reiyakhu Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 4 ⋆ Leia Khu

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 6: Backyard Burgers

Posted on August 5, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

A burger joint that serves fresh-off-the grill, legendary burgers is every guy’s dream… Fortunately that dream is now a reality.

Let me present to you, Backyard Burgers. I’ll tell you upfront: nothing fancy schmancy about this place. True to its name, it’s like you’re just at someone’s backyard; just out in the open.

Just right smack in the middle of downtown Davao, it is located at E. Quirino Avenue (inside Pard’s Compound).

Not only do they have a magnificent array of gourmet burgers to choose from, you can actually make your own burger! Yes! You can have your own CUSTOMIZED burger! How cool is that?! You can check out their menu here and find out different ways on how to customize your own burger.

And when I say customize, you can also command the doneness of your burger steak. I always like my steaks medium rare so that’s how I had my burger done. Never in my life have I been to a burger joint that does this (maybe because I’ve been living under a rock since 1989). My mind completely blown!

As I was busying taking photos of everything, I didn’t know our food was already there. Talk about fast and efficient service. Say hello to my boyfriend pouring root beer into our cups. I like root beer. Don’t judge.

I honestly wanted to steal those cups. If I’m not mistaken, they were porcelain. Backyard Burgers keepin’ it classy and eco-friendly too.

Voila! Our monstrous, heart-stopping burgers. Especially made for hungry men and foodies who-don’t-give-a-damn-about-calories like me.

You know it’s going to be a good burger if the burger patty is 100% fresh, pure beef with none of those silly extenders. And their burger patty is just that.

Look at the size of that thing… Ridiculous. By the way, what do you guys think of my new face? 😀

This is my boyfriends BB Japanese Oishii Burger. Sandwiched between two toasted black sesame seed buns: a thick and juicy 100% pure beef patty, a lettuce leaf, a few onions rings, some seaweed shreds, a slice of bacon, a slice of melted Cheddar cheese and a drizzle of wasabi-mayo sauce. The wasabi-mayo gave just the right amount of spiciness to the burger.

I have to be frank, the quirky toppings are definitely not for everyone. And as much as I like Japanese food, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. However, my boyfriend enjoyed it very much. There’s nothing wrong with the burger… I’m just kind of a burger purist.

My BB Philly Cheese Steak Burger. This has got to be the best burger I’ve tried in my life so far. Inside the burger: a thick and juicy 100% pure beef patty, a slice of cheese, roasted peppers, a lettuce leaf, some caramelized onions and thinly-sliced pieces of steak (as if the patty wasn’t enough) which were absolutely soft to the bite; all drizzled with some specialty sauce. I just love everything about this burger! Definitely a must-try for everybody!

Writing this post is making miserable and “hangry”. How I wish I could just fly to Davao and grab a BB burger (or two) right now.

If you’re a burger lover (or even if you’re not), consider adding Backyard Burgers on your checklist when in Davao. You simply cannot afford to miss their delicious charcoal-grilled burgers! Prices usually range between 150~250.

*Anime face by JoBerU-Uta

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 2: Breakfast at Sinangag Republik

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

As soon as we arrived in Davao, we dropped our bags at my boyfriend’s stepmom’s place, we had a little chit chat with her and shortly after that, we traipsed around the city in search of a place to stay (Yes, we didn’t go prepared. We’re such awful travelers, I know).

But as we were walking around, I was starting to get really cranky because I was so famished and heavy-eyed at this point already... And unless my boyfriend was going to carry me on his back or drag me along the pavement, I had no intention of budging at all.

For those who don’t know yet, it is imperative that hungry Leia must be fed immediately. Because nobody likes me when I’m hangry (hungry + angry)!

It was still around 8 o’clock in the morning and most of the restaurants within our range were closed save for…

Sinangag Republik which is open 24/7. Very convenient. Can you see the iconic jeepney protruding through the window? 🙂

Sinangag Republik, formerly known as Sinangag Express (SEx for short and I’m not making that up), is located at Metrolifestyle Complex, E. Jacinto Extension.

By the way, “sinangag” is Filipino for fried rice.

The interior is cozy and quite fascinating. Apparently, the jeepney extends all the way inside! Really cool! I don’t know what kind of sorcery they conjured in order to pull this off considering the size of the place… But *finger snap* they worked it!

Plastered against the bright blue walls are colorful road signs and license plates which create a striking visual contrast. The colors blue, red and yellow mirror the colors of the Philippine national flag.

