Sushi Ko To -- Regalado's Hidden Japanese Treasure

Part 3 of our food binge...

Date: April 20, 2010
Establishment: Sushi Ko To
Location: Regalado Avenue, West Fairview
Verdict: 4.5 stars

What can I say, we have our Chinese-food craving days and our Japanese-food craving days. Most of the time I think we really just love to eat. Hehehe.

We discovered this sort of "hole in the wall" Japanese food joint along Regalado when we were on our way to SM Fairview. Actually, it is not really a hole-in-the-wall, it is more like a "resto in a garage".

Take it from the pictures and the signages on their gate...

But don't judge this Japanese eatery by the signages on the gate, so to speak, their makis, ramens and misos are as authentic as you can get them... and I have tried Japanese food at Saisaki, Tong Yang, Bubble Tea, Cabalen, Tokyo-Tokyo, Teriyaki Boy, Kitaro, Karate Kid and practically every where else they serve Japanese food. I even had Maki on a styrofoam, as it is sold in Banchetto and Landmark food court. So yes, I know my Japanese (food).

Again, I'll let the pictures do the talking...

The Kani Salad Maki which is my favorite... P90

The California Maki... P80.

The Kani Sampler... P90

We also had Miso Ramen (P100) but in my eagerness to devour everything I forgot to take a picture of it. Nonetheless, just take my word for it that it's really yummy.

Here is what else they have on the menu...

After all that Japanese, why not have a truly Filipino dessert... a bag of Kutsinta for P30! Yes, they sell puto and kutsinta, too. :-)

All I can say is it is "Authentic Japanese at friendly budget!"

Tong Yang -- where P600 goes a looooong way

This is still a part of our weekend food binge. Although, I think it was a Monday when we ate at Tong Yang in SM Fairview which is why we were able to avail of their P299 per person eat-all-you-can buffet available only during lunch time from Monday - Saturday.

On Sundays and during dinner time, the buffet is priced at P499 per person but it does include an even wider selection of seafood which includes crabs, if I'm not mistaken.

By the way, the price per person is inclusive of 12% VAT and they don't have a service charge. So tipping is in order. After all the great service will make you want to give a generous tip nonetheless.

Here's what we had... get ready to salivate.


For the grill and the shabu-shabu I got the "expensive" stuff. I got fillets of lapu-lapu, blue marlin, cream dory, salmon, mahi-mahi, etc. I even got meat and squid balls, clams, mussels, scallops, fish lips, some squid and 2 - 3 varieties of mushroom.

My husband got pork belly and beef sirloin slices.

Yes, we got cocktail hotdogs, too (more for our son than for us).

While waiting for our shabu-shabu to cook, we had appetizers of assorted dumplings and some fried tofu and spareribs.

Oh and some maki, too.

Prawns for the soup or for grilling.

And of course, we got dessert.

Yes, all these for P600. Actually, the receipt says it's P598. I did leave a tip, so that sets us back by P600++

My rating: 4.5 stars over all. The price, taste, ambiance and service deserve nothing less than 4.5 stars. Definitely a restaurant worth going back to.

CAVEAT:

We didn't order drinks -- we didn't want to take any stomach space away from the food. :-)

The Great British Take Out - 3.5 stars

My husband and I have been on some sort of an eating binge the past few days so don't be surprised if you read a food review post one after the other.

Let's start with The Great British Take Out. I give them 3.5 stars overall.




Here's the breakdown:



Price: 4 stars

I gave them 4 stars for price because compared to Fish & Co., boy they are cheap! As a matter of fact they take pride in announcing that their food all cost less than P100 per order. And, in this day and age, we all know that it is close to impossible to find a filling meal for less than P100.


Taste: 3 stars

We both had fish and chips. I had mine with potato wedges and tartar sauce. My husband had his with fries and honey mustard sauce.





Of the two, I liked the potato wedges and the honey mustard sauce better. I probably would have given them a higher rating if they were able to replicate Fish & Co.'s tartar sauce. Sadly, their version fails in comparison to the "real" thing.

Their fish tastes okay, pretty much like the original. But it could use a little "paper towel dance" to remove more of the excess oil. The wax paper it is served on really doesn't absorb much of the oil.

What saved the meal for me was their Austin's nachos.


As you can see, they didn't scrimp on the sauces, the nachos and the beef. This always scores points for me. Yummmm!!!

Ambiance / Cleanliness: 3 stars

The branch we ate in was at the Skygarden of SM City North. Naturally, they have tables and chairs for al fresco dining, which is fine if you eat there at night.

It's a different story during daytime when all you want to do is be inside an air-conditioned room. Although their store is air-conditioned, the exhaust failed miserably to rid the place of the smell of deep-fried food. Try staying in for a few minutes and you are sure to smell "oily" when you get out.

The place is fairly clean though, with ample signages for the staff to make sure to clean up every so often. Other than the exhaust system and the resulting smell, I don't have anything to complain about.

