with around 30 ingredients to choose from and create my own unique dish. The staff present were more than helpful, asking all my questions of what would go well with what and which ingredient was fresher. I really got my value for my money. It really helps too that the environment they create is really cozy and homey, too. For dessert, I had the mango cream pie which was just divine. I actually go here whenever one of my blockmates has a birthday just so I can have an excuse to split a cake with the rest of our block and get to taste it later. read more

Cafe Sweet Inspirations - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Quezon City, NCR

This is actually a place to get cheap Eat All You Can Mongolian Rice Bowls. You pick from the assortment of meat, vegetables, sauces and all will be mixed/cooked to your liking and served to your table. My favorite part of the experience eating here is the dessert! They have a Pistachio Sans Rival cake that is heavenly! I would go back over and over to this restaurant if just for that unbelievable yummy cake. read more

Cafe Sweet Inspirations - Mongolian Rice Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Quezon City, NCR

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Sweet Inspirations has been one of the homegrown restaurant in Katipunan. It offers mongolian buffet, wherein you'll scoop rice, meat, and sauces in a given bowl and you would let them cook it for you. It will be served back to you once its done. During breakfast, they have a simple buffet of our usual Filipino fanfare like beef tapa, scrambled eggs, embutido, fried rice, champorado, congee, some bibingkas and fruits. It also includes unlimited juice/coffee to go with it. The place is always jam packed whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's actually cheap for what they're offering. It's my nth time to dine here. If you want a place for cheap buffet with good food for its price, this is the place. P240 for breakfast P370 for lunch/dinner Ala Carte is also available in their menu. #TheFoodCrawlers #SplatMNL #TheLostDiego read more

I can't remember how many times I've been here since childhood! It's been around for a long time and is practically an institution in Katipunan. The thing is though, a lot of the food is actually very ordinary; like normal things you would prepare at home. Even the presentation is really simple and not particularly stylized, but the food's still good and there's a certain come-on with the cozy, homey atmosphere. It's kind of like a mix of Filipino/American favorites and some classic cafe food, plus they have a bakeshop with really good cakes and pies (mango cream pie holla). They do have their classic mongolian buffet, which is what really gets the place filled up on weekends. It's DIY everything from your base of noodles or rice, various chopped vegetables, other toppings, meats and seafoods, to mixtures of different sauces. You just hand your bowl to the attendant waiting at the end who'll give you a number as you sit back down and wait for it to cook. It's SUPER filling and satisfying I tell you. Regulars even make a sport out of it, layering masterfully and making their own unique concoctions especially with the sauces (use lots of the sesame oil, yummm). It's funny when you have there a whole varsity team from the nearby schools, just finished with their training, or a big family on reunion out to seriously EAT-- which happens often at Sweet Inspirations. Pro-tip: The buffet line can get pretty long. So halfway into your current bowl, you should get up and make another one to have lined up for cooking. That way, by the time you finish your bowl, the other one's just about ready to come out. ;) read more

