If you are looking for an affordable eat-all-you-can buffet that specializes on Filipino dishes, why not try Cabalen?

ReigningTatay and I was looking for a place to dine on his birthday. I was really hungry then so I want a buffet lunch. We checked out the spread on the buffet table on Cabalen and we liked what we saw so we gave it a try.

We first tried Cabalen at their Megamall branch and I didn’t really enjoyed it. The buffet spread is too limited and I didn’t really liked most of the dishes. Probably because we dined there at around 8PM already. But here at their Robinson’s Ermita branch, there must more dishes to choose from. They have everything covered. From fishes to seafood to meat to veggies to salad to desserts. Everything.

Such mouth-watering dishes! And I love how my pictures turned out. Yiihiii! I think I’m getting better at this really.

Anyway, I loved all the dishes that we tried.I love that they have seafood, chicken, kare-kare, lechon and veggies. The palitaw is really yummy. I wasn’t able to try their halo-halo though coz we’re already too full. Overall dining experience was superb. Nice ambiance. Friendly waiting staff. So much better than our Megamall experience. We’d definitely go back!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!

 

 

xoxo,

Reigne

If you are looking for a good and affordable restaurant in Robinson’s Ermita that serves Filipino dishes, then you should definitely try Mangan.

I was able to try this restaurant way way way before. And I remembered that I fell in love with their Puto Bumbong. Mangan is a kapampangan word for “eat” or “kain”. And we all know that Pampanga is a food haven so my expectations are kinda high.

Mangan offers a wide array of Filipino food. They are very much proud of the fact that their dishes are vey Filipino. Babalik balikan mo talaga.

I also love their interiors. I really find this restaurant as one of those few who really invests on their interiors and really matched the interior design with the actual food being offered. Loads of woods can be seen. Those carabao heads on the wall are great accents to the overall femininity of the wallpaper. I also love their cabinets. Very Pinoy as well. Sabi sa inyo pinag isipan talaga. Even the chairs are made of rattan (or so I think) and the ceiling fans are very similar to the ones we always see on centuries-old bahay na bato.

Shredded Kamote Strips (complimentary)

Once settled, we we’re served with this yummy shredded kamote strips with seasalt. I swear! It’s soooo delicious. Very crunchy with the right amount of saltiness. This is a perfect replacement for chips me thinks. I’ll ask the ReigningTatay to see if he can do something like this.

Watermelon Shake (Php 80) | Mango Shake: Php 80

We also got some shakes to refresh up a bit. I love their watermelon shake. As in punong puno ng watermelon and lasang lasa mo. Watermelo Shake is my favorite and I would definitely get it if I see it on the menu. Such a refreshing drink! While the ReigningTatay is a big Mango Shake fan. I guess most Pinoys are. :)

Tinapang Bangus (Php 198)

Both the ReigningTatay and my cousin opted for the Tinapang Bangus with garlic rice and salted egg. And oh boy it was huge! The smoked bangus (milk fish) is overflowing with flavors. I love that the “smoke” is not overpowering unlike some of the tinapa. The meat is also perfectly cooked. The bangus is perfect for the garlic rice and the salted egg plus tomatoes. Both the ReigningTatay and the cousin asked for second servings of rice. Saya!

Set Meal A (Php 130)

Since it was already 2PM when we dined there (for lunch), I opted for their Merienda Set Meal A. You can either have Pancit Luglug or Lomi, I opted for the first one.

I told you that I fell inlove with Mangan’s Puto Bumbong so I made sure it’s present on the table on my return. So when I saw this set meal, I knew it was for me coz it has both the Bibingka and Puto Bumbong on it. Both of them didn’t disappoint. The Puto Bumbong is as yummy as I could remember with the muscovado sugar and all. It was really the best puto bumbong in town. While the bibingka is really good as well. The salted egg is perfect for the bibingka which is not too sweet. It was also soft and bursting with flavors. If you are like me, who’s very fond of this Simbang Gabi staples, then you’d really really enjoy.

What I didn’t like much is the Ukoy. Although I don’t like Ukoy in general. Hahahaha! But Mangan’s version has shrimps, yes! Shrimps and not just hibi (super tiny shrimps). I did try it – crispy and goes very well with the vinegar, but it’s really not me so I gave it to the ReigningTatay who munches on it happily. So I guess it was good right?

And of course the Pancit Luglog! Oh heaven! Pancit Luglog is one of my favorite dish. Me and Papa would usually eat all the Palabok and the Pancit Luglog in the house. But I am not much on Pancit Malabon because I don’t like thick noodles. I know! Weird much. Hahaha!

