Staying in the sleepy town of Cabangan means you’d have to eat there too. However, most food places in the province aren’t really located there—it’s far from being the food capital of Zambales—still, there are a handful of unique places you can dine in when in Cabangan. And during the past years, as tourism started to bloom in town, the number of places to eat in Cabangan started to grow too. 
   
Here are a few of the most interesting food places in Cabangan. These range from roadside stands and food shacks to swanky cafes and full-blown restaurants. These made the list because they’re somewhat unique, have good food, are institutions in Cabangan, or simply because I’ve personally tried them and found them to be worthy.

Soft, slightly sweet buns contrasting with an umami-filled meat filling—be it saucy pork asado or juicy bola-bola, siopao is one of the Philippines’ most delightful comfort foods. It was introduced by Chinese immigrants during the Spanish period and it has since become a staple, not only in Binondo—Manila’s Chinatown—but in every Chinese restaurants in the country as well.

But have you tasted the best siopao in Metro Manila? Here’s a list of the best and unique ones I’ve actually tried. I’m sure that there’s more out there, so drop a comment if you have a siopao recommendation. I’ll update this best siopao list from time to time.

Right after our pancit batil patong Tagaytay lunch and finishing our business at Tagaytay City Hall, we quickly went back to the Tagaytay Ridge for our much-delayed dessert. It’s actually a bit cold in Tagaytay when we went, but still, we were on the lookout for an ice-cold glass of halo-halo, and not just any halo-halo though, the place has to have a good view of the Taal Volcano. I mean, why eat anywhere else when you’re in Tagaytay?

We were on our annual daytrip to Tagaytay with my parents, and as usual, we were unprepared on where we would eat. I’ve tried bringing them to the Mahogany Market bulaluhan the year before, but they don’t seem to fancy the food being hawked there.

With a couple of hours to spare en route, I Googled for some of the most interesting places to eat in Tagaytay—there are a lot, but I’m particularly looking for a somewhat inexpensive one. What I found was a pancit batil patong place in Tagaytay, with prices that seemed friendly enough.

So, before heading to the Tagaytay City Hall, which is what we really came to the city for, we stopped at MASINGngo Restaurant first for lunch.

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It has been a while since I last ate at Susie’s Cuisine—seven years ago, to be exact. The problem lies in its location, most branches being around the Pampanga area. There is, however, a quick and easy way to quench my cravings—apparently Susie’s Cuisine has a branch in Metro Manila. And they have not one, but two—one in Las Piñas and another much closer to our place, Quezon City.

But what’s the fuss about Susie’s? Well, it is one of the go-to restaurants in Pampanga, serving Filipino and Kapampangan delicacies and comfort food since the early seventies. It was at Susie’s Cuisine San Fernando branch where I first tried their dishes and haven’t forgotten about it since.

Besides eating local street food on Penang’s numerous hawker centers and small eateries, we also got to try out a few restaurants serving international dishes on the island. This is usually when we go out with Blissfulguro’s uncle and aunt who actually lives in Penang. Since they’re really not too keen on street food, to the malls and restaurants we usually go.

On one of my visits to Zamboanga City, I passed by a small eatery with a mee goreng sign. My mouth immediately watered—my favorite Malaysian (or Indonesian) noodle dish, available in Zamboanga City! I was on a media trip with a fixed itinerary at the time, so I was unable to try it out.

Two Seasons’ barLO Restaurant was filled to brimming, but we didn’t really mind waiting. The sun was out, and the water at Station 1 was uber calm. We braved the ungodly noontime hour, and with sunblock on, frolicked at Boracay’s White Beach with total abandon.

A feast of feast was spread across our long table—familiar Filipino dishes but dressed nicer than your usual meal at home. The table was set outside The Lind’s Tartine Restaurant—along Boracay White Beach’s premier location, Station 1—but no one seems to be minding the banquet. The sun was setting and everyone had rushed to the shore to take photos of the famous Boracay sunset.

Our favorite haunt for food when in Singapore are its hawkers. They’re cheap, readily accessible, and quite delicious. But sometimes, most especially when we’re with friends, we try out restaurants above our budgetary constraints. Well, when they treat us for meals. Another place we also frequent besides these are the numerous food courts usually found inside mall basements. While we still prefer Singapore hawkers over those two. It’s such a comfort to eat your favorite hot dishes on cool air-conditioned rooms, lol.

