Namit Gid Sang Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken

The last time I tasted Bacolod-style chicken inasal was when the Jo’s Chicken Inato was still open. So, when I saw a post on my Facebook feed showing a new place offering this distinctive style of grilling chicken, I thought to myself, “I should try the place out.” You may want to try grilling your own chicken, but it is not easy to get that unique taste of Bacolod-style chicken inasal.

Newly-Opened Hole-in-the-Wall Place in Mabolo

Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken Inasal

Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken Inasal is a recently-opened chicken place along F. Cabahug Street, Cebu City. The place opened up near the start of the year and is gradually becoming popular among chicken inasal-lovers in and around metro Cebu. A good number of their customers have given them two thumbs up after getting to taste their lusciously-delicious chicken inasal.  I’m not really sure, but I read somewhere that the cook at the place was “imported” all the way from Bacolod. It would not be surprising if this is true since their chicken has a taste that you would not normally find in restaurants in Cebu.

Cozy dining area at Manong's

The Place

When I got to the place, there was already one other customer waiting for her order. Manong’s has three small tables and three long tables. The wall close to the counter also has an extra long table for customers who just want to have a meal and run (well, run after paying the bill, that is). More tables can also be found outside the place. There is also a mural on the wall close to the entrance. Unlike the former Jo’s located in Subangdaku, Manong’s is air-conditioned and you do not smell of grilled chicken after eating at the place. 

Manong's has a suitable number of tables for its customers

Mural inside Manong's

The Food

When I took my first bite, the meat was tender and full of flavor. It brought me back to the time when I also first tasted the chicken at Jo’s Chicken Inato eons ago. While the size was not as big, it is quite understandable since prices of chicken have definitely gone up over the past few years. But, the size does not really matter since the taste more than makes up for it. I do hope they will maintain the quality of their chicken since the quality of the old Bacolod-style chicken inasal was not maintained after a number of years of operation.

Tender meat and full of flavor

I loved the way the chicken was tender and juicy

The chicken items at Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken come in different varieties: the Pecho, Pechopakpak, Paa, and Pakpak. Their menu items also include Chorizo, Bul-o, Atay, Baticolon, Tina-e, and Pork BBQ. They also offer Garlic Rice, Fried Rice, and Plain Rice. For dessert, you can try the Black Sambo. Drink offerings include soft drinks, mineral water, and beer.

The chicken is best paired with their garlic rice

The Price

The prices at Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken are rather reasonable with the Pecho priced at PhP80 while the Pechopakpak costs PhP85. The Paa costs PhP80 and the Pakpak is priced at PhP75. The Isol is priced at PhP75 while the Chorizo costs PhP30. The Bul-o and Atay are both priced at PhP35 while the Baticolon, Tina-e, and Pork BBQ are priced at PhP30. The Garlic Rice costs PhP35 while the Fried Rice is priced at PhP30. On the other hand, their plain rice costs PhP25. The prices of their drinks range fromPhP25 for the mineral water up to PhP60 for the San Mig Light.

Prices at Manong's are rather reasonable

Getting There

Getting to Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken requires a jeepney ride to F. Cabahug Street in Mabolo. If you are in Ayala, you can opt to walk to the corner opposite Landers or you can take a jeepney marked 04L at the jeepney stop across the Mercedes Benz building. You can get off at the same corner I indicated earlier before crossing the street and getting on a jeepney marked 03A. You can get off in front of the gasoline station next to the GAGFA building. Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken is located at the GND Arcade, which is right across the gasoline station. The place is open from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day.

Check out Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken in Mabolo

Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken is another hole-in-the-wall place you can consider if you are looking for a new place to eat. The place will definitely be one of the hole-in-the-wall places I would recommend to family and friends looking to satisfy their cravings for authentic Bacolod-style chicken inasal. Heck, I would even recommend online freelance workers to visit the place as well. Basta Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken, namit gid.

