Ever heard of that restaurant in Tarlac that features a special wall where you can vent your frustrations and anger? The restaurant is called “Isdaan” and the wall is called the “Tacsiyapo wall”. Ever since it was featured in various TV shows for this unique feature, a lot of people have taken interest in this restaurant. However, it’s quite far from the Metro Manila area, which makes going there for just using the wall quite a hassle.

Fortunately, the restaurant has put up a branch nearby that’s very accessible to those living in the greater Manila area and even surrounding provinces. This branch is located near Bay, Laguna, specifically in Calauan, Laguna. It’s located along the national highway and about 71 kilometers away from Makati which would take (give and take) around 1-2 hours of travel time depending on traffic.

This branch has been reportedly owned by the Barrio Fiesta Group and the actress Heart Evangelista. And just like its main branch in Tarlac, the one in Calauan also features the Tacsiyapo wall. Aside from the Tacsiyapo wall, the restaurant also features a myriad of gigantic and life-sized statues including that of Buddha, several types of animals, famous political figures and even characters from your favorite animated movies and TV shows. And not to mention the various water features located throughout the restaurant which are perfect for taking pictures.

As for the food, Isdaan offers mostly Filipino-themed recipes from fried seafood, savory soups and dishes and grilled food among others. But be prepared to wait and often times fall in line as the restaurant has been reported to have a not so efficient customer service. Past customers have reported that food serving time is quite awful especially if you’re on a hurry or really hungry. And since the restaurant follows a first come, first serve policy, you might want to come earlier to avoid wasting too much time.

As for the price, Isdaan mostly targets middle to high income consumer groups. An ordinary meal (sharing) would cost at least P300-P400 and can cost even higher depending on the food you want, so for those looking for a cheap dining experience, Isdaan might not be the most economical choice for you.

Nevertheless, the appeal of the restaurant is really on the Tacsiyapo wall and the various figures and statues placed in the entire property. As for the food and service, the restaurant is yet to improve on this.

Have you been to Isdaan? Tell us your experience by leaving a comment below. Meanwhile, for other Filipino lifestyle stories, you can TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus or subscribe to their RSS feeds using this link.

Thai food isn’t really something that’s easily accessible to common Filipinos. And it’s not because it’s expensive, but rather it is the lack of restaurants serving the cuisine that’s making Thai food very hard to find. So it is very interesting to know that there are now restaurants that let common people give their taste buds that rare Thai food experience.

Jatujak is one great example of these kinds of restaurants. The brand currently has 3 branches in the Metro, all of which are located inside SM malls. There’s one in SM North EDSA’s The Block, one in Mall of Asia and in SM Megamall.

We went to their SM Megamall branch and tried out some of their dishes. Fortunately, I’ve taken some notes to help you guys out in case you want to check out their store and have a taste of the Thai recipes they are serving. So without further ado, here’s a list of what you can expect at Jatujak restaurants when you decide to dine there.

The Ambiance

The over-all look and feel of their branch in SM Megamall is very mild and unassuming. It’s probably because the store is located in the far end of Megamall A. The store is also quite small. There are only a few tables inside the store (which can probably sit less than 20 people comfortably) and even fewer tables outside.

The tables are also quite small, so if you’re planning to order a lot of food, be prepared to have a somehow cramped table. When it comes to décor, it’s a little bit surprising that the restaurant doesn’t have that unmistakable Thai feel. For someone who’s’ not very familiar with the Thai culture, it’s really easy to forget that you’re dining in a Thai restaurant just by looking at the design of the store.

And the background music playing in the store isn’t really Thai, so all in all, if you’re really critical when it comes to having that unique and genuine Thai experience, you might be better off finding another restaurant, otherwise, Jatujak’s just fine.

The Menu

Unlike its Chinese and Japanese restaurant competitors, Jatujak has a menu that is slightly more affordable. So those who are on a tight budget would be delighted that they can spend less when eating at this restaurant. However, the slightly cheaper price is reflected in the also slightly less serving size. And this is most evident in their rice platters.

A normal rice platter in a Chinese restaurant would easily cost P200 and would feed a group of 2 to 3 heavy rice eaters. The one in Jatujak costs less than P200 but would only fit for 1 to 2 heavy rice consumers.

When it comes to the variety of the menu, this restaurant does offer a number of choices to consumers which includes barbecue dishes (their so-called “sate” dishes), curries, salads, rice and noodle variants, soups and of course their iced teas.

Customer Service

Customer service is probably Jatujak’s saving grace. Even if it lacks the proper ambiance and an excellent selection of food, the restaurant makes up for great customer service. Its waiters are very accommodating and very knowledgeable with the store’s menu, even recommending which dishes are best combined with each other.

Serving time of the food we ordered didn’t take more than 10 minutes and waiters and waitresses will immediately refill your bottomless drink with just one call.

THE VERDICT

To sum it all up, Jatujak is a pretty average store offering a considerable amount of food choices for those food trippers out there. However, it does fail to give that unique overall Thai experience to consumers specifically in terms of the environment and the food.

Also, the small food serving size also doesn’t make it an exceptional choice if you want to get more bang out of your buck. So it’s probably better to recommend Jatujak to those casual food trippers who don’t pig out so much and those who just want to have something a little bit different every once in a while.

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A few weeks ago, I decided to join my adventurous office mates' food trip to Dampa sa Libis, QC. I didn't really expect anything from the place since I've already tried eating at 2 different Dampa Restaurants in the last two years, so I'm kinda thinking it will be the same experience.And the thing that I was actually really looking forward to, is the bonding moment that I'm going to have with them.

We arrived at around 5-6pm and the place wasn't that crowded. Or maybe because, it was a weekday when we went there.

Don't expect something fancy :) 

The Market Place

Vegetables and Fruits

They also have a huge parking lot for their customers. 

While waiting for your food, you can stroll around the Tiangge and look for something interesting to buy.

   

Tempura : Sobrang sarap nitoooo! 

For a group of 10, like us. We spent PHP 3,000 for 4 viands, around 10-12 cups of rice and one order of pancit plus drinks. The cooking charges will cost around a hundred to 200 pesos per kilo. The rice is 20-25php per cup. 

And over all, the experience was great and it was really SULIT for us.We're so full and I enjoyed it more than my first two experiences.  I'm definitely coming back and if you haven't yet, go visit "Dampa Sa Libis" at Libis, QC.