Quiapo Food Trip: From Street Food to Unique Maranao Dishes
When it comes to food trip spots around Metro Manila, Quiapo rarely comes to mind. Instead, most people head to Maginhawa, Kapitolyo, Poblacion, or BGC, to name a few. And that’s a shame because there are delicious cuisines to be found in this district!
I’ve already done this food crawl twice. The first was a paid food tour by Sir Jing Ordoña (Manilakad Tours), a local historian who knows the streets in Quiapo like the back of his hands. The second was a casual food trip with friends, where we checked out some spots missed on my first time here.
I’ve written this guide for people like me who likes discovering new cuisines in the Philippines. As a travel blogger who’s done food crawls even in far-flung places like Zamboanga, I find Quiapo to be an underrated foodie destination and here you’ll find out why.
In this guide, you’ll find the best Quiapo restaurants and food stalls we’ve visited, as well as those recommended by others. For the spots I’ve personally tried, you’ll find and honest review on whether it’s really worth it to visit.
Are you ready? Tara lets mag-foodtrip sa Quiapo!
Note: Please check current prices on the restaurants’ respective social media pages. Prices may vary without notice.
Contents
What to expect in Quiapo
Located at the heart of Manila, Quiapo has a lively yet gritty reputation. Notably, it is home to Quiapo Church, a spiritual landmark home to the revered Black Nazarene statue.
When doing a Quiapo food trip, expect to visit bustling local markets, streetside carinderias, and other lesser-known food stops. Here you can find not just regular local food, but delicious Maranao cuisine, as well as Asian/Middle Eastern fare.
The food prices here are pretty affordable — in fact, some of the most affordable prices I’ve seen while living in the metro. Where else can you get a delicious rice meal for only P30?
So don’t worry about budgeting. Just bring enough appetite and curiousity to discover Quiapo’s best offers.
Best Restaurants and Other Food Stops
Aling Mely’s Turon
This is a pop-up stall that sells giant turon, as well as banana cue. It’s said that this is SM’s inspiration for their popular langka turon.
Starting in 1981, Aling Mely has been selling turon for over 40 years now, that the food stall is practically a landmark in the Quiapo food scene. With this, she was able to send her six children to school. Each turon is large and consist of three pieces of saba, strips of langka, and sesame seeds.
Oh, and each one costs P25 only! I liked this stop, as it’s historical as much as a fun addition to our food trip.
Note: This food stall is open from 2 PM to 5 or 6 PM only. It is easy to miss. It’s located in front of Casa Consulado, along San Sebastian Street, beside San Sebastian Church.
Quinta Market
This is a great place to find fresh produce, meat, and seafood. If you’re not keen on exploring the rest of Quiapo, you can keep it safe and shop at Quinta Market instead.
You can find typical street food, the famous Quiapo-style sotanghon soup, as well as tubs of chicken biryani.
Muslim Town
When doing a food tour around Quiapo, the one place you shouldn’t miss is the Muslim Town. Here you can find streetside vendors and eateries offering Maranao food, halal food for Muslims, and Asian/Middle Eastern food.
Take a stroll around its bustling streets. Some of the notable items you’ll find are:
- Palapa. A sweet and spicy condiment, which originated from the Maranao people of Lanao del Sur. It is used for Maranao dishes such as beef rendang and sometimes as salad dressing. It is made of native scallions (known as sakurab), ginger, turmeric, chili, and toasted grated coconut.
- Dodol. A Maranao sweet made from sticky rice, coconut milk, and sugar from sugarcane.
- Biyaki. A Maranao snack made of steamed cassava and young corn.
- Smoked tuna.
- Maranao food such as chicken pastil, piaparan, and riyandang. You can find these in streetside carinderias and proper restaurants.
Pater ni Intan
This pop-up carinderia is one of the best places to taste Maranao food. They sell mainly chicken piaparan and chicken riyandang (or rendang). If you’re lucky, you might even witness them preparing the food in a large wok!
Piaparan and riyandang are delicious, spicy dishes made with palapa, grated coconut (or papar), and a variety of herbs and spices. Piaparan uses turmeric, while rendang uses soy sauce.
I love this spot so much that I always make sure to order extra for take home. I think it’s tastier than the usual viands we know. As of our visit, each complete rice meal costs P30 only!
Take note: these dishes are really spicy. I can comfortably eat piaparan, but riyandang is a bit of a challenge for me. Make sure to have something to quench the spiciness if you’re not used to eating spicy.
