New Find: Tea Rock Cafe in Banawe, QC

November 10, 2012

Tea Rock Cafe
814 Banawe St., Siena,
Quezon City

Tea shops are sprouting everywhere especially in Banawe St. in Quezon City. I think the average is one tea shop in every street corner ; p One of the newest and more spacious tea shop in the area is called Tea Rock Cafe. I spotted it a few weeks ago and was nagging DH about it ever since.  We ended up not only having a cup of tea each but also having our dinner in that place.

 (l-r) Milk Tea with pearl & panna cotta Large PhP 95 and Wintermelon Basil Seed & Lemon with grass jelly Large PhP 100

Being more adventurous than I am, DH ordered Wintermelon Basil Seed & Lemon with grass jelly. It tasted weird - sweet and sour at the same time. Word of advice to DH ---> stick to the basic like what I ordered, Milk Tea with pearl & panna cotta (25% sugar)  ; p The pearls were chewy, very much like the ones we had in Taipei, Taiwan.

Tea Rock Cafe has an extensive menu. It was also having a promo that day, buy a Bento Meal and get PhP 20 off on any drink. Who would pass up that chance?

Find out what else we ordered after the break....

Kao-Chi Banawe Revisited

It has been awhile since we last visited Kao-Chi Restarant in Banawe, Quezon City. If I remembered it correctly, we visited this restaurant during its soft opening so I have some issues regarding the service. To be fair, I went back and I am happy to say that the service has improved. Suffice it to say, DH and I had a pleasant time dining in Kao-Chi.

Sauteed Lamb with Golden Mushroom PhP 368

Truth be told, it was DH who insisted on dining here. He remembered how we love the appetizers we ordered. Sad to say, the management has erased it out of their menu. 

Since we both love lamb, we ordered Sauteed Lamb with Golden Mushroom. The serving can be compared to that of a rice topping. It is pretty pricey but what matter is how it tastes like. Uhm, well, it's a bit spicy. Even though the meat is cut into tiny bite size pieces, some of which were still a bit hard to chew. DH loves golden mushroom so I think that was it's saving grace. 

Caffe Dolce in Banawe Quezon City

June 15, 2012

Caffe Dolce The Healthy Cafe

848Mezzanine Level, banawe St. near Linaw St.,

Siena, Quezon City

7824055

My friend, Gevi, who frequents Banawe area in Quezon City suggested a meet up along with Cats in a fairly new restaurant called Caffe Dolce (The Healthy Cafe) for our "girls night out".  No, this is not your usual get-all-drunk-Friday-night-out, we are all for wholesome and clean fun ; p

 strawberry waffle with ice cream PhP 350

Caffe Dolce is a healthy cafe because it primarily caters to people who are vegetarians. For people like us - who are not picky eaters, they also serve sinful desserts like Strawberry Waffle with Ice Cream ; p

One order of Strawberry Waffle with Ice Cream has 4 slices of thick waffles, strawberry ice cream with strawberry bits and fresh strawberry fruit on top of a generous serving of whipped cream. This order screams strawberry overload which I really like since it's really my favorite! 

New Find: Kabigting's Halo Halo- The Pride of Arayat

My visit: August 27, 2011

Kabigting's Halo Halo

592 N.S. Amoranto St.,

Quezon City

I have read a lot of rave reviews about Kabigting's Halo Halo. I have to find out for myself if it is really as good as they say. DH and I went one Saturday afternoon to try the pride of Arayat!

carabao milk pastillas in sticky beans and cream corn

Kabigting's halo halo reminds me of Razon's because these two have only 3 main ingredients. Razon's ingredients are saba, macapuno and leche flan while Kabigting's has carabao milk pastillas, mashed white kidney beans cooked similar to halaya and cream of corn. The shaved ice of Razon's is finer though.

Experience Hong Kong Noodles Bistro in NS Amoranto

My visit: June 11, 2011

Hong Kong Noodles Bistro

529 N.S. Amoranto Sr. Ave.,

corner Pao St.,

Quezon City

7084751

DH is very familiar with Banawe area. When he spots a new restaurant, he would sometimes dine alone. If I am lucky enough to be with him that day, I will be able to take photos of the food we ate and share them with you. I guess this is one of my lucky day!

Hong Kong Noodles Bistro is a fairly new restaurant. A signage along N.S. Amoranto is not that visible and you might just pass by it without noticing that its there. I suggest that you eat here if you are a big fan of noodles like DH or if you are addicted to lamb like me.

house special beef ramen PhP188

The house special beef ramen is filled to the brim with beef, noodles, adobo egg and Taiwan pechay. The beef is not as tender as DH wants it to be but the quality of the noodles made up for it. He didn't know that this order has an adobo egg already. Sigh! When will men learn how to ask? Anyway, he ordered one extra adobo egg for an additional PhP18.

