Vina Trang Cuisine (authentic pho & Vietnamese coffee) is a new restaurant in San Antonio Village. Luckily, a new healthy nook in this part of Makati!

It's a very simple restaurant. In fact, it's just a duplex turned into a haven for Vietnamese food lovers. 

Meals come with a free artichoke tea. I think that's how true artichoke iced teas should taste and look like but I like Bon Banhmi's version more. 

As you get older, this should be veggie-good

Tried the ff in Vina Trang:

• House Special Pho at Php 235. 

So... can't differentiate

• Well done Flank Brisket at Php 185.

Hmmmm. 

When served, it's hard to differentiate the House Special from the Flank brisket. But when tasted, both are good. It's aromatic and flavorful. Best of all, the psychological feeling that something good and healthy go inside my body. Their pho is good. 

• Roasted Pork banmhi at Php 99 (medium).

Also, it's spicy

In terms of the bon banhmi Vietnamese sandwich, Bon Banhmi along Mayapis St. is still the best! 

Overall, it's a nice break from all those unhealthy lunches. Now, Satinka Naturals has a rival in this niche (tho this is way cheaper).

Menu here:

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/vina-trang-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Vina Trang, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Vina Trang Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18231011/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> 

Rating: 3.5

Vina Trang is located at:

8839 Sampaloc Corner Estrella Street, 

San Antonio Village, 

Makati City

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Sunday, January 31, 2016

Lolay's Bahay Bulalo is the new competitor of Mr. Sizzler's along Estrella St., in San 

Antonio Village. It's a good welcome for the lunch scene here but most importantly, because sometimes Mr. Sizzler's service is just too slow and a new choice is needed.  

I've had many lunches here from their soft opening until now in their normal operations with lots of lunch and dinner patrons. 

Here are some of what I've tried at Lolay's:

• Bangus ala Pobre at Php 99. Not so much a fan of this. I didn't like how the bangus went with the sauce. 

A healthy choice if only sans the sauce

• Salisbury Steak at Php 99. A tad better. Of course, must be the meat. 

Of course, hamburger is a comfort food :0

• T-Bone Steak at Php 159. Value for money lunch! The t-bone is big and not too salty plus the sauce is nice! I bet the sauce here is different from their other choices. Great. 

Affordable steak!

• Pork Liempo at Php 99. I like the combination of the liempo and their mushroom sauce. 

Thumbs up for the serving size

• Crispy Chicken at Php 99. I don't like this one. Just chicken breast strips and at Php 99, that's not that much worth. There are 1.4 chicken (inasal or fried) out there that's better off. 

What makes me come back at Lolay's is their free bulalo soup! I need not order a bowl of it because I get to taste it already. And it's super delicious. 

Menu here:

Soft Opening:

DISREGARD: just a documentation of their soft opening menu

Regular/ New Menu:

So they increased a bit....

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/lolays-bahay-bulalo-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Lolay's Bahay Bulalo, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Lolay&#039;s Bahay Bulalo Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18275726/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> 

Rating: 3.5

Lolay's Bahay Bulalo is located at:

8076 Estrella Street,

San Antonio Village, 

Makati City

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

I've been in the quirky yet cozy Coffee 8065 hole-in-the-wall several times. It's a favorite hang-out place: the ambiance isn't pretentious, the price is great and the food is to go-back for.

Quirky table

Get a book or cards while waiting

That's exactly how I feel for their Grilled Sausage Tomato Pasta at Php 120. I always come back for it. It's their only red sauce among the sea of white and I feel so calorie-happy every time it's my lunch or dinner. I always come back for it. I always order it. Only once did I deviate from my favorite order and though my panini choice was good, I find the pasta better. Plus, serving is large. It can even be shared by two petite stomachs.

I just caaaaaan't resist you :'(

So why do I love it? For one, it has a generous serving of halved tomatoes and sausages. Another is their yummy sauce. It's pure tomato goodness that's bordering on hot. And, freshly served, every time! It also comes with a grilled bread. Writing about it makes my mouth water :)

Once I've tried their Strawberry Frappe at Php 100 served in a large glass. It's sulit  but just too sweet for my liking. Their green tea at Php 40 is refillable and they also have unli coffee! Though I've never tried the unli coffee part :P 

For a happy-happy-joy-joy mood

They also offer cakes but those aren't their own. Despite that, they were wise in choosing a good supplier :) For someone who has been in the area for long, it wouldn't be hard to guess where they got their cakes. I suggest ordering Campfire Cake at Php 120.

Campfire cake isn't in the photo. But these are some of what I've tried.

By the way, it's a sisco of 8065 Bagnet and owned by Kitchie Nadal. She's in this shop sometimes. Some Fridays, there are gigs perfect to unwind the week that once.

Enjoyed this particular stint! They're good!

As per service, it can sometimes be a bit slow. Though as regular patron, I understand it as I'm always sure my pasta would always come out newly cooked. 

While waiting, they have cards on their bookshelves or their PSP can be rented at Php 100 per hour or Php 50. 


<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/coffee-8065-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Coffee 8065, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Coffee 8065 Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6315637/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> 
Rating: 4.5


Coffee 8065 is located at:


7700-A St. Paul Street, 
San Antonio Village, 
Makati City

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Friday, January 29, 2016

Finding Tonkatsuya was a challenge. Even when we were told that it's in Palm Tower, we had to look once over because it's at the basement. But it was worth the hassle as it's a gem restaurant in Makati. 

