Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Mandaluyong and San Juan for January 2015

Duck & Buvette is the old Cafe Provencal reinvented. It’s a French bistro and bakery specializing in duck confit and buvettes (the French version of tapas or small plates that uses seasonal produce and hand-picked ingredients). It’s for weekend lunches and dinners with family or friends. It’s not for children looking for spaghetti or fried chicken. We recommend the Maple Candied Bacon & Lemon, D&B Crispy Half Duck Confit and French Ice Cream Sandwich. Our insider tip is they serve Intelligentsia specialty coffee, a leading coffee roaster company in Chicago.

Yabu is the leader in all things Katsu (meaning cutlet in English). Owner John Concepcion of Uniliver RFM Ice Cream, Inc. brought in Chef Kazuya Takeda from Tokyo to partner with and create this specialized dining experience with him. It’s for people of all ages who like all things fried. It’s not for people looking for a wide Japanese menu selection. We recommend the Kurobuta Premium set (‘Kurobuta’ is also known as the kobe beef of pork). Our insider tip is talk to the manager, he/she might give you free ice cream! P.S. If you don’t already know ‘The Yabu Promise’ is they will serve you within 20 minutes or it’s free.

Project Pie is an American fast food franchise and a casual custom pizzeria that allows its customers to design and build their own pizzas from scratch. It’s for people who enjoy playing chef, especially kids. It’s not for pizza aficionados or a dinner occasion to impress. Our insider tip is go wild with the toppings, you can even go half and half to create two flavors.

Vikings Luxury Buffet have redefined the buffet service industry; what was once mostly available in hotels catering to the upper classes has now been made available to the middle class. It’s for families and groups who are looking to celebrate special occasions affordably. Customers are loving their avocado ice cream. It’s not for people who prefer the ambiance of a hotel buffet. Our insider tip is to visit on your birthday month for a free meal. P.S. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID.

Sunrise Buckets is a surfers’ paradise, a Hawaiian-themed joint famous for its bucket full of chicken wings and flavored beers. It’s for friends looking for a casual hangout spot after school or work. It’s not for business meetings. We recommend the Garlic Parmesan Cheese, Honey-Jalapeno and Jack Daniel’s wings. Our insider tip is get 1 refill of their Sunrise Iced Tea for only P10.

Executive chef Chiloy Santos drew inspiration from his culinary travels to San Francisco and New Orleans, came back and created Kettle. Kettle offers traditional American comfort food like hamburgers, fried chicken and steaks and amped them up with their own sauces and spices. It’s for people who enjoy American style platters. It’s not for solo diners, servings are generous. We recommend the Pork and Potato Strips for starters and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Miso Glazed Salmon for mains. Our insider tip is all Kettle desserts are made by Chef Chiloy’s mom, Vilma Santos (no, not the actress). Try her Instagram-worthy Checkered Cake.

Joining the make-your-own burger wagon is the highly raved about 8Cuts Burger Blends. ‘8Cuts’ is a reference to the eight cuts of beef used in the five custom blends that only they offer. It’s for people who enjoy getting their hands dirty. It’s not for people looking for a quick take away meal. We recommend the Q-Daddy Burger.

Ippudo is the first branch of this international group in the Philippines.  A joint venture with the guys at Yabu, it specializes in Hakata-style Tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen produced in their kitchen and tailor-fitted for the Filipino palate. It’s for all the people who wants straight up ramen minus all the fancy embellishments of modern cuisine. It’s not for people who don’t like queuing (sometimes 2 hours long). We recommend their Shiromaru Motoji ramen and the pork buns.  Our insider tip is to come in pairs for quicker accommodation. “Kiddie sets” may be requested for your little ones.

Green Pastures, another farm-to-table concept restaurant created by Chef Robby Goco of crowd-favorite Cyma, promises to deliver wholly organic and locally-sourced dishes. It’s for people who love salads and higher quality produce. It’s not for people who are craving a rice meal. We recommend their salads, homemade cheeses and juice selection. Our insider tip is Chef Robby constantly updates the menu ‘based on what’s in season, what’s new and what’s fresh,’ which is why their menu is stamped with a validity period.

Tim Ho Wan is Hong Kong’s most celebrated dim sum restaurant, after all it’s the cheapest One Michelin star in the world. It’s for affordable and fast dim sum. It’s not for people who don’t want to queue. Their crowd stealer is the Baked Bun with BBQ Pork. We also recommend their Wasabi Salad Prawn Dumpling and Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp. Our insider tip is to queue after lunch rush hour or 2 hours before closing time for shorter lines. P.S. The buns are P145 for 3 pieces, VAT exclusive.