Crying Tiger Street Kitchen — Restaurant in Makati

I asked if the restaurant offered Wi-Fi, and was asked if I had a SIM card. When I told the waiter that I did not, and hence why I was asking if the restaurant offered Wi-Fi, he just shook his head and walked off. Not the best of starts.

I ordered the Lemongrass, Lime and Thai Basil Mojito (160php+), and it was very tasty indeed. (Ed’s note: I ordered several by night’s end).

For appetiser I had the Som Tam (207php+), and was well impressed. Overlooking the absence of dried prawns and actual chillies, everything else about this dish was gorgeous, although the salted eggs (Kai Kem) were slightly overbearing.

For main I chose Moo Tod (248php+) and it appeared to have been deep fried. Moo Tod should be pan fried in a few tablespoons of oil, not drowned in it. The waiter had been recommending the fried chicken, and more fool me for not following his advice.

I don’t get the Filipino approach to service. There is little or no proactivity. I was the only diner for the first hour, and yet my finished appetiser plate sat on the table for 15 minutes. My drink was clearly empty, and not a peep from the waiter. I can assure you that you do not make money from having punters sit on empty drinks. Ask! Having said that, service did improve as the night wore on.

Just to further explain my low service rating, when I went to pay I was presented with another table’s much larger bill. When I pointed this out, my bill was produced without so much as a “pasensiya na po”. Just unacceptable.

Anyhoo, the Mojitos are reason enough to visit, so I expect...

What attracted me to eat here this evening were its interiors (kitschy!) and the selection of food they had (Malay, Singaporean and more on Thai…and leaning towards those nations’ street food)

I was impressed with the way they present their menu (hanging on wheeled standees) and the interior does look like a bar in a Southeast Asian red light district that is about to open (and they do have a bar with alcoholic selections as well as bar finger foods on the menu).

I had the Thai fried rice with shrimps. While the presentation was okay, the flavor is too bland-no spiciness or that salty kick you are expecting from a Thai dish (I had to ask for chili flakes and fish sauce just to add flavor to what I was eating). I dread to see a Thai eating this dish (sparks will truly fly- maybe even a few plates!)

The service is also another horror story to talk about. My server did not seem to understand which food I will eat in and which I need to take out-and I ordered only 2 dishes! 😡 why the confusion?!? It was like I was giving directions to an alien!

And when I ordered for my chili flakes and fish sauce (to mix with the boring rice meal), it took ages before I got it (glaciers melting in the Antarctic are much faster!)

And they had the gal to include service charge in their bill! 🤬

No wonder the tiger has...

Apart from tasty food, good ambiance you won't get anything here! Tofu satay is basically not like satey it's more like fried fritters but chicken satey is grilled really well so if you are sitting outside get ready to inhale some grilling smoke ;)

Yes, there isn't hygiene maintained as they have kept the dining right outside on the footpath you will find cockroaches lizard while eating food. Shortage of staff is a bug issue in this highly food demanding place. You get your food after 20 to 30min. At times you won't get dessert which they apparently have only two dishes in their menu. The chair and tables are quite small if you are willing to order too many dishes in which you are supposed to adjest with your mask, bag, sanitizer, tissue, sauce, plates so get ready to see things spilling here and there but as mentioned food is good. They do customize your order which is atlest a relief.

Hygiene...