Kaya Express Opens In Glorietta 2

April 21, 2013

Kaya Korean Restaurant
2nd floor, Glorietta 2
Ayala Center, Makati City
6253718

My parents and I bonded over Korean BBQ right after watching ASAP 18 LIVE! in ABS-CBN. It is located in the newly renovated Glorietta 2. I love the vibe of this new wing- bright and spacious!

 Kalbi Gui PhP 230

Marinated US beef short ribs

Before the Korean BBQ trend hit Manila, there's already Kaya. Every so often we miss eating Kalbi Gui so we make it a point to visit it once in a while.

The beef is tender and already marinated. It's juicy, perfect with a bowl of white rice!

For our other orders, read after the break...

WooRiJib Korean Restaurant Buffet starts at PhP 299!

October 27, 2012

Woo Ri Jib Restaurant
10 Kalayaan Ave.,
Quezon City
9267685

Remember my Bulgogi Garden post? Well, a week later, we went back to Kalayaan Ave. and visited the restaurant next to it named Woo Ri Jib. It means "Our Home" in Korean. I can't believe that DH and I just discovered it because the restaurant has been in the business since 1999.

samgyupsal and galbisal buffet PhP 499

Woo Ri Jib offers buffet for as low as PhP 299 (Samgyupsal). These are bacon-like strips only thicker. Anyway, we went for PhP 499 dinner buffet. It includes galbisal, bulgogi and of course, samgyupsal.

Bulgogi Garden in Kalayaan Quezon City

October 13, 2012

Bulgogi Garden
125 Kalayaan Ave.,
Diliman, Quezon City
3823915

Since Bulgogi Brothers failed to impress us the night before, DH and I went to Kalayaan Ave. in search for another Korean restaurant the very next night. We saw rows and rows of Korean restaurants when we passed by the area a few weeks ago. We were determined to find and check out a new place to satisfy our Korean Barbecue cravings! We parked inside the first Korean restaurant we saw - Bulgogi Garden. The place was huge, you will not miss the well-lit sign hanging on the wall as you passed by Kalayaan Ave. in Quezon City.

 Bulgogi Garden in Kalayaan. Ave.

The word Bulgogi literally means "Fire Meat" in Korean. It refers to cooked marinated meat on dome griddles that sits on braziers.

Griddle is a heavy flat iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food.
Brazier is a portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coal.

Read after the break for our Korean BBQ experience...

Bulgogi Brothers in SM MOA

October 12, 2012

Bulgogi Borthers
2nd Level Entertainment Mall
SM Mall of Asia
Bay Blvd., Pasay City

Last Friday, DH and I were in SMX Convention Center for the 8th Printing & Label Philippines 2012. After spending four hours roaming around the venue, naturally, we were very hungry. I told DH that I want to eat in a Korean restaurant. We seldom go to SM Mall Of Asia so we needed to consult the Information Board first ; p Good thing we found one - Bulgogi Brothers. I have been meaning to eat in this restaurant for so long. Finally, I get to try it!

Bulgogi Bibimbap PhP 395

"BUL-GO-GI" literally means "fire meat" in Korean.
"Bul" is fire while "gogi" is meat
It is commonly translated as Koren barbecue. The thin slices of beef, pork or chicken are specially marinated in combination of sauce and seasonings to enhance their flavor and tenderness, before being placed on a grill, usually right at the table.

It has been a while since we last ate in a Korean restaurant. The last one I visited was Yoogane with my family. Yoogane's selection was limited and it was not exactly the authentic restaurant that I was looking for.

DH and I were expecting Bulgogi Brothers to be at least at par with Sariwon. However, we were disappointed. Since Bulgogi Brothers only serve rice together with every order of Bulgogi BBQ, we opted not to order one. I was so looking forward pa naman to eating sangchu-ssam.

DH and I shared an order of Bulgogi Bibimbap. It was served on a hot stone pot. The warm white rice was topped with vegetables like cucumber, carrots, radish, bean sprouts and mushrooms. A raw egg was at the center of the bowl. Gochujang was served on the side. It was a visual delight!

Bibimbap literally means "mixed rice" in Korea. All ingredients must be stirred together just before eating.

For tips on where to find authentic Korean Restaurants, read after the break...

Yukinohana Restaurant in Timog Quezon City

September 8, 2012

Yukinohana
Timog,  Quezon City
7095748

It was supposed to be just our usual Saturday date night but as the night progressed, my ulcer was killing me. It started about a month ago but got worse on Thursday so I was not able to enjoy the Nail Sparty brought by Max Factor. By Saturday night, I was throwing up, I have no energy left within me so I just cried until I fell sleep.

