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!

One of Shawarma Bros' food trucks are "parked" at the HMR Farmer's Market which is right across my…read moreoffice. Since there aren't a lot of food spots near where I work, I find myself slowly becoming a food truck staple. I honestly don't mind since the food lives up to its hype. Shawarma Bros has a pretty straight up menu. It serves three types of shawarma - lamb, beef and chicken. And then you have to decide if you wanna eat it the more traditional way or if you want it served with rice. The good guys of Shawarma Bros then ask you to choose your 2 sauces - chili, cheese or garlic yogurt. Drooling yet? I thought so. The shawarma is very good, plus their serving sizes are pretty big already. They also serve their meals with a simple salad comprised of cucumber, tomatoes, onions and a special tangy dressing. I believe it's sulit for the price they charge. Two thumbs up from me!

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.

There are two noteworthy Jolly Jeep's along Palanca Street, and Lirio's is one of them. The other…read moreone being Jolly Jeep number 095. Lirio's is the gourmet jolly jeep that has been spreading by word of mouth. For the uninitiated, jolly jeep's are turu-turo kiosks, turo-turo literally meaning point-point, or carinderias where the common folk order lunch during work breaks. For a point-point to offer gourmet meals like Hungarian sausage (from Santi's) and German Potato Salad (one of their specialties!) is unheard of. If you happen to be along Palanca street, Lirio's is definitely worth a try. The food truck is located in front of Plantation restaurant and bar.

Soul food really isn't much of a thing here, is it? When we think of American food, we usually…read morethink of burgers, fries, almost everything western lumped together in one incoherent, almost stereotypical pile. These guys take what's usually associated with the south and African-American nosh and serve it up in delectable bite sized portions. I have not had corndogs like these guys do corndogs. Most corndogs I've seen have this bready, almost pancake-like coating. What these guys carry is warm and crunchy. A good holder for the hotdog. My only regret is that it looks like they use half a hotdog rather than a whole hotdog but given how heavy it is? That might actually be a stroke of brilliance on their part. And let's not get started on their deep fried oreos. Now those were an indulgence I'd only tasted one other place. It's a great place that fills the "I just want a snack" niche at StrEAT. Also, have I mentioned the staff is really nice? Because they're really nice.

My partner is a cheese lover so you can only imagine how her eyes twinkled when we saw the poster…read moreabout Deep Fried Cheese! Hihi. Food trucks are sort of becoming a thing now in the Philippines and were just so glad that they are conquering Maginhawa Street. The Soul Food Truck is one of those food stalls located in Maginhawa strEAT. They are serving averagely priced meals - Deep Fried Cheese only costs 75php and it comes with a unique strawberry cinnamon dip. Definitely a must-try if you're in the area!

Just when you think you couldn't fit another restaurant into Kapitolyo, they open up an entire…read morefoodpark. Insane. Having said that, Gastro Park Kapitolyo is a fantastic addition to the Kapitolyo food scene, if only for the fact that it was able to cram so many restaurants in one space. It also established 1st Street as Kapitolyo's second food street, sharing it with Kanto, Nori, and Ser Chef, among others. The layout of the food park was kept simple and straight to the point, and I appreciate the fact that it actually has a roof. As with most food parks, the outlets are good and decent although no outlet really stands out. I do appreciate the price point of the outlets though, as most of them have plenty of options below P150. That's a major selling point in my book.

A fun place to eat and go on a food trip with friends!…read more This Gastro Park has quite a variety of cuisines available. They have Filipino, Japanese, Singaporean, Thai, and Italian, just to name a few of them. I like that they also thought of how warm it can get. They provided ceiling fans in the middle seating area. The outer areas don't have fans but at the least the fans they have help keep the air circulating.

Who wants Tacosss? If you want legit tacos, not the ones that come in a taco shell, go to original…read moretaco cart that showed us all the truth and the light! Tacos Chingones is located beside Som's and only has a few tables. So, when I go here, I either go alone or just bring 1 or 2 friends with me. They only have a few choices on their menu but they are all done with much love and...grease. Seriously, you will see the ladies cooking a mountain of onions on their griddle and, when they get an order, they cook all the meat with the onions. All their tacos are made to order and so fresh! These tacos are great for a lunch stop or a quick dinner. My favorites are the Chicharones, Al Pastor, and Chorizo. But, my non-negotiable and I-will-order-3-pieces-for-myself order is the Lengua! I know many don't like to eat tongue but, the ladies here cook it right. It's just melts in your mouth. Can't fully explain it. Just order it, ok? The perfect beverage to go with your tacos? An ice cold Coke, oh yes! So, stop whatever you're doing. Head to this taco cart. Order ALL the tacos! Wolf down the tacos. Order again. You're welcome! ;)

