Nomnomnomnomnom

Who would forget the famous sound that Cookie Monster makes whenever he eats his favorite snack? Coooookies!!! Om nom nom nom...Yes, this popular munching sound has now become a viral internet meme that people use (i.e., "Eating my favorite chips! Nomnomnom..."). Point is, we apply the meme when we eat something we enjoy. And by enjoy we mean delicious food that's affordable at the same time. This is something Nomnomnom Happy Food at Tomas Morato can offer.

A quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Nomnomnom has been creating a buzz to people who are looking for a unique and memorable dining experience. The place is quite hidden since the entrance is located in a small 'eskinita'. Hungry foodies like us, however, know where to find good food, and Nomnomnom is not an exception. 

Over The Moon with Moonleaf

Milk tea. This might be the most popular word nowadays (Anne Curtis being the second one). If you don’t know what it is and the craze it’s been causing Metro Manila, then it’s safe to assume you’ve been living inside a cave. With the plethora of choices where one can have their milk tea fix (see our Happy Lemon and Serenitea review here), differentiation can be very difficult for milk tea entrepreneurs.

Not for Moonleaf Tea Shop.

Starting in Maginhawa Street, UP Village, this once humble tea shop gained fame from college students who frequented the place and has become one of, if not, the fastest growing milk tea place in the country. It is also the first one to have ventured outside Manila (they have stores in Pampanga and Naga). Moonleaf also diversified its offerings; aside from teas, they now have their own planner which sold like hotcakes last Christmas season.

It's A Coca-Cola Wonderland!

It's not uncommon to taste dishes with a splash of Sprite or a hint of cola. Restaurant chefs use these carbonated drinks as marinade or as an ingredient for their specialties. Some might find it vaguely intriguing, others insanely weird. There are, of course, the curious type who find it rather unique and amusing. While sodas add flavor to certain types of dishes, we are more comfortable seeing it with ice inside a glass. The fact that we grew up in a country where Coca-Cola is predominant in every meal table proves this. But, if you really want to taste good food with cola in it, we suggest going to a food place at Tomas Morato.

Located at the second floor of Il Terrazzo is a diner known as The Real Thing. The name of the place might sound familiar, it being a former tagline of a popular cola brand. Yes, The Real Thing is what we would call a Coca-Cola wonderland. The place is full of Coke memorabilia and Coca-Cola items that every collector would want. From stuffed toys, to glasses, to Coca-Cola cans and miniature bottles, The Real Thing has all of these in display for customers to admire. If that doesn't make you awe in amazement, try looking at their menu. Most dishes here at The Real Thing is inspired by Coke or any product of the company. Where else would you see Eight O'Clock Chicken or Royal Tru-Orange Prokchop on the menu?

A Burger-filled Boulevard

What makes a great burger? Oftentimes, people say it's all about the patty. Others say it's the cheese that makes it work. Others say it's the sauce that brings it all together. While most burgers have all these, it all boils down to which burger offers the best flavor at the most affordable price. There are already a handful of notable burger places in the Metro. No, we're not talking about Jollibee or McDonald's, or even Burger King. We're talking about unique burger places that serve mouth-watering burgers. One's just along Xavierville Avenue.

If you're the type who wants twists to your burgers, then Boulevard Diner is the perfect place for you. Located within the Katipunan/Loyola Heights area, this burger place has been fulfilling burger cravings since October of 2010. With unique burger concepts, Boulevard Diner has created a big market for die-hard burger fans who are looking for something better than the usual hamburger or cheeseburger. Mind you, these burgers aren't for the faint of heart. Boulevard Diner's burgers are packed with flavors that will surely give you an unforgettable burger dining experience.

A 'Seductive' Twist to Scrumptious Dishes

Seduction isn't always bad. There are times when all you can do is to just give in. Sometimes, it can bring something good, something different. And when it's different, it's bound to intrigue foodies like us. Food that's unique and out-of-the-box are the ones we always want to try. Let us make it simpler for you - yes, food can offer seduction. Have you guys ever heard of the term "aphrodisiac"? Well, the word applies to dishes that can stimulate sexual desires from both men and women. Although it's not scientifically proven, aphrodisiac dishes have made a reputation of making sex more reachable and pleasurable. Wanna know what dishes can stimulate your sexual urges? Tell you what, you could get a hint at this food place.

