your local

josh and i can't even remember the last time we went on an actual date -- there were too many things that happened in the last two months, and we never actually got to hang out as much as we wanted to. 😢 but last saturday, we're finally able to meet, and we felt the urge to splurge a bit. 🙊 i decided to visit him in makati, since he had to work. it's also my excuse so we could go eat at a fancy restaurant in makati. 😆

since i-don't-know-when, i have already been eyeing yourlocalas our next date place, but we always didn't have the perfect timing to visit. so i thought, maybe now's the time! 😍 we booked our table via booky, since i've read that the placed gets packed quickly. we got there at around 5pm -- a bit early for our 6pm reservation, and watched some episodes of steven universe at yardstick, which is conveniently located just beside your local. (more about that on the next review). when the clock struck 6pm, we proceeded to the restaurant, and were promptly seated. i have read in many reviews that the restaurant has dim lights, but i didn't know it would be that dark. 🙈 we then proceeded to order the following:

✅ parmesan fries with truffled ketchup (php 145) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
i used to hate truffle flavored anything, because i always remember how truffle oil tasted in itself, so strong it leaves a mark on your life. hahaha. but now, i have learned to eat truffle flavored food, and enjoy it, too! simple as this may seem, we loved how the fruity and nutty taste of the parmesan blended well with the fries, plus the flavorful and slightly sour tomato truffle ketchup. we're off to a good start with this! 😉

✅ lamb rendang (php 595) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
i was telling josh that this was one of their bestsellers, but he was initially a bit reluctant to get this. but, the sous vide organic egg won him over (i know his weaknesses!) 😁 and i'm glad we got this, because it was really good! rendang can be considered a variation of the asian curry -- and your local's version is definitely well-thought of. the shredded lamb rendang is quite spicy and flavorful. i appreciated how it didn't have that gamey taste / smell of usual lamb dishes! truth be told, this is the first time i appreciated a lamb dish. 😅 make sure to spread some mint jelly on your lamb, if you still find it to be a bit gamey. 😉 the sous vide organic egg is carefully placed atop the red raisin black rice. when you eat all the components in one bite, you'll be amazed at how a spoonful of food can be that flavorful -- the flavors dancing on your tongue. it does get a bit cloying if you eat this on your own though. but people who love the spicy asian flavors will have no problem in devouring this. 💁

✅ torched salmon donburi (php 695) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
to say this torched salmon donburi is delicious would be an understatement. (look how i subtly added an additional star right there! you didn't notice it, did you?) it's sooo good: aside from the various flavors playing in your mouth, the varying textures of each component plays a huge role too -- and you'll surely be torn about wanting to finish the whole thing and saving the portions to savor slowly. 😍 i'll never look at salmon the same way again. 💜 to be honest, i never really liked cooked salmon, as i prefer salmon sashimi. but this totally changed my mind! salmon cooked medium is superb. 😍 the shiitake black rice also gave the dish its depth, veering away from the typical japanese donburi.

the two dishes we got were so different, i was suprised i actually got it from the same restaurant. 😁 service was really good, too! from the time we arrived up until we left, we were promptly assisted with everything we needed. since we booked our table through booky, we also got php 100 off our meal plus a free dessert:

✅ chocolate earl grey pudding and lime mousse - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
i never had a dessert this intricately made. 😮 you'll be surprised that the earthy taste of earl grey actually perfectly complements the sweetness of the chocolate. the lime mousse added a welcome tartness, while ths milk crumbs (these are actually polvoron-like hehe) provided a very much welcome grainy texture to an otherwise smooth textured dessert. it can be a bit sweet, but share this with others and you're good! 😉

foodies will probably have a hard time especially when dining here during the dinner time, as the poor lighting makes it extremely challenging to take good photos. 😣 at some point, you'll probably be like me: giving up on the chance to take instagrammable photos, and just settling on savoring every bite of the sumptuous food. 😍🤤

if you haven't visited yourlocalyet, please do. you won't regret it. no wonder it's been acclaimed to be one of the best restaurants in the world, based on conde nast travellers' list. 😲

