When was the last time you ate at a Kogi Bulgogi branch? I have my personal favorites in their menu and discovered another one!

Kogi Bulgogi now has its own version of the juicy, crunchy and tasty Korean Fried Chicken. At Kogi, you just say KPOP Chicken (short for Korea's popular chicken) and they'll serve you with this tasty dish available in two flavors.

I tried both Sweet Soy and Spicy Soy and both are lip-smacking tasty! Served with sweet or spicy sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, these chicken pieces are crispy outside and juicy inside. You may want to partner them with Kogi's Kimchi Rice or the Bibimbap for a fully satisfying meal! 

Trivia: Kogi's KPOP Chicken is also known as Yangnyeom chicken in Korean, a dish prepared Korean-style that is often served at home but is also available in bars or eaten as snacks after meals in Korea.

Although there are only two versions at the moment, Kogi says the KPOP Chicken will eventually have more unique flavors as well as various spice levels to choose from. 

There are lots of other dishes you may want to order when dining at Kogi Bulgogi. My constant favorite there is the Japchae while my hubby is a big fan of the Kimchi. Please check out my other blog post to see more dishes to choose from.

For now, make sure to visit a Kogi Bulgogi branch soon to have a bite of the KPOP Chicken. It sells at P125 for 4 pcs, P185 for 6 pcs, and P365 for 12 pcs. Another good news is that customers can ask for a combination of flavors per order!

For more info and other updates, please follow @kogibulgogiph on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining with friends in Eastwood. It was my first time to try the food at Kogi Bulgogi and I loved many of their dishes! Kogi, if you're wondering, is Korean for meat while Bulgogi is a dish of marinated beef cooked with onions, one of Korea's most popular dishes. 

What's nice about this versatile restaurant is that you can request dishes adjusted to your preferred spice level. This is great for people like me who are not overly fond of spicy food. 

Last Saturday, I got to taste once again the delicious food I've come to love at Kogi. The store launched its newest branch at Promenade, Greenhills and the opening was well-attended by media friends and guests. What made lunch better for me was getting to share the experience with my husband and our happy bunch of friends.

Among the mini appetizers, I chose to take a few bites of the sweet and spicy dilis, the pickled ampalaya, and the slices of sweet banana. All are great for jumpstarting my salivary glands for the gustatory treats I know would be coming up soon. I steered clear of the kimchi though because I know I wouldn't like the fiery sensation it will leave on my tongue. 

Our first dish was the Bibimbap (P210), a popular Korean dish of rice with meat, eggs, and vegetables, which was mixed in front of us by a very accommodating Kogi staff member. It's actually already a complete meal by itself but, of course, it would not be that fun if we don't get to sample more of the restaurant's other yummy offerings!

I like the "ceremony" of eating Chicken Kalbi (P280). It consists of flavorful grilled chicken thigh  strips that you wrap in lettuce leaves and drizzle with several sauces. 

For me, that one goes very well with forkfuls of one of my Kogi favorites: the Japchae (P258), a dish composed of stir fried vermicelli with beef, pork, and mixed vegetables. Honestly, I can finish off a whole plate of this by myself given a chance!

The plates of Salmon (P275) and Tuna (P195) Sashimi didn't last long on our table. I guess everybody simply likes chewing on these fresh slices of fish. 

The Tuna Tataki (P320) also seemed to disappear in seconds! I didn't get to have a taste but hubby said it is something I should order the next time we eat at Kogi. This dish is made up of seared tuna over hot flame with vinegar sauce sprinkled with chives.

To satisfy my soup craving, I ordered a pot of Tuk Bulgogi (P395), another favorite dish of mine at Kogi. This has well-marbled premium imported beef, golden mushrooms, tofu, vegetables, and glass noodles in a light sauce. It's so enjoyable to sip spoonfuls of the liquid that truly warms the tummy. 

For dessert, I ate a stick of strawberry-flavored Melona ice cream that served as a great ending to a very filling meal. There are more items in Kogi Bulgogi's menu that I'm reserving for succeeding visits. The servings are usually good for sharing so it's great to bring along friends and family to have a meal with. 

Visit one of Kogi Bulgogi's branches in Eastwood City Mall, Lucky Chinatown, and Promenade, Greenhills to taste for yourself the wonderful bursts of flavors it has to offer. Watch out, too, for the opening of another Kogi restaurant in Gateway Mall, Araneta Center later this year. 

