My Manila Travel Notes

Every time before go to travel, I will do some searching regarding the place so for Manila trip, I had found many information and places to go. In this post, I just list down places which I did not have chance to go. Maybe next time can continue to explore Manila.

Most of the time, I exchanged postcard in Postcrossing. Before this, I had request an address for sending postcard and the system gave me address in Manila so I tried to ask some food recommendation from receiver and her replied to me as below:-

We have lots of food hunting trip palaces to go.  If you like contemporary food, you can visit Bonifacio Global City lots of good resto. Filipino food to indulge, we have eat-all unlimited food buffet, it’s very popular here. Try Vikings, Buffet 101. We love ramen too, Ramen Nagi or Santouka. For modern Filipino, we have Mesa, La Mesa Grill, Romulos Café, Aristocrat, Chef Laudico, Bagoong Club – Nathalie

At here, I just jotted down some places which I did not go in Manila for my future references.

Mind Meseum [Link, Photo Link]

It is a well-anticipated, world class Science museum in the Philippines.

Paluto Wet Market [Link]

I saw from Youtube that Paluto Wet Market has many types of seafood and some said is very cheap. After buy seafood, we can take the seafood to restaurant to cook. Online recommend eat “Gay crab”.

Solaire Resort & Casino [Link, Photo Link]

Beside hotel, this Solaire Resort has Casino and shopping mall. The entertainment activities are so attractive.

Ayala Museum [Link, Photo Link]

It has exhibition of Filipino culture, art and history.

Museo Pambata (suitable for kids) [Link, Photo Link]

It features hands-on exhibits that encourage children to explore and discover various concepts while they play.

Laloma [Photo Link]

It is Lechon (pork dish) capital of Philippines. You will see many roasted pig lined up on the street.  It can reach by using LRT to Blumentritt. Online recommend restaurant named Mila’s.

Tagaytay

It is popular with mild climate and the most significant view of Taal Volcano. To go there need take boat and ride horse. The expense to there is quite high.

Salcedo Saturday Market [Link]

This market located in Makati. It has lots of food and things selling.

Legazpi Sunday Market [Link]

This Sunday Market also located in Makati.

Enchanted Kingdom [Link]

It is a theme park which drives need 45 minutes to 1 hour from Manila.

Bahay Tsinoy [Link, Photo Link]

It is a museum located in the Intramurous section of Manila. Inside of it has exhibition of Chinese in Philippine life.

Money Museum [Link]

It has exhibition of money.

Shoe Museum [Link]

It located at Marikina which is very far so we did not go for it. It was my first time to hear shoe museum so I find it will be fun.

Art in Island (Cubao) [Link, Photo Link]

It is an interactive 3D Art Museum in Philippines.

Ayala Triangle Garden [Link, Photo Link]

It located at Makati and inside of it has public art pieces which suitable for photo taking.

City of Dream [Link, Photo Link]

It is an integrated resort and casino located at the heart of Entertainment City. The great thing is it has provides shuttle service to there. The pickup point includes SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and many more. Kids can go to “Dream Play” to learn and play.

The Wine Museum [Link]

It is a Family oriented non-smoking establishment which comprises a Hotel, a Colonial & Spanish Restaurant and the Wine Education Center.

Washington Sycip Park [Link]

It is located in Makati. At there can look for Wishing Stone with a twig quill and water reservoir for you to write wishes on.

Food

Chinatown

Lord Stow Bakery which famous in Macau has branch in Manila. Due to need to walk for long times so I cancelled to find it. Ah….my egg tart!!!

Dong Bei Dumpling is in my list but I cannot find it.

Balut [Link]

It is a developing duck embryo (fertilized duck egg) that is boiled and eaten in the shell. It is common food in Manila but I cannot find it.

Movie Star Café [Link & Photo Link]

It is a movie-themed restaurant featuring waiters in Superhero and Villain costumes with Broadway Musical performance. It is located in SM Mall of Asia.

