isaw manok – Jellybeans in the City

Pinoy-Style Barbecue at Lola Ote Restaurant

When it comes to finding a place that offers mouthwatering Pinoy-style barbecue that’s both delicious and affordable, Lola Ote Grill and Restaurant in Quezon City is a name that should be on your list. Recently, I had the pleasure of dining at Lola Ote with my officemates, taking a much-deserved break from our daily grind.

The Destination for Down-Home Pinoy-Style Barbecue

Tucked away along 26 Sgt. Esguerra Street, Diliman, Lola Ote Grill and Restaurant is a charming eatery that’s well-known for its iconic 18-inch pork barbecues. The restaurant’s cozy and inviting ambiance provides the perfect setting for a relaxed and “come-as-you-are” dining experience. Lola Ote occupies a former ancestral house, built in the 1960s, which has been thoughtfully transformed into a restaurant. The restaurant recently underwent quite a renovation, improving the establishment’s overall ambiance with more spacious seating areas and lots of natural light.

One of the things that set Lola Ote apart is its rich culinary heritage. Many of the recipes served here have been handed down from the proprietor’s grandmother. This deep-rooted connection to traditional Filipino flavors adds an authentic touch to every dish. It’s a testament to the care and love that goes into preparing each meal.

The real star of the show at Lola Ote is its iconic 18-inch pork barbecues, served on metal skewers. This unique grilling technique ensures that the meat is cooked to perfection from the inside out. The steel skewers themselves have undergone several changes before achieving the current style, resulting in tender, juicy, and flavorful barbecue that you won’t soon forget.

Lunching on a Feast of Pinoy Flavors

Lola Ote caters to different preferences with its diverse menu. In addition to the famous barbecues, we found a range of dishes, each with its unique appeal.

The Lola Ote BBQ (XL) (Php140/stick) is the restaurant’s pièce de résistance. These 18-inch skewers are not only a visual delight but also a true flavor bomb. The metal skewers’ grilling technique ensures that the meat remains juicy and tender while offering that perfect smoky char.

The nostalgic flavors of Isaw Baboy (barbecued pork intestines) (Php40/stick) and Isaw Manok (barbecued chicken intestines) (Php35/stick) take you back to the bustling streets of the Philippines. Served in a cozy setting, these street food favorites offer a trip down memory lane.

Lola Ote also serves up heartiness with classic Lechon Kawali (Pnp480), tender boneless pork belly with crispy skin.

The Pinakbet with Crispy Pork (Php320), on the other hand, provides a taste of tradition. This dish features a medley of squash, long yard beans, ampalaya (bitter gourd), okra, and sweet shrimp paste. The combination of flavors and textures is a true Filipino delight.

Our Pinoy-style barbecue lunch at Lola Ote was a delightful experience filled with flavors and respite from the stresses of our work. Whether you’re a fan of traditional barbecue or looking to rediscover classic Filipino flavors, Lola Ote has something for everyone. So, plan a visit soon and relish the wonderful taste of Pinoy cuisine in an inviting and comfy setting.

Lola Ote Restaurant is located at 24 Sgt. Esguerra Street, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, contact +63 977 7235 or send a message over Facebook.

Know more about its menu and offers by following Lola Ote Restaurant on Instagram and Tiktok.

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

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

It’s been a year and a half into the global pandemic, and we are just now feeling some loosening of the many restrictions.

With the Metro Manila recently de-escalated to Alert Level 2, kids are now allowed out of doors, emerging from more than a year of being stuck at home.

With Christmas just around the corner, extended families are surely looking forward to the time they can all gather together and catch up.

I know just the perfect venue for such gatherings: Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina.

Let me tell you why:

1. Going there is like being welcomed into a family home.

Mang Ding’s is located in a quiet neighborhood in Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina.

Restaurant owner Dindo Cleofas inherited his father’s (the original Mang Ding) love of grilling and wanted a restaurant where he can continue his father’s legacy as well as have a place where he can relax and chill with friends. Together with his wife, Dotie, he converted their home’s garden area into an outdoor dining space where he can serve customers his specialities, hot and fresh from the grill.

The space is shielded from the elements by a roofed pergola and surrounded by lush greenery, most of which were planted and nurtured by their family.

This open-air dining area is well-ventilated, equipped with fans to keep the air circulating and the surrounding plants adding refreshing color and coolness to space.

Walking into Mang Ding’s feels like visiting your favorite tita’s house; it’s a place where you feel right at home.

2. It can serve as your kids’ introduction to Pinoy comfort and street food.

A few months ago, I brought my parents here for dinner and upon seeing and tasting the familiar Filipino comfort food served to us, both my mom and dad waxed nostalgic about the dishes they grew up with. They regaled my daughter with stories about their foodie adventures back in the day.

If your kiddos are the “just fry me a hotdog, Mommy” type, it may be high time to introduce them to the simple yet sublime joys of good, down-home Pinoy cooking. You can be sure that lolos, lolas, titos and titas will waste no time in telling stories about their own experiences with Pinoy comfort food during your family party, and will help instill among the little ones healthy respect and appreciation for our culinary heritage.

You can count on Mang Ding’s to bring to the table an array of MALINIS, MASARAP at MURA dishes such as:

Ensaladang Talong (Php75).

Sizzling Tokwa Special (Php160).

Quarter Leg Chicken BBQ (Php150).

Boneless Chicken BBQ (Php180).

Isaw Manok (Php20).

BBQ Platter (Php575).

Boneless Bangus Overload (Php265).

Pompano (Php380).

Grilled Pusit (Php425).

Tuna Panga (Php485).

And if the children still want the hotdogs, longganisas and fried chicken that they’re familiar with, you can still accommodate their requests here, and even give them a sweet treat for dessert.

Grilled TJ Jumbo Hotdog (Php50).

Grilled Longganisa (Php55).

McJolly Pakpak (Php225 half kilo | Php400 kilo).

Belgian Chocolate (Php150 slice).

Since good food help spark great conversations and great moments, your fam is in for a memorable experience when you hold your get-together at Mang Ding’s.

3. You can enjoy its tasty dishes at home.

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the get-together. You can bring home the yummy Pinoy BBQ at home with you, thanks to this handy box. For just Php599, you get fifteen sticks of Mang Ding’s signature barbecue and isaw served with grilled corn as well as calamansi and siling labuyo for the dipping sauce.

On the other hand, if your family opted for a virtual reunion, you can still partake of the same meal during your Zoom party by sending them Mang Ding’s Ready-to-Grill Pinoy BBQ packs (basting and dipping sauce included) that they can cook at home in a jiffy.

These include, among others:

Liempo (Php360/500g).

Pork BBQ (Php600/20pcs) and Isaw Manok (Php460/20pcs).

Chicharon Bulaklak (Php325/500g).

So whether your clan decides to have a physical get-together or a virtual party over the holiday season and beyond, Mang Ding’s is surely your best bet!

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering or book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks by calling +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.