Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant: 7 New Korean Classics

This year, Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant added new items on their menu, the seven classic Korean dishes. Although known for dishing out well-executed Korean fares with use of quality ingredients, Bulgogi Brothers step up its game by expanding their menu with main focus on well-loved classic Korean dishes that food enthusiast here in Manila will love. 

A visit to Bulgogi Brothers' Greenbelt branch introduced me to this seven classic Korean dishes. I already have some favorites at Bulgogi Brothers menu which are default orders when visiting any of their branches. These new additions to the menu however expanded my list of favorites and gave me more reasons to visit Bulgogi Brothers again and again.

Kimukatsu at East Wing of Shangri-La Mall

My visit at KIMUKATSU Japanese Restaurant located at the East Wing of Shangri-La Mall was a long time coming. Their famous take on tonkatsu which is a 25-layered Mille-feuille-style pork cutlets was something new to me. Having read good write ups about Kimukatsu from fellow food bloggers in Manila, I figured I should really make a time to visit.

There are a lot of katsu restaurants here in Manila ever since the katsu craze hit us, but Kimukatsu, a Japanese franchise takes pride being unique from the rest because of their unusual rendition of a katsu dish. Add to that, a list of other Japanese dishes on the menu that's equally impressive.

When I finally had the time to visit Kimukatsu, my mother and I visited their branch at the East Wing of Shangri-La Mall. It was lunchtime during our visit and the store is still near empty. But a minute or so, people started coming in until there's already a waiting list.

Benassi Ristorante Italiano: An Authentic Italian Restaurant in Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Benassi Ristorante Italiano is a family-owned restaurant tucked in Ortigas Center that serves no non-sense Italian dishes. Home-cooked Italian cuisine which inspiration rooted from the little town of Massa in Tuscany of Central Italy, Benassi Ristorante's arsenal of heirloom recipes claimed to be nothing but authentic.

Owner Katia Benassi-De Guzman, together with her husband DJ De Guzman partnered with Katia's mother Rolyn who has an impressive culinary training and a 20 years of residency in Italy. Together, they created a line up of authentic Italian cuisine that Benassi Ristorante Italiano is now proud of.

A visit to Benassi one afternoon opened my eyes to the wonderful gastronomical world of the Benassi. The place is modern and minimalistic with little reminders that you are in an Italian restaurant. Majority of the diners are expats and office workers coming from the Ortigas business district.