Gayuma ni Maria isn't an amateur in the food business. This out-of-the-box restaurant has found a new spot at V. Luna Extension at Sikatuna Village in Quezon City. It was previously located at Esteban Abada Street at Katipunan (it was then known simply as Gayuma), then at Granada Street near Gilmore (it then changed its name to Cucina Gayuma). With the many change of locations, you might think that it's not the Gayuma that people have come to love. But, in all honesty, we can say that it still offers the same delicious food with the same unique concept.

Wanna Have a 'Wicked' Meal?

Define 'wicked'. Well, according to the dictionary, 'wicked' is an adjective which denotes evil or mischievousness. This adjective often applies to evil people or entities such as witches and demons. But, if you've been studying your English, the term 'wicked' could also be used as a New England slang to add emphasis to what you're saying. In fact, the word is actually synonymous to 'really' and 'very'. So, if you want to say that the food you're eating is fantastic, but you want to say it in a manner different from how you usually sat it, you could say "That was some wicked food!". Well, with a lot of good food places around the Metro, you might just need to prepare yourself in saying this more often, especially when you eat at a restaurant where the 'wicked' word is not only for the delicious food. It's actually the name of the place.

Just within the the vicinity of the ABS-CBN compound is a food place named Wicked Kitchen. It's not that big a place, but people keep coming back to the place for their delicious dishes. In fact, they have already opened a branch at Katipunan Avenue to cater to more avid customers. Wicked Kitchen is a restaurant that serves delicious food during the day and more of an 'inuman' place during the night. But, the place is most famous for some of their rice meals and their desserts. They have a really diverse menu that would give you a hard time in choosing what to eat. The servings here are also quite large, so you definitely won't have a problem when you want to be really full afterwards. The menu at Wicked Kitchen offers a variety of dishes ranging from delicious Western food to scrumptious Pinoy meals with a Wicked Kitchen twist. As compared to other food places that serve the similar dishes, Wicked Kitchen is more on the affordable side. It offers yummy dishes that you'll surely like at not-so-expensive rates.

An Exceptional Ramen Rave-iew!

Japanese food, you ask? Well, that's really not much of a problem, especially here in the Metro. With the emergence of Japanese food places such as Tokyo Tokyo, Teriyaki Boy, and Tempura, people would definitely not have a hard time looking for delicious and close to authentic Japanese dishes. One noticeable thing about Japanese cuisine is that they are offered in big servings. Restaurants would usually serve Japanese dishes in a big bowl (a good example would be Tokyo Tokyo's Sumo Remix bowl). But, big servings don't usually come without a price. A bowl of this yummy Japanese goodness would usually cost you around 200 to 300 pesos. The good thing, however, is that it's worth the price you paid for, not like some restaurants that focus more on presentation and ambiance. Now, we bet you wanna know if there's a Japanese restaurant somewhere around Metro Manila that would absolutely satisfy your Japanese cravings without sacrificing a lot of what's inside your wallet. Well, our answer is....YES.

Just along Araneta Avenue is a Japanese food place named Atsu Atsu Ramen. The place might seem a bit out of place because it's beside truck dealers. It actually is the only food place in that area. But, it is amazing how they, despite the geographical situation they are in, managed to stick that Japanese aura in their food place. The entrance definitely looks like an old Japanese house with Japanese lanterns adorning the door. We have actually done a little bit of research (since we really were curious what the name means). We found out that Atsu Atsu in Japanese means "very hot". Obviously, it is usually used for hot Japanese soups like udon and ramen. According to tradition, atsu atsu dishes stimulate the appetites of the Japanese people during winter. Well, with Atsu Atsu Ramen's delicious dishes, you really won't need a change in season to stimulate your appetite.

Thai Dara: 'Healthy' Thai Food at its Finest

It's really hard to resist Thai food. Every Thai dish is packed with flavors that will surely make your appetite satisfied. The good thing about Thai food is that it always offers a variety of flavors, from the sweet, to the sour, to the salty, and to the spicy. It doesn't rely on one flavor alone. With the help of Thai spices, Thai cuisine really takes eating up a notch. Flavor-wise, it is definitely one of the best dishes a foodie must try. Every Thai dish is a recommended one, regardless of which Thai restaurant serves it.

