MoKja! Korean Buffet & Barbecue Restaurant in Quezon City is a Must-Try for Tourists

WATCH: The MoKja! Korean Buffet & Restaurant Quezon City, PH tourist experience.

Maginhawa Street of Quezon City in the Philippines has become a kind of food mecca where residents and tourists alike get to treat themselves to restaurants which serve local Filipino and international cuisine. There's so many to choose from and since there has been a level of cultural influence from Koreans who've chosen to make the city their second home, there have also been a boom in Korean food restaurants. One of the popular ones include MoKja!, which is a buffet and barbecue restaurant at the 3rd flr. of 80 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.

"Mokja" is Korean for "let's eat" and this vibe is definitely present when you enter. It's quaint, small, and cozy, so if you're not early, you might have to wait at least a half hour or so before you can be seated. Diners have a maximum time of two hours to eat, so there could be some stomachs grumbling waiting in line to get filled when you get there. By the time you get seated, you might already have the sweet smell of bulgogi beef meat on your clothes since the frying smoke that fills the place can really cling on you. The gold-painted exhaust tubes which hang from the ceiling like some high-tech anime tech gear don't help much to suck out the smoke from the room, although they definitely contribute to the feel of the whole place which seems to be popular with people in their twenties.

MoKja! is really the kind of Korean restaurant where the food becomes part of how friends, co-workers, or family get together over a good meal. If you're a tourist in Quezon City thinking of treating a few friends in a fun restaurant, then MoKja! is a good choice. Just be prepared to wait until you get seated if there's a crowd and also be ready to eat lots of meat. Sure, you can mix your own salad at the buffet table, but that's just secondary to the meat.

BUY on AMAZON: Manila Restaurant Guide 2017: Best Rated Restaurants in Manila, Philippines - 350 Restaurants, Bars and Cafés recommended for Visitors & Tourists, 2017 Paperback

The Mighty Ton Giant Hamburger at The Porch

Giant Hamburger of The Porch.

If you like hamburgers, a normal-size bun might not be enough for you to feel full. So this giant hamburger called The Mighty Ton from The Porch long Anonas Street Extension in Quezon City may just be what you need to be satisfied. Of course, if you're ordering for yourself, you'll likely only finish just an eighth of this monster, so be prepared beforehand to be intimidated by the sight of this hamburger and it's weight! It's called The Mighty Ton for a good reason.

Dig into this giant burger!

Apart from its huge size, it's not your usual hamburger because it does not use a typical patty. Instead of a hefty patty in the middle of those bun slices, you get beef flakes which remind you of tapas. If you choose to take on this burger, make sure you have at least 5 to 10 other people along with you. Otherwise you will have no choice but to ask for a takeout bag when you realize you just can't finish it. As a party burger, it's perfect for some fun eating with friends and family, especially with a hefty dose of French fries! The Porch is a restaurant by Casa Verde.

Wow! Works Hamburger Adult Beanbag chair

Cafe Bialetti near the University of the Philippines: Quaint Alternative to Starbucks

This is the Bialetti Cafe somewhere in UP or Teacher's Village in Quezon City. It's just a small establishment that's big enough for small groups of people who just want to chill out with friends and hang out. It's right inside the village near the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ateneo University where students and teachers alike live and breathe so it's an easy place to visit. Businesspeople and office employees find this establishment to be a fine place to relax or to have small casual meetings.

The price of coffee offerings of Bialetti are competitive yet still reasonably cheap, which makes it a second favorite to Starbucks which has a branch in nearby Matalino St. It's a franchise, so you can expect a lot of fine coffee products here. The staff of Bialetti is small which may require waiting for an order to arrive, but hey, it's a cafe! You're expected to hang around a bit to talk or do whatever it is you do while in a cafe. You'll find the water served at Bialetti fragrant with flower petals. It may not be the kind of water kids will enjoy, but it's a real treat apart form the usual fare of coffee!

What are tabliya balls?

So you're a fan of coffee and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, eh? Here's one mug you can combine the two. It's the Wizard of Oz "It's All about the Shoes" mug. It's fine piece with a classic appeal featuring the emerald shoes in the story! Order the Wizard of Oz mug here.

Cheap Visitors? Get into it!

Noah's Ark Attracts Tourists in Lucban Quezon

There's a concrete replica of Noah's Ark in Lucban, Quezon, in The Philippines. It's part of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center of Father Joey Faller, a Catholic healing priest who found his true calling in life as a servant of God after he discovered that he can heal people of many illnesses. After an accident which caused the last finger of one of his hands to curl permanently, he set out to fulfill his destiny to heal people, and eventually established the Center with a church and Bible-themed park for those in search of healing through God.

The Ark of Noah is just one of the many attractions of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, with the main one being the Grotto with the 50-foot monument of Jesus Christ at the top of a hill. Noah's Ark is really a building with an exterior made to resemble the ancient boat where Noah's family took refuge from the Great Flood along with pairs of animals. At the time these photos were taken, it was still under construction.

The Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center is found in Lucban, Quezon. Those interested can read more about it in this article:

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church

God Keeps His Promises Wall Noah and the ark Cross

Have you ever wished you could build your own giant Noah's Ark? You really don't need much! All you have to do is order this Giant Noah's Ark floor jigsaw puzzle. It's cheap!

St. Joseph Church Thrives along Busy Aurora Boulevard

The St. Joseph Church and Shrine in Quezon City in the Philippines thrives in spite of the fact that it is in front of congested and polluted Aurora Boulevard. Visitors there will be amazed at how the shiny altar is kept maintained with the metal adorning it still gleaming despite the corrosive pollution from the road. The huge stained glass windows along the sides and rear make it seem that the church is somewhere peaceful and far from the urban din outside. When the choir is singing, the noise from the jeepneys and other vehicles outside are reasonably subdued.

At the time these photos were taken, a priest was conducting a healing session with parishioners. In spite of the long lines, the priest did not hurry his prayers or rushed the faithful along.He gave each one the honor of his time in healing. The scheduled days for healing are one of the reasons why this church is a very popular place of worship. It's right in the middle of a commercial district where commuters and pedestrians frequently pass and the noise and smell of exhaust from the street can be distracting. Nevertheless, church goers still consider it a good church to hear mass in.

 

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Kubo ni Ka Ipe: A Quaint QC Restaurant with a Creeping Plant Growing on the Nipa Ceiling

There is a quaint and small restaurant in or near Teacher's Village in Quezon City. It's called Kainan sa Kubo ni Ka Ipe. It's near Kalayaan Avenue and Malingap Street - 89 Malumanay st., to be exact, and it's interesting because it's got a creeping vine growing on the ceiling (see pictures on the left and below). It's said that the plant just crept inside and started to grow and it's now the main attraction of the eatery. It's got a nipa roof and wooden furniture which gives it an airy and refreshing nayon ambiance, especially with the wind chimes, seashell chandeliers, and big windows. It definitely has a rustic Filipino charm that's adorable.

The Kubo ni Ka Ipe is run by Nida Najera and was borne from her efforts catering food to her tenants. This led to the establishment, and turned space in her residence into something useful. The standard menu has the usual Filipino toppings like the "silogs" (rice meals with egg), but they also have house specialties like the dinuguan. Lunch "turo-turo" meals are also available. The restaurant caters to nearby offices and bilao pancit orders are popular for corporate events. Once you see the vine on the ceiling (left' below), you will really be impressed. Yes, it's the conversation piece on every table and you'll likely look at it more than the History Channel show on the television set in the corner.

If you're in the area, you might want to check out Kainan sa Kubo ni Ka Ipe with your friends, stay for a while and soak in the Filipino eating experience.You might even be able to identify the plant, if you're into botany or agriculture.

 

Manila Travel Guide (Philippines Insider Guides Book 3) 

Slice 'N Dice Steakhouse Rice and Gravy Meals in Quezon City

Slice 'N Dice is a steakhouse in Metro Manila that's getting to be popular because of it's gravy rice meals. There's one along Kalayaan Ave. in Quezon City. People often pass by it but seldom take the time to check what it has to offer but it has its gravy rice meal that come with sirloin, pork, and chicken sliced and diced toppings mixed with the rice.

The meal comes with a generous helping of gravy, which is something that Filipinos have grown to enjoy with chicken as a dip instead of as a side to rice. The gravy with the rice meals of Slice 'N Dice is to be poured on top of the rice while it's still hot. Then, you eat! The rice meal of your choice is light yet filling and its simplicity makes is a quick meal of choice if you're in a hurry or need a quick fix to get you going. If you wish, you can order one with fried or even scrambled egg. The gravy goes well with the diced and sliced beef, pork or chicken, but some people may simply prefer it with the chicken.

  

Lundberg White Jasmine Rice, 32 Oz

Holy Week Catholic Procession in Quezon City

Holy Wednesday night at a church in Sikatuna Village in Quezon City (earlier photo, top and left). The procession of the holy icons is ready to begin as the mass inside concludes (photo; bottom). Such processions are held all over the country during Lent in the Holy Week. Procession like these go around the community of the church with the participating parishioners carrying candles and praying in recollection of the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ as the savior of humankind. In some processions, the faithful also sing, even when the usual church songs are sung in a different tune.

Unfortunately it is also during the Holy Week that Filipinos also flock to the beaches to unwind and spend time with family in outings planned months ahead. For many Filipinos who have to work, the four days of holy days are the only time in summer that they can have a break apart from any leave of absences they may still have left. It's a commpn quandary in the Philippines, whether to focus on the spiritual first or to satisfy the needs of the body and mind in order to recuperate from the stresses of work.

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