Naxional South American Diner is another colorful, hip place that has opened in Bonifacio Global City or BGC. In fact, so hip that Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach had her birthday celebration here this week. On weekends, one can also easily spot those expats and good-looking Brazilian models who have made Manila their home.
But that’s not really the point because the resto transports one to vibrant South America from its interiors alone, dominated by brick walls and eye catching murals or paintings.
And on that day in August when they opened Naxional to the media, designer Teddy Manuel prepared what must have been the most Instagrammable table set-up of the year.
Naxional’s menu represents the food of 10 countries, namely Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador. For someone like me who’s rooted in Asia, it was an eye opener because am mostly just familiar with churrasco. The dishes were extensively represented and I also spotted a few similarities with Philippine cuisine.
These patacones (P220) from Puerto Rico were love. The base consists of fried plantain slices then topped with either pulled meat or seafood, sofrito and guacamole.
It was my first time to taste Encebollado (P355), a fish stew from Ecuador which they reportedly eat to relieve hangovers. This soupy dish if filled with pickled onions, tomatoes, root vegetables, cassava and of course fish. We recommend trying this when stoned from all that clubbing 🙂
Special shoutout to this Pollo Peruano (P385), the major dish I had during our multi-course lunch. It reminded me of the Filipino chicken inasal, except that this one was served with chimichurri sauce, corn rice and greens. Naxional’s Peruvian grilled chicken was flavorful and certainly worth having.
Those yearning for familiar tastes will surely settle for the Arroz a la Cubana (P385). The dish is listed in Naxional’s brunch and all-day breakfast fare.
For big appetites, there’s the Argentinian-style Gaucho Steak which is a cut from tender black Angus rib eye meat (P1450 for 300g and P2900 for 600g). You can have this with sidings of fresh corn, fried bananas, salad or assorted rice.
If you’re up to it, we highly recommend munching on the Elote (P195) while waiting for the rest of your meals to arrive. I really don’t like corn on the cob but I enjoyed this because what’s not to love about chili butter and crumbled cheese on your corn? Thumbs up!
Naxional has several owners and I met some of them, notably Brazilian-Japanese model Vanessa Matsunaga and her mother Gege. Such nice people 🙂
Also part-owners are Fil-Am basketball player Gabe Norwood and his wife Lei.
Até mais….see you in Naxional!
Naxional South American Diner
2nd Floor, Uptown Parade Mall
9th Avenue corner 38th Street
Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
Tel. No. 946-3419
facebook.com/naxionalsouthamericandiner
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