since residing in manila, i've had a propensity for eating at of beaten track restaurants, shops and stalls. a little extra cash in your pocket can indeed go a long way. today i have compiled a list of quaint places worth visiting when in luzon and mindanao.. i've put a 100% money's worth guarantee on these jaunts so go visit them when you're in town. may mura may mahal just take your pick. aahhh tom jones na koh (gay lingo for gu-tom)!!
Cibo's tiramisu - Margarita Fores owned Cibo restaurant has branches in Powerplant Mall, Shangrila Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, Greenhills Promenade and Quezon City. My favorite branch is the one at Gateway though.
sisig at Trellis -40 Matalino St . cor . Kalayaan Ave . Diliman Quezon City. Unbeatable sisig for years. hands down.
Bellini's pizza and pasta - a cozy, enthusiastically run family establishment, is unusual in that it is located in Cubao, a Manila neighborhood best described as "downmarket". located at the Marikina Shoe Expo, the owner, Roberto (from Pisa), will overwhelm patrons with hospitality and recommendations, many of them not on the menu.
chicken barbecue at JT's BBQ - this hole-in-the-wall place serves THE very best barbecue i have ever tasted in the Philippines. that's the bare and honest truth coming from a barbecue lover. located in San Juan. just go straight up from La Salle to Greenhills to the San Juan intersection. it can be found after those stalls selling capiz christmas lanterns all year round. by the way, Joel Tore owns the place and he's there serving and makes chika with the customers in the evenings.
California Pizza Kitchen's Original Chicken Chopped Salad. they have branches at Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, Greenhills Promenade, Tomas Morato.
bulalo sa Mang Tura - Madrazo fruitstand along Ponciano Reyes st. , Davao City. tambayan ng mga sobrang lasing na gusto magpahuwas :)
tapsilog at Rodick's. UP Diliman Shopping Mall. sarap. affordable. bilis pa i-serve. may libre pang baso na may ice hehe.
Dampa in Paranaque. there's also one in Libis but not as "outdoorsy" if you know what i mean. basta they have the "wet market" ambience.
Brooklyn Pizza in BF Parañaque. friendly neighborhood pizza place with an an authentic Italian taste.
Melange's mango crepe - they used to have a branch near abs-cbn in QC but am not sure if it's still open. there's also one at Eastwood in Libis.
Reyes barbecue - Shangrila Plaza Mall foodcourt at their mezzanine floor. second lang ito sa JT's.
tuna sisig at Caje Jacinto - jacinto extension behind Central Bank in Davao City. you can smoke there till you die of lung cancer (for those who don't know bawal kasi yumosi sa DVO utos ni Rody). plus the music is so very G-A-Y. love it!
Teriyaki Boy's chicken teriyaki - they're all over.
various breads at Bread Talk - kinda pricier than your average Julie's bakeshop but worth every peso. everything in that store tastes good. they are at Glorietta, Gateway at kung saan saan pa.
Roast Beef of Chicago Sandwich Company at The Podium in Ortigas Center. sandwich na ulam pa.
Razon's Halohalo in Pampanga (Guagua, I think). I tried it once on our way to Subic, and I liked it so much we had to stop over again on the way back. they also have stalls at Robinson's Galleria and Robinson's Place in Malate.
donuts at Cello's along Katipunan just opposite Ateneo de Manila. donuts in Oreo, M&M and Chocnut flavors. Cheese flavor is surprisingly good, too!
mashed potatoes w/ white gravy at Chili's and please also note that they serve bottomless frozen margaritas *big smile* a feast for the pala-inom in you. yes you! am talking to you!
balbacua at the Agdao Market. they serve it really hot hot. super anghang and masarap. ingat lang sa hepatitis. palengke siya what do you expect! the more "upscale" best one i had was at Mommy's, Don Carlos, Bukidnon
Via Mare's baked oysters. SUBLIME! branches at Greenbelt 1 & 3, Alabang, Greenhills Promenade, Rockwell, Landmark, Edsa Shangrila and Total gas station at South Super Highway.
Baguio Country Club bakeshop's banana loaf and raisin bread.
Sanctuario in Tagaytay. great food and very affordable. try the mouth-watering Pasta Bulalo, Bangus Caldereta, Seared Tuna in Wasabi and the bread rolls with bangus pate.
fresh kinilaw at Luz Kinilaw in Magsaysay Park Davao City. ingat lang sa utensils. basta i warned you.
Pastel de yema. Cagayan de Oro City. my son Rashid loves them.
Gayuma along Esteban Abada, near Xavierville area. interesting concept for a restaurant. they have chocolate cake called "better than sex." *clears throat* sa mga nag-iibigan it's quite a romantic place.
House of Silvanas. calorific treat thats really worth it. stuff yourself with this and i guarantee a few centimeters around your waistline in a few weeks. Shell Magallanes and 5th floor stall at Shangrila Mall.
has anyone tried the Salcedo and Legaspi weekend markets in Makati? There are so many food stalls --- La Cocina de Tita Moning, Chef Ed's, Weekend Gourmet,Tommy's coffee, Ineng's barbecue, Tita Cely's (Filipino food). Cakes and pastries made by the Vargas family and Baba Ibazeta are readily available. Lechon from Cebu, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, bread and milk products, plants and flowers, and so much more...
fresh lumpia at Jimmy's along Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City. there's also banana cue cooked with mascuvado sugar sold beside South Seas Mall. i can eat it everyday and not grow tired of it. sobra lang ngang tamis.
Al Bashir's pastil. its a muslim native delicacy made of glutinous rice. also in Cotabato City.
this list can go on till tomorrow but the essence of my food tripping entry is that the Philippines has a cornucopia of food choices we can pick from. depends on individual taste and personal preferences. so, ditch the mcdonalds and jollibee mentality and taste what is out there. life's too short to miss out on the good things in life.
