The Great Mexican Food: Numero Dos

We have previously blogged about a delicious food place that serves authentic Mexican dishes. We were so satisfied with the Mexican cuisine that we have always craved for Mexican food since then. Previously, we would prefer Japanese, Chinese, or Italian inspired food. Well, we still do. But, we have added the Mexican cuisine to that list. And ever since then, we have always looked for food places that would serve us delicious Mexican dishes. Luckily, we found one at a place called UP Village.

We have mentioned UP Village (also known as Teacher's Village) a lot of times already in our previous blog posts. Because of the many food places here, food bloggers like us would most certainly have at least one or two blogs from this area. In fact, most, if not all of the food place here are worth blogging. Which now brings us to this Mexican food place along Maginhawa street.

Cocina Juan looks like a relaxing bungalow type of restaurant along Maginhawa street in UP Village. From the name itself, you would get a hint of some sort that this place serves Mexican food. The place is very comfortable-looking. The inside is air-conditioned and adorned with different artworks and other designs. the place is creatively designed, having guitars hanging on the walls and empty wine bottles lined up in one corner. Moreover, the people at Cocina Juan are very kind. They patiently wait for your order and they are always there when you need them. It's a good place with a good staff.

The food is very affordable. It's not as expensive as the other Mexican restaurants, which gives Cocina Juan and edge when it comes to pricing. The food may be affordable, but that doesn't mean they cut down on ingredients. The dishes at this restaurant are still heavy with flavors, and each bite will leave you craving for more.

If you're asking what you could eat here, here are some of our recommends. These are what we tried as well:

Iced Tea, 45 php

Glutton Guy: Nothing much from the iced tea. It's just the plain old and usual iced tea we order elsewhere. I'd always rather have a glass of iced tea than a glass of cold soda. The taste of the iced tea here is the same as the other iced teas we drink at other restaurants. There is no distinct taste as far as I could remember. : )

Cranberry Juice, 75 php

Glutton Girl: I always want to try something new for a drink. Good thing Cocina Juan has this cranberry juice. I ordered it to see what it would taste like. It was very good. It was a cold glass of juice that I liked. It had a fruity taste, yet it was not overwhelmingly sweet. It's a drink that's worth a try at Cocina Juan.

Burrito Classico, 155 php (Medios), 175 php (Grandes),  195 php (Chimichangas)

Glutton Guy: Ever since my last Mexican food trip, I have always craved for burritos. It's not surprising that when I got the chance to eat at another Mexican restaurant, I would order a burrito. Cocina Juan's burrito is very delicious. You can actually choose your type of meat. You can choose between fajitas (beef skirt), carne asada (seasoned beef), carnitas (honeyed pork), pechuga de pollo (chicken adobo), or hungarian sausage. I chose the carnitas since I wanted a sweet touch on my burrito. The beef was very tender. The sauce blended well with the other ingredients. The vegetables, the rice, the beans, everything was perfectly cooked. The cheese made the burrito more flavorful and more delicious. The corn gave that crunch that I also liked. It's another excellent burrito I continue to crave for. : )

Poquito Meal - Plato Con Arroz, 110 php

Glutton Girl: I wanted rice, so I ordered a poquito meal, which is a mexican rice meal. You can also choose the type of beef that you want. I also got myself a carnitas poquito meal. It was delicious, too. It, however, just resembled the normal food that you eat at home. It was just like an adobo or an estofado with rice. The way it was cooked, though, was perfect. The beef was soft and it wasn't rubbery. It was served hot, which I liked. I wasn't feeling the presentation, though. It was like food in a lunch box.

