As much as Culiat contributes to training and developing young active citizen-leaders, Culiat members are also drivers of Pampanga’s local food scene. As it often goes, you’ll find two or more food places in every corner of the city, and at least one in every corner is owned by a Culiat member. Are we proud? Yes, with feelings.
In this issue, let us drive you around the streets of Angeles City and indulge in some of the finest Culiat member-owned restaurants (in no particular order, of course). So, get ready because we’re sure you’ll crave along the drive. *wink*
1. RACIO’s Grill and Sports Bar
Location: Malabanias, Angeles City
I couldn’t think of a better place to call JCI Angeles City Culiat’s home and host (at least as long as I remember), than Racio’s. Owned by Culiat’s Immediate Past President Russell Tan, this gem at the heart of Angeles City’s food, beer, and grill district is the best all-week chill place, open from lunch til late night.
The open sports bar ambience with billiards table, darts, and bar counter resembles the hangout spots of the ’80s and ’90s kids. Nostalgic. Outside this area is a bigger space for alfresco dining, sandwiched in front and back by the stage and barbecue station, then in sideways by the sports bar and private function hall.
Serving simple yet delicious and filling food, Racio’s makes you enjoy dining over juicy conversations, socializing and just sitting pretty whether in broad daylight or after work hours. Its menu is diverse and simple, but it hits every spot of your cravings. From street food pica pica, pinoy bbq, sisig and other rice meals, sashimi, to kapampangan favorites like fried itik, Racio’s sure won’t disappoint. Their BBQs with Java rice are a must try, hitting that smokey BBQ flavor just right, as they retain the meat’s tenderness. Same goes with their buttermilk fried chicken, a favorite for many Culiat members, it is served crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, filling that white plate with generous servings.
Beyond Racio’s effect on JCI members in the many occasions it has hosted, Racio’s has also established itself as the local go-to for drinks and everyday night out among barkadas, regardless of age and social group. But during lunch time, especially on weekends, Racio’s transforms into a warm family place. So, I guess it’s safe to say everyone’s welcome at Racio’s.
Pro tip: if you love barbecue and you reached Racio’s hungry, start with any of their grilled items or sisig with java rice, add other BBQ on sticks like isaw baboy and isaw manok (pork and chicken intestines), or that crispy chicharong bulaklak, or buttermilk fried chicken, then order a bottle of your favorite beer (served ice-cold!) or a glass of frozen margarita, and voila, your long night has began! (Not for those with maintenance meds though, if you know what I mean)
Oh and BIG plus, you’ll get the most hospitable service from Racio’s staff, something that genuinely reflects from the warm hospitality of its owner, IPP Russell.
Raffy’s Recos: Chicken BBQ with Java Rice, crispy isaw sisig, BBQ on sticks
Editor’s Add-ons: Roastbeef with mashed potato, Sisig, buttermilk fried chicken, ice-cold beers, mixed-fruit smoothie
2. Nyaman Na Pho
Location: Manuel L. Quezon Street, Lourdes Sur, Angeles City
Light, healing, comforting. That’s how I feel when I eat a bowl of beef pho and a plate of fresh spring rolls from Nyaman Na Pho.
Its owner, Culiat’s 2004 President Arnel Calaguas, is half Vietnamese by descent. Since our families are connected, I remember how we would always eat their homemade pho, spring rolls and egg omelet on every occasion we got invited, and I would always hear people tell PP Arnel that they should open up a restaurant.
You would know with every spoonful of Pho that the broth was boiled to perfection with years of experience and an authentic Vietnamese influence. The broth is full of flavor, the noodles are bouncy, the herbs are a perfect addition to balance out the meat and broth.
Fresh, vibrant, and absolutely delightful to the palate, Nyaman Na pho truly serves one of the best Vietnamese fresh spring rolls in the city. It’s straightforward yet authentic, bursting with simple yet harmonious flavors that you’ll crave and want. The translucent parcels are first packed with salad greens, a slither of meat and shrimp, and a layer of coriander, before being neatly rolled and dunked in your favorite condiments — their special fish sauce (alubebe) or peanut sauce, your choice.
A good banh xeo is a crispy crepe bulging with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are a staple of most authentic Vietnamese dishes. To enjoy one like a local, cut it into manageable slices, roll it up in rice paper or lettuce leaves and dunk it in Nyaman na Pho’s special sauce.
