Raja: an authentic Korean Restaurant in the heart of Tagaytay City

In the heart of Tagaytay City is a Korean Restaurant that serves authentic Korean Dishes. Raja Authentic Korean Restaurant is situated in Magallanes Square, Aguinaldo Highway in Tagaytay City. The place is owned and managed by Koreans and the sumptuous dishes are prepared by a real Korean Chef. The place is frequented by Koreans and Filipinos alike. The curiousity of Filipinos on Korean Foods which eventually turned to love and liking it started from a Korean Teleserye ‘Jewel in the Palace’, it is about the skills of a beautiful Korean cook that prepares the food of the Korean King and it features the beauty of preparation and presentation, sumptuous taste, and nutritional value of Korean Foods. The ambiance of Raja is that of a cozy and homey restaurant with Korean and Asian accents and decors. They have bamboo ceilings, pendant lamps with warm lights, and ample use of wood and bamboo in the interiors of the place. They have regular western tables and low tables where you would have to sit on the floor, with cushions of course, is available if you would want to try and feel how Koreans dine. The place also have Function Rooms, Karaoke Rooms, and a Korean Grocery. According to one of their staff, their best-sellers are Galbi Chim, Bibimbap, Samgyupsal, and Chadol. Most Korean dishes are spicy and with a bit of sweetness, so for those of you who are not into too much spice you have to tell them beforehand of your preference. They offer quite a lot of appetizers including their famous ‘Kimchi’. We tried their Galbi Chim, Jap Che, and a Mackerel fish dish and several of their appetizers. Raja really serves reasonably priced authentic Korean foods that would also suit the Filipino palate. For weekend travelers and visitors of Tagaytay City who would want a taste of Korea while in this cool city, head on to Raja Authentic Korean Restaurant.

The Restaurant

The Food

Appetizers


Kimchi

Jap Che
Galbi Chim
O Jing Eo Bokum
Chado Bak E
Seng Galbi
Mackerel Fish

The Function Rooms

The Grocery

Toby and Tony’s Fantastic Sausages in Tagaytay City

Tagaytay City is fast becoming a place for weekend travelers. Especially for families who would want to unwind from their hectic workweek schedule. And if you are traveling with kids, it is most likely that they would crave for kids’ meals usually consisting of hotdogs, sausages, and burgers. During our last trip to Tagaytay City we found a new place where you and your kids can grab some of the best sausages and burgers in the area at a very decent price. Just along the highway of Tagaytay City right after the Casino Filipino Tagaytay is Toby and Tony’s Fantastic Sausages. This place is not only for kids but teenagers and young adults are also the usual customers. They also have tapsilog, longsilog, tosilog and hotsilog for people who would opt to have rice than bread. And their salads are really very good especially the Swedish West Coast Salad. My son had a great time munching his ‘Winerli’, a sausage and bread for kids. I got to try their bestseller ‘BAMSE Surf and Turf’ and it was really good. They have an outside place with a very laidback ambience so you won’t feel like you are at a break from your vacation when you are eating your sausages. So the next time you crave sausages when you are in Tagaytay, do drop by Toby and Tony’s Fantastic! Sausages.

We were there in the morning. They say that it is usually in the afternoons and evenings that the place is filled with customers. But there are many take-out customers too who prefer to bring their food in the parks and other places of recreation in Tagaytay even in the mornings.

It is just right there in the highway.

Obviously enjoying his Winerli

BAMSE Surf and Turf

Winerli

They have an open kitchen. You can order and can even see how your meal is being prepared.

The cool laidback ambience of the place is a plus factor. You can feel the cool breeze of Tagaytay air as you are enjoying your meal.