Café Travel [Link]

It is a cute and cozy café that looks exactly like the café from the Korean television series you saw. It provides homey, private and intimate dining experience with some cushions and toys.

Caffera Photo + Café [Link & Photo Link]

It is first photography themed coffee shop. The drinks are serves in a camera lens cup.

Uke Box Café [Link & Photo Link]

If you like Ukulele then you should come to this café. Inside of café has lots of Ukulele.

Chemistea [Link]

The cool thing in this café is they serve drinks on flasks, beakers and test tubes. It reminds me of experiment.

Barkin Blends Dog Café [Link]

For dog lovers can come here to eat and play with dogs.

Gerry’s Jeepney [Link & Photo Link]

Besides eating, you can take a photo with jeepney.

Mabuhay Restop [Link]

It located around with Manila Ocean Park or Rizal Park. Mabuhay Restop Travel Café and Museum aims to promote Philippine cultural heritage and love of God and country through food, tours, shows, arts and other attractions.

Precious Moments Manila [Link, Photo Link]

Precious Moments is a collectible figurines and gift items. Inside of the café has lots of Precious Moments.

Nook Café: Manila’s Harry Potter Themed Cafe [Link]

Harry Potter fans can go to this café for photo taking and eating.

Note:

All the information I get from online so I not sure the accuracy of it.

Manila Food 2015: SM Mega Mall: Komoro Soba Japanese Restaurant

[Itinerary]

From the word of “SM Mega Mall”, do you know what does “SM” stand for?

SM stands for Shoemart. The history as below:-

SM founded as a shoe store by Henry Sy, Sr, in October 1958 in downtown Manila. Mr. Sy, who is known as the visionary of Philippine retail because of his innovations in the industry, thought of establishing a chain of shoe stores with a store layout and merchandising concepts never before tried in the Philippines. The success of the shoe store led to its expansion as a full line store.

We had shop for a while in SM Mega Mall, the sky getting dark so we need to go back.  Not far from main entrance there has a Japanese restaurant name “Komoro Soba Japanese Restaurant” so we decided to take away meal and eat in hotel because later we also lazy walk to Robinson Place.

Based on online source, Komoro Soba Japanese Restaurant is the first one to spread the concept of “Bento”, Japanese lunch box to the people of Philippines.

I ordered Komoro Bento which can see in “Sweet & Spicy Komoro Series” because it is new series. The bento cost me 136 peso and 7 peso for packaging because I chose for take away.

The bento box comes with macaroni salad, rice, pork, vegetable, miso soup and fruit.

Komoro Soba Japanese Restaurant

Building A, SM Megamall

Julia Vargas Ave. Mandaluyong City

Manila Food 2015: Greenhills Shopping Center: ArmyNavy Burger + Burrito

[Itinerary]

ArmyNavy Burger + Burrito is a quick-service restaurant specializing in a unique burger + burrito concept. It served American (New) and Mexican dish but you also can see some Philippines dish too.

This restaurant comes with self-service and the staff will call waiting number when the food is ready. Be sure you alert for your waiting number.

The Breakfast set which served with garlic rice, egg and *atchara. I ordered Hungarian Sausage breakfast set which cost me 175 peso. Besides that, I added on hot chocolate for 40 peso.

*Atchara is a pickle made from grated unripe papaya popular in the Philippines. This dish is often served as a side dish or fried or grilled food such as pork barbecue.

In overall, I quite satisfied with this breakfast set except the sausage’s skin has a little bit difficult to bite. In future has chance, I would like to try for their Burrito which is flour tortilla filled with meat, Spanish rice,frijoles, oninons, lettuce and cilantro as it looks delicious.

Manila Food 2015: Promenade: Won Ton Restaurant

[Itinerary]

When saw the word of “Promenade”, I will think of “Promenade Hotel” in Kota Kinabalu. In Manila, Promenade is a shopping mall which near with Greenhills Shopping Center.

