Remember that Cocina Juan review where I said that they're back and they brought cupcakes? That is…read moreactually literal as this is the cupcake place inside Cocina Juan. We had a cupcake boom in Manila maybe during the late 2013 and into early 2014. Naturally, we have reached our satiety point and became dismissive of those countless cupcake joints. But Cupcakes by Gremlins is another story, with its legitimately delicious and fresh offerings. PROS: Cheaper than the other cupcakes in the vicinity; Serving size is satisfying; The cupcakes themselves are rich in cream and really moist on the inside - just how I like them; They sell those little thingies you stick on top of the cupcakes, which is helpful when you're bringing some for a person's birthday or other celebrations; Packaging is attractive and adorable. CONS: They don't offer the cupcakes cheaper by the dozen, although the ones inside the jar has a bulk order discount; The options are typical, none unique to their brand. TL;DR: Rich and creamy. Perfect for dessert. Not bad as your contribution for Jessica's birthday.

I got to visit Cupcakes by Gremlins just last Friday night when I attended one of my good friends'…read moreevents at Moonleaf Maginhawa. As I waited for the crowd to die down a bit (there were a bunch of highly emotional college kids inside listening intently to every open mic participant), my friends and I decided to check in at Cocina Juan and the adjoining cupcake shop. Now one thing you should know about me is that I love cupcakes. Even before it became the go-to dessert for hipsters (I AM NOT A HIPSTER!), I've been in love with these babies. A personal favorite flavor is red velvet but I've come to like other flavors as well. When we visited this quaint little cupcake shop in Maginhawa, I was pleasantly surprised to find relatively cheap cupcakes pack in a punch! I tried out their caramel cupcake, priced at only 55 pesos, and was delightfully surprised with an assault of yummy flavors. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot but I must say that the caramel frosting had just the right amount of sugar. The actual cake wasn't as moist as I wanted it but it wasn't dry either. Too bad I was too full to grab more flavors. Although when we went, the only other flavor available was their Brownie and Strawberry cupcake. I'll check back on this place again when I get to swing by Maginhawa.

I am really not a cupcake kind of person but I just sometimes crave for these and likes to give it…read moreas a gift for someone. So I found this store in Trinoma and, boy, they have a lot of flavors to choose from! They all look good! It was too hard for me to choose. They have two kinds- premium and regular flavors. Premium flavors are more expensive (like Php80-95). I think their prices are bit high for a cupcake. They don't charge for the packaging, and oh their packaging is sooo cute (cupcake shaped domes) and they also give sporks to go with it (spoon and fork in one haha) I got the blueberry creamcheese and the chocolate strawberry cupcakes. I kind of liked the latter cause the blueberry one tastes more of milk than blueberry, and I'm not a fan of milk. The icing was at first not sweet but the sweetness attaches to the throat and you'll need water. The composition was crumbly and I didn't like it that way, it was too messy to eat. In the middle of it is a surprise filling! The filling really tasted good but warning, sugar overload! It lasts longer than the one in Everyday Mom's, but well I wasn't out as long. They offer mini cupcakes too and letters to go with it, which is a happy thing to buy for a friend or friends. I only gave 2 cause of the cupcake itself, no dine ins, and a bit pricey (like you'd rather enjoy a slice of cake than just a cupcake). It's not overly good. The cuteness is deceiving. Haha.