They are kind enough to give me permission to show their pricelist. See its not expensive. But of course it is subject to change.

click image to enlarge

The Streets of Tagaytay City

Tagaytay City is a popular destination because of its cool weather and its scenic views of the Taal Volcano. There are also a lot of parks and interesting places to visit and see when you are in Tagaytay like The Picnic Grove, Paradizoo, The Residence Inn, Palace in the Sky, and Casino Filipino among others. But if you happen to be in Tagaytay City during a cool breezy day it is also a very good activity to do some walking and take a leisurely stroll along the streets of Tagaytay. This is a very safe activity and an enjoyable one. Local cops are very visible in the area to keep the orderliness and safety of the place and to assist visitors and tourists on their traveling activities. You will have a good time taking a stroll in the main roads of this small but very beautiful city. It is an ordinary sight to see people riding their horses in the streets of Tagaytay, whether they are locals carrying their wares and produce or tourists riding horses to sightsee. Along the streets you can see many stalls selling vegetables, fruits, and other produce freshly picked from their farms. There are also many “pasalubong” (souvenir and delicacies) stalls where you can pick up something to give to your friends when you get back to Manila or wherever is your place of origin. I personally love going to the pottery and vases stores that are now sprouting in Tagaytay City, they have very colorful and beautifully designed vases of all shapes and sizes that you can proudly place in your home. It is also a delight to see the lovely plants and flowers being sold at very reasonable prices in the small garden stalls. These stalls are many and are usually grouped together in one place making it very easy for buyers to pick what they want and the place looks stunning with a lot of flowering plants adorning the place. There are also many friendly vendors in Tagaytay City that carry their products in baskets and “bilao” (round winnowing basket carried on top of the head) and do not be afraid if they approach you to show you their products. And of course, aside from the health benefits you get from taking a leisurely walk in Tagaytay you can also enjoy the panoramic view of the Taal Volcano and Lake which is quite visible in most part of the main roads of Tagaytay City.

These colorful vases with beautiful designs would be a good addition to your home.
I just love looking at them.

A variety of plants and flowering plants to choose from

Fruit Stalls

The smiling street vendors of Tagaytay

Horses on the streets of Tagaytay

Fresh vegetables and other produce freshly picked from the farm.
Honey, pure vinegar, and bagoong are being sold too.

Casino Filipino in Tagaytay City

One of the most popular casinos in the Philippines is located in Tagaytay City. It is situated in front of Taal Vista Hotel and just beside McDonald’s. People from different places try their luck in this place when they are in Tagaytay City, still others would specifically head to Tagaytay City to play in this place. Aside from the many casino games offered in Casino Filipino Tagaytay like baccarat, super six, poker, roulette, and slot machine among other games this place also offers its guests a lot of entertainment and places of fine dining. Casino Filipino-Tagaytay also holds special events like concerts of local and foreign artists and charities. One will not miss the impressive Casino-Filipino in Tagaytay as its structure has a very large colorful crown that travelers can easily see when on they are traveling on the roads of Tagaytay. In front of the main lobby there is a beautifully landscaped small garden with a charming wishing well. People would love to throw a few coins with their wishes on this well for good luck before trying out their luck inside the casino. Still others would just like to have their picture taken in this beautiful place.

It was quite a cloudy day when we had our trip. But the weather was as usual cool which made Tagaytay popular among tourists. This is the view of the Casino Filipino from the roads leading to it. Easy to spot because of its impressive structure.

Streamers of their upcoming events. A Gabby Concepcion concert? Can he really sing now? Well, just to see him again would be a many woman's dream... until now, I guess. And the other one features Francine Prieto, that would definitely be a one hot event.

View from the front gate of Casino-Filipino Tagaytay, you can see customers coming in. I guess I'm wrong when I thought casino players and guests only come in during night time.

And this is the charming Pagcor wishing well I'm babbling about. Better throw a coin and make a wish before trying your luck. Wishes do come true you know.

From the background you can see one of the few buildings being constructed in Tagaytay, proof that this beautiful little place is attracting many investors in the area.

It would have been nice if I had a photo taken riding that horse-drawn carriage.

Got a hold of Casino-Filipino Tagaytay's events for this month, in case, you'd be in the area and interested to have some good time.