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Porridge Gets New, Exciting Upgrades at These Lugaw Shops in Manila
The Pinoy rainy-day comfort food can now be jazzed up with various mix-ins.
By: Patricia Marie Prado | August 24, 2017
Due to changing quarantine measures, the destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!
If there’s one Filipino comfort food Pinoys love, it’s probably lugaw. The hot bowl of rice porridge with bits of garlic and ginger is both simple and satisfying. Aside from being a nostalgic treat, it’s also the perfect snack when feeling a bit under the weather.
Did you know that there are now many variations of lugaw which you can try? Check out ShoppersGuide’s list of various kinds of lugaw in the city and see (and taste) them for yourself!
Lugaw with chicharon and egg
Goto King will always be a classic favorite. (Image: Food Truck Manila-QC)
One of the reasons a bowl of lugaw is so well-loved is because of its simplicity: you can eat it on its own. But you can also change the dynamics and add a little bit of condiments and toppings here and there to make it more special. One of the best and easiest ways to get your lugaw cravings satisfied is by visiting Goto King and getting a taste of their lugaw special with chicharon (fried pork belly or pork rinds) and egg. This hearty bowl retails at PhP55 and can be found in most malls.
Lugaw with sotanghon
One can have rice and noodles in one bowl at Lugawan Republic. (Image: Lugawan Republic)
If you want to experiment a little with your lugaw without deviating from the classic, pilugaw is the way to go. Pilugaw is a specialty of Lugawan Republic which mixes the classic lugaw with sotanghon (cellophane noodles) to add a bit of texture to the already thick soup. Aside from lugaw and sotanghon, pilugaw also consists of ox tripe, mushrooms, chicken, toasted garlic, and quail eggs, giving you a hot and heavy meal. For PhP95, it’s the perfect meal after a drinking session at Manila’s bars .
Lugaw with bulalo
Your blood pressure will be rising at this lugaw joint. (The H.O.B. House of Bulalagaw)
A hole-in-the-wall eatery in Quezon City decided to mix things up with our favorite lugaw. The House of Bulalugaw (H.O.B.) is known for serving their famous bulalugaw, a combination of bulalo and lugaw! Instead of getting your usual hot bowl of rice porridge, you’ll be treated with real beef chunks similar to the ones you get when eating bulalo (beef shank soup). It may look like a harmless snack, but you might want to think twice before getting another round with the cholesterol levels in this bowl. One can experience this fusion of Filipino comfort food at PhP80.
Lugaw with palabok
No need to choose between lugaw and palabok at Lugaw Queen. (Image: Tek Ni Syan)
The combination of lugaw and palabok (noodles in shrimp sauce) might make you scratch your head a little. However, Lugaw Queen turned this idea into reality. Lugaw Queen, a small eatery that started in Laguna in 2007, is now a growing lugaw authority in the country. One of their specialties is the arroz palabok, where congee is topped with palabok sauce and its usual condiments like chicharon, tinapa (smoked fish), onion chives, and egg. For PhP30, diners get to enjoy the smokiness of tinapa and the creaminess of the palabok sauce together with the lugaw in one filling bowl.
Lugaw with pig brains
You’ll forget you’re eating pig brains once you try Uring and Thess’ lugaw. (Image: Margot de Leon)
You won’t find white chunks of pig brains when you dine at Uring and Thess Lugawan, but yes, it is the secret to their lugaw! They incorporate the exotic ingredient through the cooking process giving diners one of the best lugaw in town. Despite its hard-to-find location, some even drive for hours just to taste their lugaw which starts at PhP13. Patrons of this eatery also recommend that you pair their lugaw with tokwa’t baboy (tofu and pig ears or tongue) at PhP40, which comes swimming in their special vinegar created in house!
Lugaw with tinapa flakes and salted egg
Deviate from the boring lugaw that you know with Goto Monster’s version! (Image: @matoses)
Salted egg is all the rage right now, from chips to chicken wings. One variation we bet you haven’t tried yet is with lugaw. Goto Monster in Makati serves their version of Goto special with tinapa flakes (smoked fish) and salted egg instead of the usual hard-boiled ones. Despite being priced at PhP55, the weird combination of tinapa, salted egg, and lugaw makes one awesome dish. The dish comes with a huge serving of lugaw with ox tripe and garlic which will certainly make up for the price!
Lugaw with nine toppings
Accept Goto Monster’s challenge to see if you’re a true lugaw fanatic! (Image: Goto Monster)
If you’re a true lugaw fan, you and your friends can battle against each other and try the Goto Monster challenge. This involves finishing one huge serving of their Goto special fit for 10 persons. The dish is topped with various ingredients like tinapa flakes, tofu, bagnet (deep fried pork belly), and salted egg, plus other items that varies from time to time. Winners earn a free shirt, photo, and bragging rights! But if you fail to finish the bowl within 45 minutes, you’ll have to pay PhP750 for the meal. Yikes!
Visit Yoorekka Consumer Magazine for more dining options in Metro Manila!
Are you ready to eat your way through Manila with our list of lugaw to try? Let us know in the comments below which ones are your favorite!
Click the store links to see the exact addresses and contact numbers of featured establishments
Prices may change without prior notice.
About Patricia Marie Prado
Patricia came from the field of business and accounting but is now pursuing her dreams of being a writer. She is a self-confessed introvert and is passionate about reading, travelling, writing, movies, coffee and God. When she's not writing, she loves discovering new coffee shops/cafe and doing TV-series marathons.
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