Quesadilla 'Sincronizadas', 165 php

Glutton Guy: We also tried their quesadilla. Again, you can choose what type of meat you would want for your quesadilla. We ordered the fajitas for a change. I liked this dish. The tortilla was good. I liked that it was not too soft and its crunch was just right. The cheese really oozes from the inside. I like the balance it gives to the beef. The beef was also tender. It's very tasty and it's not difficult to chew. The salsa in the middle was also good. It was not too salty and there was that tangy flavor from the citrus that they used. It hypes the flavors of the quesadilla. It's another winner at Cocina Juan. : )

Glutton Girl: Cocina Juan's quesadilla is another must-try here. You would really get the mix of the flavors of every ingredient. The good thing is, even though there are different flavors, you won't get confused. You know that each flavor blends well with the others. I liked the flavor of the beef. It's very tasty and it's not hard to eat. The melted cheese is the tape that binds all the ingredients together. It really made the quesadilla perfect. Dipping it in the salsa is just wonderful. You get that added kick from the salsa and the yummy taste from the quesadilla. I liked the presentation of the dish as well. A bit simple, but you can get the Mexican feel.


Cocina Juan is one of those food places where you can really get your value for money. Not only is the food affordable, but you also taste the authentic Mexican food that will surely satisfy your hunger. It's a whole new Mexican experience. Where else can you find affordable Mexican food that doesn't cut on the flavor? Cocina Juan is one of those food places at Maginhawa street that's worth the money, worth the trip, and most especially, worth the blog.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Cocina Juan is located at 100 Maginhawa street, Teacher's Village, Quezon City. It's near Mini Stop and across Banco De Oro. It's just along Maginhawa street so you can't miss it.)

The Great Mexican Food

As compared to Japanese and Chinese cuisine, Mexican cuisine is not that popular in the country. However, they are being recognized now, as more and more Mexican food places keep popping up all around the Metro. One of these delicious Mexican restaurants we found at a place called Little Baguio. It is a place located at San Juan. You would recognize the place from all the crooked roads and the uphills that you will notice and pass. In this place you will find a delicious and mouth-watering restaurant named Ristras. The name of the place might not ring a bell, but we guarantee that you will enjoy their food as much as we did.

The food is a bit expensive. The average cost would be probably around 250 per person. But, the servings are a bit big. So, it's safe to say that the price is worth it because you would really get the value for your money. Besides, whatever food you try here, it is absolutely delicious. In case you still have troubles as to which you would like to try, the people at Ristras would be happy to give suggestions as to which food you should not miss.

The place is a bit cozy. There are designs that would really give you that Mexican feel. What we were most intrigued about were the giant dark peppers. They were like materials used for witchcraft. Nevertheless, they looked cool. And, what better way to give the place a Mexican vibe than to place peppers all over the place. For us, these designs worked.

Excited with what we tried? Well, here ya go:

(By the way, just so you won't get shocked, the drinks here are quite expensive. The sodas cost 40 php a can.)

Burrito Steak (Carne Asada), 340 php

Glutton Guy: I absolutely loved this dish! It might be a bit expensive. But, boy oh boy, is it a lot. I think it would be good for 2-3 persons. It's like a whole rice meal with all the side dishes wrapped in one burrito wrap. Nothing in this dish is dislike-able. The rice is perfectly cooked. The meat is very soft and very tender. The vegetables were very crunchy. The sauce was very delicious as well. I was skeptical at first about the beans, since I'm not a big fan. But, I was surprised that the even the beans were soft and incredibly delicious. I would suggest that you try this. It left me craving for burritos ever since. : )

Glutton Girl: The burrito is very delicious. I liked it very much. On my own, I probably would not be able to finish all this (Good thing Glutton Guy was there to the rescue hahahaha). I liked the beef. It was very soft and easy to chew. The sauce from the beef (I actually was not sure if that was beef sauce or if that was the marinade) hyped up the flavors of the beef and made it very chewy and very delicious as well. The beans were also cooked well. They were very soft and weren't mushy at all. The vegetables were also excellent. The corn gave that added crunch to the burrito. Overall, it was a perfect (not to mention a huge) burrito.

