Keep Calm and Eat Sisig: Uncle John's Sizzling House ng Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City

Malaki ang tsansa na lahat tayo ay may isa o dalawang tiyuhin na magaling magluto - mayroong ang specialty ay crispy pata, barbecue, o di kaya ay chicharong bulaklak. Alam mo na yun! Ito yung mga tipo ng pagkain na gusto mong lantakan kapag matatapos na ang mahabang linggo ng pag-aaral o pagtatrabaho. Gaya ngayon. Biyernes na!

Usapang tito na rin lang naman, eh alamin na natin kung sino si Uncle John ng sizzling house na ito sa Karuhatan. Ang kainang ito ay may dalawang 'John' - ang tatay ng may-ari at ang kanyang business partner na si Reynon. Na pwedeng-pwede mo rin namang tawaging uncle kapag kakain ka sa kanila. 

Uncle John's Sizzling House ng Barangay Karuhatan

"Nagugulat kami na may nangangatok na ng 11:00 ng umaga kahit na 12:00 pa ng tanghali ang bukas namin," sabi ni Jofi, ang isa sa may-ari ng kainan. Sila ni Reynon ay matagal nang nasa food service industry kung kaya't alam nila ang pisil ng masa. "Nung minsan naman, buong pamilya ang pumunta kahit magsasara na kami ng hatinggabi. Mula pa sa Canumay West," dagdag pa niya. Madalas rin daw na punuan sila kapag tanghalian at hapunan.

Family Rule Number 1: Be happy!

Anong meron sa kainang ito? Bestsellers nila ang sizzling plates na may UNLI RICE at UNLI GRAVY. Yes, you've heard it right, UNLI. At natikman ni One Valenzuela dito ang dalawang panalong sizzling plates nila: ang Sisig (P99.00) at T-Bone Steak (P149.00). 

Matutuwa kayo sa sisig nila dito. Tulad ng sisig na natikman ni One Valenzuela sa isang sikat na kainan sa Pampanga, hindi gumagamit ng mayonnaise ang Uncle John's. Wala ring MSG. Malasang-malasa at may crunch ang sisig ng Uncle John's. Solid, ika nga. 

Gravy pa lang, ulam na!

Ito naman ang T-Bone Steak. Malambot ang karne at masarap lagyan ng maraaaming gravy. 

Off the Menu: Laing Pasta. Inaabangan ng marami ang pagpopost ng Uncle John's Sizzling House sa Facebook kung mayroong Laing Pasta na available. Wala ito sa regular menu, ha. Para sa mga mahilig sa laing, you should not miss this. 

At dahil feel na feel na natin ang Friday, punta tayo kina Uncle John, our next-door Tito sa Karuhatan. Time to relax na,  just keep calm, and eat sisig. 

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Uncle John's Sizzling House
Location: 1252 Cristobal Street, Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
Sizzling Hours: 12:00nn-12:00mn, daily
Accepts deliveries and advanced orders.
Contact Number: Smart: 0920-4556324 / 0915-7869268
Follow Uncle John's Sizzling House on Facebook here.

Paano Makararating sa Uncle John's Sizzling House:

Mula sa Marulas (BBB McArthur), sumakay ng jeep papuntang Karuhatan. Bumaba sa Karuhatan Jeepney Market at lumakad papasok sa Karuhatan Public Market. Di na kailangang sumakay - maglakad lamang hanggang sa lumagpas ng Jeepney Terminal. Malapit ang Uncle John's Sizzling House sa lumang LTO sa Karuhatan. Ang Cristobal Street ay ang kalye bago mag-barangay hall.

Need to Fuel Your Cravings? Dine at Krave of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Craving for something really good to eat? Now, exactly a month old since it opened last July 28, 2019, Krave, a family-owned restaurant, of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon is quite busy in continuously serving diners with their very own rice meals, pasta, snacks, and sweet treats. 

A part of Krave's dining area. The whole place can be reserved for intimate functions, parties, and gatherings of 20-25 people.

To travel is to love.

Another cozy spot in the restaurant.