 Pork Soy Grill PhP 450

Anyway, everything happened right after dinner that Saturday. Hours before that, I was feeling fine. After office, DH and I, as usual, were looking for a new place to eat. I suggested Hwa Roro and Yoogane. Hwa Roro is a new Korean BBQ buffet restaurant but we just came from Serenitea's new branch in Tomas Morato for afternoon snack so we thought we would visit this restaurant some other time. We moved to Yoogane in Il Terrazzo. We were actually already seated inside Yoogane but for some reason, DH decided to leave the restaurant.

Then we spotted Yukinohana in Timog, Quezon City. At first, we thought it was a Japanese restaurant because as DH parked the car, a man wearing a traditional costume was by the door. It must be an authentic Japanese restaurant or so we thought ; p

The same man lets us choose where to seat as he hand over the menu. My stomach was already growling from hunger. Perusing the menu, apparently, this is a Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant ; p The man is not even Japanese, he is Korean lol He is not even the cook, for goodness' sake!

Pork Soy Grill, the one shown in the photo above, came out last. At that point, I was already feeling queasy. We have no choice but to take home the entire dish.

I was able to taste it the next day. It tasted exactly like the Chinese staple, char siu (barbecued meat). It was sweet and tender.

More after the break...

Lock & Lock Boroseal Microvave-Safe Glass Container

July 28, 2012

Lock & Lock Main Office

Unit III Megastate Bldg.,

737 Araneta Ave. cor. Agno St.,

Tatalo, Quezon City

Last Saturday, I was invited to Lock & Lock's Blogger Day. I know that it will have a cooking demo as part of its program but what I didn't know is that it's another shopping event! Remember, I have told you about Yves Rocher shopping event two weeks ago, right? If you have not read about it, shame on you, please visit here. That, my dear readers, served as my warm up because during Lock & Lock's event, I totally rocked it ; p I got everything I needed plus more!

 Lock & Lock Mountain Cooler Bag in Blue (LMB102B) PhP 899.75 (center) ; 

Lock & Lock Boroseal Glass Container 430ml PhP 399.75 (left) ;

Lock & Lock Boroseal Glass Container 730 ml PhP 549.75 (right)

I am a loyal user of Lock & Lock. When the brand came out with Boroseal Microwavable Glass container a few years ago, I was one of the many others who trooped to its stand alone store in Shangri-la Mall and bought several containers to be used as our office baonan (lunch box). Really, it is a no brainer to switch from plastic into glass. I even changed our food cover, you can view it here. 

Home Improvement: Komodo Teak Wood Garden Set

Remember my Cafe Juanita entry? We ate there that night because we just came from Komodo Artscrafts Inc. in Pioneer St., Mandaluyong where we placed a 50% down payment for a round garden table and four traditional stackable armchair. We have been eyeing their outdoor garden set for quite some time - by that I mean from the moment we acquired our home which was more than 5 years ago ; p 

 Komodo teak wood

It was finally delivered last June 15. I was so excited. If you are a follower on twitter and facebook, you should have already seen a few of the photos that I took of the garden set. 

By the way, I specially requested for the cast-iron like logo to be placed on all the items that we bought. I was told that all the new furniture do not carry them anymore. I gave my best doe-eyed look to Irene who was very accommodating despite the fact that we were there 15 minutes before closing time, she said she will request it from their head office. I am very happy that the logo found its way to my garden set. 

Chung Mi Rae Korean Delicacies in Timog, Quezon City

May 19, 2012

Chung Mi Rae
Unit #6 24K Mansion
Timog Ave. cor. Scout Tuazon,
Quezon City
37272000

The day we arrived from Taiwan, DH and I realized how much we miss Korean BBQ. We remembered the waitress in Yawori who has told us that there were several Korean restaurants around the area so we went around Timog Ave. and found a hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant- Chung Mi Rae.

 Anshim (grilled tenderloin) PhP1200

When you get past the stench and settled in your seat, you will discover that Chung Mi Rae serves delectable Korean BBQ. 

We only ordered Anshim, pretty pricey but well worth every peso. An order of grilled tenderloin comes with slices of onions and potaoes, garlic and enoki mushroom. 

My Sariwon Korean Barbecue Birthday Celebration!

May 2, 2012

Sariwon Korean Barbecue Since 1938
7th Avenue corner 29th Street,
Bonifacio High Street Central,
Taguig City

Ever since we came back from South Korea last January, DH and I has always been on a look out for new Korean restaurants in the metro. Days before my birthday, I got an email from no less than the owner herself asking if I wanted to try a newly opened Korean restaurant in Bonifacio High Street Central. Boy, I am glad I said yes!

