From the creative and culinary minds of BRGR Project, Pino, Pipino, and Pi Breakfast n Pies come a new (air-conditioned!) food hall in Teachers Village, QC: Malingap Central Food Hall!
While the metro is burgeoning with food parks, especially in the north, I question Chef Ed Bugia on why he, along with his longtime food business partners PJ Lanot and Star Jose, chose to go the 'food hall' route. "Because we're in the Philippines," he answers, "the weather is weird. I wanted to control the environment where my stalls would be." Being a food hall that is enclosed and air-conditioned gives them the advantage of being able to open as early as lunch, compared to food parks, and to operate even if it's too hot or too rainy outside. "Having a nice controlled environment gives entrepreneurs the confidence to have fun and really go at it with awesome, well-thought of concepts," the chef says.
As for the space, it occupies what was once a Korean restaurant right across Pino and Pipino in Malingap Street, Teachers Village. While they are only celebrating the grand opening of Malingap Central this weekend, October 22, they already secured the 600 square meter space since last year. Chef Ed says that they took their time in planning and designing it properly.
Food selection took 'almost half a year, honestly,' the chef shares about their process of choosing which brands and merchants to include in the food hall. They selected and invited, and went through everyone they know in the food industry that really delivered on quality food. "There were extensive taste tests and background checks," Chef Ed adds, and that being business competent was also a requirement, especially now that lasting power is held in high importance in the extremely dynamic and always growing restaurant industry. In the end, the chef is proud of the stalls that are now up and running.
Now after a year in incubation, Malingap Central Food Hall is now open with 11 stalls, with more to follow (the chef reveals that Manila Creamery will join them in a month!).
Here is your first look at the different stalls and the food you can now enjoy at the food hall:
Classic tender roast beef with gravy, served in set meals with pasta or rice with sides.
Must-Try: 100g Roast Beef with Gravy + Lasagna + Potato Croquette (P199/soft opening price)
2. Bar Fight
Affordable cocktails and other refreshments for the thirsty.
Must-Try: Frozen Margarita, Sago't Gulaman
3. El Sombrero
A cantina serving no-frills modern takes on tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other classic Tex-Mex grub
Must-Try: Street Taco (2pcs) with your choice of meat (Steak/P175, Pollo/160, Carnitas/P160, or Chicharones/P160)
4. HapiTori
Japanese street-style food, also known as yakitori (skewered meats)
Must-Try: Yakitori by the stick, like Tsukune (P45/Chicken Balls), Butabara (P45/Pork Belly), and US Beef Rib Fingers (P55)
5. HB Fried Chicken (Honey Butter Chicken)
From Rub Ribs group is this food stall serving crispy honey butter fried chicken. Choose what kind of butter to spread on you chicken: honey butter, spicy butter, or honey garlic butter.
Must-Try: 1pc Honey Butter Fried Chicken with Rice, Gravy, and Side (P165)
A Chinese-Pinoy eatery serving meaty goodness that will make you crave for more.
Must-Try: Twice cooked crispy Beef Ribs Sisig (P240)
7. Quixote
A kitchen with Spanish lineage (Dulcinea ring any bells?) that serves comforting classics like paellas and churros.
Must-Try: Paella (P200) in different flavors and classic Churros (P80) con chocolate
8. Shish K
Affordable Persian cuisine like kebabs, shawarma, keema, and ox brain
Must-Try: Shish-K Beef Kebab (P180) with tzatziki salad and basmati rice (add P55)
9. Sticky Pig
Signature grilled meats like baby back ribs and chimichurri chicken on their menu, along with a selection of seafood items, pasta, and suft and turf combos.
Must-Try: Grilled Baby Back Ribs (P275) with cabbage slaw and French fries (add P10)
10. Sweet X
Yup, it's Sweet Ecstasy, where you're probably getting your late-night burger fix. This is their first foray into a food hall concept, and in Malingap they're doing it differently: offering only two kinds of burgers!
Must-Try: Steamed Burger and Mom Burger (inspired by an old school quarter pounder cheeseburger)
11. Taza Platito
What's a food hall without dessert in the mix? This stall is for the sweet tooth that craves home-baked cakes, cookies, and all things sweet.
Must-Try: Lemon Olive Oil Cake, Date & Walnut Cake, S'mores Cupcake (Soft opening price: Cakes at P100/slice, Cupcakes P80 each)
Chef Ed Bugia shares that the food hall is almost complete, with few more spots left. For merchants who are interested to join Malingap Central, they may email malingapcentralfoodhall@gmail.com. With 11 stalls strong and serving a food mix that's impressively varied to make even the pickiest eater satisfied, Malingap Central Food Hall is poised to become QC's new foodie destination for anyone hungry for no-frills comfort food that's both crave-worthy and affordable.
Malingap Central Food Hall is now open daily at 40 Malingap St., Teacher's Village, Quezon City. It is located right across Pino and Pipino Restaurants. Aircon and Al Fresco Areas available, along with a 14-slot guaranteed parking. Call (02) 799 6213 for inquiries. Like them on Facebook (/MalingapCentral) and follow on Instagram (@malingapcentral) to stay connected.
