Sunday lunch in HK Choi by Choi Garden

My visit: July 17, 2011

H.K. Choi by Choi Garden

2nd floor Mega Atrium

SM Megamall

4704233   3827757   3941070

DH and I usually go to the gym on weekends. After punishing ourselves on the treadmill and StairMaster for a good 1 to 2 hours, naturally, we have to reward ourselves after. H. K. Choi has always been the favorite choice of Chinese restaurant in SM Megamall by DH. 

The restaurant is always teeming with people. I think it was two weeks ago that we occupied one of the tables set up outside of the restaurant. We were luckier last weekend because in spite of the reservations made by others in this restaurant, we were able to seat inside. 

House Special Taho small PhP140

Taho has to be ordered way in advance to allow the restaurant to prepare it. Upon seating, we always order this and just ask the waiter to come back for our main entree. 

Taho is a Philippine delicacy made of silken tofu topped with sago (pearls) and arnibal (caramelized brown sugar). 

The consistency of the brown sugar varies each time we visited the restaurant. Sometimes it is lacking in sweetness but yesterday it was perfect. An order can serve up to six people according to the waiter. We were only two but we still managed to finish everything lol

Choi Garden: the return of the come back!

My visit: July 19, 2009

Choi Garden Seafood & Sharksfin Restaurant

#12 Annapolis St. corner Purdue St.,

Greenhills, San Juan City

7276042 7277489

Ok, I know I gave a very bad review with this restaurant last time. But the restaurant has improved since then. Maybe nasawa na ang mga tao sa kakapila either that or nabasa nila ang aking bad review lol. There was not even a line outside when we went and dine in last Sunday. But as I passed through the numerous tables going to the toilet, I noticed that most of the tables had a reserved sign on top. Maybe because we were there a bit early for dinner, it's just 6:30pm.

lechon macau with wine PhP 350

pork with baguio bean small PhP 220

I like the pork with beans that I've ordered in Mey Lin Trinoma better. But then again Mey Lin uses msg.

1/4 roast duck PhP 380

Sa wakas, when we asked for the roast duck, it's available!

fried rice fookien style PhP 240

Since I don't want the sauce on my fried rice, we requested to have the sauce separated from it.

taho small PhP 150

And shockingly, the taho is available too that night!

call server button, not working!

The service did not improve. The call server button on the table is useless. Or is it not working? Maybe it's for display purposes only. Sad to say, with the arrangement of the tables located outside the main restaurant, it was really hard to get the waiter's attention. Besides, only one waiter is manning our area. Hay, terible! I have to get the pitcher of water myself from their station. Asking for the bill and waiting for it after signing it took a very long time. If not for the food, this restaurant would no have survived! We still leave a tip though.

Hanobe Asian Food House

My visit: June 6, 2009

Hanobe Asian Food House

99 Maria Clara St.,

Quezon City

7314381

Hanobe Asian Food House (HAFH) is an expansion of the original Hanobe Express (HE) which is located just beside it. HE offers roasted rice toppings such as barbeque pork asado and lechon macau on their wall menu while HAFH has vast selection of entrees on their menu from noodles, soup, pork, beef, chicken, seafood to hotpot. HAFH even has a set menu to offer for large group diners.Set menu price starts from PhP 3, 988 to PhP 9, 988 priced comparably cheaper than Gloria Maris and Choi Garden.

private room

This private room has two tables and is separated from the main dining area by a sliding door for privacy.

drink counter

hanobe taope 3 kinds mushrooms- PhP 220

Taope, if I'm not mistaken, is the skin of tofu. It is crunchy but with the generous serving of sauce, some taope at the bottom of the serving plate lose its crunch. Otherwise, this would be an entree to come back for.

lechon macau- PhP250

The lechon macau is sliced thickly and I am afraid to eat it hahaha It comes with bawang and suka as dipping. DH and I eat half and decided to take home the rest.

hanobe fried oyster cake- PhP 200

Presented like a pizza with 8 slices, the fried oyster cake has a crunch on initial bite. Although it looks big, the oyster is not aplenty. It consists mostly of starch, maybe for the added crunch. We also took the rest home and up to now, its still inside our refrigerator waiting to be reheated in our oven toaster.

We might try the others on their menu when we come back. I hope we will choose the right ones to order next time.

no service charge

Choi Garden Seafood & Sharksfin Restaurant

Choi Garden Restaurant

#12 Annapolis St. corner Purdue St.,

Greenhills, San Juan City

7276042   7277484   7245343   3825501

I am very disappointed with this restaurant. After a whole month of hibernation and not reviewing on SPOT... I'm back and sad to say my first review is not a good one.

Although we arrived without reservation on a weekend, we were seated in less than 15 minutes. But the good thing ends there. The food we want to order are either not available on weekends (Oyster Cake), should be ordered in advance (suckling pig)- 1-2 days I think or "ubos na po" (lechon macau).

So we settled for wintermelon assorted meat soup (PhP350), Roast Duck 1/4 (PhP380), Sharks fin Siomai (PhP95), Minced Pork with Baguio Bean (PhP200) and Taho (PhP150). We ordered a fish filet with garlic but the young order taker was probably not on his feet that day and was not able to place our orders. We waited for it until we finished the rest of the food but sadly, it didn't come out. Finally, the waiter informed us that our order was not placed.

And don't get me started with its parking. There is a parking space provided opposite of Choi Garden with a very tiny signage, I think the one before the spa. But the guards will not be pointing you that way instead they will point you to paid parking space directly infront of the said restaurant which will charge you PhP 30 and PhP 20 if you haggle.

We had a very bad and hungry evening to say the least. I think of not going back ever...