Jofer: Seoulia Manila

Seoulia Manila
by Jofer Serapio
photos by Frey Serapio

My cousin was set to take her board exam the following weekend (she passed!), so we decided to have lunch at a Korean restaurant while she still had her sanity intact. There were four of us, including my sister and my cousin's sister, which explains the excessive amount of food. Seoulia Manila is one of my sister's favorite restaurants. My cousin and I weren't new to the restaurant but her sister was. Ironically enough, our cousin who was the "ultimate number one fan of everything Korean" couldn't make it. More for us then.

This dragon is the first thing you'll see when you enter the restaurant. Supportive critter, ain't he?

Banchan

Various side dishes

They come free with every meal. Just like in Korea.

Bulgogi | PhP 350

Spicy grilled beef with japchae noodles and vegetables

Japchae | PhP 220

Sweet potato noodles with various vegetables and meat

Dokbokki | PhP 160

Spicy rice cake with Korean kikiam and vegetables

Ramen | PhP 79

This dish is actually good for two people. 

It's also served in a pot.

Geran Mari | PhP 160

Special egg roll with vegetables

Kimbap | PhP 100

Korean sushi with vegetables and beef

It tasted as good as it looked. This was the most popular dish in our table.

Samgyeopsal | PhP 250

Grilled pork belly

This dish came with a plate of lettuce and two dipping sauces: ssamjang (bottom) and gireumjang (top). My cousin's sister was actually a bit disappointed with this dish because she was expecting bacon. She was new.

Kimchi chige (kimchi jjigae) | PhP 180

Kimchi soup with tofu and pork

Red Iced Tea | P25

The kyotkyot napkin holder I wanted to take home

As I was making a joke (or was it?) about taking this lovely and super *~kyot~* napkin holder home, the manager (who was - surprise! - Korean) overheard me and actually attempted to give it to me for free. She was that kind! Of course, I didn't want to take advantage of her kindness, so I opted to just let the napkin holder go. Like they say, if you truly love someonething, you have to set them free~

Seoulia Manila

St. Thomas Square, P. Campa St., Sampaloc, Manila

Telephone: (02) 7086932 | (02) 505-8122

Email: seoulia@ymail.com

Therese in the Philippines: Bon Chon Chicken

Intro: You probably don't know this, but I went home to the Philippines last January. In the span of the 9 days that I was there, I tried 5 new restaurants around the metro, and I even went out of town! Therefore, let me take a short break from my Taiwan posts and in my next few entries, I am going to write about the new places I've been to in and around the metro!

I first heard about Bon Chon Chicken around 2 years ago, when it was still new. I had always wanted to try it but back then, their only branch was in Makati and I don't really like going there. Long story short, I was finally able to try it at their Regis Center, Katipunan branch.

According to their official website, BonChon is a Korean word meaning "Original Village." They promise crispy, juice, and flavorful chicken.

It was a struggle for us to order because there weren't menus available by the counter, and the big screens behind the counter were moving. The screens would change items every few seconds. After a couple of minutes of intently looking at the screens, I finally decided on the Boxed Meal C - Drumsticks/Thigh Ricebox. What's good about this set is you could mix and match the parts. I only got the 1 piece thigh (95php) though. You could opt for the 2 pieces set, which costs 145php.

After ordering, you have the option of going for the Soy Garlic Sauce or the Hot Sauce. Since I'm not a really big fan of spicy food, I went for the former. True enough, the chicken was crispy, juicy, and flavorful.

My friend ordered the Kimchi coleslaw (45php) along with her meal, and I was able to take a bite. We weren't big fans because it didn't have that spicy kick that Kimchi is supposed to have.

They currently have 13 branches around the metro. You can check out www.bonchon.com.ph for the list of branches and for the menu as well. It would help to at least have an idea of what you want to order because the screen really is confusing! Had I known that they have bulgogi wraps (among other things), I would have ordered that too. Maybe next time!

Danne: Kaya

There are a few places where we always go back to eat, and the restaurant I'm about to feature is one of them: Kaya. Perhaps you have passed by any of its branches around the metro and have always wondered what's there to eat or if its food tastes good. I can tell you it's one of those you'd love to revisit.

Kaya's menu includes well-known Korean dishes. I am not really familiar with Korean cuisine, below are several staples we order every time we go back.

One of which is Pajeon (PhP 180), which is an onion leek pancake with squid. I especially love the outer corners of this!

The Dak Bulgogi (PhP 190), which is grilled spicy chicken fillet, is another must-try. This + sticky rice is actually already a meal for me!

They serve the Dak Bulgogi on a sizzling plate. The waiter cuts the chicken fillet into strips upon serving.

