The first day I arrived at Newport Pasay my cousin took me to Lawsons, it reminded me of a hip…read moreKorean Market but no Korean food at all duhhh this was in the Philippines. Supposedly, they have the best fried chicken. I only got drinks, water and snacks but the prices are pretty reasonable for the area and it was always busy and the staff very nice!

Great service and variety of products. Very clean store and was able to find what I need fast with…read moreattentive staff. They're affordable and have a variety of products from hair to prescriptions.

My go to store cause it's close to my AirBnb. If I have the cravings for the hotdogs and meat buns…read moreand cheap but ok coffee and snacks those is where I go. I also load up my Grab app here. The staff are friendly and nice, they all know me already.

Will keep this review very quick, just as quick as my having had to pass by here last night in a…read morerush to get a pre-workout coffee. I believe I've already disclosed about my love for Japanese kombinis, and my mix of elation and points for improvement for their Philippine branches. Thus far, however, I see two defining advantages for Philippine FamilyMart, all of which I got to enjoy last night: 1. The fact that some of their branches have restrooms. For a commuter who consumes high amounts of water and gets stuck in apocalyptic levels of traffic, this alone is a godsend. Last night, when I was walking for almost 750m and holding it in for even longer was proof to this. 2. The fact that most of their branches accept credit cards for payment. Credit card terminals are actually already a standard in ALL of the kombinis I've been to in Japan (not just FamilyMart), precisely because of the convenience they bring to people who might not have enough cash on hand at that precise moment. This particular branch tends to have kinks from time to time (I found the restsroom and the credit card terminal each out of order in two separate occasions), but what store doesn't have those problems? For last night, their softdrink dispenser's ice machine was defective. Since the coffee I bought was still too hot, I was hoping to just get a couple of pieces of ice as I needed to gulp down the whole cup immediately. Seeing this, they directed me to a tiny cooler they kept on top of the freezer, containing a small stockpile of tube ice. This is testament to great customer service that adapts well to a changing situation!

At the risk of sounding whiny, I'd like to share my lamentation about the state of convenience…read morestores in the country. Japan really ruins a lot of things for you, and after being exposed to their convenience stores some 12 years ago, I have come to call our version - inconvenience stores, because they contained practically nothing. Fast forward to ten years later, and I could not be happier about the changes in the convenience stores category. The entry of Family Mart and Circle K have helped shake up the competition, and we are seeing greatly improved store operations with better offerings for us consumers. Circle K is one or the newest entrants in the category. A US brand, the chain is being operated by the same group as Zuellig. The inside is roomy and very premium. The food offerings like the hotdog and sausages are imported yet reasonably priced. The ice cream is a favorite! I like the stand-up tables that let customers have a quick meal - encourages fast turn around of consumers and yet allowing them a convenient place to have a meal. This is a good convenience store concept.

Convenience stores, like coffee shops, are sprouting like crazy in Bonifacio Global City. I think…read morethis is a sign that the market here is booming as more and more people decide to work and live in the area. Among the first ones to get a whiff of the booming trend was Circle K, an international brand of convenience stores that was one of the pioneer establishments of its kind in BGC. It is situated in front of a park and near the busy Bonifacio High Street, so it's often filled with customers buying water, energy drinks, and snacks. Compared to the big convenience stores that we are familiar with, Circle K's layout is a bit different. I noticed that it's focus is more on giving customers more choices and options for freshly prepared meals and quick bites than selling items off the shelves. The layout of the store is proof to this. The portion dedicated to meals prepared on the spot is a lot bigger than the area alllowed for display racks of junk foods and ready-to-eat items. If you are looking for office supplies, cleaning materials or even personal hygiene products, this is not the place to go. But if you want affordable and delicious siomai, good cup of coffee or pocket-friendly combo rice meals, then this is the right convenience store for you.

Convenience stores of the Japanese persuasion aren't the most common of sights in the Quezon City…read morearea. It really is surprising, considering how large a chunk of land QC covers. There've been countless times where I've been put in a situation where knowing where to buy Japanese ingredients could have been a lifesaver. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get miso from regular groceries? Fuji Mart has been open for decades, purveying an eclectic mix of Japanese goods. Everything from katsu sauces, bottles of sake, instant ramen, and frozen fish are for sale. If you plan of serving homemade sashimi to your dinner guests, I highly recommend buying the raw fish here. It may be frozen (which is a no no for some people), but at least you're sure that it's been properly packaged and made. If you prefer something cooked, here's a quick recipe: get a nice slab of salmon steak, lather it up with Japanese miso, and bake it. Enjoy and you're welcome!

I remember going to Wei Wang ALL THE TIME when I was a kid. I didn't know what my mom was buying or…read morewhere the strange Chinese-y smells came from, but I do remember them having the best sancha ever. They'd have a row of glass containers filled with different kinds of dried Chinese dates, but my favorite one was the one with the sweet sauce and I'd always try to sneak a piece as nonchalantly as possible. Afterwards, I'd go to my mom and tell her to a kilo of that AND a kilo of santol also. After 20 or so years, things haven't changed. I'd still try to sneak a piece of sancha and I'd still tell my mom to buy kilos of that and santol. It's both disturbing and comforting to know that things haven't really changed. If you live around the San Juan area, Wei Wang is THE Chinese general store.

Whenever I am in Greenhills, I take a pitstop to go to Wei Wang. Almost like an institution, this…read moreplace has a choice of authentic Chinese ingredients to help you find the essentials for cooking a proper Chinese meal. I like buying the authentic Chinese noodles that they have as well as what I call mystery snacks and herbal elixirs. They carry canned goods that to many, the contents may be a bit of a trivia to have. Their prices are not so expensive although some friends have told me that I can find it cheaper in some places. But I like going to one place and just find what I need there and buy it. Plus, it also gives me a reason to spend more time in Greenhills as I don't always have the time to do so. Small but effective, this place is a true go-to shop for many locals in the Metro.

I am so thankfully that Family Mart finally opened a branch so close to my office. For the first…read moretwo weeks that they were open, I had nothing but Family Mart food. As a convenience store, they honestly don't have a lot to offer (unlike your local 7-11 or MiniStop) but they have, by far, the best food selection. Everyday, I discover something new when I stop by this particular branch. In the first week, I was addicted to their Twirl-all-you can ice cream. Pistachio soft serve ice cream. Wow. Just wow. Then I started going through their food options. For 3 days straight I had nothing but tonkatsu maki. It's so packed with rice and was really good. Then I started focusing on their wraps. The chicken karaage wrap which had wasabi mayo was very filling for less than P100. They also have different ramens -- I like the karubi ramen. Lately, they introduced the Fresh N' Lite line for those counting their calories. So exciting to have healthy food at an affordable price and so conveniently close to where I work. This branch has a second floor dedicated to just the dining area. So if you're looking for a quick place to eat, this is the best choice. Last but not the least, I love how the people here are so nice and friendly. Coming in early in the morning and being greeted with: "Welcome to the Family!" really brings a smile to my face every time.

Super Duper inconvenient store, The cashier is always not prepared specifically when she is about…read moreto give the customer's change. She would insist the customer to give exact amount . And if not she will just let the customer disappointed not able to buy the things they need. I am so frustrated! Everytime I go to this store all cashier is not prepared . Customer not to worry about their change. Cashier should anticipate that they have to change the bill whatever it cost.

Super inconvenient , The lady in the cahier area is super slow like she don't know what to do and…read moreevery time I buy something they don't have change. This branch has no proper exhaust. You end up smelling like fried chicken upon leaving.