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Feature: Food Trip in Lilac Food Strip!
If you are a foodie, you surely have heard of Maginhawa Street (Quezon City), Aguirre Street (Parañaque), Corner Market (Taguig City), and different food parks in Metro Manila. Those are just some of the places known for their original delicacies and colorful architecture.
If you want to explore more cuisines and widen your food options, you may add this on your to-go food places list: Lilac Street, or simply Lilac. Located in Concepcion Dos, Marikina, Lilac serves as the boundary between Marikina and Antipolo (Masinag). It boasts different restaurants and offers a spectacular food experience.
Lilac Street on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Photo credits: James Tolosa
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LILAC STREET
The origins of Lilac as a food outlet are quite vague. Before 2011, it was mainly a residential area. During that time, there were some subdivisions (Rancho Estate and Hacienda Heights), business outlets, carwash hubs, and churches (St. Paul of the Cross Parish and Living Word United Methodist Church) nearby.
In May 2011, Mr. Cliford Tiu established a small Mexican cantina called Burrito Brothers near St. Paul of the Cross Parish. Initially, he only had a few customers and struggled to break-even. In order to attract more customers, he decided to build "brother branches" of Burrito Brothers, namely Kebab Brothers (2012), Breakfast Brothers (2015), and Burger Brothers (2016; closed in 2018).
The specialties of Burrito, Kebab, and Breakfast Brothers are: 10-inch chicken burrito (119 PHP), beef kebab (170 PHP), and brother's tapa (160 PHP for sirloin; 185 PHP for US Meat), respectively.
A customer (inside the car) is about to go down and order food in Burrito/Kebab/Breakfast Brothers. Photo credits: James Tolosa
A few months after the establishment of Kebab Brothers, Mary Jane Rebaldo expressed her desire to run a restaurant specializing in Italian and American cuisine. Since she is "very fond of flowers", she decided to name the restaurant Forget Me Not. Her lutong-bahay, particularly Roast Beef (320 PHP) and Nutella Cheese Cake (155 PHP per slice) were a favorite among customers. Eventually, Forget Me Not added more delicacies and became popular for its comfort food. It recently added a cake outlet in Ayala Malls Marikina, and a restaurant (Café Perene) in Ayala Malls Feliz (located in Marcos Highway, Pasig City).
Forget Me Not has several customers every lunch time. Photo credits: James Tolosa
According to Rom Miraflor, current manager of Forget Me Not, "Dahil sa mga gawang-pagkain namin, naganyak namin 'yung mga tao na pumunta sa Lilac at kumain sa aming restoran. Naging word of mouth tuloy ng mga kustomer namin na masarap ang mga pagkaing sine-serve sa Lilac." ["Because of our comfort food, we were able to entice people to go to Lilac and eat in our restaurant. Customers eventually spread the word of mouth that the food served in Lilac is delicious."]
Those who live in Marikina thought they could become successful as well if they would serve their own delicacies. Over the long haul, they took business ventures and set up their own restaurants and food parks. You may want to try other popular and newly-established restaurants aside from the two restaurants mentioned above:
POPULAR RESTAURANTS IN LILAC STREET
1. Dapo at Tisa (77 Lilac Street)
Clockwise: Dapo at Tisa's exterior, menu for seafood, and interior. Photo credits: James Tolosa
Dapo at Tisa is a Filipino restaurant established in 2016. Formerly an old house, it was turned into a restaurant by Dapo and Tisa's family residing there. The family members believe that one celebrates life with good food. In addition, they give outreach programs and serve leftover food to street children for free from time to time.
Some of Dapo at Tisa's must-trys include Sizzling Tofu (190 PHP), Sinigang na Lechon Baboy (285 PHP), Beef Kare-Kare (465 PHP), Baked Cheesy Salmon (225 PHP), and Sigarilyas (175 PHP). Most entrées are good for sharing.
