Piaya Diary: restaurant

Din Tai Fung's Famous Steamed Buns: My Own Experience with their Xiaolongbao

12:24 AM

I admit that SIOPAO is something I consider life's simple pleasures. I loved SIOPAO. For those who do not know what it is, it is a steamed bun that has a meaty stuffing--usually pork or chicken.

This post is about my very first encounter with Din Tai Fung's famous Xiaolongbao.

The buns were perfectly made. Soft, warm, tasty. The filling was a surprise though.

Anyway, you know how people would share food pics and pages on Facebook? That is how I learned that there is this restaurant called DIN TAI FUNG that is known for their world famous xiaolongbao.

Please do not hesitate to correct the probinsyana in me...but I have my own expectations of the steamed bun given my experience of SIOPAO buns--all shapes and sizes and stuffing--that are sold in many places here in Bacolod.

Anyway, seeing DIN TAI FUNG's Facebook page, I told myself "That I have to try!" Unfortunately, they do not have a branch in Bacolod because of that, I did not bother anymore to check where DIN TAI FUNG is in Manila.

FAST FORWARD...

So when, my husband and I found the opportunity to go to Manila we were surprised that we found DIN TAI FUNG in SM Mega Mall. We were not hungry but one thing crossed our mind. Let's try the world famous xiaolongbao. At first we just wanted to order the bun for takeout but we decided to sit in and enjoy the buns there.

Okay...so here are the details and a little disclaimer...this is just a review of the xiaolongbao, not the restaurant, nor the other items on their menu. We did not order anything else because we wanted to eat lunch somewhere else.

The buns were served in three's in a wooden steamer for the price of P140 with each bun no bigger than the size of my palm. The smell was really good. Needless to say, we ordered two servings so that was a total of P280--not so bad but read on.

My husband had already snatched one before I took a snap

What do I have to say about the steamed meat buns..?

The bun was PERFECT! Soft, pillowy, well-crafted. On the other hand, the stuffing reminds me of pot stickers. I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the steamed buns and it was nothing I expected. Overall, It was not so bad.

I must also say that bun and the garlicky meat stuffing combination was a bit new to my taste buds, frankly, unexpected. Nevertheless, it was a good combination.

But if I were to choose between DIN TAI FUNG's xiaolongbao and the siopao I am always familiar with--Ahem, the siopao from City Lunch here in the Bacolod, I would choose the latter.

Now, about Din Tai Fung restaurant...

Like I said earlier, this post is only about the steamed buns, not the other items in their menu. I should however say something about the restaurant.

Every unoccupied table was set up nicely with plates, chopsticks, condiments and etc.

The service was great. The waiters were very polite and attentive. They even offered this nice foldable and neat thing in which a diner can put their handbags or purses so they are out of the way. I really liked that part. Such ingenuity truly helps a customer enjoy the dining experience even more.

The place was clean and organized. At that time, the place was buzzling with customers but the restaurant did not feel crowded because it was spacious enough to accommodate a lot of people. So I would give 5 stars to how the restaurant was set up.

Let me end this article by saying that if we had more time in Manila we would definitely go back to Din Tai Fung at SM Mega Mall and try the other food items that they offer as they really look enticing and delicious. When I get that chance, I will update this post.

Other must-read pieces for every-food lovers and food adventurers:

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

bacolod city

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

1:31 AM

Elegant, romantic and tranquil...

That was my first impression of Café Mina the moment I stepped inside.

This dainty restaurant is a gem situated in an unlikely spot along Bacolod's Circumferential Road. More surprisingly, it is next to Star Oil gasoline station that is several meters away from The New Government Center.

That said, Café Mina is a bit far from the rest of the bistros and shops that people often go to in the east side of the city. In this case, being away from where most of the action takes place is not bad. If you are looking for a more quiet but very pleasant place to enjoy a cup of coffee by yourself or with some company, this place is the perfect choice.

The café is decorated with eye-catching novelty items. I am sure that these items are not so rare, but they are something you do not usually see in other places. I could not stop looking around. I secretly did an ocular inspection of every decor that is in there while waiting for our food and drinks.

Take a look at some of my snaps:

Seeing the sweets inside the refrigerated pastry display makes me think about having dessert already when our food order has not yet arrived on our table.

The walls are ornamented with interesting novelty pieces that are refreshing to look at.

Sorry for the bad shot but in reality the restaurant has good ambient lighting.

You will certainly appreciate the dark ceiling if you have sensitive eyes like me. The lighting is modern and ambient.

I wished I was able to take more pictures but I could not leave unattended my 3-year-old hyperactive son who could not stop looking at the die-cast metal cars that were on the wooden shelf on the wall.