The continuous craving for delicious Thai food brought us to a Thai place at Granada street. It may not sound very familiar, but Thai Dara is one of those places where you can get authentic Thai dishes. When you taste Thai Dara's food, you'll feel that you're really having a meal at Thailand. The spices they use are imported from Bangkok, which makes Thai Dara's dishes very close to the original. What's even better is that you can have these dishes for a very affordable price. Every dish is less than 300 pesos, with every dish good for 3 to 4 persons. If that's not enough, Thai Dara's dishes are certified healthy. Thai Dara uses no MSG and no lard in cooking their dishes. So, you are sure to get delicious and authentic Thai dishes that's fat free and light on the budget at the same time.

A Rockin' Good Way to Dine!

When we speak of diners, we would usually think of American meals like pancakes, burgers, sausages, and chicken wings. Diners here in the Metro would usually offer average-priced meals. They're not that cheap, but they offer dishes with American servings. When we say American servings, we mean big plates with lots of food. So, you could say that the meals at diners are affordable. But, there is one thing that differentiates the original American diner from the diners here in the Philippines - Pinoy meals. Yes, diners here offer variety. They serve not only delicious American dishes, they also offer dishes that are Filipino-inspired such as beef tapa, daing na bangus, and tocino - mostly Filipino breakfasts. One such food place is Mile-Hi Diner.

Mile-Hi Diner is located at Eastwood at Libis. This food place is not limited to Quezon City. It also has branches in Baguio, Tagaytay, and Taguig. They offer a wide assortment of dishes, from classic American diner meals, to Filipino breakfasts, to Mexican wrapped food. The dishes here are big in servings, just like the food you see at an average American diner (we actually mentioned this earlier hahahaha). It's may not be that cheap, but it really is very delicious. The good thing about the food is that it's available all day. Breakfast meals are available even during dinner time. You can even choose to have delicious and fluffy pancakes in the middle of the afternoon. To tell you honestly, nothing in the menu is not worth trying. So, it might not be a surprise if you're having a hard time in choosing what to eat.

The place, in our opinion, is not that diner-ish. For us, it's bit different from the typical diner. But, they do have some usual diner designs such as the black and white colored wall and leather seats. They also have nice lamps for every table which they didn't open yet since it was lunch time. The service was also really good. The waitress who served us during the duration of our visit was really accommodating. She made sure that we had a good time at Mile-Hi. Overall, the place really gave that comfortable and nice feel.

Here's what we both got:

Iced Tea, 35 php (Glass); 70 php (Bottomless)


Glutton Guy and Glutton Girl: To those who read our blog, it's not that surprising that we ordered iced tea for our beverage. It's always better for us to drink iced tea or juice rather than a glass of soda. It's just like the normal iced tea, however. Nothing great to expect about the drink. It was the typical and normal iced tea. They do have beers, though, for those who want to have some good time with friends. They also have milkshakes for those who want to have that really good diner experience. : )

Onion Rings, 130 php


Glutton Guy: When I ordered their onion rings, I didn't know that they would serve a big plate full of it. I think they sliced 2 big onions just to give us our order. What's good about this dish is that the rings are made from real onions. There are some onion rings that are made from artificial flavorings and flour, thus giving it a mushy texture. The batter of the onion rings was really delicious. It was spiced well and had that crunch when you eat it. The dip that came with the rings gave that kick which was very delicious. It really hyped the flavors of the onion rings. It was a really good starter for a diner meal. : )


Glutton Girl: I liked the onion rings of Mile-Hi. The onion rings were very crispy and very flavorful. They were perfectly cooked and chewy. The onions had that nice texture and they really had that crunch which I really liked. When the dish was served to us, it was a like a small mountain of onion rings on a plate. We didn't realize that it would be that much when Glutton Guy ordered it. Nevertheless, we had the appetite to finish it all up. The dip was also very delicious. I liked how it complemented the flavor of the onion rings. 

Beef Tapa Filipino Breakfast, 155 php


Glutton Guy: It actually is not my thing to order a Filipino breakfast at a diner. I would usually order American food, since it is a diner. But, when we were at Mile-Hi, I was persuaded to buy the beef tapa dish. The waitress said it was their best-seller among the Filipino breakfast meals. So, I decided to try it out. The servings was not that much, but it was served in a big plate so it would seem that it was a lot. The beef was tender and easy to eat. The flavor was really good. The fried rice was also very delicious. The tomatoes were fresh and very delicious as well. The egg was perfectly cooked. I liked it because the yolk was intact and the edge of the egg was a bit burned. Overall, everything on the plate really worked. I didn't regret ordering this dish. It really worked for me. : )

Glutton Girl: I also got the beef tapa dish. I really loved the dish. The beef had that really delicious flavor. There was that mixture of sweetness and saltiness that I really liked. It was cooked perfectly and it wasn't fatty at all. Adding some of the vinegar really made the beef more flavorful. The tomatoes really went well with the beef. I had doubts on eating the tomatoes because of the green color. But, it was really good. The egg on my dish was also very delicious. The rice for me wasn't that much, but it was like the punctuation mark in the sentence. There were crunchy bits of garlic that really gave the rice more flavor. It was a very satisfying meal for me.

