Christmas Guide

Modern Noche Buena: 5 Christmas Food Ideas for a Unique Holiday Feast

Bid your traditional noche buena food goodbye!

By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | December 18, 2019
Share this article
facebook-logo facebook
twitter-logo twitter

Due to changing quarantine measures, the activities, destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily prohibited or closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!


Christmas food ideas

Craving for something different this noche buena? Try these dishes.


Are you tired of having the usual ham, fruit salad, and queso de bola for noche buena again? While these dishes have become staple Christmas Eve dinner or noche buena food, it can get boring to eat them every year. If you and your family want to step out of your comfort zone and try something new this holiday season, there are other equally appetizing Christmas food that you can feast on. And the good news? You wouldn’t need exceptional culinary skills for these Christmas food ideas, as you can just order them! Check out five unique Christmas food ideas below and the restaurants where you can get them.


1. Baked Salmon

Suggested dish: Conti’s baked salmon
Prices:
PhP1,625 Family size (good for 6-8 persons)
PhP2,435 - Party size (good for 12-15 persons)


noche buena food

Conti’s baked salmon includes a buttered vegetable side dish

Image: Conti’s Website

Seafood is a great alternative to ham. For a seafood dish that will satisfy your taste buds, go for baked salmon. One place that offers this dish is Conti’s. Conti’s is known for its sweet confections, but the famous bakeshop also produces one of the tastiest baked salmon dishes in Metro Manila. The dish is available in two large sizes for small and big families.

How to get to Conti’s (Century City Mall branch): Ride the MRT-3 and alight at Guadalupe Station. Exit at the southbound side of EDSA. From there, ride a jeepney with an “Ayala JP Rizal Makati Ave Guad Ibabaw” sign. Pay the minimum fare and alight at Makati cor Kalayaan, which is past A Venue Mall. Walk along Kalayaan Avenue to get to Century City Mall. It is the C-shaped building. Conti’s is at Level 1.



Conti’s also has branches in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, BF Homes Paranaque, Ayala Malls the 30th, Robinsons Magnolia, and Trinoma.


2. Mexican Style Chicken

Suggested dish: Gringo's Original Chicken
Where to buy: Gringo branches
Prices:
Quarter - PhP175
Half - PhP328
Whole - PhP645


christmas food

Gringo’s original chicken is the restaurant’s specialty.

Image: Gringo-Chicken Ribs Friends, Philippines Facebook Page

Since most kids and adults love chicken, it is still a noche buena must-have. Normal fried chicken is undeniably great, but for something non-traditional opt for a chicken dish with a twist, like Gringo’s original chicken. Filled with combined spices and herbs, this dish is a zesty addition to your Christmas dinner spread. The original chicken comes in quarter, half, and whole servings.

How to get to Gringo (Ayala Malls Manila Bay branch): Take the MRT-3 and get off at Taft Avenue Station then go down the stairs at the northbound side of the station. Turn left into a passageway next to Mcdonald’s and look for a Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 shuttle commuter bus. Alight at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. It is just a short walk from City of Dreams Manila. Gringo is located on the fourth floor.



Gringo also has branches in Legaspi Village,SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, The Fort Residences BGC, SM Mall of Asia, UP Town Center, Festival Mall, Greenhills Shopping Centre, SM City Sucat, SM City Manila, SM City Fairview, Ayala Malls Feliz, and Ayala Malls the 30th.


3. Assorted Sushi

Suggested dish: Sushi Nori’s Sushi party trays
Where to buy: Sushi Nori branches
Prices:
48 pcs California Maki - PhP1,299
Super tray - PhP1,699
Classic - PhP1,799
Best of the Best - PhP1,799
Sushi Overload - PhP2,099


christmas party food

Sushi Nori’s sushi trays will have you choose from assorted flavors.

Image: Sushi Nori PH Facebook Page

Japanese food is not typically served during the holidays, so sushi is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of noche buena. But why shouldn’t it be? It’s delicious, it’s easy to share, and it’s healthy! All these make it a recommended dish for those who want something that will make their noche buena or Christmas party different this year. To get a trayful of assorted sushi, check out Sushi Nori’s sushi trays. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also offer various flavor options to cater to different taste buds.

How to get to Sushi Nori (UP Town Center branch): Ride a jeep to Katipunan and walk towards the jeepney terminal heading to U.P Town Center. These jeeps are with “Katipunan ikot” signages. Pay the minimum fare. Sushi Nori is located on the 1st level phase 2.



Sushi Nori also has branches in SM Aura, SM Megamall, UP Town Center, Rockwell, and W City Center.


4. Spicy Seafood Pasta

Suggested dish: Amici’s Spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare
Where to buy: Amici branches
Prices: PhP1,660 for Gruppo (8 persons)


Christmas food ideas

Taste different seafood delights with the spicy seafood pasta.

Image: Amici Website

Pasta is always present in every occasion, especially during Christmas. But Filipinos usually serve only two pasta dishes: carbonara and Filipino-style spaghetti. Beyond the two variants, there are more pasta styles you can indulge in, like Amici’s spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare (to the treasure of the sea). The spaghetti dish has a spicy seafood flavor fused with fresh ingredients such as mussels, clams, scallops, tomatoes, and chili oil.

How to go to Amici (SM Megamall branch): Ride the MRT and get off at Ortigas Station. Exit the station and walk along the sidewalk until you reach SM Megamall. Galerie Anna is on the fourth floor of Building A. Amici is located at the 3rd floor Atrium.



Amici also has branches in Don Bosco Makati, Tomas Morato, SM North EDSA, Technohub, Alabang Town Center, Greenhills, and Ayala Triangle Garden.


5. Queso De Bola Cheesecake

Suggested dish: Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete’s Queso De Bola Cheesecake
Where to buy: Unit 42 Ecology Village, Makati City
Price: PhP1,300 (8-12 persons)


noche buena food

The cheesecake is a noche buena delight for those with a sweet tooth.

Image: Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete Facebook Page

Noche buena is not complete without queso de bola, but did you know that there are other ways you can eat the traditional treat? Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete’s take on the Pinoy classic is a queso de bola cheesecake, a decadent treat rich in cream cheese and muscovado whipped cream. Tiny bits of queso de bola are mixed with the cream cheese to give balanced sweetness and saltiness to the cake.

How to get to Ecology Village: Cakes are available only for pickup. To get there, ride the MRT to Magallanes Station. From the station, take a jeep that will pass Amorsolo Street. Ecology Village is just nearby San Lorenzo Place.



Visit Yoorekka for more noche buena dishes and tips!


Christmas is a time to observe traditions, but it can also be the perfect occasion to introduce new ones, especially with your noche buena spread!
Newsletter Banner
author
About Denisse Shawntel Tan
Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.
Learn more stories on:
Location Tags:
Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
MORE STORIES AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
Follow Us On:
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Home
Advertise
About Us
Privacy Policy
Register My Store
HTML Sitemap
Submit My Favorites
XML Sitemap
Terms and Conditions
FAQ Page
Copyright 2013 - 2024 ShoppersGuide Marketing Inc. All Rights Reserved
This website uses cookies to enhance the user experience. For more information please see our privacy policy