BOOMING FOOD AND TOURISM DESTINATION
From decades- old restaurants and modern off-beat pubs to heritage houses and a well-maintained zoo, Malabon is fast becoming a food and tourism destination that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and neither require you to leave the comforts of the metro.
Food has always been an integral component of Malabon’s culture. So the next time you decide to visit Malabon, be sure to check out some of the city’s must- try restaurants including the famous Judy Ann Restaurant Home of Crispy Pata (Jamico’s). Satisfying Malabonians’ cravings since 1972, Judy Ann is now being run by siblings, Susan Corvera and Judy Ann Francisco.
Judy Ann serves scrumptious crispy pata with a minimum of 40 pieces on a daily basis. Also available are Chinese specialties with price points of around P100 and the crispy pata available in Jumbo for P500 and Super Jumbo for P550.
Then there is the posh Palmeras Bistro where Malabon locals get their gourmet comfort food fix. Palmeras offers a romantic and relaxing ambiance with its Europeanmeets-native inspired décor. Their dishes combine home-style cooking with a modern flair. Its best-sellers include the Deconstructed pla-pla with two kinds of bagoong sauce, Beef kaldereta, Shrimp salpicao, and the Tokwa’t baboy twist. The bistro also serves dessert, coffee, and alcoholic drinks.
Don’t forget to drop by at Cups & Cones, the brainchild of Emma Lynn Soriano and her husband. This sweet shop also offers comfort food favorites and all-day breakfast meals. The desserts include cupcakes, brownie ala mode, cakes, and crepes. Cups & Cones also serve Illy coffee, frappucinos and other coffee concoctions, and brewed iced teas. The price points range from P100 to P200.
Owned and operated by 26-year old interior designer and chef Anna Katrina Alcala, Cocina Luna is pub/ restaurant reminiscent of European watering holes made youthful with DIY artworks and quirky with offbeat design elements. The pub opens at 4pm and goes late into the night— offering all-day breakfast and tex-mex favorites. The highlights of the menu include shredded tapa, pulled pork burgers served with fries, sweet potato tater tots, quesadilla, and refreshing cocktails for under or a little over P100. The price points range from P100 to P200.
Other must- try restaurants and specialties in Malabon include Dolor’s Kakanin, Betsy’s, Balsa sa Niugan, Pescadores restaurant, Mary Jay restaurant, Boy Ching Woo restaurant, Kusina restaurant, Steakside, and Mary Ann’s Garden. “I encourage visitors to try out our
karinderias, lugaw, pichi- pichi, our local peanut butter, other street food delicacies like kikiam, and so much more. We also have our own take on the classic turon, which contains
munggo as oppose to the usual banana and is triangular in shape.” suggests Mayor Len-Len.
On his thoughts about the growing food trend in his city, “I am very happy because it is evident that these business owners have enough trust in the LGU and what’s happening here in Malabon. On our part, we want to make the city conducive to entrepreneurial ventures, so rest assured, we are active in advocating the anti-red tape act, and we ensure that the requirements and application for the permits can be accomplished smoothly,” he says.
Wellness centers are starting to crop up within the city as well, such as the Blue Crystal Lotus Spa and Salon along McArthur Highway in Potrero, the Go Fitness gym in Gov. Pascual Ave., and The Gatherings Villa in Maysilo.
“I’m happy that even the younger generation shows trust in the local government. They could’ve just opened somewhere else but they chose to do so here in Malabon. They are highly imaginative but what’s impressive is that they manage to keep the price points low,” quips Mayor Len-Len.