Mesa Philippines

After a company event, one of our bosses gave us a tread at a restaurant called, Mesa. This branch we ate at is located at the third level of Robinson's Galleria just beside Kenny Roger's Roasters. I remember seeing one at SM City Lipa and SM Fairview if I'm not mistaken. As for other branches, you better do a Google check. They are better known as Mesa Philippines. Although a search for 'mesa' would still point to them for now. You'll never know in the future, it might bring you to a search result for tables.

This restaurant serves food that is covered by BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources). For those who know me, I am not very fond of crustaceans and mollusks because I have an allergic reaction to those kinds of foods. So as they were serving the feast, I could not help but just look since I could not eat most of them; shrimp on century egg, steamed shrimp, fried squid on oyster sauce, some sort of sisig that I definitely do not know what's in it, lumpia that I wasn't also sure what's wrapped inside it.

It was a feast that I couldn't really partake wholeheartedly. Then came the tilapia. At last, fish. I'm fine with fish. Why don't they have tuna or mackerel or sardines. They took out at least three platters of fried tilapia. The flesh was already fried and the bones (with a little flesh left over was fried and shaped into what seemed to be a heart. It came with four condiments; alamang (I think that's fish paste), vinegar, sweet and spicy sauce, and one that I did not bother trying. And yes, I took one whole platter and claimed it my own.

It is rather unfair to judge the restaurant by a single dish; that would be a very common fried tilapia. The only thing uncommon about it was the heart-shaped ornament made from its bones. But nevertheless, it was good. And basing form how the rest of us ate, I guess the other dishes were great as well.

If you're like me who cannot eat most of BFAR-covered foods, then this is not for you. But if you're good on seafood, then this might be the place for you. I cannot give you if it is worth the budget because I didn't pay for anything.

UKB 199 is not an Idol Group

The first time I heard of this place, what came to mind was AKB 48 and its sister groups. That's probably because of the "KB" on the name. But what this place really is, is one of the many Korean Barbecue places that are popping up one after the other. And so far, this has got to be the cheapest one.

As the name says, it only costs Php 199 to eat here with unlimited refills of side dishes an meat for grilling. But wait, let me be clear. That 199 price tag is only for pork cuts. For 299, you get beef cuts as well. I guess the 199 is their best seller.

Like most Korean Barbecue spots, you grill your meat yourself. But you don't really grill on a grill. They use portable, outdoor stoves. The ones where you use butane canisters for fuel tanks. Yes, those ones. And they have oil if you wish to use oil which makes you fry instead of grill.

Besides the unlimited meat, you get unlimited side dishes. You have the usual Korean Barbecue side dishes; kimchi, tofu, meat buns (but I think this is Chinese), soup, rice, and the like. There was this one side dish that looks good. I ate it without cooking, because it looked like it was good to eat. Unfortunately, the next day my stomach went haywire. Good lord. Take my advice, cook everything.

For other items like cheese, iced tea, and shrimps, you have to buy those separately. They don't come with the unlimited label.

As for the location itself, dine in al fresco. There are tables in small rooms where you sit on the floor like the East Asians do. It was raining lightly while I was there but, the rain didn't get to where you sit. I'm not sure if it's the same case when the rain is a lot stronger.

So if you're looking for a cheap Korean Barbecue spot in al fresco, this is the place for you. I never checked if they have other branches but you can google them.  The branch that I got the chance to eat at is located along Regalado Avenue, West Fairview, Quezon City.

Get on over and experience grilled or fried, Korean Barbecue.