More new-job errands, more mall wandering, and — as always — more food worth writing home about. Here’s the next round-up from around Metro Manila.

July 19 · Grocery Runs, Coffee Math, and a Big Treat at Tsukiji

Before heading to Makati, I made a quick pit stop at Megamall for groceries and ran into a few friends along the way. We ended up grabbing coffee and bread at French Baker — turns out they run little café counters inside several mall branches, not just the standalone shops. Small discovery of the day, though: I learned (the hard way, at 2am, staring at my ceiling) that I really can’t drink coffee past 11am anymore. Noted for next time.

By evening, it was time for the main event. I was meeting one of my besties for dinner at Tsukiji, a high-end Japanese restaurant on the 3rd floor of the Milky Way Building in Makati — the kind of place that flies its ingredients in straight from Japan. This was a treat, and I was buzzing about it all day.

Reservations aren’t required (walk-ins are welcome), but I booked one anyway, no regrets there. The restaurant sits on the third floor, and yes, there’s an elevator, so no need to brace yourself for a climb. Inside, the space is a mix of low Japanese-style seating and private grilling stations for sukiyaki, alongside regular table setups — the kind of variety that makes you feel like you’ve actually left Manila for the night. We were seated at one of the regular tables. They started us off with tea, and then the ordering began:
Chirashi Daimyo (₱5,500) — a generous bowl of vinegared sushi rice crowned with an assortment of premium sashimi, think salmon, tuna, and uni layered on top. Every piece was clean, cold, and melt-away fresh — the kind of dish that makes the price tag feel earned.
Gindara teriyaki (₱2,900) — black cod glazed in a caramelized teriyaki sauce, so buttery and flaky it practically fell apart at the touch of my chopsticks. Easily one of the best fish dishes I’ve had in a long time.
Kurobata tonkatsu (₱1,600) — this one, I’ll be honest, didn’t wow me. It was fine, but the pork came out a touch dry and nowhere near the melt-in-your-mouth texture I was hoping for. I still think Yabu does tonkatsu better.

Overall, though, this was a seafood-forward menu done right, and I walked out already planning my next visit. Next time, I’m ordering the ohmi wagyu (we should’ve gotten it this time, honestly) and the tempura, since seafood so clearly seems to be their specialty. Skip the kurobata, but everything else? Go for it.

July 26 · Bingxue Tea and Ice Cream, Mandaluyong

This one was a happy accident. It’s just a few minutes from where I live, and I stumbled onto this tiny shop selling milk teas, fruit juices, and ice cream — all shockingly affordable.

I started with their mango series (₱95), which came out cold, tangy, and genuinely refreshing — the kind of drink you want on a hot, sticky Manila afternoon.  I also tried their premium bubble milk tea in large (₱95), and it hit that sweet spot of not being overly sweet, with a nice variety of pearl textures in a cup! Between the two, the mango passion fruit has officially claimed the top spot as my favorite drink in Mandaluyong. I’ll be working my way through the rest of the menu soon.

Hiro Japanese Yakiniku, SM Aura, Taguig

After work one day, I decided to squeeze in some grocery shopping at SM Aura. Lucky for me, the jeepneys line up right across the street from my office, so the ride over was quick and cheap — about 10 minutes, tops.
After finishing my grocery run, I made my way up to the 5th floor to try Hiro Japanese Yakiniku. Finding it took a few laps around the floor (mall navigation is not my strong suit, apparently), but I got there eventually. The service was attentive — I was the only one seated at the counter — and I ordered the Ishiyaki niku meshi (₱360+ service charge), a hot stone bowl of rice topped with grilled beef, served alongside complimentary beef cubes.

I actually had my eye on the ohmi beef but held back, worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it solo. In hindsight, maybe that was the dish I should have gone for, because the ishiyaki niku meshi just didn’t blow me away. It wasn’t bad, exactly, just… okay, nowhere close to the highs I hit at Yūgen or Tsukiji. Maybe it wasn’t the right pick, even if it’s supposedly a bestseller. I’ll give their sukiyaki a shot somewhere else next time.

Getting a ride home afterward was a whole ordeal, so I ended up walking to Market Market and booking one from there instead.

August 4 · Em Hà Nội, BGC, Taguig

It was time to catch up with a former colleague, and since we were already close by, we figured we’d finally try Em Hà Nội — a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick that’s been on my list for a while. I wanted to see for myself whether it lived up to the hype.

Getting there was its own adventure. It poured heavily on my way to work that morning, and I almost always get around by motorcycle taxi — Move It, Grab, Joyride, or Angkas, whichever pops up fastest. They’re affordable, quick, and honestly a lifesaver given how brutal the traffic gets between where I live and work. When the rain hit, the driver handed me a raincoat, and I stayed completely dry. Made me realize motorcycle rides hold up just fine, rain or shine.

After work, I finally made it to Em Hà Nội to meet my former colleague for some much-needed chika time. It was so nice catching up — we’re both in good places now, doing work we actually enjoy, a world away from where we used to be.

We ordered:
Bun cha (₱320) — grilled pork patties over vermicelli noodles with fresh herbs and a tangy fish sauce dressing; appetizing, well-balanced, and unmistakably authentic Vietnamese.
Deep fried rolls, 3pcs (₱290) — shatteringly crispy on the outside, savory on the inside.
Pho (₱399) — a deeply flavorful, fragrant broth that warmed me up instantly.
Ca phe sua (₱170) — strong, bold Vietnamese coffee balanced with sweet condensed milk, no shortcuts, no compromises.

Honestly, this is what eating out is all about. Em Hà Nội earns the hype completely, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone who’ll listen.

The space itself is humble, unpretentious even, but if you’re after something close to real, authentic Vietnamese food, this is about as close as it gets in Manila. We left in great spirits, booked an InDrive to Buendia, and headed our separate ways home.

A genuinely good day, and an even better catch-up.

That’s a wrap for this round-up — but between new work friends, more mall corners to explore, and a growing list of restaurants I still need to try, there’s plenty more coming. Stay tuned!