Experiencing food from other countries is an experience one shouldn’t miss, but with the situation brought by the pandemic these past few years, Nyaman na Pho scratches that itch to go to Vietnam and eat these dishes, and it’s a heavenly moment to savor.
Raffy’s Recos: Beef Pho, Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls)
Editor’s Add-ons: Goi Bui (Pomelo Salad), Bun Thit Nuong (Grilled Pork with Vermicelli)
3. FORTUNE TEA HOUSE
Location: GF SM City Clark, Angeles City
When we think of Fortune Tea House, we immediately think of celebrations. May it be small wins or big momentous milestones, Fortune’s celebratory ambiance and colorful feasts are just a perfect fit for every occasion.
We had Fortune Tea House’s best sellers and boy, they live up to the name.Thanks to the generosity of Culiat member Louchezzi Tancungco-Lim (whose family owns the restaurant), it was a real feast with countless “mmmm” and “yuuummm” for us! The sweet and sour shrimp had big shrimp pieces fried to perfection and smothered with the perfect balance of sweet and sour sauce. The spicy spareribs were crispy and juicy, a combination that’s hard to achieve, and the spice was just right to make you crave for more. Pro tip on these dishes, get a spoonful with everything from the plate (onions, bell peppers, the meat and sauce) and that’s guaranteed to be the best bite!)
The fried rice was superb, they got the perfect yellowish Chinese fried rice with hefty meat and other ingredients. The fried prawn dumpling did not disappoint! Fortune Tea House sure did not forget that one big shrimp that almost filled the wonton wrapper. What a bang for your buck!
Their beef with broccoli is perfect to share, with generous servings of both the perfectly blanched broccoli and the tender beef slices. Great for those on a broccoli diet, too!
Each bite of the food makes you feel nostalgic as you remember every milestone you celebrated. The way the dishes are served makes you want to share them with family and friends. So the next time you feel like celebrating even for simply surviving the day, Fortune Tea House has its doors open for you at SM City Clark.
Raffy’s Recos: Spicy Spareribs, Fried Prawn Dumpling, Beef with Broccoli
Editor’s Add-ons: Bird’s Nest Soup, HK Noodles Seafood, Lemon Chicken, Japanese Siomai, Roasted Duck (as a huge chinese food fan, I can go on and on with this list, trust me)
4. TOLL HOUSE
Location: Main Branch at Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City
(Also available at Marquee Mall, SM Clark, SM Telabastagan, Newpoint)
One of the oldest restaurants in our list is Toll House, founded in 1988 by the Concepcion Sisters (family of Culiat member Jan Romero) and now celebrating 34 years with branches all over Pampanga’s key city malls, unfailingly serving their secret family recipes that remind us of good times and happy memories at home.
My first Toll House memory includes my first exposure to their blueberry cheesecake. I remember saving my allowance for the week to be able to buy and eat the cheesecake with their famous baked macaroni. These two were staples of my childhood.
Arguably, the most famous Item on Toll House’s menu (aside of course from its long list of family recipe cakes) is the Baked Macaroni (with a Toll House trade secret sauce), which is distinctively Toll House – warm, creamy, and homey. It perfectly captures the panlasang pinoy (Filipino taste), with its base tomato sauce that’s reminiscent of Filipino birthday parties, and a topping of the creamy and slightly sweet bechamel sauce.
Its Tropical Chicken, another party staple, is a layer of shredded chicken cooked with a special mushroom sauce, carrots and corn kernels, then topped with a blanket of rich, buttery and smooth mashed potatoes.
The highlight of our food crawl at Toll House for me was the Combination BBQ which has specially marinated chicken, pork and beef, sauteed with onions and sliced carrots, then served with a cup of steamed rice and macaroni salad on the side. This recipe started as the family’s version of a Korean dish that fascinated them (although, Korean food was not really as popular then in the country as it is now). Today, Toll House has perfected its trademark sweet and savory Combination BBQ and the dish is now one of the resto’s signature dishes
Toll House’s main branch in Sto. Rosario has also been renovated and is now open to private functions and meetings with as small as 15 pax to as big as a hundred with their Crisostomo Hall.
The owners have always envisioned Toll House as a “stop-over for a taste of home”, and I guess their food proves that vision successful.
