Restaurant Review: Tapsi ni Vivian at Bulaluhan

A lot of good and affordable restaurants has came out especially here in Metro Manila and it is rare for me  to eat at places that are not so near my house and school. Not to mention that whenever i look for a good place to eat, air-conditioned restaurants come to mind. that's why i love it very much whenever simple-looking eateries impress me with their food.

Tapsi ni Vivian at Bulaluhan was recommend by my friend Ace and we decided to have lunch there over a month ago. This was located around Anonas area which is not the usual place i go to but she assured me that food in this place is very worth it.

Upon entering the restaurant, i kind of expected the al-fresco place and what i liked about the interior is the bamboo-themed interior. Bamboo poles were used as walls and decoration There were also nipa hut tables where customers can eat. The place is also filled with plants everywhere to go with their concept.

The restaurant offers Filipino cuisine with wide variety of dishes to choose from. As usual we got their bestsellers: Tapsilog and Bulalo!

Tapsilog was sweet and salty at the same time. It has a different kind of taste from the usual Tapsilog that i tried. The meat was not very tender but it's just right for a beef tapa. The flavor was okay and even though the serving is not that big, it's good for one cup of rice. The egg that goes with it was cooked well so i have no complaints. This meal is very worth it for 85 pesos.

I do not eat Bulalo very often that is why i can only compare this with those found in Tagaytay or Baguio. I can say that they are very comparable. This is worth 225 pesos and you get a very big serving of it plus you  can refill the soup for free. I don't know with you guys but the best part for me in a Bulalo is the soup (For some it's the marrow i guess). You get to taste all the flavors from the bone, marrow, and the vegetables in one sip. That's what i love in this one. I think this is not normal but i actually liked the bulalo more than the tapsilog.

Overall i would like to thank my friend Ace for introducing this restaurant to us! :) I would definitely go back if i have time. The only negative thing i could say about this restaurant is that the place where we stayed was beside the parking lot so the smoke from the cars outside the restaurant sometimes bothered us. Without that, the food in this place is a must try! <3

Restaurant Review: Adobo Connection

For starters, I am a sucker for adobo flakes. I am very frustrated that there is no restaurant near my house that sells one. The one located in my school is kind of overpriced. I have known Adobo Connection ever since but then there is no branch near where I live or my school.

Finally, Adobo Connection opened in SM Fairview and I was very excited to try their adobo flakes! I was so sure that I’m going to get the adobo flakes but I soon as I got there, there were other adobo dishes that I would want to try like the Kuya’s Fried Mixed Adobo, Modern Nutty Pork Adobo, and the Adobo Spaghetti. I was in a dilemma for a moment there but my love for adobo flakes has overpowered my confusion.

Adobo Flakes

Their adobo flakes was not that crispy but it was okay. The taste that i was looking for was still there.The amount served was enough for 2-3 cups of rice. I got an egg which was cooked over very high flame. I think the chef/cook didn't notice. At least it wasn't burnt or something and i think this won't be a regular thing. Just my bad luck :p Lastly, the rice! almost all meals come with an unlimited rice promo including mine. The first serving of rice was actually 2 cups and i think for those who are not really fond of eating rice, this is more than enough. For big rice eaters, this is heaven! plus you can still order as much rice as you can for free. This is one heavy meal for 99php.

Red Berry Iced Tea

I also ordered this Red Berry Iced Tea and this is their house special. It's lemon iced tea with special syrup. The taste was more sour than a regular one and i like it. It's refreshing and it will pass as my top 3 house special iced teas. I could have a bottomless one of this drink if it's available. This single served drink is for 39php.

Overall i liked what i had for lunch. I am planning to come back again for the dishes like Modern Nutty Pork Adobo and Kuya's Fried Mixed Adobo. The ambiance for the restaurant is just normal and relatively clean unlike some. The staff was very responsive and fast. The prices are very affordable and worth it because of the big servings. If Adobo Connection is near your place, you must definitely try it. :)

Restaurant Review: Cyma Greek Taverna

Greek food is in my top 5 favorite cuisines ever. I was so glad to have found a restaurant to satisfy my greek cravings. I know some greek restaurants around metro manila but not all has reached my expectations. In my opinion, the best greek restaurant in the country is none other than Cyma Greek Taverna! This is not the first time i have tasted their food. I eat in Cyma as much as i can -- HAHA that's how much i love it!

I was looking through some pictures here in my laptop and i found some food pictures from Cyma! I'll show you some so you would have an idea on what to order there in case you decide to visit.

Tzatziki: Cucumber, Garlic, and Greek Yoghurt Dip

First off, Greek cuisines starts off with a Mezedes. It is greek for the english word appetizer which means something small and light. The version of appetizer to greeks is pita bread dipped into different sauces. We chose the Tzatziki dip and it was really yummy. It was served cold because of the cucumber and yoghurt components. The flavor of every ingredient was there but the garlic aroma was the strongest. In the end, one would say it was really appetizing.

