The Tiny Restaurant Wonder

Allow me to introduce a restaurant wonder...

Consider it the 8th wonder of the world because after eating all these:

Banchan

Japanese Roll

Dumplings

Noodle with Fish Cakes

Beef Stew Soup

Vegetable Bibimbap

our bill only amounted to 15,000won or 570php!!!

The food was authentic aside from being dirt cheap. Easily the tastiest, most affordable meal I've had in my life.

Wish I could point everyone to the right direction but I have no clue how we got there. All I remember is that it's near Changdeokgung Palace and we passed by this street:

HAPPY HUNTING!

Blast from the Past: Rap's Steaks

I visited my alma matter recently and discovered that a lot of new restaurants have opened along Taft Avenue since my graduation not so long ago. I felt so old and wished we had the same dining options that the students are now enjoying.

When it was time to choose where to have dinner however, I remembered an old haunt which my friends and I used to frequent: Rap's! We loved Rap's for its cheap steaks and to die for sauce and gravy combination.

I was happy to find it still standing in the same modest location in one of the side streets of Taft Avenue fronting Gate 3 of D.L.S.U. 

Visiting Rap's was such a blast from the past as nothing has changed since the last time I was here 5 years ago:

Same Table Set-up

Same Cake Display

Same Limited Menu

I had a porterhouse steak and it looked  like any other steak that one can get from any affordable steak joint...

The secret is in the sauce really...

Worcestershire, Gravy, Spicy Vinegar

Just like old times, I combined Worcestershire sauce with the buttery goodness of the gravy and the result was dynamite! I loved the tangy, salty, and rich flavor of  the sauce mixture, transforming the ordinary piece of meat to something else. 

HEAVEN

It's really saRap at Rap's.

Forgive me dear reader(s) for being oh-so-corny!


Rap Steaks and Cakes is located at 979 Dagonoy Street, Malate Manila. 

Memorable Nuat Thai

Nuat Thai is an affordable Thai massage parlor that has mushroomed all over Metro Manila. 

Pearl Drive branch

I visited its Pearl Drive branch where I had a dirt-cheap 125php one hour body massage thanks to an Ensogo deal. 

Receiving Area

List of Services

Space was limited but Nuat Thai did try to create a relaxing and peaceful environment for its clients.

Foot Massage Area

Hallway

The Massage Room

With my very low expectations given the cheap rate, Nuat Thai still failed to deliver a satisfying massage experience. Instead of being rejuvenated, I felt tired and harassed after the session because I was subjected to stretching positions that were acrobatic in nature haha. 

I honestly can't help but laugh whenever I remember the day Nuat Thai turned me into a pretzel. Looking at the bright side though, the trip to Nuat Thai was at least memorable, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Nuat Thai has branches all over the Philippines. For more information, click here.

Snackaroo!

With the lure of cheap steaks, I visited Snackaroo a no-frills, leave any expectations at the door type of eatery located in the middle of a busy residential area in Quezon City. 

Grilling Station

Spot included Snackaroo on its list of 10 Best Steaks in Manila so I was eager to give it a shot...

Papaitan (75php)

Papaitan is a bitter soup made out of cow and goat innards. Too exotic for my taste.

T-Bone (130php)

Cooked medium rare which explains the not so appetizing color of the meat

Porterhouse  (130php)

The porterhouse was a better cut option compared to the T-Bone. Taste-wise, meat was similar to what one expects from any restaurant that serves affordable steak. What gives the meat flavor is the gravy so don't be shy to let your steak swim in gravy.

Overall, Snackaroo neither impressed nor disappointed. It was just right with the price points in mind.

For those interested, here's Snackaroo's limited menu:

Snackaroo Specialty Foods is located at Judge Jimenez St., Kamuning, Quezon City. Coming from E. Rodriguez, it's on the right side of the street.

Cheap Fix: Turk's Shawarma

Aside from Osama’s, Turk’s Shawarma is my go-to-place whenever a shawarma craving hits.

There's always a long line which goes to show how popular it is.

What I like most about Turk’s version is its uniquely sweet pita bread. It’s so delicious that I wouldn't mind eating the pita on its own.

The sweet pita bread complements the strong salty flavors of the beef and the garlicky goodness of the white sauce.

Turk's Shawarma is a real pleaser. Not only is it cheap, but it also hits the right spot.

Turk's Shawarma is found in most SM Food Courts in Metro Manila.

Cheap Steals at Pure Gold Subic

I was in Subic last Labor Day Weekend. Witness what I was up to! This is the 2nd of 3 parts.

There’s a new Pure Gold complex in Subic and it’s so big that it’s hard to miss. After a few hours resting in our hotel room after our Tree Top Adventure, I decided to head to Pure Gold Duty Free Subic since I was curious what this huge depot in a new location offered.

The S&R Food Service at the entrance instantly caught my attention as it signified that there’s something different about this outlet. True enough, Pure Gold Duty Free, upon closer inspection, is actually a cross between a local Pure Gold outlet and members only warehouse store, S&R. The store has a good balance of local and imported items with clothing, footwear, perfume, and cosmetics thrown in the mix.



Pure Gold-Subic reminded me more of an S&R though since some items that I thought are exclusive to S&R are also available in Pure Gold Duty Free. The layout of the store and the overall shopping experience are also undeniably S&R.

Having just shopped at S&R a few weeks back, I realized, after exploring a few aisles, that prices in Pure Gold Duty Free were a great deal cheaper compared to S&R. I took this as my cue to hoard on items that I regularly consume. Here’s a portion of my loot bought on the cheap:

AVEENO DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION 36 OZ TWIN PACK S&R: 1299.95php
Pure Gold Duty Free: 940php

IVORY BODY WASH (709ML)
S&R: 249.95php
Pure Gold Duty Free: 169.20php

CADBURY DREAM WHITE CHOCOLATE 220G Other Groceries: 200++php
Pure Gold Duty Free: 155.57php

Pure Gold Duty Free is a must visit for any visitor of Subic. One gets to buy imported items at more affordable prices, without the costs that go with membership shopping.

Note: The exchange rate at the time of purchase was 44.76php to $1.00.

Pure Gold Duty Free Subic is along Rizal Avenue and Argonaut Highway (in front of Petron) Subic Bay Freeport Zone.