The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® (CBTL) has sprouted a new leaf with its open kitchen concept - Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®.  The Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® was pioneered in High Street South amidst the pandemic - October 2020, serving all-day breakfast, gourmet dishes, specialty coffee and teas and pastries for dine-in, take-out and food delivery.

Followings its success, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® will be rolled out on more CBTL stores soon!  In fact, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® just opened in SM Megamall B.  Can you see its minimalist signage?

We really liked the bright, clean and spacious dining atmosphere of Kitchen.

With this concept, the mainstay of CBTL - a place for coffees, tea and pastries is still there.  Yes, its passion for coffee and tea since 1963 lives on.    You can order drinks and displayed pastries from its typical counter. 

In addition, after your drink or on a separate occasion, you may opt to explore its expansive food menu that offers a wide range of dishes served hot and fresh from its open kitchen.

Food

If you've tried 26th St. Bistro by CBTL before like we did, you'd notice that your old favorites with the same generous sharing portions are offered here at a lower price point.  

 

Salads

California Cobb (395 php)

We had the California Cobb is a large salad plate with fresh romaine lettuce, grilled chicken breast cubes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, mozzarela strips, avocado cubes, almond slices and ranch dressing.

♥ Shrimp & Pomelo (395 php)

The Shrimp & Pomelo is a Vietnamese inspired salad with romaine lettuce, cilantro, mint leaves, poached shrimp, pomelo, roasted peanuts, dessicated coconut and coconut lime dressing.

 

Mains

♥ Steak Chimichurri (675 php)

We especially enjoyed the Steak Chimichurri with extremely tender slices of top blade steak with chimichurri served w/ chiptotle rice and fried potato basket. 

Pastas

Carbonara (365 php)

The Carbonara is the classic and homey kind of pasta you miss once in awhile.  The rich and creamy carbonara sauce is complemented by the savory bacon slices and creamy umami-rich poached egg yolk.

Sandwiches

♥ CBTL Burger (455 php)

The  CBTL Burger is worthy holder of its namesake. Biting into the tender and juicy double USDA beef patties, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cheese & caramelized onions is simply heavenly!  This burger meal is a wholesome and filling one with the soft and thick oatmeal buns, double patty and french fries on the side.

Pizzas

♥ Proscuitto (595 php)

The Proscuitto is a thin crispy crusted pizza topped with the finest ingredients - proscuitto, argula, tomatoes and mozarella.  

Desserts

♥ Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream (195 php)

 

The Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream which is a double-fried thinly sliced flower-shaped bananas served with vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce was such a pleasant meal ender.  The precision in the cutting and frying process which gave each tostones a crispy coating and chewy banana filling is commendable!

Coffee & Espresso

 

♥ Matcha Macchiato and Caramel Macchiato (215php)

 As previously mentioned, the best part is you can enjoy your favorite CBTL along with your food.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Dining at Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® reminded us of what we missed during the pandemic: 1.) premium quality and well-presented dishes (for sharing) served hot and fresh from the kitchen, 2.) bright, spacious, safe and clean ambiance, 3.) friendly and accommodating service staffs and 4.) a wide selection of drinks and dishes to mix and match.  With its reasonable price point considering the generous portion of fresh and premium quality ingredients in its dishes, good service and the cozy CBTL ambiance, we highly recommend this place!   

If you've been to Hongkong, I'm certain you've encountered Hui Lau Shan 许留山!  It's so famous that you'll find in almost everywhere especially the busy districts. 


I was lucky to be invited for a sneak peek prior to its opening.  I'm sharing here what I had then.  I'm aiming to go back soon to try more!!!

Food

Handmade Mango Desserts

Mango Romance (170 php)

The Mango Romance is Hui Lau Shan's world-famous set because as you can see, it seems like an ideal sampler to order.   You get three desserts in one plate: (1) Mango Chewy Ball (2) Mango Crystal Jelly (3) Mango Mochi.  All of them are equally good!  I noticed the pricing here is cheaper than in Hongkong perhaps because their mangoes are sourced here in the Philippines.  Lucky us!!!