 "Lumaki kami sa pamilya na kapag may handaan, lahat ay kasama na mag-prepare ng pagkain. Kaya halos kaming lahat ay inclined sa pagluluto," Cath mentioned. Majority of the dishes on Krave's menu are the crowd favorites during their reunions and gatherings: her ate's carbonara, bunso's embutido, and her partner, Chef Chy's Malunggay Pesto (Admiringly, Chef Chy has won and was awarded a bronze medal in the Chef Wars competition at the World Trade Center back in college for the Filipino Fusion Cuisine category). Meanwhile, the boys of the family were tasked to work on the restaurant's interior. Thus, Krave is the result of everyone's efforts, bringing in their talents on cooking and designing together.

Munch on some crackers while waiting for the food to come.

Or maybe get a basket of nachos for a good start. Krave's nachos can be shared or eaten solo.

Good food is here na. Where na you?

For its rice meal line up, Krave has Breaded Pork, Tapa, Embutido, and Leny's Laing as its bestsellers. The pasta plates are also well received by diners, having adobo flakes, tuna pesto, carbonara, and mac & cheese as their favorites. The chicken wings of Krave is also a crowd drawer which comes in 6-pieces or 12 pieces. To end a good meal, churros, coffee jelly, and waffle may be ordered. "My nieces and nephews love waffles," Cath shared, further explaining that kids will definitely like the mentioned dessert.

Moreover, the meals that are served in Krave are all from scratch so you can be assured that what you are eating are all made with TLC.  For example, their tapa and embutido are all made from raw ingredients, not store-bought.

Leny's Laing is a favorite of One Valenzuela. Mommy Leny, the owners' mother, makes this signature dish out of gabi leaves and coconut milk as its main ingredients.

Adobo Flakes Pasta. An interesting twist where you will enjoy eating Classic Pinoy Adobo served with spaghetti. Adobo is a star among Filipino viands and this fusion dish nailed it so far.

Chicken Wings. The chicken wings come in three flavors: Original, Teriyaki, and Buffalo. The buffalo wings are really good - savory and just a bit spicy. "We adjust the spice level depending on our customer's request," the Krave team mentioned.

Finally ended the meal with a tall glass of Krave's creamy Coffee Jelly.

Look at those coffee jelly cubes! Sarap di ba?

Just like a car which needs some gas after a long drive, dining here will make you happy and all fueled up! So the next time you drop by Gen. T. De Leon, try this new dining spot and fill up that craving tank up to the brim. 

Thank you, Krave! 

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Krave: Fuel Your Cravings

Location: 3004 Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City (Landmark: across San Roque Supermarket)

Open Hours: 12:00nn-9:00pm, daily

Contact Number: 0927-6045165

Like and follow Krave on Facebook here for updates.

How to Go to Krave:

If you are coming from Valenzuela City Hall in Malinta, ride a jeepney (i.e. Monumento/Pier/Divisoria) which will pass by Karuhatan. Go down Karuhatan Jeepney Market and cross the road via bridge. Pass by the Karuhatan Wet and Dry Market. Go to the Jeepney Terminal which will go to Ugong (P9.00 as of this writing). Ask the jeepney driver to drop you near San Roque Supermarket. Krave is just a few meters across the said supermarket.

The Search for the Hidden Pancit Malabon in Malanday, Valenzuela City

There are food spots which are somewhat tricky to look for but are worth the effort and time to search for. One Valenzuela found herself looking for a humble pansitan in one of the streets of Barangay Malanday, Valenzuela City. The blog has recently received several messages regarding this pansitan, mentioning that this family-owned kainan cooks really good Pancit Malabon.

This street leads us towards the hidden pansitan in Malanday, Valenzuela City

The eatery is named after their well-loved grandmother, Aling Norma. This humble place serves authentic Pancit Malabon which many Valenzuelanos have already raved about since it opened. By meeting the Valdez family, One Valenzuela learned that Pancit Malabon was among the favorites of Aling Norma, who was a long time fruit seller just across Malanday Market. She also cooks well - a talent which she was able to pass to her children.

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon


Feast on some pansit palabok!

Aling Norma during her younger days. Papa Arnel Valdez also recounted that their house was transferred from Malabon to Valenzuela in 1962. "Nilipat yung bahay kubo namin mula sa Malabon papuntang Malanday, Valenzuela. Nagkaroon ng bayanihan noon," Sir Arnel remembered.

Papa Arnel Valdez, her eldest son, now cooks Aling Norma's favorite meal. "Nineteen years old palang ako, sumasakay na ako ng barko," Papa Arnel mentioned. He has been a ship cook for 37 years already. From there, he accumulated a rich cooking experience and exposure to a wide variety of cuisines.