During lunch times, we had gone to Won Ton Restaurant. I ordered pork wonton noodle soup which cost me 160 peso.

On the menu has a drink name “Buco Juice”. All of us did not know what is “Buco” so we asked for waiter and waiter told us that is coconut. When wrote for this post, I had saw “Calamansi Juice” which I also did not know so I online search and found out that is Filipino Lemonade.

The portion for wonton noodle is not so many which I think did not enough for me. Beside noodle, it has 5 wontons and some vegetables.

Won Ton Restaurant

2^nd Floor Promenade

Greenhills Shopping Center

Manila Food 2015: Robinson Place: Handaan

[Itinerary]

In Robinson Place has food court which has lots of Philippines cuisine stalls for you to try for. As there are lots of Philippines cuisine stalls, I really took quite lots of time in thinking and choosing my dinner.

In Handaa, it has many dishes for you to choose. I ordered for “Super Loaded Meals” 125 peso which included Sinigang na Baboy, Fried Squid, Pork BBQ, Macaroni Salad and Rice. Sinigang na Baboy is a sour soup which the pork along with vegetables are boiled in a sour broth.

For me, the Sinigang na Baboy really sour. I dislike the fried squid which has a coat of flour. I took the flour away. In overall, I still satisfied with the dish except I found out that the portion of vegetable not so many that make feel a little bit guilty of eating too much meat. Haha

From menu can saw lots of words which we did not know what it about so I had find the meaning via online.

Nilagang Baka: Filipino Boiled Beef Soup (Luckily I did not order for this because I did not eat beef)

Sisig: Sisig is a Kapamgan term which means “to snack on something sour”. It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar. It also refers to a method of prepareing fish and meat, especially pork which is marinated in a sour liquid such as lemon juice or vinegar then seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices.

Papaitan: Papaitan is a famous Ilacano soup dish mostly composed of cow or goat innards. The name of this dish was derived from the Filipino word “Pait” which means “bitter”. The bitter taste of this soup comes from bile. This is a bitter juice extracted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder to aid disgestion.

Crispy Crablets: Crispy Crablets are seasoned small crabs that were dredged in cornstarch and deep fried until crispy. It is a popular appetizer among Filipinos which often eaten with spicy vinegar dip or any alcoholic beverage. (Based on the word, can guess it is a crab dish)

*************************

Chop Suey: It is a dish made up of meat and seafood cooked with different kinds of vegetables. (I just knew that beside Malaysia, Philippines also has Chop Suey)

Sotanghon Soup: Sotanghon known as Cellophane noodles, Chinese vermicelli, Tang Hoon or Glass noodles is a type of transparent noodles which are made out of green beans.

Bicol Express: It is a stew made from long chilies, coconut milk, shrimp paste, onion, pork and garlic.

Bopis: It is a piquant Philippines dish of pork or beef lungs and heart sautéed in tomatoes, chillies and onions.

Bangus: Philippines grilled milkfish

Manila Trip 2015: Paco Park

[Itinerary]

Paco Park is a recreational garden and was once Manila’s municipal cemetery built by the Dominicans during the Spanish colonial period.

The Oasis Paco Park Hotel is near with Paco Park so we definitely go there to take a look. Paco Park is in a circular in shape with an inner circular fort so you won’t worry that you will get lost in here.

In Paco Park has a  Burial Site of Rizal.

On morning and evening, many people like go to Paco Park to exercise, dating, take picture, playing and many more.

Paco Park is a popular wedding venue for couples who like garden-like settings. The times we went there, a wedding was get on but we did not go inside to take a look. It is at inner circular fort there.

Before this, I had seen online that the entrance fee for Paco Park is 10 Peso. I think maybe due to wedding event, the Paco Park is free for all?

As Paco Park is not so big so we took around 10 minutes finished visit it.