The café served meals as well and Café Mina has an interesting selection of dishes. Looking at their menu, I could tell that the owners took a really good time in carefully selecting the menu items. The choices are unique and classy. I am positive that the dishes carefully picked and meant to tickle the palate of people who know how to appreciate good cuisine.

Prepare to spend more or less Php 250 per head for a meal and around a hundred more depending on the drink you choose to pair your food with.

Don't worry about the prices sounding a bit expensive. Wait until you actually see the food portions. And you will see that it is super worth it. The serving sizes are generous and on top of that they are very flavorful. Good Job, Café Mina!

Here is a peek at what we had for lunch.

I am a big fan of sausages so I ordered this dish that consisted of three types of sausage. I should have taken note of the name and the price but I did not. I was expecting that the sausages will arrive as logs with either mustard or ketchup but I was delighted to see that they had sliced them. The sauce was sweet and spicy and it went well with the taste of the sesame seeds.

Look at the meat! I love the little flags that were on top of the burger. This meal can satisfy any gastrophile. Here is a closer view.

And the food indulgence would not have been complete without chips.

I love how artistic they are when it comes to food presentation. I have never thought of thing that you use to deep fry food as a pretty serving vessel for fries or chips.

I wanted to have a cheesecake for the grand finale but, we were so stuffed that we decided to settle with coffee.

What can I say about this cup?

Aromatic, and flavorful with the just the right amount of bitterness that I want from a strong coffee. It was exactly what my cup of coffee should be.

To end this post, I say that you should come to Café Mina. A blissful and classy dining experience is guaranteed.

One last thing...

Its worth mentioning that I super love the tasteful silverware.

Have you been to Café Mina? Share your thoughts below. If you haven't gone there yet, below is information on how you can find that place:

Cafe Mina is located at the Star Oil Gas station, a few meters away from Bacolod's New Government Center. You may call the café at (034) 713 8833. They open daily from 8AM to 12 Midnight.

bacolod city

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

4:26 AM

This post is super late but I really have to tell you, dear readers, about this restaurant that serves the best backribs in the city.

I am talking about none other than Lord Byron's Backribs. The first time I tried their amazing, mouthwatering, cooked-to-perfection Baby Back Ribs was at the branch across the famous Riverside hospital.

I have tried other versions in other restaurants but nothing can compare to the soft and juicy with a "sarap-to-the-bone, melts-in-your-mouth" backribs experience that only Lord Byron's Backribs offers. The best part is that they are consistent with their recipe so it is the same good back ribs whether you go to the first branch or the one behind Luxur Bacolod. What can I say?--Nothing is as good as Lord Byron's Backribs.

Okay, I know what you are thinking, so let me stop you there. THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED post and I am not a FOOD BLOGGER. :) I am a lifestyle blogger--*wink, wink*--who has a very adventurous palate. Now where did that come from?

Anyway, I am not exaggerating, but there are only two ways I enjoy baby back ribs. One is when I cook back ribs myself but it takes a lot of hard work for me so that rarely happens. Two, and the best way, is that I simply go to one of Lord Byron's branches and enjoy a plate of that scrumptious dish.

Let me show you the one and only picture I took the last time I ate there.

For Php 159, Byron's Backribs is served with Garlic Rice topped with Fried Garlic and Atchara. Mouthwatering, isn't it?

There are two branches of Lord Byron's Backribs in the city. I have visited the one near the hospital a couple of times, while I was only went to the other branch just once. They also serve other Bacoleño favorites like cansi and sisig, but it's their back ribs that you should never miss.

And there is something important that I need to tell all of you...

Or should I say a heads up to all of you. There are two places--the store at HOMEGROWN (across Bob's Lacson) and the one that newly opened at SM--that spell something like "Byron's Backribs" on their shop signs. Those places may also, at the time of writing, bear the same logo. But please be aware that those places are not related to the Lord Byron's Backribs that I am talking about in this post. Also, the one at Homesite, belongs to a different management.

So to avoid any more confusion here are the official branches in Bacolod City:

Magsaysay Avenue
(behind the Luxur Place Hotel)
Contact # – 034 4312411/ 09334885366

San Agustin St. – Bs Aquino Drive
(beside the Riverside Hospital)
Contact # – 034 2138499

Other places:

courtesy of Lord Byron's Backribs

You can also check out their Facebook page for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/lbsbackribstheoriginal/

I hope to see you there on my next visit. In the mean time feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Love,

Red

Please don't forget to check out my other articles:

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

bacolod city

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

7:36 AM

If you are looking for a nice place to relax, dine or have a bucket of beer--or two--with your significant other (or friends) then this might be a great place for you.