In the Philippines, we are used to eating wrapped foods like lumpia, siomai, etc. But we often eat them after they've been prepared and cooked by someone else. At Kogi Bulgogi, you get to wrap savory ingredients according to your preference!

Ssam, which literally means "wrapped", is a dish in Korean cuisine where diners use leafy vegetables to wrap a piece of meat such as pork or other filling. This is often accompanied by a condiment known as ssamjang or gochujang and can also be topped with raw or cooked garlic, onion, green pepper, or a banchan (small side dish) like kimchi.

According to legend, people wrapped rice in leaves of cabbage or dried seaweeds on full moon days. Rice was not readily available then so it was regarded as a precious commodity by commoners. For them, eating clumps of rice wrapped in fresh greens means "eating wrapped luck". Thus, it has become a culinary custom to eat ssam as a kind of ritual appeal for good fortune. Today, in terms of nutritional value, having a ssam meal can also be considered as an act of "eating luck".

The other day, I got to fully appreciate Ssam Wraps at Kogi Bulgogi in Gateway, Cubao. I was delighted that the taste of the condiments and side dishes accompanying the meats blend so well! Simply place a piece of meat in the middle of a lettuce leaf (rich in dietary fiber and has Vitamin A and C plus Riboflavin), add some shredded pickled radish, kimchi, rice, and sauces, then wrap into a small package that will fit in your mouth and eat. Divine!

There are four types of Kogi Ssam Wraps:

1. Dak Gui, which means grilled (gui) chicken (dak) is soooo good! The meat is so tender and the smoky flavor perfectly satisfied my grilled food craving.

2. Suygogi Gui is grilled beef that will also have to you wanting to eat more.

3. Bo Ssam has deep-fried pork that was previously boiled in spices and thinly sliced. If you are a fan of lechon kawali, you will definitely love this one. I like the crunchiness of the meat!

4. Black Angus is Korean steak that is available only at Kogi's Promenade branch.

All servings are good for sharing so I highly suggest you order two or more variants so you can try them all. I am actually craving for Ssam Wraps as I write this because it's hard to forget the flavorful goodness in every mouthful! 

Oh, and for dessert, give the Korean ice cream sandiwches a try. I got the fish-shaped one and it was a really great finale to end a satisfying meal! Explore the flavors of Korea and dine at any of these Kogi Bulgogi branches: Eastwood City Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Promenade, Greenhills, and Gateway Mall. 

For updates and promos, please like Facebook.com/KogiBulgogi and follow @KogiBulgogiPH on Twitter and Instagram

If there's a Korean restaurant to credit for opening my palate to a new world of tasteful wonders, it would have to be Woo Galbi. Like I said in my first blog post about Korean cuisine last year, I've always assumed before that Korean food is mostly about kimchi and other spicy dishes. Now, more than a year later, I have learned to journey deeper into the flavorful wonders that await food trippers when it comes to Korean cuisine. 

Recently, I happily revisited Woo Galbi at lunchtime and tried some of their latest dishes. Although the restaurant looks very modern with its posh ambiance, it retains the traditional authenticity in its flavors. Their all-time favorite classic Korean dishes consist of Bibimbap, Bulgogi short ribs, All Beef Platter, and Kimchi.

But even before diners are served with the main dishes, we get to taste banchan -- six mini Korean appetizers -- on the house! These freebies will whet your appetite even more for what's to come.

I am now a certified fan of Ssam Wraps and have been craving for some since I've had them earlier this month in Kogi Bulgogi, Woo Galbi's sister restaurant. So I was really glad to find that Woo Galbi also serves them! The blend of sauces and other condiments really complement the taste of the meat and the leafy green wrap. 

Dweiji Gui (P295) has grilled thin slices of pork but ssam choices include chicken, pork belly, squid, mackerel, salmon, and vegetables (eggplants, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sweet peppers). Prices range from P265 to P335.

And since we're having a lot of rains these days, it's so good to sip hot soup with chunky ingredients. If you're into spicy foods, order the Dwenjang Jjigae (P230), a Korean miso paste stew with seafood and tofu. 

I love Galbi Tang (P420) better. This has tender and easy to chew short ribs in clear soup, kinda like the Pinoy favorite Nilagang Bulalo. Really tasty!

For hard-core meat lovers, go for the All Beef Platter (P1350) with bone-in and boneless short ribs as well as hanging tenders. These are great to eat with the accompanying vegetables and several spoonfuls of rice. Since it also comes with green leaves, use the meat here and wrap them too. I did, and they tasted so good!

