I was visiting family in Taguig last weekend and we decided to hit up the McKinley West Food Truck…read moreFestival on a whim--best spontaneous plan ever. The place was buzzing but not overcrowded, with so many trucks lined up it was hard to choose! We grabbed killer tacos from one of the Mexican spots, some insane loaded fries, and finished with that creamy Mio Gelati pistachio gelato that honestly ruined regular ice cream for me forever. Everything was fresh, portions were generous, and nothing broke the bank--most stuff under 250 pesos. The sunset view over the open space was stunning, super chill vibe with music playing, and parking was a breeze with tons of free spots. We stayed way longer than planned just people-watching and eating. Please keep this going permanently, it's such a fun spot! Five stars, no question.

In its first month, I had hoped for the Food Truck Festival to extend or stay in the Westside of…read moreMcKinley forever. Thankfully, the food trucks are here to stay until the 13th of December - which is a good compromise! I still wish for it to be a permanent fixture so we have something going on in McKinley! When I did a quick tour of the area, the food sold at the festival didn't go over P250. That's pretty reasonable and more reasons to pig out! There's a variety of food selection from burgers, gelato, Filipino, Mediterranean, American and street food. Recently, there's an addition of Japanese and Mexican food trucks! Seriously though, I only come here for the gelato by Mio Gelati (P100 for a premium cup) but I always end up getting more than what I came for. I'd have Lamb Biryani from Shawarma Bros (P199), Bacon Cheese Burger from Malcolm's Deli (P150) and Chili Garlic Wings from Bag Wings to name a few. There are live performances as well (although I've never actually seen one). I make sure to come here as soon as it opens because the view is absolutely beautiful. Since McKinley West hasn't started most of the construction in the area, there's so much free space! You also have a view of the Essensa Towers as the sun sets. Parking is far easy as well! They have 500 parking spaces all for free!

Just when you think you couldn't fit another restaurant into Kapitolyo, they open up an entire…read morefoodpark. Insane. Having said that, Gastro Park Kapitolyo is a fantastic addition to the Kapitolyo food scene, if only for the fact that it was able to cram so many restaurants in one space. It also established 1st Street as Kapitolyo's second food street, sharing it with Kanto, Nori, and Ser Chef, among others. The layout of the food park was kept simple and straight to the point, and I appreciate the fact that it actually has a roof. As with most food parks, the outlets are good and decent although no outlet really stands out. I do appreciate the price point of the outlets though, as most of them have plenty of options below P150. That's a major selling point in my book.

A fun place to eat and go on a food trip with friends!…read more This Gastro Park has quite a variety of cuisines available. They have Filipino, Japanese, Singaporean, Thai, and Italian, just to name a few of them. I like that they also thought of how warm it can get. They provided ceiling fans in the middle seating area. The outer areas don't have fans but at the least the fans they have help keep the air circulating.

Soul food really isn't much of a thing here, is it? When we think of American food, we usually…read morethink of burgers, fries, almost everything western lumped together in one incoherent, almost stereotypical pile. These guys take what's usually associated with the south and African-American nosh and serve it up in delectable bite sized portions. I have not had corndogs like these guys do corndogs. Most corndogs I've seen have this bready, almost pancake-like coating. What these guys carry is warm and crunchy. A good holder for the hotdog. My only regret is that it looks like they use half a hotdog rather than a whole hotdog but given how heavy it is? That might actually be a stroke of brilliance on their part. And let's not get started on their deep fried oreos. Now those were an indulgence I'd only tasted one other place. It's a great place that fills the "I just want a snack" niche at StrEAT. Also, have I mentioned the staff is really nice? Because they're really nice.

My partner is a cheese lover so you can only imagine how her eyes twinkled when we saw the poster…read moreabout Deep Fried Cheese! Hihi. Food trucks are sort of becoming a thing now in the Philippines and were just so glad that they are conquering Maginhawa Street. The Soul Food Truck is one of those food stalls located in Maginhawa strEAT. They are serving averagely priced meals - Deep Fried Cheese only costs 75php and it comes with a unique strawberry cinnamon dip. Definitely a must-try if you're in the area!

