‘Pop Talk’ tries new foodie finds in UP Town Center

There's something about the ushering of a new year that makes people want to try new things and go to unexplored places. This is exactly why “Pop Talk's” New Year's resolution is to discover more food havens that we haven't tried before.

One food haven that everyone should visit in 2014 is the recently opened UP Town Center on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Described as a place "where great minds come together to shop and dine," this new development will house offices, retail stores and restaurants.

Not to miss out on this latest foodie destination, "Pop Talk" host Tonipet Gaba, award-winning actress Alessandra de Rossi, Appetite Magazine's food and deputy editor Migs Yambao, and event stylist Marelle Basilio set out to UP Town Center for an Asian-themed food crawl. Here are their verdicts.



Ba Noi's
Price range: P300 to P500

Aptly named using the Vietnamese term "bà n?i," which literally translates to "paternal grandmother," Ba Noi's serves as a homage to both its owner's grandmother and to authentic home cooked Vietnamese food.

Those who want to eat spring rolls for appetizer could either enjoy the Goi Cuon, fresh rolls of pork, shrimp and vermicelli, or the Cha Gio, deep fried rolls of pork, shrimp, taro, and black fungus. A selection of pork, beef, chicken and seafood dishes prepared the authentic Vietnamese way are available for the main course. Ba Noi's homemade noodles and rice noodles are also recommended dishes for those who are going to eat Vietnamese food for the first time.

Another Ba Noi's must-try is their Vietnamese coffee which the "Pop Talk" reviewers especially loved. "Kasi 'di ba sa Vietnam malakas din ang coffee dahil na-influence sila ng French," explained Migs, who also praised Ba Noi's for successfully capturing the characteristics of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. "'Yung Vietnamese cuisine, even if marami ka nang nakain, busog ka pero hindi mabigat ang feeling. 'Pop' naman ang food niya. Very fresh, very light, very delicious."

Final verdict: 9 pop points



Ginza Bairin
Price rang: P300 to P500

Japanese cuisine continues to gain popularity among Filipinos with more and more Japanese-themed restaurants and ramen shops sprouting all over the Metro. The best way to taste authentic Japanese food, however, is to eat in a place that traces its roots directly to its country's origin. Enter Ginza Bairin, the first tonkatsu restaurant built in Tokyo's Ginza district back in 1927. The humble tonkatsu place has grown into a franchise that extends to Hawaii, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines.

Ginza Bairin's bestsellers include the Special Katsudon Set that is made of katsu, Japanese rice, and eggs, and the Katsu Sando, a Japanese rice flour sandwich stuffed with authentic tonkatsu.

"What I noticed with the signature product, which is the tonkatsu, is deep fried siya pero at the same time, hindi siya oily," commented Migs.

Alessandra, on the other hand, couldn't help but gush over the same dish. "Halos speechless na nga ang peg ko… Muntik na akong maiyak, 'di ba? Speechless. Priceless 'yung unang kagat ko ng tonkatsu. Minsan ko lang 'yon maramdaman. Na-love at first bite ako."

Final verdict: 9 pop points



Boon Tong Kee
Price range: P300 to P500

Boon Tong Kee has come a long way from a simple Singaporean food kiosk to a restaurant renowned for its special chicken rice. First established in Singapore in the early 1980s, Boon Tong Kee has now expanded its operations to the Philippines with branches in Mall of Asia, Power Plant Mall, Tomas Morato and UP Town Center.

Aside from the famous rice, diners can also enjoy the resto's Crispy Cereal Prawn, Fried Spare Ribs, Fried French Bean and Scallops, and the Signature Boiled Chicken, which Alessandra especially loved. "Napaka-simpleng boiled chicken na niya pero hindi mo ma-explain 'yung halo-halong lasa ng sauce."

The reviewers recommend that you eat at Boon Tong Kee with your whole family as each plateful is big enough to feed them all. Marelle attested, "’Yung servings nila, talagang may variations. For that price, marami ka nang makakain."

Final verdict: 9 pop points