Japanese food is one of the most-loved cuisine in the Philippines.   While I would love to eat authentic Japanese food everyday, the high cost of Japanese food prevents me in doing so.  So when I heard about Platina Modern Japanese Food Village with 16 authentic food franchises from Japan.  The price range is from 150 php to 500 php.

The ambiance differs per area.  Platina labelled this bar area on the first level as the Roppongi Street.



Food

Sushi Sakura

Salmon Aburri Maki with Aligue Mayo (315 php)

Probably the first one to impress me was this Salmon Aburri Maki with Aligue Mayo.  I just love how flavorful it is and the salmon almost melts unto your mouth.


Kushikatsu Ebisuya

Pork (30 php/stick)

This Pork Kushi looks a bit drenched in oil. Let it sit for awhile so some oil is drained.  I like the tenderness though.


Kobe Beef Burger

Wagyu Burger (320 php)

The Wagyu Burger is also a must try!  Aside from the juicy wagyu pattie, you can also enjoy your burger with unique sauces like teriyaki sauce.

Fried Potato

The Fried Potato is nothing special but still the best pair for burgers right?

Pig Man

Pork Bowl Small (210 php)

If you're looking for for authentic yet affordable pork donburi, then try out the Pork Bowl at Pig Man.


Tappan Yaki Kushi No Nobo

Meat DX (360 php)

Surely, one of the best Osaka-style Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) I've had in Manila is Tappan Yaki Kushi No Nobo's Meat DX - with beef, pork and chicken meats. As expected from a brand that has multiple stores in Okinawa.


Pizzeria di Baldi

Margherita (290 php)

I'm a big fan of Neopoli Pizza or Brick Oven Pizza.  These are pizzas which are baked at a high temperature for a short time so the flavor is sealed in.  We don't have enough of these in the Metro.  Thus, I really welcome Pizzeria di Baldi authentic and quality Neopoli Pizza.

There are a lot more to try.  Some were not yet open or available during my visit.  But, I found the concept of Platina Modern Japanese Food Village quite interesting.  It really fits the food and drink scene of Poblacion.

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It has already been six years since I first tried Zark's Burgers at their pioneer branch.  Zark's has gone a long way since then.

Would you believe that from a hole in a wall it has around 20 branches now?  I can now enjoy it even at malls like the last time I was in SM Megamall. 

Food
We love Zark's and we love its American burger concept.  But, at the back of our minds, we secretly wish that it would be a bit closer to our Filipino preference like having some rice dishes.

Asian Curry (149 php)

So I'm very happy to try Zark's new signature burger steaks.  I wasn't expecting much but when the the Asian Curry was served, I was impressed.  Look!  So bongga!  Based on visual presentation, this matches Japanese curry shop items that are worth twice as much.  How about the taste?  Hmm... For the price, not bad!  A bit on the salty than peppery though. 

♥ Garlic Mushroom (149 php)

If you ask me what's my favorite?  Its the Garlic Mushroom!  This is comfort food at its finest!  Yum yum!!!

♥ Chipotle BBQ (149 php)

Second runner up is the Chipotle BBQ.  I love the sweet and flavorful blend that makes me want to indulge into this with more rice!  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Zark's has done a great job with their Signature Burger Steaks!  I find this a bang for the buck choice with a generous serving of rice and sauce to complement the burger steak.  I especially appreciate it being cooked fresh upon order.  I will definitely order these again when I'm in the area.  The service at Zark's is superb as well considering it doesn't even have a service charge.

Tip: Tomorrow May 28, 2018 is Zark's Jawbreaker Day! 

Lately, I've been experimenting with my time schedule.  So after work, I tried squeezing in attending a yoga class.  One day I was feeling extra energetic so I did two classes back to back: Vinayasa 1 and Rocket Yoga.  And... then I ended up in the mood to try H.I.D Burgers.


If you frequently gas up at the Caltex Station along Buendia, then you've probably noticed H.I.D Burger's Makati branch.  But, I don't so I recently just discovered this place. 


To my surprise, H.I.D Burgers Makati branch is packed during meal hours.


The crowd is a mix bunch from couples to group of friends. 



I was hungry so as soon I was able to raid a seat, I began lining up to order.


They had a tempting challenge but someone tipped me about their sort of secret menu.  You can choose any burger and upgrade it to "Go Raclette" for an addition of 40 php.


And, you could also add on some Twister Fries which is also not on the menu for an addition of 45 php.

Food

Burgers
If you want the attention of the crowd, order any burger just like my H.I.D BLT Combo (155 php) and then "Go Raclette" (add 40 php).  Of course, everyone was looking at it while the server poured the hot raclette on top of my burger. 

H.I.D BLT Combo (155 php) ♥ Go Raclette (add 40 php)

For the price I didn't think that my burger would be this big and this cheesy!!!

H.I.D BLT Combo (155 php) ♥ Go Raclette (add 40 php) ♥ Twister Fries (45 php)

Had I known, I would have brought some company to share with.  I look around and although in groups, everyone had their own burger.  I guess it's because H.I.D's burgers is very reasonable so even if you don't finish it, it's still wise to just take home the rest.

