A few weeks ago, I was invited to try out Soi along with other bloggers.  I've actually been wanting to try Soi since they opened at Robinsons Place Ermita. 

But, the invite is actually in Glorietta so this is where I got to dine first.

The colorful lamps are the first to capture my attention as I stepped in.  It gives a nice Asian touch to the casual diner.

Food

Appetizer

Fresh Spring Roll (168 php)

We started off with the Fresh Spring Roll.

Soup

Tom Yam Gung (298 php)

Then warmed our bellies with the Tom Yam Gung.  I initially thought this was some curry dish because of the bright orange color and thickness of the soup.  But, this Tom Yum turned out to be a delicious very lightly spiced and sour Tom Yam Gung that my fellow bloggers liked.


Fried Noodles

♥ Pad Thai Shrimp (298 php)

For me, it's not a Thai meal without pad thai.  The Pad Thai Shrimp is a must order when dining at Soi.

Curry

Seafood in Yellow Curry (288 php)

I'm such a curry fan so I can't help but indulge myself to most of the Seafood in Yellow Curry.  The seafood are all so tender making them a pleasurable viand.


Rice Dishes

Green Curry Fried Rice with Fish Fillet (188 php)

The Green Curry Fried Rice with Fish Fillet is a meal in itself. 

♥ Fried Rice with Seafood & Basil Leaves (278 php)

I prefer the Fried Rice with Seafood & Basil Leaves over the one with the fish fillet.  This is what I'll probably order if I'm dining solo.

Dessert

Thai Halo-Halo (138 php)

The Thai Halo-Halo is and what appears to be a snow cone.  Unfortunately, I really couldn't appreciate this.  Dessert has always been my favorite part in a Thai meal.  This is the very first time that I was let down.  This is far from the Ruamit or Thai halo-halo that I've encountered before.


Healthy Drinks

Thai Iced Tea (85 php)

Soi has a lot of healthy drink options.  The Thai Iced Tea is nice sweet drink that goes well with any meal.

We spotted a new middle eastern restaurant at Harrison Plaza Village Square called Al Dimashqi. 

This joint has been replaced so many times.  But, we never fail to try out whatever sprouts here.

As you can see, there are no local diners here.  That intrigued us even more.  Turns out Al Dimashqi offers authentic Syrian Cuisine.  I don't think we've tried one before.  And, for those who are looking for Halal food, this is one too.

Food

Cold Appetizer

♥ Humus (150 php)

For starters, we began with the Humus that comes with pita bread.  We loved this!  We even ordered an additional pita bread.  I guess we ordered too many so we were forced to take home some.  Unfortunately, it wasn't as good when reheated by toaster though.

♥ Moutable (150 php)

The Moutable is also superb.  Perhaps, I liked this a bit more than their Humus.

♥ Dal Soup (150 php)

To warm up our bellies, we ordered the Dal Soup.  This lentil soup is a must try!

Grilled

♥ Grilled Chicken (150 php)

The Grilled Chicken is unlike anything we've encountered before.  It was pretty good.  The rice that comes with it is a perfect match too.


Budget Meal

Mini Shish Tawook (80 php)

The Mini Shish Tawook  is affordable but the chicken fillet bits were a bit dry.

Mini Kebab (80 php)

The Mini Kebab is just okay.  It wasn't too dry but not remarkably juicy either.
 

♥ Mini Shaqaf (80 php)

Among the budget meals, I'd recommend the Mini Shaqaf.

Sandwich

♥ Falafel Regular (65 php)

Among our orders, the Falafel stood out the most.  I have never been impressed with a falafel except for this.  It had the right crunchiness, softness (but not pasty) and it wasn't oily at all.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I hope Al Dimashqi stays cause I'd certainly go back for its Falafel.  Their pricing is affordable too. 

When it comes to an affordable Filipino Buffet, Cabalen has become the popular option.  But, do you know that Cabalen is now celebrating its 30th year?

How timely is my revisit right? 

It's been a while so it's a bit nostalgic for me.
 
I'm so glad they have a salad station with a Filipino twist too.  Notice the Bagoong Vinaigrette?

There's also some Japanese with an assortment of maki and tempura.

As expected, most are Filipino favorites.


Sisig anyone?  They have healthier options like Bangus Sisig and Tofu Sisig.





With so many options, don't forget to save room for dessert. 

Make Your Own Halo-Halo

Ended mine with a glassful of Halo-Halo.

Drinks are not part of the buffet.  But, their refreshments are difficult to resist.

Giveaway
Out of 194 entries (Facebook and Instagram combined), we have now picked a winner for a buffet meal for 2 at Cabalen.

Congratulations to instagrammer stevedelcastillo!  Kindly pm us in our facebook fan page or IG on how to claim your prize.

There are many reasons to dine out.  For my family, what really draws us to eat out is convenience.  On a lazy day, we usually just find some place near home to enjoy a hearty meal.  So if you're nearby the area, you'd be as happy as we are to have a new option with  the opening of Lido Cocina Tsina at Radiance Manila Bay.

I was fortunate enough to be invited on their opening celebration.




The dining area is very spacious.


Guests were served a few of their offerings:  Fish Fillet w/ Beancurd and Tausi, Manchurian Chicken Wings, Lumpiang Shanghai, Sizzling Asado w/ Plum & Tausi sauce, Pancit Canton Guisado, Hototay Soup and Buchi.

Let's Eat!

I can't wait to come back to try their other famous dishes such as the Pugon-Roasted Asado, Drunken Lechon, Macau Sizzling House Sichuan Shrimps, Camaron Rebosado, Steamed Fish Fillet in House Soy and Shrimp Foo Yong.