Zoy's Top 5: 2023 Food Destinations

I’m listing down the five food destinations that blew my mind and enlarged my stomach in 2023 (check my Top 5 for 2022 here and 2021 here). These are places that I’ve never been to, haven’t fully explored yet, or have been to but needs to be recognized again. It could be an eatery or restaurant, a hawker center or food court or food hall, a city or an area of it, or even an entire country.

But choosing only five is a difficult task so let me give you my honorable mentions (in alphabetical order) and my quick thoughts about it (click the link to see my review):

Carlo’s Bacolod Chicken House Express (Makati City, Philippines): Grills the best Chicken Inasal (grilled chicken) in Metro Manila!
Ippon Yari (Various Locations, Philippines): Serves amazing Japanese food at reasonable prices. (Article coming soon!)
Morning Sun Eatery (Quezon City, Philippines): Carinderia (eatery) that offers Ilocano food.
Percy Seafood (Boracay, Philippines): Has the best seafood dishes that I’ve tried in Boracay!
Sapphire (Boracay, Philippines): Best buffet that I’ve tried in Boracay!

Now, let’s start with Top 5…

5. Shanghai Saloon (Various Locations, Philippines)

Shanghai Saloon is a Chinese restaurant that offers dimsum-all-you-can.

I thought that their food will be mediocre. But to my surprise, their dimsum is amazing, probably the best I had in the Philippines!

Delicious dimsum and Chinese dishes at Shanghai Saloon!

Related Article: Coming Soon

For branches and operating hours, check out Shanghai Saloon’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

4. Spiral (Pasay City, Philippines)

Spiral is one of the dining options in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. It is famous for having 21 ateliers or “workshops of an artisan”. So each buffet station masterfully prepares food.

Yes, it’s only my first time to eat there. It’s because I find it expensive and I always keep missing out on the discounts and promos. But thankfully, my credit card offered a whopping 40% off so we finally ate there.

Address: Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Contact Spiral for specific buffet times | Contact No: (02) 8573-5599 | Facebook | Instagram | Website

3. Parr’t Ebelle Tinola (Cebu City, Philippines)

I went to Cebu back in 2019 and. I thought that I already covered pretty much the important local food spots. But the American vlogger Mark Wiens, who did a Cebu series, made me realize that there are more places to explore in the Queen City of the South. So my wife and I went to the island-province back in December (new Cebu series coming up soon).

One of the food spots we went to is Parr’t Ebelle Tinola, which Wiens also visited. It’s a seafood restaurant the specializes in SuTuKil, an acronym for sugba (grilled), tuwa (to stew), and kilaw (to cook in vinegar). All the dishes we had there, especially the grilled items, were masterfully prepared.

Related Article: Coming Soon!

Mabolo Branch Address: Road 6, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:30AM-8:30AM; Sunday, 7:30AM-3PM | Contact No.: 0947-3411337 | Facebook

2. Thailand

My wife and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary by doing our first international trip as a married couple (and my first since the COVID-19 pandemic) to the Land of Smiles, Thailand.

We first visited Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. While tourists flock to Phuket for its beaches and parties, it is undeniable that the island also offers amazing food. With a wide array of culinary influences—Chinese (Hokkien), Indian, Malaysian, and even European—your taste buds will be in for a treat at Phuket.

Chef Danny of Jadjan by Ko Dang cooking our meal

My favorite spots in Phuket are Chuan Chim (for Thai-Chinese food), Jadjan by Ko Dang (for Thai food cooked by a former hotel chef), and Mee Ton Poe (for Hokkien Mee, which is my favorite Phuketian dish).

Mee Ton Poe’s Hokkien *Mee* is my favorite Phuketian dish

Then we visited Bangkok, the Thai capital. It’s street food scene is so vibrant that the MICHELIN Guide awarded Bib Gourmands and Plates to several establishments, and a Star to one culinary legend in the city.

Supinya Junsuta a.k.a. Jay Fai, the chef-owner of the Michelin-starred Raan Jay Fai, preparing amazing food

My favorite spots in Bangkok are Phed Mark (Mark Wien’s Pad Krapow or holy basil stir-fry spot), Raan Jay Fai (Thailand’s first and only Michelin-starred street food), and Polo Fried Chicken (for amazing fried chicken and Isaan food).

Related Articles:

1. Bale Dutung (Angeles City, Philippines)

Literally “house of wood”, Bale Dutung is a private dining space by Chef Claude Tayag, a Kapampangan chef, author, and one of the culinary giants of the country. It offers a degustation experience and is strictly by reservation.

Chef Claude (pronounced as cloud) may probably be familiar to you. That’s because he’s the one who toured the late Anthony Bourdain around Angeles City for the Philippine episode of No Reservations. He also hosted Bourdain at his home—the 2nd floor of Bale Dutung—and this later gave birth to the Anthony Bourdain tasting menu.

Their food is amazing, the service is impeccable, and the hospitality is excellent. Check out the food we tried and our entire experience at Bale Dutung by clicking the link below.

Address: Paul Ave., Villa Gloria Subdivision, San Jose, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines | Operating Hours: Contact Bale Dutung for schedule and reservations | Contact No.: 0933-8233967 | Email: baledutungexperience@gmail.com | Facebook | Instagram

What are your Top 5 food destinations for 2023? What food did you try there? Comment below! I might visit those destinations next.