BonChon Chicken Ayala Center Cebu

Contrary to some common misconception, not all restaurants in Ayala Center Cebu are expensive. We can still find reasonable fares if we just have the patience to go browse in The Terraces...

One of our finds is BonChon Chicken.  It is located in the second level of Ayala Terraces overlooking the gardens.  It originated from South Korea but we found out that the food is not entirely Korean. We were skeptical at first and thought that - perhaps it is just another one of those fast foods chain. We were not entirely correct...     

The decor inside is simple and unassuming. The whole area of the restaurant is not even big. This is the interior below...

It's nice to gaze outside at passers-by while waiting for the food...

And here they come! My fish taco was good. The fish was crunchy on the outside and soft inside. I just wish there was more sauce. For 65 Php, it was cheaper compared to other tacos in the Mall. It was a good deviation from the usual meat tacos...

Fish Taco

I was raring to try the Bulgogi soup because I am curious about its taste. It did not actually looked quite impressive at first, but surprisingly it turned out to be good. It just proved that one can never judge something by its looks...

Bulgogi Soup

The last but not the least was the Crispy Shrimp Rice Box. It looks like the Japanese Tempura. One can choose among Spicy, Honey Citrus, and Soy Sauce flavors. My sister chose the Spicy, while I chose the Honey Citrus. Compared with the other Tempura I have tasted in the Terraces - I like this one the best!

My large Iced Tea was really big, and it clinched my meal perfectly.  For less than 500 Php, my sister and I were so full and overstuffed in return. The only comment I can give is that their food presentation is plain and unimaginative. But it does not really matter anyhow...

Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod

Since the chapel is newly built, as expected its design is modern and stark in simplicity. But for lovers of modern architecture, it is beautiful!  

It is located in SRP Road, not easily accessible for public transportation for now, but give it a little more time, it will be easy to reach once the SRP will become fully developed... 

Simala Shrine

An aunt from Leyte, who actually resides now in Sweden but who comes home regularly (because she wants to visit her old mother), decided to visit the Simala Shrine, and invited us. She rented a van and we started our trip very early at 5:00 a.m. one Monday morning.

The trip lasted only for about 2 hours and it was very smooth because it was still very early, and there was no traffic. And when we reached Simala, there were very few people, perhaps because it was a weekday - and a Monday. The shrine is indeed quite beautiful...  

People want to believe in miracles because miracles make impossible things possible. My fervent wish is that - the shrine be kept always as a symbol of hope and belief, and that it will also be kept simple. I worry that the more the shrine becomes more magnificent, believers might get lost in its grandeur...

Blue Elephant Sky Lounge

Sometime midyear of 2014, Yvette - a former office-mate who now currently works and resides in the United States, came home. An impromptu reunion for ex-Union Bankers (Corporate Banking Group - Visayas) took place. It was bittersweet seeing familiar faces, people I worked with for quite a time. We were almost complete except for those who are now residing or working abroad. Even our big boss was there.

The reunion took place during Dinner at Blue Elephant at the 19th floor of Apple One Building in Ayala Center Cebu. I heard reservations have to be made, because I guess the place is not very big. But I like the place.  It was cozy and tasteful. And most specially, since they are located at the 19th floor, one gets a beautiful night scene...

Nice table setting

Uniquely designed chandeliers

Orders were made while others were chatting

The food was Thai.  And I have to say they were really good! 

The Curry was delicious!

The noodles were equally good...

After dinner we moved outside where we can have drinks. But there were more conversations than drinks. Everybody wants to catch up and fill those missing years of being apart. I was busy laughing at one of my office-mates' stories. And I realized we could never really catch up with our friends' lives if we have gone our separate ways already... But the bonds of friendship that bound us, could never make us forget the people who at some point touched our lives...

That's the restaurant on the upper floor

We were a level below under the open skies..

Views from Blue Elephant...

That's Ayala Terraces on the right, a mere shadow

Beautiful city lights...

Good food, enjoyable company, cool breeze and a beautiful night... Almost perfect! Sadly the night has to end... Thank you everyone, for a wonderful evening!

Kublai Khan - Ayala Center Cebu

My late brother and I were huge fans of Kublai Khan.  But my sister has never tried it here.  So one day I sort of literally dragged her to Kublai Khan.  Kublai Khan is located on the 3rd Level of Ayala Terraces. Its ambiance is cool and hip, informal in other words. Their whole dining area is a bit small, so they have seating extensions at the terrace overlooking the gardens of Ayala Terraces.  If you are on a budget but really famished, you are in the perfect place.  The price is really "Budget-Friendly". There is "Eat-All-You-Can" (I think 200+ Php), and there is Check-A-Bowl (only 125 Php) for those who could not eat so much like us. What you do is mix in whatever you like with your rice - chicken meat, pork bits, seafoods, noodles, veggies... And you can choose whether you like it sweet or spicy sweet. Waiting time is tolerable unless the restaurant is full. Food is served piping hot. Very satisfactory if I may say. Good value for the money.

Place your order in that counter there

The place filling up...

The extension tables and chairs outside

Slowly filling up too... place is kid friendly too

View from where we were sitting... through glass walls

My sister waiting for our food...

An amusing thought? or just plain daydreaming...

Almost getting bored. When will our food arrive...

Finally!

It was not our last visit.  We went back there again. However, the only downside of Kublai Khan is that - while you may have a choice of what are to be mixed with your rice, there are no other dishes to choose from. But if you are okay with that, then it is not a problem.

Maya Mexican Restaurant

We went to Crossroads Banilad when its popularity as the IN Place for dining in Cebu has waned.  Why did I say that? Because the feeling is not as vibrant as Banilad Town Center or Ayala Terraces. Perhaps because their lighting is a bit dark? Maybe I am just wrong.

Maya Mexican Restaurant was one of our first forays in our foodie adventures. I have always been curious about Crossroads, and I had this longing for some Mexican foodie, and so off we went - my sister and I to Maya Mexican Restaurant in Crossroads.

The first 2 photos here below are borrowed photos.  In our excitement we were not able to get some photos of the facade and its beautifully carved door, but the rest of the photos are our own. 

We settled in the loft. See the photo above, the stairs on the right leads to the loft. The wall beside the stairs are decorated with different skull masks.  Perhaps referring to their famous El Dia de los Muertos? 

We were early (half past 7:00 PM) and there were not much people yet, although it was the weekend.  People started coming in past 8:00 PM. In my opinion, the place is not for family dinners with small kids or babies in tow. Although I saw some parents bringing along their teenage kids. It is soft lighted, meant for romantic dinner perhaps, or for entertaining guests or visitors.

As I have said, at that time I had a craving for some real if not almost real Mexican tacos. When I used to work in Makati, I fell in love with the tacos of Mexicali (I hope it is still there, I dream of going back there one of these days...). I was hoping the tacos here would be more or less the same. But theirs have a different twist. Their tacos have soft shells and they were small finger sized. But it tasted more Mexican than the other tacos I tasted in the supermarkets. Of course, much more expensive. Haha...

While I can say I enjoyed my tacos and chicken, I could not say much about my sister. I guess she was still familiarizing with the Mexican food.  I hope she was not disappointed because first experiences always have an impact.

Maya is a bit pricey, and I was not really very much impressed with our food. But why not? I would probably be back and try the other dishes...