Manila (formerly Bulaga)

Type of Establishment: Karaoke Bar, Restaurant

Location: On Texas Street, near the end closest to Pusan Station (near Baskin Robbins). Texas Street is the first street parallel to the main road, opposite Pusan Station.

Review: A little gentler than the other "companion bars" on Texas Street. There are ladies to join your table if you like (not obligatory), or you can just sit and chill with a few beers (bottles of Bud for 4,000, San Miguel for 6,000) and sample their Filipino food. Some ideas: Chicken Adobo, Lumpiang Shanghai, Sinigang Na Baboy, Pancit Bihou, Gambas, and this reviewer's favorite, Pork Tocino, priced from about 12,000 won and up. Some may argue over the cuisine's authenticity, but it is certainly a welcome change if you burn out on Korean and Western. Worth the trip.

It is also a Karaoke Bar (as opposed to a private singing room), so if you come early enough, you may have the pleasure of hearing Filipino seamen doing their best "Country Roads" (Take me home!!), or you can get up and try one yourself. They also have a professional singer on hand to remind you why you might want to just sit down and get some food in your mouth. The staff speaks great English and can be very...what's the word?...entertaining.

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