Malabon Food Tour

Like most Malabon residents, I already had my own Malabon food favorites cultivated over the years.  But I recently discovered that it's still possible to keep adding to this list -- that I can actually make new food memories, so that "comfort food" is not just the food that I grew up with when I was younger.  It can also be recent food discoveries that I love going back to, that in the process they become "comfort food" as well.

I recently made two such Malabon food discoveries that I've come to regard as "comfort food." Eager to savor these and other long-time favorites, I joined the MALABON FOOD TOUR led by Richard Bautista last Saturday for the Pinoy Frugal Chowhounds. 



MELY'S CARINDERIA

Lunch at MELY'S CARINDERIA with its selection of of home-cooked dishes.   Some favorites include beef mechado, rellenong pusit and tapang kabayo.  MELY'S CARINDERIA is a recent discovery courtesy of Richard. 

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Beef mechado the way my Mom used to cook it - slowly simmered in finely chopped onions and tomatoes.  Just looking at the picture makes me want to come back for another serving.

 

MELY'S CARINDERIA is on A. Bonifacio Street in Barangay Flores, Tel. Nos. 281.6316 and 282.6299.

XXXxxxTESSIE'S TURON PINIPIG

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TESSIE'S TURON PINIPIG

Our dessert, another recent food discovery - Turon pinipig with its crunchy caramel coating.

If you can chance upon the turon still hot and freshly fried -- yum...  Sometimes I buy this by the dozen to take home.  But I usually bring my own plastic container to put the turon in, making sure not to put the lid on or enclose the turon.  That way I can preserve the crunchiness for a longer period of time. 

The turon pinipig is available at ALING TESSIE'S PUTO STORE on Flores Street, Tel. No. 281.5804.  From MELY'S CARINDERIA, simply turn right on the first corner.  It's a little past the Sta. Peregrina Learning Center on the right side.

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ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON

A Malabon food trip won't be complete without PANCIT MALABON.  Unfortunately, ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON was closed because ALING ROSY PACHECO passed away the night before.  We were so sorry to hear about her demise.  Over the years ALING ROSY had acquired iconic stature as she maintained the excellent quality and emotional appeal of her product set in the quiet simplicity Malabon residents have always known.   We dropped by the wake to pay our respects.

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ALING UPENG'S SPECIAL QUEKIAM

Aling Upeng's Quekiam on C. Arellano Street in Cuatro Cantos.

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ALING UPENG'S QUEKIAM is also available at the Visita (the Barangay Concepcion Public Market). 

ARNY-DADING'S PEACHY PEACHY

ARNY-DADING'S PEACHY-PEACHY on C. Arellano Street, Barangay Baritan, Tel. Nos. 281.0637 and 281.0641

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CONCEPCION BAKERY

CONCEPCION BAKERY is known for its camachile, pianono and pan de sal.  Located on General Luna Street in Barangay Concepcion.

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DOLOR'S KAKANIN

DOLOR'S KAKANIN is now available throughout Metro Manila because of its many outlets.  Nevertheless, we passed by the original store on Escanilla Street in Barangay Concepcion because this is where it all began.  See my blog posting on DOLOR'S KAKANIN for Malabon addresses and telephone numbers:  Another Food Treasure of Malabon: Dolor's Kakanin

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LUGAW NI ONOY

LUGAW NI ONOY on General Luna Street near the Immaculate Conception Church.

For the adventurous foodie:  Soup No. 5

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TAPANG KABAYO AT THE VISITA

Again, for the adventurous:  TAPANG KABAYO (salted horsemeat)

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JUDY ANN'S CRISPY PATA

Another must:  JUDY ANN CRISPY PATA.

Mouth-watering appearance and aroma.

BETSY'S CAKE CENTER

BETSY'S cakes have made many a birthday celebration in Malabon truly happy and memorable.

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BETSY'S is popular for its broas and rolls.

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Located at 70 Rizal Avenue near the Malabon City Hall, Tel. Nos. 281.1127 and 281.1131.

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Sweet Memories at Betsy's Cake Center

Before Goldilocks and Red Ribbon bakeshops, there was BETSY'S CAKE CENTER in Malabon.

Presently located on Rizal Avenue between Chow King and Baker's Fair, BETSY'S has been giving Malabon residents the sweetest memories with its pastries and cakes since 1962.

 
I remember when my Mom used to buy their bestselling jelly rolls in the original location across the Municipio.  Soon enough BETSY'S became our neighborhood bakeshop selling comfort-food pastries like ensaymada, mamon, brownies, egg pie, cream puffs and many more in addition to special-order cakes.

I don't remember when they moved to their present location where they now also serve fastfood dishes; I just know that to this day, BETSY'S broas - soft and airy ladyfingers with light buttercream filling - are the best I've tasted.  (Read what well-known cake designer and pastry chef Heny Sison said about BETSY'S broas: click on Heny Sison on Betsy's.

I like their meat rolls as well.  The meat filling is just right in terms of taste and quantity - no "hello-where-are-you" which is what my sister and I joke whenever we buy meat rolls, empanadas or siopao that are mostly bread and you have trouble finding the filling.  And the bread is really good, it's not commercial in quality.  Light and tasty just like home-baked bread, you could eat the bread by itself without need for filling or spread.

Thanks to BETSY'S, Malabon food-lovers can continue to have sweet memories right in our own neighborhood!




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