Every now and then, my husband and I would have a "chill" night either just the two of us or with a friend or friends...I need not explain. Typically, the long night would start in a restaurant where we can eat and have the first round of drinks. So, for this post, I will be talking about our recent experience in this new bistro in the city of Bacolod.

Located on the second floor of Hi-Strip 5, that is in front of Panasiatic Building, SlipTalk Bistro has a nice and cozy, contemporary semi-industrial atmosphere.

If you prefer a good view of the rest of the Hi-Strip building (and the long line of big trucks carrying tons of sugar cane that drive by from time to time) then you can choose one of the tables at the balcony. On a more serious note, the outside area is great at night time when the air is cooler.

On the other hand, if dining in a cooler environment is what you are after, then you can choose to be seated inside. If you are lucky, you have three choices: there is a high table with high bar chairs by the glass panels near the entrance, there are a couple of tables on one side where there is long built in bench by the wall and at the opposite side are tables with individual chairs. Regardless of where you choose to be, the tables and chairs are arranged neatly with enough spaces around them. If you want to know---for us, the bigger the table the better.

Pardon the mobile phone pics. For a better view, here is a picture from their Facebook page.

Moving on, the menu has a great selection of affordable meals. In fact, it took a while for me to make up my mind.

Between the time the owner took our order and when the food was finally on our table, I must say, the wait time was a quite long. It was a good thing that we were preoccupied with talks about this and that. But, I guess the wait time was forgivable considering that they had newly opened. The bistro was only 3-days old when we visited. I am sure that they had noted this already.

When food finally came, the wait was worth it. The serving was very generous, generally speaking, and very tasty. I like the way they arranged the food items over clean wooden chopping boards. Well I guess food on wooden boards is the trend these days because I see that style in a lot of place. I should say, though, that they had a unique way of arranging meat and rice and the condiments so you have to give SlipTalk Bistro KUDOS for that!

My husband and his friend ordered steak, or was it some ribs...oh well, here is the picture.

I went for the Bangus (milk fish) sisig and was happy that I did. I was really surprised with how it was presented. The chef had spooned the fish meat out of the its fried skin, tossed it around in a hot pan with spices and other ingredients before putting it back on. The sisig looked cute with the two calamansi on the fish head, where the eyes are. I must say, though, that my order took the longest time to arrive. Other than that, I can't complain. Boy, it was very delicious!

Of course, because this is not really a restaurant review I did not take a lot of pictures. So, I am just going to embed another picture from their Facebook page:

We concluded our visit with a round, or two, of beers. Along with the bucket, they gave us mugs and ice. It made my hubby a happy camper.

I am really counting on them to make their food prep time a bit shorter, but other than that their food was served in generous portions that are very delicious and affordable. I can't say much about the alcoholic drinks that they serve because it isn't really different from what other bistros offer, but the place was clean with a nice and classy ambience so it is a must-go.

Let me end this post by saying that SlipTalk Bistro is a good place to hang out with your partner or with friends. It is also a walking distance to other watering holes in the area if bar hopping is kind of your thing.

If you ask me, I definitely would go back to SlipTalk Bistro.

See you again on my next post.

In the mean time, here are other places in Bacolod City that you might want to know more about.

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

Vikings Buffet: Everyday is a Feast

Sofia Bread & Pastries: Freshly Baked Godies Daily

bacolod city

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

4:25 AM

Why go to Toast Box? The answer is simple. Toast Box is haven for people who love bread.

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

As the company's Facebook page says it is a Singaporean café that serves Asian food in addition to coffee, milk tea and breads.

Their menu features Kopi, Teh (Milk Tea), Kaya Toast, Horlicks, Milo Dinosaur, Nonya Laksa, Hainanese Chicken, Mee Siam, Nasi Lemak just to name a few. And boy, they are delicious!

I am glad that they are finally here in Bacolod. Had I not visited Robinson's mall the other day after a long, long while, I would not have known that they have a branch here. The place follows their signature concept of 60s and 70s coffee shop.

When I saw this place, I was instantly captured by its bright and homelike ambience. It was 2 PM, and toast with egg is normally like breakfast than a snack. Yet, who can say no to their tempting toast sets that come with freshly brewed coffee and eggs?

Here is there Thick Floss Toast. It is very satisfying. I specified that they soft boil the two eggs that came with it.

Yummy!

I love soft boil eggs, its a healthy way to get your protein. I am glad Toast Box has them.

This is what my significant other ordered.

If this toast set is not tempting enough, I don't know what is :) The freshly brewed coffee makes this meal perfect. If you are not into coffee you can order their milk tea instead.

Here is a note: Don't let the impressive food presentation fool you into thinking that their food is pricey. Your taste buds will get a really good treat and your tummy will be full and happy for less than Php 300 (That's about $6).

