A few weeks ago, my cousin treated me to a satisfying authentic Japanese lunch at Zipang Modern Japanese Cuisine.  Zipang is not along the main food scene area of Tomas Morato.

But, it was conveniently placed beside Ingarden Philippines - my Aunt's world class home decor shop at Jamboree Street Corner Scout Fuentebella.

I've really fortunate that my family and relatives have always been supportive of my hobbies and ventures.  Knowing that I loved photography, my cousin offered me the opportunity to try product photography by having a photo shoot of her items.

Of course, I was delighted with the project.  While food is the reason why I got into photography, I wanted to learn more than just food photography.   Because of blogging, I  got to try some Fashion Photography, Events Photography and Travel and Landscape Photography.  I also sometimes do Kiddie Party Videography and Photography with my sisters.  But, I've always had an enthusiasm for other types of photography.

Aside from the photography experience, they also bring me to new food places that I've never been to before such as Zipang.

Food

According to the menu, the restaurant is owned by Chef Masashi from Nagano Japan. 

Teishoku

♥Nikatsu Set Meal (270 php)

My cousin ordered the Nikatsu Set Meal which was a hefty serving.  My cousin couldn't finish this on her own so she shared it with me.  The katsu was delicious!  The appetizer varies but I think we were lucky because during our visit, it was a salmon dish that was amazing!  We both agreed that this set was a bang for the buck.  Not only was the katsu serving generous, it also included a high quality and special appetizer, miso soup, salad, Japanese rice and  pickles.

Donburi

Gyu-Don (345 php)

My typical order from a Japanese restaurant is the gyudon.  I wanted to try the gyudon of all restaurants I visit if possible.  Zipang's Gyu-Don is good but it wasn't extraordinary enough for me to order again.  Moreover after seeing the generous serving and features of the Teishoku Set, I felt that the higher pricing of the Gyu-Don isn't justified.  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Would we come back to Zipang again?  Definitely!  The dishes are authentic and of quality.  But, definitely go for the Teishoku Sets if you want to get the most out of  your money's worth.  The service is great too!

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Zipang Modern Japanese Cuisine Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Sashimi | Nigirizushi | Makizushi | Teishoku | Teishoku 2 Otsumami | Soup | Salad | Tempura | Curry | Noodles | Rice  | Donburi | Bento | Beverages
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Zipang Modern Japanese Cuisine
Business Address	6 11th Jamboree Corner Scout Fuentabella Street, Sacred Heart,  Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 875-7834
Other

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If you're looking or the meatiest time of your life, better check out Roadster Roasters.  This is the ultimate meat lovers hideout!

It lives by its hashtag #fueledbymeat. 

It's a very chill eating and drinking place.  I'd say it's not too dark to be exclusively for drinking.  But, it cozy for drinking.  There's also an al fresco area for smokers. 

Food

Appetizers

♥Roadster Brisket Nachos (295 php)

For starters, I highly recommend the Roadster Brisket Nachos.  Not sure if we were all just really hungry by the time this was served but we really dug deep into this nacho bowl and emptied this quick.

Mozza Bombs (235 php)

The Mozza Bombs is a bit pricey but it's an irresistible combination of bacon and mozzarella.


Beef Brisket

If I would choose just one dish... one glorious meat dish at Roadster, it would be the Beef Brisket
hands down.

♥Beef Brisket 150 g (315 php)

The Beef Brisket is slow cooked for 12 hours in texas-style.  Then, it is bathe in gravy when served.

It's so good that you wouldn't mind grabbing some with your hands.

If you want to capture the crowd's attention, order the Roadster Meat Platter.

Before it gets to your table, you'll hear a loud motorbike engine "brooming" as two hunk servers carry.  Crowds will want to capture it.  And, some like Earth Rullan of Earthlinggorgeous.com will drop their jaws in amazement.

Roadster Meat Platter (1,655 php)

This hefty Roadster Meat Platter is good for sharing. 

Pork Belly

♥Single with 1 Side (345 php)

Another must try is the Pork Belly which comes with a sweet and tangy Mango Chutney Sauce.   It's surprisingly perfect with the sauce.  I can't stop popping a piece in my mouth after the other.

Barbecue Pork Ribs

♥220g with 1 side (345 php)

I was expecting Barbecue Pork Ribs that comes with bone racks.

♥220g with 1 side (345 php)

But, when Barbecue Pork Ribs lands on your table looking so thick, succulent and deliciously tasty like this, you devour immediately!  This is so good!

Butter Roasted Chicken

Half (285 php)

I'm usually a Roast Chicken fan.  But, this one I'll pass on for the other meats.  I found it too be a bit dry and the butter isn't evident enough to whet my appetite.

Dessert

For dessert, they partnered with Manila Creamery.

Drinks

They have a whole range of booze.

And surprisingly, they have good brewed coffee too.


Congratulations Roadsters Roasters on your grand opening!  I will definitely come back for more!

Roadster Roasters
Business Address	Ground Floor, TV5 Media Center, Sheridan Corner Reliance Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-800
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 246-9069 ext:53
Other

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It was a laid back afternoon.  I felt like going for a place that's good for chit chat.  And, I thought of no better place than Le Petit Souffle.  I've been here before for The Worskshop Bespoke Bakery event so I know that the interior is exceptionally beautiful.  

But I have to admit when I first encountered their food at Mandala Park, I was not impressed.

I don't know if it was because it wasn't prepared fresh from the kitchen or because it lacked the beautiful interiors.

But I'm quite sure that it was the interiors that lured me to try another time.

