With a rustic theme and more than 30 food stalls, The Yard at Xavierville is definitely not your ordinary food park. Still on its soft opening, The Yard holds the most number of concessionaires in one compound in the metro. As of writing, there are 33 unique food stalls where we got to try 29 of them. Cuisines range from Filipino to Japanese and sweet to savory, so every visit will give you a different kind of experience.
The Yard has a variety of interesting local food concepts and is carefully curated so every stall is set to satisfy your cravings. Its goal is to bring family and friends together through different kinds of food and cuisine offerings. With over 30 stalls in the food park, here are can't-miss eats and drinks when you visit The Yard:
With flavors ranging from cookie & milk and pink cheddar to strawberry cheese tart and chewy choco crumble, it's always a treat when snacking on these flavored shaved ice. While you're there, you can try their different flavors of milk teas and fruit teas to quench your thirst. You can also avail of their boardgames all you can promo when you purchase at least any two products on the menu. They also have other branches in Banawe at #86 Maria Clara St., Brgy. Sto. Domingo and another in Maginhawa at 2/F 189 Maginhawa St. Sikatuna Village.
The Subwich Factory
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Run by the same owners of Baguio City's Route 55, The Subwich Factory specializes in subs, raviolis, salads and desserts. The Crabstick and Peach Sub is such a moving item on the menu, it's even available as a salad if you want something lighter. We were told that the ingredients are delivered all the way from Baguio so everything's guaranteed fresh. Another can't-miss is the Spinach and Shitaake Mushroom Ravioli (P210), homemade spinach and shitaake stuffed pasta in white wine cream sauce. Don't forget to wipe your plate clean using the crisp bread served on the side!
We were greeted with warm smiles upon approaching the stall. It was appropriate though since they serve comfort food you'd actually want to munch on while sharing stories with your friends. We tried the Latte Under The Cloud which is a classic iced latte topped with fluffy cotton candy. Something to fill the tummy is the Ultimate Quatro Formaggio (P120/solo; P160/duo) served with marinara sauce on the side for dipping and the Banana Caramel French Toast (P160) that's best eaten as a dessert after visiting other food stalls at the compound. Fairly new on the menu is the Frapookie (P150) where they put a giant cookie on top of any of your favorite frappe drink. Definitely an Instagram-worthy drink!
Prawn Star
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At this stall, you'll see a variety of seafood chows in bold names. Try The Prawnstar (P250), prawns with your choice of sauce and a side of corn on a bed of garlic noodles. Choose among different kinds of sauces – Sexy&Hottie (cajun), Hoe Eggs (salted egg), G-Spot (garlic butter) and more. You'll be even asked what level of spiciness you prefer, from G (not spicy) to XXX (extra extra hot).
Redefined Filipino street food as what's stated on their tagline, they do not disappoint. From different kinds of sisig to pancit toppings, you can indulge on the classic Filipino eats your heart desires. There are three kinds of sisig but the must-try is the Bangus Belly with Tofu Sisig (P140) that's served on a sizzling plate! Squeeze the calamansi, pop the chili, mix well and order a warm cup of rice for a complete meal. We were also told there are already return customers for their pancit toppings, we can't wait to try it ourselves!
The owners of Puluts and Little Wondang are the same folks so we got surprised when the same person toured us to the latter. At Little Wondang, we got to try the Classic Bibimbap (P130) which is ssamjang infused beef so it's mildly spicy – perfect for those who aren't big fans of hot food. They also have an interesting lineup of bibimbaps which include Tocbimbap (tocino), Longbimbap (longanisa), Tapabimbap (tapa) and Tuyobimbap (tuyo). You can also opt to have Korean BBQ where you can grill your meats using a portable griller so you can eat anywhere in the food park.
Asombroso
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Asombroso which translates to amazing, focuses on Spanish fares. Uncertain on serving the classic paella, they make Paella Balls instead which are croquettes with tasty and warm paella inside. Don't miss out on the Clams & Mussels (P150) in white wine sauce while you're there.
Wakomojo
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For all things sausage, head on over to Wakomojo to try Embarkadero, German Franks wrapped in bacon topped with grilled onions and jalapeno. The beast though and the best-seller in the bunch is the Wakamojo Dog (P200) and now we know why it's named after its stall. It's Hungarian sausage topped with chili con carne, bacon bits, nacho cheese and grilled onions. Their rice meals lineup are all best-sellers, no wonder they already have return customers.
It may not be the prettiest food in the food park but it's one of the tastiest. From the gravy to the biscuits, everything's made in-house so all the elements on the plate are one hundred percent hot and fresh when it's served. Called Reggae (P165), it has two large pieces of fried chicken smothered with gravy and béchamel sauce. Served with runny egg, make sure you poke it so the yolk coats the soft and warm biscuit.
Specializing in Japanese snacks like gyoza, okonomiyaki and teppanyaki, they try to mix things up and innovate the standard Japanese snacks that Filipinos are familiar of. An example would be the gyozas that are usually served in restaurants which contain only pork but what they do is serve four different unique flavors like beef bulgogi, pork napa, chicken teriyaki and buffalo chicken. In addition, they also serve okonomiyaki which is a Japanese savory pancake topped with a variety of ingredients. At Takami, they top it with all-time favorites like cheese and bacon.
With their own meat smoking machine, they make sure the brisket are left there for 12 hours before slicing into it and serving. We had the Slow n' Low Smoke Beef Brisket (P220) which are tender slices of local beef wagyu brisket which complemented well with the dirty rice. They also have killer sides like the mac and cheese, mashed potato and creamed corn among others. Sinful but totally worth it!
