Cycle 5 – Item 214

7 (Thu) August 2014

Hotpot & Grill Buffet

2.0

at Tong Yang Garden

-Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

with BJH, AW

Tong Yang Garden is an Asian restaurant.  Part of the Tong Yang chain, founded in the Philippines, currently 6 locations around Metro Manila.  Wide variety of meats, seafoods, vegetables, noodles, dumplings etc., as well as sauces and aromatics, most of which are appropriate for either the hotpot and/or grill.  Also offers sushi, fruit, desserts, beverages.  399 pesos per person for dinner on weekdays.  Unlimited draft beer is an extra 199 pesos.

Although we’d eaten hotpot the previous evening, BJH wanted to do it again.  Apparently, he’s the type of diner who sticks to what he likes.  When I agreed to the venue, I wasn’t aware that Tong Yang was this kind of place.  In fact, regardless of last night, I would’ve tried to steer the group elsewhere, given my general dislike for buffets.

The food was largely miss.  As anticipated from the price, the items were all kinda cheap, made worse by being cut into tiny pieces and then allowed to sit out in the open.  I avoided most of the meats and seafoods, especially unmarinated items.  Fortunately, the buffet’s saving grace was a reasonably varied/ample/fresh spread of vegetables that made the meal passable overall.  In the end, I even managed a tasty noodle soup from the remaining broth.  Whatever.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)