The Farmers Market in Quezon City is one of the oldest, largest, and most revered markets in both…read moreMetro Manila and the Philippines. I went just to sightsee and thought it was pretty wonderful, a giant, colorful open air market absolutely teeming with life. The place was huge, with what felt like hundreds of vendors selling fish, meat, and produce in tightly arranged stalls. There were lots of people and the occasional cat, and we tourists were in the minority--I think almost everyone else was there to buy or sell food. The produce looked fresh, and there was a robust seafood section. We'd visited the Navotas fish port that morning, and I gather that a lot of the fish caught there make there way to the Farmers Market. We stopped by the food court and picked up mango and green mango shakes at the Fruitas stand. I'm sure we missed out on other excellent eats, but those shakes were delicious. I'll bet you could spend quite some time exploring this Farmers Market. I enjoyed my visit and would recommend the place to anyone living in or passing through Metro Manila.

Seriously old world. Even though much more organized and clean than what I remember. Old world open…read moreair market. Open air in that there are no walls so even from the middle you can see the outdoor city streets. There is a ceiling covering the entire market so no food or person will be exposed to the sun and/or elements. The place is huge like at least one city block. Every vendor is its own business, so every stall you go to you will have to make a payment. Also able to haggle if you have any skill for it. I do not but natives...it's in their blood. No card transactions either straight cash, and actually have smaller bills so to make giving change easier. When I said old world, I meant old world! Place is also sectioned off...vegetables in one area, fruit vendors in another, beef, poultry, eggs, fish and shellfish are all grouped by their product. A little overwhelming for me but if you shop here regularly then I suppose you can figure out which vendor works for you, then you can establish a relationship. No shopping carts or even baskets. So bring your own bags. We only brought 1 bag and after buying more shellfish than what we came for, my aunt and I went to the house wares area and bought a small plastic bucket to put our bags of seafood in. We put all our produce in the bag I brought. The nature of the market will give first worlders fits. Nothing is refrigerated and is just sitting out in open air. Even seafood and meats like beef and pork. Just sitting or hanging in open air, and that air is not cool or temperate. Lol. I got a little queasy a few times but it is just how certain countries have been doing it for centuries. Sure there are modern grocery stores here that will rival any grocery store in the US or Europe, but I wanted to see one of these again before my trip ended. It just is in more in touch with regular people, people who are living their daily lives. That is what I wanted to be a part of. Whilst putting down food for my family, I was also able to help another put food on theirs. An exchange I can smile and feel good about. 5 Old World Stars!

The Sidcor Market I grew up with can be found in EDSA corner Main Avenue--the current location of…read moreHypermarket Cubao. As far as I can recall, it was 8 years ago when it was launched again in Centris. I often visit every Sunday morning for my favorite Empanada, Pad Thai, and Buco Sherbet. This is home to a variety of food selection from regional cuisines to international flavors. Sidcor is also a great source of fresh produce, organic vegetables, and fruits. The price is at par with local neighborhood palengke and definetely cheaper than supermarket. Sidcor is open from 6:00am to 1:00pm but fresh market's stocks runs out easily. Be sure to arrive earlier. There are a lot of parking spaces available at Sidcor as well. Commuters can take the Quezon Avenue MRT station. It's a walk away from the train stop.

Spent a Sunday morning here is fun. Here you have 2 prices,…read morelocal and expat. Unlike in salcedo sat market, here you can find avocado for 150/kg, while it's 250-300php in salcedo! You can also find quite good collection of plants to decorate your home. Super hot though!!! But will come back!

First of, Connecticut Market is no Salcedo Market. It would be wise not to go in with that…read moreexpectation because you'll just be disappointed. But that doesn't mean it's not worth a visit. I live near San Juan so for me the Connecticut Market is extra convenient for me. It's not like I always have time to go to Makati for the markets there. Connecticut still has the fresh produce that you want, especially if you're the type who cooks on the weekends. There are a variety of fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. There are also selections of fresh seafood from squid to clams to fish, and that's the selling point for me. It just doesn't have the local products that Salcedo has but for those who only seek for produce, Connecticut Market is a great community addition.

The Guadalupe Public Market is the biggest of its kind in Makati. Here you can find plenty of…read morestalls selling fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. But just like any public palengke or wet market, this place is not for the faint of heart. Expect the floors in the meat and fish area to be wet and smelly. And since this is an old establishment, the paint on the walls are already peeling off and the general condition of the place is grimy. However, if you can look way past the appearance of this public market, you'll find that it's actually a good place to buy not only wet items, but dry goods as well. Guadalupe Public Market also has stores selling traditional baskets, plastic items, affordable apparel, household cleaning materials, and even cheap diapers. Another advantage of patronizing this public market is that you can develop loyalty with your favorite sellers and they would be more than willing to give you the choicest cuts and huge discounts on your purchases. The Guadalupe Public Market is very accessible because it's near jeepney terminals and bus stops along EDSA. Plus, it has access to the Guadalupe MRT station.

I love Mara's Market! It's really the best place to buy organic produce at the start of the week…read more The farmers here are REAL organic farmers and they always have great seasonal produce - like blueberries and mangoes! It's a really impressive bunch of vendors. Plus there are also some prepared food vendors too who sell organic food and drinks - like juice, kombucha, Liq My Stick popsicles, vegetarian comfort food, raw vegan meals (Leaf Kitchen), and smoothies. It's really a fun mix! Plus if you're in the mood for shopping they have some cool bohemian-esque accessories, clothing, and bags. And if you want to buy gifts they have fragrances and the like. Love starting my week here!

