Cafe Shibuya, UP Town Center

We went here, at Cafe Shibuya, because we were looking for a place where we can stay longer so we can plan our Bali trip.

Oh yeah, I have an upcoming trip to Bali Indonesia this July and I haven't even shared my South Korea Trip last April and my Oslob-Moalboal Cebu adventure last May. :(

This blog has instantly became a food trip blog instead of a travel and food trip blog hehe.  It's easier to post food trips since pictures are from my phone only and it requires less or no effort to put on some text lol.  Anyways, hopefully, soon or sooner, I'll find time to share my wonderful travel experiences here :)

Now, back to Cafe Shibuya.  First impression when I heard the restaurant name Cafe Shibuya is that they are offering Japanese food simply because Shibuya is the famous area in Japan.  I forgot that it's also a cafe though. :p

I can't really say much about the food since we really went here to use their place and not really to enjoy their food hehe.  Was suppose to order nachos, something light, because we just had rice and dessert on another restos.  Too bad, it was not available that time :(  I ended up ordering Fish and Chips.  The fish tasted like one of the frozen products we buy in groceries.  The dip wasn't that tasty as well.  Or maybe I'm just like my food tasty :p

My friend on the other hand, was really planning to try the toasted bread with ice cream.  I think they are known for this food.  I find it weird and not appetizing at all lol.  My friend said that the concept of this food is similar to the dirty ice cream and bread we buy in the streets, pinoy style.  I guess, even as a kid, I didn't eat ice cream with bread.  I just don't find it "bagay" hehehe. 

Here's a candid shot taken by my friend over light food, light planning and a lot of conversation and laughter at Cafe Shibuya :)

Pinoy's Comfort Food - Recovery Food, U.P. Town Center

We heard that Recovery Food was from the same people or group behind the famous Mamou so that's one of the reasons we went here to eat.  Their menu is really just very basic and almost boring.  I guess, that's the concept of the restaurant, choices of rice bowls, Filipino's comfort food.

Their best sellers are S.S.T (Spicy, Sweet Tuyo) and Happy Beef Rice.  

I would have wanted to try their S.S.T. but I ordered Alfonsorizo instead.  

Yeah, sometimes in life, even if we wanted something we ended up choosing something else.

(lol - whogoat?)  

Well, actually, I ordered Alfonsorizo instead of S.S.T because I just had spanish sardines the night before and ate it again for breakfast. :p

My friend ordered the other best seller - Happy Beef Rice.  She kept adding vinegar, soy sauce and hot sauce because it tasted dull.  Actually, my Alfonsorizo didn't tastes so great as well :(

The good thing though is that it is not expensive.  Single order of rice bowl ranges from P160.00 to P195.00.  Happy Beef Rice and Alfonsorizo are both P160.00

Rita's Gelati at Rita's Italian Ice, UP Town Center

There are several choices available at Rita's.  Unfotunately, I can't remember all of them!  I should really learn to remember to take more pictures for more details to post in this blog.

Anyways, we ordered Gelati - Italian ice topped with soft ice cream.

To order this:
     Step 1- Choose between Regular or Large size.  I chose regular for P130.00.
     Step 2 - Choose the flavor of your Italian ice.  Italian ice is basically frozen flavored water usually
                  from fruits or fruit juices.  I didn't bother to take a taste test.  I chose the most attractive
                  color to me which is red.  Red is cherry flavor :p
     Step 3 - Choose the flavor of your soft ice cream.  I chose vanilla, a neutral flavor, to balance the
                   taste of my Gelati.
     Step 4 - Pay for your order.

Step 5:  Enjoy your gelati and take selfies :p

IHOP From US to PH, all day breakfast menu

Last Saturday, we celebrated my Dad's birthday in advance so that my sister and her family will be able to join us.  I remembered this new mall when we went to eat in Maginhawa Street - U.P. Town Center, so I decided to have our dinner here.  I heard that there are a lot of new restaurants here to try.  I did a quick check on where to eat and got the following restaurants based on the reviews I found in the internet - Torch, Mama Lou's and Casa Verde.  I'm leaning towards Torch since I already tried Mama Lou's in Nuvali and Casa Verde in Cebu.

We were surprised that the mall is big and still a lot of on going structures.  We went around first to check the restaurants in the area.  My dad wanted to eat at Wangfu, a chinese restaurant owned by Richard Yap or better known as Papa Chen from the teleserye "Please be Careful with my Heart".  Unfotunately, we were 6th in waiting list.  Same with Torch, the restaurant was full so we still have to wait to be seated.  Because of that, we ended up in IHOP :)

This was my first time to try IHOP in the Philippines.  This was one of the restaurants we usually go to when I was in the U.S. in 2008 that's why I got surprised that people got crazy excited when it opened in the Philippines.

