Michi Photostory

My mom is back to the Philippines for a vacation, so it only means that we will be eating a lot of Filipino cuisine. Last Easter Sunday, after the Sunday Service, off we went to SM Megamall to eat our lunch. I’m not familiar with Megamall restaurants, except for the buffet restaurants that we have tried there like Sambokojin and Tong Yang so I told my sister-in-law na sila na ang bahala na mamili.

She said, Abe or Mesa, my sister suggested Abe because she hasn’t tried it yet so off we went to Abe. Since we are group of 12 persons, it is not easy to accommodate us, so we had to wait. I suggested to the staff that we are okay eating outside, pagdikit-dikitin na lang nila table and they agreed to it naman.

We were really hungry but we have no choice but to wait, I just hope that they provide a complimentary appetizer just like our experience in Abe – Alabang. We ordered Sinantol na Hipon P250, Paco Fern and Tomato Salad P185, Pork Binagoongan P355, Bicol Express P290, Klasik Kare-kare P650, Rellenong Alimasag P345, Sinigang na Ube P495, Spicy Sisig P225, Binukadkad na Plapla P425, Pork Lengua Asado P345, Unlimited Rice for P75 and a cup of plain rice for P65.



I haven’t tried all the dishes, but I was able to try

Sinantol na Hipon – we ordered this because my mom likes sinantol dish. My grandmother used to cook this dish every time she goes back to the Philippines but because of my lola’s condition na, she stopped cooking a few years ago. We did not like this, we prefer my lola’s dish.

Sinigang na Ube – I don’t know why they order this but the food looks weird to me because of the color, though it tastes sinigang but nothing special.


Klasik Kare-Kare – too expensive for P650 kasi ang konti lang ng laman.

Binukadkad na Plapla – taste is good, ganun naman lasa ng fried fish, hehehe! but when I saw the price, it is expensive for fried fish.

Pork Lengua Asado – I was disappointed with this dish because I already tried this dish in Abe-Alabang branch so I know what to expect. Bagsak sa presentation and pati sa lasa. I don’t know kung minadali ba because the meat was not tender.


Paco Fern and Tomato Salad – this is my husband’s order because he already tried this when we dined at Abe’s Farm in Pampanga. This is the first meal that they serve since it is an appetizer. According to him, taste is good, my nephews and nieces tried it too so ending naubos na bago pa dumating order na iba.

After that, we also ordered Sikreto ni Maria P185, Leche Flan P105, Maruya ni Maria P150, Turon Nangka & Ube P105, Halo-halo Crumble P175 and Mais Con Yelo P105 for dessert. If the heavy meals are just okay for us, we liked their dessert. We always order sikreto ni maria, leche flan and turon and nangka & ube so I suggested this to my mom and she likes it too. My sister also enjoyed the Maruya ni Maria so I will order that next time.

If you are going to or live in Pampanga, visit Abe’s Farm. They have more food choices and price is much cheaper compared to Metro Manila branch. Since SM Megamall is far from where I live, we always go to Abe Alabang branch.

“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”.

 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. 


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

Our family is not into birthday parties so I was not surprised when my son told me that he wanted a staycation for his 8th birthday. He said, “Mommy, I want a hotel with playhouse”. 

Read: 8th Birthday

I know he was not referring to a small playroom. He wants a hotel or resort that offers activities for kids just like his experience in Crimzone. So it was really a challenge for me to look for a hotel or resort.

Read: CrimZone at Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan

In addition, I don’t know if we can have a staycation because my husband is always out of the country so I can’t just book agad-agad tapos bigla wala pala siya. I had to wait for his October schedule, so when he said that he had no trip on 1st weekend of October, I immediately searched for a hotel.


I was running out of time, good thing I saw the Festive Promo of EDSA Shangri-la so I checked their site. I learned that they have Wet Play Area at the swimming pool so I was sold already because I knew my son would like it. It is one thing that we missed in our Singapore trip, so at least he can try it here in the Philippines.