I've seen Manila's food trends come and go. Like when the first Zagu opened up and when tonkatsu…read morewas suddenly a thing and when people were lining up for JCo (hang on, I think that's still a thing). One of the short lived, quieter fads though seemed to be the cupcake. Independent cupcake places started popping up everywhere and then it was over. I've seen fancier places but Frostings is definitely probably one of the humbler spots. Most of these cafes charge around 100php upward for a cupcake and I can't really justify paying that much. If I wanted to spend that much to begin with, I'd just go and find a full slice of cake. Much better bargain in my opinion. Frostings caps at around 65php for their more premium flavors and 50php for their regular flavors. (As of this writing. I've been told there's a price increase of 10php by the weekend. If you're reading this review, chances are they've already gone with the price increase. ANYWAY.) I can say you certainly get what you pay for. The cake isn't anything out of the ordinary. It isn't that dry either nor is it thick and dense. It's just... okay. The frosting however is a bit on the grainy side. Not your smooth, silky buttercream frosting, definitely. Cudos to them having a leche flan cupcake though. That caught my attention. And I did like the fact that they put it in an individual plastic dome. All in all, I'd certainly buy a few for a friend or two if I wanted to give them something special but it's nothing I'd actively seek out for myself. Cupcakes make nice presents but I prefer my desserts a bit more robust.

This chic dessert cafe now offers a Lunch Buffet for Php358 per pax. The food selection makes it…read morereally reasonable. There is a counter for healthy salad, appetizers, pasta bar, variants of fried rice, and mains. Binagoongan rice and Kare Kare is a good combination. There's Ice Tea and Gulaman for drink. Save room for dessert as they also include mini cupcakes for a sweet ending to the filling buffet.

Food - 4.0 These are high quality cupcakes they serve here…read more In the past I have ordered the Vahlrona chocolate cupcake and the peanut butter cupcake. During our last visit, we tried the molten lava chocolate cupcake and the salted caramel cupcake. All very good, but so sweet that I can only finish one half of each. Decor - 5.0 The place is gorgeous. Undeniably so. It is pretty and girly and youthful and whimsical. The stuff of little girls' dreams. Even the most social media averse person will be tempted to take out his camera and capture a few shots. Price - 2.5 Not cheap. There are desserts out there of comparable quality that are relatively less expensive. But you are paying for the ambiance and the experience. Overall - 3.7

Php 40.00 moist cupcake as good (or even better) as Sonja's (as it is considered as one of the best…read morein the market) apparently exists! Where else, but in UP. UP Shopping Center is not just a haven of cheap printing and photo copying services but of inexpensive and quality food and drinks as well. Visit Stall #3 and you will notice Amelie's cute cupcakes displayed in a glass shelf just right behind its stall's glass windows; it's the only stall that sells cupcake in SC's hallway so it's quite difficult to miss. Amelie's cupcakes and bakeshop is not shouting for costumers, it doesn't have any tarpaulin or signage posted against its windows much like its neighbours. I actually underestimated their cupcakes at first and thought it were just some cheap tasting cupcakes found in local bakeries because the store didn't looked like most of the delectable cupcake stores in the market. It was because of its affordable price of 40 pesos per piece that I gave it a try. After giving my lemon cupcake a bite, I felt ashamed of myself, judging this bakeshop by its facade. IT TASTES SO GOOD I CANNOT HELP BUT TYPE IN ALL CAPS! We all know that the usual price of a cupcake nowadays really goes beyond the typical food budget of most Filipino citizens, and I practically think I am one of those, so I was so happy being able to find an inexpensive QUALITY cupcake in UP. You'll know that every cupcake in Amelie's is baked with love because the owner Amelie herself is always in the shop, baking the cupcakes herself. Her cupcakes and other pastries (crinkles, brownies, and chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies) are not made in bulks so you can expect quality over quantity here. It's apparent by the look of how Amelie manages her store that she's baking not for the profit but because it's her passion and she's no question good at it. Amelie usually bakes cupcakes of Red Velvet, Carrot, Rainbow and moist chocolate flavors. She also has blue berry cheesecake squares, egg pies and other pastries mentioned above at very affordable prices. You can definitely order in boxes without having to worry it will go beyond your budget.

