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Manyaman! The 10 yummiest restaurants in Pampanga
Through the years, Pampanga has been known to serve some of the most delicious and ingenious dishes the Philippines has known. Thanks to Kapampangan classic dishes such as sisig and kare-kare, and exotic favorites like kamaro (fried insects) and fried farm frogs, Pampanga has been dubbed as the country's culinary capital.
For the 21st time since it started, "Ang Pinaka," GMA News TV's award-winning infotainment program, explored ten restaurants in the province worthy to be part of the be called "Ang Pinaka-Yummy in Pampanga” countdown!
BALE CAPAMPANGAN
Km-69 MacArthur Highway, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
Bale Capampangan offers authentic Kapampangan dishes in a modern setting. In its open buffet, the delectable dishes are served in uniquely crafted clay jars with modern burners inside to keep them hot.
True to its goal of promoting Kapampangan food, the restaurant serves classic Kapampangan favorites like kamaro (fried insects; P252). Meanwhile, their must-try dishes include bibi tim (its version of pata tim, using duck meat; P207), adobong balut (P50/piece) and tapang kalabaw or ‘pindang damulag’ in Kapampangan (P207).
Bale Capampangan offers authentic Kapampangan dishes in a modern setting. In its open buffet, the delectable dishes are served in uniquely crafted clay jars with modern burners inside to keep them hot.
True to its goal of promoting Kapampangan food, the restaurant serves classic Kapampangan favorites like kamaro (fried insects; P252). Meanwhile, their must-try dishes include bibi tim (its version of pata tim, using duck meat; P207), adobong balut (P50/piece) and tapang kalabaw or ‘pindang damulag’ in Kapampangan (P207).
FUNNSIDE NINGNANGAN
FG Nepo Avenue, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City, Pampanga
"Ningnangan" in Kapampangan means "ihaw-ihaw" in Tagalog or "grilled." But why another "n" in "Funnside?" "Para maiba naman," its owner said.
"Ningnangan" in Kapampangan means "ihaw-ihaw" in Tagalog or "grilled." But why another "n" in "Funnside?" "Para maiba naman," its owner said.
The griller now has five other branches in Pampanga (Angeles, Apalit, San Matias) and Bulacan (Pulilan, Guiguinto).
True to its name, the restaurant offers delicious grilled pork, chicken and seafood (P28 to P90). It also serves special-order favorites like bulalo (P280), seafood dishes like crab special (P100-140/gram), and sisig (P150).
The restaurant also offers a cozy atmosphere, so if you feel like using your hands or putting your foot on your seat while eating, go ahead!
BENJAMIN TACOS + QUESADILLA
Sta. Monica, Lubao, Pampanga
Benjamin Tacos + Quesadilla prides itself for being one of the few restaurants in Pampanga to serve Mexican food with a Filipino twist.
Opened only last year, the idea of opening the restaurant hatched after its tacos became a hit to visitors at the International Balloon Festival in Lubao.
Its bestsellers include quesadillas (P100) and tacos (especially fish tacos, P110-150 per serving), using the restaurant's freshly-made taco shells and other products harvested from its farm, and nachos (P110).
Benjamin is not limited to serving only Mexican food, as it also offers creamy carbonara (P170) and saucy hot wings (P120).
FAT JOE'S DINER
Maligaya 168 Building, MacArthur Highway, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
For foodies, Fat Joe's Diner may hit two birds with one stone: American food fit for the Pinoy palate plus big servings fit for the budget.
The diner was a fulfillment of the long-time dreams of its owner who wanted: 1) a diner-themed restaurant; and 2) big servings of food offered at affordable prices.
One of Fat Joe’s bestsellers include the New York Cheesedog (P198), which uses Angus-beef hotdog and is stuffed with chili con carne, all cooked in home-made goodness.