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ASIAN FOOD MALL AT LUCKY PLAZA

  ADDRESS: 304 ORCHARD ROAD | OPENING HOURS: 10:00 AM TO 10:00 PM | GPS MAP: 1.304334, 103.833757

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Lucky Plaza holds the number one spot for Filipinos in Singapore. And for this reason, Jollibee built its first outlet in the country inside its doors. It’s our go to spot, whenever we miss Chickenjoy during our annual two-month long summer trip (if we do drop by Singapore, that is).

In all fairness, even though their Jolly Spaghetti (SGD 4.50) doesn’t compare to the original ones in the Philippines, their Chickenjoy (SGD 7.00, 2 pieces), including their gravy, taste exactly like those in our home country.

Besides having Jollibee, the Lucky Plaza food court also has a lot of stalls selling what you’d normally see on a hawker center, sans the usual Singaporean warm weather. We were able to try a bowl of mee rebus and a plate of rendang. Like on most places, it can be a hit or miss. The former was a miss, the latter, a hit.

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ASIAN FOOD MALL AT THE BASEMENT OF LUCKY PLAZA

JOLLY HOTDOG, CHICKEN JOY, AND FRIES FROM JOLLIBEE

MEE REBUS AND BEEF RENDANG WITH RICE AND VEGGIES

 

 

TANGS MARKET AT TANGS PLAZA

  ADDRESS: 310 ORCHARD ROAD | OPENING HOURS: 10:30 AM TO 10:00 PM | GPS MAP: 1.304746, 103.832925

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I cannot remember why we ate at the Tangs Plaza food court which they dub as Tangs Market. It may be that it’s just a stone’s throw away from where we were staying, YOTEL Singapore, the last time we went to SG. My travel partner told me that I went hangry after visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens and that’s where we were the moment my tummy rumbled.

Anyhoo. Their food court isn’t really that large, but selection was pretty okay. We went for Fei Siong’s Hainanese Curry Rice. We chose the chicken cutlet (SGD 4.30), the cheapest among the bunch. The photos advertising it looked much more delicious that it actually is, but really, it’s on the above average side.

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TANGS MARKET AT TANGS PLAZA ALONG ORCHARD ROAD

HAINANESE CURRY RICE FROM FEI SIONG STALL

 

 

TOAST BOX

  ADDRESS: EVERYWHERE IN SINGAPORE | OPENING HOURS: FROM 7:30 AM TO 10:00 PM

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One of our friends’ go to spot when in Singapore is Toast Box. Since they’re really not the most adventurous when it comes to food, the familiar name (since we used to have these in the Philippines), probably draws them. We’ve tried this popular Singaporean restaurant on their Marina Bay Sands and CHIJMES branches and their menu varies a bit from those in Manila.

My finger always lead me to point to their mee rebus (SGD 6.70) and laksa (SGD 6.80), while C usually goes for their mee goreng (SGD 6.20) which has luncheon meat included, and adds an order of traditional kaya toast (SGD 1.90). For drinks, their Milo Dinosaur (SGD 3.40) is the bomb.

TOAST BOX IN CHIJMES

SURPRISINGLY GOOD LOCAL DISHES AT TOAST BOX SINGAPORE

 

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It was almost dusk when our car navigated the ascent towards Byron Bay’s famed lighthouse. We just flew in from Sydney that same day, visiting the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary right after touching down—our backpacks still at the back of G’s car.

THE GANG AT CAPE BYRON LIGHTHOUSE

She dropped us off a hundred meters or so from the lighthouse, Tallows Beach was in full view on our right, while she went back down to park her car. She doesn’t want us to miss the sunset, she said. She’s sweet like that.

Byron Bay changed its name from Cavvanbah after Lieutenant James Cook anchored along its waters, naming it after sailor John Byron. From a sleepy industrial town, it has since become a haven for hippies after surfers has discovered its swells. The deal was sealed during the seventies when the Aquarius Festival, a counter-culture arts and music festival, arrived in town.

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TAKING AN UBER TO LAKE AINSWORTH THE NEXT DAY

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CAPE BYRON LIGHTHOUSE

 ENTRANCE FEE: FREE | OPENING HOURS: 8:00AM TO 6:00PM | GPS COORDINATES MAP: -28.638535,153.6346196 

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Built in 1901, the stately Cape Byron Lighthouse boasts of being the most powerful of its kind in terms of light intensity across the whole of Australia. It sits on the easternmost promontory of the continent and is three kilometers away from Byron Bay. People actually walk up and bike to this place.