June-Nairah Halal Food Restaurant
This restaurant serves a wide range of Maranao-style, halal food including piaparan and beef rendang. A decent option if you want to taste Maranao food with a proper sit-down area.
Arab Asian Resto Cafe
A short walk from Pater ni Intan, you’ll find Arab Asian Resto Café, a restaurant that serves various food such as roti and paratha bread, chicken masala, biryani, and more. Drinks like teh tarik, kopi, and lassi are also available.
This is one of my favorites for a variety of reasons. One is that they serve roti and teh tarik that taste similar to that in Kuala Lumpur. It certainly gave me feelings of nostalgia. We also tried a few their rice dishes, which were all delicious.
The prices here are really affordable, too. I couldn’t believe my eyes when their mug of teh tarik costs P35, when in other restaurants this usually costs P100 or above.
While waiting for your food, take a look around the café. They house a collection of miniature houses and other toys. Or just enjoy the airconditioning — a rare amenity when exploring Quiapo.
Jolli Dada’s Eatery
Jolli Dada’s Eatery is famous for their palabok, as well as halo-halo. It has recently become viral when it got featured in the documentary Manila Food Streetfood, Season 2.
This casual eatery is one of Quiapo’s oldest dining spots. It was established in 1940 by Aling Dada’s great grandmother. It was then managed by Jolli Dada until her passing away in 2021. Today, it’s being run by Jolli Dada’s relatives.
When we first visited here, the queue was so long that we just ordered from the other palabok stall beside it. On our second visit, we were able to finally get seats. The palaboks were already prepared beforehand, so you don’t have to wait when you order.
I think the palabok was decent. The sauce is thick and has various toppings like squid and egg. Honestly there are other palabok versions that I think are better. But for P70 per order, I really wouldn’t complain.
Jolli Dada’s Eatery is located at Lutong Maynila, a food court under Quiapo Bridge, just beside Quinta Market and Fish Port.
5&2 Coffeehouse
5&2 Coffeehouse is a modern café located along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo. They feature coffee, pastries, and snacks with a Filipino twist. Some of their bestsellers include Ube Latik Latte, Palitaw Latte, Buko Pandan Latte, and Mango Latte. For food, try out their black kutsina with yema dip and nilupak.
This café is interesting because it stands in contrast to the nitty-gritty feel of Quiapo. It’s a nice spot to hang out and chill when you’re tired of shopping or sampling food outside. I also like that they’re innovating drinks with a local twisst.
I tried the Palitaw Latte and it tasted just like palitaw. Haha. I don’t know what I was expecting. Nilupak was good although a bit sweet for me. Nonetheless, this is another food stop I would recommend on a Quiapo food crawl.
Globe Lumpia House
Globe Lumpia House is famous for its lumpiang sariwa, a fresh vegetable spring roll made with heart of palm or ubod. It’s sometimes compared to the famous lumpiang sariwa in Binondo.
We tried just one piece of lumpiang sariwa. It was too soggy for me. That’s all I can say.
Pasalubong
Don’t leave Quiapo without stopping by at least one of these pasalubong places:
Bakerite Bakery
Bakerite Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in Quiapo District. It was established in 1946 by an immigrant from China. They are known for their soft breads, especially the Rainbow Bread.
Fun fact: This is also where Filipinos got the term “tasty,” which is used to refer to any white bread loaf.
We tried their ensaymada and corned beef pandesal, which were okay. I don’t think it’s much different from other breads you can get elsewhere, but it’s a good stop if you want to get to know more about historical establishments in Quiapo.
Currently, there is one branch of Bakerite Bakery, located along Legarda Street (close to San Sebastian Church).
Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory
Hopia is one of the beloved snacks among Filipinos. Established in 1927, this hopia factory makes traditional pugon-baked hopia that you can enjoy or take home as pasalubong.
Here you can try various kinds of hopia, such as regular monggo, black monggo, baboy, and salted egg.
Excelente Chinese Cooked Ham
Excelente is a popular spot for Chinese-cooked ham. Expect long queues especially during the holiday season. They also offer ham sandwiches, if you just want to try the meat.
It is located close to Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory.
Café Kabuhayan
This stall is located beside Quinta Market, just across Jolli Dada’s Eatery. They sell raw coffee beans from all over the Philippines. You can actually smell the delicious aroma of the beans as you look at the displayed jars.
Whether it’s Sagada Arabica, Benguet, Kalinga, or Barako — you can find that here in Café Kabuhayan. The prices are affordable and you can buy them at half or whole kilos.
