When was your last visit to Venice Grand Canal Mall?
When was your last visit to Venice Grand Canal Mall? The last time I posted anything about it was in 2016 for Festa del Vino and to tell you the truth, I don't think I've been back since. Hahaha. It's just that most of my friends live in Quezon City, so there hasn't really been any reason to go back. But recently, my foodie friends heard of this new Latin American restaurant that had just opened there and wanted to check it out. And since I had some free time, I thought, why not?
If you're into fresh tacos and all sorts of grilled meats, you'll be glad to know that Yuca is that kind of place. The food they offer is strongly influenced by Argentinian and Peruvian cuisine - something that we don't see (or taste) everyday.
Another thing we don't see often? Huge tree trunks in the middle of restaurants! Yuca has one and it's definitely one of the things people talk about when they step inside! I love how lively and colorful everything looks! Personally, I think it makes the mood lighter and brighter, making it a great venue for lunch outs and even meetings!
First up, Tio Romy's Nachos (P250). Yuca serves some mean nachos It was so mean, in fact, that we had to get two orders.. and there were only five of us dining at the time!
I swear I've never had nachos like this. The dip is a mix of pulled beef barbacoa, marinara, onion confit, picked jalapeño, and corn salsa with lots of cheese sauce. The nachos they use isn't your regular corn chips, but instead, a combination of fried tortilla and sweet potato chips. I honestly couldn't get enough.
The Pollo Chicharones (P165) is another starter you shouldn't miss.
It's chicken skin without the fat so there's less guilt! Don't forget to dip it in vinegar! ;)
If you're a fan of ceviche, Yuca levels it up with their Yuca Style Ceviche (P330) which combines squid, tuna tataki, and prawns with a bit of kick to it.
Look how colorful this dish is. I personally couldn't care less about the chili, but man, that seafood is delish!
For the tacos, they have a couple to choose from on the menu, including Pink, Chili Con Taco, and El Bigote. More and more restaurants seem to be offering open-faced tacos, which I prefer, to be honest. That way, I can see all the ingredients immediately and the fact that it's served in a plate makes it easier for me to use my utensils to eat it. Hehe. Among the three, my favorites were the barbacoa and chimichurri (El Bigote) and salmon with purple yam tortilla (Pink).
Unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of ox tripe so I only had a bite of Yuca's Fabada with Homemade Corned Beef (P630). This one has all the makings of a traditional rich Spanish bean stew - white beans, chickpeas, chicken chorizo, chicken fillet, ox tripe (as mentioned earlier), and homemade corned beef. The only difference is that Fabada is usually made with pork, but because of the owners' Muslim heritage, they've excluded pork on the menu altogether (and substituted it with chicken, at least, in this dish).
The star of the afternoon was the Bistec El Yuca (P667).
Meat lovers will go crazy for this fork tender, perfectly grilled loin of beef. It's a meal on its own, served with a bowl of rice, creamy mashed patatas, freshly made chimichurri sauce and crispy basil.
A new addition to their menu is this Cheesy Con Carne Fugazetta - it is basically a Latin American version of pizza. I absolutely loved this one! Similar to the Pink taco, this one also incorporates purple yam in its crust, though be careful when taking a slice as it is really just a huge piece of soft taco, so the toppings might fall off any second. It's creamy and cheesy and meaty, so it is something that everyone will definitely like. I guarantee it.
For dessert, I recommend trying the Pineapple Creme Brulee and Fritos Leches, though if I have to pick just one, I'd go for the Fritos Leches. It combines different textures and flavors - from the cream to the fruits, the crispy, fried crust to the almost melt-in-your-mouth delicious pannacotta filling.
Visit Yuca at the ground floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig City.
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