Menya Hachi is one of the newest restaurants to open at the Ayala Central Bloc. For the first time, Cebuanos get the experience the fushion of Japanese & Hawaiian dishes including ramen, rice dishes and more!✨

Check them out at the GF of the Central Bloc. See you there!??

xx,
Issa G.

I love Korean BBQ. I LOVE KOREAN BBQ. I love smelling like KBBQ. I love sweating like KBBQ. The anthem of my life is 7 Meats and yes, it is about KBBQ. Have I made my point yet? :p

Korean BBQ spots have been popping up all over the place over the last few years, each one with their own twist like buffet styles, over the top side dishes, insanely low eat-all-you-can prices and you name it!

But one thing that I have yet to encounter in Cebu has been private function rooms where friends and family can gather and soak up in all that good KBBQ smoke. (lol) However, all that’s changed very recently with Monster Grill by Lemon Tree Spa recently opening their doors in the Lahug area.

I don’t exactly know how we found out about this place (probably through a FB add or from one of Paolo’s cousins) but we were really glad that we did! We really like how spacious the area is and even when it was packed with people, we barely noticed any smoke and unlike other KBBQ locations, it wasn’t chaotic nor did it feel claustrophobic.

As I mentioned, my favorite thing about this KBBQ restaurant is that they have private room options located on the second floor with options for small, medium and large groups. Some rooms even have projectors where guests can discuss meetings and etc. The two times that we’ve been there (within a month, might I add), we requested for the private rooms and thoroughly enjoyed cooking, talking and being able to laugh boisterously without the fear of judgement from other diners.

Another thing that I also REALLY like about Monster Grill is the unusually thick cut of their samgyupsal. I’ve been accustomed to the thiner slices of samgyupsal so I was both intrigued and apprehensive about trying it but I actually really liked it. In fact, I might even like it compared to the usual.

I was also able to try out their beef cuts and it was pretty similar to the short plate at Pearl Meat Shop (but picture, better location!) so yes, Monster Grill is officially my favorite KBBQ place in the entire world. For now. :p

I will be completely honest though, I do feel like they scrimp a bit on the side dishes but we can’t really have everything so I’ll take what I can. But in fair, they also have a lot of food offerings which encourages diners to actually eat something else aside from their meat.

Monster Grill is located at the Tree Shade Spa complex in Lahug (beside Metro Sports). They have parking, a cafe, a massage parlour and a bar in the area, as well.

They also accept credit cards & reservations.

Operating times: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM everyday

HELP ME I’M HUNGRY,
Issa Gandionco

7 hours, 10 restaurants, 1 very full woman. This was how my Wednesday afternoon- mid evening went as I explored, dare I say “food crawled” my way through the select restaurants located at AyalaMalls’ The Walk & Central Bloc in IT Park.

This Bite Sites activity which was hosted by none other than AyalaMalls was a nice refresher & eye opener for myself and for my fellow friends of the media as we were introduced to new dishes and restaurants and reminded of oldies but goodies.

In this post, I will be sharing the 10 spots which we went to and sharing some important information about each establishment. Of course I will not be reviewing every single thing we ate but I do hope that you can drop by these restos and share your insights in the comment section below!

COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF
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CBTL has been one of my favorite coffee shops for a while now! Their ever changing and growing menu allows me to not just enjoy their coffee but also experiment with their seasonal offerings a lot of which I have shared on the blog or on my Instagram feed.

I also think that of all the coffee shop chains, CBTL’s cakes are to die for. While I’ll admit to not being a huge muffin fan, it certainly fills the spot for a hungry person on the go.

Located at: Central Bloc

CASA VERDE
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Casa Verde is known for a lot of things particularly their ribs, their affordable and delicious steaks, their huge burgers, ice cream cakes and overall, just really great food. I’ve been a fan of their offerings ever since I was in high school and it’s been a frequent go to spot for a lot of social gatherings.

During our stop there, I was introduced to a couple new favorites- the beef burrito and this huge burger! Would you just look at it?!

This huge mound of meat is more than just a novelty- it’s a feast! Each layer of meat (burger patty, steak, chicken finger, pulled pork, bacon) is finely cooked until tender and juicy making it the perfect dish for bonding with people who equally enjoy a good, meaty meal.

Located at: The Walk

MOOON CAFE
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Mooon Cafe, as I would remember it, is one of the oldest Mexican themed semi- fast food restaurants in Cebu. Back when Mexican food wasn’t a thing, it was Mooon that introduced us to quesadillas, fajitas and lots of other Mexican inspired dishes that go perfectly well with their suncooler drinks (best with alcohol. lol). Now, they currently have 3 branches and are an old favorite for anyone who is in need of comfort good in generous servings and at affordable prices.