Most people go to diners for the big servings of American diner food. But, it wouldn't hurt to try something that's uniquely ours. Having Filipino breakfasts at a place like Mile-Hi Diner can always be a satisfying experience. Not only do you get delicious meals that are really worth trying, you also get a heaping amount of it. If that's not enough to satisfy your stomach, we don't know what would. Try Mile-Hi's food and have a rockin' good diner experience!

Here's how we rated Mile-Hi Diner:


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(Mile-Hi Diner has 5 branches: 1. Citywalk, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City - near Teriyaki Boy; 2. Camp John Hay, Baguio City; 3. Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City; 4. Mezza Residences, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City; and 5. Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.)

The Metro's Upside Down Marvel

When you want good food, you always look at certain criteria or factors that would indicate that the food place you are going to visit offers good food. We would sometimes consider popularity or those that people recommend to us. We also consider the price, especially those of us who have budget constraints when it comes to food. There are also some who consider the taste of the food, or the size of the servings. Simply put, when we decided where to eat, it always has to be the food that matters. But, when did it ever occur that you ate at the place because of the place itself? A place in Quezon City not only offers delicious and affordable food, it also offers one of the weirdest yet most relaxing ambiance you might encounter.

You will find the place in Quezon City, near White Plains. You can't miss the place because of the upside down 4x4 Land Rover Defender 90. Not only is the vehicle upside down, the whole place is. Yep, you got that right. The place really is upside down. In fact, it's the first and only upside down restaurant in the whole of Southeast Asia. How 'bout that? This is most probably one of the reasons why you should dine at Pan De Amerikana.

Pan De Amerikana first opened its doors at Marikina. If you think the Quezon City branch is creative, the main branch also has its own stuffs to brag about. It has a windmill outside the restaurant, and when you go inside there's this giant chess set that is very much playable. Back at the Quezon City branch, the interior is very beautiful as well. They have plants all over the place. The have a small bridge that you have to pass upon entering the place. There's a piano and some tables and chairs that are also upside down. Pan De Amerikana can surely brag about the ambiance of their food places. 

Pan De Amerikana offers delicious breads that you will surely enjoy. Not only that, they also have Pinoy dishes that are delicious and very very affordable. For less than a hundred pesos, you already have a complete and satisfying meal. The servings are not that much, though. That probably explains the low price of the dishes. But, it's not a regret trying them out because the dishes here are very delicious. They really are worth trying, if you ask us.

The service took a while, probably because of the lack of waiters. We probably waited around 30-40 minutes for our order to be complete. The bad thing was they were serving our orders one by one. The drinks were served first, which was very common. Then, one dish was served 15 minutes after, followed by another dish 10 minutes after, and so on. It really tested a bit of our patience, considering the fact that we were in a bit of a hurry during our visit here. Nevertheless, the food was really delicious and we were really satisfied with what we ate. The food is worth the wait, but we think that it might not be tolerable anymore if we waited that long next time. 

Here are some of Pan De Amerikana's delicious dishes:

Iced Tea, 15 php


Glutton Guy: I got Pan De Amerikana's iced tea. According to the woman who took our orders,  it's Pan De Amerikana's version because it's a house blend iced tea. It's a bit too sweet for me, but it's delicious. The flavor is very different from the usual iced tea. There's a fruity flavor that you can taste when you drink it. The serving for me was a bit small because it's only placed in a small glass. As I have said in the previous blogs, I drink a lot when I eat, so sometimes one glass is not enough for me. Nevertheless, for 15 pesos, I guess it's not that bad.  : )

Ensaymada, 10 php


Glutton Guy: We decided to buy ensaymada because we were very intrigued by it. When we saw that it only cost 10 pesos, we were really surprised. The ensaymada was really good. It was really big for a 10 peso bread. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet, unlike other esnaymadas. The amount of butter and sugar was just right. It didn't have any cheese, though. It was just butter and sugar on top. I think it would be better with a little bit of cheese on top. But, it's still delicious as it is. It's absolutely one of the must-try breads at Pan De Amerikana. : )


