restaurant Archives ⋆ Leia Khu

Soon to Open in Iligan: Ichang Japanese Restaurant

Posted on September 5, 2016January 21, 2019 by xerox

Here in Iligan, there’s always something to look forward to. Cafes and restaurants have been popping up lately and one of them is Ichang.

Found at a prime location in Iligan where a sea of restaurants are located, Ichang stands out with its distinctive Japanese aesthetic and colorful noren hanging right in front of their doors.

Ichang is named after the owner, Ichang Hayakawa, a Japanese national hailing from Shizuoka prefecture. He runs this restaurant together with his Filipina wife, Cherryl who happens to be one of the chefs manning the kitchen.

Already on its dry run, Ichang is set to launch on the 8th of September this year.

Thanks to Dan, a common friend I share with the owners of this restaurant, I received an invitation to sample some of their dishes (my boyfriend tagged along hehe).

Kani Salad
Served on a cold plate, this light salad composed of imitation crab meat, ripe mangoes, cucumber, lettuce served with a creamy roasted sesame dressing. A favorite!

Yaki Udon
Thick Japanese noodles stir-fried with veggies and meat. Bound to please the Filipino palate.

Futo Maki
Literally meaning “fat rolled sushi”, this sweet hand-rolled Japanese sushi is filled with tamagoyaki, oboro, sliced cucumber and shrimp. Another favorite!

Tonkotsu Ramen
Made with a rich pork broth, this delicious noodle soup dish is topped with tender pork slices, boiled eggs, naruto and a handful of thinly sliced green onions. A must try for ramen lovers! Yes, yet again, another favorite!

i don’t know if you can tell but so far I’m absolutely loving their dishes!

Together with Ichang, Cherryl and their chefs

Ichang is located at The Strip, Pala-o. Don’t forget to save their opening day on your calendar! The whole Ichang team will be waiting for you there.

Dining Al Fresco at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

Posted on March 2, 2016January 21, 2019 by xerox

Ultrawinds Mountain Resort served a special Valentine’s Day menu for only 449 PHP per person.

Their rustic tablescape looked like it was taken right out from a Pinterest board.

The open air venue featured an exceptional view of the city lights.

But we chose to eat indoors, away from the blasting live entertainment. The buffet dinner started at 6:30 PM.

While the variety of food was not that extensive, the well-curated menu was impressive! The menu included Bagnet Salad, Seafood Herbed Pasta, Caramelized Pork Belly with Spicy Apple Slaw, Buttered Roast Beef with Rosemary, Grilled Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce and Dark Chocolate Frozen Cake.

Wine pairings were also available for an additional charge. We enjoyed the food so much we kept refilling our plates. Hehe! 🙂

The following day, we went back to the restaurant to check out the panoramic view of Cagayan de Oro during the day. But first, burgers. We sampled their BBQ and Cuban mini burgers.

I prefer the latter over the former.

Compared to our awesome dinner, they were alright.

The overlooking view of the verdant landscape during the day is nothing short of breathtaking.

Indeed, it makes an enchanting backdrop for events.

With soothing ambient music playing in the background, I can’t help but feel relaxed as the gentle wind caressed my face.

If you want to see the city of Cagayan de Oro in a different perspective with a relaxing atmosphere, visit Ultrawinds Mountain Resort now.

Know more about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort Menu here

Read about our glamping experience at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort
Click here for more deets about Ultrawinds Mountain Resort

For insider tips about glamping go here

Where to Eat in Bohol – Gerarda’s

Posted on January 2, 2016January 21, 2019 by xerox

Tucked in the quieter streets of Tagbilaran City, Gerarda’s was once a quaint house before it became into a buzzing restaurant that it is today.

This family-run restaurant is adorned with old photographs and house decors giving it that warm atmosphere like you never left home.

As soon as we entered Gerarda’s, we were greeted with a warm welcome from their courteous staff and immediately we were escorted to a table fit for two.

While waiting to get accommodated, we were given a complimentary bowl of nuts to munch on. Why this simple yet brilliant idea never caught on is still one of life’s biggest mysteries to date.