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"You only have yourself to blame." That's what I tell anyone who would complain about their Mongolian Rice bowl being too spicy or bland, or this or that. Once, a friend refused to go because "there's too much bean sprouts" which I found quite funny because no one's really forcing him to dump heaps of it into his bowl. But I do admit that putting together a Mongolian bowl could be pretty tricky and I'm quite sure every seasoned Mongolian-vore has his own secret method. This is mine: I do it in reverse order. Meaning, I get the meat first so that it'd sit at the bottom of the bowl. This changes everything. Besides making sure that I have room for all the protein I desire, I also measure everything else that goes into the mix based on its amount. (I usually get fish and squid, with a little bit of beef for flavor.) Next, I put in the sauces and seasoning. Normally, these mommas only come in when there's already a heap of madness spilling out, so it could get quite messy. Seasoning midway prevents this. If you don't trust your chef instincts, there are instructions on how to get your desired flavor. I take the sweet and spicy route, though I modify it by putting more of this and that, not to mention loads of garlic, chili paste and a little bit of ginger since I'm doing seafood. I also put sesame seeds and peanuts. And lastly, the noodles (there's also rice for those who'd prefer it. I've actually seen people put both - really, whatever floats your boat) and the vegetables: bean sprouts, carrots, bell peppers, onions and turnip. Oh, and tofu. Voila! The Mongolian party is ready for the pan. But I would be doing Sweet Inspi (as we call it) a disservice if I stop at the Mongolian buffet. All my life, the café just sat there from across the school so inevitably, the first cheesecake I ever tasted was theirs. This was way before desserts and coffee became a big lifestyle thing so their cake and pastry line is pretty straightforward, usually of the no-frills variety that stuck to traditional recipes. Among their inspiring sweets is the New York Cheesecake. It is the kind that is baked with the crust quite bready. The cake itself is full and could get crumbly. Though this pie is straight to the point, the layer of caramel on top gives it just the right flirt. To be honest, this has become my benchmark when it comes to cheesecake. Another is their catering. It is efficient and they're nice to deal with. I've used them for book launches and other activities way back in college and I was pretty satisfied with their service. read more

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The first time I visited Sweet Inspiration my friend and I were looking for a cake to give to our friend on her birthday. We heard that it is one of the best places in Katipunan to go to for cakes and other sweets. After we got the cake that we ordered, the cashier told us that Sweet Inspiration is not only a bakery, but also a Mongolian food restaurant. I haven't tasted Mongolian food before, so I decided to give it a try. For their Mongolian buffet, you'll be presented with 35 different ingredients commonly found in popular Mongolian dishes. Tofu, beef, rice, noodles, chicken, and pork are served among others. You can also ask the service crew for food combinations, in case you're new to Mongolian food and you lack the creative juices to come up with your own dish. If you don't feel like mixing and preparing the ingredients, there's a completely different menu for Filipino and Mongolian meals. read more

I love that this place is still alive and kicking in Katipunan. It's been around for over two decades and having been a loyal patron for years, I've to say that the quality and service of the place haven't declined one bit. While they could use a renovation or revamping, all that really matters to me is that the place is clean and the food is good. And in these aspects, Sweet I definitely delivers. Their Mongolian buffet is unparalleled and it always tastes like home. It's the very definition of getting one money's worth or a value meal. Dessert-wise, you can't come to this place and not have the banana or mango cream pie. Keep up the great work! read more

Last minute decision to hold my mom's b-day celebration here...was not disappointed. It was nice that out big group (more than 15 of us) had the option to order ala cart of enjoy their popular Mongolian bbq. I hate those place wherein your group either order ala cart of buffet. Their pastries ...hhmmm..silvana!!!! Takes me back to great childhood memories! read more

Walking down Katipunan can be tedious, especially in very hot weather, so my friend and I decided to stop by Sweet Inspirations. Its dim, cool interior provided a sorely needed respite from the heat. At first I thought Sweet Inspirations only served desserts, so my friend and I entered the place with cakes and pastries in our minds. While they did have those, I really wasn't expecting the Mongolian buffet table at the back! As much as I wanted to try it, I was only up for a light meal, so instead I ordered their Caesar Salad and a slice of Chocolate Mousse while my friend got the Apple Pie ala Mode. The salad was fine, though it was a tad too salty because of the bacon bits. The thing that made it special was the scrumptious dressing! Don't even try to ask what it's made of 'cause they'll only tell you that it's a secret so shhhhh! The Chocolate Mousse was also nice, but it would've been better if the base was a little more moist. Their Apple Pie ala Mode was actually the star of the bunch, and I wish I had ordered one, too. I really liked the compact crust and how it was complimented by the soft texture of the apple filling and the ice cream. The next time I go there, I am so going to try their Mongolian rice-bowl buffet. I'll tell you my thoughts on it soon! read more

