El Pollo Loco has been our family favorite fast food restaurant for decades.  In terms of frequency of dining visits, this definitely tops our family list!  When we were kids, we'd dine there every time we were within the SM Megamall vicinity.  Since it opened nearer to us at SM Mall of Asia, this has been our go to restaurant whenever we are lazy to cook and looking for a cheap place to eat.


There are also many times when my mom would just crave for their flame-grilled Mexican chicken so we'll head over there stat!


Up to now, we all loved having El Pollo Loco as our secret dining place.  This place is rarely crowded so we get to enjoy, the fast service, the freedom of choosing seats and hassle-free washing of hands since there are no lines.  But in honor of the years it has satisfied our family, I thought I should at least share it here.  Prior to writing about this place, I had no idea that this is a famous franchise chain from the US.  Sadly, that is a clear indicated on how much they lack in terms of promotion right?



Food

♥ 12-pieces Chicken Combo (1095 php)

I know they have a lot of other items but our default order has always been the 12-pieces Chicken Combo which comes with 12-pieces of chicken (equivalent to 1 and half chicken) with 6 large sides, 8 tortillas and 6 salsas.   There's just something about their spiced, herby, citrusy and juicy chicken that makes us all crazy for it.

♥ 12-pieces Chicken Combo (1095 php)

So there are the inclusions... You can choose the Salsa to be hot or mild.  It's always the former for me.  It's not that spicy when you mix it with all the other ingredients you see.  You can choose from 6 side dishes: Spanish Rice, Spanish Bean, Corn Coblettes, Potato Salad, Coleslaw and Loco Fries. 

I always have my Spanish Rice and Spanish Bean so I can roll them together with my chicken bits and Spicy Salsa like this and eat it like a burrito.



Not only are their chicken healthy and affordable, they have a very enticing loyalty promo too.  We've claimed a lot of these over the years.


This is good for 5-6 persons.  Not bad right?
 
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We'll be back El Pollo Loco Flame-Grilled Mexican Chicken!  Not a month goes by where we don't visit you.  Thanks for keeping your quality consistent. And, I hope you add your internationally famous avocado salsa on your menu someday. 

A life of a student sometimes involves finding a place of privacy where you can just plug your laptop, surf and research with a reliable WiFi and study.  Once you find "YOUR" secret good place, you don't really want to share it.  But, lucky for you, I'm in the mood to share mine today and that is SHP Bibimbap.


It has a sign SHP Bibimbap outside which is barely noticeable.  How do you find it?  It's located on the second floor so search for the Mc Donald's Dessert Kiosk along Pablo Ocampo and look up.  You'll see their cute sign.  It's name is SHP Bibimbap but the counter and the menu says "bibimbab".


They have some cakes displayed on the chiller.  Menu offerings include simple korean comfort food.
 
On the right side, they have double decker seating areas that looks like our double decker bed when we were kids.  Some wooden seats have huge stuffed toys on them.


It has cute quirky wall stickers.  The area is quite spacious but the air-conditioning is unable to sustain the coolness of the wide area.

Each area has a small wooden table, seating mats, pillows and socket.  Can you already imagine me with my food and drink beside my laptop plugged in studying quietly seating in one of those pink dotted round mats.

There's also some cute stuff for sale. 



You can also visibly see you're drinks being prepared by the counter.

Food

SHP Bibimbab

SHP Chicken Bibimbab (170 php)

The SHP Chicken Bibimbab is a bowlful of the typical bibimbab with kimchi and soup.  It was delicious and fulfilling.

Home Made Ade

Pink Lemon Ade (145 php)

For drinks, they have the Pink Lemon Ade served in a huge carafe.  It's not too sweet and quite refreshing. 




Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
SHP Bibimbap is a one of a kind cute korean bibimbab and WiFi hang out.  I'd pick this place over the usual coffee shops anytime. 

Croque Cafe + Bakery brings together two geographically distance cuisines (European and Filipino) in one place.


