Mango Tree: Thai Cuisine, Anniversary and Project Brave Kids

If you've been sticking around for quite a while, you might have noticed that I've been growing a love affair with Thai cuisine. So when I was invited to a first year anniversary thanksgiving lunch at Mango Tree in Bonifacio High Street Central, I can't help but feel ecstatic as it's one of the Thai restaurants around I have always been meaning to visit.
Mango Tree Bonifacio High Street Central

More Bonifacio High Street Central Restaurants:With a promise of Thai cuisine at its best, and a very posh and comfortable casual fine dining ambiance, I surely brought my high expectations at Mango Tree, which by the way even has popular outlets in Bangkok, Dubai, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Doha.

Mango Tree Interior Bonifacio High Street

However, this trip to Mango Tree was even more meaningful than what I expected. Sure, I enjoyed just being inside the restaurant with its high ceilings, modern yet elegant interiors, cozy leatherette chairs and banquet seating, as well as its al fresco and mezzanine dining areas. But beyond the facade, there was another reason why we were at the thanksgiving lunch. Apart from celebrating its successful first year, Mango Tree is giving back by supporting a cause that truly matters.

Project: Brave Kids

From March to May, Mango Tree will be helping the kid beneficiaries of Project: Brave Kids -- a non-profit organization assisting children with cancer (and their families) to improve their quality of life by enhancing their social, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being, celebrate their birthdays. And during that fine lunch, I was very honored to have witnessed how these angels wore happy smiles as they blew their birthday cakes.

Mango Tree Project Brave Kids

I may not know what struggles these children are forced to battle with, but that afternoon was very touching and inspiring for me, especially to see how these brave kids face their affliction with such courage and optimism. So I'm really glad to see Mango Tree's initiative, since aside from bringing happiness to these kids through a birthday celebration, they will also be donating part of their proceeds to Project: Brave Kids, to support their activities and projects lined up for 2013. So to Mango Tree, I salute you for this decision, for choosing to give back to a very important cause.

The Food

Now, while the kids celebrated with good food, sweet treats and happy cheers, we also had our fair share. So, let me take you on a gastronomic tour, through the dishes we had.

Yum Mamuang P280

We first had the Yum Mamuang (P280) which is a green mango salad with peanuts and grated coconut. Just one forkful and I was sold! The harmony of the sweetness and tang from this appetizer was just beautiful. Unlike other green mango salads which will leave you with a crumpled face, this dish's balanced flavor will definitely do otherwise.

Tod Mun Goong P380

We then had the Tod Mun Goong (P380) which are deep-fried shrimp cakes served with a sweet-chili sauce on the side. Although I'm not a big fan of shrimp (or even crab) cakes, I liked that these babies were fried to a golden-brown crisp without being too oily. Every bite was very flavorful too, so this is good not just for adults, but also for the kids.

Tom Yum Goong P450

Next, we had the Tom Yum Goong (P450) which is a hot and sour prawn soup infused with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, mushrooms and red chilies. Now, I'm a big fan of tom yum goong so I was excited to try Mango Tree's version. While it has the sour, refreshing flavor that I love, and not too mention a surplus of prawns, I found the overall taste a little too salty and lacking in heat. I think this is perfect though for those who are new to Thai cuisine, or perhaps to those who are not big fans of spicy foods.

Pad Thai Jay P350

Then came my most awaited dish, the Pad Thai Jay (P350) -- Thai stir-fried rice noodles with mixed vegetables and tofu. As a huge fan of this Thai favorite, I was very excited to get a taste of Mango Tree's rendition. From the plate, it already looked delicious...

Pad Thai Jay Mango Tree Bistro

More so when you get a taste of it! The rice noodles from this Pad Thai Jay were moist, chewy and very elastic which makes munching every strand an enjoyable experience. The beansprouts and nuts also added both an addicting crunchy texture and a nice flavor which complements the sweet, savory and sharp notes of the dish. Seriously, this is one of the best pad thai noodles I've had, and I'd definitely order and re-order it again!

Khao Ob Supparod P380 Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now P850

For more carbs, we had the Khao Ob Supparod (P380) which is pineapple fried rice with chicken, peas, corn and raisins beautifully served in a halved pineapple boat. Since I grew up eating at Chinese restaurants, I thought this would be something similar. However, it was interesting to find out that this Thai version has a delicate sweetness and more savory flavor. And in all honesty, I so prefer this over the Chinese counterpart!

