Even if you’re strolling the streets of Paris you really still get that craving that only hot dumplings or a sultry spicy Asian stew can satisfy. At Podium, the heart of Asia can be found in the diverse forms of restaurants, from trendy Japanese restaurants to no-nonsense Korean BBQs, you don’t need a visa to experience the flavors of Asia.
Xie Xie at Gloria Maris
This near-institutional restaurant has had a great following for its unbelievable choices and excellent dim sum! The shabu-shabu is a must-try served with a unique sauce and the freshest ingredients. Best of all you get the best from China at really affordable prices. Located at the ground floor of Podium with telephone numbers 636-2905 and 636-1095.
Nandi at Banana Leaf
This all-time family favorite pit stop also doubles as a gourmand on a budget’s haven. With exotic dishes from all over Asia and a few creative fusion dishes, it’s sure to satisfy any craving. Its vast offerings have anything from the perversely spicy to the daintily sweet flavor profiles. Located at the second floor of Podium with telephone numbers 687-6808 and 687-5896.
Cafe Chinois
“We went for the French term, since Tsinoy doesn’t sound much like a cafe,” owner Michelle Ong says about her restaurant’s name. “And coffee is our main specialty.” The Asian-influenced menu is also very popular with diners, however, and the tom yum, Singapore laksa and Vietnamese beef noodle are traditional Asian dishes that are perfect for lunchtime dining. You can start off with their mango and kani salad and move on to the crispy dory fish, their best-selling item which comes with binagoongan rice and a fresh mango salsa. A delicious and festive coffee drink to round off your meal is the Cafe Mexicano, a tall glass of bold coffee flavored with rich chocolate and sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon. Rather than being a Chinese-Filipino fusion restaurant, the food at Cafe Chinois, is like its name — an excursion through exotic oriental lands, done with a touch of elegance. Located at the fifth floor with telephone number 433-9928.
Kamsa Hamaida at Kaya
An all-star hit! Any carnivore or vegetarian has top picks from delicious kimchi to the succulent kalbi to the eye-crossing lovely kalbi-jin. The delicious choices and casual ambiance make this a great choice for those in the mood for seriously good nosh! Located at the second floor of Podium with telephone numbers 635-6833 and 635-0336.
Arigato at Kimono Ken
Its sleek modern décor makes this neo-Japanese restaurant a great place for that casual first date. It’s cozy ambiance and well-edited menu offers all-star Japanese comfort food favorites such as tempura, sushi, sukiyaki and tongkatsu. It makes chilled sushi seem cooler! Located at the fifth floor of Podium with telephone number 633-1458.
A Korean thanks
Shabu shabu would normally be healthy, except you never keep track of how much meat you’re dunking into that hot pot. This particular chain deems itself healthy because the servings are ala carte, large enough to share but certainly not an all-you-can-eat feeding frenzy. You also control what goes in the pot, so you can adjust the marinades and sauces to your liking. Really the most fun thing about eating out at a shabu shabu place is that you get to cook your own food, whether you like meat, seafood, vegetables or all three. The not-so-fun part is leaving the place smelling like you were doused in soy sauce, but hey — it’s part of the experience. Located at the second floor of the Podium with telephone number 914-1028.
Salamat at Pinoy Don
Filipinos probably love Japanese food the most, after their own cuisine. The natural philosophy behind Pinoy Don was to combine the two favorites. “It’s Filipino food, cooked in a Japanese way,” says Arnold Bernabe, restaurant manager. And the food comes in the form of Japanese favorites, like sushi, rice bowl dishes and seafood salads, but all with a Pinoy twist, be it an ingredient, a sauce, or specialty flavor.
The Manila maki features cooked shrimp, while the chicken teriyaki inihaw comes in a traditional teriyaki don bowl — with a side of atchara.
Other dishes to try are the Pinoy Don Tofu, which is lightly fried on the outside, and the sesame prawn salad, which has mandarins, crispy fried prawns and a side of citrus-sesame dressing.
And don’t leave without trying the Banana Surprise. Spoiler alert — it’s a large, shareable serving of maruya, or our local banana fritters, topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Sarap desu ne? Located at the fifth floor of Podium with telephone numbers 631-5886 and 631-1198.