With a simplistic dainty and casual neighborhood flowery and bright cafe and bakery feel, Croque offers a feel at home mood to its customers.   It has a main dining area and a small function room.


They have a chiller full of cakes.  And, right next to it is the cake chiller with delectable sweet treats that's good for diners and take out orders.

The bread shelf on the right side of the entrance has a selection  of freshly made pastries for the day. 

Food

Soups and  Appetizers

Coconut Pumpkin Soup (160 php)

The Coconut Pumpkin Soup was served with a bowl filled only with a crouton chunk, pine nuts and alfalfa.  

Coconut Pumpkin Soup (160 php)

The Coconut Pumpkin Soup itself is served in a small pitcher to be poured on the bowl.  The pumpkin puree with coconut milk was served soothingly warm and it was sweet and refreshing.

Dilis Arugula Salad (195 php)

Dilis Arugula Salad is a boneless dilis, salted duck egg, mixed greens, tomato confit, pomegranate vinaigrette. The Dilis Arugula Salad was served quite oddly as it was placed half big bowl full.  The tantilizing dressing spiked with some saltiness from the dilis is sensational. 

Fromage de Tete (350 php)

The Fromage de Tete  is terrine of pork cheeks served with mixed greens drizzled with balsamic reduction .   It was very soft to chew.  However, the flavor was not as enticing.

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

All-Day Breakfast

Croque-Madame (270 php)

The Croque-Madame is a multi-layered dish: melted gruyere (topmost), bechamel, grilled ham and pan de mie bread served with sunny side up and salad.

Silog Medley (245 php)

The Silog Medley is the duo of the taposilog and tocilog served with fried egg.  It is alfalfa topped on tocino slices then tapa slices on a cup of garlic rice (locally known as sinangag).  The tocino is very tender and with a mild touch of sweetness.   The tapa is one of the best I've tried!  It's not your ordinary tapa as the beef are chunks that has some succulent and flavorful fatty parts.  

Entries

Croque Adobo (385 php)

The Croque Adobo is a hefty plateful that would be too much for a lady eater.  It has huge.chucks of 36-hour sous vide pork adobo chunks served with french beans, greens with balsamic reduction and organic black rice.  It also comes with a cup of adobo sauce.  I found their adobo marinade to be too salty and sour for my taste even when accompanied by a mouthful of rice.  The softness was just okay.  I honestly expected it to be softer.

Seared Pink Peppercorn Crusted Tuna

The Seared Pink Peppercorn Crusted Tuna were thick chunks of pepper crusted tuna flanks drizzled.  It is served with a bowlful of organic quinoa and fresh greens with balsamic reduction.  Although I'm fond of eating raw tuna in the form of sashimi, sushi or kilawin, this is the first time I've tried one that is too fishy so I could only take in a few slices.

Pasta

Pasta Al Funghi (345 php)

The Pasta Al Funghi is an oil-based fettucine topped with generous amounts of shitake mushrooms and enoki mushrooms, golden 64 degrees pouched egg and spiced with romanico.  The tasteof pecorino romano is very mild yet captivating.
 

Spinach Meat Lasagna (320 php)

The Spinach Meat Lasagna is my favorite among the pasta dishes I've tried.  It is filled with rich and salty bolognese stuffing and topped with mozzarella cheese and parmigiano reggiano.  It is served with steamed spinach on the side.

Classic Carbonara (355 php)

The Classic Carbonara is light provolone cream-based with thick lasagna pasta topped with pouched egg.  It was very very mild with parmigiano reggiano which is probably why it comes with two large slabs of salty bacon.

Desserts

Panna Cotta

The Panna Cotta is an excellent meal-ender.  It is has a mellow sweetness and creamy pudding consistency.  I really like that tarty berry sauce and crunchy pomegranate seeds. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Croque Cafe + Bakery is a one of kind place that offers its own renditioned dishes. 

We were along Fil-Am Highway in Pampanga when the family's interest got piqued by Jiin Bakery Korean Bread. 


