Writer-Editor Jing Lejano, who runs the Happy Nest blog with her daughter Erika, has lived in the south, in Las Piñas, all her life. “It’s very laidback. You can go anywhere in your shorts and people won’t mind,” Jing says. While traffic is slowing creeping in, her neighborhood is peppered with so many establishments it’s hard not to go out. Below are her recommendations.
BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LOCALE: It’s very laidback, plus everything is near. Though, going out on weekends can be terrible now. Sad to say, traffic has come to the South!
BRUNCH: There’s an all-day breakfast place at Pergola Mall (Aguirre corner Gaches St., BF Homes, Paranaque) called Ally’s All-Day Breakfast (G/F. Tel. No. +639062373196. Operating hours: 8am-10pm). It’s a mom-and-pop thing–tiny, comfy, with good food. They have DIY pancakes: pancakes at PHP100 and then extra charge for every topping you add. I love, love their Hungarian sausage! I’m bullying the waiters to give me the name of their supplier, mwahahaha! Meals are below PHP200, so well worth your moolah.
LUNCH: When I’m alone and in between errands, my go-to place is Almon Marina (G/F. Tel. No. +63 2 8004617. Mall hours) at SM Southmall (Alabang-Zapote Road, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas). How so very mommy, right? The manager knows me already. I’m not really a sandwich person, but I like their Roast Chicken sandwich and an extra order of coleslaw; theirs is really yummy. The stuffed porkchop that’s filled with cheese and fruits, is gooey! Around PHP250/pax.
DINNER: I love Sensei Sushi (268 Aguirre St., BF Homes, Paranaque. Tel. No. +639175157018. Operating hours: 1130am-4pm, 6-10pm). Chef Bruce is a genius. It’s not your usual Japanese place, really. His food is more Asian fusion, if you ask me. Get the Senseiviche. Try out the different types of sushi and sashimi. The best place to sit is at the bar, especially when the chef is around; you get to see all the action! Prepare about PHP500/pax.
If you want a taste of Singapore, hop along to Sir Raffles Food House (298 Aguirre St., BF Homes, Parañaque. Tel. No. +63 2 8089297. Operating hours: 10am-10pm). It’s in front of Puregold, another small affair (you’ll see a lot of those in BF), and run by a Singaporean. It tasted authentic enough (whatever that means! mwahahaha). Try the curries, of course. If you’re lucky, you get free dessert and the latest news update from the television overhead. About PHP300/pax.
There’s also a dampa-style seafood place along Alabang-Daang Hari that we frequent, and for some reason, we always gravitate to Sis Seafood Paluto (Daang Hari Road, Almanza 1, Las Piñas. Tel. No. +63 2 9949977. Operating Hours: 9am-12midnight). Fresh seafood that you buy yourself at the mini-wet market (The trick is getting the freshest, plumpest catch) and then have cooked at any of the assortment of restaurants in the complex. Go for fish and alimango. PHP400/pax is well-worth it.
When I’m too lazy to cook, there’s what I call an elevated carinderia called Putsi Ko Noy (268 Rose Avenue, Pilar Village, Las Piñas. Tel. No. +63 2 5438671. Operating hours: 10am-10pm) that serves delicious home-cooked dishes: Binagoongang Baboy, Rellenong Bangus, Calderetang Baka, Buttered Shrimps, Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabasa, and Kare-kare, all under PHP200, with each order good for three. We just text our orders (Tel. No. +639064907504).
DRINKS: San Mig Pub at ATC (2/F Corte de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, 1780 Alabang. Tel. Nos. +63 2 8420776, +639285009631. Operating hours: S-Th, 11am-12midnight; Fri-Sat, 11am-2am). Obviously, I’m old school: a bar needs to look and, hey, smell like a bar! I like it here because the crowd is generally friendly, not so rowdy, and sometimes, there’s a band comprised of young people that I do not know. (We did manage to catch UDD twice, so hurray!) But no worries, I like the music. Of course, get the salpicao and the oysters.
When we want it quiet, we go to Hermano’s (Molito Commercial Center, Madrigal Avenue corner Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City. Tel. No. +63 2 5191062). They serve all sorts of taco and burrito, which works well with beer. Extra jalapeno please! Ready PHP400/pax.
