Delightful palabok courtesy of Palabok Delight

MANILA, Philippines - Despite its slew of versions, the pancit palabok continues to be a big favorite, particularly in potluck parties, family reunions or even during merienda either at the office or at home.

With traditional and thin pancit noodles topped with heaping servings of shrimp sauce, crushed chicharon, tinapa (smoked fish) bits, fried pork bits and sometimes pusit in some versions, spring onions and slices of hard-boiled egg, the pancit palabok is as common as it gets; however, the tasty ones are quite hard to come by.

Good thing you can reach for the tasty one courtesy of Palabok Delight, your small-in-size palabok store that offers big-in-taste palabok delights — and more — in the mall nearest you.

Owned by aspiring entrepreneur Analyn Pajes, Palabok Delight started with its first branch along Batasan Road in Quezon City back in 2008 and a year later, the SM Fairview branch followed. And then SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Fairview, SM North EDSA, Filinvest II Road in Quezon City and just recently, in Shopwise at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Palabok Delight has indeed gone a long way from its first humble location along Acacia Street, Northview II in Filinvest II, Quezon City (the next one will open at the Filinvest II clubhouse).

Why palabok? Pajes said she cooks palabok whenever there was a special occasion until it became a favorite among friends, relatives and neighbors, who were among those who got a first taste of her version of the favorite Pinoy noodle treat. They all urged her to go and make her palabok a full-time business venture.

So after she gave birth and then armed with some capital and her entrepreneurial skills intact, she went into selling her own palabok. “I do everything based on my recipe, which uses special and not artificial ingredients. And I do all the marketing myself.”

Pancit palabok will always be pancit palabok, but this one is quite different. One forkful and the tasty and recognizable shrimp sauce immediately hits the palate (Pajes said the sauce is made from shrimp heads, the crushing of which is all done manually). Of course there’s the usual chicharon, which Pajes buys directly from her trusted supplier in Bulacan, fried pork bits, hard-boiled egg, spring onions and the tinapa bits, which Pajes said are carefully pulled manually to remove the fish bones.

And considering that a solo order can be had for only P57, it’s already a good catch to fill a hungry tummy. That’s getting more of the true palabok taste at the price you can afford.

While she’s at it, Pajes also included other favorite Pinoy food fare, which are also her own homemade concoctions. Fave items like puto pandan and dinuguan have been part of the Palabok Delight offerings in all branches. To her delight, all were accepted by discriminating Pinoy food lovers.

For bulk orders on special occasions, call 951-5060 or 431-6554 or e-mail at palabokdelight@yahoo.com.