People have been gaga about ABS-CBN's Forevermore. In the now defunct teleserye, the yummy (sorry that it's not exclusive for food) Enrique Gil played the role of Xander.

Don't know if it was just the association of the hunk actor but been hearing raves about Xander's Diner along Alabang-Zapote Rd in Las Piñas. One famished night, tried what the black-white-red-violet restaurant has to offer.

The colors <3

Xander's menu was a bit overwhelming. There were various foods--- even just the burger section--- to choose from. After quite a time considering, chose Derek's Favorite at Php 145. It's a 1/4 lb burger with lettuce, tomato, potato chips, bacon and Xander's cheese sauce. 

All those burgers! Look for the best-seller!

Personally, chose it because of the potato chips. Haha. Chose one that comes with fries. It was a hearty, if not sinful, meal. It was, just like Enrique, yummy. thing is, having tasted numerous burgers in a lifetime, there's no defining factor. Good yes, but not something to die for. 

This is Derek :P

My sibling tried Firehouse Burger at Php 135. It's a 1/4 lb burger with lettuce, tomato and onions, hot sriracha sauce, jalapenos and black pepper. I asked how it was but he seems to be looking for something spicier. Like, really? After all those peppers? 

Some more fire, pls

My other sibling tried Xander's Deluxe at Php 145. It's a 1/4 lbs burger with lettuce, tomato, sliced mushrooms, onions, bacon & Xander's cheese sauce. She enjoyed it. 

Looks appetizing!

Topped all the greasiness and fat with Chocolate Overload Ice Cream Boat at Php 145. Opted for Peach Melba but wasn't available that time. How can you get wrong with chocolate, though? Just wish that the ice cream a bit chubbier? 

Choco on choco :)

Xander's was a bit pricey for a burger craving. Additional fee for fries and drinks. Overall though, enjoyed their burgers.

Other menu:

Other than burger

Big Scoop as their IC

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/manila/xanders-diner-pamplona-las-piñas-city" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Xander's Diner, Pamplona and other Restaurants in Metro Manila" target="_blank"><img alt="Xander&#039;s Diner Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6317460/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> 

Rating: 3.5 

Xander's Diner is located at:

Block 14, Lot 17 Alabang-Zapote Road, 

(Across Starmall Las Pinas) 

Pamplona Tres, Pamplona, 

Las Piñas City

burger Derek's Favorite Firehouse Burger food blog manila food reviews good burgers Las Piñas City Xander's Deluxe Xander's Diner Xander's menu

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

 

Hello friends out there! I renamed my blog from www.hellosheena.blogspot.com to www.eatsdelicious.blogspot.com.

Please be guided! Happy eating :)

DIY trip food blog manila food reviews globetrotter travel blog manila wanderlust

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Nagi is a town in Okayma, Japan. Although on their flags, it says Ramen Nagi | Universal Noodle. Could this be the translation I’m looking for?

Maybe the queue was just long. :) Anyway, Ramen Nagi’s interior is bright and loud with the flurry of people and red flags hung all over. I haven’t been to Japan but it feels like eating along its busy streets. And just like how they do it in the land of the ramen, guests are greeted happily in Japanese.

Four kings rule Ramen Nagi’s kingdom:

• Butao (tonkotsu)
• Red (spicy)
• Green (pesto and cheese)
• Black (squid ink)

I decided for the basic: Butao Ramen starting at Php 390. But they’ll hand omotenashi sheet first and red crayon. It can be customized.

Check first!

I didn't choose the easy way out by checking Chef’s Recommendation.

For the soup base, I want it really rich. Special sauce normal so with garlic. For the toppings starting with pork, I chose belly while for the vegetable, cabbage (though I wish I checked onions, instead). I don’t like spicy so checked none. For the noodles, as per the suggestion in Ikkoryu Fukuoka, went for hard.

Ramen Nagi's Butao

Though I enjoyed the ajitama in Ikkoryu Fukuoka, I didn’t add any extras, even tamago.

The broth in Ramen Nagi is the richest and creamiest I’ve had (well I asked for it). The chashu’s thicker and has a mild sweetness. The noodle was really hard, some were even sticking together. It’s a bit expensive than Ikkoryu Fukuoka but it has a relatively bigger bowl. Though lesser toppings.

In terms of taste, there’s just a very slight difference between Ikkoryu Fukuoka and Ramen Nagi. So choosing between, it has to be, again, Kichitora’s Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se. ;)

Menu: 

   

Rating: 3.5

Ramen Nagi has a branch in:

South Wing, 
Mall of Asia Complex

Pasay City 

Butao favorite ramen food blog food reviews Pasay City ramen craze ramen joints Ramen Nagi restaurant menu SM Mall of Asia tonkotsu zomato rating

Saturday, March 28, 2015

I love kwek-kwek, proben and isaw! But Latin American street foods? Never heard.

One lucky night, I found myself in Brasas.  All I can say was, “Ay! Caramba”! I wanna salsa after eating!

Brasas serves Latin American, i.e, Cuban, Argentinian, Colombian, Peruvian, etc. It translates to “live, hot coal” and true enough, I’d tasted a fanfare of bursting flavors straight from the charcoal.

Flaming hot!

Street food theme, the interior has that comfortable vibe. Wooden tables and chairs; blackboards with doodles; brick walls and bottles of drinks on the counter; they all added up to that relaxing ambiance.

Salsa, anyone?

Already impressed with the cool place, it doubled-over after. Here’s why starting with their Picada:

Patacones at Php 180 (Single). Crispy plantain chips with smoked pulled pork, tomato salsa and melted Monterey Jack Cheese.

Hey ,Jack! 

I’m not a fan of hard chips but it was good! Pork was so flavorful and cheese, generous. Yes, it’s crispy (but hard), too.

