Farinas empanada is one of the few places in the metro where you can get authentic Ilocano goodness. They use real bagnet and Vigan longganisa so that each empanada tastes like the real thing. They make each order right in front of you as you order, which ensures that you are getting a fresh one each time. It can be rather trying though, if you have a large order, because they only have two empanada-making stations and each one takes about 5 minutes to make, what with the kneading and the rolling required to get that perfect thin,crisp crust. The last time we were here, we order twelve empanadas in all and it took about an hour for everything to be prepared. The lady who was in line after us was positively biting her nails in frustration.
If you are in the mood for something else than empanadas, another must-try is the pancit bagnet, which is generously topped with bagnet slices, stir-fried vegetables and eggs. Drizzle with some calamansi and... yumm! read more