It's always fun trying out unique dishes, but there will always be days when we just want to enjoy familiar Filipino dishes. Well, you don't actually have to choose one or the other because Simplé Lang offers well-loved Filipino dishes that are presented in a way that will still excite the adventurous eater in you.
The modern and minimalist interiors with an open kitchen tell you that though this restaurant serves simple Filipino dishes, what you're about to eat are definitely not your grandmother's cooking. The dishes at Simplé Lang are very familiar Filipino flavors but always have some sort of twist to them.
Take my drink for example. I had the Calamansi"ade" (P85) which is a take on Calamansi juice but is mixed with lemonade, making it even more citrusy and refreshing. I love how it's not too sweet, and that you can really taste the fruity flavor because they use freshly squeezed juices.
For starters, we had the Crispy Ukoy and Green Mango Salad (P140). I love the contrast of the very light and crunchy ukoy with the juicy and tart green mangoes.
The greens of the Tinapa't Tops (P185) were very fresh, and each bite had a pop of saltiness because of the tinapa.
One of their best-sellers, the Crispy Palabok (P275) is a playful interpretation of this noodle dish. Not only did the crispy noodles have a unique texture compared to the usual soft one, it also held the flavorful sauce very well.
For pork lovers, I would recommend the Crispy "Chop Chop" Pork Belly Dinakdakan (P195). One look at that shiny, crispy skin (and yes, it was indeed very crispy) on bite size chunks of meaty pork belly is enough to make you forget about your diet.
Another pork dish for those who are a little bit more adventurous is the Sinigang na Crispy Bagnet sa Watermelon (P395). Now, before you roll your eyes as you read "Sinigang" and "Watermelon" in the same phrase, give it first a chance. The watermelon does give it an interesting flavor but you won't taste anything unpleasant. The fruitiness of the watermelon actually contrasts the acidity of the Sinigang, giving this dish a more balanced flavor.
Something more traditional is their Mixed BBQ Plate (P595). If you can't decide what kind of barbecue you want, this has chicken, pork and squid to make things easier for you. All of the meat were very tender, and I like how the marinade isn't too sweet.
To balance out all the meat, we also had some vegetable. Well, sort of, if you only consider the eggplant in the Chorizo Tortang Talong "Pancake" (P160). Tortang talong is pretty ordinary for us Filipinos, but it's made more luxurious because it's topped with chorizo and salted egg. The sweet chorizo and salty egg really added a lot of flavor to the eggplant.
We ate all of these dishes with their Sisig Fried Rice (P180). I know it may sound too sinful but it was actually flavourful without being too overpowering. You can already eat it on its own, but it's still subtle enough to eat with other viands.
We only had a few minutes to recover from the incredible feast we just had when dessert was served. Their Simple Lang Halo-Halo (P175) and Buko Pandan Pinipig Crunch (P150) were traditional Filipino desserts that definitely hit the spot. Sweet, rich, and creamy -- you can't go wrong with the classics.
Something really cool is their Turon Bites (P95). It's basically banana and bicho-bicho smothered in condensed milk and topped with sesame seeds. Eating this dish definitely reminded me of my childhood when I would eat condensed milk straight from the can. The bicho-bicho was light and crunchy in contrast to the soft and chewy saba. Not only was this dish fun to eat with the skewers, it was also very yummy.
With so many restaurants out there offering international cuisines and fusion dishes, it's nice to go back to the the simple things... with a little bit of a twist.
Thank you to Ms. Michele Magtoto and Ms. Carmela Sison of Raintree Restaurants, and to Aldous Calubad for inviting me!
I was too shy to do a full on vlog there, but here's a sneak peek of my experience!
Simplé Lang
Ayala Triangle Gardens,
Makati City
621-6161
Disclaimer: I was invited to this food tasting event but all opinions are mine.
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