Gerarda’s has great service! The wait staff was attentive and accommodating while patiently walking us through the menu.

We ordered chicharon bulaklak and dinakdakan to go with our platter of rice. Our food came out from the kitchen sooner than we thought.

Chicharon bulaklak, literally flower crackings in English, is deep-fried pork mesentery and is a popular pulutan in the Philippines.

Dinakdakan is an Ilocano dish that I’ve never heard of before. Traditionally, it is said to be made with grilled pig parts such as ears, face, liver, and offals which are tossed in a tangy dressing with mashed pig brain and minced spices. Think of it as an offspring of two Filipino classic recipes: sisig and kinilaw.

But Gerarda’s did their own spin on it by using bagnet in place of the bizarre pig parts for a crunchier texture. And for that thick creamy finish, they swapped mashed pig brain for coconut milk. It is the bomb! If there’s something you shouldn’t pass in Gerarda’s, it’s their dinakdakan with a twist.

Gerarda’s is the place in Bohol where families gather to bond, reconnect, celebrate a milestone or just simply have a great meal. Their food is suitable to the average Pinoy palate and surely will not disappoint.

TIP:
Get a reservation since Gerarda’s is always full.

Read about my Bohol Travel Guide here

Circa 1850 Eatery

Posted on January 10, 2015January 22, 2019 by Leia Bartolome

Those who know me well enough know that it has been quite awhile since I’ve been consciously trying to eat healthier. But to be honest, wholesome eating is very hard to commit to especially from where I’m at. Not only are there very limited whole food choices here, there isn’t really any awareness of the environmental, economic and public health issues of today’s industrial food system.

When I heard about Circa 1850 Eatery, a restaurant that promotes sustainable local produce and fair trade lifestyle, my heart fluttered and I knew I had to give them a go.

Only a few blocks away from Ayala Centrio Mall, they are located at the ground floor of Tune Hotel, CM Recto, Cagayan de Oro City.

While I could go on about how lovely the interiors are (I have a soft spot for rustic industrial designs), Circa 1850 Eatery is more than just another picturesque restaurant.

They serve only the freshest, organic farm-to-table ingredients that are mainly sourced from local farmers.

I love how they chose to have an open-kitchen so curious diners, like myself, can have a look at how their dishes are put together.

Uni and Shrimp Pasta

This is one of their best sellers. If you’re a seafood pasta lover like I am, you’re going to like this one! For those who don’t know what “uni” is, it’s just Japanese for “sea urchin”.

Medium-rare Sirloin Steak Frites

Served in a cast iron skillet, the steak came with an assortment of veggies, a cup of rice and probably the best gravy ever.

Please take a moment to appreciate the beauty that is the steak. It was juicy and satisfying. I have to admit though, it was a little bit tough. But to be fair, sirloin is less tender in general compared to other cuts.

Roasted Bone Marrow

This is another one of their best sellers and I totally understand why. It was so incredibly rich and delicious my eyes nearly popped out. This sinful strip of fat should come with a warning label.

Here at Circa 1850 Eatery, you definitely get what you pay for: Quality food, great service. Can’t wait to go back there and try more of their food!

I call on each and every one of you to patronize them because when you dine there, you are supporting local farmers, reducing environmental impact, strengthening the economic base of the community and, most importantly, spreading awareness of wholesome eating and slow food movement. I guarantee you’ll walk out of their restaurant with a full stomach and a happy heart.

Open hours: 7:00am – 2:00pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm
Price Range: 300~500 PHP

Beer-battered Pizza at Good Fellas

Posted on September 14, 2014January 22, 2019 by Leia Bartolome

Good Fellas is a new pizzeria in CDO that serves freshly baked artisan beer-battered pizza.

My boyfriend and I never had beer-battered pizza before so I knew we had to try it. A two-hour bus ride later…

Stepping in, I immediately noticed the clean, simple interior with a warm pop of color.

From the exposed brick wall down to the furnishing, it just screams contemporary industrial chic with a touch of rustic charm – much to the delight of my inner hipster.

