Outdoor Food Bazaar in Araneta Center

Nestled between Araneta Coliseum and Gateway are more than two dozens of food stalls that offer cheap and quick bites to the hungry masses. The enticing aroma of food wafts through the air as one walks on the bridge that connects the MRT – Cubao Station and the LRT Line 1 – Araneta Center Station. The mood is festive – colorful lights and upbeat music originate from the stage near the food stalls and performers entertain the crowd queuing for their meals.

View of the outdoor food bazaar in Araneta Center from the bridge that connects MRT - Cubao and LRT Line 1 - Araneta Center

Last night, I was one of them. I finally succumbed to the temptation that was emanating from the grilled pork in one of the stalls. I arrived at the area thinking of eating something meaty, with burnt sections and dripping with oil, but I ended up eating something bready, with undercooked parts and dripping with oil. Since I survived without throwing up, I am not complaining.

The stall where I ate offered a great deal: two slices of pizza or one slice of pizza and one serving of pasta for P100.00 (US $2.22). It was dirt-cheap that fell hard for it. Hehe. When I dug in, I realized that the lasagna was undercooked. I ended up not eating it. My pizza did not have the consistency and taste of any other pizza I have tasted, and it was too sweet. I thought I was having dessert while eating it. To make matters worse, I convinced Hope and Pats to eat there, too. In my defense, the pizza and the pasta looked photogenic!!! 🙂

Some of the pizzas that I had to choose from. They look like beauty queens in a Miss Universe food edition.

The choices of pizza that I chose from.

Four of the many pasta dishes available in the outdoor food bazaar in Araneta Center.

I think the other stalls offer better food than the one we ate at. There is an abundant supply of Filipino food, anything grilled and pulutan.

Barbecue pork and stuffed grilled squid. They go well with rice or beer.

An infinitely many choices of food for deep frying. They include kikiam, siomai, squid and cuttlefish balls.

Battered and fried. Crisp tawilis, squid and crablets. Yes, we use “crispy” instead of “crisp”.

Fried food pa more. Crisp crablets, crisp chicken skin and chi-lak (chicharong bulaklak). Chicharong bulaklak is deep-fried ruffled fat of pig. It is sinfully good but deadly.

Lechon pugon, dynamite (deep-fried chili peppers wrapped in spring roll wrappers) and lumpia Shanghai.

Lechon

Papaitan. I have never tasted papaitan yet, but it sounds bitter.

Pork sisig - chopped pig snout, ears and liver. Yum!

A very suspect-looking shawarma meat.

A very suspect-looking shawarma meat.

For those with sweet tooth, they are also covered.

Desserts for cheap: 2 for P150.00 (US $3.25)

Even cheaper desserts: 3 for P100 (US $2.22)

All photos except the top view, pizza and pasta photos were taken by Pats. Salamat.

 

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