Cheers to long life and good health! 

House Blend Iced Tea PhP80

We usually celebrate my birthday in a fine dining restaurant but for the love of Korean food, we tried Sariwon for a change. As it turned out, we were very full and satisfied at the end of our meal.

Read all about our experience after the break...

How to eat Sangchu-ssam

When in Korea, learn how to eat the Korean way. On our first day, our tour guide, Mike taught us how to eat Sangchu-ssam.

DH holding sangchu-ssam

Cooked rice and other food wrapped in Korean lettuce is called Sangchu- ssam- Wikipedia

sangchu- lettuce

ssam means wrap

We ate at Korean Restaurant- what a creative name, huh?- when we went to check out in advance our ride for our trip back to the airport using KORAIL Seoul Station.

New find: Min Sok Restaurant Makati

My visit: January 21, 2012

Min Sok Saeng Deung Sim

5655 Don Pedro St., cor Jacobo,

Poblacion, Makati 

8959586

After coming back from our 10-day Korean vacation, we had enough of Korean barbecue, or so we thought. DH and I miss Korean barbecue so much so that for two consecutive Saturdays, we were on a look out for authentic Korean restaurants. 

Last January 14, we went to Korean Village in Nakpil, Malate after going to Quiapo. The week after, we paid Min Sok- a hole in the wall restaurant in Poblacion, Makati, a visit. 

sangchu-ssam; short ribs PhP490

It was a post I read in FB by Dr. Allan Pua last January 7 that pique my curiosity. In his post, he was raving about Min Sok Saeng Deung Sim- an authentic Korean Restaurant. I only got a vague description on where it is located. Thank goodness Min Sok is known within the area where the go-so dance clubs are located. After asking a couple of bystanders, we were able to locate the restaurant.

Sangchu-ssam is a term used for cooked rice and other food wrapped in lettuce

Korea Chronicle: Kimchi School

My visit: December 27, 2011

Day 5 (afternoon)

Kimchi School

Seoul, Korea

02-3089688

After visiting Changdeok Palace in the morning, we went to KimChi School where according to our tour guide, we will make our very own kimchi. 

infront of KimChi School

Kimchi also spelled gimchi, kimchee or kim chee is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetable and varied seasonings.

Korea Chronicle: Everland Winter Wonderland

My visit: December 26, 2011

Day 4

Everland Resort

Korea

031-320-5000

After nature tripping, skiing & apple wine making, we went to Korea's biggest playground, Everland Resort. I am so excited even if I despised thrill rides! I am like a kid in wonderland!

Welcome to Everland!

Our tour guide did not follow the sequence written in our itinerary. Instead of going to Everland on the fifth day, we went on the fourth day. We didn't mind as long as we visit every place written in our itinerary ; p

Korea Chronicle: Mount Sorak (Seoraksan National Park)

My visit: December 25, 2011

Day 3 (morning)

Seoraksan National Park

Korea

We brought two Canon cameras (IXUS 860IS & 350D) for our Korea trip. DH even got his tripod packed together with his clothes. You can just imagine how many luggage that we brought with us lol Anyway, what's my point?! I think the stunning view that we captured with our cameras speaks for itself! The agony of bringing 5 luggage is well worth it!

Mt. Sorak

DH & I were at Mt. Sorak on Christmas day. The view is breathtaking! Can I just say that it is picture perfect too?

Korean Village Restaurant Nakpil, Malate

My visit: August 7, 2011

Korean Village Restaurant

566 J. Nakpil St.,

Malate, Manila

5221902

Eating in Korean Village Restaurant brings back childhood memories. Having lived in Manila, we used to eat here often when my sibling and I were much younger. Since my family moved farther north, we have less and less chance of eating at this inexpensive but authentic Korean restaurant. 

 grilling plate at the center of our table

Before Yakimix, there is already Korean Village Restaurant that offers DIY grilling of meat at the center of the table. 

The exhaust system couldn't handle all the smoke so once you eat here, your clothes go straight to the laundry bin.

Kaya Express

My visit: October 17, 2010

Kaya Express 

Shop 13 Level P1

Power Plant, Rockwell Center, Makati

It's Sunday! I usually go out with my family on a Sunday. My family were having late lunch and they wanted a restaurant that serve good and fast food. Kaya Express came into the picture as we were strolling the lower ground floor of the Power Plant Mall.

 sewu moochim PhP40

The picture above is on top of my sister's list. And I thought this is a free appetizer haha But I don't mind paying for it as well because its spicy and crunchy! I ended up eating the last few remaining pieces! ack!