King Chef Banawe

My visit: March 26, 2011

King Chef Banawe

989 Banawe St,

Quezon City

4104919

It has been awhile since I posted about my Saturday lunch date with DH. On our way to work, DH was attacked by his hunger pangs. We decided to eat in King Chef. A relative of ours celebrated her birthday sometime last year on the said venue so this is not my first time to eat here. But this is our first time to try their dim sum. 

taosi spareribs PhP75

Appetizing to look at, I would want it to have more meat than fat though. Served hot.

Kim Po Tea House

My visit: December 4, 2010

Kim Po Tea House

706 Banawe St., Siena,

Quezon City

5166497   5166499

Too many food post! Too little time haha 

I have noticed several newly opened restaurant along Banawe and Kim Po is one of them. Kim Po Tea House replaces Han Pao's location.

beef hofan PhP180

For me, Ling Nam's version is better. The sauce, texture of the noodles and the taste is definitely better than Kim Po.

Kao-Chi Restaurant

My visit: December 4, 2010

Kao-Chi Restaurant

109 NS Amoranto, 

Maharlika, Quezon City

4107788   4107799

DH had been bugging me to try a new Chinese restaurant right in front of where we have our car washed.  Finally, we were able to try Kao-Chi Restaurant. I was expecting simple interior much like the ones in Banawe area. But I was taken aback. The ambiance was like that of Choi Garden. Red, dimly-lit and a few couches with blue lights on one of its wall panel. 

When we learned that they are offering Shanghai cuisine. We were kind of disappointed. When we were in Shanghai, the food was not compatible with our palate. Shanghai cuisine is hot. We set our expectations low and ordered our food.

We had two appetizers to start with:

 honey glazed spare ribs PhP188

Think of your saucer plate, now that's how tiny the serving is.

Crystal Jade Greenhills

My visit: November 18, 2010

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

Unit 117- 121 Virra Mall

Greenhills Shopping Center

5706910   5706912

Since its opening, people were lining non stop for this restaurant. After two months from its opening date, I was finally able to try this restaurant with my parents. 

There were a few vacant tables when we went in. An over eager waiter approached our table and started to talk us into ordering almost everything in multiple of two. Whoa! I told him jokingly "Tatlo lang kami, ano kami... baboy?" ; p And he continued on to tell me that the people on the other table ordered quite a lot. I countered that we can only eat so much. 

Here's what we have ordered:

sauteed chicken with cashew nuts in spicy sauce (served with pancake) PhP288

The order is smaller than what it looks like in the photo but was good enough for all three of us. It's not overly spicy. It has just the right kick in it. I wrap mine with the pancake included. The pancakes are much like the ones Chinese restaurants serve with a Peking duck order.

FunTea

My visit: October 16, 2010

FunTea Fresh Unique Natural

679 Banawe St. cor Malaya St.,

Quezon City

When I saw on FaceBook about a new tea place in Banawe called FunTea, I have to try it. Little did I know, DH already gave it a try. After a week, he asked me if I want to taste FunTea. And so we went before we had our massage. 

I would want to learn more from the owners about their tea but the elder manager was a bit hesitant in giving out information. So, I will just fill you in with what we ate that afternoon. 

Wintermelon Grass Jelly 500cc PhP60

I love the taste of this! 700cc costs only an additional PhP10. I had the usual Pearl Milk Tea not in the picture, I am saving precious space.

Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food

My visit: September 4, 2010

Eat Fresh

Ma. Clara St. near Banawe

in front of Hanobe Asian Food House

Quezon City

Sorry folks, I messed up. I was not able to get the exact address of this restaurant haha  A few weeks back I posted on my profile in Facebook that DH and I had dinner twice! The first was in Icebergs Banawe and the second one in this new place called Eat Fresh!

facade

New Find: Culinary Out Kast Co.

My visit: August 5, 2010

Culinary Out Kast Co.

1037 Banawe St.,

Quezon City

4151973

I first read about this restaurant, COK, from a blog. Silly me I forgot which blog I hopped into lol We would normally eat along Banawe on Saturdays but wasn't so sure where this restaurant is situated. Good thing, we passed by it one morning. And the following morning haha One day in August during lunch, DH decided to eat at this place. 

interior

Icebergs Banawe

My visit: July 17, 2010

Icebergs

698 Banawe St., 

Siena, Quezon City

Yey! Finally, Icebergs is now back in Banawe. Last Saturday, we ate there before going to our office. 

