Chikaan Pacific Mall.

If you haven't heard of or are un-familair with Pacific Mall but heard of Mandaue Metro (or Metro Mandaue), then you are in the right track. A few years back, Mandaue Metro underwent some renovations, and when it opened back, it became Pacific Mall. I don't even want to consider it as a mall, because it is just very small. It's just like Metro Mandaue becoming bigger and better, except for a few restaurants in the ground floor, and some gadget stores on the upper levels. One of the few restaurant which opened here was Chikaan. Amidst fast food joints, Chikaan was a welcomed respite. 

The length of Chikaan

View of the mall from our table through glass walls 

Sinangag or Fried Rice

Camaron Rebosado

Dinugu-an

Crispy Pata

Chicken Tinola

I was getting hungry writing this piece, because Chikaan is a hands-down favorite! The food is not gourmet fare, but all-time favorite home food classics. If you choose there is unlimited rice. Ambiance is simple yet cozy. Service is a bit slow sometimes, but the staff are friendly. 

When we buy groceries or do some small shopping, and we wanted a nice comfortable lunch, we always managed to find our way here...

  

Sunburst Fried Chicken Ayala Center Cebu

An hour after attending mass, we were at Sunburst Fried Chicken in Ayala Center Cebu. When I was way much younger, Sunburst was already a favorite among Cebuanos. Along with other restaurants like Snow Sheen, Manila Restaurant, Manila Times, and Majestic. If there were some I haven't mentioned, I'm sorry - it's either I truly forgot or never knew them at all. My parents were not really big fans of eating out.

Sunburst location  is really nice. On the second level, and walking distance from Starbucks. Near also to the taxi bay area...

I thought, wow! are these people the usual number of customers flocking Sunburst? Turned out, there was a birthday party, and they were guests.

Entrance of Sunburst

Interior

Another view of the interior

I am just sorry we have no pictures because, I couldn't wait anymore. Just gotta eat. I can observe that Sunburst still has a lot of customers. Sometimes, people even wait to be seated. Their fried chicken are still a smashing hit, and they are not expensive. Sometimes service is a bit slow when there are a lot of people. But people didn't mind it. However I just wish they would improve on their facilities. A little refurbishing on their furniture, some new lighting, and maybe some fresh new paint will make the place more exciting! 

Kuya J (SM City Cebu)

We arrived in Cebu from Bohol past 1:00 PM already. We were already hungry but we did not relish the idea of cooking and eating at home. Too much waiting time, we just want to eat immediately. We decided to slip in SM City Cebu, which is the nearest mall from Pier 4 where SuperCat docked. We had to walk from the pier to the main roads and waited because inconsiderate taxi drivers would not take us upon knowing we will just be going to SM City. When we arrived in SM City Cebu, we went inside the first restaurant we can find, and it was Kuya J which is just beside one of their entrance doors. 

Surprisingly they have a big area compared to its neighbor restaurants, and commands a beautiful view.  In fact, I think it can actually hold family or small and medium corporate functions.

Side across Radisson Blu

View of the SM City Cebu's Entrance Door from Kuya J

Their Menu

All time favorite Mongo

Tokwa't Baboy

Beautiful view of Radisson Hotel from our table

However, we are sorry to say that we already have our favorite mongo and tokwa't baboy somewhere else. Although the meal and service were good, our palate will always try to look for that particular favorite taste. One can't judge a restaurant because of only one or two dishes. We will try to come back and taste the other dishes, and draw the conclusion then.

Island Grill Ayala Center Cebu

No this is not the Island Seafood in Ayala Cebu that offers the Boodle-Boodle thing. Island Grill belongs to my series of budget restaurants.  It has branches in I think all malls at their Food Court area. But this one here below is special to me because this was the favorite branch of my Nanay (my mother). She used to be conscious about her food, and she prefers veggies and fish to pork (although Adobo and Humba can never be absent on special occasions), that is why she had no soft spots for fast foods and would prefer restaurants like Island Grill.

Island Grill used to be part of the Food Court on the 4th level in Ayala Center Cebu, near the theaters, then they decided to move to have their own place in the same level. It can be found in the level above Kenny Rogers.

Their place is so small (like a hole in the wall). Surprisingly people still flocked to eat there. Ambiance is very informal.

We ordered our food here in this counter then we pay ...

You can have a choice from among Pork Liempo, Blue Marlin (Fish), Squid, Danggit (Fish), Chicken, Cebuano Chorizo, and Barbecue...

You choose and they will grill it...

Side dishes and desserts

Everyone's favorite - the Leche Flan...

 That's the whole array of menu here below...

The reason why Island Grill is very popular?  Look at the prices! And it is already a complete meal with rice. Softdrinks not included. Budget friendly and very easy on the pocket...

My order - Grilled Blue Marlin

Another favorites are  Bam-i and Pork Liempo

The reason why I like Island Grill is that they serve all time favorite home foods. They are also cheap. But of course to keep prices low, the facilities and food presentation are kept very simple... One can't expect much...

Gerry's Grill Ayala Center Cebu

The only reason why it took me and my sister long to try Gerry's Grill is because there are always many customers dining here. There are many people waiting or eating outside in the extension seats, and we don't want to wait to be seated. 

Yesterday, we had a meeting that lasted until 2:00 PM, and when we came to the Terraces, there were few dining customers already. And so finally we had the chance to give Gerry's Grill a try.

To our surprise, even if it was already half past 2:00 in the afternoon, there were still a lot of people coming in! Wow! And we were happy we did not wait long for our food to be served (we were already famished by that time).  

Their specialty is Filipino dishes. Now I realized why there are always a lot of people dining here. For us, we find the food very good. For the price - orders start at around 295+ Php and above. Not that cheap but not that expensive either. I think just the usual range for most of the restos in the Terraces. And worth it...

Facade and Entrance

Most of the service crew are resting because there are not that many customers anymore...

The whole length of the restaurant

Inside the restaurant

Rice and Pork Liempo

Seafood Platter

Grilled Tuna

Sorry, we could not show their other dishes. There were only 2 of us and we can not eat a lot. I love the Grilled Tuna. Although the grilled Pork Liempo is also very soft and tasty.  The seafood platter was yummy too.

It is a non-smoking area, ambiance is informal - nothing extraordinary. Would definitely be going back again...

Cafe Laguna Ayala Center Cebu

Cafe Laguna is a popular restaurant here in Cebu, and has 2 branches in Ayala Center.  Because the one here below is bigger than the other branch (it has a second level), it serves mostly as the venue for catering events - wedding receptions, parties...  

We love the interior design, cozy and warm, and just enough space without being too crowded. The food are popular Filipino dishes. Prices range from 250+ Php upwards, which is just the usual price range here in Ayala Center for most fine dining.  For visitors to Cebu, it is in a convenient location, because it is located right across the taxi bay.

View from the taxi bay

Stairs going to the second level

Reception area

 

Beautiful wooden bench outside the reception area