Go Asian at the Grid with Babu and Gochu-Gang

The Grid Food Market in Rockwell is a treasure trove of good eats, from Spanish to Japanese. There’s 2 new stalls that recently opened and both are focused on Asian cuisines, namely Babu focused on Southeast Asia and Gochu-gang spotlighting Korean food. Babu is handled by chef Him Uy de Baron while Gochu-gang is by Chef Patrick Go (Blacksheep).

Crispy Spring Rolls (P165). Got a piece of this from our dining companions and it was delicious. A crisp shell yields to a tasty and bouncy meaty bite enhanced with a light vinegar dip.

Classic Laksa (P375). Irene and I are not really big fans of laksa but Babu’s version is wonderful. We especially liked the noodles they use with it’s springy bite. The broth is flavorful but not cloying, it’s also mildly spiced so if you want more heat, be sure to add extra sambal.

Nasi Lemak (P350/chicken, P490/salmon). We love nasi lemak, the Malaysian national dish of fragrant coconut and pandan rice paired with a variety of side dishes. We opted for the classic fried chicken that also comes with peanuts, hard boiled egg, cucumbers, ikan bilis (dilis/anchovy) and sambal. We start off mixing everything up so you’ll get a bit of flavor from each in every spoonful.

Pork Belly Bibimbap (P320). Thin pork belly slices with good meat to fat ratio cooked with a nice sheen of caramelization for sweet and smoky flavors. The two accompanying banchan were both enjoyable especially the uncommon green beans which had a satisfying crunch.

Grilled Duck Breast (P580). This is served with banchan and rice also so take note of that in case you over order. Lettuce for wrapping and gochujang sauce on the side are served if you want to eat it that way. The duck was too cooked for my tastes, as I want it medium to give it better duck flavor. Hopefully they can ask how you want it cooked during order taking. I’d also love for them to have an option of serving this ala carte.

Bacon and Egg Kimchi Rice (P280). This is one of the best kimchi rice I’ve tried with the magic power of bacon to amp it up. The fried egg on top is just icing on this all in one dish.

Cold Brew Lychee Iced Tea (P95). I’m a sucker for lychee drinks and desserts, so it’s no surprise that I ordered this one to go with our food. It’s a good balance of lychee and tea flavors and even had some lychee pulp, refreshing and not overly sweet.

The Grid Food Market
R2 Level Expansion Wing, Power Plant Mall
Rockwell Center, Makati City
Contact No.: (632) 759-4605