Papa Arnel Valdez of Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon. One Valenzuela saw the dedication and perseverance. A Valenzuelano worth emulating.  

Artworks adorn the walls of the eatery.

Another amazing painting on the wall. This reminded One Valenzuela of the fishes in the park.

Authentic Pancit Malabon. Sir Arnel gets their pansit's ingredients from Malabon. You can have a plate of pansit at Php50.00 each. It is very filling and flavorful. You may also order this in packs.

One plate will lead to another plate... and another...and another...

What's different about Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon? It has strips of caramelized onion on top which gives it a richer taste. Of course, it has those big shrimp slices, pork strips, egg chunks, chicharon, and crisp veggies as well.  

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon also serves lutong ulam every Friday. Some of the dishes that you have to try are the following: Dinuguang Malabon, Fish Burger / Bidbid, Tortang Alimasag, Japanese Pork Teriyaki, Burger Steak with Mushroom Sauce, Korean Hot Pork, Lumpiang Hubad, Mexican Fish Fillet, Indian Tandoori Chicken, Ginisang Tahong, Stuffed Bell Pepper, Sweet Chicken Wings, Camaron Rebusado, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Bola-bola, etc. The menu varies and may also include more Japanese, Korean, Indian, and European dishes.

Photo Credit: Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon

A big heap of Pancit Malabon for Php300. This bilao can serve six people. Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon has a variety of bilao sizes which will fit your needs. 

Pansit na di tinipid. One of the reviewers on Facebook mentions that it is the best palabok in town.

Finally finding Aling Norma's Pancirt Malabon at A. Duque Street in Malanday was like finding a piece of Malabon, one of our neighbor city, in Valenzuela. Another food spot uncovered for more people, especially Valenzuelanos, to enjoy.

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Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon

Address: 38 A. Duque Street, Malanday, Valenzuela City 

(Landmark: Street beside CDO Malanday)

Open Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm, daily (except Thursday)

Contact No.: 432-2870 / 0905-2334431 / 0956-4296837

Like Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon on Facebook here.

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon is open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, except Thursdays.

The landmark is CDO Malanday. A. Duque Street is just beside it.

Where to Find Authentic Batangas Lomi: Doming's Lomi House at Barangay Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Tag-ulan na naman! (It's rainy season again!) We all exclaim this when June comes with its chilly rains and winds. We bid goodbye to summertime and say hello to our survival packs composed of umbrellas, slippers, and raincoats as we go to our offices to work and schools to study. For foodies like One Valenzuela, it is also but a must to know where to get good bowls of soup-based meals, a part of an unofficial "Where to Eat Survival Foodie Guide" during this cold season. So like a moth attracted to the light and warmth of a lamp, she wandered the streets last week, searching for the now well-known hole-in-the-wall lomihan at Barangay Gen. T. De Leon: Doming's Lomi House.

Rainy weather is Gala weather! Time to find a good bowl of lomi. In Photo: Special Lomi of Doming's Lomi House (Php40.00/bowl) 

It wasn't raining when One Valenzuela reached the 7-11 Convenient Store near Our Lady of Fatima University and so she decided to walk her way to the lomihan rather than ride the tricycle at the terminal. It's a good 15-20 minute walk  which is something that One Valenzuela leisurely enjoyed (Note: For those po who are not used to walking long distances, ride the tricycle.). To spice up the moment, it eventually rained! Good thing, she already saw the signage of the lomihan, dashing to the place (Second note: Don't forget your umbrella. You will never know when it will rain.). Lammmig!

And it suddenly rained! Thank God, One Valenzuela is almost near the lomihan.

Doming's Lomi House in action. The lomihan was opened last September 2017 and has been serving 2 house specials which people fall in line for: the lomi and the guisado.

Doming's Lomi House was packed with people when One Valenzuela came. It is a simple and no-frills lomihan. Good thing, a couple of diners were already done with their lomi bowls and were almost ready to leave. After getting the table, One Valenzuela ordered a lomi bowl and a plate of guisado, the two house specials. While waiting for the lomi and guisado to be cooked, more people came to dine in and waited for their turn to be seated. A few minutes later, One Valenzuela heard a number of people come, place big orders and, again, wait patiently.

People waiting to be seated. Nagkaubusan ng tinapay! Doming's Lomi House also has monay (bread) which they source from a local bakery. But if they ran out of stock, go to the nearby Malabanan Store and buy a pack or two (Php12.00/pack).

