THE SAMGYUPSAL SEARCH EPISODE 1: JIN JOO KOREAN GRILL

With the boom of Korean restaurants, particularly Samgyupsal joints, I'm looking for the best one in the metro! My first stop has taken me to Jin Joo Korean Grill in Podium, with their new Promo, which offers you unlimited access to a selection of 10 different types of meats for only P499 for lunch and P549 for Dinner.

Do you love Samgyupsal too? Let me know what's you're favorite Samgyupsal restaurant so I can add it to my series!

THE BEST NON-HOTEL BUFFET IN MANILA: NIU BY VIKINGS PODIUM MALL

         I think it's quite clear that I have a love for buffets, having featured quite a number of them on my blog throughout the years. A question I get asked quite often is which is my favorite buffet, particularly from the Non-Hotel category. Admittedly there are quite a few good ones out there now, with Niu By Vikings always in the conversation. 

      However, with its newest branch at The Podium Mall opening recently, in my humble opinion, it has vaulted itself to the top of my personal standings!

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: THE RABBIT HOLE

         The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

           With all the savory options at The Corner Market, those with a sweet tooth would be happy to know that there are actually a couple of dessert purveyors as well! If you're looking for a stall with a wide array of cakes and pastries, look no further than The Rabbit Hole!

            

COCINA PERUVIA OPENS AT THE PODIUM MALL

          From the moment I tried Cocina Peruvia three years ago, I was absolutely blown away by Peruvian food. This was my first foray into the cuisine that for the past few years, seems to have taken the world by storm, and I instantly became a fan. 

         It was nice to see that others seemed to have taken to Peruvian cuisine as well, as Cocina Peruvia opened two more branches since, including one at Vertis North and most recently, The Podium Mall.

THE CORNER MARKET FOOD HALL: GUSTO! FAST & FRESH

     The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

      It's quite refreshing to see that healthier dining options have been sprouting up across the metro. Admittedly, these dining spots are usually seen by me as a last resort, but there are a growing number of health conscious people that are looking for restaurants that offer meals that are not only delicious, but nutritious as well!

     Gusto! at The Corner Market Food Hall is one such restaurant that offers innovative takes on healthy food.  

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM - STOCKWELL CAFE + LOUNGE

The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

       Stockwell began as a charming little coffee shop in the Quezon City Scout Area. People flocked to their endearing place not just for the homey atmosphere, but for their fresh brews and delicious food as well. They recently expanded their operations by opening up a stall at The Corner Market Food Hall in Podium!

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: CA PHE SAIGON

    The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

          Vietnamese Food has been spreading like wildfire across the metro, with Pho and Bahn Mi shops sprouting around the area. One full service restaurant in Marikina has been making a name for themselves as a go-to place for an amazing Vietnamese meal, by the name of Ca Phe Saigon.

          Building on its success in Marikina, Ca Phe Saigon opened a stall at The Corner Market Food Hall, bringing to the masses their take on classic Vietnamese dishes.

THE CORNER MARKET: EASY, TIGER

       The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

       The Corner Market Food Hall made sure that some of the finest food cultures in Asia are made readily available for it's customers. Thailand, known for its diverse cuisine, is represented by "Easy, Tiger". Easy, Tiger serves Classic Thai Noodle dishes and popular set meals consisting of entrees that we all know and love, at very affordable prices!

THE CORNER MARKET: LA TAQUERIA DEL CHUPACABRA

              El Chupacabra is often identified as the pioneer of the popular Poblacion restaurant Scene, turning a once quiet neighborhood into a burgeoning food Mecca.  El Chupacabra's die hard fans have been clamoring for the little cantina to expand and open new locations, but it was only in 2018 when El Chupacabra finally opened a "Little Sister" branch at The Corner Market, bringing their phenomenal Street Tacos to an even wider range of customers! 

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: CHAR EXPRESS

The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

          Being a lover Chinese food, I was incredibly excited to try Char Express at The Corner Market at Podium Mall. Char boasts of a slew of Roasted Meats, done the oriental way, at very affordable prices! 

THE CORNER MARKET: BARCELON DE CALDERON

The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

        Coming from a family of Spanish heritage, Spanish cuisine became a staple for me, growing up. To this very day, every family celebration is highlighted by the presence of my Aunt's famous Paella. Given that, my standard for Spanish food is very high, because the women in my family are known for whipping up restaurant quality Spanish dishes in their own kitchen (Which is partially to blame for my.. umm.. "Rotundness"). 

        Calderon is one of the few restaurants that I give my thumbs up to when it comes to Spanish Food. Once known as Little Baguio's "Best Kept Secret", Calderon has expanded to three branches across Metro Manila, namely Makati and now at Pasig, through their stall, "Barcelon De Calderon" at The Corner Food Market!

CHIBO OKONOMIYAKI AT PODIUM MALL: PREMIUM EXECUTIVE SET MEALS

         Whenever I'm at the S Maison area, it's quite likely that I'll dine at Chibo Okonomiyaki. Knowing that it's a little bit out of the way for me, I always try to make the most of the opportunity to feast on their delicious Okonomiyakis. You have no idea how excited I was when I found out that Chibo would be opening a branch just two blocks away from my office, at the new Podium Mall! 

      As soon as it opened, I found myself there three times in the span of two weeks, bringing some officemates with me, so they could experience the awesome food for themselves. 

      Now, Chibo  raised their game by beefing up their menu to feature more than just Okonomiyaki.. But Set Meals featuring some Japanese cuisine favorites as well!

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: LITTLE KAYA

The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!

         Korea's growing influence in the world has been highly evident in the way their culture has made an global impact. From their music, to their films, and most especially (for me) in their food. Kaya Restaurant has been in the country for many years, and has perhaps become one of the top of mind places to visit when looking for a Korean meal. It comes to no surprise that they decided to open up a stall in The Corner Market Food Hall, albeit a down-scaled version of their menu, to help more customers experience authentic Korean cuisine.. 

         Check out a few of the dishes available at Little Kaya!

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: BIRDHOUSE

  The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!    

            I've heard good things about Birdhouse since they opened at Uptown Mall in BGC a few years back, but unfortunately I had never gotten a chance to try it. However, since they opened a branch at the new Corner Market at Podium, which is just a few steps away from my office, I would soon rectify that situation.. and find myself kicking myself for not going sooner.. Because the food I discovered was spectacular. 

THE CORNER MARKET FOOD HALL AT PODIUM: MEAT DEPOT

      The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!        

          As I entered The Corner Market, it was The Meat Depot that immediately caught my eye. The sizzle of the steaks could be heard from where I was standing, and the aroma of cooked meat was undeniable. 

A BIG YES TO NONO'S BY CLASSIC CONFECTIONS

    I was invited to Nono's by Classic Confections a few months back, when they opened their first branch at U.P. Town Center. Unfortunately, since I rarely frequent Quezon City, I as unable to visit them. Thankfully though, the opening of the newly renovated Podium Mall has helped create room for more restaurant establishments, paving the way for Nono's to find another home in Ortigas!