I used to not think too highly of tacos. Having grown up on canteen tacos, made with crunchy…read moreshells, spaghetti sauce and Quickmelt, I never felt that there was any reason for me to pick tacos over anything else, except for like...rice and salt or something. However, when I had my first soft steak taco, I saw the light. Gone were the palate-piercing shards of fried tortillas. The mush and gristle of "taco meat" was replaced by the . Most importantly what seemed like disparate parts merged into a whole. And yet even that would not please the palate of a Mexican visitor to the Philippines. The tortilla would be the wrong kind, the taco itself too big. Unless he found itself at Tacos Chingones. This unassuming little truck (seriously my friend ate at Som's 2 days before we had Tacos here and he didn't notice) serves the most authentic tacos in Manila. Gone are the large flour tortillas, replaced with a pair of small corn tortillas. 2 are required to contain the juice of the meat. Speaking of the meat, you won't find spaghetti sauce anywhere here.Instead, all meat is freshly cooked on the griddle. The Choices include: Chicharones (Chicharon), Pastor (Pulled Pork), Barbacoa (Chopped Beef), Chorizo, Pollo de Chipotle(Chicken in Spicy Sauce), Carne Molida con Papas (ground beef and potatoes) and TNT (Tongue and Tripe). Of these, the standout is the TNT, which explains why it's priced slightly higher than other toppings. The melting tenderness of the lengua is set against the slight chew of the tripe. If you're a bit squeamish at the thought of eating offal tacos, the Chcharones and Barbacoa would be my choice. These toppings give small morsels of flavor that go better with the small tortillas than the other choices in my opinion. Also, the crunch of the chicharon and the meatiness of the beef set off against the soft but crispy tortillas. The tacos go for 170 for 3, except for the TNT, which costs 80 per taco. While surprisingly filling, there shouldn't be any problem trying all the fillings for yourself. While eventually you'll find your favorite, the tacos are affordable and light enough to get a different taco fix every time you need it.

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?

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.

For the longest time, Mexikombi has been making the rounds (literally!) around the metro, serving…read moreup decent, affordable Tex-Mex food out of a refurbished '74 Volkswagen Kombi. In fact, I used to spot them everywhere from Katipunan to the Saguijo parking lot. The weird thing is, I was never really able to try their food, until they finally put up their own brick-and-mortar restaurant at the ground floor of the Sterten Place building along Maginhawa Street. Mexikombi doesn't advertise itself to be 'authentic Mexican,' which I like. There are so many establishments out there, touting themselves as authentic Mexican places, but they serve burritos. Nitpicking aside, the great thing about Mexikombi is that whatever they have on their menu, they execute especially well. I had the grande Chorizo Burrito, which, for 200 pesos, was exactly what I needed. I was hungry past the point of being civil to my friends, and the huge, piping-hot burrito stuffed with rice, veggies, cheese, beans and what I gather was longganisa, was absolutely perfect. It was comforting and filling, and being a spice addict, I actually requested for a bigger bowl of Mexikombi's spicy house-made sauce. My only comment, perhaps, would be that they serve the burritos with free salsa in the future, if only to elevate the taste experience! I was also able to try their Pollo soft tacos, one of their bestsellers on the menu. No wonder, the chicken has been roasted to perfection and you can tell that the dudes behind Mexikombi take great care to execute their dishes well. A shout-out must also go to their Carnitas, which are oily as hell, but I would gladly cheat death to eat it again. My friend ordered the carnitas soft tacos, and the first thing I noticed was that the crunchy strings of pork were virtually swimming in oil. It was both exciting and horrifying at the same time. Let's be real, though: who can resist pulled, spiced pork that's been simmering in its own rendered fat? A boring person, that's who. I also really like their churros. I am no churro afficionado, but I like how the churros are kind of custard-y in the middle, which adds a great twist when you sink your teeth into the first crunchy bite. Bravo, Jake C. and buddies! I am a believer in Mexikombi.

Think Mercato, but Chinese…read more If you've been to the Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City, you'll know about the little booths serving all sorts of food. Mercato has burgers, pizzas, cakes, lechon, and a whole bunch of other amazing food. Now, imagine that being relocated to an open-air thoroughfare beside the Lucky Chinatown Mall, decorate the space with Chinese lanterns, and add a whole bunch of Chinese food, like dumplings, and noodle soups, to the mix, and you've got the Chinatown Walk.