I was glad that my husband was able to book a room the day before our trip. Napapadalas na ang pagcram namin sa mga alis. Anyway, we’re so excited about our staycation because Shangri-la is known for good service. We’ve been to Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa before but I’m not sure if my son still remembers that trip.

Read: Day in Paradise at Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa

We left early to avoid the traffic. Just like other luxury hotels, the security is very tight. We know that 2PM is the check-in time but the receptionist offered an upgrade so we could check in already (12NN). This is not free, we paid extra for it. Well, it is not really an upgrade because same size of room but according to the staff, the Garden Wing rooms are old na, ito bago na daw. 


When we saw the room, it looked new and well-lighted. Our view is the swimming pool. Let’s have a room tour. 




The sad part is, there is no bathtub. It is something that we always look forward to in our hotel staycation. Two showers are available and they have a seat in the shower room. 


Since this is a luxury hotel, I was not impressed with the toiletries. It is the usual toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, dental kit, vanity kit, and shower cap. 


After several minutes, they delivered a complimentary birthday cake for my son. Not just one but two. Good thing they gave me another cake because the candle that I had was big. Hehehe! 

We had a staycation at EDSA Shangri-la last month which reminds me that I haven’t blogged about it yet. I hope before our semestral break ends, I can finish my post. Hehehe!

Anyway, since the food at the hotel is so steep, we ate our lunch and dinner at the Shangri-la Mall. Good thing that there is a connecting bridge for that so you don’t have to go out the hotel and cross the street. I appreciate hotels that are near the malls so there is no problem with the food. 

Since we have very limited time because my son will attend the Movie Night at the Cub Training, we did not waste our time looking for a restaurant. We just ate at Pepper Lunch since it’s been a while since our last visit. 

Ever since I tasted the Big Ribeye Steak P635 in Pepper Lunch, yun na lagi order ko while my husband will order just water, joke. Hehehe! He will order a cheaper meal para tipid. 

#cookyourownfood

But last month, I ordered Pepper Steak P598 para maiba naman. The meal includes corn, vegetables and rice. The serving is huge so we always order two meals only and I shared my food with my son. The taste is good too but since konti lang naman difference, I’ll go with Big Ribeye Steak na, may mashed potato pa. 



My husband ordered Beef Bulgogi Pepper Rice P255, sweet and savory beef with kimchi rice, a classic beef pepper rice with a Korean twist!  

Cash payment only. As of this writing, I wanted to go back again. Nagutom ko bigla. Hehehe! 

Read: Lunch at Pepper Lunch 
Click here for the video
Pepper Lunch Solenad

Pepper Lunch 
Shangri-la Plaza Mall Garden Court/Lvl.  
EDSA Shangri-la Plaza Mall,  
EDSA cor Shaw BlvdWack Wack, 
Mandaluyong

My son doesn’t like to enroll in any summer class or activity so we’re just spending our summer vacation at home. Napakaproductive ng summer namin, lol!

April 11 

My friend told me about their swimming plans and asked me if I wanted to join. Of course, I said yes, parang wala pa nangyayari sa summer namin. Nagsabi agad ko na daanan nila bago nagpaalam. Hehehe! I know my husband will say yes too ng makalabas naman kami. I messaged my husband about the swimming plans and he said yes. 

April 14

We woke up early and I asked my husband to drop us at my friend’s house then off we went to my friend’s condo for our outing. When my friend told me about the P200 fee (visitor), I said ang mahal naman parang resort na. Lol. But I realized, the price is worth it na rin because we don’t have to pay for the cottage or corkage fee. 


In addition, the place was not crowded, maybe because it was a weekday and the residents are busy working or sawa na sa pool nila. So if you have a tight budget this summer, makiswimming in your friend’s condo or clubhouse. :) We let the kids swim for a few hours.