Since it’s on the eastside, the best time to go here is actually during sunrise. But since we didn’t have a choice, sunset it was. Being quite old, I can see how immaculately preserved it was—it actually looks new if not for the 1901 numerals carved along some of its pillars.

Going back down to the car, we passed by a viewpoint overlooking Tallows Beach. Once flocked by people panning for gold during 1870’s, the beach is now a haven for surfers. We promised ourselves we’d visit the beach the next day, but promises are meant to be broken, especially if you’d be drinking beer cider ‘til past midnight.

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THE BYRON BAY LIGHTHOUSE DURING SUNSET

THE LIGHTHOUSE IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED IT ACTUALLY LOOKS NEW

A VIEWPOINT AND A WALKING TRAIL OFF THE SIDE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

TALLOWS BEACH CAN BE SEEN FROM THE CAPE

LAKE AINSWORTH

 ENTRANCE FEE: FREE | GPS COORDINATES MAP: -28.7815749,153.5871468

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Checking out late from Byron Bay Hotel and Apartments, we decided on heading straight to Lake Ainsworth instead of Tallows Beach. M and C were just so entranced with the photos of the lake on the interweb that we’d have to go, like, right away.

This particular body of water is surrounded by tea trees, and the tannins from these leach down to the water giving it a red-orangey tint, hence its monikers Orange Lake and Tea Tree Lake.

Getting there by public transport is impossible, but since we were three in the group, we decided on getting an Uber ride right up to the lake’s edge. Imagine our chagrin after paying a hefty bill to find a lake with no hint of orange whatsoever. Seemingly, the sun needs to be on full blast for the effect to be apparent. And it was darn cloudy.

On closer inspection, we did find the water along the banks to be orange in color. It’s not gonna get a thousand likes on Instagram though, lol.

With barbecue pits and picnic grounds, the place is popular for weekenders wanting to chill out—as if Byron Bay itself isn’t chill enough. We also saw a couple taking a dip on the water, we were like, eww why at first, but upon further reading, we found that its water has healing elements, sort of like a medical bath from the tea trees.

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LOOKING FOR ORANGE WATER

THE LAKE APPEARS ORANGE UNDER INTENSE SUNLIGHT—IT WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, CLOUDY

TEA TREES SURROUNDING THE LAKE

THE LAKE’S ORANGE TINT COMES FROM THE TEA TREES SURROUNDING ITS PERIMETER

SEVEN MILE BEACH

 ENTRANCE FEE: FREE | GPS COORDINATES MAP: -28.7612643,153.5688558

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Parallel to the lake is the Seven Mile Beach. It was an easy two-minute walk and we’re right by the Pacific.

The beach, which stretches for, uhmm, seven miles from Broken Head—where Thor actually has a house—up to Lennox Head, is utterly deserted. Well, there’s a dog walker or two and a few people off the horizon. But they’re so far away that we might as well be on Mars.

We’re ready for a swim even if C forgot her swimsuit but signs warning of sharks and rips told us we’re better off at the water’s edge. We turned back after taking a few snaps.

ALONE AT SEVEN MILE BEACH

COLD DAY FOR A SWIM

THERE’S A CROWD AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE BEACH

THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS FOR SHARKS

THE POINT CAFÉ AT LENNOX HEAD

 OPENING HOURS: 6:00AM TO 4:00PM  | GPS COORDINATES MAP: -28.7941648,153.5910754

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With no cabs or Internet to hail an Uber car, we walked our way to the not-so-near Lennox Head. Why there? Well, we can’t find anywhere else to go. Besides, we saw a few cafes on the map and we were hungry. And, they probably have Internet, it might be the only way we get out of this place.

While updating our social media apps at The Point Café, we sipped on bracingly cold milkshakes and feasted on their larger-than-mouth The Point Burger. Our tables and hands were pretty messed up right after.

CLEAN AND SIMPLE INTERIORS OF THE POINT CAFE

WE CHOSE TO EAT AL FRESCO

NO WAY WE CAN FIT THOSE IN OUR MOUTHS

LIGHTHOUSE BEACH

 ENTRANCE FEE: FREE | GPS COORDINATES MAP: -28.8698223,153.5890083

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Coming from work, G rescued us at Lennox Head. We proceeded on raiding a liquor store and a KFC joint before crashing at her pad at the nearby town of Ballina. We picked L, her super adorable six-year old kid, en route.

