Luk Yuen Noodle House

We ate at this Chinese restaurant at the SM Megamall branch to celebrate my college friend, Mic's birthday. I grew up going to SM Megamall for our shopping needs, as probably the case for every Pasiguenos. It is the nearest mall to our place with almost complete amenities. Being familiar with the mall, sometimes it is difficult to pick a place to eat at inside the mall. With SM Megamall undergoing renovation, it is even harder now to choose a place to eat at.

Luk Yuen Noodle House is one of those typical Chinese eateries. Service was good here. Our servers were polite and quick to attend to our needs.

Some of the food was ok but some fell below my expectations.

Noodles Cantonese style. I liked the taste of this but the serving was small.

Sliced Beef with Broccoli

Boneless Chicken in Lemon Sauce

Yang Chow fried rice. The waiter said that it was good for 2-3 persons but it really was a small serving. As well, it didn't have much ingredients (sahog).

To satisfy my Chinese carvings, I’d still go to North Park.

Litratong Pinoy: Dalampasigan

Kakagaling ko lang nang Pagudpud noong Lunes. Inabot kami ng bagyong Igme kaya maulan at malakas ang alon. Subali't sadyang ang ganda pa rin sa bayan na ito. Halos dulo na nga ng Luzon.

Ang aking maruming paa sa magandang dalampasigan ng Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Suot ko ang aking Havaianas na munting nang tangayin ng agos.

Maraming mga bato at kabibe sa dalampasigan ng Blue Lagoon. Malinis at kulay asul at berde ang tubig nito.

Alex Lugawan

If you grew up at downtown Pasig, then you are familiar with this known eatery. Located at San Nicholas, Pasig (I think), near the Immaculate Concepcion church, Alex Lugawan is a favorite among the Pasiguenos. From the name of the eatery, it is famous for its lugaw paired with tokwa’t baboy.

As I’ve learned, sisig is also one of their best-sellers. When E and I decided to eat there one night, I opted for my favorite tapsilog. E ordered lugaw (congee) and tokwa’t baboy (tofu and pig’s ears). At the facade, Alex Lugawan appears like a carinderia. Inside though, there are several tables and chairs where one can sit – ala canteen-style. The place actually occupies two floors and is open as early as 7am and until 1 in the early morning of the next day.

I found the tokwa't baboy sweet and yummy.
I did not like the taste of the lugaw (congee). It was kind of bland.


I ordered tapsilog. It was okay.

carinderia style

Hula-Hula @ Westgate

Several firsts for me. .

It was my first time to eat at a mall located in the South. I’m an East (Pasig) and North person and well, you can throw Makati there also but I seldom find myself in the South area. It was also my first time at Westgate and it seems to be our version of Eastwood. There were several restaurants and coffee shop in the area.

It was also my first time at a Hawaiian-themed restaurant. As well, a first time to try the luau fests.

Luau Fest: food served in banana leaves meant to be shared.

Boracay-themed luau fest

Our choice of theme for the luau fest was a hit. The bagoong rice was made of bagoong balayan (anchovy sauce) and not of bagoong alamang (shrimp paste). I never knew bagoong balayan tasted good with rice. Combined with grilled squid, chicken, liempo, eggplant and okra – it was a hearty Filipino dish. It felt like we were actually beside a beach and enjoying a grilled dinner.

The other group tried these:

Davao Gulf (mostly served with salsa;
came with mango salsa, pomelo salad, cucumber salad and kilawin;
with crab rice)

Japanese Hawaiian (with pineapple pork rice)

Hula Hula is a must try especially for the experience. I have yet to try their crabs and famous belly chops.

Located @:

Business Development-Commercial Centers, FAI Administration Bldg. Alabang-Zapote Road, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang
Muntinlupa City

Exotik

It was already late in the afternoon and past our lunchtime when we finally left Pagsanjan. Starving, we were desperate for something to eat. But being in an adventurous mood, we didn’t want to opt for Jollibee or any other fastfood we could easily eat at at Manila. Besides, we were looking for a restaurant that shall serve Filipino food. After all, we were in the far South. I recommended a restaurant at the town of Bay but it was just far and opposite our direction. We then headed to another known eatery at the town of Kalayaan which was just a few kilometers of Pagsanjan.

We were determined to be daring so we decided on eating at Exotik. The name can’t be more original. LOL. And true to their name, they serve exotic food – those dishes that we do not normally eat.



The area that the restaurant occupies is quite vast. As we were waiting for our food, we explored the area a little bit. There was a small pool upstairs but I’m thinking it was just for design. There was also a store downstairs selling pasalubong. The real highlight of the resto was the creatures we discovered while exploring the place. There were huge snakes in cages. The caretaker of the resto said that these snakes were ‘harmless’ and friendly. Some of us were brave enough to prove that. I wasn’t.

(Some of my friends who were fearless enough to come near the huge snakes).

As for the food, we actually ordered only three exotic dishes. The rest were the normal, safe food.

(L-R, Top: Sinigang na Baboy and fried whole chicken
Bottom: pinakbet and chicken curry)
I can remember how the meat in the sinigang had more of fat instead of the meat.

I still prefer the food at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan sa Bay. Food there was full of flavor and tasted home-cooked. Food was just ok at Exotik but just for the experience of trying a unique resto – Exotik is worth eating at.

(T - B: fried palaka (frog), ginataang kuhol (snails cooked in coconut milk), sizzling baboy ramo (wild boar)