Glutton Girl: The ensaymada we bought was very tasty. The bread was soft. It wasn't hot, but from the bread you would know that it was freshly baked. The sweetness from the sugar and the butter on top was just right. The ensaymada also looked cute. It has that swirling shape which looked really nice. You would know that it was pugon baked because of the difference in the taste of the bread. I could actually finish one whole ensaymada on my own. It's a good starter and also a great finale for your meal at Pan De Amerikana. It's also nice to bring some home.

Ilokano Sarabasab, 40 php


Glutton Girl: I ordered Ilokano Sarabasab because I was curious on what it was. The lady who took our order explained it to me a bit, but I still couldn't picture it in my mind. I wanted to see how it actually looked and tasted. So, I ordered it. It wasn't that bad after all. The dish was composed of pork bits in vinegar with some ginger, some onions, and some chilies. It was like Pan De Amerikana's version of Kinilaw. The pork was really good. I was looking for some kind of crunch from it, though. The vinegar really hyped up the flavor of the dish. I really didn't like it when I accidentally ate the ginger. Other than that, all the ingredients worked well. The onions gave that added crunch. I think it would be better with more chilies to make it spicier. It was a delicious dish, nonetheless. The serving size wasn't that big, but it was really worth a try.

Lumpiang Shanghai, 25 php


Glutton Guy: I ordered Pan De Amerikana's Lumpiang Shanghai. The shanghai was really really good. In fact, it actually is one of the best tasting lumpiang shanghais that I have tasted. The wrapper didn't give any crunch. You would usally look for the crunchiness of the shanghai when you eat it. Pan De Amerikana's didn't give that. But, the filling on the inside was really delicious. It had a different flavor which I really liked. I didn't know what they placed in there. But, it was very delicious. I didn't like the sauce, though. It was like ketchup with a bit of water. For me, the shanghai was great on its own. The serving size was also not that much. The dish was only composed of three pieces of lumpiang shanghai. For 25 pesos, though, it really was not that surprising. But, it's still a must-try. : )

Sisig Rice, 125 php


Glutton Guy: As compared to their other dishes, the sisig rice of Pan De Amerikana really is a lot. It's actually good for 2-3 persons. You could actually eat it on its own. It already has sisig mixed with the rice with some scrambled egg on top. The sisig rice was alright. Eating it with some of Pan De Amerikana's dishes would really make your stomach full. The flavors were just right. I liked the combination of the sisig and the egg. It really worked for me. The sisig wasn't overpowering the other dishes we ate. The taste was enough for my taste buds. : )


Glutton Girl: It was like sinangag with a twist. Imagine sisig and rice mixed together with some egg. It was really good and really fulfilling. The sisig really gave the rice that delicious flavor. Rice would usually taste bland. But, with the sisig it really had a different taste. It was like ulam and rice all in one dish. The egg also added to the delicious flavor of the sisig. We actually had a hard time finishing it because it was really a lot. You should try the sisig rice at Pan De Amerikana.

Sometimes, all you need for a perfect meal is a relaxing and a very comfortable environment. Pan De Amerikana has just that. They have the most creative and most relaxing ambiance that you could ever wish for in a food place. It's great to eat here, especially with all the noise present in the Metro. Pair it up with delicious and appetizing dishes and you're sure to have a satisfying meal. Buy a bread or two, and you have a complete Pan De Amerikana experience. Surely, Pan De Amerikana food will make your world upside down.

Here's how we rated Pan De Amerikana:


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(Pan De Amerikana has 4 branches: 1. 131 Katipunan Avenue, St. Ignatius, Quezon City - You'll pass it if you're coming from or going to White Plains. Look for the inverted Land Rover; 2. 92 Ordoñez Street, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City - Near World of Butterflies. Look for the Windmill; 3. Constellation Drive corner Makati Avenue, Bel Air, Makati City - Near Jupiter Street; and 4. Unit 4, Madison Building, Wilson Street, San Juan - Near Cardinal Santos Hospital. Just a reminder, we believe not all of the branches offer the resto dishes. So far, we think that only the Katipunan branch and the Marikina branch have the restaurant meals. The San Juan branch and the Makati branch have the breads.)