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

Take A Bite At The Chinese Lumpia At Foodarama

Chinese influence on Cebuanos is quite evident in a lot of things you can find in the Queen City of the South. You can see it in the businesses set up in the downtown area, some Chinese temples in and around the city, and, of course, the food.

Chinese-Inspired Goodies at Foodarama

As far as I can recall, the first time I tasted a Chinese-inspired dish was at Foodarama way back when I was still a scrawny kid. Whenever our mom picked us up from school, we would stop by Foodarama for some snacks. One of the stalls where we used to buy snacks from was Good Food, Ah!

Good Food, Ah!

Good Food, Ah!

Good Food, Ah! is a hole-in-the-wall stall where one can find the best Chinese lumpia in the Queen City of the South. The stall is located in Foodarama along General Maxilom Ave (formerly Mango Ave). While it transferred to Robinson’s Fuente when the mall opened, the stall returned to Foodarama after some time. Even after decades have passed, they have maintained the quality of the Chinese lumpia. One of the reasons for this is probably because the person who prepares the Chinese lumpia, Manang Sara.

Manag Sara Putting Together The Chinese Lumpia

Manang Sara

Cebuanos still remember Manang Sara, and some are pleasantly surprised that she is still the one who prepares the lumpia. Manang Sara can be considered an institution in the food landscape of Cebu. I’m sure many Cebuanos can still remember that she was the one who prepared the food they order when they were still kids. Some of them even include the small stall in Foodarama as one of their stops whenever they have the chance to return to the Queen City of the South. I make it a point to drop by Foodarama whenever I find myself in the area. During these visits I order at least two of those delicious Chinese lumpias and a bottle of Coke.

Manang Sara Posing For Posterity

Back when I was still young, our mom would order the humba egg for us. At times, we would have the Chinese lumpia. There were also instances when we would order the pancit palabok from the small restaurant at the old Foodarama. Many Cebuanos who attend mass at Redemptorist Church also pass by Foodarama to have snacks at the stall. When St. Benedict’s Childhood Educational Centre (formerly St. Benedict’s Learning Center) was still located in front of the church, families would normally drop by the place after school. Students from other nearby schools would also pass by the place after classes.

Chinese Lumpia Getting Ready To Be Assembled

The Chinese lumpia at Foodarama may not look like much for first-timers, but it tastes heavenly. It is probably the most popular item on the menu of Good Food, Ah! Another popular item on their menu is their humba egg. We used to have either the Chinese lumpia or humba egg when we were young. Aside from the Chinese lumpia and humba egg, the stall also sells empanada, siomai, siopao, pancit miki, and fried rice.

The Chinese Lumpia At Foodarama

Humba Egg

Empanada

Pancit Miki

The Price

The prices of the food at the stall are quite reasonable. The Chinese lumpia at Foodarama costs PhP20 each while the humba egg is priced at PHP11. The siomai and siopao are priced at PHP12 and PHP28, respectively. The empanada costs PHP23. On the other hand, the pancit miki and fried rice are priced at PHP40 and PHP41, respectively. Their soft drinks cost PHP13 each.

The Price List

The Location

The stall is located right in front of the checkout counters of Foodarama and in between stalls selling pizza and ngohiong. You can get to Foodarama by getting on a jeepney passing through General Maxilom Ave. Just get off at the jeepney stop before the building or at the jeepney stop in front of Union Bank Mango.

Good Food, Ah! Stall In Foodarama

The Chinese lumpia at Foodarama has become stuff for legends, so to speak, as Cebuanos continue to savor this scrumptiously delicious Chinese-inspired dish prepared by one of the institutions in the food landscape of the Queen City of the South. If you haven't tried the Chinese lumpia of Manang Sara, head on over to Foodarama and find out what the ruckus is all about.

Good Chinese Food At Good Food, Ah!

