Zoy's Top 5: 2019 Food Destinations
I’m listing down the 5 food destinations that blew my mind (and enlarged my stomach) in 2019. These are places that I’ve never been to or haven’t fully explored yet. They could be an eatery or restaurant, a hawker center or food court or food hall, or an area in a city or even an entire city. So starting with Top 5…
Wait! An Honorable Mention First: Manmaru, Makati City, Philippines
Manmaru is a chain of izakayas (Japanese-style pub) in Japan and has now entered the Philippine market. Occupying a huge space in Makati Cinema Square's MCS Fernando section, this food spot is brightly lit and has a festive atmosphere. But there’s also a section and rooms for those who want peace and quiet.
Manmaru and its Gyudon
All of the dishes are generously portioned and affordably priced (compared to other Japanese restaurants in the area). But most importantly, they all taste great (and maybe even authentic; I say “maybe” because I haven’t been to Japan yet). No wonder a lot of Japanese nationals eat here. That’s a good sign of its legitness...if there is such a word.
My favorite dishes here are their Gyudon (beef bowl), Pork Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), and Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) Curry.
Address: G/F MCS Fernando, Makati Central Square, Chino Roces Ave., Legaspi Village, Brgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City | Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-11PM
Now, the Top 5…
5. Iloilo City, Philippines
Iloilo City is a city in the Panay Island of Western Visayas, a region in Central Philippines. It is also the capital of the province of Iloilo, which is dubbed the “Heart of the Philippines” since it is believed to be at the center of the Philippine archipelago. (I say “believed” because the geographic center of the country, based on the coordinates, is the island of Marinduque. Oh well!)
Miagao Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s located in Miagao, a municipality south of Iloilo City.
The city is also the birthplace of the La Paz Batchoy. Originating in La Paz district, it’s a noodle soup with pork, pig innards, and chicharon (fried pork rinds) bits. The noodles are usually egg noodles. But in Iloilo, you have the option of sotanghon (vermicelli) and misua.
Netong’s Mega Bowl
But what I enjoyed the most are the fresh seafood. Located just beside the sea, Iloilo City is full of seafood restaurants and talabahan (oyster joints).
Seafood Feast at Breakthrough Restaurant
My Favorite Dishes (in alphabetical order):
Kansi (bone-in beef shank sour soup) at Pat-Pat’s Kansi
La Paz Batchoy (Mega Bowl!) at Netong’s (read my Batchoy food crawl here)
Lechon Manok (rotisserie chicken) at Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafoods
Queen Siopao (steamed bun with filling) at Roberto’s
Seafood at Breakthrough Restaurant
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4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the countries whose culinary landscape I want to explore. Being a multi-ethnic nation, it boasts of a wide range of cuisines, which includes Chinese, Indian, and Malay. Because prices are cheaper unlike its neighbor Singapore, it’s a paradise for foodies like me. Last year, I finally visited the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL), and tried its amazing food!
A panoramic view of KL
One of the popular dishes in KL is Nasi Lemak, Malaysia’s national dish. Literally “fat rice”, nasi lemak is a dish consisting of boiled or fried egg, cucumber, ikan bilis (fried anchovies), peanuts, sambal (chilli sauce), and of course the rice, which is cooked in santan (coconut milk) and flavored with pandan leaves. It’s usually paired with a viand, in which ayam goreng (fried chicken) is the most popular. Imagine the flavors and textures!
Nasi Lemak at Nasi Lemak Tanglin
My Favorite Dishes (in alphabetical order):
Claypot Rice at Heun Kee Claypot Rice
Chili Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Hainanese Chicken Chop at Restoran Yut Kee
Ikan Bakar (medley of grilled seafood) at Kak Jat Ikan Bakar
Nasi Lemak at Nasi Lemak Tanglin and Village Park Restaurant (check out my nasi lemak crawl here)
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3. Cebu, Philippines
Cebu is an island in the Central Visayas region. It is known for its white sand beaches, canyoneering sites, and, of course, incredible food. No wonder flocks of tourists visit the Queen City of the South. So for the first time ever, I went to Cebu to do a foodventure. I mostly explored Cebu City but also made sidetrips to Carcar City and Cordova.
Magellan’s Cross
The island also home to the quintessential Filipino food—the Lechon (roasted suckling pig). You’ll find it being sold in restaurants, roadside stalls, and even in a public market. But just how good is a lechon? I’ll let the late Anthony Bourdain answer that question, who said that it’s the best pig ever!
Cebu Lechon at Carcar Public Market
But Cebu isn’t just about lechon. Since it’s an island, there is an abundance of seafood, some of which I don’t normally see in Manila. In my visit, I have tried Linarang (a fish stew common in Central Visayas), SuTuKil (any fish that its cooked 3 ways—sugba/grilled, tuwa/stewed, and kilaw/“ceviched”, for a lack of a better term), and the Netflix-featured Bakasi (reef or sea eel). And before I forget, I should mention that the Cebuanos have a deep love for all things barbecue.
Linarang na Pating (shark!) at Larangan sa Pasil
My Favorite Dishes (in alphabetical order):
Barbecue at AA BBQ and Matia’s
Cebu Lechon at Carcar Public Market and House of Lechon
Linarang at Larangan sa Pasil
Pungko-Pungko (fried stuff) at Pungko-Pungko sa Fuente
SuTuKil at STK ta Bay! at Paolito’s Seafood House
Watch out for my massive Cebu Food Trip series on February!
2. Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore
No food trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to Hawker Centers. These are open-air complexes of hawker (vendor) stalls offering affordable food (compared to airconditioned food courts or restaurants). Here, you can find a wide variety of food, from classic Singaporean dishes such as chicken rice, fish ball soup, and hokkien mee, to international cuisines such as Japanese and Western food.
Chinatown Complex
One of the best hawker centers in all of Singapore is Chinatown Complex Food Centre. With over 260 hawker stalls, this hawker center is the largest in all of Singapore (imagine the variety!). It’s home to amazing Chinese dishes, including the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred food.
The Cantonese Meats of Hawker Chan
My Favorite Dishes (in alphabetical order):
Beef Brisket Noodle at Fatty Ox HK Kitchen
Claypot Rice at Lian He Ben Ji Claypot
Soya Sauce Chicken and Cantonese Meats at Hawker Chan
Yong Tau Foo at Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu
Related Article: The Amazing Hawker Food of Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Address: 335 Smith St., Singapore
1. Little India, Singapore
On my first trip to Singapore back in 2017, I partly stayed in Little India. It’s an ethnic district that is home to Hindu temples, shopping places (including the 24-hour Mustafa Centre), and, of course, amazing food spots. Since I was already there, I planned to explore Indian cuisine.
Unfortunately, the hawker center that my travel buddy and I wished to visit, which is in Tekka Centre, was under renovation. So we went to Banana Leaf Apolo, a restaurant famous for Fish Head Curry. But their signature dish was expensive so we didn’t order it. Thinking about it now makes me regret that decision!
Tekka Centre
So I had to come back and visit both places. I’m now asking myself, “Why did I wait for 2 years just to get back?!”
Mutton Biryani at Allaudin’s Briyani
Fish Head Curry at Banana Leaf Apolo
My Favorite Dishes (in alphabetical order):
Chicken Biryani at Bismillah Biryani Restaurant
Fish Head Curry at Banana Leaf Apolo
Mutton Biryani at Allaudin’s Briyani
Sweets at Moghul Sweet Shop
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If you’re planning a travel destination in one of the cities I listed above, I encourage you to visit the food spots I tried.
What are your Top 5 food destinations for 2019? What food did you try there? Comment them below! I might visit those destinations next.