After professing being a northie -- someone who lives in Northern Metro Manila, you'd already know that one of the malls I usually frequent is TriNoma. Actually, I'm normally in TriNoma every other week... So when I was invited by the Yummy Magazine Team for a tour of the trendiest restaurants in TriNoma, there was just no way I would refuse!
Dubbed as the
TriNoma Food Crawl co-presented by
Yummy Magazine and
Yummy.PH, the plan was to have us participating bloggers try out two dishes each from the five restaurants TriNoma with the help of the Yummy Team, hand-picked. And it wasn't until the day before the food tour that we found out which TriNoma restaurants we'll be visiting. How's that for suspense?
I've been a long-time mall-goer of TriNoma, so I've pretty much eaten at most of the restaurants nested in the mall, while witnessing old ones close down and new ones open. But after we were told the roster of restaurants we'll be visiting, I still felt excited! Our destinations were a mix of restaurants I oh-so-love, and ones I have yet to try.
1st Stop: GINZA BAIRIN
Location: Level 1 Garden Restaurants
Budget: P400 and up per person
Click here for my full review on Ginza Bairin.
This is a katsu restaurant close to my heart. I've been here a few times now, but every visit has always left me craving for more. I've tried a few dishes from
Ginza Bairin already, and I couldn't be happier that the Yummy Team picked these two oh-so-delish items from the menu! And since these are
teishoku or sets, every order comes with unlimited miso soup, cabbage salad, rice, pickles, fruit slices and hot brown rice tea.
Delicious pork loin, with a thin layer of fat, paired with spicy and earthy curry over hot, steamed rice. This is comfort food at its finest. The perfect bowl for the katsu lover who's also down for curry. And in case you're particular with the heat levels, you can actually choose between the regular, which is basically the mild version, or go for the spicy curry.
Ah! My most favorite item here! This
Ginza Bairin original is a truly special dish that I've always craved and raved. Slices of tender hire katsu over Japanese koshikari rice with a flavorful broth simmered for hours, and two servings of golden farm-fresh eggs -- one mixed in, and the other beautifully sitting atop. This is seriously a must-order here!
Green Tea and Black Sesame Ice Cream (P80 per scoop) |
We were also treated to a scoop of our choice of ice cream variant -- green tea, or black sesame. This is definitely a great way to end an amazing katsu meal!
2nd Stop: HANAMARUKEN
Location: Level 2 Garden Restaurants
Budget: P300-P500 per person
Click here for my full review on Hanamaruken.
After the great start, I can't be happier that the next restaurant is another one of my most trusted restos in TriNoma.
Hanamaruken is a ramen joint that impressed me not just with its ramen, but also with its rice bowls, and I'm just stoked to be back.
Signature Happiness Ramen (P480) + Aji Tamago (P50) |
Locals in Osaka have queued for
Hanamaruken for this particular bowl. Slow-braised custom-cut pork rib in a shoyu tonkotsu broth served with thin noodles, nori, negi and narutomaki -- this is indeed a bowl of ramen that can bring you happiness. Every sip and chopstick-ful is just oozing with savory flavors that explode inside the mouth.
Drunk Man Rice Bowl (P240) |
I have a confession... Although the Happiness Ramen is what made
Hanamaruken famous, I somehow love this rice bowl more. A super filling rice dish perfect either for hunger or hangover, this item has generous chunks of tender kakuni (braised pork squares) with two fried eggs, negi, chilli and the resto's homemade braising sauce. This is seriously one foodgasmic rice bowl! And now I'm craving just blogging about it!
Complimentary hot tea and Iced Green Tea (P80) |
Teas either hot or cold weren't available yet the last time I dined here, so it was a good change that their now serve complimentary hot tea. We were also served with their iced green tea which tasted of unsweetened matcha. Truly refreshing and definitely pleased the matcha lover in me!
3rd Stop: MANGO TREE BISTRO
Location: Level 3 Garden Restaurants
Budget: P500 and up per person
Click here to see my review on Mango Tree High Street.
As shameful as it may sound, I still haven't dined at
Mango Tree Bistro until now. I've tried the
Mango Tree in Bonifacio High Street though, and I've had a really good time. So while I'm not familiar with the TriNoma branch, I had a feeling I won't be disappointed.
I've always loved Thai cuisine, and although I'm not entirely familiar with this dish, it definitely satisfied my palate. Savory and super tender grilled Thai herb chicken in lemongrass skewers, served with Northeastern Thai dipping sauce. Simply yummy!
We were also served with this Thai staple, stir-fried pork with garlic, fresh hot basil and red chillies. This dish seemed simple, but it bursts with flavor. I have to warn those who might not be too fond of spicy foods though that this is not for the faint of heart.