P.S. If you want to get the chance to taste the Chinese lumpia at Foodarama, it’s best that you pass by the place before 7:00 PM since there may be instances when they would run out of supplies. This happened to me a couple of times when I arrived there past 7:00 PM. It simply shows the Chinese lumpia at Foodarama is one of the most popular dishes in the Queen City of the South.

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

It May Not Look Like Much, But It Tastes Good

The Empanada

Manang Sara At Work

Burgers Charbroiled To Perfection At Burgaholic

Cebuanos are a picky bunch, and it takes a lot of effort before you can satisfy this particular market. In fact, Cebu has become the test market of some food companies who want to make it big in other parts of the archipelago. If you will survive the Cebuano market, you will survive in the big city up north. So when a small stall opens up in the Queen City of the South and continues to provide great-tasting food after a couple of years, it definitely is one store to watch out for in the future.

Burgaholic along Maria Cristina Ext.

One hole-in-the-wall eating place that has continued to build a reputation of offering great-tasting food is located at the garage of the owner. Despite being a relatively new player in the market, Burgaholic has created a niche of its own in the Queen City of the South. A couple of weeks ago, I went to the place to try their burgers. When I went to Burgaholic, I was joined by my brothers and nephews. 

Burgaholic Story

Burgaholic was borne out of a passion for eating and the need to have an outlet from the daily grind. Juan Ismael Arceo is the man behind the place. When we were there, the dad was manning the cash box at that time since his son was at work. The main reason they did not open another branch was that they could not find a suitable location in the city. 

The Quarter Pounder at Burgaholic

The place is nearly three years old and they were featured on Sun Star Weekend sometime in 2015. When they started, people flocked to the place. Word-of-mouth marketing brought in different types of customers. From casual customers to food bloggers and even people who were simply curious about their burgers. 

I was arrived at the place at around 6:45 PM, and they were already cooking burgers. Apparently, a number of their return customers call ahead for their orders and pick them up after they’re already cooked. There were at least two people who picked up their orders before my brothers and nephews arrived at the place. 

Unassuming Dining Area at Burgaholic

The Burgers

Burgaholic offers three variants of their burger: The Classic, The Quarter Pounder, and The Half Pounder. The Classic burger comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and their signature Cheesy Mushroom Sauce. You can also add bacon into the mix for an additional PhP20. The Quarter Pounder comes with all the ingredients of The Classic Burger plus bacon and jalapeno. On the other hand, The Quarter Pounder is specifically made for people who have huge appetites. 

The Quarter Pounder

They cook their burgers over charcoals on a customized grill made of a metal barrel. If you want to cook burgers at your backyard, you can either make a similar customized grill or you can buy a grill online. Since the cooking area and dining area are in one place, you can see your order being cooked right before your eyes. If you ask me, watching my order cooked in front of me is somewhat excruciating once you get a waft of the aroma coming from the burgers. 

Customized Grill at Burgaholic

Burgers Grilling at Burgaholic

We ordered a Quarter Pounder each. The patty they used for the burger was huge when compared to the ones offered in a number of popular fast food restos. The dad of the owner said they have their own recipe for their patties, which is a thing among a number of hole-in the-wall eating places. Similarly, the dishes at the King of Chicken were also the brainchild of owner-cum-chef of the establishment. The Quarter Pounder was crisp on the outside but juicy on the inside. Each one of us finished the burger in no time. 

The Grilled Pork Belly With Rice

After demolishing our Quarter Pounders, we decided to try the Grilled Pork Belly with Rice. The pork belly was thicker than the ones you can find in supermarkets. It is seasoned by their signature dry rub and slathered with their home-made barbecue sauce. The dad said they do not use salt on the pork belly, which gives it the right amount of juiciness. It also has the right amount of sweetness in it. While some people I know may not appreciate the sweet taste of the Grilled Pork Belly of Burgaholic, its juiciness will definitely win them over. 

