Lakad Pilipinas

A favorite among those living in the southern part of the Metro, Maty’s Tapsilog, a 24-hour carinderia tapsihan joint in Dongalo has been the King of Tapsilogs in the area since time immemorial.

I first heard about this place from a good friend in the Las Piñas area years and years back. I was on my way home and she told me we should check a place out somewhere along Dongalo for some good ol’ tapsilog. Always ready for tapsi’s, I readily agreed and had been a fan every since. 

Maty’s has about three or four branches, and they’re all on the same strip, and just a few meters from each other. The reason for such arrangement has been a mystery to me up to now. If anyone has any idea why, do let me know eh?
From their name, their bestseller of course is their tapsilog (beef jerky, egg and rice; all fried), and you really have to try it to find out why. To this date, I’d never had a tapsilog that comes close to those served at Maty’s. Their tapa is soft and tender, has some crunchy bits, slightly sweet, slightly salty, and served in good size. Add an egg, fried rice, and barbeque in the mix and it’s the perfect Pinoy cornerstreet meal.

But wait, there’s really more! A tapa dinner at Maty’s is not complete without the condiments on the side. There’s an unlimited free soup, which is excellent, that comes along with the meal, and a small dish where one is expected to mix up the dip for the tapa. Pour in some vinegar, add a dash of salt, then some ketchup; yes ketchup. It may be weird for first timers, but that’s the way it’s done at Maty’s.
Like most carinderia’s, their prices are very affordable, average dining with all the extras (like extra rice, extra barbeque, softdrinks, and whatnots) is less than a hundred; just right for the average Filipino meal. The place is perfect for after gimmick dinners and take-outs since they’re open 24 hours.

It’s been years since I last tried Maty’s and I especially made a point to drop by their place during my Las Piñas trip some weeks back just to try their Tapsilog once again.

The place looked and felt the same; slightly unkempt, yellowing old walls, noisy with the jeepneys roaring pass, barbeque smoke drifting in, hot and unairconditioned; same old Maty’s really. And the tapa, I’m glad to say, still has that same flavor and texture as the one I’ve tasted years back; I was glad to be back at Maty’s and can’t wait for my next visit.

Maty’s Tapsilog & BBQ
Quirino Ave. Don Galo, 1700 Parañaque City
(02) 854-0889
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