Yes, the lomi is worth the wait! Sooo, what's with their Batangas lomi? 

One: The noodles are brought to Valenzuela all the way from Batangas! The miki is not that salty as compared to the typical noodles we find in other restaurants serving lomi. And do take note of how many kilos of noodles are served in a typical day: about 70 kilos. On a holiday? It reaches around 90 kilos! Now, just imagine how many bowls of lomi are served with that volume of noodles.

Look at this bowl of piping hot and rich lomi. This is their Php40.00 bowl (Special). Ang daming laman! There's egg, chicharon, minced meat, kikiam, and liver.

You can also order a plate of guisado (Php60.00). It almost has the same ingredients sans soup. It also has vegetables. Sarap din! 

Two: Unlimited condiments. Big containers of fried garlic and chopped white onions are served on each table. One Valenzuela learned a lomi-eating trick here: she was taught that one should make a sawsawan composed of calamansi, soysauce, and chili. You can also add the onion and garlic to it (or directly to your lomi bowl). Scoop some of this with every spoonful of lomi. 

Filipinos love their condiments and Doming's Lomi House delivers this Pinoy tradition very, very well.

Three: It is cooked by Sir Doming Catapang, whom One Valenzuela would say is a legit lomi master! One Valenzuela asked a fellow customer waiting for her order on what she has to say about the lomi sold here. She said that "Dito ako pinabibili ng mga hipag kong taga-Batangas lagi. Kumpara mo sa lomi ng iba, yung lomi nila dito, hindi puro sabaw. Tsaka malasa talaga at malaman."

Sir Doming Catapang together with diners at the Lomi House. He personally cooks the lomi and guisado fresh from the kitchen. Thank you po for this quick photo-op amidst the very busy cooking hour!

Four: The price of the lomi is very affordable! As they say, pang-masa. Even though Barangay Gen. T. De Leon is a bit far from One Valenzuela's place, she has to say that it is worth visiting and is worth your money. She recommends that you go here with friends or families because the lomi bowls are really huge. Alternatively, order a takeaway for pasalubong because your loved ones will 100% appreciate the lomi here.

Lomi: Special (Php40); Jumbo (Php60); Super Jumbo (Php80 - this is really BIG!)
Guisado: Php60 per plate
Photo Credit: Facebook page of Doming's Lomi House

Busog! Thank you ladies for this snapshot.

So that's one foodie survival tip for the rainy season! Maraming salamat po to Doming's Lomi House for giving One Valenzuela a few minutes of your precious time for a short interview. 

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Doming's Lomi House

Address: 1372 Marissa Street, Barangay Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Open from Monday to Saturday, 7:00am to 7:00pm (Closed on Sundays)

Like Doming's Lomi House on Facebook here for updates. 

Doming's Lomi House

How to reach Doming's Lomi House:

The Facebook link below provides a detailed way of going to Doming's Lomi House. One Valenzuela will be posting the directions from the said link because it is very easy to follow:

Eatsploring Indian Food in Valenzuela City: Incredible India and Vana's at Isabelle de Valenzuela

Okay, One Valenzuela had to be honest about this. Her first eatsploration of the Indian cuisine did not go that well before which led her not to try it again for quite a long while. When she dropped a gown in a laundry shop for dry cleaning near Our Lady of Fatima University, she had to let her happy feet roam the streets. Unwind. It's time to let loose a bit. Find something interesting. Then, of course, eat.

She then looked up and saw the signs near the towering condominium's entrance. Oh, FOOD. Indian Food! Fate has brought you here. Should I...? Yes, you have to at least give it another chance.

And thank goodness, she did. Here are two food spots which offer Indian cuisine at Isabelle de Valenzuela. So come along and read on. 

INCREDIBLE INDIA

Business Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm, daily

The very accommodating lady in the store said that many from the Indian community residing in the area have expressed their happiness on having a grocer which specifically sells items and spices to cook Indian food. True enough, One Valenzuela saw many things displayed in the store which cannot be found in the typical grocery. Rose water, for example. 

Incredible India also has branches in Manila, Makati, Las Pinas, and Alabang.

A number of snacks are lined up and are viewable already from the outside. Incredible India also has a table which has the snack samples for the visitors to taste. Many of these are quite spicy. Other than the snacks, there are also colorful posters that showcase staples which can be bought from the grocer like wheat flour, beer, rice, and ofcourse, their cooked food.    