We also had the Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now (P850) which is steamed sea bass with fresh garlic, chili and lime sauce, and served on a nice fish-shaped platter with a burner at the bottom. I'm not big on steamed fish, but I have to admit that I like the blend of subtle flavors and the very clean taste of this fresh sea bass. However, the texture of the fish itself wasn't that moist and soft anymore. Maybe it's because we left the burner to heat up the fish for long. So friends, learn from our mistake! Eat this up upon serving.

Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung P400

Another viand we had was this Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung (P400) which is stir-fried chicken pieces with cashew nuts, capsicum and onions. This is the first time I've had this kind of chicken dish and I can say it's quite good. It wasn't as strong-flavored as I expected, but the cashew nuts really gave an enjoyable taste to the already-sweet and savory sauce. I think I would've enjoyed this more though if it had more heat.

Talay Ruam Mit P1,700

For seafood lovers, the Talay Ruam Mit (P1,700) is a set you don't want to miss. It's pricey alright, but the grilled crabs, prawns and squids were as fresh as they can be. They were also served with Thai glass noodles, as well as a trio of sauces which perfectly complement the grilled seafood treats. Among these, I enjoyed the crabs the most even though they were the most difficult to eat. The squid were tender too and very tasty. My least favorite would probably be the prawns (despite my love for them). Although they were moist and flavorful, some parts were unevenly cooked (a little raw).

Desserts and Drinks

Above my love for Thai salads, noodles and entrées is my inclination for Thai desserts.

And to start our Thai dessert session was the Tako Khao Phod (P220) -- pieces of pandan leaf-encased coconut custard with sweet corn. Compared to other tako khao phods I've had, this serving is probably the most plain when it comes to appearance. However, this is also my most favorite out of all takos I've tried. The custard itself is very soft, smooth and creamy with a generous filling of corn and coconut bits. It also has a slight saltiness which goes really well with the coconut cream, and which I really love.

Tako Khao Phod P220 Tub Tim Grob P250

Since one dessert isn't enough, we also had the Tub Tim Grob (P250) which is a glass of red ruby chestnuts and jackfruit with Mango Tree's homemade coconut ice cream. Whenever a Thai dessert has red ruby chestnuts, I'm almost instantly sold. However, in this dessert's case, although I love the red ruby chestnuts, it was the coconut ice cream that stole the spotlight. Unlike most coconut ice creams around, this one is slightly salted which makes every spoonful a pleasurable taste of Thai dessert heaven.

Drink of the Day Fresh Carrot & Orange Juice Thai Iced Tea P90

For drinks, I had the Fresh Carrot & Orange Juice which was the Drink of the Day. It was very refreshing, energizing and had my preferred sweetness level. I also got a taste of their Thai Iced Tea (P90) which was creamy and had just the right balance of sweetness and that distinct Thai tea taste (from star anise and crushed tamarind seeds).

THE VERDICT

Everything we had from appetizers down to desserts were all of great quality. Whether you're a beginner at Thai cuisine or an experienced one, you'll find something to love from Mango Tree's wide array of offerings. You can even have your dishes adjusted to your liking. Price tag might not look friendly, but with an excellent selection of food, a set of courteous, alert and knowledgeable staff, and a cozy yet posh casual fine dining ambiance, I think spending, dining and returning to Mango Tree is well worth it!

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5


Mango Tree, Bonifacio High Street Central
G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock,
7th Ave. cor. 29th St., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 217-2367
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

39 comments:

  1. I love Thai food! Should give Mango Tree a try nga. :)

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  2. What a nice place! I certainly loved the interiors. And the food looks amazing!Great photos, Sumi!

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  3. It seems interesting. Never heard of it though. Want try thai food really soon :)

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  4. They have it here!!! really lovely, Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong re the best!!! Oh food!!!

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  5. I like Thai food too especially the spicy ones. I may try this soon as I'm off to BGC.

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  6. If I'm not mistaken there's a Mango Tree resto in Trinoma. I haven't tried their food yet because of the price. But based on your review and the pics of the food, I could give it a shot.