Other Spots to Visit in Quiapo
These are some Quiapo tourist attractions that you can visit if you have more time. There are more historical streets and areas than included here, but in my opinion if you’re visiting for the food, it’s best to focus on the food.
Quiapo Church
One of the landmarks at Quiapo District. It is home to the Black Nazarene. Around the church, you’ll find alternative medicines, herbs, and fortune tellers.
San Sebastian Church
The only Gothic-style church in the Philippines. This is near Aling Mely’s turn food stall, so you might as well make a short stop to see the all-metal structure and stained-glass windows inside.
Golden Mosque
Located at Muslim Town, the Golden Mosque (or Masjid al-Dahab in Arabic) is a place of worship known by its distinct golden dome, topped with a crescent moon.
It was built by (now convicted) First Lady Imelda Marcos to honor the visit of then Libya President Muammar al-Gaddafi. However, the president’s visit was eventually canceled. Today, it stands as a center of Islamic culture in Manila.
Reminders and Tips
Here are some essential must-knows when you’re visiting Quiapo for a food crawl:
- Bring cash. Most stalls in Quiapo operate on a cash-only basis. Bring small bills for easy transactions.
- Keep safe. One of the reminders that Sir Jing told us is to keep watch of belongings at all times. On both times that I’ve been here, I haven’t experienced any untoward incidents. But Quiapo is still Quiapo, so for your sake, be alert and watch out for pickpockets.
- Go early. I recommend going here early, around 9 AM or so. Quiapo can get very busy, especially around Plaza Miranda and Quiapo Church, so this gets you a chance to avoid the crowd. Just as importantly, some of the stalls (like Aling Mely’s and Globe Lumpia House) close early, at around 5 or 6 PM, so going early gives you ample time to explore all the notable food spots.
- Dress comfortably. Wear comfortable clothes and keep your belongings minimal. A cross-body bag or a secure backpack is ideal.
- Respect local customs. When visiting religious sites like Quiapo Church and the Golden Mosque, dress modestly and observe proper etiquette.
What to Bring
Here are the things you should bring:
- Reusable water bottle.
- Reusable utensils. When you’re dining in streetside carinderias for chicken pastil, or even stopping by Patir ni Intan, you will be given plastics for gloves and/or plastic utensils. I was honestly concerned with the amount of disposables being used at the food stalls. If you want to do your share for sustainability, bring reusable utensils that you can use instead.
- Reusable bags. A foldable, reusable bag is useful especially if you plan on buying food for take out. Believe me, it is hassle to walk while holding multiple plastic bags.
How to Plan Your Quiapo Food Trip
I suggest getting a Google Map and then putting a pin on places you want to visit.
If you want to start at the center, here is a rough itinerary:
- Quinta Market
- Jolli Dada’s Eatery
Optional: Café Kabuhayan, Excelente Ham, Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory - Patir ni Intan
- Arab Asian Resto Café
- 5&2 Coffee House
- Globe Lumpia House
- Aling Mely’s
Optional: San Sebastian Church, Bakerite Bakery
In my recent visit, we started around 9 AM and then had our final stop at around 2 PM. This was a very relaxed food crawl, with plenty of time to chat while eating.
This food trip is very budget-friendly. We are a group of 3 people and we spent about P500 each only.
How to get to Quiapo
There are various ways to get to Quiapo, depending on where you’re coming from.
By commute
- By jeepney: Many routes pass through Quiapo, with major stops at Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda. Look for jeepneys labeled “Quiapo” from nearby areas like Taft Avenue, Manila City Hall, or Cubao.
- By bus: Buses with routes heading to Quiapo, Manila City Hall, or nearby Lawton often have stops within walking distance of Quiapo.
- By train: Take the LRT Line 1 and get off at Carriedo Station. From there, it’s a short walk to Quiapo Church and the main market area. This is one of the fastest ways to avoid road traffic and get close to Quiapo.
By private car
If you’re bringing a private car, take note of the limited parking spaces in Quiapo. Here are some of the parking spots you can try:
- Quinta Market. One of the safest places to park in Quiapo. Unfortunately, it tends to get full easily, so to be safe have a backup destination in mind.
- San Sebastian Church. About 10-15 minutes walk from the Quinta Market. Easy to park even on weekends and there is no fee. I recommend parking here if you’re starting your food trip at Aling Mely’s.
- Isetann’s. Secured parking but also limited, narrow spaces. About 5-10 minutes walk from Quinta Market.
That ends our Quiapo food trip guide. Do you have other recommendations for the best Quiapo restaurants and food stops? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
