Pretty much has a lot of Korean essentials here. I personally enjoy shopping here whenever I need…read moresomething from a Korean grocery. They have everything from food drinks snacks and more!

Huge supermarket in the western style, long aisles offering multiple versions of a little bit of…read moreeverything. Grocery located on the second floor. Small restaurants and kiosks located on the first floor, sort of like a food court. Conveniently just about a 3 minute walk from the hotel.

South Supermarket has always been my go-to grocery store in Alabang. I practically know where…read morealmost everything is so I can do my grocery runs swiftly and efficiently because I don't have to constantly go up and down the aisles to hunt for things. They have the most spacious and airy grocery layout in the Alabang -- layout is straightforward and easy to navigate, aisles are spaced out and do not feel cramped and cluttered. Their meat and produce selection is excellent and priced fairly. Most common brands and products are available. They have a small alcoholic beverage selection and natural/organic section too. Compared to other groceries in the area, their cashiers and baggers are faster and more efficient when ringing up items and bagging them. Long lines are managed properly. Parking can be quite tricky especially during peak times but overall it isn't too bad and if you purchase a minimum of Php 300 (or is it 500? Suddenly I can't remember whoops), parking is free for a few hours.

I don't know if the owners of Big C are aware that the name of their establishment has a negative…read moreconnotation. After all, Big C usually refers to the dread disease cancer. But that's neither here nor there. The name works as far as the owners are concerned. And while there may be a number of supermarkets in the vicinity, starting with an SM Supermarket at the SM City at the Bicutan exit, to a smallish Tropical Hut in the middle of Dona Soledad Avenue, to a relatively new Puregold also along the main thoroughfare of Bicutan, Paranaque, but Big C has kept its clientele through the years. Incidentally, there are also a number of 7-Elevens and Mini Stops in the general area, but no problemo for the owners of Big C. The place just keeps rolling along with the times. There's no secret to the success of Big C. It may not look like much from the outside, but inside it is surprisingly air-conditioned. Best of all, their prices are still the lowest in the area. Because of this, a lot of restaurants in this part of town still get their supplies from this old supermart. It has everything that the big supermarkets have, there's sufficient parking, and once you've become a suki (regular customer), the cashiers will be friendly to you. For those who get hungry while shopping, there's a siomai stall at the entrance. There's also a small restaurant that's part of Big C, but I've never gotten around to trying it out yet.

Big C does have a negative connotation to it, meaning, Carcinoma. There are, however other Big C…read moresupermarkets abroad. This supermarket is pretty well stocked and they open very early, like at dawn (!!!). One can easily find otherwise unsearchable canned goods in other supermarkets along Dona Soledad. business here is brisk. No long queues compared to other supermarkets. We patronize this for its convenience and competitive prices. They even have a fresh meat and veggies section.

If you're not from the South, you're probably unfamiliar with the other "image" of BF Homes, which…read moreis actually a growing, mini Korea-town. Ever since our friends from Korea have started relocating here in the village, more and more Korean establishments have been popping up all over BF. I used to live in here and I have experienced what feels like an "invasion"--Scenario: 9pm, a group of around 8-10 Koreans, marching on the street while doing arm exercises! Also, I do get an occasional "Annyeong!" from some shopkeepers who think I'm Korean, thanks to my haircut (square bob with bangs--a popular Korean girl haircut). Anyway, this "invasion" isn't necessarily a bad thing, and we have learned to embrace and accept their culture. As I've mentioned, they've built a whole Korea town here. You can find good Korean beauty salons, bars, restaurants, schools, and of course grocers. The biggest one is Korean Hypermart. Korean Hypermart has what typical Korean grocers would have, so expect all the kimchi, seaweed, frozen dumplings, Lotte stuff, the ever popular fish ice cream and so on. But what I do find special about this Hypermart is that they have a produce section with imported veggies from Korea (and may also be from other countries). And, I think this is perfectly understandable. If I were a Korean expat, I would prefer produce grown from my homeland for the most authentic-tasting Korean dishes.

I just love shopping here on the occasions I'm in Manila. I do remember when this store used to be…read morein Makati...ages ago. It was my Mom's frequent place for groceries, and I was always in awe with the items it contained...always entertained...thinking it was Disneyland in my youth. When I was growing up, rainy days and Makati Supermarket was always a great combination! Time flew by inside the store... To this day, the place hasn't changed much. It's still as clean and expansive as I remember. Although place has move from Makati to Alabang, it's much the same. The staff are always there to assist you with your needs...always sporting a smile and the odd greeting of "Ma'am/Sir!". The items in store are still as varied. It's a one stop shop for things you would need. At a price which is affordable, at a quality above par. You may want to scout around for specials before doing your main shopping. There's always deals around the store. On the last occasion of my visit, it was to shop for groceries we'll take with us for our trip to Baguio. As I expected, we got a lot of groceries for a reasonable price. I would always shop here when I'm home. I wouldn't do with any less than Makati Supermarket...