I couldn't really care about how this particular store isn't as fancy as others of its kind. It may…read morenot have all the bells and whistles, but come on, the only reason why I would ever approach this sort of place is for the food. As its name implies, J. Cuppacakes sells cupcakes. They sell good cupcakes to be more precise. I always thought that any cupcake that's priced below a cupcake by Sonja's would be something that was mediocre. This one proved me wrong. Granted, it's not the first one to do so, but it is one of the few that has. In any case, my experience has taught me that once a store has sold me on one of their cupcakes, there's a very strong chance that everything else they have to offer is as good. Anyway, lemme know if you do give everything a try and if there are flavors that are better than the others.

I hate it how the J.Cuppacakes branch in SM Megamall is nothing like the one in SM Jazz Makati. It…read morehas been reduced to a small kiosk right outside the department store and it holds no resemblance whatsoever to the grandeur of its much greater counterpart. Once you see the branch in SM Jazz Makati, you'll immediately fall head over heels for the place's distinct and sophisticated atmosphere. Everything is decorated with bright pastel colors that can surely soften anyone's mood. There are also pink chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, while bouquets of flowers adorn every counter and table. It's like the perfect place for a tea party. Too bad the J.Cuppacakes in SM Megamall doesn't have any of this. However, they still sell the same kind of cupcakes and pastries that I truly enjoy. I often order the Red Velvet Cupcake and their zesty Lemon Squares. A single bite of these tasty treats will surely make you feel like you're in heaven. PS: I would have given this place a 5 out of 5 stars if it weren't for the shabby little kiosk they call a cupcake shop

I've been a fan of Cupcakes by Sonja for a couple of years now. In fact, the first gift I gave to…read moremy future in-laws when I first met them, was a box of their scrumptious red velvet cupcakes with cream frosting. This was about 5 years ago and this particular cupcake cost about P70 to P75 back then. I believe it's now P95. For the weight-watchers, they also have a sugar-free of version of this, FYI. Recently, we got to try Sonja's 8" Rainbow Fiesta Cake for my brother's birthday (Yes, he loves rainbow cakes) and it cost P950. It was not only adorable to look at but it offered just perfect level of sweetness unlike most rainbow cakes that tastes mostly like confectioner's sugar. The layer of marshmallow icing wasn't too thick and it was covered with a generous amount of crunchy rainbow sprinkles. Inside it had 6 layers of soft vanilla chiffon in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. The chiffon wasn't too thick and heavy it was more on the fluffier soft side which I personally like. At 8 inches, the cake is quite large so two people can even share a slice. Overall, we were quite happy with Sonja's Rainbow Fiesta cake. Unfortunately, they forgot to give me the free candle I requested (hence the 4 star rating) but it's no biggie. If you love Rainbow cakes or cupcakes in general, I would definitely recommend Cupcakes by Sonja. They offer yummy pastries and the price isn't too hefty.

There's no better way to beat stress than to binge in tons of desserts. This place has always been…read moremy little hideaway if I'm burdened and craving for something sweet or I would just like to kill time while waiting for my friend to finish her girly errands.. Place is tucked under an escalator so I can enjoy my sweets in peace and without the chaos from all the passers-by. My personal favorite from their wide array of cupcakes and specialty desserts is the sexy Red Velvet Vixen. Topped with very luscious cream cheese, it never fails to make my mouth water with extreme anticipation. As soon as it reaches my table, there's no letting go. I sometimes try Vanilla Sunshine when I'm in the mood for something different but equally delicious. I always order my cupcakes with coffee so I would still have something to drink while doing my business because the cupcake won't last very long.

I've never been the type to go crazy for sweets, so when I do indulge that dormant side of myself…read more I have to go for Sonja's cupcakes. You can only expect the best from one of the forerunners of the cupcake craze in the country right? So I do, I always do. When I'm craving for some sweets, the correct solution will almost always be Sonja's peanut butter Nutella cupcake, or when I'm feeling a little bit adventurous, I am never afraid to just point a finger on any of sonja's colorful creations; they're always good. It's also nice to just hang around any of their quaint shops or stands, pastel colors and icing all over your fingers is a pretty good solution to a bad day. I never thought I would one day call myself a fan of cupcakes, but I'm glad to eat my words this time around. Now the next step for Sonja's should be bite-sized cupcakes!

