inihaw na panga – Jellybeans in the City

It’s around that time of the year again when we get together with our nears-and-dears over a hearty meal.

This extended family gathering is the perfect occasion to bond with relatives that we might not see so frequently to exchange news, exclaim on the fast growth of the young ‘uns or celebrate each other’s successes for the past year.

While quarantine restrictions no longer prohibit us from throwing a shindig for the fam, our budgets might give us some pause.

Well, at Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina, that won’t be a problem.

Known for its malinis, masarap at mura selections of down-home Pinoy dishes, Mang Ding’s can serve up viands that surely count among the family’s faves. From Pinoy appetizers and side dishes, barbecues and ihaw-ihaw, to sizzling plates and crispy fried food, plus a selection of local beers and sodas, Mang Ding’s is a return to treasured childhood dishes to some and an introduction to down-home Pinoy flavors to others.

Ensaladas. Side salads that combine sweet, sour and salty fresh flavors from tomatoes, onions and bagoong. The Ensaladang Mangga (Php125) and the Ensaladang Talong (Php75) are perfect companions for Mang Ding’s grilled and fried offerings.

Salted Egg Boneless Bangus (Php295). Grilled marinated milkfish topped with chopped onions, tomatoes and slices of salted egg.

McJolly Pakpak (Php325 for half-kilo | Php550 for 1 kilo). Crispy deep-fried chicken wings that’s a kiddie favorite for sure!

Isaws. Did you know that the name saw comes from the word sawsawan, or the sauce that these street food delicacies are dipped in? I’m everyone in the fan won’t have enough of Mang Ding’s Isaw Baboy Bilog (Php45/stick) and Isaw Manok (Pho28/stick).

Pork BBQ (Php45/stick). The Pinoys’ favorite sweet and savory pork barbecue made with tender slices of marinated pork grilled to smokey perfection.

Tuna Panga (Php100/100 grams). If the kiddos’ conception of tuna is something flaky that comes from cans, then it’s high time to introduce them to the massive jaw of tuna marinated in a sweet soy-based sauce and grilled to smokey goodness.

Belgian Chocolate Slice (Php175). Of course, every family meal deserves a sweetly happy ending. A slice of this moist chocolate cake topped with a decadently rich chocolate icing is just the ticket!

Aside from its delicious and affordable menu items, Mang Ding’s laid-back and relaxing atmosphere is conducive to lingering and catching up with family members.

I should know: I’ve spent quite a lot of time here with my own extended family, officemates and fellow foodies, and our dining forays here always extend by hours, simply because we don’t want our time together to end.

So here’s your perfect venue for a family get-together this holiday season and beyond!

Psst! You might want to take advantage of Mang Ding’s Family Platter which already includes Pork BBQ, McJolly Pakpak, Boneless Bangus Overload, Ensaladang Talong and steamed rice good for four to five persons, all for just Php998! What a delicious way to go for an abot-kayang salu-salo, right?

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City, open for dine-in, pickup and delivery on Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays for 11am to 11pm.

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering, book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks or order for delivery by calling or texting +63 916 2853031.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Check out my previous posts about Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ:

Rediscovering Pinoy Street Food at Mang Ding’s, Marikina

Pinoy street food for #TeamBahay from Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Sunday family meal at home with Mang Ding’s

3 ways Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina is perfect for your family holiday gathering

There’s something about feasting on the ocean’s bounty that seems so special, especially to us Pinoys. Living in an archipelago, we are surrounded by water teeming with fish, crustaceans and all other seafood that we have found numerous ways to cook and enjoy.

A recently opened restaurant in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is poised to answer the cravings of the QC denizens for fresh, tasty and beautifully prepared seafood.

Dampa Seafood Grill originally opened in Dubai and later expanded to Abu Dhabi, soon gaining popularity among the Filipinos and foreigners working in the Middle East due to its happy and laid-back atmosphere, that signature warm Filipino hospitality, and, of course, great-tasting food.

With the opening of its first store in the country, we can say that the brand has finally come home.

