TERRP

TRY EVERY RESTAURANT IN ROBINSONS PLACE

While working for WHO as a consultant in 2014 and living in a studio apartment above the shopping mall Robinsons Place, I ate my way through all the restaurants in the mall, including every stall in the food court, excluding any stand-alone kiosks or coffee shops that didn’t serve proper food.  The project took 239 days to complete, 85 restaurants in all, averaging 1 every 2.8 days.

Being on my own, for the first time since getting married, the project gave me something to look forward to at the end of the day, when I was usually on my own for dinner.  By the midway point, when I had to deal with the food court on the 3rd floor, I began to dread the prospect of dinner, but at least it was something to do.

1st Floor (1F)

Phase 1

  1. C2 Classic Cuisine (Filipino) (Jan 13) (5.008 Chicken Pork Adobo)
  2. Banana Leaf (Malaysian) (Jan 15) (5.010 Stir-Fried Noble Leaves with Garlic)
  3. Holy Cow! (American) (Jan 16) (5.011 Lonestar Grilled Pork Chop)
  4. Super Bowl of China (Chinese) (Jan 21) (5.016 Pork Strips with Kangkong & Chinese Bagoong)
  5. TGI Friday’s (American) (Jan 23) (5.018 Filipino Platter)
  6. !! Tempura (Japanese) (Jan 24) (5.019 Ramen Burger)
  7. Hainanese Delights (Singaporean) (Jan 28) (5.023 Hainanese Delights)
  8. Mr. Choi Kitchen (Chinese) (Jan 29) (5.024 Egg Fuyong with Scallops)
  9. Shawarma Snack Corner (Middle-Eastern) (Feb 3) (5.029 Special Beef Shawarma Sandwich)
  10. ! Maru (Korean) (Feb 4) (5.030 (Not) Ggot Deung Sim)
  11. Wendy’s (American) (Feb 5) (5.031 Baconator Mushroom Melt)
  12. Classic Savory (Chinese) (Feb 7) (5.033 Savory Chicken Combo B4)
  13. !! CHA-a (Filipino) (Feb 9) (5.035 Fake Meat)
  14. McDonald’s (American) (Feb 10) (5.036 1-Piece Chicken McDo Meal)
  15. Greenwich (American) (Feb 12) (5.038 Garden Fresh Thin Crust Pizza)
  16. * Soi (Thai) (Feb 13) (5.039 Thai Kangkong)
  17. * Italianni’s (Italian) (Feb 23) (5.049 Grilled Pepper Fish Fillet with Spaghetti)
  18. Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Singaporean) (Feb 24) (5.050 Kaya Toast with Butter)
  19. Mangan (Filipino) (Feb 25) (5.051 Inihaw na Bangus)
  20. Pepper Lunch (Japanese) (Feb 26) (5.052 Chicken Pepper Rice)
  21. Burger King (American) (Mar 1) (5.055 3-Meat Whopper)
  22. CafeFrance (European) (Mar 3) (5.057 Hefty Fish & Potato Wedges)
  23. Goldilocks (Filipino) (Mar 4) (5.058 Bopis)
  24. Asian Bites (Japanese) (Mar 6) (5.060 Miso Ramen)
  25. Pizza Hut (American) (Mar 7) (5.061 Sausage & Mushroom Pizza)
  26. Red Ribbon (Filipino) (Mar 10) (5.064 Salisbury Steak Meal)
  27. Yasu (Japanese) (Mar 10) (5.066 Oyakodon)
  28. Jollibee (Filipino) (Mar 12) (5.071 Garlic Bangus)
  29. UCC Café Terrace (Japanese) (Mar 18) (5.072 Zha Jiang Mian)
  30. Uncle Cheffy (Western) (Mar 19) (5.073 Cream Dory Meunière)
  31. Kenny Rogers Roasters (American) (Mar 20) (5.074 Roast Chicken Plate)
  32. Sakae Sushi (Japanese) (Mar 21) (5.075 All-Day Sushi Buffet)
  33. RACKS (American) (Mar 25) (5.079 Racks Baby Ribs)
  34. Arya (Persian) (Mar 26) (5.080 Shishlik)
  35. Café Breton (French) (Apr 1) (5.086 Galette Bretonne)
  36. Cabalen (Filipino) (Apr 2) (5.087 Buffet Scraps)

Best dishes:

  1. Grilled Pepper Fish Fillet (Italianni’s)
  2. Stir-Fried Noble Leaves with Garlic (Banana Leaf)
  3. Thai Kangkong (Soi)
  4. Pork Strips with Kangkong (Super Bowl of China)

Worst dishes:

  1. Ramen Burger (Tempura)
  2. Fake Meat (CHA-a)
  3. Bopis (Goldilocks)

Average rating: 1.78.

