There are different versions of empanada here in the Philippines; several types are available in…read morethe Metro and in each region have their own preferred fillings and toppings, but the best one I've tried so far is located in the Province of Ilocos. Ilocos empanada has several ingredients such as green papaya, mung beans, whole egg, a piece of their famous garlicky Ilocos longanissa and enveloped in a crispy shell case made of mixed flour and crushed annato seeds to add crunch to this delectable empanada. The good thing is you don't have to travel twelve hours from the city to have a taste of Ilocos famous empanada since Victoria's Empanada de Iloko brought it here in Manila. Sample this dish while it's hot and crispy and although Victoria's version is more peppery that the ones in Ilocos, just add Sukang Iloko and that would balance the taste and get that authentic Ilocos empanada taste.

You won't have to travel all the way to Ilocos if you're craving for some Ilocos Empanada…read more Victoria's Emapanada de Iloko sells Ilocos Empanada that is close to the real thing. You may choose from a variety of the empanadas based on your liking. If you want it with the complete ingredients, they have the Special Empanada. If you want one or two of the ingredients taken out like the egg or longganisa, they also have options for you. All their empanadas are made to order so you're sure that it's freshly cooked. For just Php 50, you already have an Ilocos Empanada to satisfy your craving. Service is pretty fast as well so you won't have to wait that long.

From being so exposed to Bicolano dishes, at first it would feel like, I was just experimenting…read more After contant orders and dining in experiences in their Katipunan branch, it has become a part of our weekend routine to dine and have a fill of their Specialty, Bagnet, and a take-home empanada all the time! Ilocos Empanada has unquestionable reputation in preparing meat (pork). It is always a rewarding experience to try on something new. Go now!

The place is ok. They have a wide range of food options but not every item is available. We tried…read morethe regular empanada and the all meat flavored one. You must try the all meat empanada. They are in huge sizes so you can pick just one and have it for sharing. I am not a fan of their noodles and the bagnet. They are too oily and not so good in taste.

The local church in my village draws a large crowd every Sunday. It should come as no surprise then…read morethat several barbecue stalls have set themselves up just outside the church to cater to the gastronomic needs of those who hear mass. Out of all the places to get barbecue none are for me, as great as Joey's barbecue. I've been going here since I was a kid. In fact, their barbecue is the standard by which I measure all other barbecues. I think I've said that before about one other barbecue, but this one is my other real standard. If a barbecue doesn't taste as well or juicy as Joey's then it's definitely below great. It may be good, but it will never be great. The best way to eat their barbecue is to get it fresh off the grill. If you're lucky then there are a few ones just fresh off, if not then I strongly recommend that you ask yours to be heated again just so you can understand what I'm talking about. Their barbecue is soft on my gums and teeth. The sauce is sweet to my nose and taste buds. When fresh off the grill, the barbecue has this sort of caramelized texture to it something I rarely see in other barbecues. They have other stuff to offer, but really it's the barbecue you want. It's about P17 each, but I often go there with a P100 bill and leave with nothing left in my pocket.

For some people, bibingka is a seasonal food. It's best enjoyed after Simbang Gabi during Christmas…read moreseason. But my love affair with bibingka does not end when the holidays are over. It's of my my favorite Filipino delicacies. Thank goodness for Bibingkinitan, I can enjoy my hot bibingka all year round. Of course, it seems too indulgent to finish one plate of bibingka all by myself. But Bibingkinitan serve freshly baked mini bibingkas, just the right size for one person, though I can finish a whole box (6 mini bibingkas inside) in one sitting if I don't control myself. I recently learned that they also have ube, pastillas, macapuno and even peanut butter bibingkas, but those are just seasonal. It's okay, I'm more than happy with my original bibingka, more butter and no sugar, please. I like bringing home a box of Bibingkinitan for an afternoon snack, but I also like eating it at their stall, with their special calamansi juice.

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.

