I previously lived in Quezon City for a few years and found it to have the best cheap restaurants in Metro Manila. The best private schools and universities in the Philippines are located in this area so most of the shops and restaurants in Quezon City cater to student-budgets and a younger crowd. Visit these restaurants in Quezon City if you want something budget-friendly and delicious.
JT’s Manukan – JT’s Manukan is owned by Filipino actor Joel Torre that specializes in Inasal chicken. JT’s is unique from the other restaurants in Quezon City because it is technically a roadside stall. But, the ambiance is part of its charm. Customers who opt to dine-in, sit outdoors on plastic chairs and eat off of banana leaves, usually with their hands.
Most of the customers go to JT’s for the chicken which is the main thing on the menu. Here, you can order any part of the chicken from the more common (breasts, wings, thighs) to the more bizarre (heart, butt, liver, gizzards). The chicken is served with copious amounts of white rice on banana leaves and a ‘make-your-own’ sauce of calamansi, chilies, vinegar, and soy sauce. For the non-chicken lovers do not fret, the boneless bangus (milkfish, P130 or $3.00) and spareribs (P95 or $2.20) are quite tasty in their own right. Don’t forget to get a side order of adobong kangkong (sautéed swamp cabbage, P60 or $1.40) or atchara (pickled green papaya, P20 or $0.40) to go with your chicken. If you are looking for one of the tastiest no-frills restaurants in Quezon City, then head over to JT’s.
Meals range from P40-P130 or $0.95-$3.00. Entrees can be served with large amounts of white rice for an additional P20 or $0.40.
You’ll find JT’s Manukan at 4 Granada cor. Valencia St., Ortigas Ave. Extension, Quezon City.
Banapple Pies & Cheesecakes – One of the restaurants in Quezon City to be in close proximity to the schools, Banapple is popular among the younger crowd. It serves not only delicious cakes and pies but also Western entrees and sides. If you don’t mind the sometimes 30-minute waits, Banapple is one of the best budget-friendly restaurants in Quezon City.
The restaurant caters to a bunch of different tastes from the Super Caesar Salad (P120 or $2.80) for the vegetarians to the Beef & Sausage Stew (P195 or $4.53) for the carnivores. My favorites are the Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs (P175 or $4.06) which is served with mashed potatoes and corn relish and the Lasagna Roll ups (P180 or $4.18) served with garlic bread. Wash this all down with some of their smoothies (P105 or $2.44) and you have a cheap satisfying meal.
Don’t forget to check out the bakery portion of their restaurant which has some bestsellers such as the Banoffee Pie (P95 or $2.20/slice), considered by many as the best pie among the restaurants in Quezon City and arguably even in Manila and the fudgymudgymud pie ( P100 or $2.32/slice).
You’ll find Banapple Pies & Cheescakes at 225 Katipunan Ave., Blue Ridge, Quezon City.
Mang Jimmy’s – Extremely popular among university students, Mang Jimmy’s is known for traditional Filipino cuisine and is one the best restaurants in Quezon City for it. Not only are the prices cheap at Mang Jimmy’s but they also have some incredible deals. Here, you can eat as much rice as you want for the price of only 1 serving. Also, come here with 3 friends and order 3 entrees and get another for free. The estimated budget for a meal at Mang Jimmy’s is P100 or $2.32.
Mang Jimmy’s is a carnivore’s dream as their most popular dishes here are the sizzling platters (meat served sizzling on a hot plate). Try the sizzling sisig (diced pork marinated in chilies and calamansi), tapa mix (cured beef) and the sizzling squid if you want to eat like the locals. If you’re not a heavy meat eater, you may want to avoid it as the ‘meat-y’ smell within this place is quite strong. But, if you consider yourself an adventurous foodie, Mang Jimmy’s will become one of your favorite restaurants in Quezon City.
You’ll find Mang Jimmy’s at Old Balara, Quezon City.