I’m a sucker for their mozarella fish fillet, fish tacos (not in photo), gambas and am now wishing that I had a go at there fajitas.

Located at: The Walk

JONIE’S SIZZLERS ROAST
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Admittedly, it was my first time to ever try our Jonie’s Sizzler’s Roast but I now laugh at how quickly I sat on their floors for this cute photo op.

I found their pork barbecue to be quite juicy and I liked their sauce but I honestly wished that the piece I had picked up was not too charred. I did really like the theatrics of how they made their dishes sizzle and I think that this spot would be a great option for anyone who wants good food that’s served fast.

Located at: The Walk

 MUSIC ONE KTV
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Music One, while first being a karaoke spot, is not to be underestimated for their food. With lots of variants to choose from, party goers can definitely expect a full, happy stomach with their offerings. I really liked their cheese sticks and wishes that I had gotten more but over all, I like their food as much as I like their impressive karaoke system.

Located at: The Walk

BOY ZUGBA
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Boy Zugba is not only a treat for your stomach, it’s a treat for your eyes and funny bone, as well. With their many one liners and witty menu items, they’ve not only managed to tickle my curiosity they’ve also found a way to add a nice and unique twist to a lot of Filipino dishes.

With certain delicacies like Cab- cab, which I’ve seemed to take for granted, Boy Zugba was able to find a unique way to present this interesting dish to customers and spark interest in it. Honestly, it was the first time I had ever tried it and I was pretty surprised at how something so thin could pack so much flavor!

Other dishes I liked were their humba, pancit and chicken skin. It’s a shame I was pretty full by the time we sat to eat here because I have a feeling I would like a lot of their other dishes, as well.

Located at: Central Bloc

GIBBS’ HOT WINGS
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Gibbs’ is no stranger to the Issaplease space and will always have a special place in my heart (and stomach), having been my very first restaurant sponsor back when issaplease was just a fresh, wide eyed blogger.

My favorites will forever be their Angel wings, potato wedges (not in photo) & mac and cheese that also go great with their signature juice drinks.

I don’t know what else to tell you guys, I really do think Gibbs’ is the best chicken wing spot in Cebu and if you’ve never had it- what are you even doing in life?

Located at: Central Bloc

SACHI AUTHENTIC JAPANESE RAMEN OKONOMIYAKI
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Ok, let me be the first person to tell you that I’m not a fan of ramen for a multitude of reasons and while that hasn’t quite changed over frequent events, I do appreciate that Sachi offers other equally good and authentic Japanese options.

Okonomiyaki & Takoyaki aren’t exactly dishes that I am familiar with but these flavorful dishes certainly hit the right spot for me, despite not really knowing what they were. lol.

Located at: Central Bloc

BIGBY’S
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When I am not raving about Bigby’s Tiki Wacky Chicken Salad (not in photo), I am off enjoying their other dishes that have been inspired from different dishes and cuisines from all over the world. I alway believe in finding out about a new place through their food and it’s always a treat experiencing Bigby’s take on other countries’ dishes.

I was quite eager to have some greens in my system after having gone through soo much meat and their Japanese salad definitely did not disappoint. It had a nice mixture of Japanese flavors, including nori, which I thought was an interesting flavor to have in a salad. It worked for me.

I also really enjoyed their pasta and finger foods like chicken fingers, quesadillas and nachos.

Location: Central Bloc

BANAPPLE
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I had heard about Banapple even before they had landed in Cebu and always thought of the place as a great little nook where you can enjoy everything from dessert, breakfast and even lunch/ dinner.

While they are commonly known for their wonderful desserts, their food offerings are not something to be forgotten and in the months that they’ve been in Cebu, I’ve grown to love their dishes that come in large servings which is great after a late night out.

Just recently, they’ve rolled out a couple Cebu exclusive dishes namely their Savory Longganisa & Mango Toffee cake. I was lucky enough to get an exclusive first taste of these items and I’d have to say, it hits pretty close to home in terms of how we Cebuano’s enjoy our sausages and desserts. It’s a definite must try!

Located at: Central Bloc

Press

AyalaMalls excites this year’s fourth quarter by bringing its newest development, AyalaMalls Central Bloc. This regional mall is a 45,000SQM establishment along Padriga Street, Cebu IT Park. It is a five-storey complex with over 270 establishments for retail, dining and entertainment.

The upcoming mall is your next vibrant hang-out destination where the balance of work and play thrives. It will feature trending & practical retail concepts, refreshing dining outlets, an extensive IT zone, and venues to chill out. With its four cinemas, people working and living in the area won’t go far to catch the latest blockbusters.