Raffy’s recos: Baked Macaroni, Blueberry Cheesecake, Combination BBQ
Editor’s Add-ons: Tropical Chicken, Pistachio Cake, Tak-de (Brazo) (pro tip for the cakes: serve them chilled)
5. Paizano’s Pizzeria
Location: Main branch at Zeppelin St., Angeles City
(also available in Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City)
Pizza talks always spark debates. But for Paizano’s, we just have to agree that they are one of the best (if not the best) home-grown NY-style pizzeria in the city, or even on a wider scale.
Paizano’s started as a hole-in-the-wall offering New York style pizzas owned by a foreigner when Culiat’s Past President Avelaine Nepomuceno-Galang’s family found it in 2012. Upon knowing that the owner was selling the business, it took only a week for PP Avs (who is a huge pizza fan, btw) to run the numbers and close the deal. After re-developing the brand and its menu, Paizano’s is as we know it today – serving the best all cheese, white, and other pizza variants we love.
I personally love Paizano’s Manhattan and White Cheese, but the pepperoni pizza is divine, too! Aside from pizzas, Paizano’s also serves other dishes like lasagna and chicken wings. Perfect for televised sports matches, I remember Paizano’s being sold out during a Pacquiao match. If you love chicken wings like I do, their Honey BBQ flavor is a must try!
As the owner, PP Avs was asked about her favorite Paizano’s pizza flavor, and she shared a trick: Cheese Lover’s Pizza with added pepperoni and mushrooms – a seemingly traditional take on a pizza that works just perfect if you love the classic cheese with an added kick from the toppings you prefer. And if you’re in the mood for something not-so-traditional, go for the Artichoke Spinach Pizza, a recipe that took PP Avs a trip to New York, researching and finding inspiration, plus a month worth of trial and error until the taste became just right for the market.
With more pizza places and other restaurants serving pizza being established in the city day by day, I say with confidence that Paizano’s remains a go-to, the closest to an authentic New York style pizza that we can get.
Raffy’s recos: Honey BBQ wings, Pepperoni, White Pizza
Editor’s Add-ons: Cheese Lovers Pizza, Artichoke Spinach Pizza, or just ask to have yours customized (or do multiple flavors in one) and thank me later!
6. TARAMEN
Location: The Hood, Sto. Rosario St. Sto. Domingo, Angeles City
Designed as an Izakaya, Taramen serves affordable ramen, sushi, don buri and more, personally developed and crafted by 2020 Culiat President Don Edward Quito, who serves as the owner and chef of Taramen.
Upon entering the humble space adorned by a mural painting that reminds you of the Izakayas in Japan, you’ll already feel at ease and excited to order as the friendly staff approaches you.
I ordered the Shoyu Ramen, while my colleagues had Tonkotsu and Tantanmen. I had a taste of all, of course. The ramen broth, which is the soul of every ramen, is full of flavor, but not too heavy that makes you surrender halfway. The noodles are cooked just right, and the toppings are really quality, you would know that they are freshly sourced. As Taramen’s tagline goes, “taste the real goodness of ramen”, and I believe that.
We also had Spam Nigiri, Spicy California and Kani Maki. The Spicy California has that spice just enough that you would be surprised you finished a whole serving. The Spam Nigiri was a surprise. I was expecting a certain taste of a spam dish, but taramen tweaked the nigiri just a little so that you would be tasting the familiar taste of spam but also entering a new dimension with its own sauce. The Kani Maki’s flavor tickles your palate just perfectly. It has creamy, satisfying flavors that are balanced in such a way that it just explodes in your mouth every bite.
The Chicken Katsu was prepared perfectly and served on top of steamed aromatic Japanese rice. I recommend putting a little bit of everything from that Katsu bowl in the spoon and you will be experiencing the perfect blending of tastes.
Affordable but really quality food, Taramen makes the Japanese food craving exciting and within reach.
Raffy’s Recos: Tonkotsu Ramen, Kani Maki and Chicken Katsu
Editor’s Add-ons: Kani Maki, Pork Bun, ALL Don Buri
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It’s no surprise that in the culinary capital of the Philippines, Culiat members also take the lead in promoting the gastronomic food scene. And it’s even no surprise that they provide only the highest standards in both their food offering and service. But this is not the end, as we have more restaurants owned by Culiat members on the list, and this team is excited to try them all (again) and feature them in the next issues of Bulung Culiat.
