Saturday, July 30, 2011

THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE


NOTE: As of 24 August 2011, I received advice from Wencel that they will be closing for a while to venture to wonderful, far away place. We wish you the best Wencel, we hope you'll be back soon!

What I love about restaurants like THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE is the privacy of the venue and the personal approach when it comes to service. Sweetie and I felt like we were invited over by a friend to his home! The meals are prepared on the spot - one can hear the whisking, boiling and frying - and smell the aroma of freshly-cooked food that makes you think it would be better met by your taste buds.

This private dining is run by Wencel Angeles (of Biyaheng Pinoy fame) and Chef Robin (he's Korean!). The wooden mat area can accommodate 8 to 10 persons, and the air-conditioned room with tables can cater to a group of 8. Korean songs also play in the background, adding to the authentic feel of the restaurant. While waiting for food to be served, you can walk around or, like me, conquer the games available, like Boggle:


Or read their guestbook! Hehe!

Wencel served us four appetizers (and they're free!) before the main courses. I am already in love with place.

Clockwise from left: Special Omelette, Pickled Lettuce (with a Kimchi kick, yum), Homemade Tofu (my favorite!) and Pickled Cucumbers

The main dishes are then served:

BEEF BULGOGI 불고기
Marinated beef sirloin strips cooked in soy sauce, shiitake mushroom, sesame oil, and secret spices. How do you eat it? Take a leaf or two, put in some meat, and rice, roll it up, and you're good to go! (Sorry no photos of the demo, my hands were full, ha!)

JAPCHAE 잡채
Enjoy light, chewy glass noodles with fun flavors of sesame, veggies and meat! This is also served with rice.

YANGNYEOM CHICKEN 양념치킨
A must-try! Crispy fried chicken smothered with their special red sauce :) Spicy, sour and sweet!

KIMCHI BOKKUM
Our favorite, our favorite, our favorite. Need I say more? :p We loved the spiciness of Kimchi that flavors the hot rice, the soft bits of smoky Korean ham, the runny egg yolk... this dish is perfect! I will order this every time. (Notice the chopsticks too! Cool huh?)

Do you love spices? Then order a glass of SUJEONGGWA. A Korean fruit punch traditionally mixed with persimmon, cinnamon, ginger and even peppercorn. So sweet and spicy. Yummy!!

And then comes my most awaited part of every meal: DESSERT! We pre-oredered their homemade ice cream, sadly it wasn't available (next time Wencel, okay? hehe), so Wencel offered us fish ice cream instead. At first, I was a bit hesitant about the fish and the ice cream used in one phrase. I mean, wouldn't it taste funny?

We ordered it anyway, and when Wencel served us the fish ice cream, I was laughing my heart out. It was an ice cream sandwich - shaped as a fish!


I don't understand Korean, but based on the packaging, there is a sweet bean layer inside the "fish":


Yummy!!! See you again soon, fishy fishy!

We also saw a glass case where Korean beverages are stored, unfortunately we were too full to down even one shot. Next time we will!

SOJU 소주
40% alcohol content... Wow. I think this was what Sassy Girl was drinking when she was ranting at the restaurant and suddenly banged her head on the table. :p

Happy diners

The food was great, the servings huge, the venue cozy and private, the prices are reasonable, and we felt like we had our own butlers that night. It was a great dining experience! Thank you! 감사합니다! 

Experience Korea in Marikina!


THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE
20 Ipil Extension (near East Drive and UMAC)
Marikina Heights, Marikina City (Reservations required. View map here)
Tel. No.: (02) 544-1684 (NOTE: As of 24 August 2011, The Hidden Korean Place will close for a while.)
Visit their website at: THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP


Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

Sunday, July 24, 2011

WOW LEGS!


***AS OF APRIL 8, 2012, WOW LEGS is already closed. Hope they reopen soon!***

Barely a week old and still on soft opening, my sister, Mom and I just couldn't wait 'till its full operation so we headed to WOW LEGS! to check out what they had to offer.

The place is quite clean and spacious. The meals are at reasonable prices WITH unlimited rice!



They also have this promo that when you buy four meals, you get the fifth one for only one peso. A really budget-friendly place to dine with your family, or friends. The price of the meals do not go beyond 99 pesos.

The menu offers mainly chicken legs cooked in different ways. Just to be clear - with legs I mean the thigh plus the leg - not the drumstick only. You can order it inasal, barbecued or fried. They also offer pork, an alternative to those who do not really fancy chicken.

 I ordered the crispy sisig. It's pretty good, served on a sizzling plate with a crunchy sunny side up egg.

 Sister ordered Wow Legs! Chicken Barbecue

Mom ordered the Inasal version of the chicken leg. It was good, too. (Snatched a few slices from her, hehe)

 Softdrinks to go with our meals...