Everything here is just Instagram-worthy so there’s absolutely no shame if you want to whip out your camera phones and snap photos away.

When we were there, the place looked a little vacant. It was a rainy afternoon after all. Who wants to brave the rain for just pizza right?

But a few minutes later, I was instantly proven wrong. At that moment, I knew we went to the right place and something good was already waiting for us.

Oh, hi! Just a little sneaky OOTD right here. Couldn’t resist posting this photo. Hehe 🙂

Pizza time!

We got the Big Joe, also known as the Godfather of all Pizzas. Beer-battered dough topped with cheese and a variety of meat – pepperoni, bacon, sausage, ham and beef.

Fresh, crispy and bursting with flavor. It was love at first bite. It is a little bit greasy though. But if you’re like me who doesn’t give a damn about that, you’ll definitely love this one! I can’t help but feel sorry for myself that I’m not having it right now. Can’t wait to go back and try more of their pizzas!

Good Fellas is located at Pabayo and Chavez Streets just right above Sweet Leaf Bubble Tea Cafe.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 14: Little Kitchen Restaurant

Posted on November 8, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Still unbelievably full from lunch, we opted for a light supper…

Little Kitchen Restaurant is a popular snack house in Gensan which is owned and managed by a doctor.

Originally built to cater the doctor’s patients and other people within the vicinity, Little Kitchen Restaurant unexpectedly turned out into a flourishing food business.

With the cozy atmosphere, it’s too easy to feel at home here. The wait staff are accommodating and the service is prompt.

For appetizers, we got complimentary garlic butter toasts. Loves it! Who doesn’t love free food? Hehe 🙂

For our supper, we had Shrimp Scampi Pizza. It had a crispy crust topped with olives, mushrooms, shrimp and cheese. This is one of their best sellers.

I know the pizza sounds really good on paper but it was a little too bland for my taste. It was a huge letdown for me because I really wanted to like it. Just everyone else does.

But despite being disappointed, I’d still like to go back there and sample other of their food items. I’m sure I’ll find something I’d love.

Little Kitchen Restaurant is located at Quirino Avenue, next to Calderon Clinic.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 11: Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu & Barbeque Restaurant

Posted on October 15, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

On the fourth day of our vacation, we took a roadtrip to Gensan…

Located at SM Gensan, Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu Barbecue Restaurant is heaven-sent for all the buffet and hotpot lovers out there.

As we came in, my jaw dropped to the floor. We were greeted with long tables filled with a wide array of fresh and delicious food selections all ready to cook and eat.

I’ve been to some eat-all-you-can buffet restaurants before but I’ve never seen anything like this.

You are given the freedom to choose your raw ingredients for cooking which can be a little overwhelming especially if you’re a first-timer like I was. They have vegetables, seafood, meat, noodles, sides, broth, sauces, condiments… You name it, they have it all – from appetizers to desserts!

One of the great things about Tong Yang is you can always come back for more food if you want to. Yes, everything is eat-all-you-can within the given three-hour time frame.

For only 299PHP/person for lunch buffets from Mon-Fri and 399PHP/person for dinner buffets from Mon-Fri and lunch+dinner buffets on holidays & weekends. Where else can you find a great deal as such this??

Too bad we were prohibited from taking close-up food photos though. Boo. Sad panda 🙁

It is also worth mentioning that they have unlimited tap beer (just add 65 PHP for beer-all-you-can), soda and fruit juices.

Please excuse our cluttered hotpot table. The left side of the table is for grilling and the right side is for stewing. I really like how you can make two stews at the same time. Really cool.

We were given sticks of butter for grilling. Don’t be shy to ask for more if needed. The butter complements the food well and makes everything taste richer. Genius.

By the way, a shoutout to our official tour guide and photographer for that day, Jed Reyes. Thanks for the treat Kuya! By the way, he’s an awesome photographer. You can check out some of his amazing shots here.

Kuya Jed observing my boyfriend as he makes sinigang for the first time. Thank God for Tong Yang’s free WiFi. None of us knew how to make sinigang so we just googled for recipes online and made it on the spot.

