Since we are Manila residents, we have been passing by the Sea Food Market Restaurant for decades now.  Recently, we noticed that it looks different.  The name has been changed to Sabreen's Sea Food Market Restaurant.
 
Aside from the store sign, you won't notice the enormous change until you step in.

It has become an upscale place. 

Every table has this beautiful set-up.

The kitchen is still the same.  It is as big as ever.  Their head chef is Chinese.  And, they have 10 chefs in total.


I'm told that the new owner is a Jordanian with a Filipino wife.  And, they are very meticulous with cleanliness.  So as you can see everything was squeaky clean from the aquariums until the kitchen.


All the ingredients that will have to be used in cooking has to be bought.  Everything is organized and properly labelled.   Selecting is easy and you can have them bagged and placed on your trolley so you can have them cooked.

They are very methodological when it comes to keeping their goods fresh.  The live ones like the lobsters and lapu-lapu are swimming in the aquarium.  Shellfishes are also soaked in water.   While other fishes are iced.  I was surprised to see that they also have kimchi.  But, I think it was reasonable because I saw Korean diners during my visit.





To complement the seafood, they have a whole range of vegetables.  For dessert, they also fresh fruits.

Food

Sweet and Sour Lapu-Lapu

Everyone loved the Sweet and Sour Lapu-Lapu.

Tausi Clams

My favorite among our orders is the Tausi Clams.

Tempura Prawns

Of course, a popular choice is the Tempura Prawns.  As you can see, they did it right.

Calamares

The Calamares with vinegar is so addicting.  The key is the superb tenderness.

Singaporean Black Pepper Crab

The Singaporean Black Pepper Crab is so good!  Expensive but how can you resist right? 
 

Butter with Garlic Crab

The Butter with Garlic Crab a well-appreciated classic.

Fresh Mangoes

Drinks

Fresh Mango Shake

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
By far Sabreen's Seafood Market is the cleanest and most upscale palutuan I've been to.  I noticed that most of their diners are foreigners who are return customers because they are familiar with the staffs already.  With the ambiance and the good food quality, I can see why they keep coming back.  As with most palutuan, it's best to come in groups to keep the costs down.  Prices for the ingredients are indicated  and they do not charge anything for cooking.

Tip: For the whole month of February 2016, they offer a 10% off discount and wines are on sale for 1,000 php for two bottles.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to try Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant, a newly opened restaurant in Robinson's Magnolia with fellow bloggers.  Believe it or not, this is my first time to be invited at a Chinese restaurant so I'm quite ecstatic.

Since I was in the area, I  took the chance to try their dishes as well as reconnect with other bloggers. 

Stepping in, gave me the familiar Chinese restaurant feel.


There's an open kitchen where you can see roasts hanged. 


There are also aquariums to showcase the live seafoods available.

As live seafoods are seasonal in price, they have a price list where you can see how much per 100 gram.

Food

Roast & Soy Specialties

Cold Cuts Combination: Seaweeds with Century Egg, Soy Tofu, Pork and Lechon Macau (370 php)

We occupied a large table where dishes were served lauriat style.  The Cold Cuts Combination had Seaweeds with Century Egg, Soy Tofu, Pork Cuts and Lechon Macau.  Aside from the
Seaweeds with Century Egg and Pork Cuts, the other items are not the typical ones I'd expect from a cold cut platter.  They were pretty good.  But, if I were in the company of my family and old relatives, I think its best to ask first what are available and maybe w can substitute some for healthier options.


Soup

♥ Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup (290 php)

The Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup is very good.  An order is already good for sharing.  

Prawns and Shrimps

♥ Pan Fried Prawns with Salted Egg (390 php)

The Pan Fried Prawns with Salted Egg is my favorite!  Actually most of the dishes with egg or salted egg yolk is my favorite!  This was perfectly crispy that no tinee-winee bit was spared from me.  I noticed all the bloggers I was with removed the prawn shells though.  I wonder why...