Sinangag Republik obviously serves Filipino food. But they mainly serve “silog” (breakfast with fried rice and egg). In average, price ranges from 70 to 90 pesos per meal.

Pictured above were what we had. Left, my boyfriend’s order. Right, mine.

Hmm… How should I start?

Let’s talk about my order first. I had Beef Tapa and it is pretty different from what I’m used to. I think it was coated with flour and that’s a very unorthodox method of preparing beef tapa. It’s nothing amazing really. In fact, I was just eating it because I had to. I didn’t enjoy it but it didn’t find it revolting either…

However, my boyfriend’s order is another story. I had a taste of it and boy was I shaking my head in disgust. It was barely edible. Thank God we didn’t get sick by food poisoning or diarrhea because the meat was really bad. And by bad, I mean, SPOILED. We racked our brains for days but we couldn’t recall what he ordered at all. I think it was just too horrible for us to remember.

The place may have its charm but we don’t recommend that you eat here; unless you wanna call in sick for work, then by all means go ahead.

Some of my friends told me that their Frozen Taho is a must-try. I don’t know if we just got unlucky that day but we don’t have plans to eat here again. EVER.

But hey, on the bright side, at least I have an Instagram-worthy photo to make up for the bad experience. *smile*

24 & 2 Part 4: Sweet Leaf Bubble Tea Cafe

Posted on June 12, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

This is day number two of our post-anniversary celebration and there’s no better way to start the day than having a cup of milk tea (unless you’re a coffee person then it’s coffee).

So off we went to Sweet Leaf Bubble Tea Cafe. This is another milk tea shop in CDO that serves authentic Taiwanese tea and it is located at Pabayo and Chavez Streets, Divisoria.

Since we went there early on a Sunday, we got to “own” the whole place.

It’s so hard not to feel at home here.

I really love their wall decor.

Here’s a closer look.

More of their wall decor. Diggin’ the quotes!

Anyway, here’s what we had. Left, my rock salt and cheese matcha milk tea with tapioca pearls. Right, my boyfriend’s rock salt and cheese dark chocolate milk tea with some pudding added on.

I didn’t really enjoy mine… However, my boyfriend’s milk tea was the bomb! Definitely a must-try! It’s actually their best seller.

My boyfriend propping up the menu. We still have a looong list of milk teas to taste. Good thing teas here are affordable.

Although I may be disappointed with their rock salt and cheese matcha tea but I’ll definitely come back here to try some more.

24 & 2 Part 3: T.G.I. Fridays

Posted on June 3, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

T.G.I. Fridays, a.k.a. Friday’s, has finally come to CDO!

I know I’m a little too late on this announcement but better late than never right?

Upon finding our seat, I was amused! Here’s le boyfriend with our special guests, Buzz and Woody who joined us for dinner that night.

Hanging right above my seat are two real guitars. And there’s Bruce, the Legend (as Kato) and Bruce, the shark from Jaws. Real awesome.

Anyway, for our appetizer, we had Cajun Chicken Salad.

Crispy fried Cajun-battered chicken strips served with tomato, egg wedges, grated cheese and some mixed greens coated with honey mustard dressing.

I’d have to say that the chicken somehow tastes very similar to KFC’s. Not that it’s a bad thing, I do really love KFC myself.

I love everything in this salad especially the tomatoes (sorry chicken you’re not the star here for me haha). They’re fresh, juicy and sweet. I could seriously eat a bowl of those tomatoes.

And lemme tell ya, this is one HEFTY appetizer and is practically a meal in itself. I was starting to feel stuffed eating just halfway through this salad!

And as if that wasn’t enough, my boyfriend had to order Mushroom Onion Swiss Burger.

Juicy pure ground beef patty topped with tomato, lettuce, pickles, caramelized onions, melted Swiss cheese and thick toasted buns. Served with some crispy fries.

I liked it and it is very good but I’ve had better burgers than this albeit just smaller in size.

By the way, have you ever wondered how to eat a monster of a burger without spilling all over the place? Well, here’s the trick… Grip it tight and turn it upside down!

Yup, you read that right. Try it for yourself and be amazed!

Excuse me while I give this burger a kiss.

Since we had a coupon for a free Mocha Mud Pie, we just had to have it even if we were about to burst at this point.

