10 Wallet-Friendly Lunch Options Under P300 in Mandaluyong
IMAGE Majoy SiasonMandaluyong is packed with good restaurant finds, specifically in the Ortigas CBD and on Shaw Boulevard, as well as residential areas like Highway Hills. But when your wallet is gathering dust bunnies and you’re crawling towards the 15th or the 30th, don’t worry because the city also has lots of budget-friendly dining choices for you. We’ve listed down a few that won’t have you spending any more than P300.
IMAGE Jericho San MiguelFinding the perfect lunch spot around Highway Hills is tough; sometimes, you just want a break from all the fast-food joints that dot the little neighborhood. Luckily, The Giving Café has your one-hour break covered. Their extensive menu ranges from small bites and coffee to family-sized, hearty meals. Cubicle dwellers will love the restaurant’s rice plates and noodle dishes, which aren’t only filling, but affordable, too!
Must-tries: Taiwanese Fried Chicken rice topping (P215), Beef Pares (235), Lomi (P168)
The Giving Café is at 1550 Sheridan Street corner Pines Street, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Majoy SiasonOne of the hardest choices you have to make at least once a day is figuring out where you’re going to have lunch. The Podium’s newest dining destination, The Corner Market, makes life just a bit easier for Ortigas residents and office workers by bringing together 17 food concepts all in a single space. Now, you don’t need to go far if you want some sundae after your sushi, or sangria with your pad thai. To make your decision-making faster, don’t miss these crowd favorites: Inari by Hamaru for fresh Japanese bites, Easy, Tiger for street-food style Thai dishes, and The Meat Depot for your all-day steak cravings.
Must-tries: Grilled Thai Sausage (P160) at Easy, Tiger; Salmon Submarine (P195) at Inari by Hamaru; Pho Bo Kho (P200) at Ca Phe Saigon; Lemon Yogurt Chicken Bowl (P250) at Gusto!The Corner Market is at 2/F The Podium, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
If you’re crazy for cheese and fried chicken, head over to Tori Chizu. Not only does the new Japanese fast-service chain combine Asian and Western flavors, but they also marry two comfort classics in one plate. Don’t leave without trying their signature baked rice meals, served with your protein of choice and fluffy white rice, and topped with gooey melted mozzarella. Best part? It’s served on a sizzling plate so your meal stays warm until the last bite!
Must-tries: Tori Chizu Original Chicken Baked Rice (P145), Sesame Fish Baked Rice (P155)
Tori Chizu is at UG/F Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Ramen Daisho Facebook page
Ramen DaishoFried food instantly makes any meal a winner, and Ramen Daisho’s deep-fried Japanese specialties deserve to be on anyone’s lunch-break checklist. Their bento boxes are sizeable and give a lot of bang for your buck—every order comes with your choice of fried treat: Tonkatsu, chicken katsu, or ebi tempura. On the other hand, each platter is also complete with side dishes like miso soup, fluffy white rice, and stir-fried vegetables. Next time you’re scouring for a restaurant on your next lunch out, you know where to go.
Must-tries: Tonkatsu Bento (P250/ala carte, P300/with sides), Ebi Fry Bento (P250/ala carte, P300/with side), Chicken Katsu Bento (P250/ala carte, P300/with side)
Ramen Daisho is at Liberty Center, Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Majoy SiasonSince Din Tai Fung opened their first Manila branch in 2016, they’ve been a staple restaurant of foodies for their affordable and tasty classic Taiwanese dishes. While their xiao long bao is among the best soup dumplings you can find in the Metro, they also have other items that deserve the limelight. The Pork Chop Fried Rice makes for the perfect lunch meal, with crunchy Asian-style fried pork cutlets laid atop a bed of a mixed-vegetable fried rice. But if noodles are your carb of choice, you won’t regret ordering the Noodles with House Special Spicy sauce, which comes with hand-pulled noodles swimming in a rich deep-red, chili-based paste.
Must-tries: Noodles with House Special Spicy Sauce (P120), Pork Chop Fried Rice (P270), Dry Noodles with Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wontons (P245)
Din Tai Fung is at G/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Bakmi Nyonya Facebook pageBakmi Nyonya
Bakmi Nyonya is one of Mandaluyong’s best-kept secrets. The small stall may be hidden in the Pioneer Street Market food court, but that doesn’t stop residents and office people from going a bit out of their way to dine here during lunch time. Offering traditional Indonesian food to-go, Bakmi Nyonya boasts their homemade fresh noodles, which make an appearance in most of their dishes. Don’t leave without trying the spicy bakmi goreng, which you can have with your choice of protein like chicken, shrimp, or plain egg.
Must-tries: Bakmi Goreng Ayam (P120), Babi Sate (P50/two sticks), Beef Rendang (P170)
Bakmi Nyonya is at Pioneer Street Market, Pioneer Street corner Reliance Street, Mandaluyong City.
Plana’s Pantry is a low-key brunch place in Mandaluyong that serves up classic breakfast staples, which you can have all day. You can also find some lunch-time eats in their extensive menu, including a lot of pastas, sandwiches, and rice meals that are just what you’re looking for when your tummy starts rumbling come noon. Their Hickory BBQ Ribs is pleasantly sweet, smoky, and tender—it’s served with the restaurant’s signature herby pesto rice and buttered vegetables on the side.
Must-tries: Hickory BBQ Ribs (P285), Country Fried Chicken (P230), Chicken Teriyaki (P230)
Plana’s Pantry is at G/F RC Building, 50 Domingo M. Guevara Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Ramen Kuroda Facebook pageRamen Kuroda
Whoever said ramen is only for paydays probably hasn’t heard of Ramen Kuroda before. For less than P300, you can get a steaming hot bowl of the popular noodle dish that won’t disappoint your taste buds, nor your wallet. The Aka Ramen is a crowd favorite, with a rich and spicy tonkotsu broth topped with a thick slice of tender pork belly and a soft-boiled tamago. If ramen is too hot for the weather, Ramen Kuroda also has budget-friendly rice toppings that will fill you up.
Must-tries: Aka Ramen (P180), Katsudon (P220)
Ramen Kuroda is at TV5 Media Center, Sheridan Street corner Reliance Street, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Madeca Facebook page
MadecaWith their playful Filipino-Mexican dishes and brightly colored interiors, Madeca is hard to pass up when you’re in Ortigas CBD. You can’t go wrong with their crazy-flavored burritos, with fillings like lechon kawali and salpicao. Their Mexikanin rice platters are also something to look forward to—we recommend you get the sisig variant, which comes with a big scoop of classic, borderline creamy sisig (thanks to the eggs) and turmeric-stained garlic fried with a Mexican flair.
Must-tries: Sisig Rice (P235), Lechon Kawali Burrito (P255)
Madeca is at 5/F The Podium, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
IMAGE Majoy SiasonWith the café’s sleek and minimalist interiors and great food at reasonable price points, it’s easy to add YDG Coffee to your daily grind. An acronym for “your daily grind,” the millennial-led coffee shop will spoil you with comforting meals, like creamy pastas and gooey grilled cheese. Café-campers are also a usual sight here—with power sockets and WiFi, you might just find yourself hanging out here beyond your lunch break.
Must-tries: Grilled Cheese Sandwich (P179), Breakfast Platter (P249), Triple Mushroom Cream (P249)
YDG Coffee is at Mandala Park, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
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nakaka gutom naman yannnn.
wow
yummy
Nice