Saganaki: Cyma Original

Next we had another appetizer called an Orektika. Unlike the Mezedes, Orektika has a lot more variation with their appetizers and not only differ in the ingredients of the dip. We got their flaming cheese called the "Saganaki". It is one of their specialties and you get to choose which type of cheese you would want. We ordered the Cyma Original (Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil). What makes this dish special is that as soon the servers come to you, they will shout "OPA!" before serving it. I believe that makes the experience much more authentic.

Roka Salata

In terms of salad, Greek comes in first for me and Asian comes second. This dish is one of the main reasons why Greek salads climb to the top of my list, The Roka Salata <3. Roka means aragula so it's one of the main ingredients along with romaine lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, candied walnuts, and the killer ingredient which made this very special, shaved parmesan. I love how all ingredients complement each other's tastes which makes this a hell of a salad.

Lamb Ragu Tagliatelle

Greek cuisine also specializes in lamb dishes so we got 2 for our dinner. First is this Lamb Ragu Tagliatelle! From the picture itself you it's very heavy on the stomach and yes it is! The flavor is so full too that this could work as a rice dish as well. The lamb was stewed for 4 hours at least so expect a very juicy meat from this tasty pasta dish.

Shoulder Loin Lamb Chops

Our 2nd lamb dish and last dish for the night is this very juicy Shoulder Loin Lamb Chops. It is a sin to not try lamb chops at least once on your Greek food escapade. This came in last and we are kind of full already before this arrived. Nevertheless we were still able to finish this baby off. The tenderness of the lamb is very worth it. The spices also added flavor to it and the potato wedges added more spark to the dish itself. A must try, definitely.

Overall, this restaurant will still be in my top 10 and i've been targeting to try almost all of their dishes. I think i've tried over 1/3 of their dishes and i am very willing to come back soon <3

Holly's Coffee

The Rooftop Prince effect or in my case, The Micky Yoochun effect.


For those who have watched the drama, one should know that Holly's Coffee was one of their sponsors and they shot some of their scenes in this cafe.

credit to jyjhouse@wordpress

At first i didn't know there was a branch here in the Philippines until my friend who also watched the drama told me that there's a branch in Taft near the condo she's residing in. We didn't even had a second thought about going and just planned a random coffee day with some friends.

Holly's Coffee is a korean coffee shop originally located in Seoul, Korea. We went to a branch located here in the Philippines(of course!) It is found in One Archers Place, Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines. It is easy to spot because it is just along Taft.


We went there during a holiday so lucky for us because there were less students in that place. Upon entering, i can't help but notice the dead air! I know it is a coffee shop but the dead air inside was insane! I have gone to a lot of places were there is complete silence but this is crazy. I thought whenever i say something, everyone in the room could hear me. Yes it was that silent. I didn't notice at first what was different in this place to have that much silence, it was actually the lack of music. There was no music at all like other coffee shops hence, the dead air.

First floor view

My friends and I ordered as soon as we got there. I have a thing about going in Korean restaurants and shops. I always order something that is unique or at least something very "korean". For Holly's Coffee, they have sweet potato-based products. It is either a Latte, a Macchiato, or a Hollycino (trademark term for ice-blended drinks). Not that i am a big fan of sweet potato (like SNSD's Seo Hyun) but i think this what makes a store very "korean" just like Tours les Jours.

My friend Kay and I got a Sweet Potato Hollycino while Camille and Mico got a Sugar Plum Tea and Mocha Hollycino respectively. I also got a strawberry waffle. Sad to say, I wasn't able to take pictures of the food we got (i do not know why).

Taemin's unavailable! :( So i chose the group postcard

They have freebies!! I know fangirls would love these. For a minimum purchase of 200php, you get a chance to win Kpop freebies like Postcards, Posters, Clear Files and Tumblr. I got myself 5 postcards and you can choose the artists you want as long as it's available. Most of the postcards were 2pm's, Shinee's, and Super Junior's. I was looking for a JYJ one but they do not have it. I ended up picking Shinee's set. 


We settled at the 2nd floor of the cafe where there is more silence. We had a hard time talking while eating because it would be very bothersome for others who are studying in that place. There was a time when my friend had to whisper while talking to us just because talking in a normal voice will be too loud.


The Sweet Potato Hollycino tasted like i expected. You can taste the authenticity of the natural sweet potato ingredients in it. It was very sweet and the whipped cream and almonds on top made it more tasty. As a Filipino, i do not know if we are used to this kind of sweet potato flavor but i am just getting used to it. Aside from the flavor, it is also very heavy at the same time. We had this after having lunch so our tummies are still full. I recommend this more for "merienda" and not for dessert because you wouldn't finish a regular cup with a full tummy (or at least in my case).

The 2nd floor!

People studying :)

Overall, Holly's Coffee is a very good place to study and chill. The ambiance and vibe is very nice for the mind and the silence is a bonus. Personally i would recommend chill kpop songs to be played in this one (HAHA BIASED) because it matches their korean image. The variety of their menu is a plus and it is also a good place to have dessert because they have a lot of pastries and cakes. I would love to try those on my next visit with my friends and my empty tummy! :) 

Kay and Dana with their Sweet Potato Hollycinos and Waffle

Trying our best not to laugh very loud! :)