The first time I saw an ad for instant ulam being cooked in a plastic bag, it weirded me out,…read moremostly because of the belief that plastic isn't meant to be cooked in. So when I heard of a restaurant doing the same, I wanted to see and try it for myself. It was a Sunday when we headed to Boiling Seafood in Alabang Town Center. It's nice because they charge by the weight of the seafood then you get to choose from several options for the sauce you want to have it cooked in. We were quite lucky in arriving a bit early for dinner as soon after we ordered, the tables were all occupied and there was already a short queue for tables. I like how they gave each of us bibs to ensure our clothes wouldn't get stained. Excited, we first had a taste of their buffalo wings. It had a sweet and slightly spicy sauce, which was a good match to the ranch dressing it came with. We were a bit short on the dressing, so we asked for more and were given another serving with no extra charge. Then our mains were served, and I ogled at the crabs, shrimps, and clams all in clear plastic bags, swimming in their respective sauces. I first got the crab (mostly so I can get the parts I liked), which we had cooked with curry. It was delicious and really tasted of coconut cream. Then I had the clams cooked in butter and garlic. I personally don't like clams very much, but I would say that I'm pretty sure the clams were fresh because it was soft and not rubbery. To finish, I had a few pieces of the shrimps in sweet chili garlic. It was delectable! The sauce was so good, I took a spoonful and drizzled it on my rice. That dinner was so good, just writing about it now is making me crave for Boiling Seafood again!

Not a fan of the sweet chilli sauce for the bag of shrimps. I thought this had a more authentic new…read moreorleans recipe, similar to the popular Boiling Crab resto in San Jose, CA.

The Market Basket in Festival Mall, Alabang (brought to us by the same group which gave us Kuse and…read moreUncle Cheffy's) modernizes the "dampa" concept that Filipinos have come to love. What's not to love about having your pick at the choicest fresh seafood sourced from the restaurant's trusted supplier, and having it cooked to your liking in the store while you wait? A trip to the Market Basket is a family affair, as it is the perfect place for family celebrations around hearty meals and a fun atmosphere. Upon coming into their dining area, you will notice a fresh and natural herb scent from the potted plants that they have near the display table, masking the otherwise fishy smell from the raw fish, shellfish and crustaceans on display. The servers will gladly introduce you to the fresh catch of the day, and they will recommend awesome recipes, which will be carefully and thoughtfully executed by their chefs and cooks. Their ala cart dishes are reminiscent of traditional Filipino party favorites, and their wine lists has offerings that pair well with the food. I particularly loved the surf and turf, which had a great balance in flavor. I also love their modern and "Western" twist on traditional Filipino desserts. I was particularly intrigued by the sapin sapin creme brulee, and the hot macapuno served with ube ice cream on a sizzling skillet. Expect prices to vary with every visit, as the prices on the list are dictated by the supply and the availability of the produce. This is an example of a good restaurant to bring foreign guests - the interiors are remarkably reminiscent of old Filipino houses, but the food is world-class and somehow beginner-friendly. Overall, the Market Basket is a special experience for those who may not like the crowded, muddy and sometimes disorderly seafood wet markets around the metro.

Walking along River Park, I immediately noticed this restaurant's white and homey design. I looked…read moreat the menu and found that they serve fresh fish and seafood (seafood-paluto style) as well as fresh salads good for my vegan brother. This was perfect for our family lunch on Father's Day. For that day, the staff said that they will be serving buffet. All the better so that we could taste many dishes. After getting agreement from the family, I booked a table for us. There were no more outdoor tables available, which would have been nice as the restaurant is by the river in River Park. But when we arrived, we saw that our table on the second floor has a nice view of the river. What I particularly like in the buffet is the stuffed crab and the baked oysters with cheese, though all the seafood tasted nice. For drinks, we ordered iced tea and they came in these cool mason jar-like glasses. On ordinary days, though, you can just pick some fresh fish and seafood and ask them to cook for you. They also have steaks, vegetable dishes, and pasta on their menu.