So we parked and went off to Jiin Bakery Korean Bread. 


According to this Korean magazine, they have declared the Fil-AM Friendship Highway as "Friendship Korean Town Area" where as indicated is swarming with Korean establishments.   

Jiin Bakery's cakes looks delicious.  Too bad we couldn't try it because we had to endure around 4 hours travel back to Manila on that very traffic Maundy Thursday.  Some of it looks the same as Tous Les Jours.


The staffs thought we were Koreans but we honestly told them we were Chinese.  =p

The Korean owner was there too so we asked which pastries are their best-sellers.

♥ Mini Seashell

She recommended so many but we only chose this Mini Seashell.

♥ Mini Seashell

It is a small super soft pastry filled with mallow-like cream which was lightly sweetened.  My family didn't like it but I did.

♥ Matcha Cookies

I also got some of this Matcha flavored cookies which had the a unique chewy texture.  I also loved it but the family not so much.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Jiin Bakery Korean Bread is worth a try.  Their pastries are different from what usual bakeries offer. They also have tables and free WiFi so you can dine in.

I've shared about Caffe Bene before.  This time I got to visit their Valero branch which is more accessible for me. 

It is more modest in terms of space than its pioneer branch in Eastwood and a bit conspicuous because it's not found inside a mall.  But, I like it more because not being so crowded offers more tranquility.  It also has a nice al fresco area.

As expected, there's their trademark clock made to look like a smile.


The interiors are the same as any Caffe Bene store.

It has shelves with cute displays of books and plants.

And, they have cute pillows to provide more comfort.  I didn't notice this before.
 
They also sell their own line of merchandise.

The chiller has more offerings now.

The gelato tempted me but I opted to try something new instead.

Drinks

Frappes (Ice Blended): Coffee-Free

♥ Misugaru Regular (160 php)

Hot Misugaru Latte Regular (150 php) and Iced Misugaru Latte Regular (150 php)

You can also have your Misugaru in Latte form in Hot or Cold.  I got to try the Iced Misugaru Latte.  It felt a bit dry and difficult for me to drink.  I prefer the Misugaru Frappe which gives a nice smooth consistency making it delightful to sip.


Food

Bakery

♥ Classic Liege Waffle (95 php)

The Classic Liege Waffle is a type of Belgian waffle.  This version is impressive.  It is dusted with powdered sugar with crisp on the outside and soft in the inside.

Honey Bread

♥ Caramel Cinnamon Honey Bread (175 php)

I loved the Choco Banana Honey Bread before, so I wanted to try their Caramel Cinnamon
Honey Bread this time.  It was just as good! 


Sandwiches

♥ Korean Spicy Tuna Sandwich (135 php)

The highlight of my visit are the new sandwiches!  The Korean Spicy Tuna Sandwich is the bomb!  It's a crunchy and light ciabatta bread sandwich with tuna in Gochujang sauce, egg, lettuce and cheese.  It's got the addictive spicy kick that will make you want to bite some more.

Pork Bulgogi Sandwich (165 php)

If you're looking for something sweet and savory then the Pork Bulgogi Sandwich is for you.  It's very rich in flavor that I bet even kids would gladly indulge in it.

Smoked Salmon and Herbed Cream Cheese Sandwich (195 php)

If you don't want to try their more exciting and adventurous Korean-inspired variants, you can go for the classic Smoked Salmon and Herbed Cream Cheese Sandwich.  It has a fulfilling serving of bold tasting smoked salmon slices, capers and herbed cream cheese sandwiched between extra crunchy baguettes.

Chicken and Mushroom Pesto Sandwich (165 php)

If you're looking for a leaner option, the Chicken and Mushroom Pesto Sandwich is for you.  It's got grilled chicken bits, sliced shitake mushrooms in herby pesto spread.  


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
There's definitely something more to try at Caffe Bene.  I can't wait to be back and try their other offerings.  I'm glad they now have more branches too.