Flavors of Asia

Call us food junkies, intrepid cuisine enthusiasts or just plain hungry. When it comes to food, no one is more willing to push the envelope — taste and appetite-wise, at least — than we are. At The Block, we more than meet our match. The selection of restaurants is staggering. The Asian joints alone are a significant number. For a mall that prides itself on the ultimate dining experience, more is always merrier at The Block. Here, fusion cuisine mingles with fast-food fare. Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, American, Italian, and Filipino cuisine are all within reach. Hungry yet? Take a look around. There’s more to see and taste.

Healthy Shabu Shabu: Table service at its best

With every order of the individual set, every diner gets the trifecta of flavor: satay sauce, a little plate of garlic and chili and a special dipping sauce. Add a vegetable platter and you’ve got a steaming hot dinner that’s cooked just to your specifications. Bestsellers include Angus beef set (P575), thinly sliced layers of high-grade US beef, and mixed seafood set (P405), consisting of shrimp, squid, oysters, fish fillet and sea cucumber. Ala carte cooked dishes, like the mixed Angus beef fried rice, (P255) are also worth trying.

Healthy Shabu Shabu is located at 3/f The Block (tel. 442-0036).

Jatujak: The heat is on

At this lowkey Thai joint, customers can choose between mild, medium and hot, depending on the degree of heat they prefer in their curry. There’s a lot to choose from here. Start with a refreshing salad to beat the heat, like the crispy catfish with mango salad (P195), made with deep-fried catfish that’s flaked and topped with peanuts, mango, and Thai dressing, and finish your meal with a hearty curry and fluffy Thai rice. 

Jatujak is located at 4/f The Block (tel. 442-0094).

Martabak: Putting Malaysia on the food map

Indo-Malay cuisine looks a lot like hours. Hearty stews like Rendang Sapi (P185), resembles beef caldereta in looks and flavor profile. The satay ayam (P140), chicken breasts on a stick marinated in a peanut and sweet soy sauce is remarkably similar to the chicken barbecue sold in restaurants. But certain spices native to Indonesia can be found in many of these dishes. It’s worth a try to sample something a little outside our comfort zone.

Martabak is located at 4/f The Block (tel. 442-0387).

Banana Leaf Asian Cafe:

Fusion done right

You can sample all of Asia with just a few selections from this resto’s menu. With dishes that hail from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India, and Indonesia, just picking one can be a challenge. Our suggestion? Go for HK chef Lenny Yu’s favorites: Penang char kway teow (P188) and tilapia in Malaysian cream sauce (P238). You can trust the guy who created Banana Leaf’s menu.

Banana Leaf is located at 3/f The Block (tel. 442-0808).