Tropical Hut

As a kid, I always looked forward to trips to the metro because it meant going to my favorite restaurants. Tropical Hut was one of them. My favorite then was the Rancho Ranchero.

As I got older, moved to the metro, I've discovered more restaurants which serve burger and somehow, trips to Tropical Hut became less and less frequent.

My latest trip to Tropical Hut was prompted by a discount at a group buying site. The Classic Cheeseburger was as I remember it, tender and juicy beef patty in a soft bun. The thick cut fries were impressive as they were crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside.

The Tropical Hut branch in Shaw Blvd. corner Pioneer St. has seen better days and would probably benefit from some renovation. While we've visited the branch a few times in the past, we haven't visited recently because a member of our group got turned off by some odor which only he was able to detect anyway. I didn't notice any during my visits. Service wise, I appreciate the crew's attitude towards its customers. I did notice, though, that it took a while for tables to be bussed. I think they shoukd improve on this as messy tables are a turn off.

Yakitori One

I was excited to try Yakitori One because they're from the same group which manages Pepper Lunch

Its menu is anchored on the yakitori or Japanese barbecue. Ten kinds are available. Each stick is dipped in teriyaki sauce using a device which assures that each stick gets a consistent amount of sauce. One can order per stick or from the suggested combinations

I ordered 3 sticks (chicken thigh, quail egg and pork wrap, pork belly) on a bed of rice topped with teriyaki sauce and nori strips plus pickled ginger on the side. The barbecue was good but everything tasted similarly because of the sauce. I longed for some variety in my meal.

Kebabers

I've been to Kebabers Kapitolyo 3 times already, with my last 2 visits just 8 hrs or so apart.

My first visit was to buy some food for take out. The crew were very helpful introducing me to the menu. I ordered the Cheese Kebab Meal, chicken and beef in particular. While I enjoyed the combination of the kebab, rice, grilled tomato and garlic sauce, another said she didn't like the smell of the food at all. Middle Eastern inspired cuisine is definitely not for everyone.