So good, so fast food at SM Food Court

There’s something about a mall’s fast-food court that makes you want to eat rice, no matter what time it is, whether it’s 3 or 5 p.m. or 12 noon. Maybe it’s because the stalls all offer comfort food that we love. Whatever the case, SM City Manila’s newly renovated foodcourt offers everything with its 10 stalls, from lechon to burgers, from chicken cooked in so many ways to vegetarian dishes, and merienda fare. The food is cooked fresh every day and whatever is left at the end of the day either goes to feeding barangays or counted as waste — nothing is used again for the next day. The food court can seat 540 people (they actually lessened the capacity to make for a more comfortable layout when they renovated last year) and all day long it is bustling! 

SM City Manila’s Foodcourt is located the the lower ground floor.

Bodhi: Vegetarian Delight

Many years ago, when I was trying to get my husband to eat less heart-attack-inducing food, I led him to Bodhi and told him to try the kare-kare and barbecue without telling him that both dishes were made from gluten (wheat). He — a meat eater — ate it, loved it, and was none the wiser. Then again, a vegetarian friend loves the barbecue, too, and siopao and tofu chicaron. So, yes, Bodhi Vegetarian Restaurant offers vegetarian fare for both kinds of eaters.

Lydia’s Lechon: Fiesta Fare All The Time

When you think lechon, you think of celebration, a fiesta or a party — and, of course, Lydia’s Lechon. The stall goes through two lechons a day — with one-fourth of the pig yielding about 20 servings. Apart from the lechon (you gotta love the crispy skin), Lydia’s serves paksiw lechon, pancit canton and sotanghon, and other viands. It also offers budget meals for students and office workers.

Sizzling Plate: Raising The Steaks

This has always been the place to go for pocket-friendly steaks. The food is served on a hot plate and literally sizzles even after you have reached your table. Its best-sellers, porterhouse and T-bone steaks, are only P180 each; for porcine lovers, pork steak and sisig are P99 each. It’s not all for meat lovers though, Sizzling Plate also has stuffed squid and boneless bangus, and even sizzling salad (kangkong).

Chicken Company: Chicken In Many Ways

However you want your chicken cooked, you’ll find it here. Me, I’m partial to chicken and the many ways you can have it: barbecue (they make their own sauces), Hawaiian (with sliced pineapple, of course) homestyle, sisig, grilled, garlic, or chicken trio (quarter chicken sliced in three hefty pieces). Prices range from P72 to P195.  

Kamay Kainan: Pinoy Favorites

Spread on its counter are possibly all the Filipino dishes you can think of in under a minute. Kamay Kainan offers 38 dishes cooked fresh every day. If you’re in the mood for pork, order crispy pata, if you prefer something more complicated (something you don’t have time to do at home), get the kare-kare, or for merienda get the guinataan. I tried the last and loved it because of its strong langka flavor.

Pinoy Toppings: Now Top That!

This restaurant has institutionalized the Pinoy favorite — fried banana — with every dish; choose from 33 toppings! Try its tapsilog for lunch or for a filling merienda its lugaw with lumpia. Pinoy Toppings probably has the biggest serving of rice, a mound equivalent to two cups. Its turon with langka (three pieces per order) is a sweet ending to every meal.

Seafood Grill Station: Bounty Of The Sea

If you love seafood, this is obviously the place to go, whether you’re craving for sinigang sa miso, tilapia, tanigue, blue marlin, maya-maya or crablets. And how do you want your squid? You can have it calamares style, stuffed with cabbage or mixed in a stew. The fish for the miso is half-cooked and when mixed in the steaming hot broth, cooks to perfection.

Ilonggo Grill: Can You Say ‘Cadios’?

If you’re Ilonggo, the dish cadios is nothing new, but for non-Ilonggos, it could very well be an adventure to try it. Consider the ingredients: beans (the kind you find in halo-halo), pork and langka. It was new to us and proved to be an interesting choice. Of course, you have the usual Ilonggo favorites, such as la paz batchoy and puto “manapla” (named after a place in Bacolod), chicken inasal, Bacolod express (like its Bicol counterpart it is also spicy), and bulalo.

Tropical Hut Hamburger:

Tropical Hut’s hamburgers, according to many burger enthusiasts, are the best burgers around. The patty is not bland and has that unique taste to it and comes in Hawaiian (with pineapple), ranchero (with egg) and the classic (with cheese and lettuce). And now it has star-shaped fries, too. But for a blast from the past (back in the ‘80s it was one of the very few that was open 24 hours a day), go for the Quick Fried Beef, clubhouse sandwich or macaroni salad.