Do you want authentic Chinese dining experience complete with Asian look and ambience? Then travel…read moredown to the south and dine your way to China. Superbowl Of China serves scrumptious Asian dishes such as sweet and sour pork, schezuan shrimp, hongkong style spicy shrimp, wantons, dimsums and many more. When I'm here, I can't leave without eating their lemon chicken as their version of this breaded goodness with sweet, tangy lemon sauce is superb and the best that I've tasted so far. The ambience was beautifully made, the color of purple and gold brings the restaurant alive and the wooden furnitures gives a feeling of warmth and serenity to every customer. The employees and the waiters were also very polite and accommodating, I remembered one of my friends accidentally spilled her drink and the manager just replaced it even if it wasn't their fault, talk about great customer service!

We've crossed this branch several times already, but this was our first visit at long last! It…read morelooks bigger because of the wall mirrors. They have lovely salmon and steak cooked to perfection. You can choose how the steak will be cooked. Since we like it a bit soft and juicy, we chose medium rare. The baked potato is what it's all about though, being well-cooked with delicious sour cream, a lake of cheese, and sprinkles of bacon bits. Service was pretty good! They checked on us to see how things were with our food.

You know when you associate certain places with your childhood? Well, Tony Roma's is one of those…read moreplaces. This restaurant has been an institution or a staple that has been around ever since I was a kid. I remember occasionally eating in this place during weekends after a movie or church as my family and I indulged in good old American food. Burgers, steak, and of course, their infamous ribs. Their ribs are tender and juicy as the meat falls off the bones. I love the fact that their ribs taste exactly the same as it did years ago. Their service could be improved as it is quite difficult to get the staff's attention. Typical American style, the food portions are quite large and is good for sharing.

