Despite sounding ironic, there are really times in our lives where we find ourselves in a cafe freeing ourselves from our life of computations and complications.  




I have passed by Cold Layers Cafe countess times...


and all those time, I thought they only served snow ice.  

Food

Savory Meals

Creamy Chicken Pesto (268 php)

♥ Chicken Teriyaki (268 php)

Weekday Specials 

Set B: Chicken Cordon Bleu  with Iced Tea (199 php)

Hotmeals & Sandwiches

Cheesy Meat Lasagna (266 php)

♥ Slow Cooked Beef Ribs (340 php)

Fish n' Chips (220 php)

Special Series Fresh Fruit Snow Ice

♥ "Let's Split" Milk (175 php)

♥ "Summer Fling" Mango (185 php)

♥ "Meant to Be" Matcha (195 php)

"First Crush" Soy (200 php)

"Sweet Surrender" Horlicks (210 php)

Bubble Tea & Coffee

Chocolate Frappe 22oz (110 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cold Layers Cafe is a cute, colorful and a cool place to chill out for savory meals and snow ice.  The food is good but it doesn't come cheap.  Is it costly because it is a cafe?  Not sure about the savory meals but I am super sure I would shell out for the snow ice.

Blogs and online reviewers have given praised and high-ratings for Jang Ga Nae so I suggested it to the family to try when we were in the Ortigas Pasig area and coincidentally craving for Korean.
It has a wide parking space but it was full so we had to double park.


As soon as we reach the door, we were greeted by this.  She reminds me of Jang Geum (the main character in a Korean Telenobela decades ago). 

Before we could even come in, we could already here the chattering sounds of the crowd that came from slight opening of the door.  As we went in, we were told to wait as our table is being prepared.  Mixed smoky vapors clouded the closed room.  But, not too much since there are air-suctions above every table.  We then seated to a wooden table with an electric griller. And, the staffs handed us the menu.

Food

Complimentary Banchan

As soon as our orders were taken, our plates were set up, a pitcher of water as well as our Complimentary Banchan arrived.  I must say, their quite generous and the elections were good.

Complimentary Pajun

We were also provided a Complimentary Pajun.  It was pretty good.  Quite unique being flat but I really liked it.  This is one of the best pajun I've had actually.

Gal Bi Jim (380 php)

There are two things I can generally say about Jang Ga Nae's Gal Bi Jim or beef rib stew (1) It's a generous and chunky serving (2) It's the sweetest one galbi jim I've ever had.

He Mul Tang (290 php)

The He Mul Tang is spicy mixed seafood soup.  This is really spicy with lots of stuff in there like crab, clams, fish fillet, tofu, sprouts, leeks and onions.  For the price, it's a steal. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Jang Ga Nae failed to impress us.  The price is pretty good.  But, that's it.  I wonder if we should have ordered the grilled selections.  But, we didn't feel like it because they don't use charcoal.  If you love Jang Ga Nae perhaps you can suggest what we should try.

It's been almost three years since I last visited Ginzadon Japanese and Korean Restaurant so I'm wanted to refresh my memory during this revisit.

It has the same familiar ambiance that I remembered.

On a weekday night, it was packed with a mix match of diners.  They were business executives, tourists and families.

There is the sushi bar and teppanyaki bar.  The former seemed to be unoccupied.

Food
Their menu has two sections: Japanese and Korean so  its quite clear that they offer authentic cuisine and not fusion.

Okazu (Japanese Side Dishes) and Ban Chan (Korean Side Dishes)

I like their idea of having both Okazu (Japanese Side Dishes) and Ban Chan (Korean Side Dishes) served .


Japanese Menu: Sashimi

Sashimi Moriawase Matsu (1,870 php)

The Sashimi Moriawase Matsu or special assorted sashimi depends on availability.  As you can see everything is so fresh!  It had Hokkigai (surf clam), Ebi (shrimps), Ikura (roe), Sake (salmon), Maguro (tuna), Saba (mackarel), Hamachi (yellow tail) and Tako (squid).  It was actually my first time to try the Hokkigai and it certainly won't be the last because I loved it!


Japanese Menu: Uramaki

Tempura Ura Maki (770 php)

The Tempura Ura Maki is a platter of huge caifornia roll with prawn tempura. The rolls are so big I can't fit them on my mouth!  Each roll has nori bits on top roe on the side, quality sticky rice, crunchy nori, prawn tempura, cucumber, ripe mango and crab stick.

Dragon Roll Maki (950 php)

The Dragon Roll Maki is the king of all maki!  

