Along Felipe Street off P. Burgos in Makati's Red Light District is this hole-in-the-wall offering yakitori delights. You pay as you order then claim a tray table.

Menu is written in chalk on the walls. We have only ordered tofuyaki and quail eggs with bacon this time as we've just dined across the street (El Chupacabra).

Interesting place that demands a revisit. I hear it gets really crowded at night. But the softshell crab beckons. And i hear the beef rib fingers are yum!

It's right smack in Makati's Red Light District -- an alley you wouldn't think of passing through when it gets dark. But that was then. Now brimming with excitement and hipster vibe, this is Felipe Street off P. Burgos.

Burritos, Tacos, Chipotle, Horchata, Anticuchos, Carne Asada, Chunchullos, Chicharrones, Barbacos, Cabrito, Mojitos, Margaritas -- you can't get more Mexican than that.

A hole-in-the-wall actually. They grill the meat up front, where some tables are also set up if you want to dine al fresco. Or stay in, but bear the heat. No airconditioning before 5pm but the fans help.

I say you give it a try. The chipotle pork burritos, carne asada tacos and chorizo gringas were good. So with the horchata. But do try it after 5pm inside the airconditioned interior quarters.   Hmmmm.

There's a great deal more to be said about the Historic Camalig Restaurant in Angeles City, but I'd stick to their bestseller pizza here.

We purposely drove to Camalig for its pizza and kamias shake. Well, this day trip to Pampanga with our balikbayan friend from Down Under just had to offer something way off the ordinary.

On our way out, we stepped on not a few kamias fruits. Must have dropped from the old kamias tree which may have seen as much history as the hundred year-old shed or camalig.

So there. No history lessons here. Just a big fan of that citrus drink which we found so refreshing on this humid day, and the pizza with Pinoy ingredients like cottage cheese, salted duck egg and local sausage called "longganiza".

If you care for Indian cuisine, it's likely you've dined in Kashmir in Pasay Road, Makati. Mecca for many of us who dig those samosas, dhal, lamb curry, gulab!

But a dinner in Kashmir means sharing -- the bigger the group, the better. So what if you just need your samosa or palak paneer fix? What if there's just 2 or 3 of you and you don't really need a full meal?

Worry nut! Kashmir has a take-out counter with a tiny dining space in San Antonio Plaza in Forbes. Just 3 tiny tables. Menu may not be full-blown but samosas, falafel, shawarmas, etc may be enjoyed right here.

We ordered samosas, shawarmas and palak paneer with extra chapatis for sharing among 3 of us. Gulab to finish a good meal. Solved!

My elves have grown into teenagers with a good appetite and an adventurous streak. They are into Indian cuisine now. Loving the flavors too!

If you just want to indulge yourself and keen on bringing home more of this good stuff, try it here in San Antonio Plaza. Below are photos of more of this takeout list.

Tucked within Little Tokyo (2277 Chino Roces St, Makati) is HANA, a hole in the wall that serves the perfect takoyaki balls. Not the kind you'd normally pick up from a stall in the mall, but the real stuff.

There's an assortment of sushi and sashimi to choose from but we were there only for snacks so a good house tea and a couple of dishes were enough then.

Just outside Hana lies "the rest" of Little Tokyo, where you can choose to dine under Japanese lanterns. Perfect with your choice of sake and some other Japanese alcoholic drinks.

But we chose to stay inside. Just me & my teen. By the time we stepped out, the sun has set and Little Tokyo was beginning to look like an alley from somewhere in ... Errr, Tokyo. 😄

When I crave steak, I invariably think of Antonio's or Mamou. The former is tops but you need the patience of a saint to brave the traffic in a 2 hour drive.

Mamou is just around the corner and so accessible. Parking never a problem, traffic very manageable. 😄

It's also a good place to have your softshelled crab salad fix. Crunchy and never oily.

Starting off with veggie dip appetizer, we composed a lunch of steak, salad, and 2 kinds of pasta. The aglio olio is a bit spicy -- which i love -- and the seafood pasta with truffle is divine.

You may find Mamou in Rockwell along the same side as Via Mare & Cantinetta.

Been here a few times before and each time, enjoyed the experience. Yes, the experience. It wasn't just the food. The entire meal is an experience.

From SLEX off the Sta. Rosa Exit driving towards Tagaytay, take the Lagundi shortcut and follow the signs. Chateau Hestia and another Tagaytay food discovery (Bawai) are nearly next to each other, except that the former boasts of a lovely, sprawling garden.

A charming lounge greets the guests passing through the entrance door. The vibe is clearly Bavarian, or Austrian-German, complete with a Deli offerring sausages, cheese, pretzels, ham, etc. If you're just dropping by to buy deli to takeout, good luck!

It would be an ordeal to leave without trying the chateau's pizza. You can try or combine 2 orders in 1 pizza but I tell you, you can't go wrong with any. The wait staff will tell you which are the bestsellers, but be adventurous!

The seafood pasta should go well with any pizza. French-y portions compel you to order more so do try the crusted salmon or the oven-baked pork belly 😢

Too much? Well, be sure you bring your friends with you when you drop by. As for desserts, I'm sure there are plenty of choices but we hardly left room for sweets so we simply shared.

The staff would be more than happy to show you their 2nd floor dining place. Good for parties. And there are now cottages with 7 rooms available for a single or few nights.

Chateau Hestia is open as early as 7am. So would it be breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or just some deli stuff to takeout? A wide range of choices awaits you. What's even more charming is you can linger over your coffee & dessert or wine or homemade limoncello while your kids enjoy the garden.