After graduation, I always have get together with my college friends to celebrate birthdays, special events or we just want to hang-out because we have so many stories to share. There are times that we also travel within or outside the Philippines. But things change when we got married and have our own family. I moved to the Southern Luzon and I resigned from my work in Makati so I have no time to meet with my friends in Metro Manila.“It’s been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship. These friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live and they don’t hold grudges. They understand life is busy and love is there”.
We seldom meet because of our busy schedule but last month, I planned our get-together. To be fair, we always choose Mandaluyong area para gitna, because I live in the South and some of my friends live in Bulacan. Two years ago, we ate at Sambokojin so for a change I checked the different buffet restaurants in SM Megamall and I suggested Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu and BBQ Restaurant. I’ve never tried this resto pa because there is no branch near our place.
Two weeks before our get-together, my husband has been calling Tong Yang to reserve a table but no one is answering. For two consecutive days and different times, wala sumasagot. So after few days, one of my friends went to Tong Yang Megamall to reserve a table and he was informed that there is no reservation, “First come- First serve”.
Fast forward to our get together, I was in SM Megamall before the mall opening time so I can reserve a table. By the time I arrived at the restaurant, one of my friends was already there but he said, wala pa kumukuha ng reservation. Tong Yang staff only went out at 11AM to get the reservation. Make sure you know kung pang-ilan ka kasi medyo magulo at wala naman number. Be aware na lang sa mga dumadating so you will know kung mas nauna ka, hehehe! Good thing pangfirst yung friend ko na dumating sa restaurant.
When the staff called my friend, she asked kung complete na kami but we said no, she informed us na once na pumasok kami, counted na yung 3 hours. We agreed because we were all hungry. Hehehe! So just like Hogs & Cattle Steakhouse, may 3 hours limit lang din sila sa buffet.
Tong Yang means winter sun in the Chinese language. It is the longest night and the shortest day period in a year. They offer Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Filipino foods from appetizers to desserts. The buffet rate includes unlimited food and drink. I noticed that the restaurant was not big compared to other buffet restaurants and the food selection was not that grand too. But one thing I like about Tong Yang is you can enjoy both hotpot and grilled foods.
There are enough grilling plates and hotpot stoves on each table so cooking is not a problem. Upon seated, the staff asked us for our soup base. You choose from chicken, sinigang and satay soup. You can choose two soup based, we chose sinigang and satay soup pero walang asim yung sinigang. I remember my friend, she put a lot of calamansi juice in her sinigang soup para magkalasa.
Here are some of the photos or check my video here.
I hope there will be Tong Yang branch in the South na because even the food selection is not that grand, we enjoyed our shabu-shabu and barbeque experience. Service is just okay, I just hope that their staffs are approachable and mas okay kung nakangiti sila. hehehe! We left at 2PM, sinulit talaga namin ang 3 hours. “Time spent with friends is never wasted.”
Tong Yang SM Megamall Buffet Rates
P545 net - Shabu-Shabu & Grill
Lunch Buffet Monday to Friday 11AM to 2:30PM
P575 Net - Shabu-Shabu only
P645 Net - Shabu-Shabu & Grill
Dinner Buffet 5:30PM to 10PM
Lunch Buffet Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 11AM to 2:30PM
Tax included. No service charge.
Dinner rate applies for Lunch Buffet on Holidays.
Half Price -Children 4.5ft below
P200 - Children 3ft below
Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu and BBQ Restaurant
Level 4, Mega Atrium
EDSA Mandaluyong City
Tong Yang Shabu Shabu and BBQ Restaurant Branches
SM Megamall
Jupiter Makati
Centris Walk
Greenhills
Robinsons Place Mania
SM Fairview
SM General Santos
I love shabu shabu! Sambokojin and Yakimix are my favorite. Haven’t tried this one, though. When I worked in taipei, shabu shabu was my happy place during soshi.😝
ReplyDeleteIf you like Shabu-Shabu, aside from Tong Yang, try Four Seasons Hotpot and King One Rotary Hotpot. :)
DeleteTong Yang is really one of the most affordable buffets. Whenever we are in a mood for for buffet this is one of our go to place.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is affordable compared to other buffet restaurant. Wala lang sila ebi tempura. :)
DeleteI think 3 hours allotment is common in many buffet places. Okay din naman, at least hindi tayo tataba haha. I was just inviting my husband to a buffet date and I'll consider Tong Yang. We haven't tried it. :) Looks good.
ReplyDeleteActually, if kami lang ng family ko, matagal na 1 hour namin sa buffet. Mabilis kami mabusog. hehehe!
DeleteI am not a fan of hotpots but hooray for grilled foods. For buffet, I have only tried Buffet101, vikings and my fave Yakimix. This buffet resto looks great, sayang sana mga meron sa soouth.
ReplyDeleteMedyo matabang kasi pag hotpot but healthy daw. hehehe! I haven't tried Buffet 101 naman.
DeleteWe haven't tried dining at Tong Yang before although I've seen it na. Mas na curious akong i-try sya now that I've read your review. Will show this to my hubby. :)
ReplyDeleteOkay siya, combination of grilling and hotpot and mura din.
DeleteWe used to frequent Tong Yang before :) I like the food and favorite ko talaga ang shabu-shabu :) This reminded me tuloy to go back there. LOL
ReplyDeleteFave ko naman ang grilling, so okay sila kasi they have both. :)
DeleteLast time I tried Tong Yang parang college pa ata ako hehe. We love hotpot and grill buffets kasi ang saya magluto-luto with the family. Marami rin selection ng food. If there's a branch na malapit dito sa north area magttry ako ulit :)
ReplyDeleteRecently ko lang siya natry kasi wala rin branch na malapit sa amin. But now, meron na. :)
DeleteWe've had our fair share of buffet and husband and I swear not to repeat the same experience. the problem was we tried almost everything and sinulit namin to the point na masuka suka kami pagkatapos. Well, I for one, wasnt used to eating that much. It was a lesson learned.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I feel you, I experienced that nung first time ko naman sa Shabu-Shabu parang gusto ko lahat itry so dami kinuha, bawal leftover so pinilit ubusin. So lesson learned din. :)
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