For the latest updates, follow @AyalaMallsCentralBloc on Facebook and Instagram, and @CentralBloc on Twitter.

You may also follow (and use the hashtags), #AyalaMalls #CentralBloc #BiteSites for official postings, and photos tagged by the community.

What are your favorite restaurants at The Walk/ Central Bloc?

xx,
Issa G.

Rico’s Lechon is FINALLY back in business and what better way to celebrate their return than by opening a new branch! Their newest branch, located at Unit F1 Jamestown, Mantawi International Drive, Mandaue City is able to accommodate a whopping 300 people and even has ample outdoor parking spaces.

Unlike their other branches, this outlet also comes with 4-5 private function rooms that can accommodate a large group of 80 people or smaller groups of 20.

Their bright and festive interiors are a true patronage to our Filipino culture and are a great reminder of how Lechon is best eaten- in celebration, with the people that we love.

Private room (good for 80 pax)

Private room (good for 20)

Private room (good for 20)

Outdoor parking area

With the return of their business, Rico’s has also included a few new dishes for everyone to enjoy such as Grilled Pork Belly, Grilled Daing na Bangus, Ginataang Laing, Chicken Binakol, Beef Ampalaya, Sizzling Adobong Pusit, Buttered Mixed Seafoods, Seaweed Salad, Sisig Fried Rice, Chorizo Fried Rice, Sinigang na Bone-less Bangus, Sinigang na Baka at Baboy, and Seafood Sotanghon.

Classic favorites namely their  Special Boneless Bangus, Sizzling Lechon Sisig, Monggos, Bicol Express, Kinilaw Na Tangigue (Ceviche), Calamares, Camaron Rebosado, Garlicky Squid Balls, Sinigang, Pinakbet, Chopsuey, and Pancit Canton can also still be found on their menu.

Here is their complete menu:

Don’t usually find yourself in the Mandaue area? Rico’s lechon also has branches in Mactan Promenade & Axis Entertainment Avenue, Cebu, which is set to open next month!

If you’re in Manila and are currently craving for the world’s best pig- Rico’s Lechon also has branches in Metro Manila namely BGC, Gloriette 1, Tiendesitas, UP Town Center and SM Mall of Asia.

For more information, visit ricoslechon.com or contact 253-4650 or 0917-823-8263.

For updates like and follow @RicosLechonOFFICIAL on Facebook and Instagram.

xx,
Issa G.

Stepping into Trattoria Da Gianni felt like I was walking into someone’s home. It was as if I was transported into some Italian family’s dining room that would soon be filled with lots of laughs and chatter. It was cozy, welcoming and familiar.

For someone like me who is often conscious about not knowing what to eat or order at new restaurants, I was surprised at how “accommodating” their menu was. Initially, I had envisioned offerings that were too hard to pronounce, much more for my palate to comprehend but I was sweetly surprised at how familiar I was with their dishes. The descriptions also really helped. lol!

It also helped that their staff was extremely accommodating and if I ever had any questions about any of the dishes, they were quick to explain and share insights making the process a lot easier and more interesting.

Here’s what we had:

Quatro Formagi, Parma Ham & Mozzarella and Garden Basil Bruschette
(P 140.00 each)

Polpo Salad – Steam Octopus, Arugula, Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Parsley and Lemon Vinaigrette @ P 275.00

Spaghetti with Scallops – Seared Scallops, Shrimps, Black Olives, Capers & Parsley @ P 390.00

Osso Buco – Slow Cooked Beef Shank with Potatoes  @ P 800.00 (for sharing)

Tiramisu Espresso (For sharing) – Layers of Savoiardi Ladyfingers, Coffee, Mascarpone and Cacao prepared at your table – P 360.00

There’s a misconception that Italian food is bland but if you do your research and talk to the right people, you’ll learn that Italian cuisine is more about the quality of the ingredients they use rather than grandeur preparations and theatrics.

Yes, I will admit that there wasn’t an explosion of flavors in my mouth and that I wish the servings were a tad more but eating their food felt like my tongue was getting a warm embrace. It felt like a meal that you could have everyday without ever getting sick of and as subtle and simple as some of the dishes were- it was a meal I wanted to share (again) with someone I love.

I would definitely recommend this place especially to friends who are interested in foreign cuisines. It’s definitely one of those places that stays true to their history and flavors- which if I’m not trying to beat around the bush means: it doesn’t try too much to appeal to the Filipino taste. I’m definitely not saying that it’s a bad thing, I really respect that, but it’s definitely something that your extremely Pinoy lola probably wouldn’t appreciate.

Trattoria Da Gianni
Crossroads, Banilad
For reservations: +63 9778422786

xx,
Issa G.

p.s. It’s never too early for wine! ❤