[2011 Throwback] Vikings Luxury Buffet

[updated]

The Project 12x2-1 Page

We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.
- Adelle Davis

Nung birthday ni K, baligtad. Ako ang sinurpresa niya with a lunch date. And surprised I was! With a feast waiting for us at Vikings Luxury Buffet.

lamang lang sya sa buhok sa ulo

Unang Hirit:

It's just a couple of months ago that we kept on hearing raves about this new buffet resto in town. So much, that curiosity requires us to schedule a visit someday. But alas, the Misis beat me to it.

She did the reservation way ahead of time. And from what we heard, medyo mahirap talaga magpa-sched ng reservation dito especially on weekend nights dahil sa dami ng patrons. We visited on a weekday kaya medyo moderate lang yung amount ng customers.

peaceful on a weekend lunch

Vikings is located along the commercial strip of Seaside Boulevard sa Mall of Asia (eto yung likod ng MOA na katabi na ng pampang). Kung naka-harap sa MOA, take the right side of the boulevard. Tapos diretso lang hanggang sa dulo. Vikings should be the last establishment on that area. Lampas pa ng Hooters.

Pag-pasok pa lang namin, we are immediately seen to our table and the chow begins!

Roooound one! Fight!

Ang Chicha:

• chawan mushi
• dimsum
• tempura (many)
• various maki and sushi
• Japanese fried rice (some)
• steamed veggies
• various chicken dishes
• various beef dishes
• various pork dishes
• steamed shrimp (tons)
• baked oyster
• grilled squid
• grilled beef tenderloin
• beef kebab
• grilled sausage
• cold cuts
• crackers with white cheese
• DIY salad
• mango
• carrot cake
• chocolate cake
• sari-saring kakanin
• cox
• kape

So many food, we don't know where to start.

salad bar

We can't begin to imagine how many combination of salad ingredients and dressings are there but the options are endless. Para saken ang ginawa ko ay egg bits, variety of greenies, bacon bits, corn, at carrots strips on honey mustard dressing. Mukang fresh naman lahat. Andito din sa area na ito ang mga tinapay, spreads, at soup.

sandamakmak na hipon

Tons of cold shrimp. Sa sobrang fresh andaling tanggalan ng balat kahit naka kubyertos lang.

sushi bar

Andami ding options ng maki at sushi. Di ko trip kumain neto pero mukang nag-enjoy naman si K sa mga pinili niya. Nakaka-aliw lang yung iba't ibang kulay.

pasta area

our first plates

Maganda yung mix ng main course options. May Asian at may Western dishes, and among those we've tried, wala namang disappointing. A special nod on their lemon chicken. Gusto namin eto kasi hindi O.A. yung tamis compared to those we had on other restos.

seafood tray

There's a wide choice of fresh seafood to pick. Pumili lang kami ng gusto namin tapos iluluto na nila. No need to wait. Just give the table number and it will be delivered.

give me my tempura

Tuloy tuloy ang luto ng tempura dahil isa ito sa mga mabilis maubos.

pana cotta, mousse, and cake

more sweets

Name your sweets and they got it. Gusto kong gumulong sa tsokolate sa tuwa dahil andami daming desert!

grilled meat

May isang section ng grilled meat and fish. Patok sa amin yung kabab at sausages. Tamang tama lang ang pagka smokey ng lasa. On one of its corner makikita yung meat grill. Pwedeng bigyan ng instructions yung cook on how you want your meat prepared. At andami ding sauce to choose from. We went for the US-grade beef... medium in red wine sauce. Nom nom!

baked oyster

Other food stations to choose from:

• Chinese food
• Japanese food (masarap yung mga Yakitori)
• Thai food
• Hot pot (shabu shabu)
• Pizza and pasta
• Yogurt and ice cream bar!! (Tip: Go grab some scoops then splash it with fruits from the...)
• Fruit bar
• Beverages (Pwede magpagawa ng fruit shakes. At may draft beer!)

Mga Chechebureche:

"A feast from the sea" ang tagline nila and boy it was a feast! Andaaaming choices (and no, hindi lang sa seafoods). The most dishes we've had in a buffet so far (next to Yakimix and this dinner we've had at the Heritage). Ang nagustuhan namin ay tuloy-tuloy ang refill nila ng ulam. Almost hindi nababakante yung mga putahe. May presence of mind sila na tignan kung ano yung mga ulam na dapat nang i-refill.

we want that headgear

Medyo strategically located din kasi yung kitchen nila. Most of the food stations are ringed around the cooking areas. This, plus the number of crew and waiters (which is a LOT!) manning the dining area, should be enough to monitor the food trays regularly.

octopus

Una naming napansin ay mabigat ang kubyertos. Hindi sila nag-tipid sa bakal. LOL. We don't mind really, pero nakakangalay din pag nagtagal.

Ang ganda ng interiors ng resto. There are hints of a seafaring theme to it as befits the place's name. Napaka elegant ng mga muwebles and sobrang comfy ng couches. Malinis yung lugar... or at least, it looks like it. Medyo sumabit kasi ng konti when across from our table, we saw a small roach creeping out of a wooden panel. Sa likod ito ng sushi and maki area. Tinuro na lang namin sa isang dumadaan na waiter, who immediately disposed it off... by hand! Angas.

where the lady in black is, dyan lumabas yun ipis

Mabilis and attentive yung mga staff. Ang bilis nila mag-ligpit ng mga wares sa lamesa namin na hindi na kelangan. Pag kuha namin ng pagkain, wala na agad yung mga used plates namin pag balik sa lamesa.

As we mentioned earlier, may kahirapan magpa-reserve. Hindi dahil mabagal yung sistema nila, kundi dahil sa dami ng customers na nagpapa-sched. So we suggest to call for a reservation way ahead of time o kaya weekday lunch na lang pumunta. Kung dinner weekend, asa pa na makapag walk-in.

Kaching!:

Hindi mura dito.

At hindi rin dapat mag expect na mura. Dahil sa quality ng pagkain at sa ganda ng lugar at sa pagka-sulit ng serbisyo, hindi talaga dapat mura ang kumain dito.

Weekday lunch is at around P700+ and dinner is a couple of kesos more expensive. Weekend lunch and dinner is at P1000+.

introductory rate

Get ahold of their current promo kung merong may birthday sa pamilya. The celebrant is free of charge. As in! Promo lasts until December 7.

Nakalagay sa price board nila na introductory rates pa lang yung mga presyo. Ibig sabihin ba nito ay tataas pa ang presyo ng pagkain? Abangan!

Update: It's 2015 and the price actually didn't change much after 4 years. Weekday lunch is still about P700 while weekday dinner is about P900. Weekend lunch and dinner is still P1000. The birthday promo has been there ever since. I think tinanggal nila once on 2012 but it was reinstated din after a couple of months lang.

Ang Hatol:

Kung may masusunog na pera at gustong magpaka-bundat, Vikings is a must try. Experience ang kumain dito at hindi lang basta pang tawid gutom. And why not, the price entails it to be so.

Babalik kami dito... hangga't may ipong maaaring gastusin at pangyayaring dapat i-celebrate!

Update: Fast forward to 2015, madaming beses na kaming nakapag Vikings at nagsulputan na parang kabute ang branches nila sa Metro. Naging go-to buffet resto namin ito kapag may mga birthdays sa family at naging memorable na sa amin ang particular na branch na ito (MOA) dahil dito na din ako nag propose kay K during my birthday back on 2012.

Rating:
7 out of 7

her gift

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