Grilling Those Huge Pork Belly Cut

The Grilled Pork Belly is Served

The Place

The dining and cooking area is the garage of the owner, which is typical of a number of hole-in-the-wall places here in the Queen City of the South. They have monobloc tables and chairs, which is suitable enough for their patrons. People do not go there for the ambiance; they go there for the food. In fact, when we were at Burgaholic another table was occupied by two customers who were also there for the food. Some tenants of the apartment also came out to eat. 

The Dining Area-cum-Cooking Area

The Prices

The Classic is priced at PhP100 while the Quarter Pounder costs PhP175. The Half Pounder is priced at PhP295 while their Grilled Pork Belly with Rice costs PhP100. 

Burger Offerings at Burgaholic

The Location

Burgaholic is located along Maria Cristina Extension, right beside the Bordz Bar. When I went there, I thought I missed the place, but after seeing burgers being grilled, I knew I was at the right place. If you are riding a taxi, just tell the driver to bring you to the Bordz Bar along Maria Cristina Extension. If you burgaare commuting, you can get off at Cocomall and walk along Maria Cristina Street until you reach a point where the road turns left. Burgaholic is located a few meters from the turn. If you are coming from National Bookstore, walk towards Juana Osmeña Street until you reach Maria Cristina Street. Turn right and follow the road until it turns left. The place is on the left side of the road.

The Quarter Pounder

Burgaholic is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has piqued the taste buds of residents and visitors to the Queen City of the South. While it is a relative newcomer in the market, it has definitely made its mark and is one place to watch out for in the coming years. And, oh, on my next visit, I'll probably get the Half Pounder or two of them Classic burgers.

Have you tasted the burgers and Grilled Pork Belly at Burgaholic already? Tell me about it on the comments section below.

Keep Calm And Have Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon

One of the most popular dishes from the island of Cebu is the lechon. But in the last few years a new innovation was made to the world renowned Cebu lechon, the boneless lechon.

Boneless Lechon of Tatang's

Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon

The first time I tasted the boneless lechon of Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon was when they still had a stall in Mandaue. The stall at the corner of H. Cortes Avenue and A.S. Fortuna Avenue was rather small. Their kitchen and service area took up nearly half of the space for the stall. Since I used to live at the other end of the road, it was easy for me to simply get up and take a ride to the end of the road to have a taste of their delightfully delicious boneless lechon.

Scrumptiously Delicious Boneless Lechon

The Location

They once had a branch at ground floor of Skyrise 1 at the Cebu IT Park, but it’s already closed (probably after they opened their current location). Tatang’s current location is at the corner of Wilson Street and Pasteur Street in Lahug, Cebu City. For proper perspective, it is located across Anita’s Bakeshop and close to the Original Pino Restaurant, which is a stone’s throw away from JY Square Discovery Mall.

Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon

Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon

The Boneless Lechon

Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon offers the best boneless lechon in town. While I tried the boneless lechon of other restos, they never seemed to come close to the distinctive flavor offered by the boneless lechon of Tatang’s, especially their spicy variant.

Boneless Lechon Value Meal

The extra crispy skin and juicy meat makes the boneless lechon of Tatang’s uniquely tasty. The recipe for the boneless lechon was created by the owner of the place, Lorenz Florendo. He was very meticulous when he made his boneless lechon, and his efforts did not go to waste since it became the best in the market. In fact, the boneless lechon of Tatang’s was selected as the Best Boneless Lechon Belly on the Best of Cebu list of Sun Star Weekend for 2013. 

More Boneless Lechon of Tatang's

The menu of Tatang’s is not limited to the boneless lechon since they also offer a number of other dishes, including the Lechon Flakes, Lechon Wraps, Sizzling Lechon Sisig, Crispy Binagoongan, Crispy Kare-Kare, and Crispy Dinuguan.

