Beef Gyudon (P245)
It’s as good as it looks. This bowl of rice, glass noodles, beef, and egg topped with sesame seeds is sure to satisfy any hungry tummy. Leslie Sy, our resident car guru, made a good decision with this one; the salty-sweetness of the tender beef pieces will linger in your taste buds long after you finish your bowl.
Beef Stew Ramen (P245)
The noodle dishes at Bubble Tea come with ramen or udon options. Editorial Director Ferman Lao opted for the ramen, but something tells me he probably should have tried the udon instead. Simply put, the soup of the Beef Stew Ramen was quite delicious, especially when consumed warm; it’s like one of those comfort foods on a rainy day. As for the ramen noodles, let’s just say you’ll enjoy it if you enjoy the taste of instant noodles.
Seafood Fry Marinara (P285)
Just to add variety to our lineup, I decided to try the Seafood Fry Marinara. I, for one, love pasta, and was in the mood for some seafood. However, I wasn’t all too psyched about my order. The pasta was okay, but it wasn’t anything out of ordinary. And quite frankly, the fried seafood toppings of tempura and calamari were rather dry.
Takoyaki (P175, 8 pieces)
For anyone who’s eaten the cheaper mall kiosk variants of the takoyaki, Bubble Tea’s serving will be a well-received change. In our group, Chris Kho, Kotse's very own EIC, is arguable the most experienced with this dish, and he regards Bubble Tea’s Takoyaki as a tastier variety of the road-side takoyaki. The firm outer ball is a good contrast to the chewy octopus bits in the middle.
Dynamite Sushi (P295, 8 pieces)
Bubble Tea rated this one as a “superstar” on their menu; we can see why. Not only did this sushi look appetizing it was also bursting with flavor. They weren’t stingy on the toppings, and the sauce on it added an extra oomph. As for its price - well, yes - it is a bit on the pricey side, but we doubt you’d complain after eating it.
Bubble Salad Sushi (P165, 4 pieces)
This one came off as a surprise to us, as we ordered the Bubble Salad Sushi on a whim to try something different. We had no idea what we were getting; but when the plate came, we were really happy with it, and we can only hope the order had more than four pieces to it. The mild salty-sweet flavor is a welcome difference from the strong zest of the Dynamite Sushi. You’ll have to try this one for yourself. And don’t worry; those four pieces of sushi are anything but small.
When it was time for Bubble Tea’s specialties, we were looking forward to a unique experience. After all, this is what they’re supposed to be known for, right?
Honey Dew Melon Milk Tea with Mango Bits (P145, large)
It was more like pandan than honey dew, really. If you’re into the grassy flavors that leave a hint of spearmint in your every inhale, then the Honey Dew Melon Milk Tea might be what you’re looking for. Meanwhile, we’re still looking for those elusive mango bits.
Coconut Milk Tea (P125, large)
It is as the name says: coconut milk. Completely homogeneous. Coconut milk taste and nothing but. Perhaps getting a medium-sized serving would have been a better idea.
Azuki Red Bean Milk Shake (P145, large)
I’m really not a fan of Azuki red bean, or any bean for that matter, but I gave this one a sip anyway, and was pleasantly greeted by grainy textures that I normally wouldn’t be happy about. Not bad at all. The extra ice cream on top (+P10 for milk based drinks) helped. Azuki Red Bean Milk Shake is a satisfactory break for those wishing to be a little more adventurous.
Mocha Milk Shake (P145, large)
It seems like Bubble Tea has confused some drinks for others. First, the honey dew that was more like pandan, and now the mocha milk shake that tastes more like chocolate. Hmm. It might be the long drinks list that got everyone in a spin. Still, I wouldn’t be so sad about the Mocha Milk Shake, especially with ice cream added on top, but if you’re looking for that caffeinated zing, it’s not here.
Overall, I’d give Bubble Tea a passing three and a half stars out of five, if I ever gave our Food Trips a grade. Although the Beef Gyudon, Dynamite Sushi, and Bubble Salad Sushi were dishes I’d come back for, I was somewhat let down by their bubble teas. Don’t get me wrong; those teas and shakes weren’t bad, and neither were any of them small. However, I did have higher expectations from the establishment, especially because of their name.
We walked out of Bubble Tea full and satisfied, but the experience wasn’t particularly unique as we hoped it would be. Regardless, for those looking for some casual Japanese (especially with the ambiance to match), a visit to Bubble Tea wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Slip into other Bubble Tea's "Tokyo Milk Tea Place" branches located at SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, and Tomas Morato.