WADAYAKNOW. It was delicious-o!

We really had an amazing dining experience at Tong Yang. I definitely would love to come back here when I can. I suggest that you come here famished. And do bring friends and family with you because food is always better shared 🙂

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 10: Jack’s Ridge Resort

Posted on September 30, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

I know some of you are already aching to hear about my Waterfalling Adventure Tour but that will have to wait for now. Lemme just continue with my Davao-Gensan series so I have one less backlog to worry about (sorry guys)…

And just a little recap from where I left off last time, it was Day 3 and my boyfriend and I were at Swiss Deli enjoying everything, well, deli.

Okay, so now back to normal programming… Hehe 🙂

Perched on a hilltop, Jack’s Ridge Resort is one of the most frequented attractions in Davao. Locals and tourists all flock here to eat and relax while enjoying the breathtaking view of the city.

Did you know that Jack’s Ridge Resort used to be a part of the Japanese Imperial Army headquarters during World War II? Because I didn’t!

We had our dinner at Taklobo Restaurant, the main restaurant in Jack’s Ridge Resort. They serve delectable yet affordable traditional Filipino dishes with seafood as their house specialty.

Dining al fresco with a panoramic view over Davao’s glittering cityscape is truly breathtaking. Too bad that you can’t really see the city lights looking all pretty in the photo. I guess you just really have to be there and see it for yourself. By the way, that’s my boyfriend and his niece catching up.

Do expect a band to serenade you with classic songs as you eat.

Now let’s hop on straight to our orders, shall we?

For our appetizer, we had green mango with a dollop of bagoong on top. I know ya’ll Filipinos are salivating right now. Don’t lie!

One of our main courses: freshly fried golden brown calamares cooked to perfection. Tender and delicious!

We also had crispy and crunchy lechon kawali. I didn’t get to try this one out (I don’t like lechon if you remember) but everybody loved it. In fact, they ordered another platter of this so it really must be good!

And to go with all that, we also had soup and fried rice (no Filipino meal is ever complete without rice). Everything was gooood. And as someone who isn’t really into Filipino cuisine… that says a lot. 🙂

Other hotspots to check out at Jack’s Ridge Resort are:
Kai’s Bar and Grill
Karlo’s Gourmet and Coffee
Kool Kat’s Pool
Tap Room Piano and KTV
and more!

Too bad we didn’t get to have enough time to go around and explore the whole place though. And so I would love to go back to Jack’s Ridge Resort just because there’s so much more to see.

I also want to marvel at Davao’s cityscape during the daytime and then watch the sun set from there next time. That’ll be a spectacle for sure!

Jack’s Ridge Resort is located at Shrine Hills, Matina. For more info, you can visit their website by clicking here.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 5: Nonki Japanese Restaurant

Posted on July 28, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

We started Day Two by munching on a popular Thai snack by Tao Kae Noi.

It’s crispy, fried seaweed that comes in different flavors. My boyfriend and I prefer the wasabi-flavored one above all else. Yup, that was pretty much our breakfast for that day. No complains here at all.

We spent much of our morning just rolling on the bed and watching TV in our hotel room. Getting ready for lunch was actually just an afterthought.

Since we enjoyed our Japanese dinner so much, we decided to have some more Japanese food for lunch because… Why not?

Here’s a little sneaky “outfit of the day” by the way…

I know I could do better… Should I do a better one next time? What do you readers think? Let. Me. Know.

MOVING ON… Nonki Japanese Restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine and is located along F. Torres Street, right beside Davao Trade and Convention Center.

Upon entering, we were warmly welcomed and greeted with the phrase “Irasshaimase” by ladies in their matching kimono uniforms.

We came in a little bit too late for lunch… But normally, this place would be full of people (particularly Japanese nationals) and buzzing with activity.

The awesome sushi bar. I’m still haunted as to why we didn’t eat our lunch here.

Or here. More reasons to come back I suppose?

Aside from the fact that the wait staff are very courteous… Service here is very prompt and efficient!

