Known as the 'bagsakan' of produce coming from up north (Baguio, Cordillera, Tarlac, etc.), expect…read morethis place to have the cheapest produce in Manila. When I saw the prices of the food here, it was insane. Some are even 50% less than what I would usually pay for in supermarkets or palengkes here in the South. Sometimes even less actually! As far as variety goes, they have a plethora of vegetables and fruits to choose from, so it's hard not to go crazy as they're also as fresh as you can get here in the city. Don't expect Balintawak Market though to be all clean and safe--it's the kind of place where you really have to be careful with your bags and valuables. If you're vegetarian/vegan, it would be so perfect if you lived near this place. Sadly, I'm from the South and this place is just not practical enough for me to head to for my weekly stash of greens.

It's the end of the week and you're feeling a little sluggish. You partied a little too much and…read moreyour body is aching from all that debauchery, too many drinks, too much bad food and so little sleep. So, you've made a promise to rest the entire weekend. Stay in, sleep early and eat well. While the first 2 things may come easily as your body feels like it has been run over by a fire truck, the 3rd one will only be done with some effort. So in order to achieve the 3rd task you go to the first store that comes to mind: Dizon Farms. Located at Market Market in BGC, it's a stall that has everything you'll ever need to live well. In it are arrays of fresh fruits and vegetables that will keep that little voice in your head very happy upon purchase. I come here often to stock up on fruits mainly because I make it a point to start my day with one. So if you're just a health nut like me or you're trying to recuperate from a crazy week, don't go to a fastfood joint, shop at Dizon Farms instead.

Super fresh meats, fish and seafood and chicken. Also vegetables are very fresh with a great…read moreselection. Prices are fair and competitive. A fairly clean wet market. Cooked foods and desserts are very good to great.

One of the cleanest markets that I've been to that is situated in metro manila specifically in…read moreQuezon City. I love how they cater to different needs of the buyers. But I love their food stalls the one facing Dapitan Arcade. This is where I buy big bilaos of California maki at a very affordable price. Their small bilao will cost P200-300 good for family size and the biggest bilao ranges from P750-800 only and can feed almost 25 people. There are also some stalls selling Filipino dishes and kakanin good for to go. The only that's hassle is here is when during peak hours it is hard to find parking because of traffic and a portion of the lot is allotted to shuttle services. The best time to come in is 10AM after all the hustle and bustle are done and all the food stores are open.

It's ridiculous how many trips to work it took me to FINALLY notice this MECCA of veggie meat/mock…read moremeat! What lies inside this drab and discreet-looking establishment are actually freezers upon freezers of imported Taiwanese veggie meats and mock meats! I'm not talking about just 2 or 3 freezers--more like 8 to 10! From the usual "chicken" nuggets, ready-made burgers, and dried TVP (textured vegetable protein), to more unusual mock meat products such as veggie "shrimp", veggie "scallops", and stewed "mutton". It's amazing how there seems to be a very creative/strange/weird equivalent for most meats and seafood out there. My personal favorite is the sliced "fish" ham. Shaped like a fish steak with white meat, and seaweed "skin" wrapped around it. This place is a DREAM for any vegetarian or vegan (well, not the gluten-conscious and health food purists at least). Prices vary from cheap (below Php 100) to pricey (Php 250+) per pack, but with the overwhelming variety, it's really difficult NOT to hoard so it's wise to bring a lot of cash. Though, if you're vegan, do take note that some products have albumin, whey, etc. so don't go too crazy and still check your labels. They also have some dried mushrooms, vegetarian/vegan stir-fry sauces, Magic Meat (locally manufactured brand of TVP), and other veggie ingredients. If you're transitioning into vegetarianism or veganism, mock meats really help you ease into it faster.

Justine E. gave good info in her review. This place has so many options for frozen vege foods…read more This store is important because many Filipinos are not willing to make the jump from a heavy meat diet to a completely meatless diet. This store offers so many fish, pork, mutton, shrimp, chicken, hotdog alternatives that make it easier for a heavy meat eater to substitute meat products. If you need a store that supplies fake meat options to convince your friends, family, and neighbors to substitute meat this is a helpful store. Unfortunately they have almost no advertising and I only learned about this place by word of mouth. It never turned up on any searches for vegan/vegetarian food in Manila :( Only 5 min walk from Quirino LRT station at the intersection of San Marcelino and Quirino. It does not look like a store from the outside and when you walk in the door it's just huge freezers full of frozen vege food.

