What's something simple, straight to the point but extremely delicious? Shawarma Bros!…read more Given that they are a food truck, their menu is not extensive, but it's really all you need. They have beef, chicken and lamb then you can choose whether to have a wrap or a rice meal. Then you can choose 2 out of 3 sauces -- garlic yogurt, chili and cheese. There's also a side of diced tomatoes and cucumbers that make it even more tasty. They aren't the cheapest in the block but their prices are worth it since they have a generous serving size and everything is cooked fresh in front of you. In the many times I've had Shawarma Bros, I more-often-than-not go for the rice meals.. maybe because it fills me more after waiting in line (because they're that famous). And I always leave full and satisfied.

I love the Shawarma Bros Food Truck so much! In my opinion, they have the best tasting Shawarma…read moreRice Plates ever! The first time I tried their food, I was blown away by how good it was. I just really had to have more! There was a time that I really looked for them every time there were a bunch of food trucks lined up in a certain place or event. I just really had to have it. Until now, every time I see the truck I automatically buy their food. My favorite is their Beef Shawarma Rice with the Garlic Yogurt and Chili Tomato sauces. It just always hits the spot for me. I never get tired of it and it's already been a little more than a year since I've first tried it. The Shawarma Bros never lose their touch in making really delicious shawarma. They've taken this dish to the next level that's why people keep wanting more!

What it has going for it is its brand and name recognition. Mang Larry's has been an institution at…read moreUP for quite a while now. The order placement system is also very organized. The food order is properly itemized and priced in the printed order slip. It gets full very quickly nearing meal times. We had to wait a short while after placing our order at around 5:45 PM. Students, office workers, and tourists are the present diners when we ate there. What I did not like was the setting and service. It did come a long way now that it has a dedicated seating area and a covered roof compared to yesteryears when it was only a stand-up kiosk. It would have been nice if they went all the way and cemented the flooring and have chosen more presentable table and chairs. Durint the time we were present dining, we also overheard another customer having their order wrong. He ordered something around 20 sticks, but what came in the take-out bag was only around 16 sticks. It was a few sticks short. Lastly, do not expect to get good value when eating here. The small portions of food on the sticks are a little pricey and can add up quicky with just a few sticks ordered.

There is a reason why Mang Larry's is one of the most famous stalls in the UP Diliman Campus. It is…read morea small and humble cart near the Internatonal Center and the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, yet it manages to drawn in hordes and hordes of students and faculty. It serves a variety of innards and offal, which I think shows the ingenuity and the resourcefulness of our street food eating habits -nothing goes to waste. On the menu are different kinds of isaw or pig and chicken intestines, and other adventurous stuff such as pig ears, tripe, gizzards and liver. People would actually line up and end up smelling like the smoke from the outdoor grill, which goes to show how good the isaw is. I personally don't like isaw very much, and I have already shifted to my veg diet when I came to UP, but my friends swear by the quality of the isaw sold by Mang Larry's. A friend remarked that he wouldn't even touch any other isaw, unless he is sure that utter care was taken by the vendor in cleaning the innards. They say that the stuff sold by Mang Larry's taste fresh and clean, and free from that undesirable taste of chicken poop that any amateur isaw vendor wouldn't think of cleaning out thoroughly. Anyway, I heard Mang Larry was able to send his kids to college because of his trade, to which I say, well done! Excellent job, hardworking and charismatic Mang Larry!

I love trying out places that serve fish and chips just because I absolutely loooooove fish and…read morechips. Joe's Meat Shack was kind of disappointing. Fine, it IS a meat shack, but for the price I'm paying, I would expect non slimy fish. It didn't even taste cooked! Everything except that fish tasted good. Service is okay. There's only one server usually and a lot of people waiting so it takes awhile before your order gets to you. I just think they're pretty lucky to find a spot outside two bars with a chance of hungry drunkards needing something to sober up before heading home. Parking is difficult just because there is no space anywhere for cars. Bring two bars together, then that'll make parking even harder for those who just want to eat. Up side is that their fries with truffle ketchup is absolutely amazing! But again, for the price that you pay, you might as well make your own truffle fries and ketchup. I have yet to try any of their meat products, though I hope I can one of these days to give justice to my first few times visiting this place. It's not a place that I would go to for any cravings, just probably a place I would go to before or after partying in Black Market or Finders Keepers.