If you want to see what else is on their menu, you can go to there Facebook page. Aside from Bacolod, Toast Box has 6 other branches in the Philippines. You can find one in either GreenBelt 5, The Fort, Trinoma, SM Aura, Nuvali and Greenhills

I give Toast Box score of 10 each for affordability, ambience and food. I will definitely return to try the other items on their menu.

Check out this other shop Bacolod City called, Sofia Bread and Pastries.

You can also read about this coffee place called Café Ambrosia.

bacolod city

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen: A Taste of Japan in Every Bowl

7:05 AM

bacolod city

Vikings Buffet: Everyday is a Feast

8:02 AM

bacolod city

Looking for a Seafood Restaurant in Bacolod? Try Dyotay's Eatery

12:29 AM

If you are looking for fresh seafood and fast service, go to Dyotay's Eatery.

A few blocks away from the busier and the more commercialized Lacson street, exists this seafood restaurant that serves seafood that has a fresh-off-the-boat goodness.

The idea is simple: You choose from a wide array of seafood at the entrance and tell them how you want it done. Stewed, Grilled, breaded, fried, sauteed...you name it and their chef will have it done in a jiffy according to all your specifications. Such business model locally known as "PALA-PALA."

The restaurant shop sign

And they are absolutely serious about customer satisfaction.

When you come in as a hungry customer, the first thing you would expect from any restaurant is to serve the food right away. On the other hand, knowing that in "pala-pala" restaurants like Dyotay's Eatery they would still have to prepare and cook your selection, you would have to wait about 30 minutes. It was a big surprise that our food landed our dinner table in less than that. And take note, the place was bustling with many people at that time.


Dyotay's Eatery bustling with hungry seafood lovers

Moreover, their friendly and super attentive waiters were always alert. One or two will surely respond the second you raise your hand.

They seem to be very busy on Friday's and on weekends. The place is not fancy and lunch or dinner is normally presented in plastic or sizzling--plates but when it comes to food, Dyotay's Eatery is an absolute sanctuary.

They also have a parking space which is a big advantage for any restaurant or shop. Majority of the restaurant has the ambiance of a typical open-space eatery with fans so you can smell or even feel the smoke from the grill nearby, however, they also have an air-conditioned area for those who who prefer to dine with a bit more privacy, away from all that smoke and people rushing to and fro.

And the food...

As for the food, we were very happy that they cooked it just right. The problem with seafood is that it gets a bad rubbery or a dry texture when it is overcooked and seafood cooks fast--this is a risk that seafood restaurants face all the time. When it comes to seafood texture, taste and doneness, they NAILED it!

Here are pictures of what we ordered.

As, I have earlier described, our gastronomic experience at Dyotay's seafood restaurant started by picking fresh seafood from a wide table.

Just look at all that fresh bounty

We asked the cook to serve our marlin as a steak in sizzling plate.

A cut of marlin, somewhere from the belly portion.

Unless you are allergic to shrimp, this baby will always be present. We had ours cooked with butter and lots of garlic.

Grilled scallops are always great as appetizers. Our only regret is that we should have gotten more of these little ones.

Last but not the least, grilled pork belly. Why? Because it is our favorite. Yes, they also serve chicken and pork.

Other than seafood, they also have marinated pork and chicken and likewise you can choose to have it grilled or fried, but i believe it is best when grilled.

And for Bacolodnons and most Filipinos, there should always be "sabaw" or any soup-based dishes. Well here is our short story regarding this. It was only just the two of us, so the marlin, shrimp, scallops and pork belly already seemed more than enough. When we realized we forgot to select seafood that would be cooked as a soup. The attending waiter was paying attention as my husband and I debated which of those if we can still squeeze in one more item. And he said, we offer the "sabaw" free. Of course, there's no meat in it... Just the soup and it was good enough.

Overall, the dining experience was superb. However, in general, the sauce was a little too sweet. BUT, that's just me because I rather prefer a more salty and peppery taste.

So a quick summary:

Food - 5/5
Customer Service 5/5
Cleanliness 5/5

This seafood restuarant, Dyotay's Eatery is located at 12th st., Gatuslao,Bacolod City and as stated on their Facebook page, their business hours are 11:00AM - 1:30PM, 5:00PM - 10:30PM Mondays through Sundays.

What is your favorite seafood? Share your thoughts below...

Din Tai Fung's Famous Steamed Buns: My Own Experience with their Xiaolongbao

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen: A Taste of Japan in Every Bowl

Vikings Buffet: Everyday is a Feast

Looking for a Seafood Restaurant in Bacolod? Try Dyotay's Eatery

And they are absolutely serious about customer satisfaction.

And the food...

So a quick summary:

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