Foodtrip Around U-Belt: A Travelogue

 Foodtrip Around U-Belt: A Travelogue

    As a Manileño, U-Belt is one of the most prominent places here in Sampaloc, Manila. It houses numerous prestigious universities such as the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Far Eastern University (FEU), and De La Salle University (DLSU) to name a few. Bustling with students, professors, employees and roadside business owners alike, aside from the quality of education found in this area, there is another aspect of this place that people love experiencing after a hard day at work, or a stressful day at school. A food trip!

Food is what fuels people, gives them energy to go about their day and to function like normal human beings. There are numerous spots in and around U-Belt that are easily accessible via walking or by commuting by jeep or FX. Streets like Dapitan, P. Noval, Nicanor Reyes all house a variety of food joints, stalls, and your typical restaurants to fill up your hungry belly. Avenues like Lacson Ave. and España Boulevard are lined with Cafes, Street vendors, and food courts that also function as dormitories in the higher levels.

    When talking about the type of food found within this bustling place full of hungry minds, there is a wide variety of meals, snacks, and chains that you could go to. From typical fast food to more diverse cuisine (Indian and the like), U-Belt has something to offer if you're craving something different, and don't have the minutes to spend cooking or doing your groceries.     Starting from Dapitan St., which is a long street that's usually traffic on a school day, it is lined with bakeries, small restaurants, and long standing businesses that have been in the same spots for decades. On the intersection between M. Dela Fuente and Dapitan, you have AJ Indian Biryani House. A fairly recent addition which serves spicy Indian food. The biryani is great, and the samosas (a type of savory pastry filled with vegetables and spices) are just to die for. They're especially great as a quick snack or a meal which you can get for cheap. The servings aren't to laugh at either, and they're big portions for their price so as you eat your food, it feels very worth it. Moving along towards UST, we have Tinapayan Festival. This bakery is well known, being featured on the news and also being frequented by some celebrities if they have the time. Just a few weeks ago as I write this, there was a bus full of beauty pageant contestants buying bread from them. They have been in that spot here in Sampaloc for over 40 years, starting in 1982. They serve a variety of breads, from pan de sal, to loaf breads, and even pastries and cakes.     As you walk along this street, you will pass by numerous "karinderyas", or family-run canteens who serve typical Filipino foods, such as Adobo and other meals for cheap prices. One of them is Chat's Pancitan, which is one of those long lasting family-style eateries in Dapitan. Their specialty, as indicated in their name, is Pancit. They produce delicious party platter pancits for parties and special occasions, but they also do offer other dishes for their regular diners who want to eat lunch or have some sort of snack in the afternoon.     We start to move towards U-Belt even more as we turn left from Dapitan to P. Noval, which is one of the four main roads that surround UST. This street is the entrance to the church and seminary of UST, and is lined with more restaurants and condominiums. A popular spot here in P. Noval is 24-Chicken, a Korean fried chicken chain that made its way here. A cousin of mine recommended this spot due to how much portions they give you, and how filling it is. It's best shared with others, as the delectable sauces of these fried chicken can fill you up quickly, and you might even start to get sick of the taste immediately. As we move towards España Blvd, there is another popular spot, Manila Café. This place is famous for providing a convenient workspace while providing delicious food. Aside from the typical cafe treats such as pastries, buns, and breads, they also serve meals such fish and chips, as well as offering numerous pizzas that have high quality ingredients are usually complimented by different sauces instead of the regular hot sauce. These sauces are usually honey garlic sauce, sweet & sour, and other sauces that normally don't come with your typical pizza order.     We move on to España Boulevard, a long stretch that connects Manila to Quezon City, and is lined with countless establishments, big and small. Going past UST, and nearing Recto and Taft Avenue, housing DLSU and FEU, the trend continues with numerous food hubs, food stalls, restaurants, street food vendors, and cafés littering each side of España.     Walking past UST, there is a condo-slash-food hub called The One. Aside from being a condominium for students and working professionals, it also houses numerous food stalls where you can order a wide variety of cuisines. From Filipino to Korean, Japanese to Street Foods (which are overpriced if you compare them to the street vendors outside, just a little less car exhaust on them) The One has got you covered. They also have ATMs just in-case dormers need to withdraw, and also a store that sells knicknacks such as K-POP photocards, costumes, stickers, and other goodies that I will probably not buy at all since it's not my thing.     There are many more spots that I have not gone to yet, and I hope to do so in the near future. These are the more prominent spots that I have had experience with, and they usually range from the 100-600PHP mark for a meal or two, depends on how hungry you are. Street food usually ranges from 2-30PHP each, with the likes of Fish ball, Kwek-Kwek (Quail Egg fried in an orange batter), and other numerous fried foods that can satisfy your cravings for something crunchy, oily, and overall just delicious.     Just be wary of your personal belongings, as Manila isn't the kindest place to people who dilly-dally and aren't mindful of what they do, where they go, and how they compose themselves. The food here is great, wonderful experiences to go through. Explore the streets with your friends, research about potential hangout places or karaokes, there are a ton of these here in U-Belt.