Cycle 5 – Item 35
9 (Sun) February 2014
Fake Meat
0.5
at CHA-a
(Robinsons Place)
-Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-
solo
Try Every Restaurant in Robinsons Place (14) (see also TERRP)
CHA-a is Filipino restaurant.
Going in, I assumed the place to be just another cheap Filipino cafeteria-mode rice-with-two-items-combo joint. The only hint otherwise was a sign on the window: “NO MEAT & SEAFOOD ALLOWED.” I interpreted it as a poorly worded prohibition against food from the outside. Turns out, it’s a poorly worded declaration about being a vegetarian establishment. But more than that, CHA-a offers dishes that feature what I suppose are intended to be meat substitutes, probably made from soy. I should’ve suspected something when I asked: “Beef?” (about the stew), and the woman behind the counter replied: “Potato” (because it did in fact contain potato), or when I asked: “Chicken?” (about the stir-fry), and she replied: “Mushroom” (because it did in fact contain mushroom).
Oh my god, the food was so awesomely gross.


(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)
(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)