The plan was for us to visit a watering hole while G goes to work, but we decided on scratching that off our to-do list. Instead, we offered on babysitting L instead. While feasting on a bucket of chicken and guzzling a dozen cans of beer and cider, that is. Cider is the bomb, by the way.

L is so much fun, right before sundown, we went to the Lighthouse Beach, which is like three minutes away from their doorstep. The 700-meter stretch of sand apparently formed when an entrance wall was put along the nearby Richmond River, filling up the then Shaws Bay with sand, instantly producing thirty hectares of prime real estate property. G’s house probably sits above the former bay.

Again, like most beaches in the area, there are sharks and people actually get swept to the sea due to currents. Apparently, it’s only good for surfing. So we did the next best thing. We taught L how to play hopscotch, the Filipino way, on the beach until it went full dark.

C AND L WAITNG FOR THE DUSK AT LIGHTHOUSE BEACH

SEAGULLS RESTING ALONG THE SHORE

GEOMETRIC GIANT JACKSTONES ON ONE SIDE OF THE BEACH

 

SCOOT HAS DAILY PROMO FARES FROM MANILA TO AUSTRALIA

SCOOT, KLOOK, AND ONE VINE MIGRATION MADE OUR TRIP TO AUSTRALIA POSSIBLE. VIEWS AND OPINION ALL MINE.

 

We really didn’t have much of a choice but to stay indoors, it was raining cats and dogs outside Tokyo. It was our first day in Japan and the weather wasn’t really cooperating. Good thing, we actually have something to do indoors a few hours after our arrival. Eat.

TAKING THE TRAIN FROM ASAKUSA

Walking from Wired Hotel Asakusa, then taking the subway from Asakusa to Roppongi Hills—thank you Klook for the very affordable unlimited subway pass—we took shelter at Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s expansive and warm lobby. A few minutes later and we were led to the sixth floor.

My knowledge when it comes to Japanese cuisine is limited to tempura, maki, sushi (which I don’t even eat), tonkatsu, and Nissin’s Ramen. Kidding on that last part. I’m not really that familiar with anything Japanese, except for those that I get to try at the popular fastfood joint, Tokyo Tokyo. I actually go there before because I wanted to practice using chopsticks, lol. A weekend or so ago, before our actual trip to Japan, we were invited by the guys from Herald Suites in Chino Roces to try their in-house Japanese restaurant, Hatsu Hana-Tei.

HERALD SUITES’ LOBBY

Located right in front of the famous Little Tokyo in Makati, Herald Suites—sister hotel of Herald Suites Polaris—sports a very turn-of-the-century Filipiniana look—intricate Machuca tiles, faux Amorsolo paintings, classic wooden furniture. You’ll never guess that they’d have a legit Japanese restaurant at the second floor. The only inkling you’d have, if ever you notice it at all, are the Japanese businessmen lounging about the lobby.

In between visiting the giant lantern makers of San Fernando City, we also went to numerous restaurants where we lunched, snacked, and snacked some more. And yes, we do have an excuse for our food binge—Pampanga’s title of being the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. We’re uncovering the province’s little gems, one plate (or two) at a time.

SUSIE’S CUISINE’S AIRCONDITIONED INTERIORS

One of the interesting places we visited was Susie’s Cuisine in San Fernando. Located at an air-conditioned building along MacArthur highway, you wouldn’t really think much of it. At first glance, it looks like any ordinary restaurant, that is until servings of their famous pancit luglug and tibok-tibok were plunked right in front of us.

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A spread of eight sumptuous dishes were laid on our table for what was supposed to be a simple brunch. Yes, there were also eight of us—one for each—but the problem was each serving was almost good enough for three persons. We’re stumped on how we’d finish everything! We definitely have one deliciously huge problem on our table.

WEEKEND OF NOTHING BUT FOOD AT TAAL VISTA TAGAYTAY

With traveler friends in tow, we headed off to the highlands for the long weekend. While we have only the vaguest Tagaytay itinerary, what’s clear was that we’re gonna eat. A lot. Billeted on one of the three Lakeside rooms of Taal Vista Hotel, we did nothing that weekend but cram our tummies full—a food binge worthy of the seven deadly sins. And we didn’t even have to go out of the hotel to commit it too.