Tikim29: Sichuan Hot in Komrad (Eastwood, Quezon City)

When you see the "Sichuan", what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For me, Sichuan equates to spicy food! Yey for me since I love spicy! It is actually my second time in Komrad (Mao's Hunan and Sichuan Kitchen) as I write this review. I also found out that one of the owner's of the restaurant is the celebrity, Marvin Agustin. Just like his other food food ventures Sumo Sam and John and Yoko, Komrad has its familiar taste of interior style. Kudos to the interior styling and the ambiance of the place, it really brings out the theme; in this case you'll feel that you are brought back to the time of Mao's propaganda days.

Komrad Mao's Hunan & Sichuan Kitchen*

Propaganda posters and stair tables add an authentic feel to the Mao Theme

There were electric fans inside the restaurant on my second visit; sad that it obstracts the interiors. Still, it was quite warm inside the restaurant, it certainly wasn't the spice! 

Why Mao? Hunan is the home province of Mao.

Food-wise it was nothing spectacular and I didn't got that hot from the spice. I suggest they have a spice meter when asking a customer if they want their food to be not spicy, mild spicy, or hot spicy! My parents also got a bit disappointed with the food serving because the pictures from the menu looked big but it wasn't. On the table....


Ordered 2 kinds of siomai, one is steamed Hunan Cumin dumpling [first photo] and the other one is the Komrad garlic siomai [second photo]. The Hunan siomai tastes more beefy and you can really taste the chili essence while the komarad garlic siomai is a fried normal pork siomai topped with chili garlic, this is not so spicy so it's good for those who arent fond of spicy food.

Steamed Hunan Cumin Dumpling P135

Komrad Garlic Siomai P185

See the difference!

My family likes this one, they say the pork belly was soft and tender, but serving was small! We initially thought this would be bigger because it seemed so at the menu.

Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables P288

These are not the shrimp balls that I imagined. I thought they would be ground shrimp in ball shapes! These are like crystal shrimp balls with their Kung Pao sauce.

Kung Pao Shrimp Ball P325 

This is one of the restaurant's specialties. It didn't look appetizing but my family liked it!

Sichuan Fish Fillet With Preserved Vegetables

Not so spicy Mapo Tofu. It lacks flavor, I also wished it was served in a clay pot with smaller cubes of Tofu.

Mapo Tofu P255

Rock Lobsters have a special section in their menu!

Sichuan Rock Lobster With Minced Pork P625

It tastes just like the banana fritters of Peking Garden Restaurant. Just thought it went over with the toffee. ^.^ Not a sweet tooth!

For dessert, Toffee Banana Fritters P98

All in all, it was good but then again Mao's Hunan & Sichuan Kitchen didn't dazzled for me. :)

Taste: 3/5 
Quality: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5


Komrad. Mao's Hunan & Sichuan Kitchen
Address: 2nd Level, Veranda, Eastwood Mall
               Orchard Road, Bagumbayan, Libis,
               Quezon City
Telephone: 994-8123/ 921-3440


*Credits: Spread some awesome for the photo
 [http://spreadsomeawesome.com/2011/09/15/komrad-maos-hunan-and-sichuan-kitchen-in-eastwood-mall/]

Tikim15: Ramen bar (Eastwood, Quezon City) by Rich Tiu

Slurp. As their shirt says, you need not be shy in slurping the night (or day) away in this ramen place. The name says it all... Ramen Bar. Simple. Clear. Direct to the point.

Minimalistic interior

Menu is clean and direct; don't forget the side dishes! :)

If like me, you love spicy food, then I'd recommend the Spicy Karaage Ramen. It is a spicy shoyu based ramen topped with fried boneless chicken. 

Spicy Karaage Ramen

Up close and personal

The other one that we had was the Sapporo Miso Ramen, miso infused ramen topped with tamago, naruto, negi, chasyu, butter and corn. As the name implies this one taste like miso soup.

Sapporo Miso Ramen

Last but not the least, do try their gyoza! Their version is deep fried, you'll feel some crunch as 

you bite into it. All in all, two thumbs up.

Gyoza can be fried or steamed

Quality 4/5

Price 4/5

Ambiance 4/5

Ramen Bar

G/F Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City

570-9457

*restaurant review by my brother, Richmond Tiu