How to Survive Pinoy Buffet (Cabalen, Mall of Asia)

I was craving something I was not sure of so I decided to eat buffet. And since I was already broke by then, the craving slightly-above-minimum-wage-earner clung to the cheapest option: a Pinoy buffet.

Before, I was overwhelmed by the food waiting for me that I ended up eating less than I expected. It is harder when you are dining in a Pinoy buffet. So to help you survive the ultimate Pinoy buffet (I actually wouldn't call it ultimate cause the options weren't that much but oh well), here are some tips.

BUT FIRST: Never get anything more than you can finish. Aside from the fact that most of the time there's a fee for unfinished/wasted food, it is irresponsible to waste food.

Cabalen, Mall of Asia

Observe the food choices before choosing. It's tempting and overwhelming but you need to stick to this plan.
Start with appetizers first. Soup or chips. Huwag biglain ang tiyan.
Vegetables are easier to digest. If you're not a veggie person, bye.
Rice is heavy on stomach but as a Filipino, it's forbidden to say no to rice. Put a cup of rice in the middle of your plate then surround it with your choices of ulam. The rice is the main star. Everything else is a side hoe you can just taste.
Drink water before and/or after eating. Not during. No this isn't common sense because I didn't know this before. :-P
Never eat seafood with an empty stomach. If you're allergic, place any sweets beside it in case you get itchy. This is purely based on experience.
If you want to taste all desserts, get just tiny pieces. Philippine desserts are too sweet and heavy on stomach and most of them are also made of rice. Rice is the Philippine hero next to Jose.
Don't be afraid to try food. If you get allergies, you learned. If you die, at least you die happy and full. OMG I'M JUST KIDDING!

Cabalen, Mall of Asia

VERDICT FOR CABALEN

The Place
4.5/5
I would've given 5.0 if they had the view of the sea since they are located near it. LOL.

The Service
3.0
The staff could use a little smile. I know it's tiring but, you know... even the attendant looks exhausted.

The Food
3.5
It was okay. Nothing special except for the kangkong chips. Limited choices of ulam but for

Overall
3.5
I may or may not go back. Depends on my stomach's mood. I will recommend it to a heavy-eater.

Woxy Wanders