A Must-try Mang Jimmy's

To students studying near the Old Balara area (like UP, Ateneo, and Miriam), and even for some folks there, this food place is always the place to be when all is lost (aka when there's no budget haha). Whether it's an all out dinner party with friends or a simple "inuman" session with your co-workers, there's probably one place that comes into mind - Mang Jimmy's.

The place is not what you would expect it to be. It's not pleasing to the eyes. It's just an old house with a not-so-pleasing front lawn, which they turned into a food place. When you go there, you won't be seeing neatly designed chairs and tables, not even a cemented floor. You'd even question yourself if the place is sturdy enough. There probably won't even be a parking space for your car. But, what matters most is the food, right? And believe us when we say that what makes people come back here is the delicious and mouthwatering food.

If you're lucky enough, you'll see Mang Jimmy himself manning the cashier's table. You'll also see different pictures, new and old, of local celebrities who tried the food and who keep coming back to Mang Jimmy's for it. Most specially, you'll see people (a lot of them haha) having fun and enjoying their Mang Jimmy's experience, not even having to worry about how much they're gonna pay. And that's what you should do when you go there - have fun and savor the food.

An added plus to Mang Jimmy's is the free (yeah, you got that right, FREE) and unlimited (yes, it's also unlimited) rice, perfect for those really hungry guys. The food is very cheap yet relatively big in servings. Almost all their food are served in sizzling plates. The have liter-sized softdrinks for customers of large groups. Basically speaking, Mang Jimmy's makes your experience affordable, because it continues to offer ways for you guys to make your bill shorter, without cutting down on the flavor and the servings of the food. They even had a promo before, giving customers one free dish for every 3 dishes ordered. However, the last time we went there, they don't offer it anymore. But, you can't consider that as a huge loss on the customer's part since the food is still the same. It's still cheap, delicious, and it still has the same servings. You'll definitely be surprised when you order a lot, because you only have to pay a small price.

Here's what we ordered (and the best-sellers of Mang Jimmy's, too):

Tapa Mix, 100 php

Glutton Guy: The best of all the best-sellers. Mang Jimmy's Tapa Mix is simply delicious. It's one of those dishes that will satisfy you, and yet when there's no more, you're tempted to order more. The tapa has a great taste, perfectly irresistible. It's also not too hard, so it won't give you a hard time of chewing your food. Not ordering this would make your Mang Jimmy's experience incomplete. : )

Glutton Girl: I am not fond of beef, but I kinda liked this dish. The meat was so tenderly cooked that one would not have any trouble chewing it. The fact that I was able to eat this is a good thing, since, again, I really don't like beef, for personal reasons.

Lechon Kawali, 120 php

Glutton Guy: This would not be the one for diet-conscious people, but believe me when I say that you've gotta try this as well. It's very very good. I know it's greasy, and the skin is not even that crispy. It's just the same Lechon Kawali that you can find anywhere else. But there's really something about this Lechon Kawali that makes it all worth it. Why not go and try it out for yourselves to see what I mean? : )

Glutton Girl: SUPER DUPER GOOD. Clearly, this is my favorite of all the dishes we ordered. The meat just melts in your mouth, while the crunch to the skin is still preserved. But yeah, I agree with Glutton Guy, it's not for the health-conscious. Heart attack, probably?

Sizzling Sisig, 100 php

Glutton Guy: It's very different from the original sisig that I taste elsewhere. However, this sisig is still one of the best. Upon serving it, there's a raw egg on top of the dish. The Mang Jimmy's sisig has a dark color as compared to the original one. Add some calamansi and this dish is all set. Of course, it's best when it's still sizzling. This dish is probably good for 2-3 persons. So, it really really is cheap. Make sure to mix it while it's still hot so the raw egg will be cooked. It's also good to add a little bit of soy sauce. Even if you put the condiments or not it's still good, though. Truly, another best-seller from Mang Jimmy's. : )

Glutton Girl: Yummy and very hefty of a serving for 100php. Two people can share with this viand (but clearly it was not enough for me and Glutton Guy HAHA). It was good but too much of it made me feel a bit dizzy. I also didn't like the fact that it was too fatty. I like the sisig where there's more crunch and less fatty parts. But I guess this is how sisig is really done? I dunno.

They offer other sizzling dishes that are also light on the budget yet delicious and heavy on the stomach. Don't forget, rice is free so this could be a feast for you and your friends. They also cater to parties and they offer take out services.

Mang Jimmy's is another food place that's worth trying, especially when you're really hungry and have a limited budget. This place might not offer you the comfort because of the kind of worn-out ambiance. But we assure you that despite it's physical structure, it'll offer you the best in Pinoy food.

Rating: Budhalicious!

(Mang Jimmy's is located at Old Balara, Quezon City. It's just behind MWSS that's behind UP Diliman.)