Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Mandaluyong for December 2016

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.

BLK 513 is Manila’s first ever premium and gluten-free activated charcoal-enhanced frozen yogurt. Choose between dark skim cup or cone and top it with a unique selection of crunches, fruits and sauces. It’s for health-conscious dessert lovers. It’s not for people who prefer traditional ice creams. We recommend the Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie, Peach Mango Float, or you can be adventurous and customize your own. Popular sauces include cereal milk and milk jam, a new holiday Red Velvet sauce is available! Bestselling crunches include the Valrhona Baby and White Chocolate Oldie. Our insider tip is watch out for dark lips after eating.

Sunnies Cafe is a LA-inspired cafe-slash-restaurant that’s all about fusing together all that the Sunnies brand stands for: fashion, food, travel, and more. It is owned by “it” barkada Georgina Wilson, Eric Dee, Martine Cajucom and Bea Soriano. It’s for fun catch-up sessions with your best friends or light meetings in a perfectly Instagram-worthy setting. It’s not for formal business gatherings with the big bosses. We recommend the Crispy Tacos, Chicken and Waffles, White Truffle Cream Pasta, and their famous Funfetti. Insider tip: Watch out for their third branch in Alabang Town Center! Fun Fact: Wanna know what the owners’ favorite dishes are? See our full feature here.

Yayoi (pronounced as ya-yo-wee) is a contemporary Japanese restaurant offering set menu dining called Teishoku–a balanced tray of rice, miso soup, tsukemono (Japanese pickles), a main dish and a side dish. It’s for solo diners or groups of four. It’s not for big group dining or parties. We recommend the Sukiyaki, Namban (fried chicken steak) and the Mix Toji Teishoku, which has sukiyaki beef, fried shrimp and pork katsu. Our insider tip is each table is equipped with an iPad for sending orders.

Yo! Panda is a homegrown and family-owned modern Hong Kong restaurant with IG-worthy interiors and Asian-inspired dishes and desserts. It’s for foodies craving for unique Hong Kong comfort food. It’s not for people looking for roasted meat rice toppings. We recommend the Crispy Pork Chop with Cheese Sauce and Noodles, Crispy Roasted Pork Belly, Super Xiao Long Bao, HK milk tea and their signature HK Egg Waffle Sundaes, made with Italian gelato. Our insider tip is ask for your waffles to be served separately if you don’t want it to get soggy with the sundae. See more photos and info here.

Helmed by Makansutra Singapore founder, KF Seetoh, Makansutra is a Singapore hawker-inspired food hall with 12 specialty stalls that offer popular street food from around the world, so no it doesn’t offer just Singaporean dishes. It’s for people who are craving authentic Asian cuisine. It’s not for those looking for a Filipino twist, because the taste are not adjusted at all. We recommend the Ah Tee Oyster Omelette, Satay Set, Laksa, Chicken Claypot Rice, and the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice. Our insider tip is the place has poor ventilation and may get too smokey.

Din Tai Fung is an internationally-known dim sum restaurant from Taiwan and a 5-time Michelin awardee most famous for their xiao long bao. Expect a showcase of their expert wrappers thru their signature open kitchen window. It’s for curious foodies who want to know what the fuss is all about. It’s not for people looking for roasted meat rice toppings. We recommend the Classic and Truffle XLB’s, spicy shrimp wantons, pork chop rice, and the dan dan noodles. Insider tips: (1) The menu is tailor-fitted for the Philippines and may differ from other international menus (i.e., the Golden Lava Salted Egg Yolk Bun), and (2) You can order your beef noodles your way–all beef or all tendon, or half and half.

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.

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.

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 non-rib eaters can still enjoy their burger and Philly cheesesteak sandwich.