Service: 4 stars

The logo says it all, it's supposed to be a take-out place... thus, service service is customary. Actually, they also have a sign that says just that. But the crew nonetheless serves your food, goes back to give you ketchup or whatever it is you ask from them.

All three that were there that night were pleasant and would occassionally exchange banter with us when we asked them something about the food or the establishment in general.



All in all, our meal cost us P355, which included 2 cans of Mug rootbeer. If we were at Fish & Co, our P355 would have bought us just one order of fish and chips, give or take a glass of soda or iced tea.

:-)

President’s Tea House – 3.5 stars

Are you a Chinese food-junkie like me and my husband? If you are then welcome to the club!

Have you tried any new Chinese restos lately? We have tried everything from Chowking to Mr. Choi's Kitchen in Robinson’s Pioneer and Waltermart, Munoz to Charlie’s in San Juan and yes, I almost forgot, Mann Hann and Gloria Maris.

Let me see, did I miss out any other Chinese resto we’ve been to? Hmmm… I hope not.

Anyway, we are just so happy that President’s Tea House has opened a branch in SM North – Annex. We used to go all the way to Binondo (from our house in the boondocks of Novaliches) just to get our fill of their eight—treasures noodles, Yang Chow, dumplings and buchi after their branch on the 5th floor of Megamall closed down years ago.

Actually, it was in Megamall where we discovered President’s Tea House way back in 2005. Well, it wasn’t really a discovery because they were highly recommended by a friend who also loves to indulge his gustatory cravings. We didn’t know it was going to be our first and last eat out at that branch.

From then on we would head out to Binondo every time we get our craving for dimsum or anything they serve at President’s Tea House.

So it was really serendipitous to find them at SM North – Annex where we usually are every week.

These are what we had the last time we were there:

You have to try their Roasting Combination... and don't forget to ask for ginger sauce for the chicken. Yum!

Yang Chow rice (of course!), Hakao and shark's fin dumpling, roasting combination and bottomless drinks... oh and buchi for dessert. I just have to have buchi at any Chinese resto we eat in.

You can say that there’s really nothing unique or unusual about their food because you can order a platter of Yang Chow almost anywhere they serve Chinese food, but what I love about President’s Tea House is their authenticity. Their place in SM North looked very much like the Chinese restos in Hong Kong… minus the need for an interpreter, of course.

As a matter of fact their branch that used to be in Megamall had what I call the Chinese “carinderia” (a small eatery) ambiance. It's hard to describe, but when you're in a "typical" Chinese restaurant you would know.

And, you will know that the food is good because a lot of Chinese or Chinese-looking people frequent the place. I mean, who would know better how Chinese food is supposed to taste if not Chinese themselves, right?

Another thing I like about them, in particular at their branch in SM North – Annex, is the customer service. We almost always have our 2-year old in tow (so that would mean a stroller and baby bag, among other things) so I really appreciate being offered a high chair without having to ask for one, or just being friendly and attentive to my son’s antics scores plus points for me.

My policy is I would keep coming back to an establishment if they treat us well, even if their food may not be exceptionally praise-worthy.

Gumbo is another place that’s like our second home (not that their food is not praise-worthy because some of selections are) … but that’s for another entry.

Going back to President’s Tea House… aside from efficient customer service, the other thing I like about them is that their prices are reasonable. Although I think it’s much cheaper at their Binondo branch. Well maybe the rent at SM North would account for the difference.

Just the same I would give them 3.5 stars for customer service, taste and reasonableness of price.

Cleanliness also merits them plus points. There is certainly none of the old Chinese “carinderia” ambiance here… if you know what I mean. :-)

Jed's Island Resort -- 2.5 Stars (out of 5)

My family and I went on our yearly summer outing yesterday... actually, this is just the second year we're having a summer outing but I'd like to make it a yearly family "tradition" of some sort. For one, it's summertime, the perfect time to go out of town, and second, it's my birthday, the perfectly acceptable excuse to spend. :-)

Like last year, we went swimming on the day of my birthday. Last year it was at Club Manila East (CME) in Taytay, Rizal and this year it was Jed's Island Resort in Calumpit, Bulacan.

We have been seeing posters of Jed's Island Resort all over Novaliches, Quezon City so we were kinda intrigued if the place is really as nice as their posters say it is. I even tried searching for reviews online because I would like to make sure I'll like the place enough to spend good money on it, but there wasn't any review, at least not the kind I was looking for.

What I found is more of a comment to a forum post of someone asking for directions to go to the place and all the commenter said was that the water at Jed's is highly chlorinated and that the forum poster might want to try looking somewhere else to swim in. That's it.

Well, here's the more detailed review with pictures to boot, in case somebody else is looking to read up on Jed's Island Resort before lugging along their whole family for their summer outing.

