Marikina Food Tour 2: EXPLORING LILAC STREET

A few days shy of the new year, I embarked on a food tour once again with new and familiar faces. That time, our mission was to explore good food places along Lilac Street! Right now there are soooo many food places in Lilac street, we were only able to check out a few.

Food tours such as this one allows me to meet different people with different backgrounds and sets of interests. It is a refreshing experience for the mind and soul, I say.

Our first stop in the Lilac Street food tour was at Omonok. It is a take-out counter for Korean-style fried chicken, but if you can't resist eating your order on the spot then they've laid out a couple of tables for you.

The wings that we ordered were really yummy. I can't wait to go back to Omonok to try their other offerings, I heard they have new side dishes as well.

Next stop was Burrito Brothers! I really like Burrito Brothers because they don't skimp on the ingredients. And because we were finally settled with tables, I was able to get to know the group! :-)

 Familiar faces! Me with Nicole, Selene, Migs (Inside Marikina) and Jonas

From L to R, front row: Allan, Dong, Gatchie, then behind them are my sis Rona and Miggy. Allan and Dong both share the same photography prowess.

 Dahil mahirap ang L to R or rows-rows na pag identify, let's do the color thing: Allan with a blue cap, Susan in pink, Clarence in baby blue, Tin in black, Maica in beige, and that's me in the printed shirt. (Yes, it says "bottomless iced tea". hehe)

Sister and I ordered the taco salad. I was not able to take photos of the other food trippers' dishes because we were on lafang mode.

We also had the quesadilla. Yummy!

We wanted to try Ersao but we couldn't fit in the place, so we went to Mogu Tree Noodle House instead. Every one had a great time picking out their noodle mixes! (For more photos on Mogu Tree Noodle House, visit my post about it here.)

 Another group photo at Mogu Tree Noodle House :-)

We tried their Ha Kaw, too. 

We then headed to Forget Me Not Cafe to wrap things up (with dessert, of course).

 My sis with the two kwela sisters Nicole and Selene!

Jonas, Dong and Gatchie :-)

 Miggy, Tin and Maica :-)

 Oreo Cheesecake

 Molten Lava... So. Yummy.

Uh oh, I forgot the name of this delicious cake!

Our group pic at Forget Me Not Cafe... We're missing Susan, Clarence, Allan and Migs here, as they had to rush off to their next appointments. On another note, I'll get that panoramic app for my phone so even if I have more participants, pasok pa rin sa picture! :-)

Thanks so much Miggy, Tin, Maica, Selene, Nicole, Gatchie, Dong, Jonas, Migs, Susan, Clarence and Allan for being part of this tour! I am blessed by your company. See you around!

For more food tour schedules, please visit us on Facebook at All Over Marikina.

BURRITO BROTHERS

69 Lilac St., SSS Village

Concepcion Dos, Marikina City, Metro Manila

Tel. No.: (0905) 413-7651 / (02) 377-TACO (8226)
E-mail: mexicanburritobrothers@gmail.com
Munching Budget per person: starts at 60 PhP

FORGET ME NOT CAFE

#41 Lilac St. Hacienda Heights, Concepcion II, Marikina City

Operating hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 9pm,  Sun 12pm to 10pm
Visit their Facebook page here.

Munching Budget per person: starts at 75 PhP

MOGU TREE NOODLE HOUSE

60-E Lilac Street (Beside ChinaBank)

Hacienda Heights, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 738-6833
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 135 PhP

OMONOK

71 Lilac Street, RimView Park, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (0927) 878-5134
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 115 PhP

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

ERSAO

The first time I learned there's an ERSAO branch in Lilac Street, I was the happiest being on Earth.

I love Ersao, since my UP teacher days, I often checked them out at the UP Shopping Center, ordering nothing but the spicy squid rice every time. Six years after, Ersao is in Marikina and the menu is still just as delicious - of course, with the spicy squid rice, hehe!

What I really love about Ersao is the variety their menu offers. From appetizers, to side dishes, noodles, rice boxes, and of course, milk tea, shakes and other refreshing drinks... No one would have a problem picking out what to order from the menu.

 With my ninja side-kick, Sis! :-)

 They have a freedom wall too!

 Spice rack

 Love their menu! Next time I'll order cuajitos!

 For take out, you might want to try their frozen boxed items.

 The spicy squid rice (85 PhP) I have been raving about since 2006. Hahaha!

Sis ordered the chicken rice (105 PhP). Yummy sauce as the spicy quid dish. 

 The free soup that I just couldn't get enough of. Those pork bits and fats... raaawr.

Adobong tofu (45 PhP) that is insanely flavorful!

Ersao offers quality and delicious meals at affordable prices. Visit them at Lilac Street now! (And make sure you try the spicy squid rice! hehehe)

One more awesome news: THEY DELIVER!