Anyway, Mangan’s Pancit Luglog is really, really good. I would say they are one of the best here in the metro. Usually, my problem with some pancit lulog is the overpowering flavors and it being too garlic-ky. But Mangan’s is neither. It was just soooo good.

Good food. Great ambiance. Very nice and friendly staff. That’s what you’ll expect from Mangan.

Go and try them out!

 

xoxo,

Reigne

December last year, the #FabSkye and I went to a friend’s store to try out their products. Papa Lolo serves as our official driver then. Good thing he’s free coz after that event, and a little photoshoot, I called my sister and my brother so we could pick them up before heading to the mall to buy the brother’s shoes. You know! Pamaskong sapatos na ubod ng mahal. Lintek na sapatos yan ng mga lalaki. Super expensive! Eh pare pareho lang naman ng itsura. Ugh!

Anyway, since we all got super tired after all the shopping we did... Believe me! It was exhausting to shop with men too. I decided to try out the restaurant highly recommended by my friend, Rooks – Café Mary Grace.

I’ve been seeing Café Mary Grace in Robinson’s Ermita for the longest time already but I haven’t tried it ever. Because all this time I thought they only offer pastries and bread. But then my friend Rooks says that it’s her and her brother’s all time favorite restaurant.

My Papa seldom go with us to the mall. Usually, he’d just drop us off and pick us up. He doesn’t like malls at all. He never likes crowded places. So we don’t really go out as a family. Super bihira. So on those rare occasions that my Papa would go with us, I always make sure that I treat him to good restaurants.

Café Mary Grace didn’t disappoint. I’m glad we tried it out because honestly, everything we had are just so darn good. It’s an open restaurant on Robinson Ermita’s Midtown wing. I love the notes under the table glass from customers who loves the resto. I love the chair and interior décor. The place is very homey and very nice. Even the fake flower as center piece is done with taste. It’s also so nice to see the mall’s décor as our backdrop. Very nice.

The staff are all oh so nice too. Very helpful and very attentive. I love restos with excellent customer service. It would really make me come back. Iba kasi yung pleasant ang mga waiters. Nakakagana kumain. The food and the experience would be positive. Masaya.

Dulong Pate With Melba Toast (Php 175)

This Dulong Pate was recommended by the very nice waiter of Café Mary Grace. After getting our orders and noticing that we didn’t get any appetizers, he recommended this dish and says it his favorite. I haven’t heard of Dulong but Papa knew the dish so we gave it a try. Glad we did! It’s definitely my favorite among all the dish we ordered. Ibang level. Dulong Pate is like a fish spread. I can’t explain it but it goes so darn well with the toast. I can see my Papa loved it too.

Smoked Salmon and Cream (Php 290)

Classic Carbonara (Php 260)

We ordered pasta dishes because the sister craves for cream-based pasta that time. We got 2 cream based pasta dishes. I really want to order a cream based pasta and tomato based sana but we end up ordering both cream based. Which I think is a good decision because we loved both. The serving is big for sharing. And hindi tinipid ang ingredients. There are considerable amounts of bacon and salmon on our dishes. Plus the pastas are creamy and really yummy.

Vigan Longanisa and Kesong Puti Sandwich (Php 265)

The sister also ordered a sandwich. And it was really delish. I never really liked Vigan longanisa or longanisa in general but the kesong puti complimented the longanisa well. I was amazed that I actually liked it.

Toasted Ensaymada (Php 76)

I also ordered the toasted ensaymada which is highly recommended by my friend. And again, it didn’t disappoint at all. I love ensaymadas in general but this one is the best ensaymada ever, hands down! I think I could finish an entire box of this.

Papa also ordered brewed coffee for Php 80. I never thought that the dishes we ordered would be enough. Matakaw mga kapatid ko promise. But we all went home super full. Grabe! As in busog na busog. Servings kasi are big.

Toto Ian and the #FabSkye.

Toto Ian, #FabSkye and Mama Chubby.

My family.

Me and my baby.

Pretty #FabSkye.

Papa Lolo and the #FabSkye.

Look at how takaw my baby is. She loves eating with Papa Lolo coz she could eat everything talaga. Gosh. I can’t believe there was a time that I thought I have a picky eater baby. Look at the #FabSkye now. So takaw. It really all boils down to how well you train your kid. And me researching and researching really helped. We do a combination of Baby Led Weaning and Tamang Kain. I’ll share tips on how to feed your child soon.

It’s a Monday. Start of the crazy week. Push!!! Start your week right my dear Reigning Readers okay. I’m sending out my love ad prayers to all of you. Mwah!

 

xoxo,

Reigne

 

Cafe Mary Grace
Midtown Wing
Robinsons Ermita
Manila