My friends and I also enjoyed two sets of rolls, the names of which I forgot to take note of! Sorry, the pleasure of popping a roll inside one's mouth can cause temporary amnesia :) Despite forgetting what they're called, I can confidently say that both are really delicious. Let me edit this part in the next coming days. I'll double check the next time I eat at Woo Galbi and I hope that would be soon!

By the way, we all know that the cooler season is also making a lot of Filipinos crave for ramen. If you're in near Shangri-la mall from 2 to 5PM any day from Monday to Saturday, make sure to drop by Woo Galbi and pay only P250 for unlimited bowls of hot and delicious Ramyeon. The price even comes with free iced tea! But if you can't eat that much, Ramyeon is also available ala carte at P138 per bowl. 

Do drop by this highly recommended restaurant that serves delicious dishes fit for the Filipino palate. Woo Galbi is located at Level 6, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza. For inquiries, please contact them at woogalbi1@gmail.com or (632) 655-0558. Be updated with promos and events by liking Woo Galbi on Facebook and following @WooGalbi on Twitter and Instagram. 

Happy food tripping! 

Despite the heat of summer, there are moments we still want some good, hot soup that warms the tummy and brings a smile to our faces. It is doubly filling when you eat this kind of fare with friends. 

Earlier today, I had lunch with some buddies at Miso-Ten in Robinson's Place Manila located along Pedro Gil in the Ermita area. Miso-Ten is a specialty Ramen and Tempura House that caters to those who are craving for authentic Japanese ramen and tendon.

Before we got to the heavier foods, we had some forkfuls of the refreshing Mango Kani Salad, one of my favorite mixtures of greens, fruits, and seafood meat. I'll be sure to order one whole serving for myself the next time I visit Miso-Ten!

Kani Salad - P150

My friends and I shared three kinds of Ramen among ourselves: the Miso-Ten Original, the Miso-Ten Spicy (one with pork, the other with chicken), and the Tan Tan Mien made with ground pork. There, diners can customize their orders by choosing extra toppings such as roast chicken, corn, boiled egg, etc. as well as select their own ramen soup base, meat, and level of spiciness.

Ramen - P275

Since there were only two of us ladies in the group, I only got to taste the Tan Tan Mien because the guys were fast eaters. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the pleasant and distinct flavor of the soup. This establishment's ramen features a special broth with a generous amount of miso blended with Miso-Ten's own pork oil that results in a hearty soup with noodles that are typically curly and slightly chewy. I'd say we did experience savoring the full flavor and richness in every bowl. 

Tempura lover that I am, I, of course had to have a couple of the juicy Black Tiger Prawns coated with crispy batter and served with a special tendon sauce. I was actually looking for the usual gingery sauce that are served in other restaurants but found that tendon sauce also tastes good with tempura. What I liked a lot about Miso-Ten's tempura is that the prawns are really big and the coating wasn't very thick so I got to eat more of the juicy-licious prawns than flour.

Tempura (5 pcs.) - P380, Tendon P180 - 265

You can order Tempura ala carte or with Miso-Ten's selection of Excellent, Seafood, Vegetable, and Mini Tendon.

We also had a couple of plates of Gyoza and Yakisoba which are both very pleasing to the taste buds. Make sure you also order those when you visit Miso Ten at either Robinson's Place or at Robinson's Magnolia.

Gyoza - P140, Yakisoba - P180

Miso-Ten is one of the brands of I-Foods Inc. The company was founded in January 2011 and is managed by a team of gourmands with a collective experience of two decades in the food and beverage industry. The company is owned by Mr. Brian Tiu who enjoys traveling the globe in search of exciting recipes and concepts. He was actually a finalist in the 2005 Accenture search for Entrepreneur of the Year. 

Aside from Miso-Ten, also part of the I-Foods Exchange portfolio are Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tokyo Cafe, Peri-Peri Grill House, Stacker's Buger Cafe, Kogi Bulgogi, and Parmigiano Pizzeria Ristorante. In case you're interested in franchising, email ifoodscg@gmail.com. 

For updates on promos, please like Miso-Ten on Facebook or follow @MisoTenPH on Twitter

Edit - April 16: Buy a P500 Miso-Ten voucher at CashCashPinoy for only P250 and enjoy these delicious dishes at half the price!