There are plenty of fastfood diners and restaurants in and around Salcedo Village, but at my age, I often prefer homestyle meals without me cooking at home. One place I go to for 'real food' is Kantineta in Paseo Center. This self-service canteen gets very busy during lunch time so it's best to be in line before 11:30am. And as if by some magic, most of the food items in the display counter are no longer available in the afternoon.
The food here is delicious yet affordable, although priced slightly higher than the ones found at Jollijeeps in the streets. This is understandable because they pay for rent to provide a comfortable sit-down dining area for customers. Plus, their take-out containers are made from top quality biodegradable materials.
Meals automatically come with soup and dessert for dine-in patrons. I usually order the Lumpiang Gulay, which is so big in size that it's a full meal on its own. The Chicken Tinola and Spicy Squid Gambas are regular items worth trying too. read more