2nd Floor (2F)

Phase 2

  1. Healthy Shabu Shabu (Japanese) (Feb 6) (5.032 Fish Fillet Set)
  2. ! Cyma Greek Taverna (Greek) (Feb 19) (5.045 Spinach & Artichoke Fondue)
  3. Shanghai Cuisine (Chinese) (Feb 20) (5.046 Chop Suey)
  4. Pho Hoa Noodle Soup (Vietnamese) (Apr 7) (5.092 Pho Ga)
  5. Almon Marina (Western) (Apr 13) (5.098 Sydney Special)
  6. Bacolod Chicken Inasal (Filipino) (Apr 14) (5.099 Chicken Inasal)
  7. Shakey’s (American) ((Apr 28) (5.113 Friday Special)
  8. ! Secret Recipe (Malaysian) (Apr 29) (5.114 Penang Fried Kuay Teow)
  9. Recipes (Filipino) (Apr 30) (5.115 Gising Gising)
  10. !! Jack’s Loft (Western) (Aug 19) (5.226 Calamares Caesar)

Best dish:

  1. Spinach & Artichoke Fondue (Cyma Greek Taverna)

Worst dishes:

  1. Calamares Caesar (Jack’s Loft)
  2. Penang Fried Kuay Teow (Secret Recipe)

Average rating: 2.22

3rd Floor (3F)

Phase 3

  1. Casa Ilongga (Filipino) (May 7) (5.122 Pork BBQ + Ginataang Pusong na Saging)
  2. Yellow Cab (American) (May 9) (5.125 Tribeca Mushroom Pizza)
  3. Mr Pares (Filipino) (May 12) (5.127 Pork Caldereta)
  4. Chin’s Express (Chinese) (May 14) (5.129 Sio Mai Mami)
  5. Westwood (Filipino) (May 15) (5.130 Chicken Inasal)
  6. Fivestar Family Restaurant (Indonesian) (May 19) (5.134 Beef Redang + Sprouts + Beans + Rice)
  7. Idang’s Grille (Filipino) (May 20) (5.131 Inihaw na Pusit + Adobong Kangkong)
  8. The Old Spaghetti House (Italian) (May 21) (5.132 Pepper Crusted Fish Fillet with Sun-Dried Tomato Spaghetti)
  9. Davao Tuna Grill (Filipino) (May 27) (5.142 Grilled Tuna Belly + Adobong Kangkong)
  10. Mongolian Quick-Stop (Mongolian) (June 2) (5.148 Mongolian Bowl)
  11. Ajisen Ramen (Japanese) (June 8) (5.154 Kakuni Ramen)
  12. Fiesta Seafoods Foodhaus (Filipino) (June 9) (5.155 Seafood Grill)
  13. Kim n’ Chi (Korean) (June 17) (5.163 Bibimbab)
  14. Tiktilaok (Filipino) (June 22) (5.168 Hearty Garlic Roasted Chicken)
  15. Sbarro (Italian) (July 7) (5.183 Mushroom / Sausage Pizza)
  16. Handaan (Filipino) (July 9) (5.185 Busog Blockbuster Set)
  17. Pho Sac (Vietnamese) (July 10) (5.186 Pho Ga)
  18. Bagnetboy (Filipino) (July 14) (5.190 Bagnet Solo)
  19. Gumbo (American) (July 15) (5.191 Umm … Chicken Gumbo)
  20. Inihaw Express (Filipino) (July 30) (5.206 Sulit Meal)
  21. Teriyaki Boy (Japanese) (July 31) (5.207 Teriyaki Boy Chicken Ju)
  22. Kamay-Kainan (Filipino) (Aug 1) (5.211 Pusit Adobong)
  23. Brooklyn (American) (Aug 5) (5.212 Tomato & Anchovy Pizza)
  24. Steak Escape (Filipino) (Aug 11) (5.218 Pork Tocino)
  25. Paotsin (Chinese) (Aug 12) (5.219 Shark’s Fin (Combination of Pork and Mushroom))
  26. Adobo Connection (Filipino) (Aug 13) (5.220 Traditional Adobo Combo)
  27. The Shrimp Shack (American) (Aug 14) (5.221 Shrimp Po’boy Sandwich)
  28. Gerry’s Grill (Filipino) (Aug 18) (5.225 Pinakbet)

Best dishes:

  1. Beef Redang (Fivestar Family Restaurant)

Worst dishes:

  1. Sio Mai Mami (Chin’s Express)
  2. Grilled Tuna Belly (Davao Tuna Grill)
  3. Shark’s Fin (Combination of Pork and Mushroom) (Paotsin)
  4. Sulit Meal (Inihaw Express)
  5. Pusit Adobong (Kamay-Kainan)
  6. Busog Blockbuster Set (Handaan)
  7. Seafood Grill (Fiesta Seafoods Foodhaus)

Average rating: 1.43

4th Floor (4F)

Phase 4

  1. Pancake House (American/Filipino) (Aug 26) (5.233 Best Taco(s) in Town)
  2. Karate Kid (Japanese) (Aug 27) (5.234 Beef Teriyaki Bento Meal)
  3. Max’s Restaurant (Filipino) (Aug 28) (5.235 Max’s Fried (Spring) Chicken)
  4. Chowking (Chinese) (Aug 29) (5.236 Chinese-Style Fried Chicken 1-Piece Meal)
  5. Taters (American) (Aug 30) (5.237 Quarter Pound Churkey Burger Meal)
  6. Marina Oyster Seafood Grill (Filipino) (Sep 1) (4.239 Crispy Crablets)
  7. New Bombay (Indian) (Sep 2) (5.240 Fish Tikka)
  8. The Aristocrat (Filipino) (Sep 3) (5.241 Mechado)
  9. Bonchon (Korean) (Sep 4) (5.242 Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs)
  10. Yaki Mix (Asian) (Sep 5) (5.245 Grill Buffet)
  11. KFC (American) (Sep 9) (5.247 Original Recipe Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes)

Best dishes:

  1. Fried Chicken (Max’s Restaurant)

Worst dishes:

  1. Quarter Pound Churkey Burger Meal (Taters)

I suppose that I should discuss how I felt about completing the project, what I learned, where it took me next, but I got so burned out by the end that I don’t want to think about it anymore.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)

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