...and to battle the spicy oil! Yummy!

 Our flavorful lunch

Visit Wow Legs! today! (Love their mascot - a "minotaur" of pig and chicken!)


WOW LEGS!
J.P. Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City
Just across the central market building (All Calumpang-bound jeepneys pass by the place)
Tel. No.: (02) 358-8726 / 09152188256
Munching Budget per person: starts at 49 PhP


Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni 

Monday, July 18, 2011

More Reasons to Love KRUNG THAI


Yesterday we were back at Krung Thai for my sister's extended birthday celebration. The place was packed, as always, and even more so given that it was Sunday - a family day, and it's the pay weekend! As mentioned in my first post on the restaurant, we've been here several times but we usually order the same stuff, the stuff that we love. Yesterday, we got to try new things from their menu.

 The TOM YUM SOUP was sour and spicy (259 PhP/349 PhP for medium or large serving). You can ask your server to make it extra hot, or, like what we did, mild. Boo?

The soup gets served in this authentic hot pot

Crab meat rice (99 PhP/189 PhP/389 PhP for small, medium and large servings). Stir fried rice with the fragrance of shredded crab meat. Yum!

Adobong Kangkong - sweet and garlicky

AND NOW ON WITH THE CLASSICS:

 Our favorite fried chicken that is best eaten with their chili sauce (129 PhP/249 PhP/498 PhP for quarter, half or whole chicken)

 Bagoong rice that is a complete meal in itself - topped with pork adobo bits and scrambled egg... (99 PhP/189 PhP/389 PhP for small, medium and large servings)

 ...plus a green mango salad that is no less than sumptuous!

We ordered spring rolls, too!

  Thai-style iced tea (left, 79 PhP) and regular iced tea (right, 59 PhP). The Thai-style iced tea is creamy and spiced. Delicious.


KRUNG THAI
Marikina Public Market
M. Cruz Street corner W.C. Paz, Sta. Elena, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 646-2005 / (02) 681-7696 / 09277920587
OPEN EVERYDAY from 9am to 9pm
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100PhP

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

Monday, July 11, 2011

REE CHICHIE CASSAVA CAKE


If you would like to try something else, other than the usual cake or ice cream for dessert, you may want to drop by REE CHICHIE for a box of their warm cassava cake that comes in delicious flavors!


We have already tried three flavors, the original with cheese, macapuno, and corn. They are all really good and make for an ideal snack item anytime.


The box above is the macapuno variant of their cassava cake. Upon opening the box, your senses will be immediately met by warmth and sweetness.


With us, a box of their cassava cake usually lasts for 10 minutes? :D

They also have branches all over Manila and in Bulacan too!


REE CHICHIE CASSAVA CAKE
Lot 2-A J.P. Rizal St., Nangka, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 881-4883 / (02) 782-9795 / 09228725822
Munching Budget per person: starts at 85 PhP


Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

Monday, July 4, 2011

SM MARIKINA


For those of you who are wondering where to eat in SM Marikina (obviously for those who haven't been inside the mall), I took a few shots of the restaurants there to serve as your reference. If you happen to be in the area and wonder if there will be good finds inside the mall (there always are!), check out this list to get an idea. This is not a complete list of the restaurants inside the mall, I missed taking shots of WHAM! Burgers, Gonuts Donuts, and the food court for example. :)

 FRENCH BAKER: My Mom's favorite merienda place!

 PIZZA HUT: For all your stuffed crust pizza cravings!

 MC DONALD'S: Never fails.

 MAX'S: Chicken all you can, anyone? Even without the promo, their chicken has always been delish.

 KFC: For buckets full of love - and delicious chicken!

 PANCAKE HOUSE: Love their waffles and tacos!

 GOLDILOCKS: An institution in Pinoy merienda, and will always be.

 GREEENWICH: Their pizzas have improved by a mile, kudos to Greenwich! I love their lasagna, as always.

 BACOLOD CHICKEN INASAL: A classic.

 CHOWKING: I am already missing their braised beef!

 TERIYAKI BOY: Dropping by for some Katsudon! Yum!

 BURGOO: Perfect for dates, family get togethers, and drawing with crayons.

 BREAD TALK: Fresh, fancy and tasty bread baked daily!

 THE OLD SPAGHETTI HOUSE: I am in love with their gourmet tuyo pasta!!

 BURGER KING: Grilled burgers - oh la la. They serve great desserts too! Hehe!

REYES BARBECUE: Peanut sauce and Java rice - definitely the way to go with barbecue!

 GERRY'S GRILL - Haven't tried this branch, but will definitely do so, soon!


SM MARIKINA CITY
Marcos Highway, Marikina City
Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni
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