2. Miguel and Maria (89 Lilac Street)
Clockwise: Miguel and Maria's exterior, specialty (chicken wings), and interior. Photo credits: James Tolosa
Miguel and Maria is a restaurant established four years ago. As engraved in a board adjacent to its entrance, it is known for mixing comfort food with European cooking "executed with precision and well-sourced ingredients". Miguel, Maria, and the crew are committed to "putting [their] hearts in motion from kitchen to table and perfecting every detail [in cooking] to make [their] customers closer to home".
Miguel and Maria is often praised for its modern interior design, particularly the panoramic glass windows. Some of the restaurant's must-trys include signature wings (240 PHP; buffalo, BBQ, or salted egg), pumpkin soup (80 PHP), baby back ribs (280 PHP), mac and cheese (230 PHP), and grilled cheese sandwich (220 PHP).
NEWLY-ESTABLISHED RESTAURANTS IN LILAC STREET
1. Dawg's (60-C Lilac St.)
Customers play some board games while eating lunch at Dawg's. Photo credits: James Tolosa
Dawg's is Lilac Street's first boardgame-inspired café. It opened last May 2018. According to Cyrine Decena, a waitress from the restaurant, "Gusto kasi naming maglagay ng mga board game para ma-relax ang mga kustomer namin... makakatulong 'to para ma-enjoy nila ung mga kinakain nila." ["We want to put board games to relax our customers... this helps them enjoy whatever they eat."]
Some of Dawg's must-trys include Creamy Carbonara (149 PHP), New York Streetstyle Sandwich (150 PHP; with fries and iced tea), Crispy Pork Sisig (149 PHP; with buttered garlic rice, egg, and iced tea), and milo ice cream milk shake (150 PHP). Dawg's also offers a promo wherein customers who spend a minimum of 500 PHP can play board games with the staff. Those customers who win get special prizes.
2. Jiyuu (Ground Floor, 10 Lilac Bldg.)
Jiyuu's exterior (left) and grand opening decor (right). Photo credits: James Tolosa
Jiyuu is a bistro specializing in modern Japanese Cuisine. Originally located near Maginhawa Street in February 2018, it moved to Lilac Street six months after. Its owner John Paolo Tolosa expressed how he was inspired to establish the restaurant, "Kapag pumupunta ako sa Japan, nagagandahan ako sa mga design at pagkain [ng mga Hapon]... gusto ko, lumikha ng isang negosyong maglalahad ng aking karanasan." ["Whenever I go to Japan, I am attracted by Japanese design and food... what I want is to create a business narrating my experience."]
Some of Jiyuu's must-trys include Salmon Poké (280 PHP), Kani Kani Wave (188 PHP), Spicy Volcano Maki (198 PHP), Ashigaru (228 PHP), and Pink Sakura (88 PHP for glass; 178 PHP for pitcher).
OTHER SUGGESTED PLACES ON LILAC STREET
• Calle Lila, a food park,
• Chubbies Qcina Café, a restaurant known for experimenting dishes,
• Gui-Gui, a Korean buffet-style restaurant,
• Hunchos, a Mexican cantina,
• Pink Chiffon, a bakery and a mini-restaurant,
• Red's Fish Heads, a restaurant specializing in seafood, and
• Yellow Lantern Café, a restaurant specializing in international cuisine.
Clockwise: Gui Gui, Calle Lila, Yellow Lantern Café, Red's Fish Heads. Photo credits: James Tolosa
Lilac Street is home to various convenience stores and supermarkets such as Generika Pharmacy, Mercury Drug, Puregold, and Watsons. Aside from having branches of Goldilocks and Crazy Katsu, it even has boutiques, laundry shops, and law firms. In addition, you may have a haircut or massage on some salons, spas, and barber shops along the food strip.
Now that you have been given another option for your food adventures, it is high time that you go to Lilac Street. Enjoy the comfort food served and bring at least 350 PHP if you want to make your food trip in Lilac Food Strip memorable! //by James Tolosa
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