A Taste of Manila

After multiple unfullfilled promises to have lunch together, my cousin and I finally found time in our busy schedules (hers being filled with a baby and mine being filled with a craptastic job) to make it to the lunch buffet. Round one was fantastic. I told her that she really needed to try this pork and bagoong alamang dish and she told me that the squash with coconut milk was the best she’s had. So, we tried each other’s favorites in round two.
Well, after calling each other liars and questioning the solidity of our familial bonds, we came to the conclusion tha the kitchen must’ve switched cooks on us and the round two cook went crazy with the salt. Another problem was that melon salad was the only dessert option — unacceptable!
The entertainment consisted of a television that was turned to some Filipino game show channel. In one, person A wore a mad-​scientist-​like helmet with a word on it and person B had to give clues for person A to guess the word. It was similar to the $ 10,000 Pyramid except the set was very Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. In game show #2, not only did they have to name that tune, they also had to karaōke it. Sweet.

I was on a work trip and had the cravings for some home cooking. I saw Taste of Manila while driving, Unilocaled it and found a couple of good reviews and chanced it. Overall, my co-​worker and I were very pleased. The place was very clean and somewhat classy. The waiter was friendly and had a touch of that traditional humble and respectful Filipino attitude. I even met the owner who was very welcoming. And most importantly, the food was dee-​ee-​li-​cious!!! Lastly, the price was very reasonable. I was very surprised that they were not busy at all. Perhaps, people in JAX still have not realized that awesome restaurant just around the corner. I definitely recommend this place even to those who have not tried Filipino cuisine.

I came here a few weeks ago craving some homemade adobo. We have been having a pizza-​thon at home lately (I bet you, my son was behind this!). Monday night — pizza, Tuesday night — pizza, Wednesday night — pizza. I was starting to go insane. Lol. We still periodically made pancit, but it had been a long time since we made adobo, so Taste of Manila was on my mind that day.
Good thing they have a lunch combo. From Monday through Friday from 10:30am to 2pm, for $ 5.95 you can get steamed rice with your choice of oven baked chicken, adobo (chicken or pork), pork BBQ, or mechado. Mmmm Masarap!
I was really pleased with my chicken adobo. The chicken was moist and the flavors were infused into the meat. So juicy and tender.
If I find myself craving adobo on a Sunday, I’d like to stop in for their Sunday lunch buffet.

FYI… seems to be closed on Tuesdays… ???