Quesadilla Al Pastor, 330 php

Glutton Guy: Another perfect dish from Ristras. I liked the fact that it was served hot. The bread had that crunch because it was heated (like what they do at the shawarma) before it was served. What's inside the quesadilla is even better. The beef was cooked perfectly. The melted cheese just makes the quesadilla more delicious. I tell you, there is no ingredient that I didn't like in this dish. The guacamole on the side was also delicious. I've never tasted guacamole before. I only see it on TV. Ristras gave me a good impression on the guacamole. The sauce on the side was also very delicious. Another must-try at Ristras. : )

Glutton Girl: Ristras quesadilla is also very delicious. The beef was again perfectly cooked. I liked the melted cheese inside. This is one of the things I'm looking for when it comes to Mexican food (another being the spicy pepper flavor). The combination of melted cheese and the beef was just perfect. The guacamole was also awesome. I liked it very much. The sauce also complemented the dish well. It had that sour taste that blended very well with the flavors of the beef and the cheese. It's just absolutely delicious.

If you're up for a great Mexican experience, why not try Ristras Mexican Grill. You will not be disappointed with what they have to offer. Ristras not only gives you a perfect Mexican experience, it also serves you authentic Mexican food that will absolutely appease your palates. The food, the people, the experience - Ristras is absolutely the place to be.

Rating: Buddhalicious!

(Ristras Mexican Grill is located at J. Abad Santos street corner Lopez Jaena street, San Juan. You can reach it by turning left at Wilson street from Greenhills. Then turn right at Alex III. It's just in front of Serenitea.)

Delish-ious!

When you're looking for a place that's got a lot of good food places, there's definitely no doubt that Teacher's Village would be a great suggestion. The long and winding Maginhawa street alone offers lots of good choices, whether it be for a sumptuous meal or for a simple yet yummy snack. Whatever food place you crave for - Italian, Filipino, Persian, Mexican, even the yummiest carinderia - Maginhawa street has it all. It wouldn't be a surprise that our next food trip would again (yes, again hahahaha) be here.

We found a food place that we felt would appease our palates - Delish. It's along Maginhawa street, so it's very easy to find. Besides, there's a big signage of the food place, so difficulty in finding it is really not a good excuse. From the outside, actually, it doesn't look much of a restaurant. But if you're kinda used to Teacher's Village, then it's good to try this place out. The inside looks more of a bar. There are also paintings displayed on the walls, which are for sale. The good part is that you can't remove the fact that they serve scrumptious dishes at very affordable prices.

Here's what we got:

House Iced Tea, 45 php


Glutton Guy and Glutton Girl: A different take on iced tea. It had a fruity taste, which made it more refreshing. It wasn't too sweet, which is another good thing. Placing it in a beautiful glass makes it more inviting to taste. For 45 pesos, it's worth a try. : )

Mushrooms in Garlic ala Pobre Style, 165 php

Glutton Guy: I liked this dish. It had a spicy taste which really hyped up the flavors. You could really taste the garlic in the dish. The oil added more flavor, which I also liked. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked. It was also served beautifully. The servings were also a lot. For me, it's a must-try dish. : )


Glutton Girl: It's a yummy dish. I just felt that there was too much oil in it. I'm not much of a fan of oily foods. However, I liked the spiciness of the dish. The mushrooms were soft and delicious. I liked the garlic, too. However, I thought there was also too much garlic. I agree with Glutton Guy, though, that this is a must-try dish.

Crispy Shrimp and Potato Fritters, 160 php


Glutton Guy: Delish's take on our crispy Okoy. I have to admit, though, their version is much, much better. It's just potato and shrimp, but wow, it does pack a punch! Dipping it in the vinegar makes it more delicious. I'd have more if I wasn't full. It really is delicious! I'd definitely order more of this on my next trip to Delish. : )


Glutton Girl: I love this dish! It's very crispy and very delicious. The potato fritters were fried to perfection. The shrimp also tasted good. And I just love the vinegar dip. It really gives the climax to the dish. The vinegar was mixed with red pepper slices that made it spicy. It really accentuated the dish. I just found it hard to eat at some point since there were strands of potatoes which were too long so you had to break them. Overall, I think it's a very yummy dish.