This, I believe is the Kalbi Jim (PhP 240). It's Korean beef stew.

I got to eat at Kaya's branch in Powerplant Mall. I believe they have several other stores.

Kaya's food is actually affordable and delicious. Yay for good food you'd love to eat again and again!

Danne

Kaya Rockwell Center Branch
Address: Shop No. 009 Level P-1 Powerplant Mall, Amapola cor. Estrella Sts., Makati City
Telephone no.: 898 0934

Tiffy in Korea: Korean Food & Milk Tea Ice Cream

Korean Food & Milk Tea Ice Cream
August 16, 2011
Tiffy in Korea


When I travel, I try to check out the selection of foodstuff at convenience stores and grocery stores because it's there that I get an idea of what kind of stuff people usually eat in that particular country. Well, that, and go to small canteen-type restaurants where they're bound to serve local food.

Back in August, I booked this particular trip because one of my good friends, Brandon (you might remember him from back when I was an exchange student in Nagoya), is now an English teacher in Korea. So it was the perfect time to book that ticket! Traveling in a country that your friends are in is the best.

My first morning in Korea, we hit a local canteen that delivers food to the offices around the area (including the school that my friend works at). It's his to-go-to place for meals and I wanted to eat authentic Korean food so...

Banchan 반찬

Dolsot Bibimbap 돌솥 비빔밥

Bibim Mandu 비빔만두 | Kimbap 김밥 

As I wasn't being as adventurous with my food as I ought to have been, I ordered a bibimbap which I always order at Korean restaurants here in the Philippines. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I also found out that bibimbap in the Philippines tastes different than that of the real thing. The one I had in Korea didn't have that strong of a flavor, as opposed to the sweet taste that the one I had before had.

The bibim mandu was amazingly good. Brandon was a guy who was a-ok with sharing (I MAKE THE MOST AWESOME FRIENDS EVER EVER) and I had some of it. Plus the kimbap (I don't really have an opinion on this one).

Korean food is pretty freaking healthy it's awesome.

But Milk Tea Ice Cream... what a disappointment!

I have always liked milk tea and I was pretty stoked at seeing it at a convenience store (I think it was a 7Eleven). But meh. It melted so fast (probably because it was summer) and it just tasted like frozen milk tea (probably because it was a popsicle? I can't read Korean) and I decided then and there never to eat milk tea ice cream ever again. Ever.

Therese in Taiwan: Flavors of Korea 韓國口味

Since I live with my relatives here in Taipei, I don't really have the opportunity to eat at the restaurants around my school because my aunt feeds me. However, because of the recent move, the house is still in disarray so much so that we always have to eat out.

When my girl friends (a Korean and a German) and I were planning on having lunch together, our teacher suggested that my Korean friend take us to this Korean restaurant outside National Chengchi University (the university I'm currently attending).

From the main gate, you turn right and then you'll see Watson's across the street. Keep walking until you see this electronics store (if I remember correctly), and the Korean restaurant will be beside it (on the 2nd floor). Cross the street to get to the restaurant.

They have 2 areas - the main "outer" area and the secondary "inner" area. The former has more or less 9 tables. The latter only has 2 tables, and you get to sit on the floor (on top of pillows of course!) This area is only used when the former is full.



Each person gets an appetizer and unlimited soup for each meal ordered. You could choose from a variety of side dishes. My friends went for the sweet potato and I went for the bean sprouts.

We didn't have to wait long before our orders arrived. My Korean friend and I both got the 소고기 덮밥 (sogogi deopbab), which is a beef rice meal, and my German friend got the vegetarian version of the 돌솥비빔밥 (dolsot bibimbap). Bibimbap is rice topped with vegetables, egg, and beef. This one came without the beef.

소고기 덮밥 (sogogi deopbab) | PhP 180

돌솥비빔밥 (dolsot bibimbap) | PhP 150

I don't know if this is how it's done in other Korean restaurants, but in this one, you add the chili pepper paste yourself. I guess it's so that people who don't like spicy food can regulate the amount of the paste.

We also had the 해물 부침개 (haemul buchimgae), or otherwise known as seafood pancake. We liked how crispy and thin the pancake was, and how big the seafood was.

해물 부침개 (haemul buchimgae) | PhP 180

The second time we went there, my German friend and I ordered the same thing we ordered before, but our Korean friend went for 신라면 (sinlamyeon) because she was craving for noodles. She said that in Korea, this dish is typically served spicy, but that because most Taiwanese aren't accustomed to really spicy food, the level in this dish has been brought down.

신라면 (sinlamyeon) | PhP 135

We like this restaurant so much that we're going back there soon. If you ever get the chance to visit Taipei, or find yourself around the vicinity of National Chengchi University, be sure to try this place out!