After seeing my friend's wife post on Facebook photos of manam CAFE's Crispy Pancit Palabok, they…read morewere automatically added to my bucket list. Needless to say, as we were planning our November, 2024 trip to the Philippines, I made sure to add manam CAFE to our itinerary. Part of The Moment Group, a premier, fast-growing restaurant group in the Philippines known for creating popular homegrown brands like 8cuts BURGER BLENDS and ooma, manam CAFE is a casual, all-day dining version of the popular manam COMFORT FILIPINO restaurant. They are widely celebrated for serving Filipino classics in two ways: Classics (traditional recipes) and Twists (modern reinterpretations). My much-anticipated visit to manam CAFE was for lunch at the MOLITO Lifestyle Center on Sunday, November 17, 2024. We were a large party of 13 persons, so when we arrived around 11 AM, we had to wait a few minutes for a long table nearby the entrance. The dining room was quite busy with most if not all tables occupied. The venue was clean and bright with natural light shining through the windows despite the light rain that day. The vibrant setting was perfect for lunching. manam CAFE's extensive menu boasts a curated, diverse culinary offering tailored to satisfy every palate. From traditional Filipino dishes like Sinigang na Baboy sa Sampaloc (₱235, ₱430, ₱795) and Chocolate Champorado (₱185) to innovative creations like Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon (₱295, ₱530, ₱925) and Ube Champorado (₱185), the dining experience is fit for curious eaters. We ordered: Fresh Lumpiang Ubod (L, ₱295) - Is it just me or is ubod (heart of palm) a new lumpia filling? I never saw this before this trip. The sweet-savoury peanut sauce was tasty, but I do prefer lumpiang sariwa (fresh) with sautéed vegetables over ubod. Crispy Pancit Palabok (L, ₱745) - One of their signature dishes, this rendition of palabok with a fun twist was what reeled me in to manam CAFE and it did not disappoint. After the wow factor from the savoury orange sauce creatively poured atop the mound of crisp noodles, the unique pancit transformed into a pleasantly chewy noodle dish with layers of textures. Crispy Pata with Garlic Chili Bits (M, ₱685) - The golden-brown crispy pork knuckles stood out as the star dish of the lunch for its burst of flavour in every bite and lasting crisp from the crunchy, spicy garlic-chili bits. Munggo & Chicharon - (M, ₱340) - This is one of my favourite stews, definitely comfort food for me. manam serves this as more of a hearty mung bean bisque, creamy like ginataan (cooked with coconut milk). While it still embodied the heartwarming flavours that I expected, I wasn't into the creaminess. Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon (L, ₱295) - Despite Kuya Peter telling us that this sinigang with watermelon "sounds weird, but it works," this adaptation of the Filipino tamarind soup was not a favourite of the family's due to the sweet flavour. I wasn't as disappointed in this dish as everyone else was, but I was the only American-born of the group. Does that make a difference? Not-so-dirty Ice Cream (₱115) - Our party ordered two; one Ube and one Macapuno or maybe it was Vanilla? Both cups of sorbetes were fully enjoyed. Turon of Mango & Kesong Puti with Ice Cream (₱175) - Banana lumpia with a modern twist, incorporating mangoes and Kesong Puti (Filipino soft, aged white cheese) and served with ice cream. Interesting, but I prefer the classic. Bibingkang Galapong with Salted Egg (₱145) - The Filipino rice cake made with fermented glutinous rice and salted egg wasn't bad, but I was looking for the banana leaf wrap. Puto Bumbong with Muscovado Butter (₱130) - This seasonal dessert, one of Mom's longtime favourites, is usually served only during Christmas, but, thanks to manam, aficionados can enjoy it here all year-long. The muscovado butter's rich, caramel-like richness is meant to elevate the purple earthy-sweet chewy rice cake, but Mom longed for the traditional version instead. Ube + Sago (₱175) - A purple glass of happiness with ube's satisfying earthy notes perfectly complemented by the chewy sago (tapioca balls). Namnam Halo-halo (₱185) - This Filipino-style shaved ice made with sweetened beans, fruits, and jellies and topped with milk, Leche Flan and Ube ice cream was vibrantly colourful and refreshing. Iced Coffee + Black Sago (₱205) - The mouthwatering shake-like coffee drink with chewy tapioca could have double served as a dessert. Guinumis (₱155) - Yum, this cooler highlighted the creaminess of the coconut milk, the silky smoothness of the pink gulaman (a gelatin made from agar or carrageenan extracted from edible seaweed), and the lovely toasted flavour of pinipig (flattened, immature grains of glutinous rice). Service was attentive and friendly. Serving local favourites alongside modern, reinvented dishes, manam CAFE caters to both traditionalists & adventurous eaters who want to try new twists on old staples.

Ambiance - Clean, typical family style restaurant. We were a party of four and were seated almost…read moreimmediately. Food - I appreciate having choices (small, medium, large) on the serving sizes for all the dishes. We ordered the traditional pansit palabok, crispy sisig, beef watermelon sinigang, fresh lumpiang ubod and beef salpicao. The palabok and the sisig were a perfect combination. The sisig was so crispy and flavorful. The palabok tasted even better with calamansi and had the right amount of sauce. The watermelon flavor in the sinigang was recognizable but did not take away from its original flavor. We ordered the medium size but it did not seem to have enough veges or beef. The salpicao was very good, maybe a tad salty. The beef was tender. The fresh lumpiang ubod was delicious. The ubod tasted fresh. We loved every dish. Oh, we also had the buko pandan shake and ube shake. Soooo good! I know I will miss this place when we return to the U.S. Service - our water glasses were always filled. Appreciated our server's wit and humor. When we all made fun of ourselves for whipping out our senior ids at the same time when he asked for our ids, he immediately said, "student ids po." Of course, we all laughed at his quick wit. We were so hungry and excited to eat, we forgot to take pictures of the food. Bottom line, Manam is one of my favorite Filipino restaurant. The food is great and the prices are so reasonable.