Travel, Photographs and Lifestyle

PASIG FOOD TRIP: Kuya J Restaurant's Summer Sizzlers

Kuya J Filipino Restaurant has a newly opened branch just across Banco de Oro (BDO) at the ground level of SM Center Pasig which is near Tiendesitas.  Upon the invitation of a friend, my Kuya (brother) and I decided to check out this branch. It is good thing that the invitation came at a perfect time when I was craving for some Filipino food and cool dessert because of the scorching summer heat. 

A cool dessert always served as a sweet ending to hearty meal. This is a twist of the original Buco (Young coconut) Pandan recipe. Kuya J's refreshing twist of the infamous buco pandan dessert is called Creamy Mango Pandan which has an intense mango flavor. An order would only cost you Php80. This well-rounded dessert is good for 2 to 3 persons. Mango-Pandan #goodforhealth #foodporn #flavor #dessert #pastry 

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Well, that belief changed late last year when my brother and I encountered the delicious combination of coffee and cocoa-infused chocolate dessert at Kuya J Restaurant here in the Metro.

You could not deny the fact that coffee and chocolate are a match made in dessert heaven. In an ode to the classic combo, Kuya J food development team created a unique dessert called Tablea Coffee Flan (Php85). 

This Batangas tablea-flavored flan with coffee caramel is topped with dried coconut meat and pieces of barquillos (crispy egg wafer sticks), which happened to be my childhood favorite snack!  Wonderfully delicious!  I'll definitely come back for more.  It comes across as eating something sinful but I super duper love it!  

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The traditional cooler Halo-halo (a popular Filipino dessert with mixtures of shaved ice and evaporated milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans, jello and fruits) comes with a unique twist - the Fried Halo-halo (Php135) a la mode. 

Kuya J's version has ube (purple yam), white beans, young corn, nata de coco (a chewy, translucent, jelly-like foodstuff produced by the fermentation of coconut water), lanka (jackfruit) and butter beans stuffed in pastry wrapper and deep fried to give the halo-halo a warm take. Then it is topped with whipped cream and Vanilla Ice Cream.

A must try! 

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When it comes to Pinoy food, my barometer is the restaurant's version of Crispy Pata (deep fried pig trotters or knuckes). Crispy pata is one of the all-time favorite Filipino dishes served on special occasions in some Filipino households or even everyday in authentic Filipino restaurants.

Kuya J's Crispy Pata is crispy outside and very tender inside. The attendant sliced our crispy order in front of our very eyes. I think that is a cool idea because it gives somewhat a sense of assurance that your order is really one whole crispy pata, not less. When you hear it crack while being cut, you'll feel more confident that it is really freshly cooked. Its mouth-watering Crispy Pata is a must try! Outstanding in every sense of the word.  #PerfectPata #TheBestPataInMetroManilaToDate

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Sick and tired of the usual plain rice served in most restaurants? 

Don't worry! Kuya J has a lot of variations to the usual plain rice. 

I was so happy when they served us the very delectable Humba Binagoongan Fried Rice (P175), topped with bell peppers, red onions,  green mangoes and chopped binagoongang pork. Humba is a Visayan stewed pork dish similar to adobo while bagoong is a fish or shrimp paste condiment 

Bagoong rice is what I always ordered whenever I am in Thai restaurants. I love how the acidity from the strips of green mango cut through the saltiness of the shrimp paste. Filipino cuisine not being too far off from Thai, Kuya J's version is sneaky, the humba touches home base as the pork fat melts in my mouth.

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I am a picky eater when it comes to stews and braises. After eating a piece I am sure this is sure to appear on most if not all the tables of diners in Kuya J.

Beef Pochero Tagalog is a Filipino Stew similar to that of “Nilagang Baka“ (Beef Stew). This dish is complimented by the sweetness of saba banana. The unique sour blend and color is brought-in by the yummy tomato sauce. Aside from the tomato sauce and banana, the chorizo de Bilbao and chick peas are also part of the ingredients. Beef Pochero Tagalog brings out the delightful taste of our Spanish influence.

Kuya J's Beef Pochero is a very enticing dish. I enjoyed eating its pochero because of its yummy taste. It is best eaten warm along with white rice. 

Try Kuya J's version of Beef Pochero Tagalog and let me know what you think.

For appetizers, the Chorizo Dinamitas (stuffed chili pepper with chorizo), Lumpia Presko (fresh lumpia), Tokwa't Baboy (tofu and pork), Baked Scallops were laid out on our table. Whew! And that's just the appetizers.

Dalandan Beer

I also had a sample of their Dalandan Beer. I honestly don't like beer but this was a unique conconction that I don't want to pass up.  The dalandan provided a refreshing, zesty sensation with a hint of sweetness and apparent taste of beer. It's actually a nice match to the Sinuglaw and fried dishes.

Kuya J Restaurant serves delicious traditional Filipino dishes, so you're a complete disgrace to your own culture if you don't try its food offerings. Kuya J, just like my reliable Kuya, adapted regional local cuisine and added a different take on each dish. Cool, eh! 

The food is delicious and presented well at Kuya J's. Every item on the menu are well thought off by its Food Development Team (FDT) and approved by its stockholders. 

The orders are very large and very much worth the price. They also provide huge servings of rice and trust me it's more than enough to fill you up!  Service is always super friendly! All of their employees are quick, polite, and professional. The restaurant is well lighted and has a modern Filipino design plus comfortable seats.  I salute Kuya J restaurant for considering all the important details in the industry.