Where to Eat at Podium Mall: The Corner Market Food Hall
Podium Mall, one of SM’s premium shopping outlets, has recently gone through a major renovation. And with all that revamp, comes a new gastronomic spot for all foodies to look forward to: The Corner Market Food Hall. Designed to replicate a sort of indoor farmers market cum food hall, The Corner Market Food Hall is your modern version of the ‘soshal’ dampa.
Corner Market’s Benjamin Ramos doing Opening Remarks
And it’s one that’s brimming with lots of good food! The Corner Market boasts a wide variety of new food concepts, fresh flavors, and creative food twists. From mini versions of well-loved restaurants, to franchises, to first time food ventures, everything is housed in the Corner Market. Here’s our list of 7 must eats at the hip food joint at the center of the Ortigas CBD. #goodfoodisjustaroundthecorner
Preview of the feast for the Blogger’s Night at The Corner Market Food Hall
The Corner Market’s Location and Posh Vibe
The 1,200 sqm. Corner Market Food Hall is located at the 2nd floor of the new Podium Mall in Ortigas CBD. Right off the bat, you’ll see a long hallway filled with trendy-looking tables and chairs for customers, lined up with vibrant food stalls at the sides.
The Corner Market features seventeen (17) homegrown food brands carefully-curated to offer non-competing food concepts. Among the 17 stalls are mini versions of old favorites like Kaya, Poblacion’s El Chupacabra, Ca Phe Saigon, Birdhouse, Sundays by Merry Moo and Char. Also adding to list are new food brands such as Stockwell Coffee and dessert-heaven Rabbit Hole Manila. The hall even features a new market pa-luto concept from Meat Depot and Catch of the Day by Cold Storage. Conceptualized by Linfred Yap, managing partner of The Relish Group, it’s literally a foodpark inside the mall that can cater to your tummy’s every whim and fancy.
1. Tasty, Guilt-Free Food at Gusto
Sitting near the entrance of The Corner Market is top attraction Gusto. A farm-to-table brand, Gusto is your neighborhood quick-stop for guilt-free, satisfying food. Owned by the Ojeda family, Gusto offers healthy produce and eats locally sourced from their family farm in Rizal. It’s a mini-grocery for health buffs I tell you. From flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, down to healthy grains.
Japanese Kani Salad by Gusto
Promoting healthy and “happy” eating, Gusto also serves nutrient-packed health bowls that use all natural ingredients. That means no preservatives or MSG, with a balanced mix of protein, carbs and vegetables. I had the Japanese Kani Salad and it was a complete delight. Light yet very tasty. I heard the Lemon Yogurt Bowl on Adlai with Chicken is also pretty good.
Gusto’s Lemon Yogurt Bowl on Adlai with Chicken
Aside from promoting healthy and happy eating, Gusto also aims to promote local produce like adlai. It’s actually my first time to encounter adlai and I learned that it’s the local counterpart of the much-raved about quinoa. So really, healthy can be tasty and happy!
2. Fresh Seafood at Catch of The Day by Cold Storage
Living in the city, it’s always special whenever I get to eat something fresh from the sea. And if you’ve grown to know and love the ready-to-eat sushi of Cold Storage, here’s a treat. Now you’ll get to taste their delightful seafood selection at The Corner Market Food Hall through Catch of the Day.
Salmon Skewers by Fresh Catch of the Day by Cold Storage
And I simply love the concept they have at the hall: a mini-grocery where you can either buy their seafood frozen to take home or have it cooked fresh by their chefs. I had their salmon skewers and they were off the hook good. Fresh, juicy, and definitely packed with the right kind of flavor.
My Food Sampler for the Night
3. Go Meat-Crazy at The Meat Depot
More of the hearty carnivore? Go Meat-Crazy at The Meat Depot. Originally a family-owned butcher shop down South, The Meat Depot is famous for their flavor-packed Angus Beef Tomahawk, beef tenderloin, and lamb ribs. As with their original stores in Aguirre and Banawe, customers just simply choose the cuts from their HUGE freezers and can either take them home or grilled to dine in.
I got to taste both their Tapa and Chinese Chorizo and I can eat them for days, being the breakfast-obsessed foodie that I am. They definitely live up to their slogan: Better Meat + Better Price! Sarap!
4. The Best of Vietnam at Ca Phe Saigon
Owned by Vietnamese-Filipino Apple Bonifacio, Ca Phe Saigon is anything but another Vietnamese restaurant. Serving all dishes with basil in them, Ca Phe Saigon is definitely modern twist of your classic Vietnamese favorites.