For the longest time, Mexikombi has been making the rounds (literally!) around the metro, serving…read moreup decent, affordable Tex-Mex food out of a refurbished '74 Volkswagen Kombi. In fact, I used to spot them everywhere from Katipunan to the Saguijo parking lot. The weird thing is, I was never really able to try their food, until they finally put up their own brick-and-mortar restaurant at the ground floor of the Sterten Place building along Maginhawa Street. Mexikombi doesn't advertise itself to be 'authentic Mexican,' which I like. There are so many establishments out there, touting themselves as authentic Mexican places, but they serve burritos. Nitpicking aside, the great thing about Mexikombi is that whatever they have on their menu, they execute especially well. I had the grande Chorizo Burrito, which, for 200 pesos, was exactly what I needed. I was hungry past the point of being civil to my friends, and the huge, piping-hot burrito stuffed with rice, veggies, cheese, beans and what I gather was longganisa, was absolutely perfect. It was comforting and filling, and being a spice addict, I actually requested for a bigger bowl of Mexikombi's spicy house-made sauce. My only comment, perhaps, would be that they serve the burritos with free salsa in the future, if only to elevate the taste experience! I was also able to try their Pollo soft tacos, one of their bestsellers on the menu. No wonder, the chicken has been roasted to perfection and you can tell that the dudes behind Mexikombi take great care to execute their dishes well. A shout-out must also go to their Carnitas, which are oily as hell, but I would gladly cheat death to eat it again. My friend ordered the carnitas soft tacos, and the first thing I noticed was that the crunchy strings of pork were virtually swimming in oil. It was both exciting and horrifying at the same time. Let's be real, though: who can resist pulled, spiced pork that's been simmering in its own rendered fat? A boring person, that's who. I also really like their churros. I am no churro afficionado, but I like how the churros are kind of custard-y in the middle, which adds a great twist when you sink your teeth into the first crunchy bite. Bravo, Jake C. and buddies! I am a believer in Mexikombi.

If you ever worked or resided in this side of Makati, this particular jollijeep stall will…read moredefinitely ring a bell. They become heavily popular for their sisig recipe and I am here for it. I have always been a fan of this recipe (which is a top tier Pinoy food for me). There is usually a line during lunch hours which will make you wait for 10 minuts or more. They have a takeaway bag and or avail additional if you want to have it placed in a microwaveable container. Dine-in is served in a paper plate.

Ask any Pinoy what is a must try dish to eat when you're here in Manila and I bet they will say the…read moresame thing: Sisig! Every Filipino restaurant, even the fusion ones, must serve this dish! So, you'll have your high-end versions and also your supermarket versions that come out of a can (which are really not good! Seriously!). If I could, I'd eat Sisig every time I have a beer. But, yeah, for the sake of my heart, I hold back. Haha! Now, let's talk about Sisig sa Rada. This JollyJeep became popular on Facebook with the Makati lunch crowd. Their version of the sisig is made-to-order and prepared within 5 minutes! Every sisig order is fried in egg with sweet mayo on the side. For me, that's what makes their sisig yummylicious. The extra frying makes the sisig bits crispy! Also, the best part, a sisig meal is only Php54! Be prepared to eat standing and that you have to wait awhile during lunch hours. This sisig is flavorful, crunchy and fits everyone's budget. Definitely worth a try! Here's another tip: ask them to fry your sisig longer! :D

Street food heaven! There was plenty of food and drink selection. Lots of seating area. I settled…read morefor calamari and fresh coconut water as it was a little late for me. Service was quick but I'd assume they get really busy on weekends.

This is street food central! I had fun,I was full and my belly was happy…read more Live music and band? For free? Wow,right? Cheap but great choices of all types of street food and other elements added. Highly recommended for tambayan!

I first heard about Hungry Rover through one of my friends at work. His kabarkada owned the food…read moretruck so he urged us to check it out. They were stationed at Capitol Commons then and since I've never seen and bought from any food truck before, I jumped at the chance when one of our colleagues threw a birthday party at the park. It totally felt like a scene from a hipster movie - a bunch of kids sitting on the grass underneath a perfectly starry night, drinking beer and sharing good food - thanks to the good people of Hungry Rover. Now you might say I'm a bit biased because I kind-of know the owner because of association. But really, how can I keep a delicious secret like Hungry Rover's Beef Tapa with Rice from people who like food as much as I do? How can I not tell people about its juicy Angus beef strips lying gorgeously on a hefty share of rice, topped with fried egg and with a tangy salad on the side? I can't keep it, I just can't. Good food needs to be tasted by people who appreciate it. Capitol Commons no longer allow food trucks, I think, and that's just a shame. Luckily though, Hungry Rover (and a bunch of other food trucks) has found a new parking spot at the HMR Farmer's Market! YAY! And lucky for me, it's right across where I work now. DOUBLE YAY!!! They've been here for a little over two weeks and already I've eaten there 3 or 4 times. No shame, son. No shame.

