Pasay City Restaurant Tips by cyndymc Top 5 Page for this destination

G Squared: Seafoods Cooked Your Way

G Squared is a restaurant that specializes in "paluto" (they cook whatever seafood you bring to them according to whatever cooking style you prefer). Whenever we feel like eating "kamayan" style (eating with bare hands) our favorite seafoods like crabs, prawns, "alupihang dagat", oysters, etc., we go to G Squared at Dampa at Macapagal Avenue or San Miguel By the Bay at MOA. For only P150 per kg cooking charge, G Squared is able to transform our seafood faves into tempura /buttered & crispy fried/steamed/baked/ gambas, etc.

Favorite Dish: tempura, buttered prawns, baked scallops

Address: Dampa, Macapagal Ave. & San Mig By The Bay, MOA

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Seafood

Guen Mariel's Good Food: "Paluto" Style Restaurant

My daughter brought us to Guen Mariel's Good Food, one of the "palutuan" restaurants in Seaside Macapagal. She wanted hubby and I to taste test the cooking there. According to my daughter who is bringing her staff there for team building, she made a price comparison (if they were to do the marketing themselves or take the market + paluto package) and confirmed that there would in fact be savings on her budget. And this is despite the fact that their cooking charge is about P30-50 more expensive than the other restaurants.

Hubby and I liked it there because of the simple but clean, cool (airconditioned) dining area, excellent customer service of the Restaurant Manager and crew, clean restrooms with liquid soap, strong water supply, tissue paper and pail with dipper (very Filipino), and separate place for washing hands (no need to wait for your turn at the comfort room just to wash your hands). The waiter even gave us fresh kalamansi to rub on our hands to remove the seafood smell.

Guen Mariel's Good Food has VIP rooms with videoke for groups (like family reunion/parties/team building/barkada nites). And for those who don't want to do the marketing of raw seafoods, they have regular food packages (inclusive of market + paluto) at reasonable prices (ranging from P1,990 to 2,800 for 10 pax; P3,110-3,690 for 15 pax. The special Chef's Recommendation packages for 10-12 pax range fro P3,460-3,560. They can also customize the food package depending on your desired dish.

Favorite Dish: "Adobong pusit" (squid adobo), buttered-garlic prawns, baked scallops, tempura (their sauce is great!), lobster

Address: Seafood Paluto Restaurants, Seaside Macapagal

Comparison: more expensive than average

Other Contact: 0917-8933388 & 0922-8311098

Phone: (02)556-2325

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

Seattle's Best: Perk Up With Coffee

If you'd like to have hot or iced coffee in a quiet, cozy place with wifi amenity, then Seattle's Best is the place for you. Although it is self-service, the staff are very helpful, like when you need a refill of coffee or a glass of cold water. They also don't mind if you linger long in their place even though you've finished your coffee and coffee cake/bread.

At SM MOA Branch of Seattle's Best, you have a choice to have your coffee in the airconditioned coffeeshop or al fresco by the Seaside Blvd.

Favorite Dish: I like alternating their flavored lattes each time I visit.

Address: SM MOA, Pasay City

Comparison: about average

Directions: Ground Floor, along Seaside Blvd.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Coffeehouse

Tokyo Cafe': Japanese Food Options

Nice view of the cafe' from outside, but very small and cramped inside. There is not enough elbow room between dining tables and chairs. Food tastes good, but service is quite slow:(

Favorite Dish: I liked the sushis.

Sorry, I wasn't able to take pictures of the food, as I wasn't pleased with the position of our dining table:(

Address: SM MOA

Comparison: more expensive than average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Japanese/Sushi

Pupung & Friends: Just The Way My Grandma Cooked Food!

I like the unassuming but spic & span ambience of Pupung & Friends. Although it is supposed to be self-service, the staff are ready to help.

Favorite Dish: Whenever we miss "nilugaw" (native congee) or "arroz caldo" (Spanish congee with chicken), we go to this small restaurant. Their version tastes like my grandma's cooking. We like to eat our "nilugaw" or "arroz caldo" with "tokwa't baboy" (diced boiled pork mixed with crispy-fried diced tofu marinated in soy sauce-vinegar mixture with garlic, onions and chili, and some salt & pepper).

Address: Ground Floor, SM MOA

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: near Music Hall & Pet park

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Gerry's Grill: Wholesome Resto-Bar W/ Good Food

Gerry's Grill is a resto-bar offering local cuisine, specializing in grilled meats and appetizers that go well with beer. Food is good; service is quite slow.

At SM MOA Branch, we prefer to eat at the outdoor patio, though they have two airconditioned dining rooms (one with native decor motif and the other with modern interior design).

Favorite Dish: Baked Mussels (Fresh mussels w/ melted cheese), "Kinilaw na Tanigue" (Diced boneless fishmarinated in vinegar with chili, garlic, ginger & onions), Pork "Sinigang" (Pork in Sour Soup w/ vegetables), Grilled "Liempo" (Pork Belly)

Address: SM MOA, Seaside Blvd., Pasay City

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Ground Floor

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Pugad Dencio's: Native Dishes

Pugad Dencio's is a cozy restaurant. At Harbour Square Branch, their motif is modern native, with unique ceiling accessories and fish decors on the wall. Habour Square Branch has the advantage of having a beautiful view of Manila Bay, Yacht Club and Manila skyline. Diners can opt to eat inside their clean, attractively decorated air-conditioned room or outside the airy Harbour Baywalk.

Customer Service is superb; waiters were alert to our needs.

Favorite Dish: "Sisig" Supreme is a longtime favorite, since their version of "Sisig" is less greasy. The last time we ate there, we tried their Crispy Sisig which is similar to Sisig Supreme, but without the mayonnaise. They used chopped crispy pork meat rather than chopped pig ears and cheek. Sinuglaw is another favorite; it is a combo dish of "sinugbang liempo" (grilled pork) and "kinilaw" (fresh fish marinated in vinegar, seasoned with chopped ginger, garlic, onions and finger chili). Our favorite appetizers are calamares (deep fried breaded squid rings) and Crispy "Kangkong" ( tempura style swamp cabbage leaves).

Their fruit shakes, as always, were great! Our favorite is the watermelon shake.

(Sorry, I don't have pictures of the food this time. We were so hungry when we went there, I forgot to take shots before eating...You may check the pictures of Dencio's in my Tagaytay Travel Guide.)

Address: Harbour Square,Pedro Bukaneg St,CCP Complex

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Ground Floor of same building as Shrimps Ahoy which is on the 2nd floor

Phone: (02) 552-7057

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Shrimps Ahoy!: Gambas is a Must!

Shrimps Ahoy is one of the popular restaurants at Harbour Square, located at the 2nd floor of the Right Wing Building. It is a seafood bar & grill restaurant, specializing in shrimp dishes, but it also offers pastas, other seafood specials, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, and local grilled foods. The ambience is cozy, with native decor and colorful batik lanterns. It provides a cool, airy place to enjoy your meals while enjoying the best view of Manila Bay and Manila Skyline.

The food servers are polite, alert and hospitable, ever willing to relay your personal comments and suggestions for preferred cooking to the chef.

If it is your first time to dine at Shrimps Ahoy, you will be given a VIP Card which will entitle you to 10% discount on cash payment for your next visit.

Favorite Dish: I liked their Gambas best- just the right blend of spices and sauce. I liked next their fish & chips, though their sauce could have been better. Their tempura could be better.

Address: 2nd Floor Harbour Square,CCP Complex,Pasay

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Above Dencio's. Take the stairs going up to the 2nd floor of right wing building.

Phone: (02) 8321296

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Seafood