Last January, Ian and I celebrated our 8th anniversary as a couple in our favorite go-to destination in the South, Tagaytay. We spent 3 days in Tagaytay so we really maximized our time visiting new places and restaurant. LOL. Yep! We’ve been there so many times yet we keep on coming back. We consider Tagaytay as our second home. <3

And for our first stop, we had our late lunch in a Japanese restaurant, Aozora Japanese Restaurant.

ABOUT AOZORA JAPANESE RESTAURANT

This is said to be the first authentic Japanese restaurant in Tagaytay. Aozora is a Japanese word which means “blue sky“. They named it that way because in here, you can experience good food with a good view/ambiance. They also known as “The place where your taste meets the sky.“

By the way, they only have two branches as of now, both located in Tagaytay. Here’s the address:

Branch 1: Tagaytay-Calamba corner SVD Road, in front of Discovery Country Suites, Tagaytay City

Branch 2: Purok 157, Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay East, Tagaytay City

We went to Branch 1 since we’re more familiar with the address rather than the other one.

When you open the door, you will feel its Japan-vibe already because of its interior and design. They have a mezanine too!

They also have few seats outside. If you want to enjoy the cool breeze in Tagaytay. Hehe.

They even have a sushi bar too!

Now, let’s stop here. Let’s go to the main event. The food!!! Since we had our late lunch, we we’re really hungry so we ordered many food.

DISCLAIMER: There were only two people who ate all of these food. HAHAHA.

APPETIZER

Gyoza (280 php)

I super loved the serving of their gyoza. So huge! Not your ordinary gyoza, plus it was really good! HUHU. I want their gyoza again. Pls send me some. JK.

MAKI

Dragon Maki (385 php)

Kudos to them! I super loved the plating but loving more the taste!!! I’m really not a fan of maki but this one is exception! Super good. Nothing can go wrong with kewpie! YUM!

FRIED

Tonkatsu (295 php)

I felt quite bad about their Tonkatsu. I don’t know if it’s because of the sauce. HUHU. But Ian told me it’s not that bad. I guess my palate that day was not for Tonkatsu hihi.

RAMEN

Aozora Ramen (350 php)

Of course, we won’t forgot Ramen! And because we’re in Tagaytay, why not try their Bulalo Ramen, right? Very creative idea by the chef. It really tasted like Bulalo! I loved how they cooked the Tamago (egg). The bulalo and noodles were so tender! And of course, the soup was so heavenly good.

DESSERTS

Mango Tempura (190 php)

That time, their mango was not that sweet but I think that was okay. It compliment the vanilla ice cream. One serving is already enough for two person. But we had two order of these so spell MATAKAW? HAHA.

OVERALL RATING

Food – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambiance – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Didn’t regret spending our post-anniversary date here! We had an intimate lunch because of its quiet ambiance and Japan vibe. Plus, all the food were good and worth it! I will highly recommend this place to everyone who crave for Japanese food. I can say that all the food they prepare is really authentic. Hope they will open a branch soon here in Manila, please? 🙂

Contact Number:

Mobile: 09369809656

E-mail: chitsarriola@yahoo.com.ph

Operating Hours:

9:00 AM-9:00 PM, Monday to Friday

9:00 AM-10:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday

Address:

Tagaytay-Calamba Corner SVD Road, In Front of Discovery Country Suites, Tagaytay City

Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: Aozora Japanese Restaurant

Instagram: @aozoraph

Filipinos love eating food, no doubt with that. Especially when you put twists on it, right? Last Saturday, we went on a Tapsishop along Quezon Avenue. But let me share why this tapsishop is different from the others.

ABOUT THE TAPSISHOP: HOME OF KINGSILOG

This food establishment serves Filipino all time favorites, which is Silog (sinangag at itlog) and grilled products. It’s basically popular in Rizal but now making noise in Manila up to date. All the ideas came from the owner himself, Paul Allan Cruz. But this branch was franchised by young entrepreneurs, Jimmy Miranda and Lan Comia.

Their Kingsilog is the best seller here. It includes 2 cups of rice, 2 fried eggs, 1 serving of tapa, and in addition, the customer can choose 2 more dishes to complete the Kingsilog.

Their new branch is located along Quezon Avenue and EDSA. Its location is very strategic because many people are passing by in the area.

This branch can accommodate 30-40 people inside. Its ventilation is quite okay because its open.

Wondering how much is the food here? Check out their menu here! So affordable!

Now, let’s go to the food. Here’s what we got.

We got all their combo meals which we found it cheap yet so good! Sulit talaga!

KingSiLog (143 php)

2 cups of rice

2 fried eggs

1 serving of tapa

2 additional dishes: BBQ and Pork Shanghai

Seriously, their tapa was good! It’s not salty, it’s actually sweet. That is tapa we know, right? The BBQ and Shanghai were also good. Such a steal for 143 php!