Baked Oysters with Garlic and Cream Cheese, 225 php


Glutton Guy: Talk about delicious seafood! This really is a wonderful treat. Like I've said in our previous blog entries, I'm a die hard fan of seafood. This one made my day (really...hahahaha). The oysters were baked perfectly well. The cream cheese was just delectable. You can taste the freshness of the oysters. Presentation wise, the dish was served beautifully. I don't care if I sound redundant, but this dish really is delicious. : )


Glutton Girl: Another dish that's worth trying. It's comparable to the expensive oyster dishes that you find at fine dining restaurants. The melted cheese was simply delicious. The oysters were baked well and they tasted great. I think it would be better if there would be a splash of citrus, like lemon, perhaps.

Golden Fillet of Fish Escabeche, 95 php


Glutton Guy: I ordered this dish because I preferred fish rather than pork or chicken during that time. The fish was soft on the inside. There was a bit of crunch on the outside from the crust. The sauce was sweet and lemony. It tasted like sweet and sour fish fillet that we usually eat at Chinese restaurants. For me, though, it lacked some taste. : )

Crispy Honey-Garlic Chicken, 89 php


Glutton Guy: For me this dish tastes like normal, home-cooked fried chicken. The difference was that there was a bit of sweetness from the honey. The chicken, though, was crispy. Plus, it was perfectly cooked, it was soft on the inside. It was an okay dish for me, overall. : )


Glutton Girl: I liked this dish because it was crispy. I just didn't like the part that was served to us. I'm not much of a fan of the wing part. The honey gave the dish a different yet delicious taste. I also liked the crispy garlic on top of the chicken. For me the blending of tastes worked perfectly well.

Crispy Binagoongan with Green Mango Salsa, 89 php


Glutton Girl: This dish was really good. The pork was really crispy. The bagoong on top added flavor to the pork, which really worked for me. The mango salsa complemented the dish very well. The mix of mangoes and tomatoes was really good. It's another dish that's worth-trying.

Apple Pie ala Mode, 125 php


Glutton Guy: I'm really not into apple pies. This one was delicious at some point. However, I probably wouldn't be able to finish the whole slice. For me it was too sweet. I liked the ice cream, though. Plus, the pie was hot when it was served, which is a good thing for me. : )


Glutton Girl: For me it also was too sweet. It would probably be best for sharing, since I would also not be able to finish the slice by myself. The pie and the ice cream were a good tandem. The hot pie and the cold ice cream was just perfect. I liked the presentation of the dish as well with the cherry on top.


Delish is a good place that offers good food. It's also a nice place to hangout with friends, since it's an 'inuman' place at night. They are also open for catering and exclusive functions. With the delicious food that they offer, who wouldn't anyway? Delish is a great food place worth trying at Teacher's Village. The place is accessible, offers great food at an affordable price, what more could you ask for? For us, there would only be one word to describe the food - Delish-ious!

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Delish Restaurant and Catering is located at 103 Maginhawa street, Teacher's Village, Diliman, Quezon City. It's just beside BDO.)

 

What's Cookin' at Alan's Grill?

If you're looking for another food place option around the Cubao area, then we've got the exact place for you. It serves delicious Pinoy dishes that's perfect for inuman sessions or for simple dinner with family or with friends. We guarantee that your experience will be fulfilling, or should we say, FULL-filling.

