Kat Ragos opened Juana’s Budbod and Coffee when she was still a senior student at Far Eastern University. According to her, this eatery was mainly built so that her friends could have a place to hang out at outside the campus. Back then, there were only a few places around the university belt and they were always full.
Juana’s Budbod and Coffee started with the usual sizzling and ‘silog’ meals, but she wanted to differentiate herself from other eateries.
“I come from Rizal and ‘budbod’ is one of our specialty dishes there,” says Kat. “It’s the idea of having something personal in my business and at the same time some sort of ‘brand’ for the eatery. I think we are the first, if not the only one, that offers authentic Budbod in Manila,” she says.
Budbod, which translates to “sprinkled on food,” consists of sliced meat, cucumber, onion and tomatoes put on a bed of flavored rice. Juana’s also offers cheap coffee that approximates the frappés and drinks of an expensive coffee shop.
On this episode of Carinderia Crawl, production assistant Marix Durens goes to Juana’s Budbod and Coffee and orders a combo meal of Shawarma Budbod.
When she has the time and money, Marix likes to go mountain climbing. She learned about Juana’s Budbod and Coffee through her mountaineering friends because they always eat here during pre-climb meetings. According to her, Juana’s offers food fit for mountaineers and athletes since their portions are big-size. Marix also wears orthodontic braces so it is very convenient for her to eat budbod because the meat is already cut into tiny pieces.
WHAT MARIX ATE: Budbod Shawarma Combo with unlimited rice and iced tea for PHP75.
WHAT MARIX THINKS: She liked the beef shawarma because the meat was tender. She didn’t mind that the flavor has been tweaked to adapt to the Filipino palate. She also liked the flavored rice that came with the food.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Lagi akong nag-iiba ng kulay ng buhok kasi nararamdaman ko ‘yung independence at freedom. Hindi rin ako ‘yung tipo ng taong nadidiktahan kaagad. Pwede mo akong sabihan tungkol sa mga bagay na ginagawa ko, pero titimbangin ko muna kung tama ba ‘yun o mali.”
Juana’s Budbod and Coffee, 504 M.V. Delos Santos cor Legarda Sts, Sampaloc, Manila; +63 906 2174887. Daily 10am-11pm.
WATCH MORE CARINDERIA CRAWL VIDEOS:
– Episode 1: KC Tapsilogan at Lugawan on P. Noval Street, Manila
– Episode 2: Menes Eatery on E. Remigio Street, Manila
– Episode 3: Juan Spoon Eatery on Edison Street, Makati
– Episode 4: 15th Avenue Carinderia in Cubao, Quezon City
– Episode 5: Carinderia crawl: Sizzling beef and mushrooms at McDOKS Sizzling
– Episode 6: Tocino and tortang talong at Honey’s Canteen on West Avenue
– Episode 7: Dinengdeng and lapu-lapu at Carol’s Eatery on Retiro Avenue, QC
– Episode 8- Pork sisig at Ilar’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 9: Red Gate Eatery in Caloocan
– Episode 10: Bangsilog at Erlin’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 11: Pork BBQ and liempo at B-B-Q Zone in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 12: Pancit batil patung in Kamuning, Quezon City
– Episode 13: Beef and chicken pita at Hijo d’Pita in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 14: Special bulalo at Bulaluhan sa España in Manila
– Episode 15: Kanto Freestyle Breakfast in Bo Kapitolyo, Pasig
– Episode 16: Mang Tootz in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 17: Juana’s Budbod and Coffee in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 18: Manang’s Food House at Ateneo de Manila
– Episode 19: Sizzling pork sisig at Aysee
– Episode 20: Bagnet-themed dishes at Bagneto
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