The place boasts of sprawling premises where a large number of people can dine comfortably, both indoors and al fresco. The ambiance is casual and fun, with neon signs and artwork that serve as points of interest or backdrops for the photo opps. While it already has quite a sizeable parking space, it apparently was not enough given the number of people who dine here. Fortunately, two people are assigned to help car owners park or bring out their vehicles.

However, the main draw here is the food. Together with my fellow food bloggers, I feasted on the sea’s bounty and more during a recent Blogger Event held here. These included:

Crispy Salt and Pepper Squid (Php275). Crunchy and crispy, and with a bit of heat, this version of calamari is a great meal starter.

Grilled Squid (Php329). Marinated squid grilled to tasty perfection.

Baked Mussel (Php230). Melted cheese and garlic top these mussels which disappeared as soon as we started eating. Go figure.

Kinilaw na Isda (Php219). The Pinoy version of the ceviche, this is a staple in many gatherings and drinking sessions.

Crispy Tilapia (Php199). Battered slices of tilapia fillet fried to a crispy golden brown. Goes well with the aoili dip. Yum!

Liempo Two-Way (Php348). There’s more than one way to enjoy pork belly: with this dish, you can have grilled or deep-fried. The best of both worlds, IMHO.

Grilled Panga ng Tuna (Php499). One of my childhood favorites: a portion of the giant tuna’s jaw is marinated and grilled. I love digging into the bones for the flavorful meat!

Ultimate Crispy Pata (Php498). Falling-off-the-bone tender (I broke of pieces using just one hand!) and juicy pata (pig knuckles), deep-fried for that flavorfully crispy skin. Something I’m willing to risk “putok-batok” for!

The piece de resistance of any dining experience at Dampa Seafood Grill is the Dump @ Seafest. For only Php1,599, your group of up to 3 people can feast on the days freshest catch – shrimps, clams, crabs, mussels and corn – as these are dumped along with all the rice you can eat onto your table for a messy but happy boodle fight meal. Choose from among 6 flavors for your feast which you can dial up or down in spiciness levels: Mardi Gras (lemon and herb), El Mexico (Mexican spiciness), Salted Eggsperience (salted egg in white sauce), Thai Curry or Cajun (a mix of salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic and chili, just the way the Louisiana Cajuns like their food).

When we sat down to eat, it was perfectly understandable that we would be “galit-galit muna;” we definitely wouldn’t be focusing on social niceties while we’re wolfing down the food. #SorryNotSorry

I especially enjoyed dousing my rice in the salted egg white sauce. Mmmm, yummy!

Each Dump @ Seafest also comes with free two liters of non-alcoholic Fishbowl Mocktails (also available ala carte for Php198/liter). Take your pick among six refreshing flavors: Sex Appeal (brewed iced tea with lemon and grenadine), Green Minded (green apple with lemon), Blue Jobs (pineapple juice with blue curacao), Lindsay Lohan (passion fruit, pineapple and soda), Amaretto Sunset (amaretto flavor, mango, four seasons and fresh lemon), and Incredible Hulk (mojito flavor with cucumber).

Feeling adventurous? Get a colorful cocktail to go with your meal. Ask the friendly bartender for his recommendation.

Needless to say, my fellow foodies and I ate our fill of fresh and yummy seafood and more at Dampa Seafood Grill!

Many thanks to Kristine and the staff of Dampa Seafood Grill for the warm welcome and the wonderful seafood feast and to Aileen of AileenL Loves to Eat for extending the invitation!

Experience Oktoberfest at Dampa Seafood Grill with Buy 1 Get 1 deals on local beers everyday, from opening to closing, this October. This promo is available on Red Horse (Php80), San Miguel Pale Pilsen (Php70) and San Mig Light (Php70).

Dampa Seafood Grill is located at 71 Scout Limbaga Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 12 noon to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 916 105 2421.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare in exchange for honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

Tag: inihaw na panga

Gather the fam together for an abot-kayang salu-salo at Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Seafood Feast at Dampa Seafood Grill, Tomas Morato