'Ang Pinaka' cheap Valentine's Day eats for adventurous foodies

Classic Valentine’s Day gifts like roses, champagne, and fancy dinners may be quick ways to impress a sweetheart or potential lover, but an adventurous appetite and a good sense of fun are infinitely more appealing.   This Valentine’s Day, it might be nice to forego the swanky restaurants that are all going to be fully booked anyway, and explore food spots off the beaten track that may not have the best ambiance but promise awesome eats that are easy on the wallet.   There is no scarcity for these hole-in-the-wall diners in the Metro. On a Feb. 12 episode of GMA News TV’s “Ang Pinaka,” Rovilson Fernandez, "Survivor Philippines" castaway Maey Bautista, and winner Betong Sumaya sifted through the lot of them and came up with the top 10 best budget-friendly restaurants for Valentine’s Day.   Kicking off the countdown at number ten is Mama V restaurant at Providence Tower, a few steps away from De La Salle University on Taft. With a regular clientele of students and office employees, Mama V specializes in classic Filipino chow such as chicharong bulaklak, sisig, adobong manok, and tapa, all of which cost P100 or less.   Aside from that, Mama V also offers videoke so that, according to Mama V herself, “habang naghihintay ka ng order mo, pwede kang kumanta-kanta.”   The next restaurant they checked out was 8065 Bagnet on Estrella Street in San Antonio Village, Makati. As the restaurant’s name implies, its signature dish is the eponymous deep-fried pork from Ilocos. They cook bagnet in almost every way imaginable: as sisig, binagoongan, kare-kare, and even dinuguan.   The menu alone is enough to entice, but the prices seal the deal: most dishes are priced at P180, good for two people. The restaurant’s artsy-scruffy interiors and dim lighting also add a good deal of charm.   Not very far from the bagnet heaven is Hong Kong Roast Food Express, a Chinese canteen along Bagtikan St. in Makati, which specializes in Hong Kong flavors. Of course, the most popular item on the menu is the Roast Pork Asado, which is a steal at P180.   Hong Kong Roast also serves an unexpected dish, French Toast, which they’ve filled with sesame and smothered in butter. At P65, it’s certainly something sweet for the sweet.   Coming in at number 7 is Jonas' Pares, located in Robinson’s Place Pioneer. Established in 1979, Jonas’ is the progenitor of pares as we know it today. The restaurant serves the staple carinderia food at P100, but also serves beef and chicken mami at the same price. Jonas’ also offers sweet and sour fish with tofu, siopao bola-bola, and siopao asado.   For a Middle Eastern flavor, there is also the Shawarma Snack Center in the Malate Area, near Hyatt Hotel. According to the owner, SSC was put up to feed the appetites of the many Middle Eastern students who came to the country in 1986. Soon enough, Filipinos caught on to their shawarma and have patronized it ever since.   Each large shawarma costs P65 but other dishes like the hummus, kababs, and grilled sizzling tenderloin are more expensive, with servings costing as much as P350.   Number five on the countdown is Dek A, a Thai restaurant on Vito Cruz Extension in Makati. Some of Dek A’s bestsellers include classic Thai dishes such as Tom Yum soup, Green Chicken Curry, Bagoong Rice, and of course Pad Thai. Dishes range from P200 to P250.   Dek A also promises a Valentine’s Day treat for all the couples who dine there on Feb. 14, by treating them to a taste of a special new dish.   Ba Noi’s in Salcedo Village, Makati comes next on the list. The Vietnamese restaurant has been open since 2010, and has served a wide variety of guests from politicians and diplomats, to the regular passer-by.   Some of Ba Noi’s dishes include Beef Noodle Soup for P225, Grilled Lemongrass Chicken for P205, and Sauteed Chicken in Caramel sauce for P210. It’s relatively pricey compared to other places on the list, but the charming interiors and uncomplicated fare make it worth it.   The College of St. Benilde’s Solomon Guest House also makes its way to the list. Students from the college’s culinary arts and hospitality program run the place themselves, as part of their hands-on training. The menu changes with every batch that comes in to run the restaurant. This term, Batch 26’s theme is “Kusina Americana,” which includes menu items such as the Teriyaki Burger and Southern Style Burger at P160.   Bestsellers from previous batches have endured as classics and remain on the menu. Among them are the Cajun Chicken and Chicken Yakitori. They also have a special Valentine’s fine dining event, where for P1000/head, guests can enjoy European cuisine and a special red velvet Valentine’s cake.   By its name alone, the Chocolate Kiss Cafe at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni seems perfect for Valentine’s Day. Its menu offers hearty items like Chicken Kiev which is chicken stuffed with cream cheese and herbs for P205, and Hickory Spare ribs, a steal at P210.   In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, they’re offering heart-shaped pastries, as well as their cranberry pastas. To add to the romance, they also have music nights every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.   Topping the list is Chef Arch’s Lime on San Rafael Street in Mandaluyong. The place offers “street food with a twist,” and is frequented by yuppies and adventurous foodies. Chef Arch’s bestsellers include Quail Egg Tempura, a jazzed up version of qwek-qwek, as well as Chicken Breast stuffed with Kangkong and Kesong Puti, Tuna Sashimi, and of course, their own version of barbecued Betamax and Isaw.   Dishes go for P180 to P210. This Valentine’s Day, they’ve invited a pianist to set the mood, and are also giving away special tokens to dining couples.   These places are certainly worth a try on Heart’s Day. Ultimately, dinner at a swanky restaurant may be perfectly lovely, but a meal at an offbeat, out-of-the-way diner that doesn’t break the bank is bound to be unforgettable. – YA, GMA News 'Ang Pinaka' is a weekly countdown show hosted by Rovilson Fernandez, Maey Bautista, and Betong Sumaya. It airs Sundays at 6:20 PM on GMA News TV Channel 11.