Items Available At Tatang's

The Price

The boneless lechon of Tatang’s is available in two variants, classic and spicy. The classic boneless lechon is priced at PHP145 for the 1/4 kilo serving, PHP290 for the 1/2 kilo serving, and PHP580 for the 1 kilo serving. The spicy boneless lechon is priced at PHP150 for the 1/4 kilo serving, PHP300 for the 1/2 kilo serving, and PHP595 for the 1 kilo serving. Their Lechon Sisig is priced at PHP145 while the Lechon Flakes is priced at PHP135. Five pieces of the Lechon Wraps is priced at PHP150.

Menu Prices

They also offer Value Meals, which consists of the menu item, two pieces of puso, and a drink. The value meal is priced at PHP95, which is not bad considering you get the best-tasting boneless lechon in the island of Cebu. The Crispy Dinuguan is priced at PHP49 while an extra puso is priced at PHP6 each. Tatang’s currently has an ongoing promo for Mondays. You can eat as much lechon belly, sisg and puso as you can from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for only PHP199. 

Have Some Crispy Dinuguan At Tatang's

Whenever I pass by Tatang’s, I always order their Boneless Lechon Value Meal, Crispy Dinuguan, and two additional pieces of puso. The Value Meal consists of the boneless lechon, two pieces of puso, and a drink. 

Value Meal Plus Dinuguan = Heaven

The Place

While the ground floor dining area is small, they have an air-conditioned dining area in the second floor. In the past, the place would easily get crowded especially during lunch or dinner since they only had the ground floor dining area open at that time.  For more information and delivery inquires at Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon, you can call them through (032)316-4719 and 0917-547-8561.

Quaint But Suitable Dining Area

Ever since I first tasted the lechon belly of Tatang’s, I always look for it whenever I feel the need to satisfy my cravings for scrumptiously appetizing extra crispy boneless lechon. I guess it was a case love at first bite or something. 

They Also Deliver

Have you eaten at Tatang’s Extra Crispy Boneless Lechon already? Tell me about it on the comments section below.

Counter Area

My Typical Meal At Tatang's

Let's Play Chicken At Vibes

Aside from the King of Chicken, there is another chicken place close to the Cebu Doctors' University Hospital. But this place is located behind the hospital, right beside a 7/11 store.

Let's Play Chicken At Vibes

Vibes

Vibes is a relatively unknown eatery-style store along Gov. M. Roa Street. It's relatively unknown since their customers are mainly people who work at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital and nearby offices.

Open-Air Dining Area At Vibes

When the medical college was still located close to the hospital, students also made up a good number of the customers of the place.

Another View Of The Dining Area At Vibes

Menu Items

Vibes sells mainly chicken and fish dishes, including Sardine Meal, Fish Fillet with Rice, Tandoori, and Garam Masala, among others. But their menu is not limited  to fish and chicken dishes since they also offer Pork Chop with Rice, Pork Belly with Rice, Beef Tapa with Rice, and a number of sandwiches.

Menu At Vibes

They just opened when I visited the place. In fact, there was only one other customer waiting for his dish to be served. After asking for a recommendation from the person behind the counter, I ordered the Tandoori with Rice.

Tandoori With Rice At Vibes

Eatery Ambiance

Vibes has an open-air dining area and has a typical eatery feel. I did notice a drum set and a pair of speakers on a small stage in the corner, which means they may have some sort of entertainment at night (I went there for lunch).

Check Out the Drum Set at the Corner

Even with their humble ambiance, Vibes serves great-tasting food. Apparently, they use only premium ingredients for their dishes. The place also offers grilled meat or barbecue at night.

Humble Ambiance At Vibes

The Price

The prices of the dishes at Vibes range from PHP55 for the Pork Chop with Rice up to PHP150 for the Tandoori with Rice. They also offer ice cream for dessert at PHP25 while their shakes are priced at PHP60 each.

More Menu Items At Vibes

Vibes is located along Gov. M. Roa Street at the back of the Cebu Doctors' University Hospital. It is right beside a 7/11 store and right across the old Cebu Doctors' Gymnasium.

Let's Play Chicken At Vibes

The place is open from 11:30 AM up to 4:00 AM from Monday to Saturday.