Quiapo Muslim Town | We Tried the 10php Quiapo Pastil
Quiapo, Manila: On a recent food crawl, we visited the famous 10php Quiapo Pastil, which has just now become popular with locals and tourists.
Normally when we hear Quiapo, things such as fortune telling, herbal “pamparegla”, the Black Nazarene, camera lenses, and the like easily pop up on our minds. But how about Pastil? Palabok? Coffee? Yeah, it kind of puzzled me, not until I experienced them one by one. First stop – the precious Quiapo Pastil!
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Quiapo Muslim Town
Quiapo is known for many things because it has been so many things for the longest time – being the earliest settled site in the Philippines. It has seen the rise and fall of generations, and the changes we see every time in Quiapo reflected our country’s own.
Today, this area is a cultural landscape where food finds are unique, just like any moving and breathing organism, it adapts, thrives, and lives in every nook and cranny – you’ll just have to look for it!
It is also no secret that just at the other side of the revered Basilica of the Black Nazarene lies the Quiapo Muslim Town.
We even dropped by June-Nairah Halal Food Restaurant – one of the oldest and has been serving halal Maranao dishes since 1993!
In hindsight, a halal food hub existing here is no secret to Manileños since there’s a notable population of Muslim brothers and sisters residing here. Somewhere in A. Bautista St. is a series of stalls selling the now-trending Quiapo Pastil!
What’s in a Pastil?
Pastil’s meat is called “Kagikit”, which is usually made up of shredded beef or chicken. Moreover, the meat is cooked similarly to adobo, which gives a rich and delicious taste to the dish.
It is originally from Maguindanao and is a popular rice meal in Mindanao, especially among Filipino Muslims. Now, it has found its way into the streets of Quiapo, Manila for everyone to enjoy.
And now, Quiapo Pastil has become so popular that there’s always a queue of curious and hungry customers ready to chow down on this delicious meal. Moreover, this is best partnered with a hardboiled egg and a dash of soy sauce.
I was particularly curious as to how it was prepared here in Quiapo but it was still good wherever I go. In addition, I have been able to travel to different parts of Mindanao, particularly in the SOCCSKSARGEN region where I first tried Pastil as it was sold in all places there.
In General Santos City, unlimited side dishes are free in Pioneer St. like pickled tomatoes, adobong sitaw, ensaladang talong, pipino, tuna flakes in oil, and many more!
Next Stop: The JollyDada Palabok of Quiapo!
How to Get There
- Rows and rows of Pastil Stalls are selling along A. Bautista St. Cor F.R. Hidalgo St. Some of them are located under the condemned Boix House that is Adjacent to the historical Nakpil-Bautista House.
- From LRT Carriedo Station, go straight at Carriedo St. until you reach Quiapo Church. At the Mercury Drug building is the underpass that goes across the other side to F.R. Hidalgo St. The landmark is a Jollibee Fastfood, then a few meters turn left at A. Bautista St.
- Halal Maranao Foods are found all near the Masjid Al-Dahab or Quiapo Golden Mosque.
- The one where we ate at is the June-Nairah Halal Food Restaurant – one of the oldest and has been serving halal Maranao dishes since 1993
- Location: #826 Globo De Oro St. Quiapo, Manila
- Food that we sampled here:
- Chicken Piaparan – 90php (Poultry Farm Chicken)
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- Native Chicken Piaparan – 250php
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- Eggplant Omelet – 60php
- Beef Rendang – 150php
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- Be mindful of your stuff and always remember that you are still in Quiapo, Manila.
Extend Your Trip
Quiapo Muslim Town | We Tried the 10php Quiapo Pastil
Updated November 19, 2022