Host Rovilson Fernandez also enjoyed Fat Joe’s T-bone steak (P288). “It has a backyard barbecue taste to it. Very flavorful. This is a very good steak!” he said.
Fat Joe’s also offers Buffalo wings (P298) as one of its bestsellers.
DOWNTOWN 1956 CAFE
Unit 1-B, The Quad @ Nepo, Angeles City, Pampanga
The name of the restaurant is inspired by a famous expression in Manila, while the place is inspired by the 1960s era of downtown Manila, which is Binondo.
Renowned chef Claude Tayag, Downtown 1956 owner, aims its customers would be transported back to the good ol' days when people would want to eat, shop or dine and say, "Punta tayo sa Downtown!"
Must-try dishes at Downtown 1956 include
1) Trianggulo (P225), filled with tinapa and either spinach or pili nuts;
2) Crispy aromatic duck, hoisin sauce and mango salsa all wrapped in Chinese pancake (P562). The duck is rubbed with nine spices made by Chef Claude; and
3) Beef kare-kare (P550), made from very tender Australian beef.
Must-try dishes at Downtown 1956 include
1) Trianggulo (P225), filled with tinapa and either spinach or pili nuts;
2) Crispy aromatic duck, hoisin sauce and mango salsa all wrapped in Chinese pancake (P562). The duck is rubbed with nine spices made by Chef Claude; and
3) Beef kare-kare (P550), made from very tender Australian beef.
TIO JULIAN'S RESTAURANT
MacArthur Highway, San Isidro, San Fernando, Pampanga
Named after the father of its owner, Tio Julian, who was once a home cook-for-hire in their place, Tio Julian's offers homemade goodness to its customers.
Traditional Filipino comfort food from Tio Julian’s very own recipes comprises the dishes served in this restaurant.
Their best-sellers include:1) Paella ala Elena, named after Tio Julian's wife, which is filled with seafood (P455);
2) Seafood kare-kare;
3) Bangus sisig which uses boneless bangus (P195); and
4) Chicken binakol or spicy chicken in coconut soup, a favorite of the owner's family (P185).
Named after the father of its owner, Tio Julian, who was once a home cook-for-hire in their place, Tio Julian's offers homemade goodness to its customers.
Traditional Filipino comfort food from Tio Julian’s very own recipes comprises the dishes served in this restaurant.
Their best-sellers include:1) Paella ala Elena, named after Tio Julian's wife, which is filled with seafood (P455);
2) Seafood kare-kare;
3) Bangus sisig which uses boneless bangus (P195); and
4) Chicken binakol or spicy chicken in coconut soup, a favorite of the owner's family (P185).
SOUQ
Lazatin Boulevard, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
The name meaning "marketplace" in Arabic, Souq offers a rich variety of food choices, may it be Arabian, Filipino, Korean or Vietnamese. It also prides its beautiful furniture pieces from the owner's furniture business in Betis, which customers can actually order or buy on-site.
Among its diverse food choices, bestsellers from Souq are mostly Filipino dishes, including boiling seafood in aligue (P450), mepirito or fried adobo (P290), balut in sambal (P100), pasta aligue (P290) and roasted rosemary chicken (P450).
The name meaning "marketplace" in Arabic, Souq offers a rich variety of food choices, may it be Arabian, Filipino, Korean or Vietnamese. It also prides its beautiful furniture pieces from the owner's furniture business in Betis, which customers can actually order or buy on-site.
Among its diverse food choices, bestsellers from Souq are mostly Filipino dishes, including boiling seafood in aligue (P450), mepirito or fried adobo (P290), balut in sambal (P100), pasta aligue (P290) and roasted rosemary chicken (P450).
APAG MARANGLE
Main branch: Olongapo-Gapan Road, Santa Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga
With the name literally meaning "dining in the farm," Apag Marangle serves authentic Kapampangan food in a farm setting. With their laidback ambiance, its customers can feel like dining out on a lazy Sunday at a relative's house in the province, complete with traditional Kapampangan music playing in the background.