The food place that we're talking about is located at the Cubao Expo (formerly called Marikina Shoe Expo). Cubao Expo is a nice place because not only does it have restaurants that will cater to your hunger, but also boutiques and dress shops that are open until late in the evening. One of the shops you'll find here is the food place known as Alan's Grill. At night, this food place is jam packed with customers, because it's also a perfect inuman place for people near the area. Their dishes are affordable and very Pinoy, some already good for 2-3 persons. Alan's Grill is most famous for their Kare-Kare and Crispy Pata. When it comes to these two dishes, Alan's Grill is a place to beat. When we were there, they had a Kare-Kare and Crispy Pata promo for a cheaper price. Nevertheless, when we were there, we tried other dishes. We wanted to know if Alan's Grill's rice meals are also as delicious as the famous Kare-Kare and Crispy Pata.

The place is filled with paintings. Even the tables have some kind of abstract art. We're not sure if they are for sale, or if they're just for design. Most of these paintings are good, though. There also is a function room upstairs, which is for rent for a very reasonable price. In general, Alan's Grill gives more of an 'inuman' type of vibe, since most of the people who eat here come in groups and usually order beer and 'pulutan'. Nevertheless, there are still some people (usually the office folks) who come here for a nice and satisfying meal. 

 
Anyways, here's what we tried:

Iced Tea, 50 php

Glutton Guy and Glutton Girl: Alan's Grill's iced tea has a different flavor as compared to the usual powdered tea. The color, too, seemed different. It tasted good, though. They probably had their own special concoction. It did taste a little bit sweeter than we expected. However, it's still a nice drink to try at Alan's Grill. : )

Chicken Barbecue with Java Rice, 147 php

Glutton Guy: This tasted like normal chicken barbecue. It's like the kind of chicken barbecue that you would taste at an ihaw-ihaw. The chicken, in my opinion, would have been better with barbecue sauce on the side, instead of achara (I'm really not a fan of it hahaha). The java rice, however, was very delicious. It made the meal a whole lot better. If the rice would have been plain, I wouldn't enjoy the dish. But with the java rice, I'd say it's a good addition to the meal. The servings was not enough for me, though. : )


Glutton Girl: Nothing out of the ordinary for me as well. The chicken lacked flavor, for me, probably because it was dry. Glutton Guy is right on the sauce issue. It probably would have been better with barbecue sauce. The rice was okay for me. I wasn't jumping up and down for it. Overall, I would say that it's an okay dish. It would be better to try other dishes on the menu, in my personal opinion.

Fish Fillet Rice, 147 php


Glutton Guy: Delicious dish! I love fish fillet and I love fried tofu. So, there's no better meal for me than this. The fish was cooked perfectly. The outside was crunchy, while the inside was hot and soft. The tofu made the dish more delicious. Its outside was also a bit crunchy, which is a good thing for me. The sauce was what gave the dish flavor. For me, though, the dish lacked sauce. However, I still enjoyed the dish. I removed the black beans since I don't eat those (especially when I see them in the dish hahahaha). Adding more sauce would definitely make the dish perfect. : )

Bangus Belly Rice, 147 php


Glutton Girl: I liked this dish. The fish was very crunchy, which is a good thing. It was Alan's Grill's version of 'Bistek Bangus'. The onions, the potatoes, the sauce, it all worked perfectly. It complemented the fish very well. The onions, which were caramelized, gave that added crunch. The potatoes were soft and weren't mushy. Like Glutton Guy's fish fillet dish, however, this dish also lacked in sauce. I would have preferred more sauce on my rice meal. But, it's a delicious dish that you guys should try.




Overall, our experience at Alan's Grill was a great one. It might not be the best, but it's one you wouldn't want to miss. Alan's Grill offers affordable and delicious Filipino meals that you'll definitely love, even if you see and taste these dishes most of the time. So, next time, when you visit the Cubao Expo to look around for some rare finds, be sure to check Alan's Grill as well. We assure you, you'll definitely want to know what's cookin' in this place.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Alan's Grill is located at the Cubao Expo Shopping Center, General Romulo Avenue, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.)