Customer Service: 3.5 stars

I first called to inquire about their rates because I wanted to reserve a room (air-conditioned, if possible, and with its own restroom). Besides, I had to make sure the snippets of information I got about them from various sites are still accurate because they don't have their own website (actually, they are supposed to have their own site but their domain name registration has expired and most likely their hosting services as well).

I got to talk to Janina, who to her credit, seemed friendly and eager to be of assistance. After confirming the info that I have gathered (i.e., being able to bring our own food and drinks in, having free and ample parking, etc.), I booked a room for a 12-hour daytime stay. It will have a bed good for 2 persons, an air-conditioner and its own private restroom. The cost: P1,500. and I should make at least a 20% deposit to confirm the reservation.

I also asked if we could enter the premises immediately upon our arrival or if we will be made to stand in line with the rest of the resort visitors regardless of our prior reservation and payment. To Jed's Island Resort's credit, Janina said we will not have to queue or stand in any line and will have immediate access to the facilities the moment we arrive.

Entrance to the place, (or to any place I have made prior reservations and payment to) is an issue with me because at Club Manila East we were made to get a number and wait outside along with the great multitude who just thought they would go to CME on the same day we did and who did not pay 2-3 weeks in advance like I did. I mean, what value did I get out of making prior reservations and paying way in advance of our scheduled outing? Nothing!

When we got to Jed's, true enough a throng of people who did not have prior reservations were waiting outside, and it got my husband worried (because he did not know I already inquired about the "privilege" our reservation should entitle us). I immediately asked where the reservations office was and presented my deposit slip (which they asked me to fax at least a day before our schedule). True enough, a room was waiting for us and a staff was instructed to see us through the thick crowd waiting to gain entrance.

Even the sweepers and everyone I got to speak with whether to ask directions or to ask that they empty the trash bin near out room are very polite and helpful.

For that they really deserve 3.5 stars

The Accomodations: 3 stars

This is the room we got:


It did have a bed good for 2 persons, with 2 pillows and a blanket. It also had a small TV, but you can hardly see anything regardless of whatever channel you tune in to, although it had a cable wire going through it. We didn't bother to complain about it because we didn't really go there to watch TV anyway.

The air-conditioning is "pre-programmed" because you can't change any setting as the knobs were taken out. Good thing it served its purpose well, otherwise I really would have complained. According to the news, the temperature that day was a sizzling 36.6 degrees celsius but we didn't really feel it inside the room. :-)

The restroom:


It did provide the "privacy" I wanted even if the door knob was barely holding on to the slot where it is supposed to be. Also, both the drain and the sink was clogged. Maybe that is why there were 2 plungers in there. Arrrggghhh!

Pools: 2 stars

The water of the pool closest to where we were staying was "cloudy" (I wanted to say "murky" but it's really not that dirty-looking, otherwise I would not have allowed my son to swim in it. It's just that I've seen "cleaner" waters at Club Manila East) even if it was just around 9am when my son started swimming.





The pools also didn't have showers stalls (This is another thing CME has that Jed's doesn't) where swimmers could rinse off before jumping into the water... maybe this is why the water seemed "cloudy".

The fishing and boating area:


If I were a fish, I'd have to be dead before you can get me to swim in those waters! :-)

"Resort Feel": 2 stars

To its credit, Jed's Island Resort managed to capture a kid's idea of how a water park should look like. It has larger-than-life statues of super heroes, cartoon characters, even dinosaurs and some zoo animals. It even has a hanging bridge (which adults would hate to fall off of unless they don't mind falling into greenish, stagnant water... eeewwww!), quite a number of water slides, and a "leisure park" where kids can pose for pics or just hang out after swimming.

But if you, the paying adult, are looking for the genuine "resort feel" to the place, I don't think you'll find it here. It is so accessible to the general public that the place becomes the go-to "resort" of the C-D and even E crowd. There was even a slippers-snatcher for crying out loud! What's worse, my mother even saw someone spitting into the pool! Who knows what other excrements have been expelled by the general "public".

And because the place allows (and even sells)beer and liquor, you can expect a few rowdy customers as the day draws to a close.

There were ample signages reminding the customers to maintain cleanliness at all times, but the crowd in general didn't seem to care.

Food is one thing you don't have to worry about,though. There were stalls selling everything from hotdogs to fries to siomai and Zagu. Plus, Jed's has its own souvenir shop cum convenience store where you can get swim wear, floaters, ice cream, soda, chips and even tube ice... and yes, beer and other alcoholic drinks.

If you didn't get an air-conditioned room, you can get a hut like this depending on the number of people in your group:


The giant slide:


The larger-than-life super hero statues:


The Leisure Park:


The Wave Pool:


One of the bigger pools:


The Souvenir Shop cum Convenience Store:


The common shower/comfort room:


Over-all, I'd give Jed's Island Resort 2.5 Stars

If you want a "classier" resort, I'd go for Club Manila East or better yet, Fontana Leisure Park (which is where we're headed to next year, hopefully).