Handmade Snacks

Mango Mochi (90 php/3 pcs)

Mango Pancake (140 php)

The first time I've tried a Mango Pancake was in HK 88 Dessert in 999 Shopping Mall Food Court back in 2012.  Unfortunately, it closed down and I haven't had one since.  While I loved the Mango Pancake upon first try, I never thought that it could be as good as how Hui Lau Shan made it out to be.   The pancake had such a light and velvety texture that was well-complimented by the light and fluffy cream-filling and refreshingly sweet and tangy mango.

Drinks

Mango & Coconut 

Mango & Coconut Juice with Red Bean (110 php/18 oz)

When it comes to coconut juice desserts, I can only think of Buko Bar and Haokang Hongkong Desserts who offer the same.  While I am also still a fan of Hao Kang, I would say that this Mango & Coconut Juice with Red Bean is just as good.  Both of them offer them at subtle sweetness.  I think some would prefer this to be sweeter though.


My companions had these... I will try these out soon!


Hui Lau Shan 许留山 also offers desserts as take away!  I will buy some of these on my next visit for the family!

Welcome to the Philippines Hui Lau Shan 许留山!  I hope you can be consistent with the sweetness and pricing cause I will surely keep coming back for more!

There's also lovely melodies being played.  And, we were so fortunate to be seated right next to it.  

Which reminds me... When I was a child, piano was my favorite instrument.  I was never fond of dolls.  All the time, I brought my piano toy with me.  I wonder why I gave up on that interest on playing the piano.  But, I still get goosebumps whenever I hear a beautiful piano melody though.  

Food

Soup

Vegetable Sinigang na Miso (225 php)

The Vegetable Sinigang na Miso wasn't as sour as I hoped.  I wished they had a level option. 
Meat

Kare-Kare ni Juanita (655 php)

The Kare-Kare ni Juanita has a sweet note on top of the usual subtle peanut-butter hinted kare-kare blend.  It reminds me of our local Filipino peanut butters that are sweet.  Yum!!!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Juanita has a timeless enchanting atmosphere unlike any other.  I bet its effect will always be as mesmerising even with multiple visits.  I highly recommend this place.

A visit to Toast after work hours is one way to achieve that.  Among the hundreds of dining places I've been too, I don't think I've encountered one with such homey, rustic, comfortable and elegant vibe like Toast.



Food

♥ Home Dumplings (169 php)

♥ Salpicao (459 php)

O-Tori

♥ Chicken Soft Bone (48 php), ♥ Chicken Gizzard (59 php) and ♥ Chicken Tail (59 php)

Mains Pasta

♥ Japanese Carbonara (345 php)

Mains Beef

♥ Ribstock (888 php)

Mains Pork

♥ Charsiu on Scallion Fried Rice (595 php)

Mains Poultry & Seafood

Orange Chicken (438 php)

Desserts

Matcha Frozen Brazo

We were very surprised at the huge serving size.  If you think about it, the portion size makes the pricing reasonable.  We were so stuffed we thought we didn't have space for dessert... until we saw the Matcha Frozen Brazo.  I've missed the Frozen Green Tea  Brazo de Mercedes of Ma Maison which closed down years ago.  Never thought I'd encounter one like it again.  In fact when it comes to brazo, this one is way better because all the layers are heavenly!  The fluffy top layer, the strong flavor of green tea ice cream, the custard ice cream and the soaked sponge crust all create a wonderful harmony.

Drinks

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Toast Asian Kitchen & Tasting Room has really exceeded my expectations.  I enjoyed the concept, the food quality and the interiors.  If only this was nearer to my home or office, I would see this place as my frequent meeting place, dating venue, after-work chill out and a superb venue for family celebrations.  The food serving is great for sharing so its best to visit this place with company.  And with the cozy ambiance, I'm sure your guests will enjoy your company and the comforts of the place.