Cab driver Ceferino Chinchuntic usually eats lunch because he’s picky when it comes to food — prefering vegetables or fish. When he brought us to Menes Eatery in Sta Cruz, Manila, the first thing he did was check if there were vegetable dishes available.
Menes Eatery is a tiny carinderia that serves homecooked fare located in the busy district of Sta Cruz. According to the owners, it was started by their grandparents and has been passed on to different members of their family. Students and residents along the area usually dine there but they have also managed to get old customers, even those who are visiting from abroad, to come back from time to time.
The 55-year-old cabbie ordered a plate of chop suey, two cups of rice, soda and a small piece of fried milkfish. He loved the vegetables and instantly praised it for its freshness and crisp texture. However, Manong Ceferino did not enjoy the fish that much because it was fatty.
Aside from the dishes we got, Menes Eatery also serves pork, beef and chicken meals.
WHAT WE GOT: Chop suey, fried milkfish, two cups of rice and soda for a grand total of PHP77.
WHAT WE THINK: The meal was freshly cooked and served still hot even though it was not re-heated. The fried fish was nothing special but the vegetable dish deserves double thumbs up. The sauce neither too salty nor too sweet. The vegetables used were still crisp and not entirely covered in cooking oil.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM CABBIE: “Masarap mag-enjoy sa buhay, pero kailangan laging mag-ingat. Minsan masarap sumubok ng bawal, pero masama kapag sobra.”
Menes Eatery, 1670 E. Remigio St, Sta Cruz, Manila; +63 2 2391191. Mon-Sat 9am-10pm.
This story first appeared on Coconuts Manila.
WATCH MORE CARINDERIA CRAWL VIDEOS:
– Episode 1: KC Tapsilogan at Lugawan on P. Noval Street, Manila
– Episode 2: Menes Eatery on E. Remigio Street, Manila
– Episode 3: Juan Spoon Eatery on Edison Street, Makati
– Episode 4: 15th Avenue Carinderia in Cubao, Quezon City
– Episode 5: Carinderia crawl: Sizzling beef and mushrooms at McDOKS Sizzling
– Episode 6: Tocino and tortang talong at Honey’s Canteen on West Avenue
– Episode 7: Dinengdeng and lapu-lapu at Carol’s Eatery on Retiro Avenue, QC
– Episode 8- Pork sisig at Ilar’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 9: Red Gate Eatery in Caloocan
– Episode 10: Bangsilog at Erlin’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 11: Pork BBQ and liempo at B-B-Q Zone in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 12: Pancit batil patung in Kamuning, Quezon City
– Episode 13: Beef and chicken pita at Hijo d’Pita in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 14: Special bulalo at Bulaluhan sa España in Manila
– Episode 15: Kanto Freestyle Breakfast in Bo Kapitolyo, Pasig
– Episode 16: Mang Tootz in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 17: Juana’s Budbod and Coffee in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 18: Manang’s Food House at Ateneo de Manila
– Episode 19: Sizzling pork sisig at Aysee
– Episode 20: Bagnet-themed dishes at Bagneto
Allan Joseph Sarnate Chinchuntic says
Thats my Dad! 🙂