This is my favorite spot.  It makes you feel like you are inside you're very own greenhouse on cool and refreshing mid-summer day.

Food

Savory Souffle

♥ Japanese Beef Curry Souffle (550 php)

I wanted to make sure I get the best out of my experience at Le Petit Souffle.  So I what better way to do that other than trusting their name?

Japanese Beef Curry Souffle (550 php)

Clearly, the name indicates that "souffle" is their specialty.  When I glanced at the menu, I thought what an expensive dish.  But, when it was served, I realized it was a hefty serving for two or more.

♥ Japanese Beef Curry Souffle (550 php)

Our server advised us to mix our Japanese Beef Curry Souffle  for optimal experience.  She even volunteered to do it.  But, I wanted to do it for myself.  So... here's the mess I made.  It was messy but really delicious!  This is a must try!

Noodles

♥ Le Petit Carbonara Souffle (385 php)

I got smarter and asked for the Le Petit Carbonara Souffle to be split into half.  This is one of the most umami rich pastas I have ever tried.  The souffle is just right to tone the rich flavor a bit.  The texture of the fettucine is a perfect al dente.  To sum it up, this is heavenly!

Souffle Pancake

Matcha Red Bean (325 php)

I had to decide between the Matcha Souffle Pancake and Matcha Red Bean.  I chose the latter since it sounded more extravagant.  The price is almost double too.  I liked it with the Creme Anglaise.  The maple syrup and matcha souffle pancake seems a bit odd for me.

Souffle Glace

♥ Pistachio Dark Cherry (200 php)

What we fell in love with is the Pistachio Dark Cherry.  The pistachio richness is on point and the smooth and silky texture that massages the tongue in every teaspoonful is sensational.  The dark cherry sauce is a great compliment.  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We definitely loved all our orders at Le Petit Souffle.  We would definitely love to come back and order the same orders again especially the Pistachio Dark Cherry!

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Le Petit Souffle Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Soup | Bread | Salad | Mains | Blends | Drinks | Appetizer  | Noodles | Hambagu | Savory Souffle
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Le Petit Souffle
Branches	Century City Mall Century City Mall, Kalayaan Ave, Makati, Metro Manila SM Megamall 2nd Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-800
Free WiFi	No
Contact
Other

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It was a Saturdate at SM Mall of Asia.  As expected, most restaurants in MOA were packed and busy.  As we were looking for a cool place to eat, I suggested that we try the newly opened Japanese Cafe Tokyo Ice Cafe.

I actually had some difficulty locating this place because most sites indicated that it is found in Seaside Boulevard when it is actually at the SM MOA Entertainment Hall Galleon Wing.  Being new, it was also not found in any of the mall directories.

When we finally found it, I was quite happy because it was as cute as the photos I've seen online.  

It was also cozy, comfortable and quiet as it was almost empty.

It appeared to be clean and relaxing.

And, the air conditioning is cooler than the mall in general.

Aside from the dining area, I just have to mention that they have the most advanced technology restroom I've ever encountered.

Every inch of the place is Instagrammable.

Even their coaster is cute.

Food

Mentaiko Cream Set (399 php)

I ordered the Mentaiko Cream Set because the Genovese Set was not available during our visit.  It was highly recommend by our server as the best seller.  For the price, the set is quite reasonable.  It is a complete meal with fried egg, Mentaiko Cream Pasta, Fresh Salad, Chicken Teriyaki, Potato or Macaroni Salad, Ningyo-yaki Bear and Japanese Cheesecake.  

The Mentaiko Cream Pasta is a very flavorful pasta that surely matches most Filipino taste preference.  What I loved more though is the Chicken Teriyaki.  I have to commend their idea of having extra teriyaki sauce served on the side so you can decide on how much of the sauce you want. I liked that the sauce is perfectly blended to be lighted salted and a bit sweet.  I also enjoyed how tender and juicy the chicken meat was.  The Potato Salad is also comfortingly creamy.

Ningyo-yaki Bear and Japanese Cheesecake

But what really got me all giddy and excited is the Ningyo-yaki Bear.  It was so cute!  And, it was also fun to eat since it was soft and not too dry.  The Japanese Cheesecake a bit more dense and creamy than other Japanese Cheesecakes I tried such as Uncle Tetsu's.  But, it had its own distinguishable glamour.  It was so rich that the cupcake-sized serving was already fulfilling for me.

Although I wanted to try their kakigori, this set made me too full to order more from their menu.

Sides Ala Carte

Sweet & Sour Pork (200 php)

My date ordered the Sweet & Sour Pork.  He thought he could order it with rice but to our surprise, they don't serve rice at all.  I was laughing because he was forced to be healthy!  We both found the Sweet & Sour Pork to be much on the sweet side.  For a Side Dish, I think this is a huge serving. But for the quality, I'd say that the sets are more reasonably priced than this.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for a cute and cozy place to hang out at SM MOA, Tokyo Ice Cafe is one of our top picks.  This is one of the best interiored cafes we've been to.  We chilled here for a long time after we got tired from taking a stroll at the mall.  Since ambiance is our top consideration for visiting this place, we'd probably try their specialty Kakigori and Drinks on our next visit since we don't feel that they specialize in serving meals.  We don't recommend dining here if you're in a hurry since the service is quite slow but do note that they are still in the soft opening phase during our  visit.  We also hope they have Free WiFi soon.   

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Tokyo Ice Cafe Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Sandwiches | Drinks | Kakigori  | Desserts | Pasta
Taste	★★★
Service	★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Tokyo Ice Cafe
Business Address	SM Mall of Asia Entertainment Hall Galleon Wing, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	200-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact
Other

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