Unlimited bulgogi, kimchi, yakitori, even beer–starting at P399

Tender, thinly sliced Korean beef wrapped in lettuce –PHOTOS BY MANDY NAVASERO

 

Unlimited bulgogi. Unlimited kimchi. Unlimited sushi. Unlimited yakitori. Unlimited beer. Unlimited desserts.

Yes, you can order and eat as much as you want at the newly opened UnliCity at Century City Mall, which offers strictly Korean and Japanese dishes.

The key word is “unlimited” —meaning, unlimited servings of popular Korean barbecues and Japanese dishes, from daepae and bulgogi to rolled sushi to temaki. Not to mention, unlimited servings of Korean vegetable side dishes (banchan), coffee, desserts, beer and wines.

“It’s like a city of unlimited favorites,” says Robert Yupangco, president and chief operating officer of Zoomanity Group that runs and manages UnliCity.

What makes UnliCity different from other eat-all-you-can restaurants is that all dishes are served and eaten freshly cooked; nothing is left exposed on the table. In fact, you can’t find a table with displayed food on it.

“Buffet food, when exposed for a little more than two hours, can be at high risk for bacteria,” Yupangco says. “Even your water, after two hours, will have bacteria. It’s airborne. We don’t want that.”

 

All-you-can-eat yakitori

Tabletop grilling

UnliCity’s concept of indoor do-it-yourself tabletop grilling assures guests that the food is prepared the way it should be—clean, fresh and delicious. Diners simply order food from the servers, who cook the food on tables equipped with built-in charcoal-fueled tabletops and smoke extraction pipe.

UnliCity features Korean BBQ and Japanese dishes under the brand Samgyupsalamat by Korean Alley and Jinsei Sushi Bar, respectively. Both restaurants serve à la carte dishes and combined dishes for UnliCity’s eat-all-you-can promo.

For Korean barbecue, the Unlimited 1 promo (P399, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. only) features unlimited servings of five kinds of Korean pork: Dae-Pae (tender and juicy); Bul-Jib (salty and peppery taste); Yangnyum Daepae (marinated in sweet sauce); Gochujang Samgyup (sweet and spicy flavor); and Yangnyum Moksal (tender and sweet).

From 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., the Unlimited 1 costs P449.

Unlimited 2 (P449, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) combines five kinds of pork and beef, including the famous Boolgogi (with sweet-salty soy marinade); Beef Samgyup (tender and juicy beef); Yangnyum Beef (sweet); and Gochujang Beef (sweet and peppery).

From 3 p.m.-2 a.m., the Unlimited 2 costs P499.

 

Dae-Pae Beef

Minimum of two persons

Both sets come with unlimited egg soup, steamed rice, steamed egg, and sidings of kimchi, lettuce, onions, radish, chives, potato marble, fish cake or sweet potatoes, and three kinds of dipping sauces.

Those who crave both Korean and Japanese dishes can avail themselves of UnliCity’s special lunch (P799) or dinner (P999), which consists of the barbecues and sushi plus unlimited servings of international wines and beers, desserts and coffee.

A minimum of two persons can avail of these unlimited offerings.

 

UnliCity is equipped with built-in charcoal-fueled tabletops and smoke extraction pipe.

Packed place

Since UnliCity opened its doors, the place has been packed, especially during dinnertime. People from nearby offices, call centers and condos line up for hours just to get a table.

The place is open until 2 a.m.

On weekends, a longer queue of diners, mostly families, wait for their turn to dine.

“Filipinos seem to love the idea of grilling,” Yupangco says. “The place is usually packed with people enjoying unlimited food with their family and friends.”

UnliCity has an indoor dining area with lush greens, flowers and bamboo ornaments complementing the wooden tables and chairs. The place can accommodate about 100 people.

 

Robert Laurel Yupangco, president and CEO of Zoomanity Group which runs UnliCity
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