After 9 years of working in offices that are within a 15-minute walk to Greenbelt, last year I…read morefound myself working in a part of Makati that requires 2 jeepney rides or a long, uncomfortable walk to my former stomping grounds and casual lunch destinations. It hasn't really been an issue for the most part, especially since after getting married I've learned to cook and have been bringing baon to work to save on lunch expenses. There are times, however, when you really feel like eating out, especially after a long day at the office, or when you really just can't stand to be in the office for one reason or another. This is where a place like Joe's Meat Shack comes in. Located just across the offices of Campaigns & Grey, another ad agency, and one of the gates to San Lorenzo Village, Joe's is essentially just a food truck that's been planted outside the La Fuerza compound (just outside Finder's Keepers), with a few tables for dine-in customers set up right outside. They make and serve up juicy burgers (that are just a wee bit too oily, but not intolerably so) and perfectly-salted fries to order. Greenbelt what?

Yet another place I've never formally set foot in. Kayemito doesn't have the flash or bang of its…read moreneighbors. Truth be told, it's probably a level higher than a carinderia. It's also a touch on the small side, open air and not air conditioned. Definitely the kind of place that's a turo-turo with a menu. While I've never actually come here for lunch, I will tell you what I've come here for: the isaw. Yes, while UP is right in the backyard, there are times where I can't quite justify going all that way for my isaw fix. Thankfully, Kayemito covers the most basic of isaw cravings. Sometime in the afternoon, they set up a grill and start taking orders for isaw which they will cook the minute you order. There really isn't much to say about grilled pluck but it's good to know it's right there when you want it. Maybe someday I'll come back for actual food.

I was visiting family in Taguig last weekend and we decided to hit up the McKinley West Food Truck…read moreFestival on a whim--best spontaneous plan ever. The place was buzzing but not overcrowded, with so many trucks lined up it was hard to choose! We grabbed killer tacos from one of the Mexican spots, some insane loaded fries, and finished with that creamy Mio Gelati pistachio gelato that honestly ruined regular ice cream for me forever. Everything was fresh, portions were generous, and nothing broke the bank--most stuff under 250 pesos. The sunset view over the open space was stunning, super chill vibe with music playing, and parking was a breeze with tons of free spots. We stayed way longer than planned just people-watching and eating. Please keep this going permanently, it's such a fun spot! Five stars, no question.

In its first month, I had hoped for the Food Truck Festival to extend or stay in the Westside of…read moreMcKinley forever. Thankfully, the food trucks are here to stay until the 13th of December - which is a good compromise! I still wish for it to be a permanent fixture so we have something going on in McKinley! When I did a quick tour of the area, the food sold at the festival didn't go over P250. That's pretty reasonable and more reasons to pig out! There's a variety of food selection from burgers, gelato, Filipino, Mediterranean, American and street food. Recently, there's an addition of Japanese and Mexican food trucks! Seriously though, I only come here for the gelato by Mio Gelati (P100 for a premium cup) but I always end up getting more than what I came for. I'd have Lamb Biryani from Shawarma Bros (P199), Bacon Cheese Burger from Malcolm's Deli (P150) and Chili Garlic Wings from Bag Wings to name a few. There are live performances as well (although I've never actually seen one). I make sure to come here as soon as it opens because the view is absolutely beautiful. Since McKinley West hasn't started most of the construction in the area, there's so much free space! You also have a view of the Essensa Towers as the sun sets. Parking is far easy as well! They have 500 parking spaces all for free!

Nice bakery with a traditional design to it. I love the ceiling decor with the flying insects and…read morebirds. They're known for the baked goods especially the ensymada and cheese rolls. Cassava chips with sauce. Tried a Mango bene slice. It was really good! Loved all the mango slices in the cake. Thank you!

After a long plane ride, I needed something fresh and comforting so I opted for a soup (mushroom)…read moreand salad (greens) and it hit the spot for a late lunch/merienda. I had a taste of my sister's grilled ensaymada and that was good too. I forgot what other items people ordered but my husband got a slice of their fruitcake and he LOVED it. When we left PI, we made sure to get a box to bring home! Service was pleasant but a little slow, just took a while to get the bill. And the restaurant was decked out with cute holiday touches.