Dragon Roll Maki (950 php)

It's a big roll with prawn tempura, crab meat, cucumber, ripe mango wrapped with sticky rice, crunchy nori and grilled salmon skin glazed with unagi sauce and sprinkled with sesame.  It is similar to the Tempura Ura Maki so you can skip that and order this instead.


Korean Menu: Classics

Kim Chi Jji Gae (400 php)

Being a spicy food lover, I often order the kimchi stew whenever offered so I've tried many renditions.  This Kim Chi Jji Gae is the best one I've tried yet!  The spiciness is exciting but not overwhelming.  Aside from kimchi, it also has 3 slices of soft silky tofu, green onions and sliced beef.


Japanese Menu: Tempura

Ebi Tempura (720 php)

You can judge by the appearance that this is high quality Ebi Tempura.

Galbi Bi Jim (1,440 php)

The Galbi Bi Jim first struck me as expensive.  But when it was served, I realized that it was a hefty serving.  It has several huge chunks of braised prime rib short ribs, big cuts of carrots, onions, bell peppers and potato.  This braised rib stew is actually a favorite dish of the family so I've tried quite a handful.  I have to admit, this version is way more superior than the others I've tried.

Desserts

Nuk Cha (110 php)

Since I loved the Shiratama Zenzai with green tea ice cream from my first visit, I opted to order the Nuk Cha or green tea ice cream.  It was as delicious as I recalled it to be!

Black Sesame Ice Cream (125 php)

The Black Sesame Ice Cream is just as good!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Ginzadon Japanese and Korean Restaurant offers authentic and quality Japanese and Korean dishes that doesn't scrimp on the serving size and quality of both local and imported ingredients.  The price is expensive but justifiable because it's situated in a hotel, it offers a great ambiance and service and the dishes are really top-notch.

Choice Buffet Restaurant is our family favorite when it comes to an authentic Korean grill (bbq or bulgogi), hot pot (shabu-shabu) and buffet.  But, they are not limited to Korean, there are Japanese dishes as well.

We've been coming back to this place since it was first established many years ago.  My family actually  prefers this over the more popular Yakimix.   We've always felt that this place is underrated by many perhaps due to lack of marketing.

Each table has its own table-top electric stove for the hot pot (shabu-shabu) and a griller. 


Food

Korean grill (bbq or bulgogi) Station
They have a wide range of marinated meats.

The only problem we usually encounter when dining here is not knowing which is which.  I've been hoping they put a label on each item...

What we love about their meat is that you can choose how much marbling you want unlike other buffets where meats offered are more on fats than meat.

My Grill Plate

Have your grill buttered from time to time so your food won't burn easily...

Hot Pot (Shabu-Shabu) Station
The hot pot (shabu-shabu) station is massive in terms of variety but don't expect much for the quality of the fish cakes, squid balls and fish balls.  I recommend the fresh mussels, seafoods and vegetables from this section especially the shitake mushrooms. 

My Shabu-Shabu Plate

You can make your prefered the blend of your hot pot (shabu-shabu) broth from these.

Here's my spicy blend

My Shabu-Shabu Bowl Ready to Eat!

Ban Chan Station
They also have an assortment of ban chan (korean side dishes) which you can eat with your grilled dishes and also add to their Make-Your-Own Bibimbap section.

My Banchan and Grill Condiments.

Salad Station

Sashimi, Kimbap, Sushi and Maki Station
You can request for Salmon Sashimi or Tuna Sashimi.

They also have Kimbap, Kani Sushi, Tuna Sushi, Salmon Sushi...

and California Maki.

Cooked Korean and Japanese Dishes Station

Ddeokbokki (Korean Rice Cakes)

Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

Ebi Tempura

Eggplant Tempura

Pajeon

Fish Tempura

Pork Katsu

Fried Spring Roll

Fried Rice

Galbi Jgim, Japchae, Ddeokbokki and Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

These were all delicious especially the Galbi Jgim.

Desserts Station
There are mini cupcakes, marshmallows...

Cake Rolls

and cakes.  The Cake Rolls looked like they've been there very long although we were the first customers on a lunch time.

Local version of Pixie Sticks on straw

Ice Cream Station

Big Scoop Ice Cream (Strawberry, Mocha, Chocolate and Vanilla)

Coffee Station

Hot Coffee

Update (October 2014): We were supposed to eat here again but found out it was already closed.  So sad!!! =(

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
You're sure to be satisfied and leave with full stomachs when you dine at Choice Buffet Restaurant.  It's a must-try affordable Korean grill, hot pot and buffet.