There are two noteworthy Jolly Jeep's along Palanca Street, and Lirio's is one of them. The other…read moreone being Jolly Jeep number 095. Lirio's is the gourmet jolly jeep that has been spreading by word of mouth. For the uninitiated, jolly jeep's are turu-turo kiosks, turo-turo literally meaning point-point, or carinderias where the common folk order lunch during work breaks. For a point-point to offer gourmet meals like Hungarian sausage (from Santi's) and German Potato Salad (one of their specialties!) is unheard of. If you happen to be along Palanca street, Lirio's is definitely worth a try. The food truck is located in front of Plantation restaurant and bar.

Howdy Yelpers. How's everybody doing this evening? Nasty Nathanial here and it's time for another…read more"Nasty" review. This one is of an interesting place called The Z Compound. As my friend would say, "it's a new concept." Alrighty. The Z Compound is a really local spot located within' Teachers Village in Quezon City. It is a combination of small restaurants/food stands located inside of this compound. I was first introduced to this place when a friend of mine in Philcoa took me there. The atmosphere is really laid back and purely local. I am all about visiting local grind spots when I am away from home. Especially when I am in a foreign country like the Philippines. I never can understand these foreigners who come here and only want to dine at these trendy restaurants in Makati. Shaking my head. If you want to get the real experience of the land your in you gotta mingle with the locals. Anyways, lets get to the food. Although it is sometimes difficult to choose what to grind on when I come here, my favorite is the Z BBQ. Oh yeah. When I'm hungry this place totally hits the spot. I will order my usual which is the BBQ chicken with rice and sisig. I highly recommend their sisig. There are a lot of good places to get sisig here in Metro Manila, but Z BBQ is the best. Just thinking about it is making me drool. Another groovey thing about The Z Compound is you can order booz to go along with your food. Hey, hey. Now I dig that. There is a spot that sells bottled beer and even a full bar where you can order cocktails. And like every place inside of Z Compound, it's not overpriced like what you'd find in snobby Makati. Good food and booz that is not over priced. How much better can it get? The people that work at these places inside of Z Compound are friendly. And I don't mean the kind of friendly where they are on your rear for a tip. They just make you feel welcome. Hey, that is the way it should be. So if you folks want to go get some good food in a place with a groovey atmosphere and prices that won't bust up your wallet, then I highly recommend that you give The Z Compound a try. I really should start doing commercials. Until next time, may the force be with you. Happy trails. NASTY NATHANIAL

While Maginhawa Street has been known as the top destination for food in Quezon City, the lesser…read moreknown Malingap also has its awesome offerings of restaurants and dining choices that could rival the Maginhawa restaurants that have long made it to plenty of blog articles and food reviews. One of the most remarkable additions to Malingap's food row is The Z Compound, home of the now popular names such as Samu Eats, Meshwe and Me Love You Long Time. The Z Compound was put up by proprietor and restaurateur Eric Cadavillo to serve as an "open foodcourt" for startups and small food businesses that are local to the neighborhood. Here, young entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts can put up their businesses and try their hands in establishing startups. The atmosphere of the place is very friendly to students and young people, and the place doesn't only serve food for the hungry hordes, but it also occasionally has fun and hip activities such as poetry readings, bazaars or garage sales, live music performances and other related events. The compound has a bit of a rebellious and anti-establishment vibe, and everything is pretty affordable, even for "starving" college kids. If you are looking for a place to relax in in the heart of Quezon City, The Z compound is a fun and bustling place where you and your friends can pick a table and order from all the stalls and kiosks within the compound. The friendly staff from the stalls will gladly bring your food to where you are seated. Most of the seating is al fresco, and the owners of the compound have recently reblocked the courtyard portion of the place to keep it from flooding during heavy rains. The place is easily accessible from PHILCOA station. Just take a trike to the compound. Most of the stalls close on Mondays or Tuesdays.