Words by Regina Bumatay (@reginaabumatay)
Did you ever have to choose between Mexican and Mediterranean food? Or pick between fries and nachos? I know I have. Choosing between two great food choices is a foodie’s worst nightmare and the best thing happened when Hungry District put a stop to what seemed like the shortest sad story ever written. The owner, Lester Cayanan, made sure that all their 14 food stalls serve a different kind of food experience—truly a fantastic feat!
Last Friday, we visited Hungry District, where you can find all the right reasons to love food parks and more. Hungry District offers you diverse food choices accompanied by groovy live music, visually appealing interiors, and WiFi! It’s an indoor space that allows you to just enjoy the isolation from the stressful day or week you’ve gone through. It’s definitely an ideal place for family night-outs and casual ventures with your buddies.
I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting so here’s a tour of Hungry District and the 14 Fantastic Eats found in the food park.
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Fantastic Eats #14: Senpai Katsu
Don’t judge me when I tell you that I’m not into sushi or anything raw, but boy did Senpai Katsu change my opinion about Jap food! Located at the second floor is Senpai Katsu with their must try Harumaki (because they tweaked it a bit, incorporating sisig in the classic Japanese dish). Senpai Katsu is an authentic Japanese cuisine experience because they prepare their food just like how do they do it in Japan.
Their Spicy Tuna is dressed in sauce made from scratch
Fantastic Eats #13: YFive sa Kubo
YFive sa Kubo is that one food stall in Hungry District that satisfies your Pinoy food cravings. To make it truly Pinoy, this food stall offers barkada-friendly servings disguised as a boodle fight. Plated in a bilao is a variety of Filipino food like crispy pata, grilled squid, and a hearty bowl of bulalo. Head on over to the hut-looking stall to satisfy your Pinoy food cravings!
Fantastic Eats #12: Peri-Peri Corner
From appetizers to the main dish, Peri-Peri Corner never fails. The Chicken Peri-Peri Barkada Feast will make you want to eat it with your barkada every day! The marinade of the chicken is blended right, the juiciness of the meat is irresistible, and their selling point, plating, is an absolute winner.
Fantastic Eats #11: Grillty Pleasure
True to its name, their steaks are a real guilty pleasure. Their steaks? Tender and perfectly seasoned. It’s a great deal because you get to eat quality steaks at a fair price. Just look for the Grillty Pleasure neon sign and you’re in for the treat!
Fantastic Eats #10: Wrapped
When you hear Mediterranean food, right away, you think of shawarma. With Wrapped, their menu offers you not just Shawarma and the like. Go try their wide range of food choices (from Kebab Rice, to Pita w/ Humus, to Beef Wrap) and satisfy your Mediterranean cravings!
Fantastic Eats #9: Henri’s
Pizza. I’m pretty sure I got you hooked. Henri’s will make you fall in love with Italian cuisine every time you eat their pasta dishes. On the other hand, with their pizza variations, you can have the best of both worlds: a rocking beach body plus (vegetarian) pizza.
Fantastic Eats #8: FRY
Gourmet sausages do not have to cost an arm and a leg when it comes to FRY. Rightmost is their stall where sausages take on a different twist and where fries get the best toppings. Sausig (sausage + sisig) is the best sausage sandwich out there. To be honest, their combinations are so outrageously good that I’m hoping for more variations!
Fantastic Eats #7: Winphire by Juice ni Lola
Another food park staple: drinks. Their drinks are not served in a fish bowl or a jar; they serve it in a cup only for you alone to enjoy. They serve Lemonade, Red Tea, Strawberry and Pineapple. And if ever you’re feeling pa-healthy, you can always go with fruit shakes. You can find their spot located at the left wing, looking colorful like their fresh fruit juices and shakes.
Fantastic Eats #6: Chill Garden Eats
Bacon, ribs and burgers–ah, happy life. Chill Garden Eats is located at the second floor with the coolest looking mural. This stall will leave your stomach and eyes satisfied. Their creations include the Gardener Burger, Ultimate Chill Burger (overloaded with Lechon Kawali and Onion Rings), Bacon Wings, Ribs and Sliders. In addition, their stall is coming up with a new experience: shabu-shabu in a food park.
Their patties are 100% Angus Beef.
Fantastic Eats #5: Sunnyday
This is sure to make you sing the Sesame Street’s theme song. Their sweet treats are best eaten last: dessert! To accompany their savory dishes, Sunnyday’s milkshakes are guaranteed to make your food park venture complete. Look for the sign with a bright sun on the side and treat yourself to a milkshake or two!
Fantastic Eats #4: Frying Kick
Frying Kick will give you that right kick of deliciousness with their fried goods. If you love the English Classic, Fish & Chips might get you sold on why to try Frying Kick; it’s the perfect combination of crunch and soft. One of the crowd faves, of course, is the Tempura which is lightly battered for a perfect crisp texture.
Fantastic Eats #3: Tapsi Q
Everyone’s favorite breakfast is anything ‘silog’, but Tapsi Q guarantees you that their food is made for any time of the day. Tapsi Q offers a pares, Spam, and egg combination and—for those who share their food with a special someone—there’s the TQ meal that’s good for the tummy and the budget as well. Tapsi Q’s spot is located at the right wing with a neatly-made hand lettering.
Fantastic Eats #2: Happy Pauls
A lot of dessert places now are big players in the food park and that includes Happy Pauls. For what started to be just a hobby, Paul took his interest into something that people will be happy about and that explains the name. Everything in the menu is baked with the right amount of sweetness—nothing to be guilty of!
Fantastic Eats #1: Mama’s Boy
Mama’s Boy is a Mexican-Filipino food stall located at the first floor. Fresh is a total understatement because their salsa is FARM fresh! Their beef quesadilla is right on delicious—you can really taste the beef and the cheese altogether.
The magic of Hungry District does not only come from the food they serve, it also comes from the place itself. Since the over-all theme of the food park is industrial-urban, the floors are painted similar to pedestrians and roads. Even the stairs is decorated with plate numbers and vintage signs which makes the whole place instagrammable. It’s a food experience worth your try, more so because they have the kindest owners, who mostly considered cooking as a hobby then, but is now something that makes other people happy, too. You will surely leave the place full but craving for more!
Hungry District
Mindanao Avenue Extension, Quezon City
Open 5pm to 1am
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hungrydistrict
Instagram: @hungrydistrict
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Photogrpaher: Drea Tan (@dreatan)
Videographers: Carl Sayat (@CarlSayat) and Brian Jaffe Rosales Marana