#eatdrinksplurge

i've actually gone to yourlocaltwice now so i'll just combine both experiences into one review:

located in legazpi village in makati, yourlocalis actually pretty easy to get to barring traffic and one way streets. on weekends, there's ample street parking but just be careful because the one way streets become two way streets on the weekend and on holidays. go figure. yourlocalis not that difficult to find since esteban st is like one block and it's right smack close to the middle. just past murphy's, yardstick (which is connected to your local!), and across the street from an elorde boxing gym. hard to miss, really.

the decor in the restaurant was pretty hip and it's got that industrial type feel you'd probably find in soho hong kong or the the mission in san francisco. there's an open kitchen which is pretty impressive cause they'd need a really strong exhaust system to keep the smell of cooking at bay, which they do. i found the table spacing a little too close to each other and it's almost like i can hear the next table's conversation. no, i actually heard their conversation about quinoa and it's health benefits. i guess it's one way to maximize the space of the restaurant. the servers are attentive and try to help you out even if the place gets really busy.

the dishes we ordered included the fried chicken wings appetizer (i think there's a name for it?), tofu steak and eggs, lamb rendang, and salmon donburi. drinks were strawberry lemonade, arnold palmer, and yardstick coffee.

the chicken wings were so bomb. well, i think the sauce they smeared on the side made it as well. some kind of mayo mixed with ground pepper. quite addicting. the tofu steak and eggs looked like a veggie version of spamsilog. there was flavor to it (especially the tofu) but it was quite oily. i personally thought the lamb rendang was perfect. not as spicy as traditional rendang but it's got enough to give it a slight kick. i also liked the addition of mint leaves in the rice for a refreshing after taste. i have heard mixed reviews about the salmon donburi which i think is their best seller. i did see almost every table order it but my mom and one of the girls oat the next table thought the salmon needed to be cooked a little bit more. i was okay with the medium cooked salmon although i thought the one we got was a little bit slimy.the three entree's came with heaps of black rice with the lamb rendang's rice topped with a perfectly poached runny egg. 

the lemonade and the arnold palmer were a little too sweet for our taste so we had to water them down but i've learned that extra sweet is a normal thing here. the yardstick coffee was on point as usual. you could either order it at yourlocalor go through the inconspicuous swivel door right into the cafe. a+ for convenience. although the bathroom is on the g/f of the universal lms building, outside both the restaurant and cafe which isn't too big of a hassle. just bring your own toilet paper cause sometimes they run out!

personally, i would go back to yourlocalagain and again and i think it's somewhere i feel comfortable enough to take a break from traditional asian food. i would also go back on a day that isn't a sunday because no chicken wings on sunday! 

pro tip: sunday brunch has a smaller selection menu than the other days aka no chicken wings!

i was finally able to go into this well-hidden spot in makati. my friend and i were fortunate enough to be accommodated immediately during the busy dinner service yourlocalhad on a saturday.

i have ordered their braise beef pasta and torched salmon donburi for my friend. it was said to be the restaurant's musts and i can definitely attest to that! the fresh, mid rare cooked salmon with crispy salmon skin served under a bed of shiitake and corn forbidden rice. it is tucked over by mentaiko and tobiko and a sous vide egg. it's a mix of different textures and flavors, giving you salty, sweet, crunchy and soft all in one bite. very subtle at first, but packs in a fresh, flavorful umami punch.

the braised beef pasta was served al dente and the sauce was indeed very rich, meaty and soft. you can see the strands of beef, broken down enough to envelope the pasta with that meaty and savory taste, perfectly mixed in tomato sauce, cheese and basil.

try their sea salt lemonade and strawberry lemonade too! very refreshing and it helps cleanses the palate. :)

i'll definitely go back here and bring my friends or a significant other over. ❤️

yourlocalis almost a hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant, being that it's not easily noticeable from the outside. when i entered, i was surprised to see those instagram-esque wooden tables and plush seats.

when i asked the waiter what he recommends among the appetizers, he enumerated everything (haha).

the salmon donburi is like eating a california maki roll and sashimi on black rice. i've never tried black rice before, and it is delicious. the chewy lamb rendang is very spicy if you eat a whole spoonful of it. another spicy dish is the chili crab buns. the buns are soft yet crispy, complemented by the gooey crab filling. for me, however, i found the vegetables distracting because it gets stuck on your tongue, and the dish itself is messy.