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Lapu-Lapu

♥ Fried Lapu-Lapu in Egg White

I've been accustomed to steamed fish.  I'm glad I got to try something new and delicious like the Fried Lapu-Lapu in Egg White. 


Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Crabs

Sauteed Crab in Hotpot with Extra Sotanghon (+50 php)

The Sauteed Crab in Hotpot with Extra Sotanghon brings out the delectable crab flavors that we love excellently.

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Elephant Shell

♥ Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO sauce

The Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO sauce is simple yet delightfully healthy.

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Frog Legs

♥ Spicy Frog Legs

The Spicy Frog Legs is another favorite of mine.  I'm so lucky that my companions are not as much of a fan as I am so I took on this poor little creatures and finished them all.

Rice

Yang Chow Fried Rice (220 php)

Dimsum

♥ Buchi Cake

Buchi Cake

We always order buchi whenever available.  This is my first time to encounter a buchi cake.  I loved it!  It was a cake made of my favorite fried mantou and filled with bean paste.

Beverages

Fresh Fruit Shake Mango (95 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I'm quite satisfied with our dinner at Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant.  I find their quality good for value considering their fresh ingredients, large serving size and reasonable pricing.  I can bring the family here when in the area.

When it comes to Singaporean cuisine, Tao Yuan Restaurant is definitely on the top list.  For such a long time, the family has been raving about it but I'm always too busy to try it.  Well, lucky for me, I finally got to try it when a mentor treated us as a reward for hard work. 

Tao Yuan Restaurant has a typical formal Chinese dining set up with several function rooms.


Hot Pot

Upon being seated, our host told the server that we will be availing of the hot pot so he gave us this hot pot check list.  I know everyone has their own hot pot topping favorites.  Well, I only have one rule: flavorful seafood toppings are essential.
Soup for Hot Pot 

Double Soup in Pot (238 php)

We chose the classic Double Soup in Pot which is composed of the plain and spicy.  We're not really particular with the soup broth because we'll be adding toppings and sauces anyway. 


Meat & Poultry

Sliced Imported Fat Beef (268 php)

We got some Sliced Imported Fat Beef!  I love fatty beef you see but the family are too health-conscious so we never order one so I was so happy with this first time thing. ;)

Seafood & Meatballs

Beancurd Roll (118 php)

The Beancurd Roll has bountiful ingredients.  The only problem was that it was difficult to eat or fully appreciate because it dissintegrates into the soup.

Crab Stick (118 php)

Economical-wise, the Crab Stick is a great hot pot topping option.  It's actually my favorite!

Shrimp Dumpling (148 php)

I like that their Shrimp Dumpling are wrapped with nori.


Vegetable & Noodles

Hofan (88 php)

For our staple, we had the Hofan.

For our greens, we had the Watercrest (118 php).

Japanese Mushrooms (118 php)

The Japanese Mushrooms was coincidentally everyone's favorite.

Sweet Corn (88 php)

We ordered Sweet Corn for flavor but it take effort to eat.

Of course, the tray of condiments and sauces to dip out shabu-shabu items.  

I consider the hot pot to be expensive.  We spent a total of 1,302 php (exclusive of serivce charge).  Our hot pot was divided among 4 persons so that's 325 php per persons each.  It's not far from eat-all-you-can rates already.  But, that's the price you pay for good quality shabu-shabu.

Traditional Singaporean Dishes

♥ Singaporean Hainanese Boneless Chicken (440 php/half)

A must order when dining at Tao Yuan is the Singaporean Hainanese Boneless Chicken.  This is the best hainanese chicken in the country for me!

Desserts

♥ Complimentary Mango Sago

Our host seems to know the secret that they serve Complimentary Mango Sago every Wednesday.  It is served after you settle the bill.   Not a bad freebie since it 98 php per bowl on the menu.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Tao Yuan is one of the best when it comes to Singaporean Cuisine.  The dishes are a bit pricey but definitely worth it.  You'll surely have a great time when dining here.