With Serenity Comes Serenitea (and vice versa...hahaha)

Some people say that tea is for old people. We beg to disagree. You know, a little sip of this hot drink can actually cleanse your internals. And it's not only good for the oldies, it's also a great drink for us young 'stressed out' people.Some food establishments serve it hot. Some serve it cold. Either way, we can't remove the fact that tea is good for you. In fact, there's a place in Metro Manila that we think you will surely like, not just because of the cool business idea that they put up, but also because of the healthy product of theirs that is tea.

The place we found is at San Juan, in an area called "Little Baguio". The tea place known as Serenitea may be a small one, but the drinks they serve do pack a punch. What's cool about this place is that they maximized the potential of tea, making it a cool and refreshing drink with the healthy factor of tea still present in it. Younger ones wouldn't have doubts on giving this drink a try, since it's like a healthy version of your favorite Zagu (Yep, minus the sugar, minus the calories hahaha). In spite of the fact that it's more of a newer version of tea, it's still good for our old folks. Regardless of what age you have, you'll definitely want to have a try of Serenitea's drinks. Aside from tea drinks, they also have their delicious Taiwanese Chicken Chops that you can munch while you're there. You should go and give them a try as well.

We noticed that a lot of people are big fans of the place (people just keep pouring in). We also noticed that a lot of people order drinks to-go, probably because the place is not that big to accommodate a lot of people. The place, though, has an incense-like aroma. It really would give you that refreshing and detoxifying feeling.

You can experiment with your drink (this is what we both loved hahaha) in as easy as 3 simple steps. First, you have to choose your tea (that's obviously a given). Next, you have to choose how sweet you want your tea to be. You can choose if you want 100% sugar in your drink, 50%, or all the way down to no sugar at all. Of course, the 0% sugar has the least sweetness, but it is the healthiest version. Lastly, you have to choose your sinkers or your add-ons as we know it such as crystals, black bricks, or pearls, depending upon your preference. Whatever you choose and however you mix and match your drink, we guarantee it'll be a great one.






Here's what we tried:

Choco Milk Tea, 75 php (small), 85 php (medium), 95 php (large)


Glutton Guy: We were with a friend when we tried Serenitea, and this is what he ordered. He allowed us to try his drink (for blogging purposes hahaha). He ordered his drink with 100% sugar, so it was sweet and chocolatey. It was not too sweet, which is good since you can still assure yourself that it's healthy despite it having 100% sugar. You can really taste the chocolate taste, and I think that you will still be able to taste it without any sugar. It's like your normal chocolate drink, plus the health benefits. : )


Glutton Girl: I also tried my friend's drink. I was a bit skeptical about it having 100% sugar, since I think that the health factor is being removed. Nevertheless, after tasting it, I was assured that it was still a healthy drink. It wasn't overly sweet, not like the usual cold teas and juices we drink at restaurants. The chocolate flavor is really good as well. The next time I decide to stop by at Serenitea, I think I'll have this one.

Hokkaido Milk Tea, 75 php (small), 85 php (medium), 95 php (large)


Glutton Girl: I ordered this drink since the lady taking orders said that this is one of their bestsellers. It was a delicious drink for me. Not too sweet as well (probably because I made mine 75% sugar) yet it's not too bland. It had that delicious coconut taste, which was really good. I added some black bricks to my drink to have that coffee taste. Overall, for me, it was a really delicious and refreshing drink. Thumbs up for Hokkaido milk tea!