Back when I was still in college, after long nights of drinking, my friends and I would often look…read morefor a post inuman grub and back then, Rufo's was one of the only places near our hangout spot that would still be open. At that time, their branch along Kalayaan Avenue was still open and parking was more often than not difficult and going there in a big group was more or less hard to sit down. Even when I was already working, I would order some tapa for delivery plus a saba con hielo and I was set for the rest of my day. I transferred from office to office and had some tapa delivered to me at least once or twice a month. My favorite is the Tapa Queen. It has a little spice but add the vinegar and it's perfect. I always make sure that each spoon would have rice, tapa dipped in vinegar, atchara (pickled papaya strips) and some egg. Sometimes I would even mix the egg with the rice to make life easier. Seriously, I need to head to a Rufo's branch soon. Or maybe have some delivered now. It should be perfect even for dinner.

STOP ADVERTISING THAT THIS IS A 24/7 RESTAURANT! We went to have breakfast at 7:30am on a Sunday in…read morethe Venice Grand Canal branch because online search shows that this is open 24/7 and we were looking for a good tapa place. When we found the place, it had a big "24/7 ALWAYS OPEN" sign on the window. But surprise... it was closed! We asked someone nearby and she said it opens 11am. We mentioned about the 24/7 sign and she said it depends on the day :( I have no comment on the food because, unfortunately, we weren't able to try it before we left. Please... don't advertise it as open 24/7 if that's not the case because this false advertisement wasted our time.

Howdy Yelpers. How's everybody doing this evening? Nasty Nathanial here and it's time for another…read more"Nasty" review. This one is of an interesting place called The Z Compound. As my friend would say, "it's a new concept." Alrighty. The Z Compound is a really local spot located within' Teachers Village in Quezon City. It is a combination of small restaurants/food stands located inside of this compound. I was first introduced to this place when a friend of mine in Philcoa took me there. The atmosphere is really laid back and purely local. I am all about visiting local grind spots when I am away from home. Especially when I am in a foreign country like the Philippines. I never can understand these foreigners who come here and only want to dine at these trendy restaurants in Makati. Shaking my head. If you want to get the real experience of the land your in you gotta mingle with the locals. Anyways, lets get to the food. Although it is sometimes difficult to choose what to grind on when I come here, my favorite is the Z BBQ. Oh yeah. When I'm hungry this place totally hits the spot. I will order my usual which is the BBQ chicken with rice and sisig. I highly recommend their sisig. There are a lot of good places to get sisig here in Metro Manila, but Z BBQ is the best. Just thinking about it is making me drool. Another groovey thing about The Z Compound is you can order booz to go along with your food. Hey, hey. Now I dig that. There is a spot that sells bottled beer and even a full bar where you can order cocktails. And like every place inside of Z Compound, it's not overpriced like what you'd find in snobby Makati. Good food and booz that is not over priced. How much better can it get? The people that work at these places inside of Z Compound are friendly. And I don't mean the kind of friendly where they are on your rear for a tip. They just make you feel welcome. Hey, that is the way it should be. So if you folks want to go get some good food in a place with a groovey atmosphere and prices that won't bust up your wallet, then I highly recommend that you give The Z Compound a try. I really should start doing commercials. Until next time, may the force be with you. Happy trails. NASTY NATHANIAL

While Maginhawa Street has been known as the top destination for food in Quezon City, the lesser…read moreknown Malingap also has its awesome offerings of restaurants and dining choices that could rival the Maginhawa restaurants that have long made it to plenty of blog articles and food reviews. One of the most remarkable additions to Malingap's food row is The Z Compound, home of the now popular names such as Samu Eats, Meshwe and Me Love You Long Time. The Z Compound was put up by proprietor and restaurateur Eric Cadavillo to serve as an "open foodcourt" for startups and small food businesses that are local to the neighborhood. Here, young entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts can put up their businesses and try their hands in establishing startups. The atmosphere of the place is very friendly to students and young people, and the place doesn't only serve food for the hungry hordes, but it also occasionally has fun and hip activities such as poetry readings, bazaars or garage sales, live music performances and other related events. The compound has a bit of a rebellious and anti-establishment vibe, and everything is pretty affordable, even for "starving" college kids. If you are looking for a place to relax in in the heart of Quezon City, The Z compound is a fun and bustling place where you and your friends can pick a table and order from all the stalls and kiosks within the compound. The friendly staff from the stalls will gladly bring your food to where you are seated. Most of the seating is al fresco, and the owners of the compound have recently reblocked the courtyard portion of the place to keep it from flooding during heavy rains. The place is easily accessible from PHILCOA station. Just take a trike to the compound. Most of the stalls close on Mondays or Tuesdays.