Tong Yang Plus SM Southmall — Restaurant in 2nd District

My recent dining experience at Tom Yang Plus in Southmall was a delightful journey of flavors, and our timing couldn't have been more perfect. Arriving at 5:45 PM, we found the restaurant pleasantly uncrowded, allowing us to navigate the buffet with ease and enjoy a relaxed start to our meal. This early-bird approach is definitely a tip I'd pass on to anyone planning to visit.

The buffet spread itself was impressive in its variety. While it featured a diverse selection of Japanese, Malaysian, Korean, and other cuisines, it's clear that the stars of the show are the shabu-shabu and the grilling stations. The freshness of the ingredients, from the thinly sliced meats to the array of fresh vegetables, was immediately apparent.

Upon being seated, we were offered the chance to choose two soup bases for our hotpot, a feature that I greatly appreciated. We decided on the Mala and the Laksa, and both proved to be excellent choices. The Mala soup was a fiery and numbing sensation, perfectly balanced with a rich, savory depth. The Laksa, on the other hand, was creamy, aromatic, and packed with a complex blend of spices that made every spoonful a treat.

A special mention must be made for a little-known secret that elevated our meal to another level: the availability of beef chuck eye and pork jowl. While not on display with the other meats, a quick request to the staff was all it took. These cuts, particularly the beef chuck eye, paired exceptionally well with the spicy Mala soup, their rich marbling and tender texture making each bite an absolute indulgence. It’s a definite "pro-tip" that I believe truly makes the dining experience worthwhile, offering a premium feel that's not immediately obvious to every diner.

The combination of the flavorful soups, the high-quality meats, and the wide selection of other dishes made for a memorable dinner. The fact that the restaurant offers better rates on weekdays is also a significant plus, making a visit to Tom Yang Plus a fantastic value-for-money option for a celebratory meal or a casual weeknight dinner. Overall, our evening was a testament to a well-thought-out buffet concept, executed with quality and a...

I had high hopes when I thought of visiting Tong Yang. It was quite sudden that we decided to eat at Tong Yang in Southmall. When we arrived at the place, I liked that they were strict in getting everyone's details with regards to Covid. I appreciate that they're being careful. We requested for a 4 person table. They instead gave us a table for 6, with space in between (need to implement that social distancing). Their plates and utensils are wrapped in cling wrap to show that it's been cleaned and haven't been used yet. I appreciate all this, however, the experience with the food was not so great. First of all, they have limited options for food, compared to other branches. Secondly, there is only 1 person manning three food booths. People had to wait for him to serve others before heading to another booth to serve. I feel sorry for him. I started off with some beef, chicken, and pork that we fried. It started ok, but then I noticed that the fire was gone and that the food is not getting cooked. This happened twice. Still we tried to enjoy our dinner. They also have very limited options for dessert (compared to pre-covid times). They only had strawberry and ube flavor for ice cream, which I didn't mind since I love ube. All in all, the experience was ok. Will I be going back here anytime soon? Maybe, if I craved for some soup. Is it worth the price? Compared to other buffet places, I...

The place was pristine and ample. Staffs were friendly and super accommodating. They responded very quickly when we need or ask for something. Cold station are very generous in their serving compare to other buffet parang tinitipid nila but here in Tong Yang is super generous and the assigned chef in the cold station that wears glasses is super polite and kind. For the other food naman, everything is hot and tastes good though if you're into salty and ma-pepper person siguro we suggest to adjust nalang like add a little more salt and pepper so the flavor of the food will flare nicely. For Japanese food siguro we suggest adding more variants like some sashimi 😊 and the Shushi tastes wonderful now compared to last year when we dine here. Desserts are lovely but add more variants and colors pa for catchy factors. Overall “service and experience” were extraordinary. Keep up the good work. Di nmn ako napahiya for bringing my in-laws here.

By the way, I'm a former kitchen supervisor at one of the biggest catering services in the Middle East. 😊 apologies for my...