Riding on the success of Mang Inasal came this local gem. Formerly found at the end of a dark…read morestreet in the inner parts of Los Baños, this must-try grill can now be conveniently found right beside UP campus' gate, mainly because if its popularity. Funny enough though, I've first been attracted to Mang Toto's because of their offerings other than the chicken - which so happens to be their main specialty. Initially trying out their generous offering of Bulalo along with the tempting offer of 5 pesos per cup of rice, Mang Toto's has since then been at the top of my glutton-and-budget-friendly restaurants list. Grilled in the traditional fashion of Bacolod Inasal, what makes Mang Toto's special is that it's one place that's not about to waste any part of the chicken. Here, you can choose to have them grill a variety of chicken parts including the neck, the butt and even the igado! Dip these in a mix of soy sauce, vinegar, limes and chilies...Next thing you know, you'll be ripping your wallet apart just to find another 5 peso coin for another cup of rice!

Known for its menu that's gleaming with a variety of poultry dishes (made me wonder how many they…read morecan actually do!), a definite must-try is their own take on Parmesan Chicken. But if your budget's a bit too thin, then their affordable chicken tenders are here to save you along with its trusty variety of dips. Coming with a big appetite? Then stuff both your belly and your jaw with their Aussie Burger! A sandwich that filled with a deep fried slab of chicken accompanied with some pineapples to cancel out the oiliness. But beyond their rich menu, what makes Mommy Ludy's a memorable restaurant is their delivery service. Popular among those having to cram papers and exams, Mommy Ludy's provides free delivery to anyone within the vicinity. Know what's even better? It'll be the owner himself who's going to drive to your dormitory to hand you your meals! Talk about good service, right?

Remember when we're students and had the age old dilemma of how we're going to save money while…read moresatiating our rather humungous appetites? Well, Big Belly's was God's response to that. This place is every student's best friend when it comes to affordable grub whose quantity stays true to its name. With servings enough to fill even the little pets living within your tummy, this little restaurant is something to avoid if you're trying to cut down on your curves - most especially those in your core area. What to try? I'd personally prefer the Mongolian Superbowl, a concoction that may have made Genghis Kahn's long passed stomach to rumble again. Partner that with some chicken wings and their iced tea, and that may already last you the entire day. So, if you'd like to get a feel of how Allan Richmond's days were like back when he was hosting Man Versus Food, eating at Big Belly's will probably be the best way to simulate that.

Parking is a bit tricky. Since the restaurant front has very limited slanted slots, we drove…read morefurther down the road and took a few turns, parking while minding the one-side-only parking rule. Getting a table was easy and the branch was pretty packed passed 12 noon. Later on, most of the customers were seated at one side of the restaurant including us. Penne with Smoked Bangus & Truffle Oil was the most interesting of our orders for its uncommon pasta flavor. It smelled as good as it tasted and the truffle was fairly strong while the noodles were soft. Ripe Mango Shake was typically delicious but we had to follow-up on this after realizing a different table received theirs first. The same thing happened to our All Meat Pizza; after seeing them serve our neighboring table first, we knew we had to wait a second long wait again. A server apologized to us and asked us if we were willing to wait for a new one. Good thing we had more things to talk about while waiting. All Meat Pizza had a decently crunchy crust and the meats were just ham and ground beef that tasted like bolognese. Two-Meat Pizza would've been a less misleading and more satisfying name. The cheese was legit, though; that I can say with a smile. :) The reviews brought us to Bonitos and we can still head back since the servers were still apologetic and friendly. It was nice to have different food for a change.

Our first night in UPLB after leaving my Alma Mater in 2007 and my oh my, the developments are…read moreimpressive! Including this restaurant. Last I remember is that this area was just filled with weeds! We saw a lot of people inside so we decided to check it out. Menus as on their iPads (pretty impressive as well). Placing the order was a breeze and the food came fairly quick. The quality of their food is very good. And the quantity is pretty hefty (I'm surprised!). I will sure be coming back to check them out again when we get the chance to visit UPLB again. Hopefully, they'll stick around for a good many more years!

What I formerly, and have believed to be called as Bat Cave for over 4 years, Vat Cave is an…read moreinstitution in the dining scene of Los Baños. Established since way back when, Vat Cave is actually an old 2 storey home converted into a diner. Its popularity traversing through time, no Elbi student would've gone through their college years without having to eat in this little, can-do, diner. Vat Cave serves nothing but homecooked meals which would actually change everyday. But, what surely doesn't change though (and there's a good reason as to why) is their staple Lechong Kawali. These deep fried slabs of pure pork are in fact chopped right in front of you as you fall in line. With each heavy thud of the cleaver, I'd bet your mouth would be dripping along with it. Accompany this with Mang Tomas, every deep fried dish's partner in crime. Also, better run straight up stairs after you order - which is actually where the air conditioning is at - and savor every scrumptious bite of Vat Cave's lechon, and slowly discover why it has survived the test of time.

I don't understand why they're priced extremely high when the quality and quantity of their food…read moredoesn't match their price tag. I got a mango slushie for 150 and it tasted nothing but mango concentrate diluted in cold water. I could've bought a bottle of concentrate and I'd have several glasses of their so-called slushie. My youngest son got the Mac n Cheese and it doesn't taste nor does it look like one! It should've been named Mac n Tomato Sauce!! And the mac is barely al dente. My other kiddo got the chicken tenders and it seemed to be a hit for him. But for 3 pieces I could probably eat a full adult meal for it. Upon checkout at SEARCA Hotel, the front desk lady gave me a piece of paper for some sort of evaluation and Dalcielo is on there. I've given every other criteria a sweet rating but didn't realize Dalcielo is part of SEARCA. It's about the only one that got a poor rating from me. If this restaurant is part of SEARCA, they need to seriously think about how to improve the quality of their food to meet up with their price tag!

Being a UP student is not a walk in the park and more often than not, you'll find yourself chewing…read moreyour fingernails or pulling out your sexy-messy hair because of stress. I know I did during a six-hour physics exam not too long ago! Thankfully, a few bunny hops away from the campus is the Spanish-Italian restaurant Dal Cielo. Loosely translated, Dalcielo means heaven-sent. I guess this is why their desserts, especially the cream puffs, are divine! I swear, after stuffing my face with their tiramisu and uber-creamy sansrival, I was like, "Schrodinger who?!"

Los Baños is responsible for single-handedly transforming me into a glorified sisig snob. This…read morecommunity of sisig-loving students has introduced me to the best kind of sisig in the whole archipelago--Kapampangan Sisig of Bahay Sisigan ni Apung Piping! Since it's a mouthful, we Elbizens have since referred to it as Bahay Sisigan. It's located inside Demarses Subdivision (50+ steps away from my last studio apartment in LB) and if not for that inviting yellow tarpaulin, I never would have known there gastronomic paradise was waiting inside. Yo Apung Piping, thank you for sharing your life-changing Kapampangan Sisig! Now that I live in the Metro, whenever I encounter any sisig dish (be it chicken, bangus, pork, or whatevs) I can't help but snort derisively. No way any of them would EVER measure up. Sigh.

What I wouldn't have otherwise tried before due to its location, this little diner found at the…read morebackend of an inner street in Los Baños is sure worth the walk! As a diner with a focus on Kapampangan cuisine, it surely isn't surprising that sisig is their forefront. Boasting of the best sisig in town, I surely wasn't surprised why they said so after a try! An affordable diner making sure to have you filled in 100 pesos or less, Apung Pipin's is a must try for those who are looking to dine without having to spend way too much. Just be sure to get some water ready since Apung Piping's classic sisig is packed with heat - lots of it!