Snacks which can be bought from Incredible India - Valenzuela Branch.

What's inside? Take a look at their posters.

The very warm people of Incredible India are welcoming for Indian food newbies like One Valenzuela. Mentioning that she does not know much about the Indian cuisine and that she cannot eat super spicy food, the people of Incredible India then suggested the meal sets on the wall. They also gladly went out of their way to explain what's going to be in the plate.

Incredible India's dining area

One Valenzuela ordered the Php99.00 meal set (5 in 1). The menu mentions that one can have a choice of  2 chapati or 1 rice, 1 subzi, 1 dhal, and 1 dessert. Subzi? It means vegetables. Dhal? It refers to lentils/legumes. Yep, tasting new food is accompanied with learning and adding new terms to one's vocabulary too. 

Rather than having the chapati or rice, One Valenzuela opted to get the roti chanai which was recommended to her (additional Php50 for this piece). Incidentally, One Valenzuela was able to watch Seetoh's The Food Suprise where she learned that roti chanai is "extremely popular" in Malaysia.   

The plate above has roti chanai for the bread, potato and cauliflower for the subzi, green peas masala for the dhal, and rasgulla for the dessert. Rasgulla is made of Indian cottage cheese and semolina dough in light sugar syrup. There are other meal sets to choose from. Moreover, they also have different kinds of samosa which you may want to try.

To eat, you simply dip the roti in the subzi or the dhal. One Valenzuela found the roti chanai on the sweet side. Its softness and flakiness pair well with the mildly spicy subzi and dhal. Then, end your meal with the rasgulla for dessert.

...which made One Valenzuela buy a few packs of roti chanai for take home. Yum.

Incredible India's Roti Chanai at Php50 a piece (2 pieces for Php80.00). Simply reheat this in a non-stick pan at home and enjoy!

VANA'S AUTHENTIC NORTH AND SOUTH INDIAN FOOD

Business Hours: 11:30am to 11:00pm, daily

Just a few steps beside Incredible India is Vana's Authentic North & South Indian Food. Since One Valenzuela cannot eat a lot in one go, she had to go back for Vana's when she picked up the gown from the laundry shop.

While ordering some things from the menu, she confirmed that the nearby Flavours food spot is connected to this restaurant. There are also a lot of things to try at Vana's and the staff is also helpful in recommending several items for eatsplorers like One Valenzuela.  

Vana's Authentic North and South Indian Food. Vana's accepts catering services for special occasions.

Order here using their menu. The menu is very customer friendly as it contains brief descriptions of the food items that Vana's offers.

Vana's Authentic North and South Indian Food menu has vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers, tandoori appetizers, soups, vegetarian plates, daal/Indian pulses, paneer/cottage cheese, fish and egg dishes, different types of bread, rice and biryani, yogurt drinks (lassi), and desserts.  There were also a few India / Chinese specials in the menu.

Since it was merienda time, One Valenzuela ordered Vana's vegetable samosa (Php49.00 for 2 pieces; a flaky crust made of maida and filled with spiced potatoes and peas), some naan (Php69; almost like pita bread; cooked in a tandoor), and the staff-recommended paneer tawa masala (Php169; paneer curry made in an onion-tomato-cashew base). Ah, yes, and a glass of yogurt. The yogurt is quite sour which cuts the spiciness of the paneer tawa masala.

Vegetable samosa

Naan and Paneer Tawa Masala. There were chunks of cottage cheese in the bowl. One Valenzuela will more likely order this again in the future. It's good!

Sweet lassi (Php69.00 per glass)

With the tummy full, better be back to Vana's next time for the Chicken Biryani.

On Eatsploring Indian Food. Overall, eating at Incredible India and Vana's Authentic North & South Indian Food served as a new start for One Valenzuela's eatsploration of the Indian cuisine. She believes that other than the food offered, the people behind both establishments serve as significant keys for more guests to better understand and appreciate Indian cuisine which eventually leads us to wanting to know more about the Indian culture. It's like serving a piece of India in one good plate. 

Both Incredible India and Vana's Authentic North & South Indian Food are located on the ground floor of Isabelle de Valenzuela (near its entrance). The condominium is easy to spot along McArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela City (across The Original Savory).