Friday, August 12, 2016

Isla Una: Your Urban Filipino Comfort Food

Unknown 4:50 AM Filipino food, Isla Una, Ortigas

Isla Una is a three-storey food haven located in City Golf Plaza, Pasig City that serves authentic Filipino comfort food. I was lucky enough to be invited by my good friend Janine to their grand launch last March 28, wherein I also tagged two of my office mates to share a sumptuous lunch with me.

2nd floor

The first floor is perfect for family gatherings and lunch conferences because it has a bright and eccentric interior, which can accommodate 30-40 people. On the second floor, the interior is cozy and dim. A mini bar on the side completes the club vibe which will definitely attract college students and young professionals. Lastly, the roof deck is perfect for romantic dates and for people who love to chill while having an overlooking view of the Ortigas skyline.

3rd floor

One of the owners, Meliza, welcomed us as we entered the restaurant. The staff gave us their house blend iced tea which is not that sweet; you would really taste the lemon flavor on it. We were given an option to choose among their best sellers on the menu so we decided to order Crispy pata, Sizzling bulalo, Kare-kare, Yamang Dagat and Prawn aligue.

Crispy pata (650php) – Cooked to a perfect crisp and delicious fall-off the bone meat that delivers a carnival of familiar and comforting flavor with every bite. The meat was juicy and crispy just the way everyone likes a crispy pata. Also, the sauce blends perfectly with the meat.

Crispy pata

Kare-kare (360php) – Original Filipino stew of ox feet, ox shank, tripe and native vegetables in ground peanut sauce. The peanut sauce strikes my taste buds because the sauce is creamy, not strong and not bland at the same time.

Kare-kare

Yamang dagat (410php) – Prawns, squid and mussels cooked in a flavorful broth of garlic, ginger and coconut milk. The smell of the coconut milk together with the fresh prawns, squid and mussels was a delight not just in our eyes, but also in our mouths as well. Seafood lovers would definitely love this.

Yamang dagat

Prawn aligue (280php) – Prawns cooked in smothering and creamy aligue sauce. The prawns and aligue sauce complement each other and are perfectly paired with rice. Just watch your blood pressure though before eating this food.

Prawn aligue

Sizzling bulalo (490php) – slow oven-baked beef shanks braised in Filipino style herb mushroom gravy. This was the highlight of my lunch. The beef shank was soft and tender and the gravy just melts in your mouth that will make you want to eat more rice.

Sizzling bulalo

The prices are also not that expensive and are good for sharing. Overall, I enjoyed our lunch stay at Isla Una and will definitely be back to bring my family and friends to experience good authentic Filipino food. If you find yourself longing for the comfort of authentic Filipino cuisine, but aren’t too keen on leaving the urban cityscape, this is the perfect place for you.