Apag Marangle offers native Kapampangan dishes like suam na mais (P220), a thick soup dish which used white corn as its main ingredient. It also serves: betute, fried farm frogs filled with ground meat (P495/piece); ginisang camaru (sauteed insects; P185/serving) which host Maey Bautista described, “Tastes like shrimp.”
Foodies must try Nasing Marangle (P330/serving), a Kapampangan dish rich in servings of rice, meat and vegetables.
With the name literally meaning "dining in the farm," Apag Marangle serves authentic Kapampangan food in a farm setting. With their laidback ambiance, its customers can feel like dining out on a lazy Sunday at a relative's house in the province, complete with traditional Kapampangan music playing in the background.
Apag Marangle offers native Kapampangan dishes like suam na mais (P220), a thick soup dish which used white corn as its main ingredient. It also serves: betute, fried farm frogs filled with ground meat (P495/piece); ginisang camaru (sauteed insects; P185/serving) which host Maey Bautista described, “Tastes like shrimp.”
Foodies must try Nasing Marangle (P330/serving), a Kapampangan dish rich in servings of rice, meat and vegetables.
BAP'S WAFFLE BURGER
MacArthur Highway, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
'Starstruck' Season 2 Avenger Benj Pacia, owner of Bap's Waffle Burger, boasts of his restaurant as the only one in Pampanga to serve two favorite American snacks - waffles and burger - combined in one yummy dish.
He shared that he and his girlfriend came up with the concept of opening such a diner after their trip to the United States last year. "Naisip naming why not two favorites in one? So doon namin nakuha ang concept na waffle burger," he said.
Bap’s appetizers include its buffalo wings (P145) which foodies can tolerate its spiciness.
It recommends: 1) salt and pepper waffle burger (P189), in which only salt and pepper are added to the beef for foodies to enjoy the full beef flavor; and 2) garlic fried chicken waffle burger with maple syrup (P169), a combination to try according to Pacia.
Bap’s also offers: sardine pasta (P150) and soy garlic fried chicken (P170), which Pacia would also recommend aside from Bap’s waffle burgers.
'Starstruck' Season 2 Avenger Benj Pacia, owner of Bap's Waffle Burger, boasts of his restaurant as the only one in Pampanga to serve two favorite American snacks - waffles and burger - combined in one yummy dish.
He shared that he and his girlfriend came up with the concept of opening such a diner after their trip to the United States last year. "Naisip naming why not two favorites in one? So doon namin nakuha ang concept na waffle burger," he said.
Bap’s appetizers include its buffalo wings (P145) which foodies can tolerate its spiciness.
It recommends: 1) salt and pepper waffle burger (P189), in which only salt and pepper are added to the beef for foodies to enjoy the full beef flavor; and 2) garlic fried chicken waffle burger with maple syrup (P169), a combination to try according to Pacia.
Bap’s also offers: sardine pasta (P150) and soy garlic fried chicken (P170), which Pacia would also recommend aside from Bap’s waffle burgers.
BARNEY'S BURGER
Lazatin Boulevard, San Fernando, Pampanga
From a small burger take-out stand in Guagua, Pampanga, Barney's Burger grew to a chain of branches all over Luzon, with a few in Manila.
Aside from its trademark Barney’s fully-loaded burger (P130), Barney's also offers bestsellers like its double supreme burger steak (P160) and alimanggo salad (P190), or alimango/crab meat and mangoes combined in one salad.---Ghio Ong/BMS
From a small burger take-out stand in Guagua, Pampanga, Barney's Burger grew to a chain of branches all over Luzon, with a few in Manila.
Aside from its trademark Barney’s fully-loaded burger (P130), Barney's also offers bestsellers like its double supreme burger steak (P160) and alimanggo salad (P190), or alimango/crab meat and mangoes combined in one salad.---Ghio Ong/BMS
