The Best of the West: A Food Tour of Malabon's General Luna Street

Traditional and comforting, modern and inventive and everything in between, you can find it all along Malabon's General Luna Street, fast becoming one of the metro's hidden culinary gems.

Located at the metro's West Zone, Malabon boasts of a rich culinary heritage and you can have a taste of the emerging culinary scene concentrated along General Luna Street (for more on the West Zone's exciting food finds, shopping bargains, and cool hang-outs, check out the Best of the West FB Page here at https://www.facebook.com/BestoftheWestPH/ for the latest updates). 

The West Zone is comprised of 17 cities and municipalities within the Greater Manila Area, including Caloocan, Malabon, Las Pinas, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Paranaque, Valenzuela, parts of Quezon City and Makati, and Cavite. A short drive west of the metro, away from the usual commercial hubs, leads you to some of the metro's exciting food finds, all local and proudly homegrown (for more on General Luna's flavorful food finds, see my post on my other food blog here). The mandatory first stop along General Luna Street is Jamicos Restaurant, Home of Judy Ann Crispy Pata, an institution and a popular favorite among locals since 1972. And you just have to try their signature Crispy Pata. The delicate balance of fork-tender and juicy pork capped with a crisp layer of crackling is the signature of Jamicos Restaurant, perfected after years of trial and experimentation, and finally introduced back in 1972. And since then, Jamicos Restaurant has been the go-to place for homestyle Filipino cuisine among locals and visitors to this day.  

After a sumptuous lunch at Jamicos Restaurant, simply head down the street for a refreshing Milk Tea at Tea-Pop Tea & More. Tea-Pop Tea & More serves over a hundred varieties of beverages to satisfy your thirst and beat the summer heat, but have you tried milk tea spiked with alcohol? At Tea-Pop Tea & More, have your milk tea buzz with the Shembot, milk tea with a shot of vodka, the refreshingly creamy Baileys, and the Choco Rose, a smooth and soothing chocolate and tequila blend. It's one of those unexpected surprises you can only find along General Luna Street. 

After chillin' at Tea-Pop Tea & More, time for a late afternoon meal at Cocina Luna, with its modern and playfully inventive take on local cuisine. Start with the Pulled Pork Sliders with tender and smoky pulled pork draped in Cocina Luna's signature barbecue sauce topped with cheese, bacon and a crunchy onion ring. Served with a bucket of fries, it's a meal in itself.

Cocina Luna's signature Breakfast All-Day menu is also popular among locals, with Tapa, the house specialty, served with garlic rice, a sunny side-up and homemade vinegar as the all-time favorite. The tender beef, with its mildly sweet notes, bursts with a beefy richness with every bite, and you'll probably want an extra serving of garlic rice.

The local tuyo gets a flavorful upgrade with Cocina Luna's Honey-Glazed Dried Fish served with rice topped with egg strips. Comfortingly familiar yet new and excitingly different, Cocina Luna reinvents local cuisine with a hip and modern spin. Things are definitely cookin' at Malabon's General Luna Street, and if you want to experience the emerging local food scene, head west.

For more information on Best of the West and tips on local travel and dining, updates on events and other activities, visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/BestoftheWestPH/ and their Instagram Feed at https://www.instagram.com/bestofthewestph/.

Jamicos Restaurant, Home of Judy Ann's Crispy Pata, is located at 201 General Luna Street, Malabon City or call 281-4193 for inquiries.

Tea-Pop Tea & More is located at General Luna Street, Concepcion, Malabon, Metro Manila or visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/TeaPop/

Cocina Luna is located at 144 General Luna Street, San Agustin, Malabon, Metro Manila or call 373-1420 for inquiries.

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