Eastern flavors at Westlife

MANILA, Philippines - In case you are already running out of ideas on what to get your dad for Father’s Day then instead of buying him a tacky doodad just take him out for lunch or dinner this weekend. What could be better than good ol’ family bonding (at your expense) right? Whether you are cash-strapped or clueless on where to go, here are two restaurant suggestions that you can take your dad––and the rest of your family to celebrate a happy Father’s Day. Hope everyone’s in the mood for some tasty Asian cuisine.

Panciteria Lido Chinese Eatery

This quaint Chinese restaurant earned its popularity through word of mouth, thanks to foodies and curious diners who were pleasantly surprised with the variety of Chinese fare that they were able to sample here––and at a reasonable rate. While some rave about Panciteria Lido’s syphon brewed coffee there are also those who can’t get enough of this restaurant’s pugon-roasted asado, which is unique to Panciteria Lido.

While Panciteria Lido does make an effort to provide authentic and traditional Chinese dishes, it also takes pride in being able to transform its once limited menu to one that has something for everyone without straying away from its Chinese roots. Before setting up shop in the North, Panciteria Lido used to be located in Binondo where it was known to be more of a small eatery rather than a casual dining place. In spite of having only a few items on its menu then, diners patronized Panciteria Lido mainly because of Mr. Lido’s now famous pugon-roasted asado. If your dad is a big meat eater, make sure to order this dish for him, less the cholesterol and fat without compromising the flavor, surely he’d appreciate that. Other interesting dishes that you should try are the 3 cups chicken dish, shrimp balls, and Chami special which are some of the more popular items from Panciteria Lido’s menu lineup. The 3 cups chicken is a tasty soup-based dish that is good for the health while the shrimp balls will cater to your craving for deep fried food and the Chami special, a Panciteria Lido original is more known as the restaurant’s high-end version of the pancit.

If your dad is watching his diet or is required to eat more healthy food, Panciteria Lido’s Fitness Delight lineup is a great way for him to indulge minus the guilt on his special day. All the dishes under this lineup may be made up of veggies but Panciteria Lido has prepared it in such a way that it’d still satisfy their customers’ taste. But if your dad still needs to have some meat on his plate, Panciteria Lido also offers a lot of fish, meat, and chicken dishes that are still good for the health and figure-conscious. Do try the Steamed Fish Fillet, Poached Tofu, Hot Shrimp Salad, Ma-Po Tofu and the restaurant’s yummy Mango-based desserts. Most of the menu items are good for sharing so even if you have a big family, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to enjoy the best of what Panciteria Lido has to offer without going over budget.

As for the ambiance, while the old Panciteria Lido only had plain white chairs and modest interiors, the restaurant today now has a more casual dining feel to it which is perfect for families. The interiors are predominantly red with a few unique pieces that showcase the restaurant’s rich Chinese influence. Overall the ambiance here is relaxed and absolutely no frills, perfect for dads who want to enjoy good value for money and prefer cozy restaurants over places that are a tad too formal and stiff for their taste.

Visit Panciteria Lido at Westlife Arcade, West Ave. Q.C. and at SM Fairview.

Rai Rai Ken Ramen House & Sushi Bar

If your dad is more into Japanese cuisine, bring him over to Rai Rai Ken which is just next door to Panciteria Lido. While you can usually find Rai Rai Ken restaurants in malls, the one at Westlife will be able to give you more privacy given its cozy ambiance and more intimate setting.

For those who haven’t tried out Rai Rai Ken, this restaurant offers a modern take on traditional Japanese dishes like the Ramen, Donburi, and Sushi which are also the restaurant’s bestsellers. Before filling your table with the usual tempura and teriyaki dishes, make sure to check out Rai Rai Ken’s unique lineup of Ramen dishes starting with the more traditional Shio (Clear Soup Ramen) to something more unique like the Batchoy Ramen and the Sharks Fin Ramen which both fall under the Rai Rai Ken Original ramen lineup.

Given that Filipinos love rice, show your dad the Rai Rai Ken Donburi Delights where he can choose from the Pork Bowl with Kakiage, Beef Bowl with Kakiage, and Unagi Don Set or the usual Chicken Teriyaki Don, Katsudon, and Gyudon rice toppings.

Meanwhile, Rai Rai Ken’s Sushi Chef’s Special under the Crazy Maki line and Sushi Bar line are all great for sharing. If your dad is not much into sashimi then the Crazy Maki specials might catch his fancy especially with names like Jurassic Maki, Crunchy Salmon Roll, Rainbow Roll and Super California Roll that are all unique to Rai Rai Ken.

Other interesting Japanese fare that they have here are the Tofu dishes which include the Age tofu Teppan (deep fried tofu with chicken), Atsuyaki Tofu (fried tofu with ground pork and chili sauce); there’s also the Stir Fried Noodle dishes like the Seafood Yaki Udon and the Gomoku Yakisoba; and the restaurant’s popular Bento sets which are great if you want to sample more of Rai Rai Ken’s dishes. Given the generous servings that Rai Rai Ken provides its customers, make sure that you are able to make room for dessert as Rai Rai Ken’s Fried Ice Cream with Fries is also a must try.

Visit Rai Rai Ken at Westlife Arcade, West Ave. Q.C