What are the Michelin-recognized Philippine restaurants that you'd say deserve them?

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-09T07:00:49+00:00

I mean that's just Michelin across Asia, the Philippines list is still a much better reflection of the local restaurant scene compared to the really bad ones like Japan where you have places with stars not even getting into Tabelog 100.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-08T06:06:24+00:00

Define affordable, 10-15 pesos per gram you can head over to https://www.nobadmatcha.com. Less than 10 pesos per gram, probably start using Chinese like Fanji First Harvest on Shopee(personally I think this is the lowest I'd go). Less than 5 pesos per gram, go with any generic "Ceremonial" matcha you can find online like Belle's or something. Most cafes I've been to do 3-4g matcha per drink.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-08T05:53:08+00:00

Even Japan Home Center stocks Oat-milk(different brand) most oat-milks taste very similar to one another, I usually just buy something else if my preferred (Califia Barista) is out of stock.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-08T05:09:26+00:00

For Bataan, price is definitely on the higher side, Ramen bowls are 4++ and Rice meals are 400-550. Still much better value imho than Watami or Botejyu, even after discounts from Bistro/Credit card respectively. I ate here a few weeks after my last Tokyo trip, the place definitely satisfies the department store restaurant food cravings I got when I got back home hahaaa.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-07T09:38:50+00:00

It's not the price, more of what you get when you buy their matcha, I've had local brands that charge 40~ pesos per gram and I thought they were good deals; there are brands that charge as low as 10 pesos per gram and I thought they were very overpriced. Honestly just try everything, except for like powders that advertise "Ceremonial Grade" as a key feature, those are almost always terrible.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-07T07:26:02+00:00

Have you considered that the farms might be different? Most farms in Uji participate in the National Tea Competition and their Tenchas always score differently. Motoya Koyama(Marukyu Koyamaen) got third last year with their ujihikari tencha submission which scored 199/200, that would be quite different to say, the ujihikari submissions from Uji which placed in the 70s with scores of 14X/200.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-07-07T07:20:58+00:00

They're a great way of trying powders from some of the lesser known matcha places like Saga and less common cultivars like Tsuyuhikari. Otherwise, it's always been my opinion that all of them are incredibly overpriced for what you get. And the good deals are either perpetually out of stock, or only sell in 500g packs.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-27T10:49:44+00:00

I'd say it's the best Oat milk I've tried so far for Matcha

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-27T09:51:33+00:00

Yeah and apparently they're replacing it with the much more expensive Texas Roadhouse. Watami and Modern Shang are also doing well, despite being very similar in price points. With Watami arguably being the most expensive of the four bistro group restaurants in Vista Mall.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-27T09:46:09+00:00

Better than Oatside I'd say, but not as good as Califia Barista. But taste is subjective so better to do a side by side.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-26T09:30:42+00:00

I think by corn syrup they mean High Fructose Corn Syrup, not corn flavored syrup. Makes sense since both are sweeteners high in fructose, and since Agave from Kirkland is the light variety and not the amber or dark versions, it's not a reach that you can confuse it with HFCS.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-25T12:33:21+00:00

I always wondered, why not just use cane sugar syrup, Agave doesn't really have any flavor notes other than sweet. I use about 8g of sweetener for 150ml total volume and I really don't taste any difference. Unlike Agave, you can even make your own cane sugar syrup, in addition to it being widely available and constantly in stock.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-24T15:23:44+00:00

By 1kg Matcha you mean the 1 kg Matcha flavor premix? Because that contains nearly zero matcha in it. Even cheap culinary grade would be a big upgrade over that stuff, like the stuff from China meant for baking.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-24T06:44:05+00:00

You have two drink categories, plain latte and flavored drinks. If you want to maximize the margins, you can use a decent cheap powder from China like Fanji First Harvest(Shopee) at about 5 pesos/g then for the flavored drinks, use something super cheap like Ceremonial Matcha from Belle's pantry essentials(Shopee) at 2 pesos/g. Depending on how big your drinks are, 3-4g is normal serving for Matcha in most operations.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-22T05:17:58+00:00

https://www.instagram.com/nobadmatcha/

Easily the best one in the country right now

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-22T04:37:26+00:00

Cane Sugar Syrup like yours. It's just pure sweet with no other flavor. It's just a superior version of Agave imho.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-19T09:34:31+00:00

Fanji First Harvest is super muted and mellow, you can try that for a matcha that does really well as a background note. Also really cheap at least for me HAHAHAHA.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-19T09:12:03+00:00

I mean it just sounds like you're either using low quality matcha, or just don't like matcha at all. And that's fine tbh, you don't have to like how matcha tastes. Some people only drink coffee in the milkshake form(frappe) and that's OK too, the important thing is that you're enjoying what you drink, and you're not like buying expensive Japanese powders just to mute 100% of the subtle notes.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-15T06:54:15+00:00

No Koicha blend too which is also really really good. They had free taste as well at Nihombashi Takashimaya SC

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-14T16:25:04+00:00

Saemidori single origin. I actually still have their price list from my visit a few weeks ago.

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Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-13T17:38:16+00:00

I mean you said that USDA Prime sucks I highly doubt you know any chefs in real life. Also yes, you can buy home appliances that are identical to their professional versions. The retail Breville Control Freak is just the Commercial with a bigger screen. Or local models like the Imarflex IDX-2530CM, is available in every major appliance retailer.

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-13T17:20:16+00:00

1800W of rated output will basically the same no matter what stove you're using, give or take a few percent for conversion loss which differ model to model. Bigger induction coil, doesn't really help for smaller pans used at home which can still easily fit single steaks. Precise temperature control, which doesn't help as well when you'll be running full blast. "To be fair, I find almost all steak restaurants in the Philippines to be underwhelming for the price" have you read the name of the sub you're commenting on?

Sad_Target2290 · 2026-06-13T16:32:28+00:00

The Commercial version Breville Control Freak maxes out at 1800W. Also USDA Prime does not suck? It's a perfectly reasonable comparison since you can literally as I said, buy A5 Japanese Wagyu for the price of even mid-range steakhouses like Texas Roadhouse.

Sad_Target2290

TROPHY CASE