Whatever the question is, cupcakes are the answer! Sonja's Cupcakes we're the first to make…read morecupcakes so popular in the recent cupcake craze, and in my opinion they are still the very best! Others have tried, but they don't even come close. It is next to impossible to resist the temptation of cupcakes that are so consistently delicious! Whether you have a simple vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing or have a chocolate cream filled one, no disappointments guaranteed! I've never had a dry cupcake from Sonja's! They've always been perfectly moist and no one does icing like they do! If you're anything like me and have a crazy sweet tooth, here's a tip that you can thank me for later. When you buy your next cupcake ask them for extra icing! They're more than willing to indulge your sugary needs!

I have already written in a separate review of a different cupcake shop that I am a big cupcake…read morelover. I simply just love these "hipster" desserts! There was one birthday I got about 4 different types of red velvet cupcakes from 4 different stores from 4 different people - one of them my then-suitor now-boyfriend Pau. One of the cupcake brands I received was from J. Cuppacakes. I actually know the owner, Julianne Bernardo. She was my batchmate back in high school. I was always meaning to stop by her Eastwood shop but never got the chance to. So it was a delight to have received her version of my favorite cupcake flavor on my birthday. Without any bias whatsoever, I will say that her cupcake was one of the best I got to try. Unlike other popular cupcake shops, J. Cuppacakes' take on the red velvet is just right. It wasn't too sweet, the velvet cake was moist plus the cream cheese frosting had the right blend of sweet with a tinge of sour. It also had a bit of cocoa on it, which I really liked! I was so impressed by this that when I was at Eastwood once, I visited the shop and came out with a box of four different flavored cupcakes. I got to try two of their bestsellers - the Curious George meets Nutella (Banana cupcake with Nutella frosting on top) and their Bunny Carrot (Carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting). Although Curious George was a bit on the sweet side, it was still very good. I particular liked the banana cupcake, even without the Nutella frosting. But the Bunny Carrot was the runaway winner for me! I've always been secretly a fan of carrot cake (although I will not eat carrot alone lol) and this one just brought a skip to my step. And that cream cheese frosting sealed the deal for me! I'm quite proud of how far Julianne has gone. We're not in touch and we were never really close back then. But it's always nice to see someone you know personally pursue her passion and succeed while at it. Kudos, J. Cuppacakes!

One day, thanks to 2 Broke Girls (don't binge-watch the show with an empty stomach!), I felt an…read moreintense craving for cupcakes. Unlike Max's Homemade Cupcakes though, they don't have to say "Eat it." or "Bite me.", just a classic red velvet would be enough to satisfy the beast within. An office friend swears by J. Cuppacakes so I headed out to Eastwood in pursuit of delicious cupcakes. I swear on the River Styx, J. Cuppacakes are hella good! Love the interior as well! Since then, whenever I'm feeling particular stressed and hypoglycemic, I make sure to drop by J. Cuppacakes to get my glucose fix. You know what they say, "Stress cannot exist in the presence of a good cupcake."

At the height of the cupcake craze came Cupcake Lab. And though that craze might've passed or…read moresubsided, they remained. I've seen banners or posters up even before the stall opened and I've always thought their name's clever and easy to remember. To me there's like a mad genius in a kitchen concocting to die for cupcakes, carefully formulating each one to suit your tastes. However, what I love most about Cupcake lab is their cake pops. I have to say that I'm a sucker for 'em and I'm happy that they have them but they do run out pretty quick so be sure to grab yours when you see them in stock. Try their cupcakes too, that mad scientist in the kitchen sure knows what she's doing! The to-go box is cute and it's a nice touch if you're bringing it as a pasalubong for someone but if you're just eating it there maybe opt out of the to-go box. If you're in the mood for a sort of taste test, they have mini cupcakes too!