GOOD FOOD = GOOD MOOD
Not all malls can offer as many must-try restaurants as SM Mall of Asia can. There are so many options that it can be difficult to decide which one to try.
Update: Don't forget to read Part 1 of the SM Mall of Asia Taste Tour for a completely different set of restaurants
Mall of Asia knows that good food = good mood so check out this whole day course they’ve suggested for their hungry guests! We at Booky challenge you to try out this food crawl with your best food buddies.
Allow us to join you on your food adventure by tagging on Instagram (@bookyapp) or Twitter (@bookymanila). Don’t forget to follow the account!
Yayoi
Yayoi (pronounced ya-yo-wee) is a contemporary Japanese restaurant offering set menu dining, called teishoku. Teishoku sets usually come with a serving of Japanese rice, a main dish, hot miso soup, and tsukemono (Japanese pickles), making it a great option for those on the hunt for filling meals at reasonable prices.
Customers can order their meals, and call for service, on iPads attached to each table. Pretty futuristic for a franchise that has been around since 1886!
Apart from the meal sets, Yayoi also offers small plates and starters like salad, tempura, udon, and of course, sushi rolls.
We recommend sampling any of their best-selling rolls: the Ebi Fry Roll, the Spicy Salmon Roll, the Spicy Kani Roll, and the new Beef Yakiniku Roll.
No reservations accepted
View menu
View their Instagram account
2/F SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Drive, Pasay
(02) 821-6082
Zubuchon
There’s a reason Anthony Bourdain called this the best pig he’s ever had. Zubuchon prides itself on only using the best local ingredients: natural sea salt, native coconut vinegar, and backyard-raised pigs. They claim the secret to their lechon’s succulent meat is never adding MSG, food coloring, or any chemical preservatives.
We can’t think of anyone who would be able to resist that perfectly crisp, mahogany brown skin. You’ll find shards of that good stuff in a number of dishes including their signature Zubuchon Pancit, Zubuchon Sisig, and Zubuchon Kare-Kare, to name a few.
Don’t sleep on their Chorizo Lumpia and Fish Skin Tacos. The latter is a must-try, featuring kinilaw na tanigue served with deep-fried fish skins!
Reservations are not accepted
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View their Instagram
G/F SM Mall of Asia, Main Bldg. (near SM Hypermarket)
Chun Yuen
Chun Yuen is a Chinese restaurant that finds its roots in the province of Wuxi. The flavors of Wuxi cuisine are often light and sweet, focusing on seasonal ingredients, especially seafood and fresh vegetables.
Insider Tip: They serve a noodle dish that features both seafood and veggies in a light broth, it's a must-try!
If you’re looking for a quick bite, they also have wontons on the menu but the dish they are most proud of is their Xiao Long Bao.
They claim their soup dumplings are the most authentic in the country today as xiaolongbao is thought to have originated from Wuxi and Shanghai.
Authentic or not, they’re delicious and unlike any in the Metro. The meat filling is on the sweet side but the broth is so meaty and flavorful that it creates that perfectly balanced bite.
Reservations are not accepted
View menu
View their Facebook page
G/F Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia Complex
Basil
Basil is an authentic Thai restaurant that first gained popularity in White Plains, Katipunan. Take one step inside their branch in SM MOA and you’ll quickly forget that you are in a mall. The beautiful space mimics the garden-like interiors of the original branch.
Like the decor, the food has not changed either. Basil continues to serve the best of what Thailand has to offer.
The essence of Thai food is all about balance – achieving the perfect harmony between sweet, sour, hot and salty.
Pungent fresh herbs, such as lemongrass and galangal, tone down overpowering spices, while salty sauces are tempered with sugars and offset by acids, such as lemon and lime. You’ll notice this in many of their signature dishes like Pad Thai, Crispy Fish with Green Mango Salad, and Red Beef Curry.
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View their Instagram account
G/F North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
(02) 810-0973
Paper Moon Cafe
No meal is completely without sweets but after a whole day of stuffing yourself silly, a light dessert is just what you need. Paper Moon Cafe specializes in exactly that with their many variations of mille crepe
Mille crepe cakes are made by layering paper-thin crêpes with ethereal light pastry cream. The alternating crêpe and cream layers literally melt in your mouth, leaving a subtle sweet finish.
Reservations are not accepted
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View their Instagram
G/F North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
Tokyo Ice Cafe
If you’re following this food tour on a hot day, what better way is there to cool down than with an ice cold kakigori? Kakigōri is a traditional Japanese shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup and a sweetener, often condensed milk. Tokyo Ice Cafe makes them in various flavors including mango, matcha, honey, and lemon.
Fun Fact: Did you know halo-halo came kakigori? The iconic Filipino dessert was said to have been created during the Japanese occupation which is probably why they're so similar!
If you think you’d enjoy something a bit lighter and creamier, try their new Japanese cheesecake! It’s airy – almost like a mousse because of the way it’s whipped. You can enjoy it with a Ningyo-yaki bear, but the best way to enjoy these cute little bears is with chocolate or matcha dipping sauce.
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View their Instagram
G/F North Wing, SM Mall of Asia
All that walking is enough to make you hungry for the next food stop, so try out MOA’s Taste Tour ASAP.
Search for ‘MALL OF ASIA‘ on the Booky app to see the complete list of restaurants with their corresponding menu and details of location. Share with us your experiences by tagging us on Instagram @bookyapp and using the hashtag #bookymanila when you post your photos online.