PuKingSiLog

2 cups of rice

2 fried eggs

1 serving of tapa

2 additional dishes: PuSisig (Pusit with Sisig) and Lechon Kawali

This combo meal is funny because of its name. I loved the owner’s creativity. But seriously tho, their PuSisig is out of this world! I never thought this combo would be possible. It’s actually good! Their Lechon Kawali was still crispy after few minutes it was served to us!

QueenSeaLog (143 php)

2 cups of rice

2 scrambled eggs

Calamares

Buttered Tahong

Bangus

Their Bangus has breading so it doen’t look like one at first sight. Hehe. I liked their Calamares, by the way!

For the drinks, we had blue lemonade and cucumber juice to freshen up us after the feast!

They also have a challenge inside! Might you’re interested! Come join! LOL.

OVERALL RATING

Food – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambiance – ⭐⭐⭐

Location – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re looking for affordable and unique filipino food, dine here! Swear, the food were unique and creative. And for its price, it’s definitely a steal!!! I hope they will just improve their plating to make the food more appetizing. Hehe.

Contact Number:

Mobile: 09278656881

Landline: (02) 7391345

Operating Hours:

24 hours, Monday to Saturday

Address:

Unit 1A, Ground floor, Quedsa Plaza, Quezon Avenue cor. EDSA

Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: The TapsiShop Quezon Avenue

Instagram: @the_tapsishop

It’s only 3 days before the Valentine’s Day. Me and my boyfriend just had our early Valentines date. Hihi. How about you, guys? Do you have any ideas where to take your dates this Valentine’s? Don’t you worry because I’m gonna share our experience dining at Tapella Restobar located in Greenbelt 5.

ABOUT TAPELLA RESTOBAR

This restaurant started since 2009. They are serving mouthwatering Spanish cuisine that made by their well-trained chefs. Aside from that, the ambiance of their restaurant is so cozy and homey. Their classy dining interiors are so comfortable. Not to mention their beautiful background songs.

This coming Valentine’s Day, they have an ongoing offer for couples who want to satisfy or maybe try their palette with Spanish cuisine. They called this offer “A complete Valentine Dine for 2“. All the dishes that will be served are prepared by Chef Xandra who’s been also making a big comeback.

You can choose between “Meat Lovers” or “Fish Lovers” set. This includes the following:

TAPAS

Anchovy/Apple Sauce on baguette

Mixed Mushrooms on baguette

Chorizo-Potato

For the appetizer, I loved how the ingredients compliment each other. My favorite was the Anchovy/Apple Sauce.

SALAD

Mixed greens, walnuts, goat cheese in balsamic dressing

For the salad, they will give you 2 plates of it. I liked the caramelized walnuts, I swear! It compliment the balsamic dressing. This was Ian’s fave just for the record!

PAELLA

Iberico Ham Paella

Judge me all you want but it’s my first time to try Paella. HUHU. But fortunately, I’d liked it so much. Ian told me that Paella basically consists of seafood but we had ham this time. For me, it tasted like a pasta and I really loved it. Definitely my fave!

DESSERT

Chocolate X

Chocolate ganache with olive oil

This one is super good and delicious. Such a perfect way to end the day. The ganache has an extraordinary salt that made the chocolate more powerful and flavorful!

By the way, we had the Fish Lovers set to have a healthy Valentine date. LOL.

Lapu Lapu with tomatoes & aubergines

The fish cooked perfectly so it tasted so heavenly good. Every bite was so tender. Ian also loved it. We also overheard a Japanese customer compliment the fish so I guess, it was that really good.

To complete your Valentine’s Day, why not have a carafe of red or white wine, yes? Since we had fish, we got their white wine since it’s a perfect pair for each other.

If you want to have a garden-kind-of-date, why not try their al fresco dining area? The ambiance there is so relaxing because of the fresh air.

This Valentine offer runs from February 8 until March 3 so book your reservations now!

If you want to try their other dishes, check out their menu here:

OVERALL RATING

Food – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambiance – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location – ⭐⭐⭐

We had an intimate early Valentines date at Tapella Restobar. All the food they served was perfectly good and fine. The service we experienced was also appreciated. They are so attentive to all diners.

Contact Number:

Mobile: 09177124546

Landline: (02) 7572710-11

Operating Hours:

11:00 AM-12:00 MN, Monday to Thursday & Saturday

11:00 AM-1:00 AM, Friday

11:00 AM-10:00 PM, Sunday

Address:

Ground floor, Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: Tapellarestobar

Instagram: @tapellarestobar

Here in the Philippines, you can taste any cuisine from different countries such as Western, Asian, etc. Up to date, the most popular food for millennial are Korean and Japanese food. Whenever you go to any malls, Korean and Japanese restaurant and stalls are everywhere. No wonder why Filipinos are loving their food.

One of the booming dishes today is takoyaki from Japan. It is a ball-shaped snack made from wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. Its filled with the following:

1. minced or diced octopus (tako)
2. tempura scraps (tenkasu)
3. pickled ginger
4. green onion

To make it more appetizing, they topped it with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise. Then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and bonito flakes.

Yaki is derived from Yaku which is one of the cooking methods in Japanese cuisine, meaning “to fry or grill”. We personally saw how takoyakis are being cooked when we went to visit their food stand named Tako Depot.

