Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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​My first visit ever on Chow King

I've seen Chow King everywhere in the Philippines but it was until now I tried it for the first time. The menu is not that exciting but the food was good and the portions surprisingly big compared to for example Jolibee. This particular Chow King is located near the centre of Toril.

The concept: Western fast food service style with Chinese food

For those who doesn't heard about Chow King, it is a Philippine-based chain. The concept combines a Western fast food service style with Chinese food. Chowking predominantly sells noodle soups, dim sum, and rice toppings. The company was founded in 1985, at a time when Western-style burger joints were dominating the Philippine fast food scene.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
3 Food 
3 Service
3 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here April 2015.

Chow King
J. Rasay Street, Corner Agton Street, Toril, Davao City
Chow King Toril Davao

Chow King (Toril, Davao)

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Una Pizzeria, better than average (2014)

My first review 2014 I wrote this: We had pasta and pizza and compared to certain fast food places here in the Philippines which have the same type of food, this was by far better. Otherwise nothing special.

The café latte is best in town (2016)

In February 2016 I visited Pizzeria Una three times. The restaurant is located opposite of the Fernandos Hotel which I was currently staying at. The food is still good. I tried pork spiced with herbs the Italian style with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. Second time I went for the traditional pizza. Their café latte is best in town together with blueberry cheesecake, although to my knowledge this might be the only place in Sorsogon where they serve this! So the competition isn't that fierce. The staff is friendly but not really attentive. I often had to wait for ordering the food, getting the bill and refilling of the water. They tend also to have the AC very cold so for me at least who doesn't want to sit in the full blast of cold air I had to chose my table with care.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
3 Service
4 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here September 2014 and February 2016.

​Una Pizzeria
Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines
Phone: ​+63 56 211 3945

​Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!
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The big burgers out of stock!

It was crowded like crazy. They misinterpreted our order so we got three colas instead of two. But it was smoothly corrected though. They were also out of stock of the big burgers so just the small burgers were available. Generally speaking I prefer MCDO instead of Jollibee. The location is in the central of Sorsogon.
In February 2016 I was here twice and guess what? Both times they were out of stock of the big burgers again! And there was still no MCDO in town.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
2 Food 
3 Service
3 Value
1 Atmosphere
Was here first time in September 2014

Jollibee Sorsogon
LKY Mall | Magsaysay Street, Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines
Picture
​Hmm I am longing for my big burgers!
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​Best baby back ribs in Sorsogon

If it hadn't been for less good service, I had given them 5 out of 5. To serve the food and letting us wait for the plates makes me annoyed. There were some other minor issues as well but anyway the staff were friendly after all. We ate the baby back ribs and Sinigang na Hipon (soup with vegetables and giant shrimps). The food was excellent. The CR for men was without tissue paper and soap. So in protest I used the CR for women which was equipped with both tissue paper and soap... The restaurant is located 5-10 min drive with tricycle from the city centre of Sorsogon.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food 
4 Service
5 Value
5 Atmosphere
Was here in September 2014

Casa Dominga
8 Alegre St. Maharlika Highway, AH26, Sorsogon City, 4700, Philippines
​Phone: +63 908 892 6584
​Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!
We were the only guests here this evening. Baby back ribs. Tender, juicy and delicious. Sinigang na Hipon, a Filipino sour soup dish with shrimp as the main ingredient. The sizzling baby back ribs. All servings were huge and tasty. Busy eating the delicious food. Related links: Ligñon Hill in Legazpi The rolling landscape of Bicol Mt Mayon, Philippines View from Paguriran Island (Sorsogon, Philippines) Review of Una Pizzeria Restaurant (Sorsogon, Philippines) Review of Jollibee restaurant (Sorsogon, Philippines) Review of Santa Clara Park Hotel (Sorsogon, Philippines)
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​Santa Clara Park Hotel is really a great place, can be recommended!

I stayed here for several nights. My room was spacious with a nice view over the compound. Everything was nice and clean. Friendly and service minded staff. No WiFi in the room but I stayed in the room 5 near the bar so most of the time I could enjoy free WiFi.

The breakfast not recommended though

They had only one type of breakfast 200 PHP, nothing wrong with it but it was an American dull breakfast with nothing special at all. Not recommended. Apart from that no other food was available. But since I had a fridge in the room I had my own stuff and it was ok to eat it in the bar. Coffee was complimentary. Only a few other guests were here under my stay. The location was 5 min by tricycle from the city of Sorsogon.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Location
5 Sleep Quality
5 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
Stayed here in September 2014

Santa Clara Park Hotel
Maharlika Highway Pangpang, Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines
Santa Clara Park Hotel
The front desk
My room, second floor with the big window. Room nr 5.
View from the room.
You could eat your breakfast here.
Breakfast was not complimentary. 200 PHP for this, not recommended.
Very nice and quiet surroundings.
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My favorite hotel, 88 Courtyard  Hotel in Manila

Good value for the money, fresh and clean, good location. This hotel seems to be newly built or renovated. The only negative is their WiFi, it's supposed to be working in every room but it doesn't. The only place in the hotel you can be reasonable sure that's working is in the lobby area. A minor detail is when your WiFi connected device been idle for just a little while (around 2 minutes) then you need to logg in with user name and password again. So frustrating! Apart from that their Pancit Guisado is one of the best I have tried... and trust me I have tried a lot Pancits allover the Philippines.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location
5 Sleep Quality
5 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
Stayed here in September 2014

88 Courtyard Hotel
24 Roxas Blvd | Corner of Cuneta Ave, Pasay, Luzon 1300, Philippines
Phone: 00 63 2558 0188
Courtyard Hotel room

My hotel room at 88 Courtyard Hotel, Manila

breakfast kenny rogers manila

Breakfast at Kenny Rogers is included