I was only able to taste their Pho and their Spicy Mango drink that night but it was enough reason for me to come back. The Pho had a light yet flavor-filled taste while their Spicy Mango Drink (Elder flower/ spicy mango/ basil) was just amazing! The sweetness of the mango complimented by the hint of sili (or maybe paprika?) can get addictive! Super good especially if it’s ice-cold!
I also loved the fact that their staff was wearing the iconic rice hat. A+ for creativity too for Ca Phe Saigon’s hanging vertical basil garden where diners can pick and cut leaves for their food or drink.
5. Sample the Best of Spain at Barcelon de Calderon
Craving some paella? Good news! Famed Spanish restaurant Calderon in San Juan has brought the best of Spain to The Corner Market Food Hall. Through Barcelon de Calderon, sample your Spanish favorites like croquetas, tapas, flavorful chorizo, and the crowd-favorite paella. from Barcelon de Calderon! Loved the fact that they offer their paella is Personal-sized pans which is perfect for lunch or food on the go! We personally loved the Croquetas Negra and the Squid in Black Ink Paella.
Barcelon by Calderon Iberico Ham
6. Sundays by Merry Moo
It doesn’t need to be Sunday for you to indulge on a good cup of Sundae, right? Sundays by Merry Moo is a dessert playground that serves artisanal ice cream, soft serve ice cream, craft cones, and other sweet treats. I had the Salted Caramel and it was just divine! Creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Sadly I wasn’t able to taste their new Polvoron-flavor soft served but I heard it’s divine. So maybe next time!
What’s better news is they’ve recently offered new flavors for their cones to even level up the ‘Sunday’ experience. Choose from Ube, Coconut, Green Tea, Caramel, and Black Sesame cones to pair up with your favorite soft serve flavors.
7. The Rabbit Hole MNL
Saving the best for last is my favorite Rabbit Hole Manila. Talking to Martin Marcelino, Operations Manager and Owner of Rabbit Hole MNL, I learned that the it’s themed after “Alice in Wonderland”. And yes, it’s the same one in Makati! Although serving just purely desserts and breads, the Rabbit Hole MNL at The Corner Market Food Hall is still a playful reflection of the original picturesque cafe and restaurant.
Rabbit Hole MNL Owners
I personally promised Martin and his wife that I would try each sweet delight someday but for now I can say their Ube Brazo de Mercedes is to die for! Priced at just Php 70.00 per slice, it’s a hefty slice of absolute heaven. Just the right amount of fluff to encase the delicious layers of real ube halaya filling. Guys, I don’t exactly know how to describe the happiness brought to me by this dessert but all I can say is, YOU NEED TO TRY IT!
Rabbit Hole MNL’s Ube Brazo de Mercedes (MUST MUST EAT!)
On a diet? Rabbit Hole MNL also offers guiltless cakes like their Keto Brazo de Mercedes, Keto Sansrival, Keto Strawberry Cheesecake and Keto Chocolate Mousse Crunch.
Other Must Try Eats at Corner Market Food Hall
Still got space for more good food? No need to make the trip to Poblacion just to sample the best eats of El Chupacabra. Find the same hole-in-the-wall goodness of their tacos, shawarma, moussaka, and kababs at La Taqueria del Chupacabra.
Into savory eats? Char can cure your Chinese Comfort Food cravings. Headlined by their bestseller Charsiew, Char also serves other favorites like Crispy Roast Pork Belly, Buttered Chicken, Prawn Paste Fried Chicken and Quarter Roast Duck.
Now if you’re a chicken-lover like me, must try is Birdhouse. They offer a variety of flavored wings and set meals, with crowd-favorites like the Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich and Salted Egg Lava Chicken Sandwich.
Inari by Hamaru is also a must try. Originally a food park stall at The Food Hive in Tandang Sora, Inari by Hamaru is a modern Japanese restaurant with a contemporary menu. Sushi lovers should rejoice as Hamaru brings new flavors to The Corner Market with their innovative sushi like Black Rice Sushi Rolls (served in Spicy Tuna, Salmon Skin, Torched California, Eggplant Miso and Catfish flavors). Best paired with their tofu pockets and skewers (grilled and fried) and authentic sides.
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- Inari by Hamaru Pockets
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- Inari by Hamaru’s Black Rice Sushi Rolls
Now before you go into food coma, cap off your food crawl at The Corner Market with Stockwell’s third wave coffee. Brewed in five different ways, Stockwell’s homegrown coffee will definitely wake up your senses and soothe your food-pleased tummies. They also serve alcoholic beverages and meals like the pasta and rice toppings.
Been here? Comment down your favorites!
Third Wave Coffee by Stockwell
CONTACT
The Corner Market Food Hall
Location: Second Level, The Podium Mall, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City PH
Contact: (0917) 820-8374
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