I heard bad feedbacks that IHOP here is too expensive and the food is not good.  My friend who got to eat here also told me the same feedback.  Anyways, my nephews wanted to eat here so regardless of the bad feedback we went ahead and tried it.:)

The menu was customized based on the Philippine market.  If I remember it right, the US menu mainly consists of pancake, waffle, bacon, sausage, ham and eggs combination.  Or maybe that's what we usually order that's why I can't remember the other items in the menu lol.

Anyways, the menu here is full with a variety of choices and combinations to choose from.  Of course, they added the Filipino breakfasts like tapsilog, tosilog and longsilog but in a more sosyal presentation and price too lol.

Syrup choices includes Old Fashioned, Blueberry, Pecan Butter and Strawberry.  I prefer the Old Fashioned.  I also tried the Pecan Butter since this is something new to me.  The taste is similar to Old Fashioned syrup.

My sister and I ordered this 2 decker pancakes for P195.00.  Unfotunately, it didn't meet our expectations.  For me, the pancakes were dry.  Although it's floppy, it broke into pieces which was a sign that it's really dry.  My sister said that pancakes from the "Pancake House" is still better if not the best for her.

I love savory crepes!  I prefer it over sweet crepes.  We ordered this Garden Stuffed Crepe for P365.00.  This crepe is stuffed with Swiss cheese an eggs scrambled with fresh spinach, mushroom and onions topped with hollandaise and diced tomatoes.  Yum!!! =)

My dad and brother in law ordered Philly Cheese Steak with french fries or onion rings on the side.

Initially my dad ordered Baja Fish Sandwich but it was not available so he ordered this instead.  When the food arrived, he got overwhelmed with the big serving.  He said that he'll just eat half.  He loved it so ended up eating everything :D  This is quite expensive for P495.00.  On the otherhand, if you're a small eater, the serving is good to share.

My 2 nephews ordered the Fried Chicken Dinner for P595.00.  They shared 4 pieces fried chicken, mashed potato and shredded corn with separate orders of 2 cups of rice.  My nephews never get tired of fried chicken!  They were able to finish 1 cup of rice each and almost ate 2 pieces of chicken each too.  They are only 7 and 4 years old!  But I'm very happy to see them very happy with their food =)

Lastly, my mom ordered Pot Roast Pasta but it was not available.  She ordered Carbonara Pasta instead.  The sad part, she was not happy with her food.  She wasn't able to finish it and I ended up eating the rest lol.  My mom was never fond of eating out.  She is usually unhappy with the restaurant food and more unhappy with how expensive they are!  I wanted her to enjoy the experience of eating out but I guess, she just can't help it to feel bad for me paying for an average or less than average tasting food for such an expensive price.  She would usually say next time, I'll just cook something at home and it's even more delicious! hehehe.

Can't blame my Mom because the bill came to me for P3000.00 plus.  Thank you for Senior Citizen discount, I only paid P2,799.82.

Overall, though it's expensive, I was happy with dining in IHOP.  :)
However, because it's exepensive, I would probably not go back anytime soon.
I think it's enough that I was able to experience IHOP here in the Philippines.

Lee Minho's Kyochon Fried Chicken, Eastwood City

Kyochon is the newly opened South Korean fried chicken restaurant in Eastwood City, Libis Quezon City.  Well maybe, Lee Minho is what's drawing people to eat here more than the fried chicken lol.
While dining, I can't help but wonder if he owns this restaurant or just an endorser.  Of course, I googled it now and learned that he is just an ambassador for the food brand. =)

Sorry for the blurred photo of the fried chicken.  We ordered the Combo meal for 2 which consists of 10 fried chicken wings, 2 cups of rice, 2 pepsi product drinks, and salad.  This combo meal for 2 is P549.00 or P274.5 each if you split the payment to 2.

We ordered the orginal or non spicy flavor because we we're informed that the spicy flavor is really really really hot.  The chicken tasted good but can't really find any other way to describe it hehe.

Again, there is nothing special but it's good enough.

The salad is really nice because the vegetables were fresh with just the right amount of dressing.

The waitress also suggested if we want to order potato wedges since waiting time for our meal is around 15 to 20 minuttes.  Potato wedges is P150.00.

I actually got disappointed with the serving size of the 10 pieces chicken.  I was probably expecting full wings but turned out it's really just 5 pieces because the wings were cut into 2.  But come to think of it for P549 or P274.50 each, it's already a good deal since it already includes rice, salad and drinks.

I'm not really a big fan of rice so maybe next time I eat here, I'll just order chicken and some light side dish so I can really enjoy the chicken.  I also want to try the spicy flavor since I got curious how hot it is lol.