Okinawa Milk Tea, 75 php (small), 85 php (medium), 95 php (large)


Glutton Guy: According to the lady taking orders, another bestseller is the Okinawa milk tea. I decided to give this a shot with....get this...25% sugar (Unbelievable, right? hahaha Talk about being healthy hahahaha). Well, it's not that bad having a drink with almost no sugar. In fact, I think that it's very delicious. At first I thought having 25% sugar would be pretty courageous of me. But, I have to say I actually enjoyed my drink, especially because of the fact that it's healthy. It tasted somewhat like the usual Nai Cha, but a better version of it. I think that regardless of how much sugar you put in it, it would still taste as delicious as mine. The crystals worked perfectly with the drink itself. For me a medium sized drink would probably be enough. But, if you really want more of this refreshing drink, go and order a large one. : )



The greatest thing about their drinks is that they're light on the pocket. Serenitea's drinks are very affordable and are worth the price, not just because the servings are big enough, but also because of the health benefits you'll get. It's not like the usual drink products that we find in the market who promise us healthy benefits but never really deliver them. For Serenitea, it's real. What they say is what you'll really get. Aside from milk teas, they also have other teas such as tea lattes, fruit teas, and grass teas. So, if you're up for a refreshing and delicious drink that has all the health benefits that you're looking for, then Serenitea is the drink for you. There really is no harm in saying that Serenitea is not you ordinary cup of tea.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Serenitea has 3 branches: 1. G&L Building, J. Abad Santos Street, Little Baguio, San Juan, 2. Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque City, 3. N. Roxas Street, Banawe, Quezon City.)

PenPen De Sarapen

Who doesn't know this famous Tagalog folk song? We're pretty sure, during your childhood years, you were singing this with your classmates or with your friends. Nowadays, children are preoccupied with other songs, mostly Western. Which is why some of our Filipino songs such as this one are close to extinct. By the way, did you even bother asking yourself what the song means? Did you not ask your teacher what the song was trying to say? Well, would you believe it if we told you guys that it could be associated with food? Yes, we're not joking. It could actually be associated with food. Well, the first word, at least. And not just ordinary food, but delicious, mouth-watering food. We'll tell you guys how and why.

We were actually very hungry for lunch when we were at the Tomas Morato area. Craving for good food, we decided to look around among the many restaurants in the area. We finally stumbled upon this small restaurant which is actually kind of hidden (It's not on the main road. There's a sign, though, that will direct you to the place). Who would've though that the place is owned by a showbiz personality. The name of the place is PenPen Restaurant. It is actually owned by Ping Medina, son of another great actor Pen Medina. The place is small, yet it's one of the food places in the area that offers great and satisfying food. The interior of the place is simple. It's not too striking, yet it's not overly designed. There are a few designs, such as wall decors and framed maps. But, the delicious food that they offer is enough to say that the place is great.

The place offers delicious Pinoy dishes that will surely satisfy your appetite. In fact, every Fridays and Saturdays PenPen has a Pasta All-You-Can promo wherein you can enjoy unlimited Pinoy-inspired pasta for just 280 pesos and only 265 pesos for groups of four. You can enjoy pasta sauces such as Quesong Puti Pesto, Beef Morcon with Chorizos, and Lucban Longganisa Meatballs, and mix and match them with your favorite pasta. Their rice meals and Pinoy dishes are also must-tries. Most of them are even perfect "pulutans" for your happy hours. The "crispy" dishes are what we recommend that you should definitely not miss. It's actually to die for. Nevertheless, whatever food you want to try on the menu, it's affordable and delicious.

Here's what we got:

Bottomless Iced Tea, 45 php

Glutton Guy and Glutton Girl: We can't say much about it. It's the same iced tea you find elsewhere. We only find theirs cheap as compared to the others. In fact, it's wise for you to choose the bottomless iced tea for drinks, since the other drinks are just 5 to 10 pesos cheaper. Practicality-wise, it's best to order the bottomless one. : )

Molo Soup, 55 php

Glutton Guy: For 55 pesos, this soup is actually cheap. I thought it only served one. But, when I asked the waitress, she told me that it can serve up to two persons. It was actually enough for both of us. Come to think of it, it could even serve up to three or four persons. Going to the soup, it actually was delicious. It's probably one of the best tasting Molo soups I've ever tasted. The soup wasn't too salty. The bits of meat, the molo wrapper, every ingredient adds up to the delicious taste of the soup. If only I could not share it with Glutton Girl, I could actually finish the whole bowl! : )