If you're on thrift mode, Paotsin is definitely your best friend. Paotsin can usually be found…read moreinside groceries or food courts but don't belittle this food stall, it will be your savior if you're short on cash. Their menu is very simple, just pick a dimsum that you like and choose from Hainanese Rice or Lemak Rice. I'd say go for the Hainanese Rice! Although their dimsums don't differ that much from each other when it comes to taste, I'd recommend getting the Shark's Fin. Just ask for Toyomansi and Chili and you're good to go! TIP: You may request for your dimsum to be steamed or deep fried.

I never really thought much of Daang Hari until a relative told me about a trunk sale happening…read morethere every weekend. So we decided to check it out and it has been one of our favorite hang out places ever since. There was nothing very special about the trunk sale; most the items being sold were the usual things you'd see in a bazaar, and some second-hand items. But one time we found some really interesting, Amazon-level finds. The sellers change from time to time so it's best to just check it out. The food bazaar has merits. It's not as big as your Mercato or Salcedo market, but it's good enough for food trips. They sell various street foods and native delicacies. Hubby likes buying the all-meat Vigan Empanada, while I keep coming back for the super cheesy nachos (100 pesos for a big plate!) and fresh dalandan juice. If you're into pre-loved goods and food trips, drop by the Evia parking lot. They're there every weekend.

Definitely the best. Its worth every peso spent. TRY it.... and tell me If I am wrong.read more

If you're Pinoy, you'll understand that when you have a family or company party/get together, you…read moremust bring food that will satisfy and feed everyone...on a budget! Apart from the essential noodles (spaghetti or pancit) and meat dish (fried chicken or pork barbecue), a "kakanin" or rice cake dessert is also something to complete the festivities. For kakanin in a hurry, this is a good place to drop by. They have cassava cake, pichi pichi, and even leche flan. The prices are very affordable and they offer small or big serving sizes. I actually like their pichi pichi with cheese. They are bigger than the usual ones you get from other restaurants and cheaper too! :)

Jolly-Jeeps are these food stands that are made of the same kind of steel or metal that would…read moreremind me of a jeep. Heck, maybe that's where they got their name from. Anyway, this project is an initiative of the local government in promotion of employee benefits. To keep it simple, Jolly-Jeeps are basically karenderia stands made out of the stainless jeepney steel that I was talking about. I like it cause it's an extremely cheap alternative to what you'll typically see around Makati. In fact, I'm glad these things exist because I'm no longer restricted to eating at fast food restaurants considering my limited budget. Most Jolly-Jeeps have similar menus. I've only ever tasted the ones I found along Rada Street so I can't say if there's a massive difference between the Jolly-Jeeps there and those in other places. Anyway, most of the things you'll see in these things are typically Pinoy, Longganisa, sisig, bananacue, kamotecue, and so much more.

One icon immediately sets the twin villages of Makati apart from any other district in the country,…read moreand, who knows maybe even the world--the so-called "jolly jeep." These almost space-age looking capsules of convenience line the major avenues of villages Salcedo and Legazpi, with outlets in select streets in and around Makati CBD. They may look uniform, but don't let the Demolition Man grey monotone fool you: these are individual merchants with their own strengths and surprises in store. Most jolly jeeps offer the standards: pancit, lugaw, a couple of ulams with rice, and the omnipresent pinoy spaghetti. Where each jolly jeep differs is in flavor. If you're a fan of banana cue or turon, in particular, there is a wide range in quality and price (and these aren't always directly proportional) so experiment until you find the flavors you like. If you're in the mood for sisig, head on over to the jolly jeep fronting the 711 on Rada--but make sure to get there before the lunch time crush.

Very affordable and the food is amazing. Within the food court in the mall so there's a lot of…read moreother food spots to compliment the experience you have here. The wait time is quick and the service was efficient. Definitely one of my favorite places.

It's pretty cheap and good for what you get. I absolutely love the chili tubes they provide for…read moreextra spiciness. I wish the rice would be a little more toasted as the stone didn't stay as hot as I'd like. The meat was also kind of bland compared to what I'm used to.