overall, all the dishes i tried were new to me, and i found them all delicious. next time i visit, i'll try the baby eggplant.

we finally got to try this restaurant! last time we entered it's doors we tried our luck not reserving a table. a noob mistake right there haha.

there is certainly charm in having a dimly lighted establisment to create an intimate moment with the people you are with. the drawback with this is it takes out the visual appreciation of the food. there is also an interesting contrast with the kitchen, well lighted and busy.

we ordered an appetizer parmesan fries which we enjoyed. i ordered the torched salmon donburi and my gf got the chicken rice item. it seemed simple to me that my disy is rice topped with salmon which i am familiar with but yourlocaladded a few ingredients to make it nothing short of amazing. the sauces combined with freshly chopped veg added more flavor. it was also a perfect choice to let the salmon sit on the black rice because most certain that the oil from it would coat the rice. i was surprised to realize that the dish is satisfying and definitely filled me up.

i would definitely say that the experience opened my eyes to new possibilities of preparing my baon rice with salmon in new ways to delve away from the ordinary.

i haven't had any beverage and dessert so i would definitely go back and experience another quality meal that yourlocalhas to offer.

"one of the best restaurants in the world."

if that line right there doesn't make you want to visit your local, i don't know what will. it's not often that restos from the philippines gets to have that kind of prestige, so the moment a certain restaurant makes the cut, i'm sure you'd definitely be hyped to check it out.

i visited yourlocalwith friends right after attending #artfairph2017 a few weeks back. didn't get the chance to have a reservation, we just walked in. we were ready to be waitlisted but luckily there was a table available!

i've been around the area a few times already and i was seriously amazed by how "unassuming" and somewhat hidden their location is. and what i'd like to call the secret door that leads you inside the restaurant is really cool! it's like saying "come inside and have the most amazing culinary experience of your life!"

okay. i'll stop all the babbling and get to the best part, the fooooood!

mock mentaiko fries - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
it's your fave fries with nori and secret sauce. now i don't know what the hell they put in there but this is the best fries i have ever had in my life! 😍 sobrang sarap, legit! i literally scraped off the sauce left on the plate after we demolished the fries! and i'm not even asahmed to admit that. hihi. ✌🏻

lamb rendang - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this is legit a-grade lamb meat with sous vide organic egg, sweet soy, mint, cilantro and red raisin black rice. my gosh, i don't even know how to describe the yumminess of this dish! the lamb meat was cooked to perfection, it's a party in your mouth with every bite. i'm not a fan of black rice or brown rice or red rice for that matter, i just always find it not cooked right. but the red raisin black rice that goes with this lamb rendang is amaziiiiin'!

braised beef pasta - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
minced beef with torched parmesan on fettuccini with red wine. so this one is just okay. i mean it's delicious and all but it didn't wow me like the other dishes did. and it's too maasim. i'm not sure if it's supposed to taste like that but masyadong maasim for me. but the redeeming thing is the fettuccini was al dente! not "malata", it was firm and i also loved the generous amount of minced beef.

torched salmon donburi - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
oh, sorry i put too many stars. but i just felt like no amount of stars can justify how seriously scrumptious this dish is! the norwegian salmon is torched and cooked medium, together with mentaiko, oboro, ebiko, and salmon skin on roast corn goes perfectly with the shitake black rice. melts in your mouth salmon goodness! it was so deliciously good! 😍😋 hands down the best salmon dish out there. every bite is like dying of foodie goodness and going straight to foodie heaven! like ate the server who asked us how was our food, i answered that this is my favorite. to which she replied, "it's everybody's favorite."

yourlocaldefinitely deserves the line "one of the best restaurants in the world". ❤

yourlocalis a great place for lunchtime cocktails and a lunch that is a little fancy without the need to wear a suit. the place is nicely decorated with subway tiled walls and old style cafe tables and chairs.

we came in for coffee but this isn't served so drinks over ice it was. the arnie parmer tea and orange was a nice combo and the saltiness of the lemonade had you enjoying the sips.

