Pop Talk Review: 24-hour breakfast spots

Is breakfast your favorite time of the day? Are you the type of person who craves for pancakes in the middle of the night? Do you find yourself sorely disappointed when your favorite restaurant stops serving longganisa and sunny side ups after 11 o'clock in the morning?

Fret no more, because restaurants that serve breakfast meals 24/7 exist — and they offer delicious food. "Pop Talk" host Tonipet Gaba, food blogger Nora Aquino, university student Nadia Ley Estorco Macaya and Kapuso actor Carl Guevarra embarked on a day long food trip to sample the best breakfast places in town. Read on to know what they thought about it.



Tapsilog Centrale
11th Jamboree cor. Kamuning, Quezon City
24 hours daily
Price: P120 to P150

Don't let the simple and unassuming appearance of Tapsilog Centrale fool you into believing it's just another roadside carinderia. Their specialty tapa is made using organic American angus beef or Wagyu beef. They also offer several breakfast meals like sausages, sunny side ups, salmon steaks and cakes.

"Ang sarap. Malambot talaga, 'no?" Carl observed right after his first bite of Tapsilog Centrale's original Angus beef tapsilog.



"Gusto ko ‘yung meat. Hindi siya matigas, malambot siya, masarap nguyain tsaka juicy ‘yung beef. Malalasahan mo ‘yung flavor," Nadia described between mouthfuls of tapa. "Usually sa ibang tapa na natikman ko, matamis. Ito medyo sakto yung lasa. Hindi nakakasawa," she added.

The reviewers marveled at how expensive beef like Angus and Wagyu are made affordable in this place. Tapsilog Centrale's Frozen Brazo Mango de Mercedes also got praises from Tonipet: "Nakakaiyak sa sarap."

"Pop siya for me. Mura na, masarap pa. Yung place very accessible siya kasi open for 24 hours," Nadia concluded.

Final verdict: 7 pop points



Borough
Unit 107A, Ground Level, The Podium 12 ADB Ave. Ortigas Ctr. Mandaluyong City
P150 to P550

"Bongga," reviewer Carl and "Pop Talk" host Tonipet both exclaimed
after sampling Borough's Banana Amaretto French Toast.



This hole-in-the-mall in Mandaluyong boasts of American comfort food and breakfast meals. "Some of those include omelette, steak and eggs, bagels. These are common food breakfast items in New York," said Cuit Kaufman, the chef of Borough.

"Para kang nasa hotel. Hindi siya usual na breakfast," Nora observed. Nadia, elaborated on this by saying, "Ngayon lang ako nakatikim ng ganito for breakfast kasi usually sa bahay rice kami."

Nadia also liked how Borough's steak were done. "Gusto ko yung take nila kasi usually favorite ko talaga ang steak kaya nung natikman ko  very tender tsaka malasa,” she said.

Another notable dish offered is the Riker's Island Breakfast, which, according to Borough, is inspired by the food detainees eat at Riker's Island in New York. This meal and the Banana Amaretto French Toast both got positive reviews.

Nadia gave props to the restaurant's look and feel. "Para kang dinala sa New York kasi ang ganda ng ambience. It's very relaxing," she said.

Final verdict: 9 pop points



Kanto Freestyle Breakfast
San Joaquin St. Plainview, Mandaluyong City
Price: Below P100

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast might look like a typical food spot at the corner of the street, but the "Pop Talk" reviewers thought it's more than that. In 2011, this kanto restaurant began serving breakfast meals. Since then, they have gained a steady stream of loyal customers.

Tonipet, Nora, Nadia and Carl began with trying Kanto's eggs benedict dish. They also tried Kanto's french toast, pancakes, tapsilog and champorado.

Nadia said she was surprised with the generous amount servings. "'Di ko ine-expect na ganun sila mag-serve, maramihan, maganda presentation," she said.

"Ang nakikita mo yun mga sine-serve nila parang mga sa mga restaurant talaga 'di ba? Ang presentation nila, sobrang okay," Carl said.

Final verdict: 9 pop points