Hungarian sausage PhP188

Hungarian sausage is his favorite. And before I can even take a bite, nothing was left on his plate except the chips because makunat na siya.  

Cantonese Soup Kitchen: A sad tale of a take out

My visit: April 22, 2010

This week was such a busy week for me. DH was away for four days and I have to be his mini me in his office. And had to go to his brother's place every after office to eat dinner as I was left to fend for myself haha I usually drop by the restaurants along Banawe St. to take out afternoon snacks for my nephews and nieces before going to my BIL's place. I had been to Causeway's on Monday, Fu Chi Dumpling's on Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday I invited myself over to AC's place for a sumptuous lumpia- thanks AC and finally yesterday, my long horrible wait for dimsum take out at Cantonese Soup Kitchen.

SereniTEA: How they prepare your tea and more!

preparation of your tea

SereniTEA: Free Strawberry Milk Tea and more

my free strawberry milk tea PhP95

New find: LAM TIN Tea House

My visit : March 20, 2010

LAM TIN

Tea House

30-U Banawe St.,

Quezon CIty

4940901   4257093

After an unsatisfying lunch at Good Chef Bistro, we went to LAM TIN tea house for dinner. A nondescript restaurant with numerous parking slots available, ten (10) if I counted it right. Plenty of parking space for Banawe standards. 

Service is no-nonsense, fast and efficient. Food is inexpensive. Taste has some hit and miss!

Here are what we have ordered:

taosi spareribs PhP70

We just had a bite or two of this dimsum order and took home the rest of it. I didn't like how it tasted in the restaurant and I didn't like it either when I reheated it awhile ago for my lunch. It smells different and tastes different too. So, I didn't eat the rest of it! Sayang!

New find: Good Chef Bistro

My visit: March 20, 2010

Good Chef Bistro

847A Banawe St., 

Quezon City

559632   0916-5555707

The first time we attempted to dine here was I think two weeks ago. We were a bit early for dinner at 5 in the afternoon and was told in Mandarin (Chinese language) that the restaurant was still close for dinner.

Curiously enough, we went back last Saturday for lunch and saw a few tables occupied. This time DH and I knew that the restaurant was open.  

We thought because the restaurant employs a Mandarin speaking hostess the food serve will be authentic lol Boy, we were proven wrong!

string beans with minced pork PhP160

String beans with minced pork is too HOT too handle! Even my Bicolano DH can't handle the spiciness of this dish. And mind you, we ordered mild in terms of hotness lol See the red thingy on top, those are sili, more of those can be found at the bottom under the pile of string beans. DH took out it all out one by one and it can fill a saucer full of red sili.

New Find: Cantonese Soup Kitchen

Cantonese Soup Kitchen

Unit C 847 Banawe St.

cor Linao Street,

Quezon city

7435249

I was shying away from this restaurant for quite sometime even though DH kept on egging me to try it out. The reason was mainly because I am not a soup person. There I said it! But all that changed when our DBIL and DSIL, who are both foodies and often scout for new restaurants in Banawe area, told us that the restaurant not only serve soup but other entree as well. On top of that, sweet and sour pork is on the menu. My DSIL had me on sweet and sour pork lol When they told us about CSK, I think that was Thursday, DH and I had to try it not the very next day but on a Saturday haha If you have been reading my blog, you would have known by now that I go to work with DH on Saturdays and we usually had our lunch around that area.

The huge picture was what caught my eyes upon entering this two- floor restaurant. This restaurant can handle approximately 40- 50 seating capacity. Upon seating, I noticed that there was a group seating beside us waiting for their orders to come out and the rest of the people were either picking up their phone in order or having their orders to go.

Stairs on the left leads to the second floor dining area. At the end of the room is the toilet. The waiters were quite attentive but the kitchen was a bit slow. It took us two follow up calls before our orders came out. But it didn't come in succession. The dim sum came out on the latter part. The food pictures below show how our orders came out.

sweet and sour pork rice topping PhP115

Their sweet and sour pork tasted and looked like Ling Nam's. A generous rice serving underneath the sweet and sour pork. I'll make a mental note to request the rice to be separated on my next visit. The order came with an iced tea and a clear soup. Ain't that cheap!

Spotted: MrsMartinez in Serenitea!

I am a pearl milk tea convert ever since I discovered Serenitea in their Wilson St. branch. Now, almost every Saturday, I urge my DH to go to their branch in N. Roxas St. branch in Banawe, Q.C. 

One time, while waiting for my order to be prepared, I looked around and took some pics. And what do I see? A closer look at one of their "Thank You" wall is a screen cap of my blog! Should I feel sikat na? lol Ibang level na kasi ito eh!

 a screen cap of my blog displayed on their wall