AFTER long, laborious, and grueling classes, students would be going out of classrooms with one hand on their empty stomachs and the other on their near-empty pockets. For old timers, choosing a place to eat would be a cinch. But for freshmen, finding cheap but clean and delicious food may prove difficult. To help them decide, here is an off-campus gastronomic guide.
A few blocks away from the Dapitan gate is V. Concepcion St., which boasts of four food joints—Cely’s, Lisa’s, Merrie’s and Hapag.
Though a small eatery, Cely’s can be easily recognized through the blue sign board bearing its name. Its specialty is Pork Chop, a succulent, lip-smacking satisfaction. Served with rice, the meal costs only P40.
Silog meals, a combination of Sinangag and Itlog, plus either a particular viand like Tapa or Longganisa, are also available from P25 to P50. If you are only craving for a light merienda, Cely’s also serves appetizing short orders like Bihon and Canton at P35 each.
“We serve affordable but dainty food to our student customers and make sure they are well-attended,” said owner Cely Venzon.
Aside from its delectable menu, the two-floor eatery is properly maintained with visibly clean areas and good ventilation.
Nearby is Lisa’s, famous for its Roasted Chicken.
“It is very affordable since the size of the food serving, which is about one-fourth of a whole chicken, is big enough for a hearty meal so students really get the value of their money,” said owner Samuel Torres.
A quarter-size portion costs P50, while half a whole chicken, which is good for two people costs only P90.
With meals costing from P25 to P50, Lisa’s even includes complimentary side dishes such as French fries, fresh tomatoes and onions to its dishes. Even though the place is a bit cramped, it has a spacious second floor than can accommodate more customers. Torres also said he is a stickler for sanitation so before closing, he makes sure that every nook and cranny of the eatery is spick and span.
Just across Cely’s is Merrie’s, an eatery with a very homey look, save for the fastfood-inspired counter seats. With its menu consisting of homemade specialties such as Beefsteak, Barbecue, Sinigang and Chopsuey, students can easily enjoy the ambience of home-cooking.
“When they miss their mother’s cooking, they can just drop by here and eat our house favorite, Adobo,” said Merrie Cayabyab, owner. Although the ground floor is small, having only four tables near the counter, the second floor is spacious and can cater to some 30 students.
At the farthest end of V. Concepcion St. is Hapag-Kainan. Judging from the resto’s moniker, student customers can expect a very traditional Filipino set-up. Hapag’s viands and side dishes are placed in kawali and palayok.
“Since our customers are mostly students, we’d like our displays, especially our food, to be eye-candy for them,” said Purita Rogay, an employee of the eatery.
Hapag offers food choices in two quantities—half orders which cost from P18 to P29, and whole orders from P27 to P42. Deliciously simmering Sisig, the house specialty, is priced at P29 for half an order and P42 for whole.
Even if this eatery gets packed with customers, the efficient staff assures waiting patrons clean tables and seats at once.
Long-standing eatery at Alfredo’s
The street after V. Concepcion, Alfredo St. is a narrow alley where Almer’s is located. This luncheon boasts of 15 years (and counting) of unwavering service to the Thomasian appetite. The business’ longevity can be attributed to its delectable menu and wholesome staff service.
Opened in 1992, no signs of aging can be seen on its white-painted walls. And like before, the dining staff clad in green uniforms is still eagerly ready to serve with a smile.
“Our customers wanted Lechon Kawali, so we added it to our menu,” said Katrina David, daughter of the owner. “Whatever the customer wants, we will deliver.”
The two-floor eatery is notably famous for its Sisig, which is cooked using an old secret recipe, and comes with gravy, an odd combination that is surprisingly scrumptious. Meal prices range from P40 to P75, all served with rice and a small scoop of mashed potato. Silog meals, on the other hand, range from P35 to P40.
Students thinking of eating here should come quickly because arriving only minutes late after lunch time will get them disappointed to see the place already pack full of patrons. Blame it on the eatery’s massive popularity.
Quick food stops at Asturias
Can’t wait to munch on burgers and hotdogs? Lovelyt and KNK Snak Haus are the places to go to. Located at Asturias St., these food stalls are not as average as they appear. Here, Thomasians get to enjoy their food at the open sidewalk and if one is in need of photocopying service, Lovelyt offers this as well.
In Lovelyt, prices range from P13 to P30 for hotdog and egg sandwiches and P15 to P25 for burgers. As for KNK Snak Haus, sandwiches cost from P14 to P25, burgers from P15 to P25 and hotdogs from P16 to P30.
To match these snack chows, both food stops serve fresh fruit shakes in mango, watermelon and strawberry variants priced at P12, P15, and P20 for small, medium and large orders.
Aside from the light merienda they serve, Lovelyt and KNK Snak Haus also offer lunch meals. Both eateries serve rice meals with either siomai or footlong hotdog coupled with condiment of choice at P25 and P33 respectively.
Filling Tiger meals at P. Noval
Just across the P. Noval gate is the Lopez Canteen, where most UST athletes dine out. Laden with Chinese ornaments and posters of the Tigers hanging on the walls, Lopez is apparently proud of its frequent customers—the 69th UAAP Basketball champions.
Owner Teodora Lopez also takes high regard over the house specialty, Spaghetti served with a hefty helping of firm noodles and sweet luscious sauce sprinkled with cheese and loads of hotdog bits–all humbly priced at P50. Other short order meals range from P25 to P45.
Lopez Canteen also offers combo meals consisting of any viand with rice at P60 and Palabok with Puto at P55. These meals come with soft drinks and side dishes such as fried lumpia or vegetables as well.
As for members of certain organizations such as the Yellow Jackets and Scarlet, they can avail themselves of discounts at Lopez through their certified organization cards.
Beating Almer’s with its 46 years of service to the Thomasian community, this eatery is definitely still in tip-top shape to serve Tigers and Thomasians.
Sure enough, thrifty students do not have to look far every time they want to eat good food with affordable prices. With a mere P50 in hand and a few strides here and there, gastronomic satisfaction is never too far away. Tanya Justine R. Baldovino
