The early phases of healthy eating can be rough especially if you’re not used to vegetables in your diet. Unless you’re a great cook, a vegetarian diet can tend to be bland or worse, unsatisfying. Chimara turns the stereotype with its “Eat Good, Feel Good” mantra, introducing a healthy lifestyle that dares to be fun.
Chimara, which started in 2000 at Greenbelt 3, rebranded itself from a “neo-vegan cafe” into a “feel-good kitchen” that offers a plethora of delicious, colorful meals that range from take-out wraps to easy salads, brown rice meals, and sandwiches. Its newly opened branch along Katipunan’s U.P. Town Center greets customers with a bright, green and white interior that excites and energizes those who dine inside. Their food selection is a unique and new mix of everything interesting—I suggest you try them all. With the fact that their foods are healthy, with their own “specialties,” makes Chimara an adventure in every visit.
It’s also notable that their food is quite affordable for the type, so you can eat a lot without breaking the bank. Trust me—with the way the food tastes, you’ll certainly eat to your heart’s content. They have two main types of meals: Cold & Fresh, and Hot & Savory. I ordered three meals namely, Tuna Wasabi Aioli (Php 230), Soy Ginger Chicken (Php 190) and Faux Beef Salpicao (Php 180). I also tried their new Juice Infusions: I am Calm (Php 80), I am Wise (Php 80), and I am Strong (Php 80), all providing a mix of fruits and vegetables in a thirst-quenching cup. It is also served by the pitcher for Php 150 each only.
I was skeptical of the Tuna Wasabi Aioli at first because I wasn’t a fan of wasabi, and adding it to a salad seemed like a turn off. However, Chimara’s version of wasabi was sweet and spicy and it complemented the tuna, mango, and greens, which felt like a rich Asian-style salad. The mild sweet and spiciness of the wasabi aioli gave an interesting twist to the cold salty tuna and tangy mango—a charming salad indeed. The Soy Ginger Chicken and Faux Beef Salpicao also had their own merits, and I was impressed by the faux beef’s taste and texture along with how flavorful and filling the brown rice base was. It does ring true that these dishes are savory indeed, something you’d never expect at a vegetarian cafe. All three dishes had Chimara’s signature tofu chips served alongside them, a smart move to introduce newcomers to their apparently popular product (I became a fan at first bite too).
Tuna Wasabi Aioli
Soy Ginger Chicken
Faux Beef Salpicao
Chimara’s breadth of options is its own strength, and I would love to go back and experience the rest of their menu. Their fun atmosphere and interesting menu options ensure that returning customers are in for a ride, and one that’s healthy to boot! Find Chimara at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Head out to Chimara and treat your family and friends to a healthy and filling meals that all of you will surely enjoy.
CHIMARA
Level 4, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Contact Numbers: (02) 625-0790 | (02) 212-1212
Email: chimara@tatersgroup.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chimara.Kitchen
G/F, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Contact Number: (02) 949-9205