ABOUT TAKO DEPOT

This food stand is located inside a food park named Urban Flavors Food and Events Place. They just launched last December, 2018. It is owned by a young Filipina entrepreneur. Even though it is owned by a Pinay, all the ingredients used are fresh and shipped from Japan. That’s why they have this slogan, “The Taste of Authenticity”. What I loved more about them is that they put twists in their Takoyaki by adding more flavors from different cuisines.

Urban Flavors Food and Events Place

Look at their food stand, you can really identify what are they offering because of their cute logo, a baby octopus. #cutie

For their menu, it is already indicated at the side of their stall. You’ll notice that it’s kinda pricey but I’m telling you, it’s all worth it! They are also delivering in some selected areas via GrabFood and HonestBee.

Now, let’s go to their food. As I’ve said a while ago, they put twists in their takoyaki by adding more flavors. Have you tried takoyaki with bacon and cheese? How about takoyaki with quail eggs? HAHA. Are you shocked? Yes, you read that right. They have it here!

Let me introduce each flavor to everyone…

CLASSIC TAKO

Tako, benishoga, tenkasu, negi, cabbage topped with bonito flakes, nori, Japanese mayo. and your choice of their own house blend sauces

CLASSIC WITH QUAIL EGG

Tako, azura tamago, benishoga, tenkasu, negi, cabbage topped with bonito flakes, nori, Japanese mayo, and your choice of their own house blend sauces

BACON AND CHEESE

Bacon and cheese, benishoga, tenkasu, negi, cabbage topped with bacon and cheese, nori, Japanese mayo, and your choice of their own house blend sauces

OVERALL RATING

Food – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambiance – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location – ⭐⭐⭐

I super loved their food. To be honest, I’m not a fan of takoyaki because I had a bad experience of eating takoyaki way back in college that’s why I don’t ate takoyaki for years. Ian just convinced me to try again, and thank God for Tako Depot because my trauma for takoyaki were now gone! Seriously, every bite will lead you to happiness. I just hope they will put more stalls to be more recognized because they deserve it.

Contact Number:

Mobile: 09155499065

Operating Hours:

4:00 PM-12:00 MN, daily

Address:

18 Mindanao Avenue, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City

Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: Tako Depot

Instagram: @tako.depot

It’s no joke, Korean restaurants are really dominating here in the Philippines today, especially in Manila. One of the most popular Korean resto here is the famous unli Korean BBQ, also known as samgyupsal. That’s why I find it usual to see new Korean BBQ restos here in QC. And one of them is this newly-opened restaurant along Tandang Sora Avenue, Samgyupalace.

ABOUT SAMGYUPALACE

This Korean BBQ restaurant opened last November 2018. I just saw this while I’m on my way to work. Not just that recognizing because of the small place, but it really caught my attention because I think it’s the first Korean BBQ restaurant along Tandang Sora Avenue.

It has three floors but its space inside is kinda small. Hope they can find another bigger space for a better and comfortable dining experience.

REMEMBER: They have a 2-hour time limit policy to give chance to other customers in que.

Now, let’s go to their food.

Every 11:00 AM-3:00 PM, you can get unli meat (pork, beef, chicken),  unli rice, unli dips, unli side dishes, and unli iced tea for only 299 php. Every 3:00 PM-11:00 PM, you can get unli meat (pork, beef, chicken),  unli rice, unli dips, unli side dishes, and unli iced tea for only 399 php.

For their service, the staff were very attentive and accommodating. We just had some problem with one of our grill. The grill from the other table took forever to cook meats that’s why they had to transfer some to our table to cook it. Hope they can make time to have a maintenance check from time to time.

MEAT

For their meat, all of their meat is in thin-cuts that makes it easy to cook and eat. We just had a little concern about their chicken sauce. We’re not sure if it’s really tasted like that. Hope they will improve this. Our favorite were the B1 (Beef Samgyupsal) and B2 (Soegogi Bulgogi).

SIDE DISHES

They have a lot of side dishes but we just noticed something. The plating was not that appealing but it’s good though. Hope that they will improve also on this. Our favorite side dish were the kimchi, sweet potato, and toge.

DIPS

Their dips include the following: Cheese, Sweet Paste, Chili Paste. My favorites were the sweet and chili paste. The cheese didn’t really tasted cheese at all.

DRINKS

For the drinks, you can have unlimited iced tea when you avail their unli grill and meat. But they also offer other drinks inside such as Soju, softdrinks, and juice.

Please take note of the following also:

OVERALL RATING

Food – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service – ⭐⭐⭐

Ambiance – ⭐⭐⭐

Location – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall, the food was great and also the staff. We just had some minor problems but we didn’t mind. I know they can improve all of these in the near future. I knew that me and my friends had a good time here and enjoy catching up together.

Contact Number:

Mobile: 09774650155

Operating Hours:

11:00 AM-11:00 PM, daily

Address:

289 Tandang Sora Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: Samgyupalace

Instagram: @samgyupalace