the clear winner was the chorizo burger. this thing made your mouth water with every bite! the cheese sprinkled chips were great!

my favorite place in legazpi village! i would drive to makati just to get my yourlocalfix. place is packed during dinner - be sure to reserve/call ahead of time to secure your dining spot. parking is also hard. but the food and ambience makes up for this. my favorite dish would have to be the chorizo burger paired with the truffled fries. heaven on earth. staff is also attentive too. 10/10 one of my favorite restaurants in the metro.

availed of their 2+2 on zomato gold. pleasantly surprised when the waiter arrived with my drink and a coaster with my name on it. ordered the whiskey sour, was on the pricier side and tasted strongly of whiskey.

chili crab buns - were ok but not really a fan of the filling, liked the buns though.

semi fried eggplant - didn't look very appealing but my favorite among all the things we ordered.

torched salmon donburi - the typical yourlocalorder. not as great as i remember it to be, but still good naman.

coming to your local, i had pretty high expectations because my sister would rave about it whenever they would go. i finally found the chance to give it a shot and see what all the fuss is about for myself.

i was able to go to yourlocalfor lunch on a very hot day. it was a bit hard to spot. fortunately we found parking right across it. we entered the old business building and headed through a nameless and unremarkable set of double doors. inside, i found myself in a dimly lit, new-york style interior with its wooden floors, industrial ceiling, and red bricks and tiles whenever possible. there were a bunch of people around. the waiter routinely ushered us to our table.

we ordered their braised beef pasta and their chorizo sandwich. for our drinks, cranny smith and negroni. and i just found out that zomato gold’s 2+2 drinks means you get the exact same two drinks. sad. their menu also doesn’t offer a good variety of dishes. i mean, it’s ok. but i’d like more choices.

i enjoyed their braised beef pasta! it was satisfying. well seasoned and well cooked, i appreciated the fresh basil in the pasta. it was the cheapest among their main dishes. price is not bad for what i got.

now, the chorizo sandwich came with what i think is fries with strands of cheese on top. the sandwich itself was pretty good. i liked it along with the fries and the smoky ketchup sauce thing. the burger was packed with flavor and it was juicy. it’s just, after eating half or 3/4ths of it, you kind of get too sick of it to continue. plus, it’s pricey.

negroni was just ok. cranny smith was sweet in the first taste and then very sour. not bad.

food: 4/5
service: 4/5
interior: 4.5/5
value for money: 3/5

*zomato gold

a hole-in-the-wall smack in the middle of legaspi village, yourlocalhas just the right ambiance, perfect for either intimate date nights with your significant other or chill nights out with your barkada.

they offer unique food items such as something as basic as their feel good chicken which is just fried chicken with a maple cream cheese dip, to something as elaborate as their torched salmon donburi. at least of their food i was able to try, my favorites were their braised beef pasta and chorizo sandwich. don't forget to get their mock mentaiko fries to go with your cocktails, too!

if you are part of makati’s top restaurants to try, you know you are at the top of the food chain. their best selling dish, tasted great! but i found i could not finish the entire dish. willing to give this restaurant another try. yourlocalmakati

yourlocalis definitely one of legaspi’s bests. we tried the torched salmon donburi, steak fried rice, and cereal milk ice cream for dessert. the place is perfect for dates or actually any day you just feel like having no bullsh*t great food.

may 2019 update:
tried the dong buns and they were amazing! to make things even better, they now have zomato 2+2 drinks and a great playlist also.

the crowds at yourlocalhas lessened a bit as more trendy restaurants have started to open in makati and bgc. having said that, i still love the food here - especially their chili crab buns, torched salmon donburi, and lamb rendang

i hope they start innovating soon though. feel like their menu has remained the same the past few years

how can you not like your local? i’ve only been here twice and each time knocked my socks off. i’ve tried the feel good fried chicken, salmon donburi, and the rendang. all dishes tasted like something familiar, something home-y; but yourlocalmanages to step them up a notch and add the extra zing you didn’t know you needed.

and for the lack of better descriptions, their fried chicken tastes like elevated chicken joy. haha, it’s that good!

also looove their unassuming yet classy nyc-vibe interiors.