They are so many things in life that can brighten up my day like traveling far north to chill at a hole-in-the-wall burger and wings joint plus board game cafe called Burger Company. Yes, the best of all three worlds!


Burger Company is actually the reopened Boulevard Diner which I shared two years ago.   Not that I didn't like the old Boulevard Diner with a retro 50's American ambiance.  But, I'm totally sold by Burger Company's offer of play and WiFi all you want for a minimum order of 150 php.   

Yes, I happen to be a game geek and I'm quite thrilled that they have the best table top games like Rio Grande games' Settlers of Catan and Carcassone.  I'm one of the many who are actually glad that game cafes are now more reasonably priced.  A few years back, we used to spend thousands at the closed down Game Crab Cafe just to play.  

It has a laid back and fun vibe. 



They also have a eating challenge for their burger and wings.  I want to try this on my next visit. =)

Unfortunately, I didn't know about them being a board game cafe concept otherwise, I would have visited with game geek friends.  But, my visit was not bad too, since I got to discover and play (and win) a Taiwanese card game called Super Rhino. 

Food
What sets Burger Company apart from other board game cafes is that it was a diner specializing in food first before they added the board game cafe so you're assured with their food quality.

Starters

♥ Homemade Bacon Dippers Sharing (165 php)

To start our meal right or should I say wrong but worth every bit of the guilt, we ordered the Homemade Bacon Dippers.  It's better than eating the ordinary crispy bacon because it has added oil and crunchiness.  I like it as is.  But, you can also dip it on the cheese sauce if you want.

Angus Beef Burgers

Green Chile & Sour Cream Single Patty (205 php)

The Green Chile & Sour Cream is a burger that will give you a sizzling spice with those green chili.  But, not to worry as the sour cream neutralizes it a bit.  I like their soft oatmeal buns and their chargrilled USDA Angus Beef patties are satisfying for the price.

♥ Gorgonzola & Mushroom Single Patty (205 php)

The Gorgonzola & Mushroom is my kind of burger.  If I would create my own burger, it would be something like this.  I find the combination of gorgonzola dressing and oyster mushroom to be really hearty for a mushroom and cheese lover like me.

The Striker's Burger Single Patty (249 php)

If you love cheese sauce like most of my companions, The Striker's Burger is for you.  I liked the idea of adding crispy crisscut fries and champignon mushroom on it too.

Chicken Wings

♥ Cocoa & Chili Bantam Weight (140 php)

The Cocoa & Chili has a nice bitter-sweetness followed by a spicy kick.  Their wings are saucy and right-sized (not skinny).

Smoked Chili Bantam Weight (140 php)

The Smoked Chili is a mildly sweet but dominantly fiery.  It was good but I'd still prefer spicy buffalo wings over it.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Whether it's for burgers, wings or board games (added a star for this!), head on over to Burger Company.  If only this place is within my turf, this would be my ideal chill spot.

I've tried Moonleaf Tea Shop at a stall before.  But, it's the first time I'm visiting their store.  

It has a garage-type front and within it is the store.  It has an al fresco area where I noticed a lot of students with laptops and cigarettes are stationed.


The ambiance inside is more to my liking.  The air-conditioning is very good and they have free WiFi.

They also sell cookies and cakes.  The set up is similar to upscale coffee shops like CBTL and Starbucks.
 

Maple Milk Tea

While some of my companions tried their best-selling Wintermelon Milk Tea, I tried their new limited edition Maple Milk Tea which they just launched this December.  I initially requested to have mine at 25% sweetness level but I'm told it would be lacking in taste so it has to be at least 50% or more.  It was pretty good because it's a whole new experience although the sweetness kind of grows on you as you drink.  I'm told it's not just maple syrup and milk tea.  Their secret recipe includes more spices.  

I've asked my friends who tried both the Wintermelon Milk Tea and Maple Milk Tea at 100% sweetness level which is better.  Some liked the Wintermelon Milk Tea more saying the Maple Milk Tea is sweeter.  While, some said it's vice versa lol.  So I guess, you have to try it out for yourself and decide.

Where to Eat in Maginhawa
Big B Burger
Casa Quesadilla
Chilli and Ink (Closed)
Cocina Juan 
Galli Village Cafe
Homies Pinoy Fried Chicken
Katz Diner
Moonleaf Tea Shop
Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino
Sancho Churreria Manila
The Iscreamist

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Moonleaf Tea Shop in Maginhawa is the kind of place I want to chill while surfing the net.  Too bad it's far from home.   If I'm in the area, I'd drop by and try more of their drinks cause I think I still have to find one that soothes my taste which is less sweet. 

 Cocina Juan is one of the pioneers in Maginhawa since its onset of being an eat street in 2008.  


Before Cocina Juan, I don't think I've encountered any establishment serving Central American Cuisine before.  Although it's similar to Mexican and Tex-Mex, it is from a completely separate region (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, and Costa Rica).

With limited spacing and an al fresco area, this is Cocina Juan's interiors.


Love the color matching bottle-turned-vase and plates. =)

Food

Aperitivos (Appetizers) Inspirations

Nachos Supremo Todo (249 php)

The Nachos Supremo Todo is loaded with nacho cheese sauce,salsa, jalapeno, grated cheese, chili con carne,  refried beans and aioli sauce (mayonaise with a hint of garlic).

Dinamita (139 php)

The Dinamita is really explosive!  The cheese is not as much as expected so I was surprised upon first bite at how fiery this is.  This is the spiciest dynamite I've ever encountered.  Good thing it is served with aioli sauce that neutralized the spiciness.