As written on their menu, it’s rich chocolate-almond mousse and coffee ice cream frozen in a chocolate crumb crust. Topped with hot fudge and toasted almond slices.

We loved it. It’s not too sweet and it reminds me of one of my favorite desserts, Death by Choco. Too bad we weren’t able to finish it all up. Much to our displeasure.

I heard their steaks and ribs are very good but we’ll reserve those for another time.

24 & 2 Part 2: Human Heart Nature

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

Just a block or two away from Little Miss Funnel Cake, we spotted a Human Heart Nature branch and we just had to walk right in.

Human Heart Nature is a chain of stores in the Philippines that sell natural and organic world-class goods at very affordable prices.

Their products are ethically-acquired and are not processed with any synthetic chemicals.

From personal care to pet care, they got your basic and furry needs covered.

What I love about this company is that they source their raw materials and manufacture their products here in the Philippines. So if you buy their products, you are not only helping the local economy but you are supporting the local farmers as well.

Another thing that I love about Human Heart Nature is their eco-consciousness. They ensure that their products don’t become toxic once released to the environment and they have a recycling program where 100% of the proceeds go to Gawad Kalinga.

Oh, hi there!

Spotted! My boyfriend slobbering over bars of chocolate…

My boyfriend asked me if I wanted one so he could get one for me but I knew it was him who wanted one really badly. HAHA!

We got the dark chocolate one. I didn’t get to eat much of it though because I was having a very bad cough that day. Please don’t judge the forehead. Hehe.

Boyfriend holding a bag of coffee.

Here is a closer look of it. Don’t you just love the packaging? It was really nice of them to brew us some of this coffee so we could sample it. It was really good! I recommend that you pick this up should you bump into one of their branches that carry this.

Picked out a bottle of Sunflower Beauty Oil for myself. It’s one of their best sellers. I already tried it and it’s amazing! I use it as a make-up remover, hair serum and under eye moisturizer. Once I’ve emptied this bottle, I plan to drop it at this branch for recycling and purchase another one.

By the way, Human Heart Nature has awesome customer service. Should you be unhappy with any of their products, you can return them for a replacement, refund or credit.

They also have other merchanise such as t-shirts, bags and more!

To know more about Human Heart Nature and their products, I suggest that you visit their website by clicking here. They’re all about the good.

24 & 2 Part 1: Little Miss Funnel Cake

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

How ya’ll been doing? I hope everyone enjoyed the summer. As for me, I am still in disbelief that May is almost drawing to a close because I don’t want it to end. So far, this month has been the greatest! I just turned 24 and my boyfriend and I just turned 2. All is ~~good~~ super awesome!

And in celebration of my 24th birthday and our 2nd year anniversary, we went to CDO for a food trip and first on our itinerary was Little Miss Funnel Cake.

Little Miss Funnel Cake is a cozy dessert shop located at AB Santiago Building, Velez and Gaerlan Streets.

As the name suggests, they are known for their funnel cakes. Frankly, I had no idea what a funnel cake was and so I did my homework… And it’s actually just batter poured through a funnel and deep-fried onto hot cooking oil until it turns golden brown. I learned that by watching this cooking video right here.

I’m all about good food at great prices…

So this is the place to be! Nothing above 70 pesos! Ridiculous.

Mango Caramel Funnel Cake and Deep-fried Oreos were calling my name so that’s what we both had.

I really like watching how my food is made 🙂

Oh, did I mention that I dyed my hair pink? What do you guys think? 🙂
I digress.

Now to the delicious part of the post…

Mango caramel funnel cake, topped with tidbits of fresh mango, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a drizzle of caramel syrup. Although I do wish I had a bigger scoop of ice cream but it doesn’t matter… T’was gooood.

Deep-fried Oreos, also topped with powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream then drizzled with some chocolate syrup. Now I know these deep-fried Oreos look rather unappealing in this photo as the ice cream has already melted into a sticky soup here… But I swear that it is an artery-clogging treat that you should not miss!

While I would not want to have these everyday myself for health concerns but they’re really good to have every once-in-awhile.

I highly recommend that you visit Little Miss Funnel Cake and try these goodies especially the deep-fried Oreos! And I guarantee you that you will not regret it!

Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites

Posted on February 24, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Last year (this is another backlog entry apparently), my boyfriend and I were invited to a wedding party in Cagayan de Oro and since it was going to start late in the afternoon (and would most likely continue late into the night) we looked for a place to stay…

After spending some time on research and much deliberation, we finally decided to stay at Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites. As obviously implied by its name, It’s not only a hotel but it’s also a restaurant that serves seafood. And because I really love seafood, it’s a double win for me!

