The recent opening of Vikings Luxury Buffet at SM City BF Parañaque, the 7th branch of what is tagged as the Philippines' largest and widely patronized buffet, proves that despite few unsavory commentaries, they are still on top of their game. Growing in numbers in terms of branches, continuing to make people happy, and being part of some of Filipino's special moments shared over variety of spreads unparalleled to any other; Vikings Buffet is a celebrated feast many patrons pray to stay.
Judging from the long lines in all of its branches and often fully booked advanced reservations, it seems like Vikings Buffet meant to do just that.
Recent roadtrip to the South prompted an opportunity to visit this newly opened Vikings SM BF. Having enjoyed some leisurely feasts in the past in some of their branches, I expected nothing less and I was not disappointed. It was worth the drive from the East to the South (Thank you Skyway, bumpy road in C6 can be hell at times).
As expected, the interior at Vikings SM BF exudes luxury which Vikings is known for. Compared to other branches the theme of Vikings Sm BF's interior design exudes a Middle Earth feel to it with touch of sophistication.
The lights in itself are impressive in terms of aesthetics. Something one may wish to have some at their home. I am such a fan.
One-of-a-kind artworks and wood accents gave the place the feel of the theme it is aiming for. I am not sure if it is just me, but I think that interior decorators of all Vikings Buffet branches are extremely creative people. Their eye for beauty in my opinion is highly commendable.
From the creative wood carvings plastered on the walls to the combination of moss green and orange seat covers, interiors at Vikings SM BF can be reason enough for one to brave the long lines and just experience dining there.
THE FOOD:
The buffet spread of course is unmistakably fit for a hearty feast. A long table filled with appetizers of different variants welcomes diners and encourages them to eat like a viking, because food are aplenty.
It is quite a load if not tedious to post every single appetizers because because there's just too many of them. And we're just talking about these hearty meal starters. Some of the crowd's favorites which I noticed since they run out pretty fast were the smoked chicken, smoked sausage, nguyong roll and the cold cuts. Good thing though that Vikings staff are quick to replenish those platters.
Ceviche and deviled eggs were also pretty popular among the diners vying to get their fare share of the appetizers. Different kinds of bread which are all good enough to be eaten as it is without any possible accompaniment also present on the buffet spread are also included in this section.
One of the famous station at any Vikings Buffet, the Carving Station is still ever present. Brimming with manly meat specialties, I am not wondering why people are constantly flocking this area of the buffet spread.
The Belly-chon is definitely one of my favorites with its crisp skin and succulent meat. The Baby Back Ribs in its smokiness and tenderness glory is also a crowd's favorite which is understandable since its fall-off-the-bone texture is something one might have a hard time saying no to.
The Roasted Chicken in generous number are also great. I was told that dinner time usually features Turkey but I have no qualms going at Vikings during lunch because I always favor chicken over turkey anyway.
Humongous Roast Beef and Leg of Lamb are not just a sight to behold but also a treat to the palate worth the calories. These dishes are also pretty famous among the diners but the chefs are always quick to replenish when these meat are down to few slices. That is based on my observation through the number of times I have visited other Vikings branches.
Alongside the caving station is the Chinese goodies which in terms of flavor, should not be disregarded. I particularly like the pork asado and the dumplings. The soy chicken is also at par with the others.
Prepared dishes of different variety that hails from the local region to the International favorites are also available in the buffet spread. There were Chinese dishes, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Italian, and Spanish to name a few. The choices are endless.
There are dishes like Pinoy's favorite Bagoong Fried Rice, Korean dish Jeyuk Bokkeum, one of Chef's Recommended dish Black Palabok, and another Pinoy dish Pinakbet. I tried the Black Palabok and while it may not be everybody's cup of tea in terms of the aesthetics, the flavor is certainly something you wouldn't want to miss.
There are also Baked Chicken Caldereta which is also one of Chef's Recommende Dishes, Jap Chae which is one of my favorite Korean dish, and two other beef dishes which name escape me but equally satisfying nonetheless.
The beer Battered Fish Escabeche is also noteworthy. I love that Vikings veer away from serving the usual battered fish fillet and put a delightful twist to it instead. The Paella as always is delicious with its generous seafood toppings. If diners are having a hard time digging into the socarrat at the bottom part of the dish, the chefs manning the station are always willing to assist.
There's also the addicting Okonomiyaki, the Japanese version of Italian's well-loved Pizza. I remember hoarding tempura before in whenever I am eating at Viking Buffet, but this particular visit, I find myself enjoying their Okonomiyaki better. That is not to say that the tempura were bad, because as always, they are still one of the crowd's favorite.
