Hideaways your tongues have yet to discover

MANILA, Philippines - We keep ingesting the same home-cooked meals and dragging our bottoms to the same restaurants we’ve been eating at for God knows how long. Nothing wrong with munching on what our taste buds are used to, but it wouldn’t hurt to tease them once in a while. Luckily, there are still a bunch of little-known restaurants and take-outs that are ready to make your acquaintance.

Little Store on The Hill

Literally a little store on top of a hill, this humble Chinese restaurant/grocery store is the epitome of coziness. With the dim lights and interesting artwork, this turo-turo style food destination is indeed a hideaway worth visiting. If you find yourself inside their four walls, be sure to point your fingers at their delectable pata-tim, fish ball soup, misua, and their popular lumpiang sariwa. And it won’t set you back too much; P300 will already get your stomach very, very far.

2 J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan

Sandy’s Pizza

Not too far from the first destination is a small-scale pizza place named after the owner, Sandy. Sure, there are a dozen other pizza places out there, but no one does toppings like Sandy’s Pizza. They are the pioneers of putting traditional Filipino favorites such as adobo with kesong puti, or something a little more daring like laing or garlic tuyo on top of their pizzas. No matter how bizarre their toppings might be, it’s always worth every cheesy bite.

683 J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan

Ben’s Burjer

A favorite political joke finds a home in a place whose name is pronounced the way it is spelled. Sink your teeth into their succulent “hamburjer” or if you’re really feeling empty, grab a double! Burgers aren’t meant to be healthy, so while you’re at it, add some melted cheese to make the gluttonous experience more enjoyable. They may not be joining the mainstream burger chains, but after having one from Ben’s, you’ll probably want to keep it as your own little secret.

194 A. Mabini St., San Juan

Ana Lisa’s Crispy

And here is something more for the carnivores. The old folk tell us that the best part of a porker is its head, and you better believe them. Dig your forks, or maybe your fingers, deep into the ulo from Ana Lisa’s; it has just the right crunch and the right juiciness to make it melt in your mouth. With your steaming rice and your perfect mix of toyo and kalamansi, it will be, without a doubt, one mighty meaty feast.

Kamuning Road, Quezon City (across Delgado Memorial Hospital)

Lucky 21

Now that you’re in the Kamuning area, it might also be a good idea to head on over to K-3rd Street. The store might be a little hard to find since it’s surrounded by residential houses, but just look between the electrical and telephone lines for a white sign. Bring home a yummy bag of their famous empanadas or maybe a bilao of their flavorful pansit Malabon for your own fiesta at home. And if you’re lucky enough, you might be able to score a pack of their delicious puto, so good it gets sold out quickly.

#21 K-3rd St., Kamuning, Quezon City

Arny and Dading’s

Nothing can you make you feel more peachy than popping some pichi-pichi in your mouth. The sticky but delicious texture and the rich cheese that cocoons it is the very reason why you should make your way to Arny and Dading’s. They have perfected that mouth-melting ball of yum. For something more special, you can try their langka and pinipig pichi-pichi.

Granada St., Quezon City (right beside Petron)

Mien-San Noodle House

For over 10 years now, this small Chinese restaurant has remained in its original spot in Quezon City, away from the hustle and bustle of the mall scene. The enjoyment begins with the authenticity of the cuisine filling your nose the moment you enter its doors. It is home to some pretty legitimate dim sum, dumplings, and of course, the savory noodle soup, which makes this place a definite keeper.

36 Granada St., Barangay Valencia, Quezon City

Cookbook Kitchen

Tucked away in a small street in Mandaluyong is this quaint restaurant (it used to be a house) that serves a wide variety of lip-smacking dishes. One dish you’ve surely got to try is their best-seller: the Parmesan crusted white fish that has the perfect level of creaminess. Other favorites on the menu are the squash soup and the pork steak with honey mustard sauce. To top it off, ask for a slice of Kittin’s Scarlet Cake, which is, according to their menu, something you have never seen or tasted before.

8 Socorro Fernandez St., corner Luna Mencias St., Mandaluyong