An iconic food stop inside the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus has officially closed its main branch following a court order. Mang Larry’s Isawan confirmed on February 21, 2026, the closure of its longtime location along E. Jacinto Street after a Quezon City court ordered the establishment to vacate the property.
Photo: Mang Larry’s Isawan/Facebook
In a statement, the popular street food stall reflected on its long history of operating across different locations on campus.
“Sa loob ng maraming taon na palipat-lipat, minsan kami ay lumaban pero ganun talaga merong nananalo at merong natatalo,” the statement read.
The business also expressed gratitude to UP for allowing them to operate on campus for many years, as well as to customers who supported the brand.
“Maraming salamat, UP, sa pagkakataon na makabenta at mabuhay ang aming pamilya.”
Mang Larry’s assured customers that they will continue serving food at their Magiting and UST branches and hinted at plans for a new main branch in the future. Earlier, the stall described its UP branch as “temporarily closed for relocation until further notice.”
According to reports, the court ordered Mang Larry’s Isawan to vacate its UP Diliman location after its owner, Laurencio Convencido Jr., lost a civil case against the university.
The ruling requires Convencido to pay at least ₱47,500 in unpaid rental arrears from October 2021, along with additional fees related to the use and occupation of the property and filing costs.
Following the closure, the owner’s wife, Elizabeth Convencido, initially claimed that the land had been given to them and that they held a deed of absolute sale dated 2019. However, in a later official statement, Mang Larry’s clarified that no such deed exists and that the earlier claim was made during a moment of shock after the court order was implemented.
The family also called on the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to refrain from posting derogatory comments online, adding that they intend to address the matter through proper legal channels while respecting the rule of law and the university.
Meanwhile, their son Angelo Convencido shared that they were surprised by the arrival of the Quezon City anti-squatting task force on the day of the closure. Despite the situation, he thanked the UP community for years of support.
A longtime UP food favorite
First opened in 1984, Mang Larry’s Isawan became known for its grilled Filipino street food offerings, including pork barbecue, isaw manok, isaw baboy, balunbalunan, tenga, and atay. The stall also serves larger grilled items such as liempo, bangus, and pusit, along with classic tusok-tusok favorites like fish ball and kwek-kwek, as well as rice meals and other dishes.
Over the decades, the stall gained a steady following among students, faculty, and visitors. Reports previously noted that the establishment sold thousands of skewers daily and had relocated several times within the UP Diliman campus since it began operations.
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