Alongside the Pasta station is two of my favorite treats at Vikings; the make-your-own Nachos and the freshly baked Pizzas. The Pizza's variety differs from time to time. What I like the most is the one with generous seafood toppings in white sauce. I failed to take photos of it since it easily runs out.
The interactive flair at Vikings Buffet is still ever present and enjoyed by many. The chefs are always accommodating in this league. Should the diners choose to visit the other stations, the chefs will gladly delivered the food the diners requested for them to cook at their own table.
The grilling station which is always brimming with raw food is certainly one of the spot always filled with people lining up. It helps that the chefs are very efficient in attending to the diners' requests. Of the many times I have enjoyed this interactive part of the buffet, there was never a time that they got my order wrong.
The hot pot station at Vikings is also one of crowd's favorite spot. That is why it did not surprised me that Vikings will soon introduced a new buffet concept which focuses mainly on hot pot. I am really excited for that.
The proverbial wooden-boat filled with all kinds of sushi, rolls, and sashimi is still one of the highlights at Vikings. Filipino buffet-lovers I noticed are big when it comes to this Japanese dish and Vikings knows that all too well. Aesthetically pleasing, I noticed that this station is always filled with people who are not just interested in getting their fair share of rolls, but also with people holding their camera phone. You get the picture.
The dessert station as always is filled with delectable sweets that ranges from pastries, cakes, ice creams, chocolate fountains, and fresh fruits. I cannot count how many times have I praised Vikings for dishing out decent desserts not comparable to other restaurant buffets, unless we are talking about those which are housed within a hotel.
One of the things that make Vikings popular among diners is their drinking station. It is rare that drinks are included in the buffet rates to some buffet restaurants. At Vikings, you can drink to your heart's content - the choices are plenty.
MY FEAST:
These are just some of the dishes I tried during my visit at Vikings SM BF. I was not able to take photos of everything I ate because most of the time, my plate is peppered with different kinds of dishes thrown in haphazardly within the plate. Not really a beautiful sight to behold, to be honest. Eat Like A Viking, as they say.
Although the choices at the buffet spread are already aplenty, Vikings Executive Chef Anton Abad was kind enough to prepare two dishes for me to try. The first one was a beef dish which reminds me of beef bulgogi but way better. The second one was an eleated version of the usual chicken teriyaki wherein the meat is meant to be eaten wrapped in nori and accompanied by what I deem as kani salad. It was amazing.
Mushroom soup and plate full of appetizers. The deviled eggs were good, the potato salad, even better.
Sushi, sashimi, rolls - default part of my choices during buffet.
Chinese goodies. The Hakaw were extremely good. So were the steamed plumpy shrimps.
Carving station choices. The Belly-chon was divine. Take my word for it.
Cheese, nuts, and pizza. The white one was superb especially if you are into seafood pizza.
Nachos with extra slices of Swiss cheese at the background. Can't get enough of these!
Coffee and crepe. Perfect meal ender.
Vikings Buffet' Green Tea (Matcha) ice cream is my soulmate. True story.
Vikings peeps are always a bunch of gracious host. Despite the crowded lunch service, they were kind enough to take a minute of their time to chat and pose for photos. Photos below: Chef Anton Abad, Ms. Raquel Bartolome, and Chef Jasper Andrew Kong.
VIKINGS BUFFET SM CITY BF PARANAQUE RATES:
Weekday Lunch
Kids below 3ft (Free)
Kids between 3ft to 4ft (Php188+)
Kids between 4ft to 4.5ft (Php388+)
Adults (Php688+)
75y/o and above (Php50% special discount)
Weekday Dinner
Kids below 3ft (Free)
Kids between 3ft to 4ft (Php288+)
Kids between 4ft to 4.5ft (Php588+)
Adults (Php888+)
75y/o and above (Php50% special discount)
Weekend & Holiday Lunch and Dinner
Kids below 3ft (Free)
Kids between 3ft to 4ft (Php288+)
Kids between 4ft to 4.5ft (Php588+)
Adults (Php888+)
75y/o and above (Php50% special discount)
VIKINGS SM BF
2nd Floor, SM BF Parañaque
Contact Nos.: 811-3888, 811-4888, 0998-988-2888, 0917-895-4888
Website: www.vikings.ph
Facebook: /vikingssmbf
Operating Hours:
Lunch 11am to 2:30pm
Dinner 5:30pm to 10pm
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