Also, I would like to point out that they gave me a cold mug for my beer! Also, do you see that white tube thing next to my mug? That’s a wet towel for wiping hands. AMAZING! Little things like these make such a huge impact. At least to me that is. All restaurants should follow their example.

Itadakimasu!

Doesn’t it look like some piece of art? But it’s not just some piece of art, it’s edible too! This is a platter of mixed sashimi with shredded radish, sea grapes (locally called “lato”) and sliced cucumber for garnish.

Definitely top quality seafood! So fresh like it was just plucked right out from the ocean! Really, really delicious! It went down very well with my ice-cold beer.

This one is called okonomiyaki. It’s a savory pancake filled with shredded cabbage and green onion and then topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and katsuobushi (bonito flakes). Just think of it as Japanese pizza.

Their okonomiyaki left a lot to be desired… But it was something that I’ve always wanted to try and I’m glad that I finally did.

Lastly, because we love uni (sea urchin) so much… We ordered a hefty serving of it! The uni was really fresh and creamy… Melts-in-your-mouth kind of creamy. And I love how the cucumber added that sort of “fresh flavor” which I found really refreshing. I miss it so much already it hurts.

I can’t stress enough just how much I enjoyed eating at Nonki. My dining experience there is definitely a memorable one; I felt like I was transported to Japan (even for just a little while)!

Food here is really pricey, I won’t lie. Price range between 300~500 pesos. But I still recommend this restaurant to all sushi and sashimi aficionados because it’s absolutely worth it.

Nonki Japanese Restaurant is open at all days of the week from 11:30AM to 2:00PM and from 5:30PM to 11:00PM.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 4: Dinner at Tsuru Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Posted on July 22, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Tsuru Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar is the longest running Japanese Restaurant in Davao. It is actually named after Japan’s sacred bird which is revered as a symbol of happiness, longevity, loyalty and good luck.

Luckily for us, Tsuru’s literally just a few steps away from where we were staying… And without even thinking, we just walked ourselves right in for dinner.

I don’t know about you but my boyfriend and I LOOOVE Japanese cuisine. If you’ve been following me for quite awhile already, I think that should be very obvious by now.

Located along J. Camus street, it’s just right across the entrance of People’s Park so it’s pretty hard to miss. It shares the same building with a Vietnamese restaurant named Hanoi.

Oh look, a minion! I kid. The interior design of the restaurant is traditional Japanese with a contemporary flair.

The cozy ambiance of the restaurant makes it so hard to not feel at home. And I must mention that the wait staff here are courteous and attentive and the service is very good and prompt.

Okay, food porn abruptly starts now.

For our appetizer we had Beef Ramen which was topped with nori (seaweed) shreds, slivers of green onion, naruto fish cake (the one with the pink swirl) and a few slices of beef.

Though I was slightly disappointed because I did not find soft-boiled eggs in our ramen (come on eggs don’t cost much and we paid good money for this) and the beef slices were a bit tough… But the soup itself was rich and flavorful that I completely forgot about all that. This probably has to be the best ramen I’ve tried to date (flavor wise)!

As for our main dish…

I believe we had what’s called Chirashi (I’m sorry we lost our receipt so I’m not really sure). But basically it’s an assortment of sashimi arranged artistically on top of a bowl of sushi rice.

It has ebi (shrimp), tamagoyaki (omelette), kamaboko kani (imitation crab meat), maguro (tuna), ika (squid) and some other fish meat (that I can no longer identify) as well.

All I can say is… It is DIVINE! I could eat bowls of this in one sitting. Sweet and fresh… Oh, I wish I can fully describe in words just how delicious this dish is! Two thumbs up! That’s all I can say.

And to end this dinner with a bang, we had Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream for dessert. Creamy and succulent… UGH. I wish I have gallons of this sitting in my freezer. I hope I won’t have nightmares about this ice cream tonight.

I highly recommend everyone to check this restaurant out. Price ranges from 200~300 pesos. And just so you know… Every 15th and 30th of the month, Tsuru offers an eat-all-you-can grand buffet. I’m having a headache just thinking about it. *sigh*

Oh well, I gotta go. Writing this post has made me hungry. Bye for now!