Ay! Caramba la Papa at Php 190. Season potatoes with smoked bacon bits, salsa de queso and pico de gallo.

Just munch

I liked this better. Chips with the above goodness= deadly combination.

Ensalada de la Casa at Php 220 (Sharing, Vegetarian). Seasonal greens, South American slaw, tortilla chips, choice of dressing: lime-cilantro, orange-walnut and honey Dijon.

Did not add meat anymore

A nice break from all the meat. Just an ordinary salad.

Puerco Asado at Php 310 (Cuba).  Slow-roasted pork belly with crunchy skin, Tajadas, rice & beans and South American slaw.

What a great dish! My favorite from among. The pork was really good and the skin uber crunchy. I love the rice and beans, too! Plus with the Chimichurri sauce, oh yummy!

Puerco Asado x Carne Asada Wrap

Serving is only good for one, though.

Carne Asada Platter at Php 290 (Colombia). Charcoal grilled beef sirloin, South American slaw, Spanish rice and Chimichurri sauce.

Love the colors!

It doesn’t look appetizing, but it’s good. Nice play of colors, too. And the Chimichurri added zest!

Carne Asada Wrap at Php 310. Charcoal grilled beef sirloin, sautéed onions, roasted bell peppers, pico de gallo wrapped in soft flour tortilla.

Hefty carne

So filling! It was a pocketful wrap oozing with a nice kick of spice.

Pollo Asado Wrap at Php 260. Charcoal grilled chicken thigh fillet, sautéed onions, roasted bell peppers wrapped in soft flour tortilla.

Chicken version of the carne asada wrap. Which one did I like more? Still the beef version.

  

For drinks, they have single in glass and for sharing in carafe. Aside from the mojito, they also recommend Brasacolada at Php 140 (good for three) with mango, pineapple, strawberry and coconut milk. How refreshing!

Brasas's version of pinacolada

Brasas’s a not so cheap street food but it’s a must-try! Delicioso!

Menu here:

 

 

Rating: 4

Brasas has a branch in:

G/F SM Jazz,

Nicanor Garcia St.,

Bel-Air, Makati

Brasas casual dining charcoal grilled food blog food reviews Latin American street food Makati food trip SM Jazz zomato rating

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Happy new year!

It's the first month of the year and I'm happy to be once again rolling! This first new review for the year is extra special because it's the birthday of my friend, LyzaCee. So let's talk about where she treated us, in Mongkok Dimsum and Noodles, as that of my title :p

While waiting for the birthday celebrant, we first ordered a handful: 

 

Minced beef in eggwhite soup (Php 230). Perfect for the cold weather. It has sliced tofu too that adds extra texture and flavor (of sourness) to the soup.

 

Seafood fried noodles (Php 280). Went excited for this because I missed the stir-friend noodles I had in KL that was so memorable. It wasn't the same but I'm glad to had elicited that feeling. Theirs is fine, actually. And you get to choose different toppings among the frieds.

When the celebrant arrived, then of course our table was suddenly full. 

 

Mongkok special fried rice (Php 260). I thought it's a yangchow rice, but it's better than any yangchows I've tried than I can remember. Maybe the sweet ham made it flavorful. Or the egg. 

 

Salt and pepper squid (Php 270). Who can say no to a tasty squid? It doesn't have a sauce on it's own but it's fine as it is. It was cooked right too that added to my enjoyment.

 

Fish fillet bean curd pot (Php 270). I personally didn't enjoy this but three of my officemates did. I cannot contest the taste then, haha. Bean curds, not for me.

 

Lechon kawali (Php 270). Partnered with the trusted Mang Tomas, how can you get wrong with this? But I care too much for my heart I diverted my energy in the chicharap instead :)

 

Beef tenderloin chinese style (Php 280). I love this! It's sweet that's why. I also love the crunchiness the onions gave. And it was soo tender. 

 

Schezuen shrimp (Php 280). It was a bit spicy but manageable. The shrimp was cooked the right way too. 

Mango shake (Php 80). How can you get wrong with a fresh mango shake. Yummy!

It's worth another try in Mongkok. It's just affordable. There's quite a lot to choose from too although in terms of dimsum, I'm confused there's no hakaw. Haha. Service speed is just a bit slow, though. To summerize, it's a feel good Chinese resto for me. 

Mongkok Dimsum and Noodles has a branch in Glorietta. 

 Rating: 3

Chinese foods food blog food reviews glorietta Makati City menu Mongkok dimsum and noodles price reviews verdict

Sunday, January 19, 2014

The pure-blooded themselves rated Mien San Noodle House as good as nearly authentic Taiwanese food. Ate here with my Taiwanese friend. So this review is my pahabol for October:

Just like in Korean restaurants, this Taiwanese resto also offer free appetizers from sweet chips, steamed lady's finger or okra and oolong tea.

                        

 Not a fan of healthTEA (bottom left), but you can't help it for Taiwanese and even Japanese restos.

After enjoying the sweet chips, I tried their Hot Sour Soup (Php 138) at the bottom right. It's cheap actually considering the serving good for 2-3. It's not as spicy but it was sour. Just found the combination to be a bit weird.

For my main dish, I had Sate Beef Chami (Php 208). Their Chami is good and the noodle is cooked just fine. It was also quite spicy that I think I'd be enjoying it more otherwise. No regrets though because the serving is good for sharing. So I told myself, "this is Taiwanese flavor, I used to just benchmark it at Dang Dee's"

Mien San Noodle House is located at:

36 Granada Street, 
Villa Ortigas II, 
Quezon City

food blog food reviews Hot Sour Soup Mien San Noodle House oolong tea Quezon City reviews Sate Beef Chami Taiwan Taiwanese verdict

Thursday, October 31, 2013