What is it that made tapsilog (tapa [dried or cured beef], sinangag [garlic-fried rice], and itlog [fried egg]) a signature Pinoy breakfast food? Is it the savory tapa that just kickstarts the day? Is it the fried egg that energizes the morning? Or is it the harmony of the tapa, sinangag, and itlog that just perfectly fits the Pinoy palate?
Whether you woke up early to rush to work or you are nursing a hangover from last night’s merry-making, tapsilog is one of the go-to breakfast meals that always comes to mind first.
If you love tapsilog in the morning or any time of the day, here are some of the places you should visit for a scrumptious plate of tapa, sinangag, and itlog.
10. Angus Tapa Centrale
A 24/7 tapsilog stop along Maginhawa and Malingap Streets in Quezon City, Angus Tapa Centrale is known as a lifesaver for diners who work until the wee hours of the morning or those who want to sober up after drinking. It offers a leveled-up version to your typical tapsilog. From its name, it serves 100% pure imported USDA-Certified Organic Angus beef.
For starters, you can try the Spam and Cheese Roll Sticks while waiting for your beef. If you want something different, they also have Angus burger, cheesesteak, croissant, and bagel.
9. Kanto Freestyle Breakfast
Another 24/7 tapsilog stop that has a bunch of branches in the metro, Kanto Freestyle Breakfast offers tapsilog and other variant silogs. This restaurant has a pretty simple appearance, nothing pretentious about how it looks, but it does serve good breakfast food. So, don’t get fooled by its ambiance.
Aside from silogs, Kanto Freestye has other breakfast offerings like pancakes, French toast, and Eggs Benedict.
8. Tapa from Heaven
Tapa from Heaven is a family-owned business in Ayala Alabang. It prides on their tapa, which is made from premium sirloin beef. They marinade the meat without preservatives, which is perfect for those who are health-conscious.
7. Task Force Tapa
For delicious tapsilog with variations, Task Force Tapa serves Filipino tapsilog that comes in four flavors — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta, hence, the restaurant’s name.
Alpha is the traditional salty tapa, Bravo is the director’s garlic tapa, Charlie is the Filipino sweet tapa, and Delta is the military hot and spicy tapa.
6. Juana’s Budbod & Coffee
Juana’s Budbod & Coffee is not actually serving tapsilog but they say they serve something better than tapsilog. They call it budbod, which is Rizal’s version of tapsilog. Instead of usual strips of tapa, a cup of sinangag, and sunny side-up egg, budbod is made up of seasoned rice, grilled meat, and scrambled eggs with freshly diced tomatoes.
Juana’s have many versions of budbod including Liempo Budbod, Adobo Budbod, and Lechon Budbod.
5. Recovery Food
Tapa de Morning, Recovery Food’s own tapsilog, is a bowlful of tasty tapa, fried rice, and sunny side-up egg. Aside from tapsilog, they also have other food options such as rice bowls, noodles, and sandwiches.
4. Kapeng Mainit
If you’re down south, Kapeng Mainit serves good tapsilog that you should try. They are known to serve Pinoy dishes with a twist. Therefore, their tapsilog has a surprise. You can have it with kimchi rice or sinigang rice. And instead of sunny side-up egg, you can get a poached egg.
3. Rodic’s Diner
An institution in UP Diliman, which has been serving tapsilog and more for over 50 years, Rodic’s Diner is one not to miss when you’re around the area. Whether you’re jogging with friends at the Academic Oval or just rushing to class, you can quickly get a heaping serving of tapsilog from Rodic’s. It is conveniently located at the UP Shopping Center.
They have a newly opened branch in Marikina.
2. Tapsi ni Vivian
Tapsi ni Vivian is a go-to tapsilog spot in Marikina. After a round of drinks or after a round of biking, diners flock to this place to enjoy a serving of tapsilog. However, there is more to that at Tapsi ni Vivian. They also serve a mean bulalo, which is perfect for sharing with friends.
1. Rufo’s Famous Tapa
From its name, Rufo’s Famous Tapa is famous for its iconic saucy tapsilog. Unlike other restaurants, it serves its tapsilog with a thick sweet sauce that many Pinoys crave for, which is why it has been successful in serving its unique tapsilog for over two decades.
What is your go-to tapsilog spot in Manila?
You missed Mocafe’s Sirloin Tapa! Along F. Blumentritt in San Juan City.
Backyard Tapa in BF Homes! Grilled tapa of the south! 😛
i’d have to disagree with the one’s on the 1st and 2nd spot…