Last week the family noticed a new restaurant called Wasabi Warriors as we passed by Century Mall.  The name is cool and catchy so I instantly remembered it when I received an invite.  Of course, I gladly accepted.
   
Swinging Chair Establishments decided to bring in this concept to the Philippines and Hongkong.  According to Swinging Chair Establishments' business manager, Kimmi Siu Dewar, Kimmi Siu Dewar what sets Wasabi Warriors apart from numerous existing sushi shops in the Metro is it's green heart.  The Wasabi Warriors are five brothers: Chicken Warrior, Beefy Warrior, Porky Warrior, Ocean Warrior and Veggie Warrior who only draw their sword to do good.  They abide with their Bushido warrior code: To Eat Good, To Do Good and To Feel Good, it seeks to respect their journey, assure quality, freshness and taste with their honor on the line.


As much as possible, all their food items are made from locally sourced and organic ingredients. They exercise sustainable, economical and honorable practices not only with their food but in everything.  The entire restaurant is made of recycle materials and I noticed that they practice proper waste segregation as well.   They also incorporate corporate social responsibility into their operations by training and hiring from local youth organizations to help in the social and professional development of young adults living in extreme poverty . 

If you decided to stay and dine in, there's a long bar and tables for you. 

Food Display

California (100 php), Honey Soy Chicken (120 php), Fresh Salmon & Avocado (150 php), Pork, Katsu & Avocado (120 php), Tuna & Avocado (120 php), Seaweed (100 php), Spicy Katsu Chicken (120 php) and Chicken Teriyaki (120 php)

All unsold food products at the end of the day to their partner charitable institutions.  Thus, it follows that all their products are freshly made within the day.

Chicken Katsu & Avocado (120 php), Beef Teriyaki (120 php), Panko Prawn (150 php) and Spicy Tuna (100 php)

The restaurant is designed in a clean, transparent and minimalistic way so it's very easy to order.  

Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Mayo (100 php), Crumbed Prawn (100 php) and Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Spicy Mayo (100 php)

You can see all the Warrior Rolls, Warrior Packs and Nigiri Packs available so you can select, pay, grab and go if you're in a hurry.    

Black Rice Seaweed (100 php), Black Rice California (100 php), Black Rice Fresh Salmon & Avocado (150 php), Black Rice Spicy Tuna (100 php), Brown Rice Panko Prawn (150 php) and Brown Rice Spicy Katsu Chicken (120 php)

I appreciate that every item has its own tag indicated the name of their item, price, ingredients and other features (some were noticeably blackened out) like "organic", "free range" and "do good".

Beefy & Pork Warrior Pack (350 php), Chicken Warrior Pack (350 php), Ocean Warrior Pack (350 php)

Did I mention that they can produce in volume and cater because they have a Suzumo sushi robot that can consistently produce up to 500 quality sush in 1 minute.

Spicy Edamame (80 php), Edamame (80 php) and Seaweed Salad (100 php)

The Warrior Packs, Edamame and Salads are already packed so they're ready to be taken out.

Inari with Seaweed (60 php) and Inari (50 php)

They have a chiller for their available drinks too.

Sauces

Unlike other sushi shops, here you have 3 options for sauces: the traditional Soy Sauce and their specially made (made fresh everyday) Wasabi Mayo and Spicy Mayo.  

What We Got

Warrior Rolls

California (100 php), Panko Prawn (150 php), Tuna Mayo and Avocado (100 php) and Seaweed Salad (100 php)

So here's what we had.  Note that this is sample serving size.  The actual size of 1 roll is the one in the display chillers.

California (100 php), Fresh Salmon & Avocado (150 php), Honey Soy Chicken (120 php) and Spicy Tuna (100 php)

My favorite rolls are the California, Honey Soy Chicken and Beef Teriyaki.

Spicy Tuna (100 php), Black Rice Seaweed (100 php) and Black Rice California (100 php),

They also have the black rice and brown rice options which I noticed are priced the same without any premium.   I'm sure my family will be happy with this because we are used to eating black rice.

Chicken Katsu & Avocado (120 php), Panko Prawn (150 php), Beef Teriyaki (120 php), Panko Prawn (150 php) and Tuna and Avocado (120 php)

Gyoza Pork (6 pcs/150 php)

I was expecting the Gyoza to be steamed because they had the steaming container same as the ones used for dimsum.  But, to my surprised they were fried.

Miso Soup (50 php)

The Miso Soup is warm and flavorful.  It is very soothing to the tummy especially if you have it before or while having the other cold items. 

Seaweed Salad (120 php)

I love the Seaweed Salad.  You can tell in every crunchy bite that it is very fresh.

Nigiri Packs

♥ Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Mayo (3 pcs/250 php) and ♥ Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Spicy Mayo (3 pc/250 php)

The must try and winning item for me is their Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Mayo (if the spiciness is not enough fpr you, you can add some sauce) and  Seared Teriyaki Salmon with Spicy Mayo (in case you can't handle spicyness). 

