Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Mandaluyong for April 2017

Lugang Café is a Shanghai-based café focused on providing quality and contemporary Taiwanese cuisine. It’s for singles, couples and groups looking for a place to have casual brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner. It’s not for intimate affairs. We recommend the Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao, Honey Garlic Squid and Stewed Beef, Tendon and Turnip in Clay Pot for mains and the 12-inch Bellagio Breeze for dessert. Here’s a fun fact: Originally called Bellagio Café, the owners had to rebrand to Lugang (the literal translation of its Chinese name) because Bellagio has already been trademarked.

Green Pastures, a farm-to-table concept restaurant created by Chef Robby Goco of crowd-favorite Cyma, promises to deliver locally-sourced and produced, and wholly organic dishes. It’s for people who love salads and higher quality produce. It’s not for people who are craving for some good grease. We recommend their salads, homemade cheeses and juice selection. Don’t miss their duck fat fries. 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. Breakfast is served at their BGC branch.

Vikings Luxury Buffet has 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 tips are (1) Visit on your birthday month for a free meal. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID. (2) Book at these branches to get up to P500 off your bill.

Sambo Kojin is a modern eat-all-you-can Japanese and Korean Yakiniku (meaning ‘grilled meat’) restaurant focused in providing not only fresh and premium meat, poultry, seafood and produce, but also relaxed dining experience. It’s for people who enjoy grilling your own meats on the table. It’s not for people who want their clothes to be smelling fresh when they leave the restaurant. Our insider tip is house tea is not on the house.

Pound by Todd English is an old school counter-style burger joint with a 1920s speakeasy vibe. They pride themselves in using the freshest ingredients and making everything in-house, allowing us to experience a serious, fancy upgrade in the Philippines’ burger game. It’s for burger crawlers who are fans of Todd English Food Hall. It’s not for vegans. We recommend the T.E. Crispy Chicken Burger, Amsterdam Burger and Pound Burger. Our insider tip is to try their exclusive Beer Slushies (Asahi and Brew Kettle).

Dubbed as the “house of unlimited”, En Tirage (en ti-haj) is a resto and wine bar that offers everyday unlimited promos on their liquor and other alcoholic beverages. It also serves Italian favorites and all-day Filipino breakfast. It’s for ladies’ wine night. It’s not for kiddie parties. We recommend the Pesto Zucchini pizza, Wagyu Salpicao, Paella Negra, and big breakfast plates. Our insider tip is: En Tirage is also the first in the metro to offer build your own cheese and deli platter. Read more here.

RB CTY / Rib City is a fun and interactive American diner specializing in tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Other items on the menu include pasta, salads, soup and other mains. In line with their restaurant concept, guests are encouraged to play and build legos while waiting for orders. It’s for lunch breaks with workmates in the area, barkada nights out or weekend play dates with the kids. It’s not for people who are looking for a quiet place to work in. We recommend the Big City with CTY rice or the Twin Tower. Our insider tip is enjoy RB CTY’s all-you-can-eat Surf and Turf promo (ribs, chicken, tempura and sides) promo until Feb. 28.

Ooma is a modern Japanese restaurant by the Moment Group and young acclaimed chef Bruce Ricketts, the same partnership that brought us Mecha Uma. Ooma, a wordplay on Uma meaning ‘good’, promises bold Japanese flavors at affordable prices. It’s for heavy rice eaters, rice is unlimited. It’s not for people looking for ramen. We recommend the Soft Shell Crab Taco-Maki, Hangar Steak and Uni Udon. Our insider tip is that at Ooma, you get to ‘brush’ (not dip) soy sauce on your sushi. Catch their limited time offer, Soft Shell Crab ‘Wich, until April 30, 2017.

Gringo is a homegrown restaurant serving Latin American and Tex-Mex specialties such as ribs, chicken, burritos and more. It’s a quick and casual concept brought to us by the same group behind the Tokyo Bubble Tea franchise. It’s for office goers’ lunch breaks, quick bites and afterwork drinks. It’s not for foodies looking for many rice meal options. We recommend the Southern Spice Chicken, Gringo Baby Back Ribs, Truffle Queso Quesadilla, Crispy Taco. Our insider tip is they also have kids menu for the little ones.

Bad Bird specializes in fried chicken flavored with umami spices. It first gained popularity at Hole in the Wall, an upscale food court at Century City Mall. This is its first stand alone branch. It’s for everyone who loves a good fried chicken with a twist and spicy kick. It’s not for people who shy away from deep fried food. We recommend the Waffle Plate plus dirty rice, corn cobs and hush puppies on the side. Everyone loves their corn. Our insider tip is their gravy isn’t free.