manila eats

Pink's Hot Dogs Manila

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 11:21:41 GMT

Pink’s Hot Dogs doesn’t officially open until June 8 but we were able to get a preview during their soft opening today. Solid Hot Dogs in a hip atmosphere, a simple concept that aims to be a winner in Manila.

Pink’s Hot Dog during the Soft Opening

The well established US brand which started out in Los Angeles seems to be almost as famous as the Hollywood neighborhood its located in. In Manila Pink’s is setting up shop on the ground floor of the new Shangri La at the Fort, facing the latest extension of High Street.

Pink’s is exactly what you would expect. The high quality dogs are so tasty, we could just eat them on their own. The buns are not too soft, providing a solid base for the doggy goodness. We sampled their signature chilli topping which was just alright, but in terms of toppings one will need to wait as only two varieties were available today. On the side Pink’s offers a fantastic serving of fries, perfectly crisp with a nice balance of seasoning that really points out the taste of the potatoes, often lost at other establishments.

Pink’s is partnering with another Fort staple, Farmacy, to provide milk shakes and ice cream floats. We have no info so far if that will be a permanent arrangement or not. In terms of drinks we enjoyed the selection of craft sodas and local craft beers, refreshing!

We will be back for more!

Details
Pink’s Hot Dogs Manila
Ground Floor Shangri La at the Fort, High Street, Bonifacio Global City
Opening Times: TBD
Price Category: $$$

Min Sok

Wed, 18 May 2016 10:50:03 GMT

This unassuming Korean eatery, tucked away in the back alleys of the dingy P. Burgos area in Makati, surprises with high-quality ingredients and authentic Korean dishes. The bold taste profiles ranging from sour to salty and bitter to spicy stand out among the flattened tastes we are used to from the average Korean restaurant in Manila.

Min Sok’s uncompromising Dakdori Tang, a spicy chicken stew

Entering Min Sok feels more like stumbling into an uninspired living room than a restaurant. The huge gas tanks underneath each table instantly catch the eye. At Min Sok ambiance or decor are unheard of. Similar to many hidden BBQ gems in Seoul’s outer districts the owners let the food take the center stage.

For someone who enjoys Korean BBQ for its creatively marinated beef and pork might be disappointed at first sight. Min Sok exclusively serves dry-seasoned meats. We started off with an order of BBQ beef ribs accompanied by the usual set of complimentary Banchan, Korean side dishes including Kimchi, Fishcake and vegetables among others. We were immediately impressed with the high quality of the meat and the understated seasoning started to make sense.

We continued with an order of spicy Octopus which is perfectly cooked and each bite delivers a healthy punch of flavor and spice in your face. Uncompromising, just how good Korean food should be!

For the final order we stuck to one of our old time favorites, Dakdori Tang, a spicy chicken stew. We asked for a half order, which was more than enough for two. The spiciness of the broth was well adjusted and accentuated the taste of the chicken nicely. Though all in all well executed, the lack of carrots which usually helps to balance the starchy potatoes was disappointing.

If you are looking for an authentic Korean restaurant experience without flying all the way to Seoul look no further. The high-quality ingredients and large portions do come with a price price tag though.

Pro Tip: Ask for sesame leaves which can be added to your lettuce wraps to give good a kick of bitter freshness.

Details
Min Sok
5655 Don Pedro Street, Poblacion, Makati City
Phone: +63 2 895 9586
Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10:30am - 10:30pm
Price Category: $$$

L'Entrecôte

Sun, 15 May 2016 04:36:22 GMT

Though often not given enough credit by the hip local crowd, swiss-french restaurant L’Entrecôte has been a solid staple for many years in the BGC Burgos Circle Area. It’s no wonder this restaurant has been around for a while and is here to stay. Their service and food quality remained highly consistent throughout the years.

The staff is friendly and follows a solid routine throughout service, something not often seen in this country. Water will arrive promptly at your table, your order is taken quickly and warm home-made rolls and butter get you started soon after sitting down.

We can recommend some of the simpler startes such as French Onion Soup or Hungarian sausages to save enough space for the hearty main courses.

The signature dish is the L’Entrecôte steak with a secret home made herb butter sauce and unlimited fries, it is to die for. Be sure to ask for extra complimentary sauce, it is way too good to just stick to what comes on the plate. The order is accompanied by a simple but tasty green salad and unlimited perfectly cooked french fries. If you are planning to share, consider going for two single orders as the “Double Steak” is a much thicker cut which might not be for everyone.

Besides a good list of entrees ranging from sausages to beef and lamb, we are a big fan of the Fondue. Outside of Switzerland it is far too common to get poorly prepared versions, lacking in taste or texture. L’Entrecôte delivers a great version of the classic Swiss dish, served in an authentic cast iron pan with lots of home-made bread for dipping.

While we love going back to L’Entrecôte frequently there are a few small areas for improvement. The decor is starting to look a bit dated (though no complaints about cleanliness) and the menu comes across as a bit tacky with faded pictures and poor layout. Just dip some of the crunchy fries in the secret herb butters sauce (addition warning!) and all will be forgotten.

Details
L’Entrecôte
Bellagio 2, Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Phone: +63 2 246 9069
Opening Times: Sun-Thu 7am - 11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-1am
Price Category: $$$

Atelier Vivanda Manila

Thu, 12 May 2016 06:11:13 GMT

Atelier Vivanda prouds itself with a Michelin starred chef and international outlets in France, Hong Kong and Azerbaijan. Their latest Manila, Philippines outlet fails to impress on too many levels.

Our first visit during their first week of opening already ended in a huge disappointment. The staff was extremely disorganized with little to no knowledge about their products and wait times of over 30 minutes for each request (30 minutes was just the check).

This time, during our second visit, the steak was tough and the duck confit way over cooked. For the prices charged (PHP 3,200 for a steak) you’d expect a bit more than a poorly cooked piece of meat on a plain white plate without any garnish, sauce or condiments. Don’t be fooled by the pictures they post online, it is not what you get.

We asked for a mixed plate of their cold cuts which we were refused only to see another table to get it shortly after. Apparently you’ll have to be friends with the owners to be worthy of decent service.

The BGC Burgos Circle area offers plent of friendly, high quality and reasonably priced dining options. Give this one a miss.

Details
Atelier Vivanda, Manila
U-A8 Forbes Town Center, Forbestown Rd, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 848 2632
Opening Times: Mon-Sun 11am - 11pm
Price Category: $$$$$