ERSAO

36 Lilac St., Rancho 1, Corner Hacienda Heights

Concepcion 2, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 948-1833 (They deliver too!)
Visit their Facebook page here.

Munching Budget per person: starts at 40 PhP

Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni

Marikina Food Tour 1: HERITAGE TOUR

Last week, I was in the company of super cool people during the first ever Marikina Food Tour organized by yours truly. While driving to our assembly point, I was excited and nervous as to how the food tour would go. I was preparing some activities (like "Ice Breaker") the night before that but after a few minutes into the prep work I decided, well, to let things unfold - the get-to-know, the conversations, and of course the meals. I was extremely happy with the way things turned out for this very first tour (Dong, Gatchie, Jonas, Jefel, Julius, Migs, Nicole and Neil, we made history!). Hope you enjoy the tour as well, through pictures!

Our meet up point was in front of Kapitan Moy. There was a set up for "Alay kay Maria", a Marian Exhibit and Procession celebrated every year.

From L to R: Jefel, Julius, Migs, Jonas, Yours truly, Dong, Gatchie, Nicole and Neil. My sister Rona took the photo this time!

Our first stop was Macky's Goto. We were ten in all in the group, so it was not really a challenge to find a table. We ordered the staples: goto with tokwa't baboy (which I fondly call "tokwa con lechon kawali, hehe), while some ordered Palabok and burgers. We had a great time introducing ourselves to each other, it was fun learning about what these people do as their profession, and amazing how we share this common love for food.

An almost identical photo, with my sis in the middle instead of me, hehe!

We tried going to Rocha's, but the shop was closed. It's just across Macky's, maybe we can try that in the next batch for this Heritage Tour (the tours are having names already... yey!). This photo is taken in front of Frederick's Barbecue's main branch along E. de la Paz. Only 10 PhP per stick and you get really flavorful barbecue!

Recognize this burger? YES! It is the infamous burger of Mama Chit's! So juicy and so yummy, no wonder it became even more popular when covered by media (KrisTV, thank you for featuring Marikina food places!)

The turkey sandwich that Migs ordered was also good. It tasted even better because Migs cut it up in portions and willingly shared it to the rest of the pack. Hooray! I wasn't able to take a photo of the salad though, which Jefel and Julius shared with the table as well.

 Neil and Nicole

 Gatchie and Dong

 Jefel and Julius

 Happy group!

 Mr. Burger at Mama Chit's garden

 Find Mr. Burger! Hehe!

Then we simply crossed the street and bought some pasalubong from Aling Remy's! :-) One of the best puto and kutsinta in Marikina!

 

Then, we walked over to Isabelo Mendoza street to have desserts and coffee at Isabelo Garden (Rustic Mornings, by day). We had no reservations but Chef Portia was very kind to accommodate our group. It was a great venue to wrap up the evening!

 A lot of us ordered the Key Lime Pie. This is SOOOO good. I regret not ordering this. Next time, I'll order two for myself. Hehehe!

The frozen brazo was also delicious. I loved the yellow layer, as usual! Hmmm... maybe I'll order one key lime pie instead... and one frozen brazo! Gotta have both!

Sis ordered the Cookie a la Mode and it took quite a long time to prepare it. Everyone has already finished their desserts and still no cookie a la mode. When the plate finally arrived... oh my. It was really worth the wait! The cookie was so crumbly and warm and buttery with the right amount of sweetness, it was what every cookie dream is about. The ice cream made the dish even more perfect ("perfect" na nga, more pa!).

 Photo c/o Migs

 Photo c/o Dong

I had a really great time with the group, and of course we had a blast with all the delicious food that accompanied us during our trip. I am definitely planning more food tours in the future. Hope to see some of you on our tours! Please visit our Facebook page for more information and other updates. 'Till next time!

More photos from Dong (click here) and Migs (click here). Enjoy!

MACKY'S GOTO
J.P. Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City
Just a few meters before Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, across BPI Family Savings Bank
(Take the Calumpang Jeepneys)
Munching Budget per person: starts at 20 PhP

MANG FREDERICK'S BARBECUE
Beside San Roque's OUR LADY OF THE ABANDONED CHURCH
San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
With another branch at 129 E. DELA PAZ ST., San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: 6463685
Ihaw-ihaw set up usually starts at noon. :)
Munching Budget per person: starts at 10 PhP

MAMA CHIT'S

278 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 646-8547

Just across the Shoe Museum, near Our Lady of the Abandoned Church

Visit their Facebook page here.

Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

ALING REMY'S SPECIAL DELICIOUS PUTO AND KUTSINTA
229 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 467 9806 / 09163191811
Munching Budget per person: starts at 65 PhP
 

ISABELO GARDEN RESTAURANT
Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City
RESERVATION is a must via http://www.isabelogarden.com/
Munching Budget per person: starts at 500 PhP


Marikina, aking hirang.

Roni