Sticking to your daily food budget doesn’t necessarily mean you have to make do with fast food all day. In an episode that aired last June 23, the GMA News TV’s edu-tainment countdown show “Ang Pinaka” ranked the ten most unique and affordable dining spots in the metro in an episode titled, “Ang Pinaka Budget-friendly Tsibugan 2012” “Ang Pinaka” hosts Rovilson Fernandez, Maey Bautista and Betong ate their way through various restaurants, sampling dishes that cost no more than P200 each. Here are 10 restaurants that serve the Metro’s most satisfying meals for under P200: 10. Chic-boy
The restaurant name "Chic-boy" is a combination of the the words “chicken” and “baboy,” the Filipino word for pig.
Chic-boy started as a take-out counter of the famous lechon manok and liempo from Cebu. They opened their first branch on Jupiter Street in Makati in May 2010. Two years later, they now have over a hundred outlets nationwide. Aside from lechon manok and liempo, their best-sellers includes gising-gising and ginisang kangkong.
9. Cocina Juan As the name suggests, this restaurant serves budget-friendly Latin American dishes popular among students and yuppies.
Cocina Juan is famous for its grilled meat dishes served with chimichurri, a thick herb sauce made from finely chopped parsley, oil, and lemon that can be used as salsa or marinade. Foodies can find this restaurant along Maginhawa Street, UP Teachers Village, Quezon City.
8. Gayuma ni Maria Gayuma ni Maria started as a small restaurant along Esteban Abada Street in Quezon City. Its creative menu and affordable prices made it a favorite hang-out among Ateneo and Miriam students. After the original restaurant burned down, Gayuma transferred to 123 V. Luna Ext. Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Despite the change of address, Gayuma ni Maria retains its quirky vibe, dishing out affordable P69 combo meals with romance-inspired names like Two Become One, Honeymoon Chicken, and Tuliro.
7. Tomato Kick Since it opened its doors to the public in 2005,
Tomato Kick’s delicious dishes and affordable rates have made it a favorite hang-out among students, artists and musicians in the Diliman area. Patrons of Tomato Kick keep coming back to the resto not just for their signature dips and sauces that but for the place’s artsy vibe. Regulars enjoy the restaurant’s selection of comfort foods like bacon-cut liempo and tomatoes stuffed with chili con carne and basil. Find Tomato Kick along Maginhawa Street, UP Teachers' Village, in Quezon City.
6. Elar Z Elar Z is a family-owned restaurant that has been around since the 80’s. The name is a combination of the surnames of the husband and wife who run the business. With several locations nationwide, Elar Z aims to make lechon available to more people at affordable rates by offering “pambansang lechon” budget meals. The restaurant also offers budget buffets every 15th and end of the month, just in time for payday. So what does it cost to enjoy unlimited crispy lechon and other dishes like dinuguan, bopis and lechon paksiw? Just P99 per person!
5. ROC ROC stands for “Restaurant of Choice” and is fast becoming the dining place of choice among UP Diliman students and faculty. Topping their best-sellers list is quezo bianca, or deep fried white cheese served with marinara and pesto sauce. Other popular dishes are the buffalo drums, taco salad, garlic chicken, and banoffee cheesecake. ROC is located at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, within the UP Diliman campus.
4. Homer’s Though Homer’s is actually a bar, regulars keep coming back for its sumptuous and affordable dishes. Because it is open 24 hours a day, the restaurant’s customers are mostly call center agents and media workers. Homer's serves Ilocano and Bicolano dishes such as the bicol express and dinakdakan. They also serve pizzas with uniquely Pinoy toppings like Vigan longganiza, kesong puti and tinapa. The restaurant is named after the owner’s pet dog Homer, who visits the restaurant from time to time. Drop by Homer’s at 54-A Sgt. Esguerra Street, Quezon City.
3. Sieg’s Sieg’s is a family-owned restaurant that offers a fine dining experience at very reasonable prices. Customer favorites at Seig’s include the mushroom soup, fried potato wedges, chicken rolls, and chicken salad. Seig’s is open daily, serving a mix of Japanese and Filipino dishes at their sole branch at 94 Dona Soledad Street, Better Living Subdivision, Parañaque City.
2. Stacy’s The brainchild of a food stylist and a production designer,
Stacy’s serves generous portions of creatively-presented food in a homey atmosphere. Stacy’s best-sellers include spaghetti and meat balls, carbonara, and bangus belly marinated in coco vinegar or a dish they call “Manila’s Fried.”
1. Pan de Americana Pan de Americana is famous in the Marikina area for selling huge servings of freshly-baked bread every day. Pan de Americana started as a bakery, but evolved into a full-fledged restaurant after its customers began demanding other food items like coffee and pansit. Today, Pan de Americana offers a diverse menu that includes laing Bicol, fried tawilis, and a menudo dish they call the "waknatoy." Drop by their restaurant located at 92 General Ordoñez corner Maroon St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City. —
Ces Vitan/PF, GMA News 
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