The best part is, it’s only a walking distance from SM City! And for those of you who want to know, it’s only just a few minutes away from the Lumbia airport too.

There’s my boyfriend checking out their menu… Food prices range between 200 to 300 pesos.

Yes, they have aquariums that contain live sea creatures just like in Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant.

And then there’s my boyfriend again, enjoying his fresh buko juice, or as Americans would like to call it, coco water.

Forgot what this is called but it definitely looks like steak. I remember to have enjoyed it. The gravy went really nicely with it and so did the vegetables on the side.

Sizzling sisig. One of my favorite Filipino food of all time. Pairs perfectly with ice-cold beer.

Of course, no Prawn House trip is ever complete without having to try any of their seafood, especially their prawns! Their Prawn Thermidore is a definite must-try!

And here’s a preview of the room we got…

This is the Standard Room. Can you believe that this only costed us 850 for the night? It’s neat, tidy and cozy. The linens and towels were fresh. And they provided complimentary bathroom products too! Believe me, not all budget hotels here in the Philippines do that. And with this note, I am impressed!

So for those who want to experience quality service but are on a budget, I highly recommend this place!

For more information about Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites, please click on this link.

Fort San Pedro

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

Yup. Still posting a blog filled with photos backdated on my Cebu trip last year. This will be the last of the series…

Located in the Pier Area of Cebu City, stands the oldest and smallest triangular bastion fort of the Philippines which was built in the 1500s.

Above is the marker before the entrance of Fort San Pedro. I don’t remember this the last time I was here (circa 2002).

The entrance of the fort.

Upon close inspection, you can see that coral stones were used to build this fort.

There’s me standing next to a wall of photos about the founding of Cebu.

The small museum that houses well-preserved artifacts was “closed for maintenance” that day. But in truth, that sign was there to cover up a very embarrassing situation. We read from a local newspaper that day that the artifacts were actually stolen and the museum is now empty. I do hope they retrieved some of the artifacts, if not, all of them by now.

Hello boyfriend! It was his first time to be here.

Seriously, I don’t see the point of landscaping the grounds of the fort.

Gwapo de Guardia. Chos! Haha!

Cuerpio de Guardia is the largest building inside the fort. This was where the personnel that manned the fort lived.

An old Japanese tourist guy trailing behind his company to take a photo of them walking ahead of him. Cute.

Oh hey, one of the Japanese tourists got left behind. I kid. Hehe.

The grounds of the fort.

And I have to abruptly end this post with a photo of me with my family and boyfriend as I can start to feel a throbbing pain on the sides of my head. Sorry…

Must. Sleep. Now. Ciao!

Let Sprockets Cafe Color Your World

Posted on January 27, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

In two separate occasions, I invited my friends and family to a restaurant that my friend Rachel owns…

Introducing Sprockets Cafe, a colorful restaurant that exudes fun, creativity and positive vibes in Cebu City!
I can’t think of a better place to just chill and camwhore all day.

Seriously, no Sprockets trip is ever complete without an obligatory photo op with the rainbow lomo wall, camera cardboard menus and pillows!

L to R: Ferocious Brent, Bombshell Erica, Quirky me, Drop-dead gorgeous Rachel

Oh hello there, Gluttony. Nice to see you again.

By the way, I accidentally spilled my wintermelon tea so… Let’s just rave about their food, shall we?

Moby Fish and Chips. Don’t belittle this seemingly simple dish. I enjoyed it very much! And yes, the dips do go very well with both the fish and fries.

Crispy, crunchy nachos topped with savory salsa. I swear I could finish a bucket of this deliciousness. Yum yum yum!

Fettupasta in Pesto Cream. One word: NOMS. Pesto cream sauce is, well, creamy and the pasta is al dente. *finger kiss*

Oreo Crepe on the house! Crepe topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and then drizzled with caramel and crushed Oreo cookies. There is nothing else I can say except that this is, by far, the best dessert I’ve put in my mouth! ‘Twas gone in a flash!

I am a self-proclaimed certified Sprocketeer and I highly recommend that you try any of the dishes I mentioned above. I promise you’ll thank me!

*My boyfriend took the first photo
**Not all photos here are taken on the same date