While the Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory stalls may be known more for their cookies, their cafes offer so much more.
They've got a good selection of savory dishes including pasta and sandwiches, but I opted for the Beef Hayashi, a rich stew served with omurice (omelette topped on rice).
For dessert, there was no contest. Their Japanese style souffle pancakes may take a while to prepare, but biting into those soft clouds is totally worth it. Their creme brulee variant does away with the syrup and uses a custard cream sauce instead which adds a nice sweetness to the pancakes.
#pancakes #japanesefood #omurice #tokyomilkcheesefactory #eatsonlikejon
First post of the year! Finally got to try out @pandaexpressph in Megamall. The lines aren't insane, but there was still a wait to get in. Verdict? It's good. It's not mindblowing by any means, I mean, it's American-Chinese fastfood, but this entire meal was under Php300! You might not want to stand in line too long while the hype is still up, but overall it is tasty, and more than substantial for what you're paying. #worthit #pandaexpress #eatsonlikejon
#throwback to my Japan trip last month. I just HAD to try these amazing Souffle Pancakes. Fluffy and light like a souffle, but substantial enough to be mixed with various fruits or toppings, these things are like a cloud of love <3
Despite trying to eat healthier, I tend to stick to the bare minimum when it comes to veggies. Usually, they're bland, sometimes even bitter. Well... usually. I'VE FOUND VEGGIES THAT I LIKE!
My friends have been bugging me to try @mannaphilippines in Quezon City for a few months now, insisting that I "won't believe it's healthy because of how good it is." I hate to be told-you-so'd but... they were right.
I tried the Wasabi Salmon Wrap, which, is positively packed full of lettuce along with onions, tomatoes, and some other greens. What surprised me though is that there's a good amount of salmon too! That, plus the way the wrap is constructed made for an even distribution of flavors. Everything comes together like a song, none of the elements ever overpowering the others.
While I don't like being proven wrong, I do like good food, and so I decided to head over to their branch in Pasig the next day to make sure it wasn't a fluke. This time I opted for the Tandoori Chicken Wrap. Again, it was packed with veggies, but again, I found a perfect partner in the heat and spice of the chicken which imparted its flavor to the greens. The prices aren't bad either with a standard wrap being around Php200-300, with options for half and double sized portions as well.
So there, to my friends, YOU WERE RIGHT. Manna is... kind of amazing. There's a certain comfort in knowing that I can get a delicious meal that leaves both my tummy satisfied, and my heart unstressed, without breaking the bank.
I was in the area so I went for my long awaited reunion with Mendokoro Ramenba. The space is a mix of the classic and chic, with seating arranged around the cooking area like a traditional ramen restaurant, but the unmistakable flair of one of the more upscale parts of Metro Manila.
The ramen itself is very no-frills with no gimmicks. It's just damn good broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and tender pork that practically falls apart. Opted for the shio (salt) broth this time along with an extra helping of chashiu.
Another #latestagram lunch yesterday was at #roastbeefohno in Akihabara. The menu is very limited, but they know what they're good at. A small hill of delicious "volcano" of roast beef sits on top of a bowl of rice. Diners are encouraged to try the beef by itself first, followed by mixing the egg and mayo together with all the ingredients. The result is beef divinity. On its own, the meat is seasoned just right to bring out its flavor, but combined with all the other ingredients along with the wasabi and cream cheese, each bite becomes positively decadent.
Lunch yesterday. Oreryu Shio Ramen has several branches around Tokyo, and it has one of the most unique servings of ramen in the city. Cheesy Fried Chicken Butter Ramen, the name pretty much speaks for itself. The broth appears to be the same chicken bone base as their other offerings, except they add hokkaido butter, parmesan, and at least one other type of cheese to make said broth extra rich. As the name implies, it also comes with large pieces of karaage (Japanese style fried chicken as well as 2 pieces of chashiu pork. As you eat it, the heat of the broth melts the cheese causing it to coat the noodles and the ingredients below the surface. It's an amazing package that MUST be experienced.
Oh, and it's huge. Come hungry, or you might have to split a bowl.
#ramen #tokyo
Another favorite konbini meal since my last trip, 7-11's Neapolitan pasta is impossibly good. Pick it up chiller section, then you can either have it heated at the store or do it yourself once you get home. While most thoughts of reheated pasta conjure up memories of sticky noodles that are cold in some parts, the Neapolitan somehow comes out al dente, perfectly heated throughout, and just damn delicious.
Of course I've looked up some must try restos in the city, but there's a certain joy in just stepping into a random shop, seeing a bunch of people that are clearly loving the food, and taking that jump yourself. Found this ramen joint while wandering Nakano, and HOLY SHIT it was amazing. Their broth was a tonkotsu (pork bone based broth) and I ordered mine with some braised pork belly and cheek. I don't know if this is part of a franchise or really just the place of the old man running the joint, but the flavors were out of this world. It's only been one day, but I can't wait to eat everything else that Tokyo has prepared for me.
One of the things I love most about Japan is Konbini (convenience store) food. While back home they may be nothing more than quick fillers, the quality of the konbini food in Japan is both incredibly tasty and affordable. Case in point, my first meal on this trip was a sandwich filled with yakisoba (stir fried japanese noodles) and ham-katsu.