Glutton Girl: The soup, for me, was actually delicious. I'm not used to ordering soups when I go to restaurants like this. I didn't regret ordering this one, though. It was actually more than I expected it to be. The soup was very good. Like what Glutton Guy said, it's not too salty. I like the strips that were in the soup (I don't know what those were, though). The meat was also delicious. It adds flavor to the soup. The molo wrapper gave a great accent to the dish. Molo soup is the one I would recommend at PenPen.

Rice, 25 php (Plain), 30 php (Garlic Fried Rice)

Glutton Guy: I ordered the garlic fried rice. It was actually okay for me. Nothing too special with the rice. I actually expected some fried garlic bits, but there were none. There were some times that the rice actually overpowered the dishes that we ordered, because the flavor was somewhat too strong. It wasn't too salty, though, which was a plus for me. : )

Glutton Girl: I got the plain rice. For me, plain rice was actually better for the dishes that we ordered. There was no flavor from the rice that confuses my sense of taste. I can really taste the flavors of the dishes. I recommend that you just order plain rice. But, if you're up for something else, try the others as well. I think they're also delicious. I haven't tried them yet, but trust me on this one (hahaha).

Crispy Liempo, 125 php

Glutton Guy: PenPen's Crispy Liempo, for me, is actually the best. They're really crunchy, as the name implies. The liempo wasn't too salty, which I liked. There are some restaurants who over-marinade the liempo, making it salty. But PenPen's crispy liempo is opposite of that. It's best when dipped in the vinegar with garlic. I would also recommend this as a perfect pulutan. : )

Glutton Girl: When I saw the crispy liempo's picture on the menu, I actually had the feeling that it would be very good. I wasn't disappointed. The liempo was crunchy and very delicious. At first I thought that it was bacon. But then I realized that it wasn't. Glutton Guy actually explained to me that it might be liempo that was thinly sliced then fried. According to him, thinly sliced liempo, when fried, tends to curl, thus the curling effect of the dish (I didn't actually know that Glutton Guy knew these kinds of stuffs hahaha). I also loved the vinegar dip. To me it was a perfect balance of saltiness and sourness.

Mini-Cordon Bleu, 105 php (6 pieces), 150 php (10 pieces)

Glutton Guy:  I actually gave their Mini-Cordon Bleu dish a shot. It was an okay dish for me, not too much of a comparison to the original Cordon Bleu. Nevertheless, the dish was delicious. I just felt that the cheese was overpowering. The dish looked like home made chicken nuggets, which I found kind of cute. I didn't like the mayo dip. For me, it was more delicious without the dip. Also, it would be better for me if the coating used had a little crunch. The dish would probably be better with plain rice. : )

Glutton Girl: I wasn't a fan of this dish. I found the cheese a bit salty and the cordon bleu kind of mushy. I also wasn't a fan of the mayo dip. There was a different taste from the dip that I actually didn't like. 10 pieces would probably too much for me. So, I would suggest that you go for the 6 pieces if you want to try this dish.

PenPen might be a small place. But, as they say, one can be "small but terrible". PenPen's dishes are very delicious and are worth the try. Not only that, they are also light on the budget. If you really want to get the value for your money, give their pasta all-you-can promo a shot. Their sauces are definitely delicious as well. So, if you want appetizing Pinoy dishes that you'll surely crave for, just remember the song, "PENPEN de Sarapen de kutsilyo de almasen...".









Rating: Buddhalicious!
(PenPen Restaurant is located at 105-C Scout Castor Street, Baranggay Laging Handa, Quezon City. Scout Castor is actually along Tomas Morato Avenue. Just look out for the 7-11 store and turn at Castor street. There's actually a sign that will point you to the place.)