Taco Inspirations

♥ Quesadilla Mixto (Carne) (169 php)

The Quesadilla Mixto (Carne) are filled with cheese and beef.  It's served with salsa cruda.  This is really hearty especially for meat lovers.

Quesadilla Con Tomate (149 php)

If you want something light, go for the Quesadilla Con Tomate.

Tortilla Inspirations

Beef Burrito Grande (199 php)

The Beef Burrito Grande is a hefty burrito filled with grilled beef, grated cheese, tomatoes, aioli sauce and lettuce.

 

♥ Chicken Burrito Grande (199 php)

The Chicken Burrito Grande is an alternative if you prefer grilled chicken.  Both are equally good.

La Parilla "Grilled Meats" Inspirations

♥ Churrasco Fiesta Platter (549 php)

The highlight of our meal is the Churrasco Fiesta Platter which is a gigantic (and literally heavy - couldn't lift the platter!) serving that's good for 4-5 persons.  It has a local garlic sausages, grilled beef, chicken and pork skewers with aioli sauce, sliced onions, zucchini, tomatoes and bell peppers.  Everyone loved the beef slices.  It was the one that was emptied in a flash.  These are best dipped on their chimichurri sauce (Argentinean sauce with finely chopped parsley and garlic in olive oil and lime juice) and chirmoi sauce (Guatamelan sauce with grilled tomatoes, pepper Jalapeno mixed in olive oil).  For staple, it has gallo pinto rice and crispy potato wedges (quite addictive!).  It also comes with a salad with tomatoes, buttered corn, onions and greens.  

I've encountered churrasco which meant grilled in Spanish and Portugese before at Brazil! Brazil!.  I've noticed that the Brazilian churrasco is grilled barbecue with a sweet and savory marinate.  While, the churrasco of Cocina Juan is Nicaraguan-style which is grilled like steak and spiced with parsley, garlic and peppers.

Drinks

Cucumber Lemonade (65 php/glass)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cocina Juan is a place to appreciate Central American cuisine.  Once you've tried it you'd want to try some more.  I know I do.  The price isn't budget-friendly but definitely worth the experience.   

Who in the world does not love burgers?  Or should I say Burger with a capital B.  Like eager beavers (despite our prior 3 stops), me and my Food Panda Maginhawa Food Crawl companions, headed over to Big B Burgers.

You see that black sign?  That stands for Big B Burgers or you can probably get a hint by the smell of grilled burgers.  They currently have more delivery orders reaching around 400 a day including their 3 stalls in UP.  I salute the owners who are young couples from UP.  They are only 22 and 21 and admittedly without any culinary or management background.  Yet, they've established such a successful burger joint.

If you peek through, you'll probably think oh it's just a small hole-in-wall diner with one bar and stools.  You can also see that they make their burger patty from scratch which is cool.  You'd also be amused over their wall spiced with witty humor like her...

This is what she was taking a photograph of...

But, there's actually more space inside see?  With cute lighting which is craftily made of screen wires. 


You'd usually find enticing food shots to encourage you to order more.  But at Big B, they use wise words like those above.

And, if the dining space is still not enough, you can hide away in the basement.  There's also a rest room there.

Each table has a recycled spam turned into a napkin holder...



and an Awesome Sauce gun.  That is Gabs initial reaction when confronted with the Awesome Sauce...  Once he taste it, he wanted it so bad that he couldn't stop smothered his burger with it.


Food

Burgers

♥ Big B QTR (100 php)

The Big B is made of 50% beef and 50% bacon.  Yes.. BACON!  This burger is super "sarap" because the beef is tender and juicy and the bacon bits still offers a bit of a crunch.  Awesome right?  I too am wondering how they managed to do that.  Don't forget to use your Awesome Sauce gun to add more flavor.  It's mayo with a hint of basil and other spices.  Oh, and eat your burgers using your hands.  They have plastic gloves so ask for one.

Bongga! QTR (109 php)

Up next is the Bongga! which has 50% beef and 50% longganisa.  The initial bite was pretty good for me.  But, the sweetness kind of grew on me for the subsequent ones.

BAM QTR (119 php)

The BAM is made of 50% beef and 50% spam.  Like the Bongga!, the initial impression was pretty good until I felt a saltiness overload as I chugged on more water fore relief and imagined it would be better eaten with rice.

Sides

♥ Poutine ng Ina Mo (65 php)

I guess you could recognize what Poutine ng Ina Mo was made to sound like.  Well, this bowlful is so good you'd be honored to have it named after your mom.  This is no ordinary poutine as it makes use of mozzarella cubes (that is slightly melted by the hot gravy) instead of cheese curds. 

Ballsballs Mo (150 php)

The Ballsballs Mo has beef balls and tater tots with glorious cheese sauce.  We didn't like this because both the beef balls and tater tots lacked flavor on their own and cheese sauce was not able to make up for it.


Drink

♥ Pink Potion w/ Feelings (35 php)

The Pink Potion w/ Feelings offers a whole new experience "sa murang halaga".  The Pink Potion without feelings is 15 php less but that's pretty lame cause you're missing out a lot.

 

♥ Pink Potion w/ Feelings (35 php)

What do they mean by feelings?  Well, order for yourself and see what these guys are up to.

Order from Big B Burger Through Food Panda
Food Panda is an online delivery service available in over 35 countries.  Craving for burgers?  Have it delivered to your by ordering now from Big B Burger through Food Panda. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Big B Burger is my kind of burger...WHOLESOME, BIG, TASTY, AFFORDABLE with feelings pa.  Check them out when you're in the area.  I'm sure you won't regret it.  The staffs are also full of feelings (added a star in service because of this!) and hospitality.  I'm going to try their 1 pounders next!  See you soon Big B!