Sweet Corner is one of those stalls that wouldn't really capture your attention at first. It…read moredoesn't have a very flashy design and from the looks of it, it doesn't really have a lot to offer in terms of food variety. They don't sell any other food products besides corn on the cob and corn in a cup. Despite their lack of food selection, I still love Sweet Corner. It's one of those food stalls that I would regularly visit every time I am looking for a light snack to eat. They also prepare it really fast so if you're in a hurry to go somewhere, just grab a cup of corn and you're good to go. For less than 40 pesos, you can have a cup of fresh buttery steamed corn. You can choose from three flavors: cheese, barbecue, and sour cream. The sour cream is rich and tart and completely complements the sweet flavor of the Japanese corn.

I'm not much of a meat eater now. I'm now more of a flexitarian (semi-vegetarian), meaning I have a…read moreplant based diet with the occasional meat intake (mostly seafood). But sometimes, I do miss the taste of meat so when my vegan friend recommended Veggie Boutique to me, I couldn't wait to try it! I haven't had veggie meat before so I picked options which I thought were on the safe side and options I would like. I've ordered from them twice already and the food I've tried are the (imported & eggless) chicken nuggets, (local & eggless) chicken nuggets, spare ribs, stewed meat, siomai, corn beef, and bbq. They all surprisingly look like the real thing! The ones I didn't fancy as much were the siomai (a bit too mushy for my liking), corned beef (sweeter than the real thing but great with diced potatoes and when you cook them in a longer time than usual so it has crunch) and stewed meat (tastes like Spam if you love those!). My sister loved the bbq, as did I. Great seasoning and taste but I prefer a firmer texture. If you love the bite of bbq fat, these are for you. The tocino and tapa are usually out of stock so we haven't tasted them yet. My favorites would be the (imported) chicken nuggets and the spare ribs! The chicken nuggets look and taste exactly like the ones you buy in the grocery. I didn't care much for the local one although it tasted quite the same but the texture and look were different. If you prefer a cheaper option, go for it! Lastly, the spare ribs. I can't get enough of it! The char of the sugar on it and the flavoring is really good! Pictures to follow. :) I'm not sure if they deliver because I just pick my orders up but you're always free to ask when you call to inquire or order. :)

As I grow older, the appeal of irresponsible eating has slowly worn off from my system. Sure I…read moreenjoy a good burger or pizza every now and then but everyday, I find myself looking for more healthy and flavorful dishes. Eating vegetables was never a problem for me ever since I was a kid. I would actually gladly choose more vegetables over meat dishes and really enjoy it. My sister and her husband have recently become ovo-vegetarian and is slowly trying to transition into a full vegan. They always ask me about vegatarian dishes they can prepare as they don't cook very much. Veggie Boutique is a perfect place for people who are newbies at going green in their diet. They help you satisfy your cravings for "meaty" items like corned beef, nuggets, hams, sisig, and many more. They carry local and imported items and they also have a range of seasonings, ingredients, and supplements that are all 100% Vegetarian! They deliver for a fee or you can go directly to them in Palm Village. Great place to try and would definitely go back for my vegetarian fix!

I tried Healthy Shots when I was here for an event and they didn't seem so prepared. The staff…read morewasn't sure if they could give me soy milk and told me to wait until their owner arrived. So I waited a good 30 minutes for this and yes, I got my soy milk. Then I got my coffee and it was hazelnut flavored, which I was okay with, but they should've told me this when I ordered because not everyone wants a flavored coffee. I was also in need of some food so I asked if I could order a fruit cup (something over 120 pesos) and it wasn't really worth the money - was just filled with apple, some grapes, and some pineapple. Really nothing special or exciting for the price. I have yet to try the juices though, and that is their specialty, so maybe that will be better next time around.

Rocha's puto is really special and delicious. Actually it is one of my favorite places to get puto…read morein the world. The puto is chewy and cheesy. I could probably eat a whole box in one sitting. If you are in Marikina, I highly recommend buying a box or two! Next time I'm in Marikina this is a must visit for me.

First day of school. You will expect the students to talk about academic issues. But, surprise,…read moreRocha's Puto at Kutsinta made its way into the conversation. My classmate asked me where I was from and I answered Marikina. Quickly, she remarked: "I've been there. Dumayo kami to try Rocha's Puto and Kutsinta. You're famous for that, di ba?" And all the while I was thinking Marikina was famous for shoes! But, maybe, the palate makes a greater impact on the memory than the feet. Oh well, this is one time I am happy to be wrong. The puto of Rocha's is really quite good. Flavorful but not overly sweet. Soft and fluffy and never buhaghag. This rice cake from Rocha's is becoming a staple at meals served for family celebrations. So, next time, if you are going to a potluck party, you now have more options than just spaghetti, pancit or pizza. Visit Marikina and buy Rocha's Puto and Kutsinta. Marikina, the puto and kutsinta capital of the Philippines? Not bad.