H.I.D BLT Combo (155 php) Go Raclette (add 40 php)

You can use their plastic gloves or like me just use knife and fork.  Because just look at the size of their beef patty plus sausage plus bacon.  And, they only have 1 size!  This is the standard size.


And, their bacon is not the fatty small cut.  It is a big, long and lean strip.  There are several pieces of it too.

Hot Wings

♥ Honey Sriracha Mild (180 php/6 pcs.)

This is first time I've encountered honey and srircha wings.  Although I prefer an intense spiciness, sometimes mild to appreciate the flavor is good too.  The honey was evident but I didn't feel any spiciness at all from the sriracha.  It also didn't feel like chili but more of pepper.  It was surprisingly good.  The size was the biggest I've encountered.  And, the outer coating is perfectly crunchy while the meat was juicy!  I think I enjoyed this more than the burger.

♥ Cheesy Bacon Wedge Fries (160 php)

Another must try is the Cheesy Bacon Wedge Fries.  How can we resist a cheese and bacon combination right?  Order this for sharing because again they offer generous serving!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
While I'm not sure if H.I.D Burgers really stands for its transliteration of "Healthy"... but it is "Irresistibly Delicious" for a shockingly affordable price.  If you want a really heavy meal without breaking the bank, you can go here.  And, be sure to bring some company too because the serving size is generous!

It's been a very long time since the girls of The Foodies Circle met.  I haven't seen the girls since last year!  Naturally, a hangout together is long overdue.  And, there's no better place to chill over good food and chill than Applebee's which we have long wanting to try.

We all rarely go to Eastwood so coming from the side, we didn't see Applebee's at first.  Good thing they had a sign by their stairs pointing us to go up.


When we got up, we were surprised to see how big and spacious the place was.  The interiors gave a hint of a laid back kind of bar.


After the first portion, there are more booths that for many would be more comfortable and well-suited for dining.


Yet, it still keeps the same dim and yellow hued lighting.  Some parents would find it to be too dark as a family restaurant but then for me, some family restaurants like Tony Roma's is even darker. 

Food  

Appetizer

♥ Fried Sweet & Spicy Pickles (195 php)

There were a lot of interesting appetizer options.  But, we were really intrigued by the Fried Sweet & Spicy Pickles.   Upon trying this out, we felt that we made the right choice.  The boys were more delighted than us since this is an amazing bar chow.

Salads

♥ Grilled Watermelon & Spicy Shrimp Salad Half (445 php)

Applebee's menu has an extensive menu including greens.  So glad they have salads because I always aim for a balance meal.  The Grilled Watermelon & Spicy Shrimp Salad swooned all of us.  I like the ying and yang between the grilled watermelon offered a sweet fruity flavor and the spicy shrimp added a nice kick together.  Together with the feta cheese, yogurt dressing and almond, this salad is the bomb!

Buffalo Chicken Salad Half (325 php)

If you like a very bold spicy, sweet and salty flavors to go with your greens, get the Buffalo Chicken Salad.  But, most of us found the taste to be strikingly sharp for our taste buds.

Pasta

Spinach Artichoke and Grilled Chicken Cavatappi (495 php)

Since I'm crazy for spinach dips, seeing the Spinach Artichoke and Grilled Chicken Cavatappi instantly lured me to order it.  However, we all felt that the spinach being fried in this case was too subtle to create a good balance against the creamy artichoke sauce.


Chicken and Fish

Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon (675 php)

If there was an order we would not have made, it would be the Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon.  The thick salmon slice was not cooked as evenly as we would have hoped.

Local Favorites

Applebee's Pork Liempo Adobo (485 php)

So I suggest ditch the Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon for the wholesome Applebee's Pork Liempo Adobo.

Sandwiches, Tacos and More

♥ BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos (545 php)

The BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos is served quesadillas style with dips and sauce.


Burgers

Triple Meat All-In Burger (795 php)

Okay if you're looking for an instant heart attack, get the Triple Meat All-In Burger!  Just kidding!  But, wow this is one bad-ass burger with USDA beef burger patty, double smoked bacon, honey barbecued shredded beef brisket with cheddar cheese.


Desserts

Banofee Cheesecake (350 php)

We all yearned for an evident banana taste from the Banofee Cheesecake.  We can't help but feel disappointed that the banana component is just the banana chips.  I suggest that you order this for sharing because the cheesecake is very rich and dense. 

♥ S'Mores Creme Brulee (375 php)

I highly recommend the S'Mores Creme Brulee as a meal ender.  The slightly burnt marshmallows and rich dark chocolate fudge with caramelized crisp is wonderfully comforting to eat.  I never thought that smores could presented like this!  It is fun, appealing and delicious!


Drinks


Local Crafted

♥ Brew Kettle (110 php)

Sweet Adventures and Refreshers

♥ Strawberry Banana Colada (195 php), Fresh Mango Shake (175 php), Blueberry Cheesecake Shake (195 php), Fresh Lemonade (150 php)

Happy Birthday Surprise for Achie Joan (At Applebee's There's Always a Reason to Celebrate!!!)

We surely had a great time over Applebee's New Menu for 2017.   I have so much more to try so I'm coming back with the family next time!