The place was very unassuming; only manga series adorned their walls. Their patrons were mostly Japanese. Didn't put my expectations high even though it's included in Spot.ph's Top 10 Tonkatsu in Manila. 

Way of saying 'welcome'

Then you can spend the afternoon here with these

Upon order, we were served with cold tea. The usual set would include miso soup plus in Tonkatsuya, there's a bean sprout side dish and a bowl of rice. First time I went there, I ordered Cheese Katsu Set at Php 260 because I was craving for something like Ichiro's in Taft. Funny thing is, their cheese katsu was regular tonkastu topped with melted cheese. Ichiro's was better of course that it melts in the mouth. But Tonkatsuya's wasn't bad either; it was acceptably good.

Cheesy without you....

Yes it was that I visited again. Second time around, ordered Tonkatsu Set at Php 220. It wasn't as soft but it's tasty and not so oily. A good way to end it was their sliced cabbage (not unlimited, of course). Just had to pay additional for Japanese mayo or Kewpie sauce. 

Back to basic

In my two visits, walked out full and happy. Cheap yet good food. Nice combination. Service time was also acceptable for a 1-hour break. 

Menu here:

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/tonkatsuya-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Tonkatsuya, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Tonkatsuya Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6312609/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> 

Rating: 4.0

Tonkatsuya is located at:

Palm Tower B, St. Paul Road

San Antonio Village, 

Makati City

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Saturday, December 26, 2015

A new kid in the [San Antonio] block! Welcome Mr. Sizzlers!

Chalkboard menu

It's a very small, alfresco dining along . At night, it can be full house but for alternative and cheap choice for dinner, it's bearable. I've tried here several times and here's the verdict:

• Sisig at Php 70- my favorite sinful craving but this one didn't crack. I remember asking if it's chicken or pork. I can't seem to define.

• T-Bone steak at Php 95- it's salty but acceptable.
• Hungarian Sausage- can never go wrong with this.
• Laing at Php 50- with shrimp and pork, unbelievable. It's not so "gata" creamy.

• Leche Flan at Php 100- sweet and acceptable. 

Drawback here is their (super) slow service because their kitchen is very small. I'm assuming they only have 2 pans that orders come one at a time.

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/mr-sizzlers-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about MR Sizzlers, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="MR Sizzlers Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18153845/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> : 2

MR. Sizzlers is located at: 

8055 Estrella Avenue, 
San Antonio, Makati City

cheap eats in Makati San Antonio food finds

Friday, September 25, 2015

As a weekday Makati resident, it's always a delight for me to find good food plus good value meals around my place. One of those I consider is Chubby Meals where single rice toppings is at Php 99.

Located along Kamagong St., near San Antonio Village in Makati, it's hard to miss the bright al fresco dining it offers versus Suzu Kin's dimly lit facade.

The area, contrary to its name, is just very small. In fact I guess they can accommodate only around 30 pax in a long table. Best for to-go, I should say.

In my first encounter, I didn't eat rice but here are my friends' meals. Serving size is not that much (therefore not Chubby) but heard that their rice is good. Some toppings are okay except for their fish fillet full of breading.

Instead, I opted for Beef Sandwich at Php 99. Funny that their sides is Mr. Chips? I bet it should be fries. Anyhow, despite that I enjoyed the sandwich. The cheese inside plus greens and alfalfa (or arugula) added a nice flavor to it.

Again, meals in Chubby Meals is not that chubby in size but at Php 99, it's okay. If they can adjust a bit the size much better. It took us long to try it because another friend hated the small serving.

 

: 2.5

Chubby Meals is located at:

Sampaloc cor. Kamagong St.,

San Antonio Village,

Makati City

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Momma's Boy Urban Dining is one of the newest restaurants in San Antonio Village,  Makati City. Though it's situated in the middle of Sampaloc St., it's hard to miss its Oriental vibe. So one night, when looking for a nice spot to chill just nearby found refuge in this new hole.

Just like inside, it also sports the same interior; Oriental using wood decors and furniture. When it comes to their menu, it's consistent with their theme: Asian Fusion. All these I bet momma loves to cook.

Found their menu a bit expensive all things considered so I went for Momma I Like Pasta-MILP at Php 210. MILP has a special red and white sauce in rigatoni pasta and shrimp garlic bread added.

Serving size happily was more than a fistful. I can note that they didn't scrimp the sauce and there were quite a number of shrimps. The sauce has a bit spicy taste. It's a thumbs up though not enough to rule the world. 

To cap the meal, also had Iced Tea in a mason jar  at Php 50. Just a regular expensive normal.

Service meanwhile was not so prompt as we waited more than 5 minutes for our meal when nobody's around. But this is forgivable. They were at soft opening then.

Because of their price, I might be saving this to something more special than a casual dinner.

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/mommas-boy-urban-dining-san-antonio-makati-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Momma's Boy Urban Dining, San Antonio and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Momma&#039;s Boy Urban Dining Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/17958006/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a>  Rating : 3.5

Momma's Boy Urban Dining is located at:

8887-D Sampaloc St.,

San Antonio Village,

Makati City

Momma's Boy Urban Dining San Antonio food finds

Sunday, July 12, 2015