Michi Photostory

Time passes very quickly and after several days, it was time to say goodbye to Sydney, Australia. Our last day was our flight to Manila, Philippines so we woke early to prepare for our afternoon flight. 

Since it was our last day, I cooked our leftover ham and hotdog and we need to eat and drink all the complimentary breakfast like the bread, fruits, milk and juice, para walang sayang. 

We check out at Hyde Park Inn around 8:30AM and we arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport three hours before our flight. Unfortunately, all check in counters were still closed, as in we didn’t know where to fall in line, nagkahalo-halo na yung pila ng mga airlines to Manila. Our flight was 12NN and past 10AM na kami nakapagcheck-in and because of that, sobrang nagmamadali kami. 

Immigration is via Smartgates so you just need to scan your passport + facial recognition and that’s it. My son and I were able to pass through Smartgates but my husband needs to go to Manual Passport Control Counter because for some reason, hindi nareread passport niya doon sa Smartgates. After that, we went straight to our boarding gate just to make sure kung malapit ba or malayo and if we still have time to eat. 

My husband went to “The House”, this is the complimentary lounge of Philippine Airlines at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. He just ate here and we will meet na lang ulit sa boarding gate. 

My son and I just ordered the boxed meal at KFC, the meal includes Original Tenders, Popcorn Chicken, Fries, Mashed Potato and Drink + additional drink. Food is around 22AUD. PHP800+ na yang isang meal. 

After eating, we went to Think Sydney and Pharmacy to buy some souvenirs before going to the boarding gate. Nagmamadali pa kami pero delayed naman pala flight namin. Tapos, boarding took a long time pa because we need to ride bus. 

After 8 hours, we were back to Manila. End of vacation and back to reality. 

It was out first visit at Alabang West Parade and madami pala pwede kainan. My son likes Japanese cuisine so when we saw Ippon Yari, dito na niya gusto kumain. Unfortunately, 11AM pa daw opening nila so I asked my son kung sa iba na lang kami kakain or maghintay kami? Surprsingly, willing to wait daw siya. Hehehe! But I knew he was already hungry so we dropped by Starbucks and we ordered bread and drinks while waiting for the restaurant. 

Ippon Yari is not a new restaurant because it started operating in 1996 in Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. However, the owner decided to expand their business in provincial industrial parks where most of the Japanese resided. The Makati branch is already closed but you can visit their branches in Dasmariňas Cavite, Sta. Rosa and Calamba Laguna, Lipa Batangas and lastly Alabang. Ippon Yari - Alabang branch started its operation in year 2022, so bago-bago pa. 

Anyway, we went back to the restaurant at 11AM and ang dami na rin naghihintay na customers. The restaurant has different types of tables, meron for solo diners, family, and big groups. But these tables caught my attention, parang kakaiba. You have to remove your shoes if you want to sit here.

When the staff gave us the menu, we opened it a little bit and nag-order na kami agad. Hehehe! We already checked their menu online while waiting for the opening time. We chose from the 10 Ipponyari favorites so we ordered Chashumen PHP440, Katsudon PHP400, and Nirareba Itame Goza Teishoku PHP440. 

After two minutes, the staff arrived and gave us wet towels, water, and complimentary salad. My two boys enjoyed the salad, yung anak ko na hindi mahilig kumain ng gulay sa bahay, nagustuhan ito, pati yung salad ko, siya na rin kumain. 

In less than fifteen minutes, they served our meals and we were surprised because the servings were big, hindi tinipid, considering mas mahal pa yung ibang nakainan namin. My Katsudon order has a side dish and miso soup too. 

I also read that we can get a free Yuzu or Kyoho Soda if we answer a feedback form which my husband did. 

After eating, my husband got the bill and the staff asked us if we wanted hot coffee or iced coffee, complimentary daw. Wow, ang dami nila complimentary dito, normally may hot tea lang sa mga Japanese restaurant but here we got salad, juice, tea, and coffee. 

Taste of the food is good and also, the service is fast and good. There is no doubt na ang dami kumakain dito and I’m pretty sure na babalik din kami. 

2F Alabang West Parade, 

Brgy Alamanza Dos, Las Piñas City