A quest for laing
Laing, 2 ways at Mesa
We’re collaborating with Mike of the Walk and Eat blog on a quest to find the best laing. First we’re going to try the laing served in restaurants in the Metro Manila area.
Laing we’ve tried so far
Mesa
C2
Cafe Bola
Recipes – Forget it. Go straight to General Cho’s chicken.
Via Mare – Forget it. Get the pinais na alimasag.
Of course we’re going to try the laing places recommended by Claude Tayag in Linamnam, but first we’re eating around Metro Manila.
Do you know of a good laing place? Please post recommendations in Comments. Thank you!
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
March 28th, 2012 at 09:09
There’s a small restaurant at the ground floor of Linden Suites (annex building) called Mozu. They serve a dish called Lechon Laing — Lechon Kawali partnered with one of the best Laings I’ve had. Just ditch the Lechon Kawali if you’re strictly on Laing mode.
March 28th, 2012 at 12:28
Ditch the lechon kawali?? We think not. Thanks for the recommendation.
March 28th, 2012 at 13:43
It’s become fashionable to pair up laing and lechon kawali. I’ve even tasted (in a restaurant in Malolos) “crispy laing” — crispy pata smothered in laing.
The same restaurant serves “crispy kare-kare” — kare-kare using crispy pata instead of the usual boiled pork parts. Yum!
March 28th, 2012 at 14:57
Please give us the address of the restaurant in Malolos!
March 28th, 2012 at 16:40
There are two locations, “Bahay na Tisa” and “Kulinarya sa Cabanas” owned by the same group. Their menus are similar. Contact the proprietress, Ms. Rina Aniag, at 0917 517 4999, to inquire about specials and to make reservations.
All their best sellers are traditional Filipino dishes but always with a twist. How about “Sisig Lettuce Wrap” as an appetizer? Or “Halo-Halo Turon” for dessert?
March 28th, 2012 at 20:14
The restaurant at the CamSur Watersports Complex has a very good laing pizza.
March 28th, 2012 at 22:36
Cafe Juanita in Pasig. Right near the Shaw Blvd. gate of Barrio Kapitolyo fronting the roundabout, on the Mercury Drug side of the road going in.
March 28th, 2012 at 22:39
Oh right. Where every lamp wears a shawl. Very good kare-kare.
March 29th, 2012 at 01:05
Si Miss Femy masarap magluto ng Laing. She’s the owner of Speedy Pepper (tel. 8909234/4039202) and caters some of the major production houses in Metro Manila.
March 29th, 2012 at 06:32
Was going to say Cafe Juanita but Juan beat me to it… heniways, their straightforward no-nonsense laing is really good!
March 29th, 2012 at 07:22
If and when you find yourself in Davao, Lachi’s has a great Laing pasta. You can have it either with lechon kawali or bangus. Go all out and get dessert afterwards, they have a great selection of sweets too.
March 29th, 2012 at 10:29
Pakilala mo kami kay Miss Femy!
March 29th, 2012 at 17:18
I and my housemates are laing freaks and have been very lucky to have a close friend whose househelp cooks probably the best laing. Inday, the househelp, prepares the dish in almost four hours and the finished product is a layer of cooked gabi leaves in its preserved greenness, mixed with fish and pork, topped by whitish “gata,” embellished with red siling labuyo. It tastes so heavenly whether hot or frozen. I once contracted Inday to cook her laing recipe as Christmas gift to our office executives. The overwhelmingly satisfied recipients offered to pay, whatever the cost, of next servings, provided I keep them coming. With entrepreneurial spirit stirred, my friend and I planned the next steps towards a laing business empire. However, Inday fell in love and eloped with her forbidden lover, not leaving a hint of her recipe. There goes our dream of becoming laing magnates. So far my friend and I haven’t found a match to Inday’s laing in any Metro Manila-based restaurant. Tsoko-Nut Batirol with branches in SM malls offers laing in bangus belly, according to my friend. She advised, however, that eating it will just heighten our longing for Inday’s dish. My friend said the laing offered by Mango Grill restaurant in Sorsogon, is so far, the best approximation of Inday’s. Those served by Red Platter Restaurant in Magsaysay Road as well as Wok Restaurant in Avenue Plaza, both in Naga City, are passable. Every December, included in my friend’s Christmas wish is for Inday to come to her senses and find her way back to her former employer’s home.
April 3rd, 2012 at 17:45
hands down, the best laing for me is found in CAMALIG,ALBAY. but this version is tied with coconut leaves and simmered in coconut cream. the ingredients vary from meat to shrimp. they actually sell it already in market, market (those little stalls at the entrance) or even at SM Makati at the entrance that look a like a food fair. but nothing really beats the one served in camalig, albay. although my folks are from camalig, albay (and i was also born there)— during special occasions, we don’t cook it but we buy at a small pinangat place since i was little. i am in my 40s now and they still buy at that place everytime we have reunions and stuff… i never got to ask where… i just know that when they serve it at home… it is the best laing/pinangat ever in the entire history :)