Top 10 Best Rainy Day Comfort Foods on 'Ang Pinaka'

If you’re the type who likes to cozy up in bed with a warm bowl of soup on a rainy day, you may want to check this list of the “Top 10 Patok na Comfort Food sa Tag-ulan” compiled by the GMA News TV weekly countdown show “Ang Pinaka.”

“Ang Pinaka” recently sampled ten of the most popular rainy day meals and visited the restaurants that serve them. If you're looking for something to satisfy your rainy day comfort food cravings, read on! #10 Sinigang na Bulalo at Leslie’s Restaurant  

Leslie’s is a Filipino restaurant that started out as a pasalubong shop in tourist-friendly Tagaytay. Their signature dish, sinigang na bulalo, is an offshoot of the popular bulalo or beef shank soup.  Leslie’s gave the classic bulalo a sour twist by adding tamarind, the main ingredient of the sinigang.  Host Maey Baustista said the ‘sinigang na bulalo’ is a perfect blend of both flavorful broths: “Maasim, pero hindi nawawala ang pagka-bulalo niya.” Address: Blk13 Lot1 Westgate Drive Alabang, Muntinlupa City Telephone Number:  666-2446 Website: http://lesliesrestaurant.multiply.com Price:  Sinigang na Bulalo - P450    

#9 La Paz Batchoy from Deco’s      

Entrepreneur Federico “Deco” Guillergan, Sr. pioneered the serving of the La Paz Batchoy out of his makeshift carinderia inside the La Paz Public Market in Iloilo.  La Paz Batchoy is a unique soup concoction mixed with pork, beef, pork innards, and miki or bihon noodles. “Nag-blend lahat ng lasa. Ang sarap ng sabaw,” said “Ang Pinaka” host Betong. Location: G/F Alphaland Southgate Tower, 2258 Chino Roces Ave., Magallanes Village, Makati City Website: http://decoslapazbatchoy.com/d/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decos-La-Paz-Batchoy/314546147061 Price: Special La Paz Batchoy - P75; Super La Paz Batchoy - P80; Extra La Paz Batchoy - P85      

#8 Potchero ni Tankeko at 1521 Restaurant      

1521 Restaurant invites patrons to “Rediscover Filipino Cuisine” through its centerpiece dish called “Potchero ni Tangkeko.” This dish is slow-cooked for four hours, giving the beef a tender texture. “‘Yung pagkalambot niya, mae-enjoy mo siyang nguyain, kahit hindi ka muna mag kanin!” said Maey. Location: Forbes Town Rd., Burgos Circle, Forbes Town Center, The Fort Telephone Number: 552-1910 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1521resto Price:  Potchero ni Tangkeko - P450      

#7 Hand-pulled Noodles with Dried Shrimps and Peanuts in Spicy Sauce at Crystal Jade Restaurant      

Foodies from Singapore and Hong Kong have long been fans of The Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Restaurant. In 2010, the resto began serving its special hand-pulled noodles to Pinoy diners. The noodles, dried shrimp, and minced pork are topped with peanuts then drenched in spicy sauce and a tasty broth cooked for 24 hours.  A single serving of the dish is good for up to four persons. Location: Unit 117-121, V-Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City, Metro Manila Telephone: 570-6910 / 570-6912 Website: http://www.crystaljade.com Price:  Noodles with dried shrimp and peanuts in spicy sauce - P288      

#6 Pilo-Gaw at Lugawan Republic      

Lugawan Republic is open 24 hours a day, so it’s perfect for satisfying late night cravings. The restaurant’s best-seller, the Pilo-Gaw, is made of sotanghon noodles, garlic, quail eggs, chicken, and beef innards in thick sauce. Boobay describes the meal in one word: succulent. Location: 45 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone: 372-8844 / 706-1000 Website: http://lugawanrepublic.com/ Price: Pilo-gaw - P95      

#5 Ginataang Halo-halo at Barbara’s      

According to the restaurant manager, their ginataang halo-halo is the preferred dessert for customers on rainy days.  This sweet dessert is made up of a selection of jackfruit, saba, bananas, purple yam, sweet potato, taro, and tapioca balls slow-cooked in coconut milk. “Sarap, lutong-luto!” is all Boobay could say in between spoonfuls of ginataang halo-halo. Address:  Plaza San Luis Complex, Intramuros, Manila Telephone: 527-3893 Website: http://www.barbarasrestaurantandcatering.com/ Price: Ginataang Halo-Halo - P137.50      

#4 Sukiyaki at Ariake Japanese Cuisine      

The sukiyaki is a popular one-pot meal, usually cooked at the table while you eat. The dish is made up of thinly sliced beef, glass noodles, carrots, mushrooms, and tofu, topped off with a raw egg and sweet broth. Maey says there’s a rainbow of diverse flavors in every single bite of sukiyaki. Location: 284 Tomas Morato cor Scout Rallos, South Triangle, Quezon City Telephone: 926-2429 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ariakejapanesecuisine Price: Sukiyaki - P255      

#3 Ramen at Ramen Bar      

The Ramen Bar first opened its doors in 2010. It is fast becoming a favorite hang-out of foodies on the look-out for authentic ramen.  Their best-selling ramen is the “Ramen Bar Special No. 1” or “RBS #1,” which is topped with braised pork belly, fish sticks, dried seaweed, spring onion, sliced pork and soft-boiled egg that’s been marinated for 48 hours. Location: G/F Eastwood Mall, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave.Bagumbayan, Quezon City Telephone: 570-9475 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ramenbar Price: RBS#1 - P380      

#2 Shabu-shabu at Thousand Cranes Shabu-Shabu      

Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot dish with sliced meat and vegetables, traditionally cooked on a burner right in front of the diners.  At Thousand Cranes, customers can also add Taiwanese petchay, egg noodles, meat balls, lobster balls, squid balls, taro, corn, or mushrooms to their shabu-shabu. Location:  2nd Level, Greenbelt 3, Greenbelt, Paseo de Roxas corner Legaspi Street, Ayala Center, Makati City Telephone: 729-8640 to 41 Price: Basic Vegetable Set - P320 U.S. Angus Beef (Add On) - P765 Seafood Set (Add On) - P740      

#1 Suman sa Lihiya at Abe’s      

Abe’s was founded in 2006 by the late restauranteur Larry J. Cruz as a tribute to his father, Emilio Aguilar Cruz, more popularly known as ‘Abe.’ ‘Abe’ is the Kapampangan term for companion. The restaurant’s classic suman sa lihiya is a rice cake wrapped and in banana leaves served with a sticky sweet syrup of coconut and sugar.  For Maey, suman and salabat or ginger tea are a “perfect combination,” while others enjoy the dessert with hot chocolate. Location:  Alabang Town Center, Lifestyle Strip, Commerce Ave. Alabang, Muntinlupa City Telephone: 623-0899 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abe/132745540107864 Price:  Suman sa Lihiya - P220 —Ang Pinaka Staff/Ces Vitan/PF, GMA News