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Cafe Sweet Inspirations has rude waitstaff We went to Sweet Inspirations Shangri-la Plaza lunchtime March 6, 2018. Hostess/GRO at the front entrance (female) said, sorry because we are currently full, would you like to be waitlisted? Then she said, oh, if there are only 2 of you, wait a moment, we have a table for 2 still vacant. She then ushered us to Table 15 (Table for 2) and said we may proceed to the Mongolian Buffet. My mother and I left our bags and personal stuff at our table. (Table 15). This waiter (male wearing eyeglasses) I remember him because we are regular customers since the soft opening. He had been on the impolite side from the very start and even during our previous visits. This time he said in a most disrespectful tone, Excuse me, but you must leave our restaurant, this table (Table 15) although it is currently vacant and there's no sign to indicate it had been reserved previously, and even though our Hostess explicitly escorted you and assigned this Table to you and your mother, you must vacate the table and leave our restaurant (bastos), because according to him, he had already promised that table to other guests in the restaurant who's friends have not yet arrived. It later turned out that the aforementioned "friends of other guests" never arrived. Putang ina ninyo! nobody ever threw me nor my mother out of any restaurant. Kung sa America hindi kami kaya bastosin ng ganyan dito pa. Putang ina ninyo! They hid my complaint in their social media page and took no corrective action whatsoever. see, they have no reply here... read more

Everyone mostly goes to Sweet Inspirations for their Mongolian Eat-All-You-Can. It's pretty much an institution in Katipunan and I've visited even before I studied in Ateneo just because of those Mongolian offers. Sweet Inspirations definitely look like it's been there for a while. The insides are very old-fashioned a lot of dark wood colors, standard furniture, and it's a bit darker in terms of lighting. My experience with Sweet Inspirations has been very inconsistent. Inconsistency is one of the main things that can get me to never go to a place again, and sure enough Sweet Inspirations is rarely on my places of where to eat. I feel like Sweet Inspirations' quality has been steadily going down ever since I started to eat here. I had a horrible experience when it came to finding something unappetizing in my dish. That might have just been a one time accident, but it was enough to leave such a mark on me. read more

Café Sweet Inspirations is one of Katipunan's classic restaurants. This place has been around for a long time and it remains one of the most popular places to eat in Katip. This café is most famous for its Mongolian buffet which is the first and only buffet in Katipunan. This buffet is great and has all your classic Mongolian options from their meats, veggies, and sauces. This place is perfect for those with a big appetite looking for something that'll satisfy you. The Mongolian buffet at Café Sweet Inspirations is definitely what you should try when you go there. Another favorite of mine at this place are their cream puffs. They're classic cream puffs stuffed with delicious, sweet, and milky cream and drizzled with sweet caramel that hardens and turned out to be a great crispy contrast to the soft dough and creamy center. I had an entire box of these during one of my visit and what's better is that you can take them out and have even more at home. read more

You expected cake, didn't you? Or maybe some crepes, or floats or shakes. Yes, yes, they have those too, but most people come to S.I. for something, rather, savory; we come for the Mongolian Barbecue Buffet. I've done the whole Mongolian Barbecue bit way back when I was studying basically across the street, but not long ago, I was through their doors more times than Cher ever did through her surgeons' doors (and that's a lot, come on). Why, you ask? I was trying to bulk up, so I owe my "bulky" physique to this establishment, and I guess I succeeded. Being here practically 5 nights a week for 2 months, I can say that the ingredients that they have are more than acceptable, quality-wise and variety-wise. I've become so creative at my recipes that I could practically make up 9 totally different dishes given the set of available ingredients. At the end of the day, it's nobody's fault if your food doesn't taste good, except yours because you actually made it. My tip is, don't go crazy and put everything in one bowl. Try to use fewer sauces with each bowl and different meats as well, so that each bowl would taste different! I do a beef dish, a chicken dish, fried fish balls, and a separate rice dish (with garlic and chili, yum!!) Trust me, it's the best way to make the most of it! read more