Paco Park

Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

San Marcelino Street, Paco, Manila

Manila Food 2015: Mall of Asia: Ya Kun Kaya Toast

[Itinerary]

Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a Singapore restaurant which offering delectable kaya toast and other complementary traditional food and beverages to one and all. It also has many branches in overseas such as Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Philippines. I just wonder why it did not has branch in Malaysia? Maybe Malaysia is too near with Singapore or has many competitors in Malaysia?

When in Mall of Aisa, we feel very hungry so we found a place for having lunch.

The picture of menu which taken by me has a little blurr, click here to see the online menu. Some of the food on menu is only available in selected stores.

I ordered Sa Po Fan which cost me 168 peso. The Sa Po Fan taste good but if it can add on vegetable, it will be great.

Ya Kun Food, Inc

125 North Parking G/F SM Mall of Asia

Manila Food 2015: The Singing Cooks & Waiters Atbp Restaurant

[Itinerary]

The Singing Cooks & Waiters Atbp Restaurant is a restaurant that serves Filipino dishes while serenading and entertaining customers with well-known songs and traditional folk dances. It is a great musical dining experience.

When we went into the restaurant, we had been warm welcome with a security and ask us to wait for a while to confirm for the seat because we did not do any reservation.

If you want to come here, better do reservation to get a nice place (front) to watch the performance. As we did not do reservation so we sat beside of performance which is not a good place to watch and take picture of performance.

When we went inside, the performances not yet start but can saw that they are prepared with it.

We only ordered 3 types of dishes with large portion so that all of us can share together.

Pancit Musiko (An Original Dish) Large – 550 peso

Sweet and tasty Asian inspired flat noodles with squid, meatballs, chicken liver, Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts and scrambled egg.

Red Egg & Tomato Bagoong Rice (Large)- 420 peso

Appetizing salted egg, tomato and shrimp paste flavored rice.

Chopsuey Guisado- 450 peso

Our version of the Chinese-style mixed meat & vegetable sauce.

The atmosphere in this restaurant is very happy because the cooks and waiters will sing and dance before dining. It is fun. They seems very enjoy for their work.

The waiter and cooks seems very busy beside do their own job because they need to sing and dance. They really have a good voice and talent in dancing. They knew sing lots of different language of songs.

We were so lucky that the cook cooked the noodle and vegetables in front of us with singing. The cook has a strong voice because when he sang, everyone is look at he.

The Chopsuey Guisado is more or less same with the Chopsuey we eat in Malaysia.

The Pancit Musiko (noodle) was salted so all of us just took some to eat. When the cook cooked for the noodle, my friends had saw that he put too much salt in the noodle. We not sure whether cook is like salty or he forgets how many spoon of salt he put into the noodle as keep singing. Haha..

The taste of Red Egg & Tomato Bagoong Rice is good. It was my first time to eat tomato rice with salted egg.

The “large” for noodle and rice is in big portion. Five of us cannot finish the noodle because we were so full in eating.

During performance, I had spotted a man took a video camera to record the performance with a headset. It seems very professional because normal people will not using headset. Then, my friends and I guessed that it has TV show recording because the cameraman (guy with headset) recorded two hosts interviewed with the cooks. The host talked in Thai so we guess that they are from Thailand. The cameraman even record or take picture for our tomato rice.

Beside sing and dance performance, when they sang for “Gangnam Style”, the cook had showed his cooking skill in front of all.

In one of the performance, one of the waiters invited my friend and I came out to dance. Wow, this was my first time to dance in front of people. Haha.. In normal melody, we just need to shake our body but when heard of “Run, run..” then we need to run. Last, we run to our place.

After the performance, everything is return to normal but some cooks and waiters also keep singing. When we backed, friendly security even helped us to find a taxi.

The Singing Cooks & Waiters Atbp Restaurant

Ongpauco Bldg, Roxas Blvd near corner Sen Gil Puyat Avenue, Manila

Website: Singing Cooks and Waiters

Facebook: The Singing Cooks & Waiters Atbp