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Aling Banang’s is probably one of the most successful carinderias in Metro Manila.
Known for its delicious pancit bihon and halo-halo, it has been serving customers for more than 80 years now, with 13 branches and counting.
But who is Aling Banang?
She is Urbana Silva Santiago. During the 1930s, she started this business as a small merienda place at San Juan’s public market. Back then, it did not have a name but was very popular for halo-halo during the summer.
Santiago had 12 children. Her daughter Adoracion, known as Ising, evolved the business into a carinderia.
As the eatery grew bigger, Ising decided to name it after her mother. After all, it was Santiago’s hard work that established Aling Banang’s.
Ising died in 2010 but passed the business to her children and grandchildren. They are currently managing the carinderia that Ising loved.
On this episode of Carinderia Crawl, Filipino-speaking German Maik Goetze tries the famous pancit bihon and tokwa’t baboy of Aling Banang’s on E Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City.
Maik, a sales consultant in Singapore, says he likes trying different cuisines because he also loves to cook.
At Aling Banang’s, he digs into the pancit bihon and notes its toppings: lechon kawali and still-crisp vegetables. Maik is not fond of eating tofu but he liked the tokwa’t baboy anyway especially after dipping it in the soy sauce.
WHAT MAIK ATE: Pancit bihon, tokwa’t baboy and iced tea for 110 pesos.
WHAT HE THINKS: The meals that he ate are very uncommon to his taste buds but he feels comfortable eating the dishes. He particularly likes the pancit bihon because of its saltiness and fresh ingredients. He also recommends eating the tokwa’t baboy with Aling Banang’s soy sauce.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “I am always open to new things. That’s what I like about traveling, I get to experience new things, learn and apply it to the things that I do.”
Aling Banang’s, G/F Doña Anita Bldg, 284 E Rodriguez Sr Avenue, Bgy Damayang Lagi, Quezon City; + 63 2 414 0377. Mon-Sat 7am-10pm.
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