Samgyupsal and Coffee: The partnership that I did not expect!

Few months ago, my foodie friends who are fond of buffet invited me to go out for dinner after several months of eating home-cooked meals due to covid. At that time we decided to eat at Samgyupsalamat, a Korean restaurant serving unlimited charcoal pork/beef BBQ for a change. Korean resto hits the Pinoy's enchantment with everything Korean, from BTS, to kimchi, and Korean drama. And it's a refreshing alternative from the mundane selection of grilled seafoods, lechon, and fried chicken.

Samgyupsalamat

Photo from Samgyupsalamat FB page

We picked the unli2 option that has 10 kinds of pork and beef cuts and marinates. The other option is the unli1 which has five kinds of pork meat cut. I guess the number of pork or beef meat is the differentiator between the two options. As you get to enjoy the same side dishes on both selection. The soju is not included though. Please refer above for the price at that time. As of this posting they recently increased their price to P549.

Photo from Samgyupsalamat FB page

Samgyeopsal means three layer of flesh distinctly showing in pork belly part. It is like a bacon cut except that it is not cured. It is normally grilled fresh however as time goes by people tend to reinvent it and added flavors. Some smoked and cured the meat to meet the demand. The side dishes also varies. Samgyupsalamat has 11 side dishes, rice not included. These are, marinated onion, fermented raddish, kimchi, marble potato, sweet potato, fish cake, japchae, pamoochim, denjang soup, gerang jjim, and lettuce.

screengrab from Samgyupsalamat FB Page

I have tried samgyeop-sal (삼겹살) before however it uses elctric plate in grilling compared to samgyupsalamat which utilizes actual charcoal log or sticks. Despite expectations to common restaurant practices, charred meat from natural charcoal has the best result. The taste and smokiness of the pork belly gradually reducing its fat will transport you back to your backyard on weekend grilling with your friends. And their kimchi is so 'deliciously Filipino' the combination of flavors will burst in your mouth. The other side dishes also complemented the entire experience.

Tom & Toms Promenade Mactan

We left the restaurant at around 9 in the evening and decided to go to Starbucks but there was too much crowd and will not accomodate the four of us so we went to Tom N Toms at the Promenade Mactan instead. The shop is secluded and isolated, perfect for chilling. I loved to experience my coffee, indulging the bitter taste and mild aroma over small talks and catching ups. And the shop definitely cooperated.

screengrab from TonNToms FB page

We ordered a frappe, mocha, an americano, and their version of garlic bread. Nothing special just enough to enjoy the evening.

screengrab from TomNToms FB Page

The coffee after samgyupsal was a partnership I did not expect. It somehow comforted my bloated tummy haha after eating unlimited meat. According to cartacoffee.com, drinking coffee after a heavy meal actually help contracts your intestinal muscle which in turns helps move the food and waste faster. So that probably explains why. Although some medical studies suggested that drinking coffee after a meal interferes with absorption of nutrients according to Mashed . I guessed it all boils down to moderation. Everything when too much is not beneficial.

We explore the promenade after and hit the road home and call it a day. I will definitely try it in the future.

Have you tried coffee after a heavy meal? How was it? Please comment down below.

**all photos are owned by the author unless otherwise stated