Zoy's Top 5: 2024 Dishes & Meals (Honorable Mentions)

Last Monday, I gave you my top five food destinations for 2024 (read it here). Now, I’m listing down my top five dishes and meals for 2024. These are food that I have tried for the first time.

As I always do, I have an objective and a subjective criteria. Objectively, the dish or meal has to be flavorful (meaning, it has different flavors) and has a variety of textures. They are the ones I refer to as “a world of flavors and textures.” But I will make a few exceptions to those that blew my mind away in spite of the lack thereof.

Subjectively, the dish or meal has to be enjoyable, something that is forever etched in my memory and making me want to have more of it. Well, it wouldn’t make this list if I didn’t enjoy it.

But it’s hard to condense my favorites into a list of five. So let me give you my honorable mentions in this article, and give my top five on a separate article.

So in alphabetical order, here are my honorable mentions for 2024 (click on the link, if applicable, to read more about the dish/meal):

Bacon Jam Slam at Flipside Burgers (Pasig CIty in Metro Manila, Philippines)

This burger is an exclusive of Flipside Burgers’ ArcoVia City branch. Its burger patty is made from Angus beef, which is beefy and juicy, and is smashed, making it perfectly crisp outside. Then it has bacon jam, cream cheese, and crispy onion strings.

The bacon flavor of this burger is strong, and the onions are crisp and tasty. I’m salivating writing these words!

ArcoVia City Branch Address: Unit 5A Transport Hub, ArcoVia City, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-10PM | Facebook | Instagram

Breakfast Buffet at Toscana Dining of Midori Clark Hotel & Casino (Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines)

I rarely find a hotel breakfast that’s really impressive. But I discovered a really good one at Midori Clark Hotel & Casino in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. They serve good do-it-yourself congee and dim sum, fluffy omelettes, and do-it-yourself waffles!

But I must say that their dim sum is definitely worth coming back to!

Related Article: Coming Soon!

Address: Recto St., Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines | Breakfast Buffet Schedule: Daily, 6AM-10AM | Contact Nos.: (45) 308-8888; 0917-8681913; 0917-8682217 | Website

Double Happiness Ramen at Hanamaruken Ramen 2.0 (Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines)

This branch exclusive ramen has a shoyu tonkotsu broth that’s rightly thick and salty. I ask the noodles to be firm and I’m glad that they delivered.

The star of the dish, though, is the slow-braised custom cut, full slab of soft bone pork rib. It’s massive, fatty, and tender with a nice chew. I could also taste some acidity (maybe vinegar?), which cuts through the fattiness.

Address: The Grove by Rockwell, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (C5 Rd.), Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-9:30PM | Facebook | Instagram

Garlic Parmesan Korean Fried Chicken at Seollem Cafe (Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines)

This is easily the best garlic parmesan chicken that I’ve ever tried! It’s super buttery and garlicky!

Related Article: Coming Soon!

Address: 2/F Ecco 4 Building, Military Cutoff Rd., Baguio City, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 9:30AM-10:30PM | Facebook | Instagram

Kampampangan Meal at Cely’s Carinderia (San Fernando City, Pampanga, Philippines)

Kapampangan Food is the food from Pampanga, a province north of Manila. One iconic carinderia (eatery) serving this cuisine is Cely’s Carinderia in San Fernando City. I love their Sizzling Sisig (a dish made with chopped pig’s head), Balut (fertilized duck egg), and Talaba (oysters).

Related Article: Coming Soon!

Address: Lazatin Blvd., San Fernando City, Pampanga, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-7PM; Sunday, 9AM-3PM | Contact No.: 0918-9592868 | Facebook

Mortadella Supreme at 717 Deli (San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines)

This bestselling sandwich of 717 Deli is made of pan-seared mortadella, whole burrata, arugula, tomato, and pesto sandwiched between focaccia bread.

The mortadella is salty, the burrata is creamy, the rocket is crisp and earthy, and the tomatoes are juicy. This sandwich is so good, and every bite screams Italian!

Address: 53 Connecticut St., San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 10AM-7PM | Facebook | Instagram

Pastries at Rebel Bakehouse (Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines)

Baguio City’s Rebel Bakehouse makes amazing croissants and other pastry creations. The pastries are so good that aside from its Baguio branch, I tried to visit every pop-up they had in Metro Manila.

My favorites here are Ham & Gruyère, Leche Flan Danish, and Peach Mango Pie.

Singaporean Food at Kaokee Singaporean Kitchen (Various Locations in Metro Manila, Philippines)

It’s hard to find a good Singaporean food restaurant here in the Philippines. Thankfully, Kaokee Singaporean Kitchen makes tasty Singaporean classics such as Hainanese Chicken Rice and Zi Char dishes (zi char refers to Chinese home-style dishes or meals that are cooked upon order).

Our favorites here are the chicken rice, Claypot Rice, and Salted Egg Squid.

Makati Branch Address: The Belamy House, Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10AM-10PM; Friday-Saturday, 10AM-11PM; Sunday, 8AM-10PM | Contact No.: 0991-3008000

The Corner House Branch Address: G/F The Corner House, 445 P. Guevarra cor. Recto Sts., San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-10PM

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram

Spaghetti Nero di Seppia at Totò e Peppino (Panglao, Bohol, Philippines)

This is a squid ink pasta of Totò e Peppino has extra virgin olive oil, squid, garlic, and tomatoes.

The spaghetti is al dente and has a nice squid ink flavor. The tomatoes add acidity, the squid is nicely cooked, and the dish has nice olive oil and garlic flavors. I love it!

Address: Panglao Circumferential Road, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 10AM-10PM | Contact No.: 0910-5081315 | Facebook