Restaurant Review: Andale by Agave at SM Aura Premier

I have been spending a lot of days in my bed with the ever reliable cable TV as my company. I think spending the entire day tuned in to the Food Network somehow messed up my cravings. One night, I caught an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and I suddenly wanted to get out of the house and get myself a plate of nachos. It was later on followed by an episode of Outrageous Food that featured a humongous 20-pounder burrito! I told my husband that we were definitely having Mexican food the next day. And true enough, after a medical appointment at St. Luke’s Global, I dragged my husband to SM Aura to have lunch at Andale by Agave.

Andale by Agave is at the Sky Park of SM Aura Premier. The restaurant is relatively small with an al fresco dining setup. It’s probably a good place to hang out on a chilly Friday night after work, but it was a bit hot during our visit. My extreme cravings for Mexican food totally made me forget that Manila’s heat is unbearable during a summer afternoon! But whatever discomfort we may have felt, the food and service certainly compensated for it!

I would have really wanted to get their Nacho Grande, but I was scared that it would be too much for two people. I initially thought of bringing the leftovers home, but I changed my mind when I thought of eating soggy leftover nachos at home. I let go of my nachos craving and just settled with their Chips & Salsa.


Crispy corn chips in yellow, green and red came with a cup of salsa. The vibrant colors of the chips definitely made this appetizer an eye candy. Boyet and I could not stop munching as soon as it was served to us. It was definitely a good way to start our Mexican feast.

The server asked us to choose among mild, medium and spicy salsa. I love anything spicy, but I was worried that my husband could not handle the spicy salsa so we went on the safer side and opted to have the medium one. The salsa is tasty and quite refreshing. But even my husband agreed that it’s not that spicy. We should have taken the risk and tried the spicy salsa instead! :p

Even before I saw the menu, I had already decided that I would be trying out their enchiladas. Andale offers five kinds of fillings for their enchiladas – Mexican cheese, pork carnitas, grilled chicken, steak and grilled shrimp. I went ahead and had grilled chicken.


The corn tortilla is stuffed with grilled chicken, cheese and onions. It is then topped with a generous serving of Ranchero sauce, melted cheese (as if Mexico does not run out of cheese!!!) and sour cream. One piece was actually enough for me, but if you have a bigger appetite, then go for their double serving. One piece was already filling, and each bite proved to be a unique symphony of different flavors. As seen on the photo, there is a slice of jalapeno which added a spicy kick. But how I wished there were at least two slices of the jalapeno! Haha! The meal comes with flavorful Mexican red rice and a very refreshing salad that has the perfect blend of sweetness and tanginess.

My weird husband went with me to a Mexican restaurant and ordered for… wait, hold your breaths, ladies and gentlemen… fried chicken! Hahahaha! When I tried to argue with him, he simply said, “Excuse me! It’s MEXICAN Fried Chicken!!!” Hahaha!


I know that the Mexicans are known for nachos, enchiladas, and burritos. But fried chicken?! Andale’s Mexican Fried Chicken is amazing! The menu states that it is infused with nine different herbs and spices. I don’t know what these were, but they all worked perfectly together in making a usual fried chicken taste extra special! Promise, it’s super delicious! Plus, the chicken is crispy on the outside yet very moist and juicy on the inside! Believe it or not, this has got to be one of the best tasting fried chickens I have ever tried!


Andale by Agave
Level 5 SM Aura Premier
McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig City


* All photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix S3600