4th Stop: WEE NAM KEE
Location: Level 4 Mall; Near the cinemas
Budget: P300-P500 per person
Click here for my full review on Wee Nam Kee.
Wee Nam Kee has been one of my favorite restaurants when craving for the tasty Hainanese chicken, and I'm sure glad this establishment's included on the #YummyAlert radar. However, while they're more famous for their Hainanese chicken, they've recently launched a new menu, and we also got a taste of two of them.
Salted Egg Chinese Style Fried Chicken (P295) |
How can I ever forget this memorable treat? Boneless chicken seasoned with curry leaves and chili then fried to a crisp using a rich and sumptuous salted egg batter. This dish may be on the more sinful side of the spectrum, but this is something not to be missed, especially by chicken and salted egg lovers. Omnomnom!
Hainanese Chicken Curry Noodles (P225 Solo; P368 Sharing) |
The perfect bowl of noodles for a cold, rainy day --
Wee Nam Kee's signature Hainanese chicken mixed with Thai rice noodles and vegetables in a mild curry sauce infused in a hearty clear chicken broth. Every mouthful of this will definitely please even the toughest of the critics. The heat level is probably on the milder side though.
5th Stop: PEARL RIVER CAFE
Location: Level 4 Garden Restaurants
Budget: P200-P400 per person
Click here for my full review on Pearl River Cafe.
Although I've heard about
Pearl River Cafe before, it wasn't until through this food crawl that I first got a taste of two of its offerings. I have to admit though, I was so intrigued that I went back to try more of their food. I blogged about it already too, in case you're interested. You can read my full review by clicking the link above.
Steamed Crab Roe and Shrimp Shaomai (P99) |
First on our table was this serving of steamed siomai. Oh siomai, how can I resist? You just look so tempting! And this serving isn't just all looks. Every piece was indeed very tasty, meaty and just succulent. It's unlike a lot of mall restaurants' siomai which is mostly extender. This really oozed of shrimp goodness.
Steamed Bun with Custard Paste and Salted Egg (P65) |
We also got to try this dessert item of cute hedgehog-shaped buns filled with custard paste and salted egg. Now this is tasty stuff! I seriously can't get enough after a bite. However, it dodged the bullet from being the perfect custard bun in my opinion. It would've been nice if the filling wasn't as scarce, and the bun wasn't as dense. Still, I can't deny that it does taste good. And for the price, it's a good treat!
☆*・゜゚・*☆*・゜゚・*☆*・゜゚・*☆*・゜゚・*☆
10 dishes, 5 restaurants. It was indeed a day filled with food and more food. My palate and my tummy were happy though, and it's what's important. Hehe!
Anyhow, I would like to thank TriNoma and the Yummy Team for having me in the gastronomical
TriNoma Food Crawl. Not only did I cross paths with my favorite restaurants, but also discovered new ones. Till the next food tour! ヽ(;^o^ヽ)
With the TriNoma and Yummy Team, and my fellow blogger participants |
The
TriNoma Food Crawl may be over, but I definitely won't stop checking out more of the dining destinations in TriNoma. Actually, my radar has picked up a few new establishments in the mall. I may or may not do a list of restaurants in TriNoma that I love before the year-end.
*crossing my fingers* Now, let me just convince my boyfriend or my little sister to accompany me to another TriNoma food crawl! Ù©(^á´—^)Û¶
Kakain na ko sa ginza today with your reco sis!
ReplyDeleteNatuloy ka nung Saturday sis? Anyway, if you did, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Ginza! :D
DeleteWEE NAM KEE! Sobrang sarap and affordable jan! :)) Made me miss Singapore!
ReplyDeleteHaven't tried Wee Nam Kee in Singapore yet, but Wee Nam Kee in Manila (since it's the one I've tried) is definitely fool-proof for Singaporean food! :D
DeleteI might be in Trinoma next weekend. This list would really be helpful.
ReplyDeleteHope you try one, or more, from this list of restos! ;)
DeleteSuch a yummy experience :) Hope I can visit Trinoma, if that happens I will definitely try out this restos
ReplyDeleteYes, hope you can try one or more from this list when you visit Trinoma. I'm sure you'll have a yummy time! ;)
DeleteI wanna try Ginza Bairin's green tea ice cream since I love green tea! :) The steamed Bun looked really cool with those spikes!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me wanna go to Trinoma! :D
We've tried out the Wee Nam Kee (which we frequent!), Pearl River and Ginza Bairin. However, we still need to try the Happiness Ramen of Hanamaruken :D
ReplyDelete