Bite-Size: Five food finds on or near Maginhawa Street

For many food enthusiasts, UP Teacher’s Village—Maginhawa Street, in particular—has become synonymous with unique gastronomic adventures. Last year’s Maginhawa Food Festival, one of the major highlights of Quezon City’s 75th anniversary celebrations, reaffirmed the area’s reputation as perhaps the strongest contender for the title of the city’s main food hub.

The numerous cafes and restaurants lining the Maginhawa stretch ensure varied choices for foodies with different budgets. But having way too many options can also be quite confusing; after all, there’s only so much time you have in one day (and only so much room in your stomach) to explore Maginhawa and sample all the yummy dishes the food haven has to offer.

If you’re in search of a great dining experience—or maybe just thinking of rewarding yourself with a delicious meal after a long and stressful week at work or school—these five awesome food spots near or along Maginhawa that we found during a food crawl organized by app Food Panda should be at the top of your to-visit list.

Katz Diner


Katz Diner on Malingap Street specializes in all-day breakfasts. As if that weren’t enough to give the quiet but lively family restaurant a shot—let’s face it, breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day, it’s also the most awesome—Katz Diner also serves a variety of mouth-watering grilled dishes, steaks, and rice meals.

Breakfast enthusiasts will definitely enjoy the Sweet Grilled Pork Steak and All-Day Breakfast Longganisa, two dishes paired with rice, egg, and some veggies that will ensure that your day’s off to a great start. Pair either of these with the restaurant’s House Tea, and you’ll have a legitimate reason to smile all day.

For dessert, there's a really mean Lava Cake. Topped with marshmallows and tasty chocolate syrup, it’s a soft and chewy goodness that will certainly leave you wanting another serving.

Still not convinced? Well, these three words just might change your mind: Roast Pork Belly.

Katz Diner is open Mondays to Saturdays, 12 noon to 11 p.m.

Casa Quesadilla



In the mood for delicious, affordable Mexican cuisine? Casa Quesadilla’s assortment of nachos, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas just might be right up your alley.

If you’re the kind of foodie who has no problem with getting your hands messy, you’ll certainly love the flavorful and cheesy goodness of the Casa’s Ultimate Nachos.

Foodies in search of a more satisfying meal might instead go for the quesadillas, from the typical beef, chicken and tuna variants to the more adventurous and dessert-themed Banana Nutella flavor.

Rice lovers, on the other hand, should try the Chicken and Mexican Beef Burritos. Snackers should try the Beef Dynamite Rolls and the Loaded Cheese Fries (because cheese makes everything better, absolutely).

Casa Quesadilla is open Mondays to Sundays, 12 noon to 10 p.m.

Homies Pinoy Fried Chicken



It’s quite difficult to find a person who doesn’t appreciate fried chicken. Perhaps that’s why Homies Pinoy Fried Chicken’s signature dishes are such a hit with the students near Magiting Street who are in search of a satisfying yet inexpensive lunch.

Aside from the standard fried chicken—and seriously, you can’t go wrong with fried chicken that’s crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside—the restaurant also serves rice-topping favorites such as Chili con Carne, Pork Menudo, and Chicken Curry, as well as snack options like the Chili Hotdog and Meatball Spaghetti.

What really sets Homies apart from other chicken-loving establishments, though, is its relaxed, feel-at-home atmosphere. Right outside the establishment is some awesome wall art, making Homies rather hard to miss. You won’t just keep coming back here for the food—you’ll love the ambience, too.

Oh, and it also has a screeching rubber chicken—if that won’t make you want to spend a good couple of hours at Homies just randomly swinging it around and taking goofy pictures, I don’t know what will.

Homies Pinoy Fried Chicken is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Big B Burgers


It takes creativity and an understanding of what makes our taste buds tick for entrepreneurs to put unique spins on classic favorites. A perfect example would be Big B Burgers on Maginhawa, which combines delicious meats and sauces to serve up unique variants of an otherwise straightforward sandwich.

The Bongga Burger, for example, takes the sweet-salty taste of longganisa and combines it with ground beef to produce a wonderfully delicious burger patty. The Bam Burger, on the other hand, combines Spam luncheon meat and beef. It goes well with the diner’s bestselling (and curiously named) snacks, BallsBalls (potato balls) and Poutine ng Ina (fries smothered in gravy and mozzarella cheese).

The restaurant manages to maintain a youthful vibe by exhibiting creativity in nearly every aspect. Witty signs helpfully remind patrons to stop counting calories that ordering Big B’s signature Pink Potion with Feelings means being treated to not just a deliciously refreshing cold drink but also a heartfelt exchange of impromptu dialogue between the restaurant’s enthusiastic waiters (who just might have a career in theater waiting for them, who knows).

Big B Burgers is open Mondays to Sundays, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Cocina Juan



Maginhawa’s Cocina Juan offers two things that keep its customers coming back: Great food at decent prices, and a welcoming ambience enhanced by well-thought-out interior design.

A visit to the restaurant is not only a unique gastronomic experience, but also an aesthetically impressive visual treat. Looking around, you’ll notice the various artifacts, paintings, and decorations that give Cocina Juan the identity and personality that its patrons have loved for five years.

Naturally, when it comes to great restaurants, the quality of the food is more than half of the equation; in this aspect, the establishment certainly does not disappoint. Some of Cocina Juan’s tastiest offerings are the Quesadilla Con Tomate, Chicken Burritos Grande, and Quesadilla Carne. You could also go for their Dinamitas—appetizing cheese-stuffed peppers in lumpia wrappers.

Bringing a big group of friends or family along? Don’t worry—you can order the Churasco Fiesta Platter, which contains a mouthwatering selection of garlic sausages and beef, chicken and pork skewers. (Be sure to leave some room for dessert, though, as the Gremlins cupcake shop is right next door!)

Cocina Juan is open Mondays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — BM, GMA News