Okay, it's been nine months since I first reviewed Pioneer Street Market, and yes, the place has…read moreshaped up nicely. There are more than a dozen food concessionaires in the compound, and they are amazing. We now have hipster coffee, roast beef, homestyle tapa, paninis, peri-peri chicken, shawarma, tapas, sate babe, burgers, and so much more! Ang saya-saya! I just hope that people flock here as I would hate to see this go. The response from the public has been awesome though.

I work just in front of the Pioneer Street Market so I've ventured here several times, and I have…read moreto say that this is every organic person's haven. Inside Pioneer Street Market in an array of fresh goods. From colourful fruits to leafy vegetables, all-organic baking needs ingredients to healthy juices, PSM has it. They have several stalls inside that sells these plus a bunch of other healthy eats you health buffs will definitely enjoy. Right outside Pioneer Street Market is a mini-garden shop where they sell a few plants. This instantly caught my eye because I've been meaning to try planting and find out if I've got the green thumb or not. I saw a few plants that I had to stop myself from buying. There was the Plant Candle Top, Bonsais and my personal favourite, the Milflores. And the best part is that they're relatively cheap! (Well, I actually don't know how much plants are but for 120pesos per pot of Plant Candle Top, I think it's a steal!) Pioneer Street Market during the weekdays don't have a lot of stalls or they're not as filled up unlike their weekend markets. So if you do plan to visit, I suggest stopping by on a Saturday or Sunday so you're sure you'll find something to purchase.

Held every first and third Sunday of the month, Good Food Sundays is a collective of friendly food…read moreentrepreneurs who strive to sell products through sustainable means. Since Uno Morato is a relatively tiny space, you do not experience option paralysis the same way you would if you went to a larger weekend market. You can also sense the tight-knit sense of community among the sellers, as they are a small community. Sellers like The Wandering Chew and Chili Asylum serve hot food, while Earnest Bakes and Manila Bakery by Serye serve baked goods. Kalsada Coffee also serves cold brewed coffee specialties, and there is also a stall that sells fresh vegetables straight from Benguet. There's even a stall that sells kombucha, a fermented tea that is definitely an acquired taste! For those of us who live in QC but wish we had a weekend market like the Legazpi or Salcedo markets, Good Food Sundays is definitely worth your time, and is something to look forward to every month.

Good Food Sundays is run by Good Food Community, a group of young, creative folk who are bringing…read morefresh organic produce closer to us city dwellers. They support our local farmers up north by ensuring that they have a steady demand for their crops, while Good Food brings them to us here in Manila in convenient bayongs, juice packs or salad packs. Their veggie bayongs are amazing. I've had the best, sweetest kamote I've ever had through them. And, what's great is that if you are inclined to try more adventurous types of veggies, sometimes they have less popular crops and herbs included in the bayong. They also have juice packs - for those people who like to juice, and salad packs, which are easier to prepare if you're not up for a whole bayong of veggies that require legit cooking. I really admire their efforts to help farmers, and provide fresh, organic local produce weekly. They have drop off hubs all over Metro Manila, mostly Makati, Manila and northwards to QC areas. I'm really hoping they have drop off points in the South soon so I can subscribe! Good Food Sundays however, is a regular gathering initiated by Good Food that brings together small businesses that sell local food in line with their organic/'artisanal'/farm-to-table vision. It's very laid-back and casual, and smaller in scale than other Sunday markets, and the intimate setting is great for getting to know new faces and like-minded individuals.

I realized a few weeks ago that I have become such a "tito" because I would look forward to waking…read moreup in the morning to have a go at the fresh produce that are being dropped at the "bagsakan" in what is known locally as Housing. Housing is that stretch of highway between Kalayaan and Maharlika, near QC Memorial Circle, right next to the Housing Authority of the Philippines complex. What I love about this farmers market is that everything is fresh. There is also a variety of cheap produce, from spinach to lettuce, radishes to potatoes and even imported fruits such as dragon fruits, mangosteens and oranges. The crops would still have dirt and soil clinging to them, and I don't mind because it could only mean that the produce was plucked from the ground that very same day. You can haggle and the tinderos and tinderas would gladly toss in a few extra pieces with every kilo that you buy. The place gets crowded as it also doubles as a terminal for jeepneys playing the sideroutes to the residential areas of Quezon City (Tandang Sora, Visayas, etc.), so make sure you watch your stuff.

Known as the 'bagsakan' of produce coming from up north (Baguio, Cordillera, Tarlac, etc.), expect…read morethis place to have the cheapest produce in Manila. When I saw the prices of the food here, it was insane. Some are even 50% less than what I would usually pay for in supermarkets or palengkes here in the South. Sometimes even less actually! As far as variety goes, they have a plethora of vegetables and fruits to choose from, so it's hard not to go crazy as they're also as fresh as you can get here in the city. Don't expect Balintawak Market though to be all clean and safe--it's the kind of place where you really have to be careful with your bags and valuables. If you're vegetarian/vegan, it would be so perfect if you lived near this place. Sadly, I'm from the South and this place is just not practical enough for me to head to for my weekly stash of greens.