Warrior Hot Boxes

Warrior Udon Soup/Vegetarian Udon Soup (150 php)

The Warrior Udon Soup/Vegetarian Udon Soup is pretty good.  This is a great affordable choice for a meal.

Beef Teriyaki Rice (250 php)

 The sauce of the Beef Teriyaki Rice is too sweet for me.  But, I enjoyed the thin tender beef strips.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We Tsinoy Foodies welcome the Wasabi Warriors here in Manila.  We think its fresh, healthy, convenient and affordable selections will definitely do good here especially since many are now forced into a busy and hectic lifestyle.

Last March 21, 2013, In-N-Out had a Pop-Up store in Bonifacio High Street for a day.  People were expecting In-N-Out to expand here in Manila but it affirmed on December 2013 that it had no plans for expansion or franchising.  On February 16, 2014, it was not In-N-Out but CaliBurger which opened its first branch in Century City Mall. 
 

CaliBurger Century City Mall

The arrival of Caliburger in the Philippines has received mixed criticisms.  There are some loyalists of In-N-Out who crave for the next best thing who were happy with it.  Others, complain that it can't match the quality they expected or that it's too pricey.  (Perhaps, since the In-N-Out pop out store appeared to be cheaper in price). 

I wanted to check it out for myself.  Thus, I've dined at their two branches.  I hope you don't mind if I merge it in one post.

CaliBurger Century City Mall

CaliBurger Century City Mall occupies is a spacious area at the fourth floor.  They offer a very wide and trendy indoor area with a large screen showing how happy people are with their products.  Since it was very chilly inside during night time, most diners prefer to seat outside in the soft lofts with a nice city view.  So don't be surprised if you gaze through its glass window and find only a few diners eating there, they are all dining outside. =))

CaliBurger Timog Ave

 

CaliBurger Timog Ave

Both branches have a lively tropical beach theme with colorful tables and chairs.  They adopt a pay as you order system.  Upon payment, you'll be given a yellow green or orange buzzer so you know when your order is ready.

Food

Burgers

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Beef (195 php)

Caliburger recently introduced a new product called the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger.  It's an upgraded version of their classic Cheeseburger (which I still prefer) with bacon and sweet BBQ sauce.  I recommend this for those who are fond of sweet stuff. 

Meals (Comes with Fries and Unlimited Drinks)

♥ Cheeseburger Meal B Beef (245 php)

The Cheeseburger Meal B Beef is a single patty cheeseburger.  Upon ordering, I was asked if I wanted my onions raw or grilled.  I choose the latter.  
 

♥ Cali Double Meal C Beef (345 php)

For a more fulfilling meal, the Cali Double Meal is a great choice with its double patty.  This is my kind of meal. 

Cheeseburger (left) versus Cali Double (right)

I liked that their buns are very light, fluffy and soft.   The Certified  100% lean grass-fed Angus beef patty was juicy and tasty.  I didn't find it bland like the other feedbacks I've encountered when checking-in on foursquare.  The melted cheese, lettuce, grilled onions, tomatoes and wild-style sauce were a great complement.  I personally have not tried In-N-Out burger.  But for me, this is a reasonably priced good burger.  Sure, the patty is thin.  Well, so are those from other burger joints. 

The Fries (50 php) have a thicker cut but I liked it that way.  

We enjoyed the ♥ Onion Rings (50 php) more!  It's quite unfortunate that they are not offered as an alternative for the fries for their meals.  We had to order them separately. 

Cali Sweet Wings (95 php/4 pieces)

My family and I are not fond of sweets so we didn't enjoy the Cali Sweet Wings.  I somehow wished it had a bit of spiciness to it.  Perhaps, its the same sweet BBQ sauce as that of the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger.  On the bright side, it was crunchy.

Drinks

Unlimited Drink Choices (Soda, Red Icea Tea, Dalandan Juice, Pink Lemonde  and Cucumber Lemonade) (75 php)
 

Dalandan Juice, Pink Lemonade  and ♥ Cucumber Lemonade (clockwise)

The best choice is the refreshing Cucumber Lemonade.  Next is the Dalandan Juice.  The Pink Lemonade is the sweetest.

Milkshakes

Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry Regular (120 php)

♥ Neapolitan (120 php)

If you're not ordering their meals, I highly recommend their Milkshakes.  I got tipped that like In-N-Out they have a Secret Menu which contains the Neapolitan (a combination of all three flavors).  This is a pretty good milk shake!  Loved it. =)  

The one above is the one I ordered from Caliburger Timog Ave during lunch time.  It was really cold and more ice cream than a drink.

♥ Neapolitan (120 php) *sorry for the poor quality photo grabbed from my IG

This is the Neapolitan I ordered from CaliBurger Century Mall for a late dinner meal.  Notice that the consistency is more diluted and very liquid?  I hope they'd meet in the middle for a cool, thick but easy to sip milkshake.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We enjoyed dining at CaliBurger.  The burgers are good.  It's not the type I'd crave or line up for but I'd gladly pursue it if conveniently available.   I heard they also have the Wild Fries on the Secret Menu (add 100 php to the meal).  It's a bit pricey but I heard it's worth a try.   I'm gonna try that next time.   I also suggest this place as a nice hangout with its perfect night city view, cozy lofts,  fast and reliable WiFi and unlimited drinks.
 