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    1. Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma is under the same company, but I think there's a slight difference from this Mango Tree's (in BGC) menu. Give it a try though when you can, the food is good :)

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  7. It makes me happy to see expensive restaurants like this is giving back to help those who have less in life. I am curious why the name 'Mango Tree"...I would never have associated it with Thai cuisine :)

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    1. Me too, I admire companies having the initiative to give back :) Anyway, Mango Tree is an international brand so I'm not so sure how they got the name. It does sound Thai to me though since most Thai dishes use mangoes XD

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  8. Mouthwatering! Sarap ng mga pinupuntahan mo Sumi- pasama aman hahaha

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  9. Good food and good intentions - nothing can top that combination.

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  10. The restaurant interiors is great. Mapapasarap ang kain mo. Though I know little about Thai foods, the food treats seems appetizing. Are Thai foods that spicy?

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  11. Whoa all those food look sumptuous! Nagtutulo na yata laway ko haha. I will have to visit this soon! :)

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  12. The place is cool. Food really looks good. And their PROJECT: BRAVE KIDS has good intentions to help children with cancers. Congrats MANGO TREE and more blessing to come with your restaurant.

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  13. The food loos so delicious and mouthwatering but I bet they are also spicy :) I've tried pad thai before and it really is a delicious food and quite easy to prepare, too.

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  14. Wow, I should have read this food post earlier, the food shots makes me want to eat something for midnight snacks.

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  15. I love the place, it looks nice ang cozy. And the food looks delicious and mouth-watering.

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  16. our favourite thai food! i love thai food and my husband too! we go in thailand at least once a year for vacation. its nice to see for a restaurant to be doing such really nice things you think a resto would do xx

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    1. I'd love to visit Thailand too some day and try authentic Thai food there mismo :)

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  17. Wow! Nice place and delicious foods, so mouth-watery, hope to be there soon.

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  18. Waaah... The photos of the food at Mango Tree make me really hungry!

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  19. Ohhh such a beautiful place to dine! What I love about this restaurant is that they know how to give back! :)

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  20. Not only that the interiors looks really elegant and modern, the food looks delissssh too! I gotta pay em a visit soon :)

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  21. I'd gladly eat here even if it's expensive because I know that I'll be helping kids with cancer.

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  22. The Fresh Carrot & Orange Drink look so yummy and healthy! A good way to freshen up to beat the heat. Hoping to try one this summer! :)

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  23. Those are good food and restaurant that got a great review and verdict. I love the idea that they help kids or appreciate kids that does courageous acts.

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    1. Mommie Tess, Project Brave Kids is actually a non-profit org helping children with cancer, and Mango Tree is supporting and donating to the org to give back on their 1st year anniversary.

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  24. I love Thai food also but I was not able to attend that event.... sayang! BTW, have you been to Thai Bistro?

    xoxo
    MrsMartinez

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    1. I haven't tried Thai Bistro yet, but I bought vouchers from Deal Grocer so we'll be there soon! :D I'm excited na.. hihi!

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  25. before I dont like thai food but when I tasted pad thai and thai milk tea, the more I want to explore different thai dishes! :D

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  26. Never tried Thai cuisine before but the food looks really yummy!

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  27. Glad that there's someone that cares for these kids, giving them inspiration to fight thru their illnesses. Like to try this restaurant. Makes me reminisce about the time I went to Thailand especially the Pad Thai.

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  28. am not a thai food lover but the prawn make me salivate .. i might try to visit this on my vacation to the metro .

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  29. Wow i wanna try this thai food restaurant especially the Tod Mun Goong!

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  30. I like Mango Tree! We usually try different restaurants when craving for Thai cuisine but this one is becoming a favorite (although it can be pricey). Aside from the usuals we always order, you made me curious about their shrimp cakes as well as that seafood plate (but P1.7k?!). Buti na lang someone else pays hehe. But those are the two I will definitely suggest when we dine out there for a special occasion. They seemed yummy. Gutom na ako tuoly

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  31. This is really a nice place. I love their foods so much.

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  32. i want to try Mango Tree dishes and experience the taste of Thai cuisine =)

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  33. wow this is another thai cuisine to visit here in manila. Haven't had a taste of mango salad with peanut, looks delicious! The Pad Thai Jay is just so beautiful in that plate, looks like it doesn't want to be eaten. :)

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  34. I read a article under the same title some time ago, but this articles quality is much, much better. How you do this.. pop over to this website

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