Whenever Earl and I feel like having a somewhat healthier lunch, we usually end up in a Japanese restaurant. This meal was at their SM Southmall branch:

Teriyaki Chicken Salad - Php 188

Creamy dressings are not synonymous with losing weight, but I'm just not too fond of vinaigrette. So this salad fit the bill for our "vegetable" requirement and was neither bland nor too salty.

Salmon Cream Pasta - Php 252

I'm a sucker for smoked salmon so when I saw this on the menu, I just had to order it. Also falls under the "lean protein with omega-3" category (hahaha!). It wasn't bad though I added Parmesan cheese to give it more oomph. Also, should have separated the salmon from the hot pasta first as the heat cooked it through.

Ten-Ju - Php 248

Basically their shrimp tempura bento box. It was better than a lot of other tempuras we've tried - and we've had quite a few since Earl will always order shrimp tempura without fail in every Japanese restaurant we go to.

Scorecard: In the same price range as Tempura Grill, but also serves pizza. A good option if you can't decide between Japanese and Western cuisine as this place combines both.

UNIQLO in Manila

They opened yesterday and here's what the line looked like at around 3 PM today:

Phat Wong

I've always wanted to try Chef Ariel Manuel's restaurant Lolo Dad's, but their prices are a little steep for our pockets. So when I read about his new venture for the budget conscious, we headed to Makati to try it out.

For this lunch, I was with my mother and sister and here's what we ordered:

Shrimps, Pomelo and Young Coconut,Coconut Milk and Lime Dressing - Php 270

Best described as interesting since we've never had this salad presented in a whole coconut cup before. But in case you're partial to pomelo chunks when it comes to this Vietnamese dish (like my Mom), you won't find it here. And though we all prefer the Pho Hoa version, it's not a bad choice if you're in the mood for something light.

Phad Thai Omelet - Php 240

If you're not a heavy eater and you'll be ordering other things from the menu, then this is good enough for three. We asked for the chili to placed on the side as I'm not fond of anything spicy, but Mom said it tasted much better with it than without it. My sister tried the sauce and it was way too hot for her liking.

Blue Crab with Crab Fat on Lemongrass Dumpling - Php 180

This was nice though we wish it had been smothered in crab fat. Yup, we're not exactly healthy eaters - hahaha!

Pinoy Duck Mami Shredded Duck Meat, Boiled Duck Egg, Spring Onions and Roasted Garlic - Php 255

Both Mom and sibling found this soup to be very salty but I didn't. Maybe because I was recovering from the flu at the time and my taste buds were not up to scratch?

Grilled Baby Back Ribs Tocino In Garlic and Vinegar Sauce - Php 325

For me, I would not mind having this for breakfast though I was expecting it to be a little bit on the softer side. Probably it's because I automatically associate melt-in-your-mouth tender whenever I think of baby back ribs.

Menu

The verdict? If you're in the area, it's not a bad place to stop by.