Buddha-Bar was first established in Paris.  In 1996, Buddha-Bar Paris was envisioned by Raymond Visan, owner of the famous Barfly in Paris with his concept of true "Art of Living", with confluent influences from the Pacific Rim.  With new ideas he gathered during his frequent trips especially in California, Buddha-Bar Paris instantly became a mecca in the French Capital.

Buddha-Bar has gained more popularity as it opened in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Mexico, Monaco, Sao Paolo, London, Kiev, Prague, Washington DC and Jakarta.  Among its loyal clients who visit Buddha-Bar whenever there is one available are famous celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Jonas Brothers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Eva Mendes, Paris Hilton, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.


Since its opening last year, I've been eager to visit Buddha-Bar Manila.  Its certainly a twin of its other counterparts around the world in terms of interior and music.

First Level

Like all other Buddha-Bars around the world, the lights go dimmer and the music goes faster starting from 6 pm. 

Second Level with Sushi Bar and Function Rooms

I'm completely enchanted at the size and elegance of the place.  Each section has its own style of comfort.  There were also several VIP rooms.  The eclectic sounds by George V Records as well as the artistic artifacts offers an experience of a lifetime. 

Basement Level with Restrooms

As I searched for the restroom, I was directed to the basement.  I was once again in awe as I passed by the Asian paintings along its red hallways.  It felt as I was touring a private art gallery.  The restroom was as dazzling as the rest of the place.  The walls glittered and even the sink is a beautiful artistic glass basin. 

I'm told there is an elevator leading to the terrace which is where another party experience takes place.  

Food

Ala Carte

Pink Lady

The Pink Lady  is a sushi with breaded shrimp and avocado within its rolls and surimi mix on top.  It had unagi sauce whcih is their default buddha bar sauce.  Since I love sushi, I found it quite enjoyable. 

♥ Crunchy Rice Shrimp Jalapeno

I prefer the Crunchy Rice Shrimp Jalapeno than the Pink Lady because of its fun play of textures.  I enjoyed the tenderness of the shrimp, crunchiness of the rice followed by its soft stickiness.   The added zing from the Jalapeno also made it a bit more interesting. 

Boneless Chicken Wings

The Boneless Chicken Wings were cooked deep fried in Chinese wine topped with shallots and red and green bell pepper.  It was an Asian version of fried chicken wings because it was more fragrant and served with Spicy Thai Ginger dip.  It failed to leave a distinctive impression upon me. 

Sea Bass Tamarind

The Sea Bass Tamarind is roasted sea bass marinated in ginger, lemon grass and cumin and served with sweet tamarind sauce.  The sea bass is cooked wonderfully that it melts in the mouth exploding with its fragrant spices and natural oils.  A hint of its sauce was enough for me.

♥ Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad

 The Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad is grilled chicken strips topped with Buddha-Bar chicken dressing, sesame seeds, shredded Chinese cabbage and crispy wanton bits.  This is a chunky salad.  The chicken strips were tender and succulent as well as the other crunchy components made it quite enjoyable to feast in.

Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil

The Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil failed to meet my expectations.  The meat was tough and the black pepper sauce is tad too salty for me and my companions. 

Thai Curry Prawns

I loved the way the Thai Curry Prawns was served.   It came with curry sauce and Coconut and Lemon Grass rice.  The Thai curry sauce is mild but I liked it that way so I can appreciate the natural sweetness of the prawns.

♥ Chocolate Sesame Bars

My favorite part is the dessert.  The Chocolate Sesame Bars is a must try!  It a sophisticated crunchy base of wafer and sesame seeds topped with smooth and rich dark chocolate.  The vanilla ice cream is even an added bonus.  My mom sometimes teases me to go and visit Buddha-Bar Manila just so I could bring home some of these. 

Chocolat

The Chocolat is a moist dark chocolate cake topped with a rich Varlhona gnache.  It's a bit sweeter than the Chocolate Sesame Bar and is an excellent choice for chocolate and sweet tooth lovers. 

Drinks

♥ Buddha-Bar Iced Tea

I'm not a fan of ordering iced tea because I usually find them too sweet for my taste.  But, the Buddha-Bar Iced Tea is definitely a pleasure for me to drink despite being served in a large glass.  This brewed tea with a refreshing mix of kiwi and lychee syrup is amazingly smooth and quenching. 

Cakes

Cake Display Selection

The cake displays were the first thing I noticed when I entered.  I'll come back and try more of the rest on my next visit. 

UPDATE: Check out Buddha Bar Manila's Weekends at The Terrace Barbecue Buffet and Unlimited Drinks

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We're fortunate to have Buddha-Bar Manila.  We don't need to ride a plane to get unique "Buddha-Bar" experience it .  I think that alone makes its luxurious pricing worth it.  But, I somehow felt that the improvisation of some dishes can even take it up by another notch.