Mandaluyong Food Crawl: Bulalo, Mami, and Pakistani Food
Beef Biryani at Tanveer Halal Kitchenette
I realized that I have mostly confined my foodventures to Makati (where I live) and the nearby Bonifacio Global City (BGC). So I decided to explore the cities in the Metro, especially Manila and Quezon City (QC), and feature dishes and food spots (normally 3) that are worth a foodventure. For this article, I will share 3 dishes/meals from the city of Mandaluyong. They are:
Bulalo at R&J Bulalohan (Brgy. Plainview)
Bulalo is one of the iconic Filipino dishes of all time. It’s a bone-in beef shank soup mixed with vegetables and sometimes even bananas. While this dish is available in many carinderias (eateries) and restaurants in the Metro, I believe that a 2 to 3-hour drive to either Tagaytay City or Batangas for a bulalo fix is still worth the travel. Now I’m thinking of doing a bulalo crawl! *Drools*
But if you don’t have the time, then you can just go R&J Bulalohan for your bulalo fix. Housed in a bahay kubo- (small hut) like venue, this food spot is an institution in Mandaluyong, frequented by loyal patrons and even celebrities for their bulalo. You’ll notice this on their photo wall.
R&J Bulalohan
The Bahay Kubo Interiors of R&J
Their bulalo has a tender meat and nice crunch from the vegetables. But the winner for me is the bone marrow, which is incredibly generous and amazingly rich.
Bulalo Special (P439)
Address: Boni Ave., Brgy. Plainview, Mandaluyong City | Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours | Facebook
Mami at Charlie Wanton Special (Brgy. Daang bakal)
Mami is the Filipino version of Chinese noodle soup. Its ingredients vary per recipe and is commonly sold by peddlers, public market stalls, and restaurants. My go-to mami spot is Ma Mon Luk or Masuki. Eating its bowl of noodles bring nostalgia to me. In Mandaluyong, Charlie Wanton Special is the food spot for your mami fix.
Charlie Wanton Special (Beef Wanton Mami Special: P220)
I tried their Beef Wanton Mami. It’s broth is has a good beef flavor and the noodles are nicely chewy. The chunks of beef are nicely braised but it lacks tenderness. The highlight is the wantons, which have a thin wrapper and are plump and meaty. Overall, it is one of the best mami I have ever tried.
Address: 265 Haig Street, Brgy. Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM
Pakistani Food at Tanveer Halal Kitchenette
I learned about this eatery through a video shared by a friend. At first, I was skeptical about it. It’s just my default mindset when there is a new spot serving international cuisine, especially when its Indian, Middle Eastern, and South East Asian cuisines. My primary concern is authenticity. But my skepticism was alleviated when I learned that the eatery is helmed by a Pakistani chef.
Tanveer Halal Kitchenette serves authentic Pakistani food. It used to be a take-out only stall in another part of Mandaluyong back in 2019. Then it moved to its current location where it’s now a dine-in eatery.
Tanveer Halal Kitchenette
I learned about Tanveer a few days before closing its first location. I had to wait for a month and my patience was rewarded with amazing (and affordable!) Pakistani food. I tried a few dishes:
Beef Biryani: The rice is flavorful and fluffy. The beef is tender though I wish it had more flavors. There are huge chunks of potatoes hiding in the rice, as well as chilies which give a nice kick of spice.
Beef Biryani (P270)
Chicken Curry: Nothing spectacular about this dish. But it’s a staple in Pakistani cuisine so you have to get it.
Dhal (Lentil Stew): It has a nice flavor (although my slurp is distorted because of the chilis from the biryani). It also have a nicely mushy texture. This dish reminds me of Monggo (Filipino mung bean stew), a true comfort food for me!
Dhal (Small: P55; Large: P85)
The biryani and dhal were incredible. I will definitely be coming back at Tanveer to try more dishes. (By the way, I had a quick chat with the chef and he plans to expand his menu by adding Chicken Tandoori and Naan. Okay, I have to return soon! And maybe I should make a full feature.)
Address: 19D Domingo M. Guevarra St. (formerly Libertad St.), Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City | Operating Hours: Daily, 2:30PM-8:30PM | Facebook
What food spots above have you visited or would like to visit? What Mandaluyong food spot should I visit next? Comment them below!