Street Food Frenzy

standing in line waiting for my treat...

We've always noted people flocking extraordinarily around a food stall in Cubao MRT. After a few times that we've been passing by it, we decided to give it a try. The food stall's name is "tusok," and their specialty, fried innards from chicken intestine (isaw) to pork innards (mag wheels) and so much more.

Food ordered: Fried Isaw

Location: Tusok Food stall, Cubao MRT station

Cost: P25 per 4 pieces

She says...
Fried isaw in this stall is really yummy. It's got a nice blend of sweetness and saltiness along with the chewy texture of the chicken intestine makes this a truly perfect yet inexpensive treat for a hungry Juan. I really love this treat that I can't wait to drop by this stall the next time we alight from Cubao MRT.

She rates: 4.5/5

He says...
I'm not a fan of fried intestines or isaw but when you're busy you just have to make do and if you happened to be in Cubao MRT, this is probably the best choice. Like all isaw it has the slimey texture of innards that I dislike. Good thing there's vinegar to cover it all up.
He rates: 2/5 (not hungry) 3.5/5 (when hungry)

Stuffed Pastry Treat

quiet food stall near MRT Ayala exit

Walking long distances, riding in a congested train and alighting in almost the farthest station would truly make one hungry. Perhaps that is the reason why MRT stations are lined with several different food stalls to choose from. One of which had caught our eye, Empanada Especiale. It's just a small food stall selling empanadas or stuffed baked pastry.  They offered 4 variants, chicken, ham and cheese, tuna, and pork.

We tried out their ham and cheese and chicken variants.

Location: Empanada Especiale, Ayala MRT Station

Food Ordered: Ham and Cheese and Chicken Empanada

Cost: P20 each

She says...

The stuffed pastry was really tasty. The chicken variant reminded me of the empanadas baked and sold in bakeries in the province, really tasty, meaty and so flavorful. The ham and cheese variant on the other hand was the one I liked most. The pastry really had that huge chunk of semi-molten cheese inside that was wrapped around a slice of sweet ham. It was just perfect.

She rates: 5/5

He says...

Empandas on my hand!

Who would have thought you'd find delicious empanada on an MRT station? Edible, sure. Decent, perhaps. But delicious, that's something else.

The empanada from this stall reminded me of  one of my favorite snack houses in the province. There was a right balance between the wrapping and the filling. The bread does not overwhelm the meat and vice versa. I liked both but the ham and cheese variant reminded me more of that snack house and so I liked it more.

This is one of those stalls that I'm sure I'll always be visiting when I pass by MRT Ayala.

He rates: 5/5

Siomai @Siomai House

siomai with chili and garlic on top @Siomai House

It was quite a busy day for us, travelling to and fro from one office to another. The day was literally jam-packed with a load of activities that we realized it was already about 1pm when we reached SM Megamall. We headed to the basement for the needed recopying of ID photos. While awaiting for the photos to be done, we dropped by the food court where we decided to gobble up an order of steamed Chinese dimsum or what we commonly know as, siomai from Siomai House.

It's been a while since we ate a couple of these shrimp and pork dumplings with garlic and chilis on top plus a quirt of calamansi. Alongside, we had a bottle of buko water from Louie's.

Location: Siomai House/ Louie's Buko Juice, SM Megamall Foodcourt

Food Ordered: Pork and Shrimp Siomai/ Bottled Buko Juice

Cost: Siomai: P30 per 4 pieces, Buko Water (500ml): P42

She says...

I still like how it tasted. The food texture was just right. It was flavorful. Unlike other siomai's out there, I can still feel and taste the meat. Not much extender. The size is still the same although they did raise the price from then P25 to now P30 per order of 4 pieces of this dimsum delight. The buko juice complements the taste of the siomai although I don't find it to be fresh (guess 'coz it's been bottled up already.) Fresh buko juice has a certain sweetness this bottled one missed out. But, it was truly a satisfying treat.

She rates: 4/5 for the siomai @Siomai House and 3/5 for Louie's Buko Juice

He says...

A year or two ago, a quick snack at Siomai House was my favorite thing to do when strolling at SM Megamall. Their siomai has a good strong taste that you can really feel once it touches your tongue. I always partner this up with a bottle of Buko Juice to counter the strong flavor.

I don't know what's changed but that strong taste I love about Siomai House's siomai is gone. It was replaced by a gentler flavor that reminds you of tranquility. It's not my taste but it is still yummy.

Although the buko juice never changed. Still the same old watered-down buko juice that I enjoy.

He rates: 4/5 for the food and 4/5 for the buko juice.

Nachos @Juancho Nachos

nachos with beef and cheese @Juancho Nachos

Nachos are usually a yummy treat when you find yourself tired of walking and in the mood for a snack. We saw this stall in Greenhills V-mall after walking around through the gadget stalls of which this mall is known of. They offered nachos, buritos and quesadillas but we opted for the nachos. We ordered their large nachos with cheese and beef toppings.

Location: Juancho Nachos, Foodcourt, Greenhills Shopping Mall

Food Ordered: Nachos with Cheese and Beef toppings (large)

Cost: P100.00

She says...

The nachos were fresh and crispy. Presentation wise, it looked yummy. Serving size was a bit small compared to other nacho stalls. The cheese was not so cheesy... I mean, it was a bit bland, diluted perhaps. The beef on the other hand was quite oily, not much flavor really. Grabbing another order... not really sure.

She rates: 2/5.

He says....

I hate cheese whiz. It's a very poor substitute for real cheese. That's what they put in this poor excuse for a Nacho. The meat we tried with the Nacho was beef and it tasted like under-cooked canned food. The nachos chips themselves were acceptable enough but what would have gone wrong from a ready-made ingredient? At first I thought we might try another item from their menu but after eating their nachos (it's in their name), I'm never eating there again unless I'm dying. 

He rates: 1/5

Over-all Rating: 1.5/5