An Evening in Muang Thai

half serving of pad thai noodles @Muang Thai

Just finished a session of Aikido at the Philippine Heart Center dojo and we were so hungry. We thought of eating in the nearby concessionaires like Jollibee and Chow King but felt we needed something new, something different on our palates. Thus just a few strides behind Philippine Heart Center, along Malakas St. I think, we found a resto, Muang Thai, that looks like a cute house. It's just close to McDonald's (which is currently on renovation) and just right beside Pancake House. They serve authentic Thai cuisine as well as sell embellishments that bear Thai influence like pots and serving bowls as well as other goodies. 

We ordered half binagoongan rice, half pad thai noodles (yes, although not stated in their menu, they do allow you to order just half-a-serving), and grilled pork. We also had house iced tea for their drink.

half serving of binagoongan rice @Muang Thai

grilled pork on a hot plate @Muang Thai

Location: Muang Thai, Malakas St.

Food Ordered: 1/2 Pad Thai Noodles, 1/2 Binagoongan Rice, Grilled Pork, 2 Bottomless Iced Tea

Cost: Total of P508 (Can't give you a breakdown, my apologies)

in my favorite corner spot...

She says...

I loved Pad Thai noodles. The texture of the noodles was just right, 'al dente' perhaps. It was really flavorful and had a certain nutty taste owing to the crushed peanuts that topped the the noodles. The binagoongan rice was just as yummy. It was topped with caramelized pork, strips of green mango, and strips of egg omelet. The different textures and tastes was just perfectly in harmony with each other. The grilled pork on the other hand tasted like any other marinated pork, however, when we poured the sauce over the pork, which was served in a sizzling pan, there was a significant difference in taste, a bit sweet, a bit salty, and truly meaty taste. The iced tea on the other hand was just your normal sweet cold iced tea.

third refill...

What I like about the place on the other hand was its homey feel. It was like an old house with tables and chair made of hard wood (seats were not cushioned). The large water fountain on the side added a relaxing feeing to the total ambience of the place. The people there were pleasant and most of all, they give additional discount to PHC employees!

She rates: Pad Thai: 5/5, Binagoongan Rice: 4.5/5, Grilled pork: 4.5/5, Iced Tea: 3/5, Place: 4/5, Service: 4/5

He says...

I love this place. The food is very compatible with my taste and yet so unique in its own way. The Pad Thai noodles was especially delicious. I cannot recommend it enough. It is one of the most delicious pasta-like food stuff out there, even better than our own pancits.

The Grilled Pork was also delicious if you mix it with their vinegar mix. Without the vinegar it tastes just like an average steak but with it, it becomes the most delicious.

He rates: 5/5 for the food. 3/5 for the iced tea.

Japinoy Lunch @Pinoydon

Pork Katsu @Pinoydon

We were at Podium when we decided to grab a late lunch at Pinoydon, a resto at the 4th floor near the cinemas which serves pinoy foods with a japanese twist, or was it the other way around? We had Pork Katsu, Bistek Teppanyaki, and Pinoydon Fried Chicken with supposedly terriyaki mayo sauce but they had served it with gravy thus I had to ask for the terriyaki mayo sauce which they did produce eventually.

Bistek Teppanyaki @Pinoydon

Pinoydon Fried Chicken @Pinoydon

Location: Pinoydon, Podium

Food Ordered: Pork Katsu, Bistek Teppanyaki, and Pinoydon Fried Chicken

Cost: Pork Katsu-P115; Bistek Teppanyaki-P120; Pinoydon Fried Chicken-P140

Is this the beef steakI've been longing for?

She says...

the place was quite, conducive to eating. The serving size was just the usual small portions. Customer service was poor. Even though there wasn't any other customers, we had to call twice to have our order taken. it was furthermore displeasing when she (the waitress) had to make a side comment which was within hearing distance when I asked for the terriyaki mayo sauce for their chicken karaage despite the fact that it was stated in their menu that they're serving the chicken with such sauce. As for their food, it was not so remarkable. The pork katsu had a more than acceptable taste, although the side dish of vegetable salad was not so delightful as it had ketchup-mayo as dressing. The bistek teppanyaki had a watered-down taste. The beef itself was tasteless. The sauce was like sweet soy sauce with a whole load of water. Didn't really taste nice. The chicken... geez... poor tasting fried chicken. It didn't even have even just a slight hint of crispiness. Guess, I should say, I'm not going back to this poor excuse for a resto.

She rates: Pork Katsu 2/5; Bistek Teppanyaki 1/5, Chicken 0.5/5

He says...

We often overrate food when we're very hungry when we eat them. Not for these foods. They tasted so bland and watered-down I might as well have eaten at home. We ordered 3 just so we have a second and third opinion. I would never return for any more.

He rates: 1/5 for all dishes

Dear Darla by Yellow Cab

It was a very rainy afternoon when we decided to grab a bite and try out the Dear Darla Pizza by Yellow Cab. Thanks to their food delivery services, we didn't need get horridly wet just to fill our tummies. After a few minutes of waiting, the door bell rung and there it was, our order of Dear Darla Pizza.

Unlike other pizzas, this one is unique. Firstly, you can't eat this if your very very hungry. You see, this one is sliced in rectangular strips. Then you have to assemble it by lining the arugula leaves on top of the rectangular slices then topping it with alfalfa sprouts. Drizzle it with chili oil. Afterwards, you need to roll it up and voila! You can now take a bite. See... you really can't eat this when your super duper hungry!


She says...

The trouble of lining up the leaves and putting on the sprouts were worth it. It gave the pizza a distinctly delightful taste. I haven't tasted anything like this. I usually am fond of vegetarian pizza 'coz I find most pizzas very oily. (They really are, so veggie makes me less guilty when weight-watching). This one however, is truly awesome. I love it so much, I hate about 4 strips of Dear Darla assembly! I totally recommend this!

She rates: 5/5

He says...

I was skeptical when my mom told me about Yellow Cab's Dear Darla Pizza. We've all been to Yellow Cab right? Their pizzas are very delicious and they probably have one of the best pizza places but their pizza taste roughly the same to each other. Changing ham to vegetable or beef doesn't really remove the strong taste of cheese, bread and oil.

I was wrong to doubt my mom. The Dear Darla Pizza was amazing!

Unlike their normal pizzas, this pizza had fresh vegetables in it. You have to put these leaves and sprouts yourself and roll the pizza up to eat it. It's weird to be doing that in a pizza where you traditionally just cut it, take it and eat it. Having fresh vegetables (as opposed to cooked) in the pizza gives a very unique experience to your mouth.

I dare to say that this is the best pizza I've tasted so far.

He rates: 5/5