We have on certain occassions, the opportunity to do our grocery at Makati Supermarket in Alabang…read moreTown Center. I have to say that the difference between this place and most other groceries is quite surprising. I'm not surprised that there are things here that I don't find in other groceries. What surprises me is that there the number of stuff that can be found here that I don't find elsewhere. Heck, this place sort of reminds me of member shopping at S&R or something. The grocery looks small, but it's actually capable of holding a lot more than most people would think. I mean sincerely for a place that doesn't look big, I was surprised by the sheer volume of things that I could find inside. Perhaps the reason why there's so many stuff is simply because of it's proximity to some of the richer subdivisions in the south.

I used to really, really love Japanese food, but when I stopped eating meat and seafood I realised…read morehow difficult it is to get Japanese food that's suitable for vegans here in Manila, as even vegetable ramen has stock made of pork bones, and sashimi and most sushi are all out of the question. So, most of the time I have to make my own Japanese food at home. Fuji Mart is just 3 minutes away from my apartment, and I do stop by here to buy some nori whenever I want to make veggie sushi, and Kikkoman soy sauce for when I want to make vegan yakimeshi. I mean, of course they have nori. But there are other things I like about Fuji Mart, such as they sell good Japanese tofu, instant miso soup, wasabi, Japanese breadcrumbs, kombu seaweed (great for making veggie stock!), Japanese spices, sesame seeds and edamame! I've never come across edamame being sold in supermarkets. I have yet to veganize my other Japanese food favourites, such as tonkatsu, ramen, and gyoza. But once I do take on those challenges, naturally this is where I'll be stopping by for ingredients.

It is so sad to witness the missed opportunity that is Fuji Mart Japanese Grocery. I mean there are…read moreso many Japanese products that can and should be sold here in the country. Whoever owns this grocery already put up the money to rent this slot, so it's odd that there are not enough products sold to justify it's existence. This place has the usual alcoholic beverages from the Land of the Rising Sun, including sake which I really like. They also have an assortment of tofu products, as well as some spices. But outside of this, they don't have too much else to offer consumers. I would, for example, like to see them carry the widest possible array of instant noodles, if only because the local ones and the made-in-China ones aren't all that tasty. Japan also has some of the best chocolates and assorted sweets that can grow on you. Even their ice creams with their odd flavors can be winners. Here's hoping that in the months and years to come, they can expand their product line. I'm sure they will have ready buyers for all things Japanese, not only because there is a small Japanese community in Better Living, but because us Pinoys have also developed a taste for all things Japanese.

As soon as my plane landed in Manila, I ran around Alabang Town Center looking for my preferred…read moreOrganix brand of shampoo and conditioner, and my efforts were fruitless until I went to Metro Supermarket. They have a huge selection of imported items, including toiletries and beauty supplies! It's not comparable to the selection in the United States obviously, but at this rate I'll take what I can get.

Metro is generally a nice place to do your groceries, but I came here to particularly write about…read moretheir International food section/imported goods. They really have so much variety, with a lot of items I have not seen in other supermarkets. These several aisles are definitely worth exploring if you're someone like me who's terribly curious about other types of cuisine, or if your idea of entertainment is discovering funny/strange packaging design. Among my favorite "imported" things to buy are bread spreads, nut butters, jams and fruit preserves. This section will indulge you. For Asian food, this section will also not disappoint. All sorts of condiments and mixes to recreate those dishes that are Thai/Indonesian/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese etc. If you're looking to impress people with your culinary skills, a tip is to drop by the Asian section where you can find all sorts of ingredients that make it easy, convenient and POSSIBLE to upgrade your dish from humble lutong bahay to a respectable Asian Fusion. Other than that, I really do like how this place is very well-lit! And it's not the blinding type of brightness, but the type of lighting that adds just the right amount of warmth in the atmosphere. And before I forget, for you vegans: They have some frozen mock meat available here such as frozen, Taiwanese veg burgers and sliced fish ham. I recommend the fish, as it comes with a seaweed skin, and tasty when paired with some garlic, pepper and vinegar dipping sauce. Lastly, if you're looking for "Liquid Smoke", that magical ingredient every "artisanal"cook is raving about, you can find it here. It's called Wright's and comes in a small bottle.

This will sound really sad, but I find doing the groceries fun and therapeutic (haha)--but only in…read moresupermarkets where the aisles are spacious and there are good stuff on the shelves. Their supermarket is better than the other SM supermarkets in other malls. One awesome improvement is their aisles of imported/international products because you'll find a LOT of products that you've never seen in other supermarkets/branches. I love the Asian shelves stocked with goodies from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and China (if you're looking for meal inspirations, head here). The US aisles are also quite indulgent, especially if we're talking about those fancy cookie butter spreads that were all the rage 2 years ago, or fancy cereals, almond milk, or generally first-world conveniences (heh). If you're quite the cook, you're in for a treat with their stuff from "Dough it All", a baking supplies store inside BF Homes. SM stocks a lot of their products such as several kinds of nuts, flavourings, sprinkles, chocolate and other baking stuff in the food service area, as well as the baking aisles. For those who are into organic veggies, they have a few selections here. Quite pricey but that's expected. Their fruit/veg salad bar is quite pitiful, but it's really better to make your own anyway.