where to eat in mandaluyong – Jellybeans in the City

In the fast pace of city life, finding a spot that serves comforting, familiar food can be a real treat. For me and the fam, Goto Tendon on Boni Avenue is exactly that place—a haven for anyone in need of hearty Filipino dishes that remind us of home. This restaurant has quickly become a favorite for those who appreciate the simple pleasure of a well-cooked meal that feels like a warm hug.

A Family Legacy Transformed

The story of Goto Tendon starts with Jenny Peñaloza’s search for something new. After dedicating herself to family life, she wanted to create something meaningful. Along with her husband John, they took Jenny’s beloved goto—a recipe handed down from John’s grandmother, Nena Peñaloza—and turned it into a restaurant. The result is a place that doesn’t just serve food; it serves up a slice of family history and tradition with every bowl.

Convenient Location, Comfortable Atmosphere

This new Goto Tendon branch is conveniently located along Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City, making it an easy stop whether we’re heading home, to work, or school. It shares a building with Itmiro Oyster Bar & Kitchen, and there’s even a hidden staircase connecting the two (more on this on my next post).

Inside, the restaurant is clean and air-conditioned, with plenty of seating, definitely an upgrade to the neighborhood gotohan. It’s a comfortable spot to enjoy a meal, though parking can be tricky, especially in the evenings when Itmiro is busy.

A Menu That Hits the Spot

The menu at Goto Tendon has something for everyone, and here’s what my family and I keep coming back for:

Beef Tendon Mami (Php288): This egg noodle soup with beef and tendon is a staple for my hubby. It’s comforting and rich, making it a favorite of my husband, especially on chilly days.

Beef Tendon Pares (Php238): This dish features tender braised beef stew with collagen-rich tendon, garlic rice, soup, and a homemade chili sauce. It’s a hearty meal that’s quickly become a go-to for us.

Beef Tendon Pares Noodles (Php288): My son loves this version with dry egg noodles and a side of soup. It’s the same great beef stew and tendon, but with a different twist that keeps it interesting. Of course, he gets an extra order of Garlic Rice (Php45) because carbo-loading is life.

Sizzling Burger Steak (Php338): The 100% U.S. beef served on a sizzling plate with garlic rice, egg, and gravy is always a hit. The sizzling effect adds a bit of excitement to each bite.

Sizzling Bulalo (Php498): This dish includes corned beef and bone marrow in gravy, served on a sizzling plate with garlic rice. I like how its flavors are deep and satisfying, and the sizzling presentation makes it stand out.

Bone Marrow (Php158): Grilled and seasoned, this bone marrow can be enjoyed plain or with pares sauce. It’s a rich, savory treat that pairs well with the other dishes.

Sweet Treats to End Your Meal

No visit to Goto Tendon is complete without trying its shaved ice desserts and the fam has certainly tried out the entire roster:

Final Thoughts

Goto Tendon’s Boni Avenue branch stands out for its combination of traditional recipes and modern comfort. With its rich heritage, convenient location, and satisfying menu, it’s a spot worth visiting whether you’re a local or just passing through. If you’re in the mood for some genuine Filipino comfort food, Goto Tendon is definitely worth a try.

This Goto Tendon branch is located at 656 Boni Avenue corner Ligaya Street, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 12am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 53102802 or +63 917 875 1188.

Know more about Goto Tendon by visiting its website or following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Goto Tendon:

Pinoy comfort food at Goto Tendon, Tomas Morato

Sometimes you really just have to let loose, ya know?

Ever since my teammates and I returned to the office after the pandemic, we began to feel the pressure and stress mounting. Spending bulk of our work day with our noses stuck to our laptops, attending meetings here and there, and putting together reports can be quite tiring.

This is why every once in a while, we take off as soon as we clock out and hie ourselves to our new favorite hangout: Trev’s Grill.

Trev’s Grill and Restaurant is located in one of the quieter neighborhoods of Mandaluyong quite near San Juan (a mere ten minutes ride from Greenhills), making it an easy destination for those coming from the north like Quezon City or the east like Pasig.

I have only heard about Trev’s Grill when my songstress boss returned to the office with tales of her fun weekend out with friends wherein she sang her favorite tunes straight from Youtube live onstage.

There’s little wonder then, that when the holiday season rolled in, our team decided to hold our Christmas Party there, complete with gift-giving and games, even a Rockeoke Challenge wherein we had to sing songs according (some very wild) categories drawn from a fishbowl. Think Oldies but Goodies, Diva Showdown, Hard Rockin’, Classic OPM, Nicest of the 90s and, of course, Swiftie Eras. We even decked ourselves out as our favorite artists (guess who mine was!).

As we held our Christmas Party on a Monday evening, we basically had the whole place to ourselves. The ample parking space was able to accommodate our vehicles (quite a stress relief for a December event!). The venue was also gaily decorated in line with the Christmas spirit which added to the holiday cheer.

Needless to say, we really took the chance to let loose and sing our hearts out, as well as cutting a rug to the music.

That night, in between bouts of warbling, crooning and rockin’ out, we also feasted on these filling Pinoy classics and bar chows:

We also toasted to the good times we had in the past year and the ones we’ll have ahead of us with these libations:

Bucket of San Mig Light (Php605) for the group.

Bailey’s Irish Cream (Php257/shot), my favorite liqueur, just for me!

Clearly, Trev’s Grill’s chill vibes, song-friendly acoustic, mouthwatering food and refreshing drinks all made for a lively and fun holiday shindig for me and my officemates.

So much so that we came back a few months later; this time, for a joint birthday celebration between me and another team member!

This time, we took advantage of the restaurant’s Todo Sulit Bundles which combine some of its best-sellers into a filling feast for a group. Going for a group meal took out a lot of the hassle in deciding what to order and scored us a few savings as well.

Our first group meal, good for 6 people for just Php3093, consisted of 6 cups of rice, 6 iced teas and:

The other group meal, good for 3 people for just Php1118, consisted of 3 cups of rice, 3 iced teas and:

It sure was a rockin’ birthday celebration, made even more memorable by the good food, great company and great music!

So, to sum up, let me give you a run-down of why I think you and your squad should hold your next shindig at Trev’s Grill:

Accessible location. You won’t have to wander far as it’s smack-dab in the center of the metro. Plus, it has quite a sizeable parking area so you won’t have to stress yourself in trying to find a parking spot.
Tasty and affordable food. Whether you go for the classic Pinoy ulams and rice, or for finger-lickin’ bar chows, Trev’s Grill has something for you. Personally, I love the Buttered Chicken and Mixed Pancit; I can’t seem to stop refilling my plate. Plus, the serving sizes are great for sharing so the group can definitely eat their fill.
Sing ’till you drop! If you ever had aspirations of being a chanteuse, you can live out your fantasies at Trev’s Grill. Just select a minus-one or karaoke version song from Youtube, get up on stage, grab the mic and sing your heart out!

Trev’s Grill is located at 216 Haig Street, Barangay Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 5pm to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 87319964.

Know more about its menu and events by following Trev’s Grill on Facebook and Tiktok.

Tag: where to eat in mandaluyong

Goto Tendon: Mandaluyong’s new Pinoy comfort food destination