There are different versions of empanada here in the Philippines; several types are available in…read morethe Metro and in each region have their own preferred fillings and toppings, but the best one I've tried so far is located in the Province of Ilocos. Ilocos empanada has several ingredients such as green papaya, mung beans, whole egg, a piece of their famous garlicky Ilocos longanissa and enveloped in a crispy shell case made of mixed flour and crushed annato seeds to add crunch to this delectable empanada. The good thing is you don't have to travel twelve hours from the city to have a taste of Ilocos famous empanada since Victoria's Empanada de Iloko brought it here in Manila. Sample this dish while it's hot and crispy and although Victoria's version is more peppery that the ones in Ilocos, just add Sukang Iloko and that would balance the taste and get that authentic Ilocos empanada taste.

You won't have to travel all the way to Ilocos if you're craving for some Ilocos Empanada…read more Victoria's Emapanada de Iloko sells Ilocos Empanada that is close to the real thing. You may choose from a variety of the empanadas based on your liking. If you want it with the complete ingredients, they have the Special Empanada. If you want one or two of the ingredients taken out like the egg or longganisa, they also have options for you. All their empanadas are made to order so you're sure that it's freshly cooked. For just Php 50, you already have an Ilocos Empanada to satisfy your craving. Service is pretty fast as well so you won't have to wait that long.

If you're on thrift mode, Paotsin is definitely your best friend. Paotsin can usually be found…read moreinside groceries or food courts but don't belittle this food stall, it will be your savior if you're short on cash. Their menu is very simple, just pick a dimsum that you like and choose from Hainanese Rice or Lemak Rice. I'd say go for the Hainanese Rice! Although their dimsums don't differ that much from each other when it comes to taste, I'd recommend getting the Shark's Fin. Just ask for Toyomansi and Chili and you're good to go! TIP: You may request for your dimsum to be steamed or deep fried.

The best takoyaki I've had by far, here in the Metro, is by Samurai. Located in the supermarket…read morearea of SM Southmall, Samurai has been serving close-to-legit takoyaki for an affordable price. They also have other Japanese food like Okonomiyaki, Gyoza and Ramen but I wouldn't recommend it that much. Samurai doesn't have an actual restaurant but their food is easy to eat so you won't have to worry about them being just a food stand. What I also love is that their service is pretty fast even though their takoyaki is always freshly cooked.

Healthy food gets a bad reputation for being bland and sometimes downright appetizing and for a…read moregood reason, it just tastes like crap. Sure, it's loaded with vitamins and nutrients but if it tastes like cardboard then it completely takes away the joy of eating. Contrary to what most people believe, you don't always have to sacrifice flavor for nutrition and Yin Yang's Chinese Fresh Lumpia shows us how it's done. Its shredded cabbage and carrot, rolled in a soft lumpia wrapper. Inside you would find nuts, nori and seaweed. Topped with a sweet sauce, Yin Yang's lumpia is proof that eating right can actually taste good. Tips: 1. Have one before going to the grocery. This helps you cut down on junk food shopping. 2. Best to buy the lumpia before noon. I find that it tastes better. 3. You can order a box for take-out too.

Next to Globe Lumpia in Binondo, this is #2 in my list for the best lumpiang sariwa in Manila. This…read moreplace offers vegetarian lumpia (also vegan!) and for such simple ingredients, it's incredibly tasty. I just love the seaweed! The first time I tried it, I was actually a bit confused with the taste at it leans more towards nutty and sweet, unlike most lumpias that are mostly garlicky. I did fall in love with it after a few bites, and it's always been a place for me to grab a quick snack at Town. It's located at the food court, which is perfect because I pair this with a fresh fruit smoothie. Perfect afternoon snack! Also, not expensive! Both tummy and wallet are satisfied.

This place is one of those mini burger joints that you tend to see at some odd corner of a street…read moreor urban area. These things pop out here and there and are nearly everywhere. I like these small burger joints because they just smell of Pinoy quality. Their burgers are okay. They're not the best ones out there, but they're definitely good enough for me that I'll end up going back for more every now and then. What I really enjoy about their burgers is the value for money. Most of their burgers come in the buy one take one variety. It's easy to fill your stomach on food if you give this place a try. Just don't expect to get burgers with really thick patties. Their patties are a bit thinner than usual, but considering the price and the fact that it's often by one take one, the size of the pattie should matter little.

I must admit, what first got my attention was the color and aesthetic of Coney Island. The use of…read morebasic colors white, blue and red never fails to make an impression. I was seriously digging the faux popcorn cart and awning, too. I got the Coney Dog and my friend got the Burrito Dog, and because we were right in the nick of time (as always), we were in such a rush. The lady offered to deliver it to our seats and took down our number. Perfect timing as she delivered it right before the movie started. So much convenience for what was already a good deal for the food! Anyway, Aside from the usual hotdogs, corndogs (CORNDOGS!) and popcorn, they also have wraps, sandwiches, nachos, and other munchies like string fries, curly fries (win, right?), potato chips, and onion rings. Darn it, they even have milkshakes! Which, sadly, I didn't get to try. There's always a next time anyway. There WILL be a next time.

If you want to up your lechon manok/fried chicken takeout game a little, you might want to try CNC…read more I guess there's no better way to describe it than by saying that they make the closest versions of the popular chicken food chains. Their C n' C chicken tastes like your Pinoy favorite Max's, and if you prefer it a little Chinese style, go for their Fried Soy Chicken. It tastes (and smells) exactly like the one you order at Classic Savory. Seriously! My favorite though has to be their Buttered Chicken. It's probably the best takeout chicken I've ever had. You need to wait for a little more than 20 minutes for them to cook it, but I guarantee, it's worth it. If you want other dishes than chicken, their lumpiang shanghai is tasty too. Pair it with their Yang Chow fried rice and you'll feel like your dining in North Park. Wow, that's three restaurants in one!

I love pork. Blame it on living in the Middle East (where pork is forbidden) for a couple of…read moreyears; or on my genes (our family worships lechon!) but I just love that fatty piece of meat. I can eat pork in so many ways, but next to lechon, my favorite pork dish would have to be Liempo. And nobody does that better than Baliwag. Baliwag Liempo is my favorite take-out food. When nobody in the house has time to cook, we just go to the nearest Baliwag store and order two or three slabs of pork, along with their Lechong Manok. Nobody complains if there's Baliwag on the table. Whenever we would have their liempo, a cup of rice is hardly enough. And if that's not enough to destroy my diet, I would always look for the fatty parts (there's a lot, don't worry, but there's a lot of lean meat too) and smother it with their best tasting sarsa.

When we were waiting on the 4th floor of NAIA Terminal 3, I saw this store and stopped by to see if…read morethey had Yemas. Yemas are Filipino confections made of butter, condensed milk and egg yolks. They're so good! Unfortunately, I was not able to find Yema pyramids in Mindoro where my parents live. For some reason, they're really hard to find. I asked the sales clerk if they had Yema and she presented two different kinds--the small Yema caramels which are hard, and the Yema pyramids which are soft. Hallelujah! I was so happy! I bought a tub of the Yema pyramids and the hubby and I immediately opened up the tub and had one each. They just melted in our mouths. So so good. You can only have one at a time though since they're quite sweet. This store is tucked in between Kusina Filipino Cuisine and Jollibee's. They also sell all kinds of Pili Nut candies, dried mangos, polvoron, and etc. if you have room in your luggage, this is a good place to get "pasalubong" (gifts) for your loved ones back home. I'm definitely stopping here again next time we're in NAIA!