Bagneto
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Who doesn't love bagnet especially when they're cooked to perfection? Bagneto specializes in, well, bagnet and you'll instantly understand why they do… Because they're great at it! The Bagnet (P125/with rice; P165/a la carte) is a no-frills melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Order that extra rice with that Bagnet Sisig Special (P155) while you're there!
Hong Kong Foodie Street Food
Leave your passport at home because here's all your favorite Hong Kong street food – crab finger, shrimp roll, crab claw and more – in one stall. Dip them in the teriyaki, hoisin or sweet chili.
Black Plate
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Specializing in BurriSushi, Ramen and BurriBowls, Black Plate offers modern Japanese food. We got to try the Roscoe's Loca (P180) which has a spicy tuna tartare, corn, house guacamole, shaved cabbage, pita crisps, lettuce, tamago, rice and wrapped in a nori sheet. According to the owners, it's their signature dish and is served with Tomorokoshi (shaved Japanese corn) or Kani Salad.
Berliner
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This stall doesn't have an expansive menu but they're tasty, to begin with. At Berliner, they specialize in German fare with must-tries like the Beef Döner (P149) which is similar to that of a shawarma and their lineup of Schnitzels (P159 to P179), fried meat smothered in their housemade gravy and paired with thick-cut fries.
Known for being one of the stalls serving sweet treats, Waff also offers savory eats like the Herbed Chicken & Waffle (P175/buttermilk; P195/red velvet), deep fried chicken combined with your choice of waffle, potato waldorf salad and creamy coleslaw on the side.
Epicure
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You're maybe wondering where to get those quirky drinks. Dubbed as the #EpicPails, choose among their best-sellers like the Cherry Mojito, Citrus Blue, Green Apple Jello. Everything comes in 1 liter (P250) that's good for up to two people or the five-liter (P420) pail that's good for up to five people. They also have Poptails (P220) which has a liquid base and a popsicle infused with alcohol for a refreshing and innovative way of drinking cocktails.
Burn
Classic BBQ, chocolate chili, kare-kare and citrus calamansi, Burn has the craziest sauces for their ribs but they surprisingly all work well. They serve ribs that are good for one person (1/4 rack) or for up to five people (1 full rack). To make it a complete meal, choose among their sides which include tomato with mozzarella, truffle twister fries, marble potato, coleslaw and rice.
Flatbread
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At Flatbread, its simplicity is what makes it standout. Flat bread + loads of toppings + melting cheese as stated on their board, it's really what this stall is all about but it knows what kind of toppings to put to make it close to the heart. The Bacon & Mushroom (P80) which has a slather of pomodoro sauce, a generous amount of bacon strips, sauteed mushrooms and three cheeses is a can't-miss. Other must-tries include the Chicken & Pesto, Pepperoni and the S'mores flatbread that's perfect for a meal-ender. Order the Bacon & Potato Chowder (P65) or get it for only P50 when you order it with your flatbread to complete your meal.
Niku-Q
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There's something about eating skewered anything. At Niku-Q, they have different Yakitori sticks to satisfy your craving for this popular Japanese snack. Have a try of their skewered meats – Asuparabekon (pork with asparagus), Uzura Tamago Bekon (pork with quail eggs), Butabara (pork belly), Gyuniku (U.S. angus beef), Momo (chicken thigh) and more – which ranges from P30 to P60 only. They also offer Yakitori Sets where you can save as much as P60 for when you don't know which to order.
The Chippery
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What's a food park with no deep-fried munchies? A can't-miss at this stall is the Oyster Cone (P165), dip it in the tartar sauce and thank us later. They also have the Batter Platter (P375) which has everything in one cone – fish, squid rings, mussels, oysters, scallops, chips and 2 dips. Each cone is served with one dip but you can add another one for only P25; you can choose among five dips – malt vinegar, tartar sauce, lime sriracha, garlic lemon dill and golden spice. Tip: how about a deep-fried chocolate bar for dessert?
Known for being the first to offer ice cream in doughnut cones in Manila, the Chimney Original (P150) features the slow roasted dough cones, coated with almond, cinnamon and sugar, a choice of your dip marshmallows inside and a scoop of ice cream. To make your experience worthwhile, you can change your dips to dulce de leche, matcha green tea and cream cheese. You may also add toppings like your favorite chocolate bars, almonds and even caramelized bacon (~*screaming*~).
A Filipino-Mexican food cartel, El Chapo's offer that authentic Mexican taste at an affordable price. Order the Chicharitos Lechon Sisig Taco (P85) drizzled with sour cream and salsa verde on the side to have a grasp of what this stall is about.
Don't pass by the lab without trying any of their over the top milkshakes that will make your milkshake dreams come true. Their top three favorites are Red Velvet (P150), Tiramisu (P150) and S'mores (P150) but they made us try the Brownie Nutella Fudge (P160), their newest concoctions and is not even on the menu yet.
Fries is the ultimate pica-pica best eaten over good conversations. The best-sellers are the Building Fries (P120/solo; P200/barkada) topped with beef and gravy; the CeeBee Fries (P150) topped with beef, mushroom, tomato, onion and jalapeno; and the Heart Attack (P190/solo; P260/barkada) topped with bacon and BBQ sauce. They all have one thing in common – they're loaded with toppings and oozing with warm cheese.
Want to load up on protein? Order the juicy Porterhouse Steak (P240) where you can mix and match the rubs and sides using the Rustic Box do-it-yoursteak form. They also offer other cuts like the T-Bone (P165) and Ribeye (P230). For pescatarians, they have the Surf & Turf (P310), Herbed Salmon Steak (P230) and Blue Marlin Steak (P200) if you want something healthier yet will fill you up.
Tokyo Tempura
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Go nuts with their Crazy Tempura (P100) that's five pieces of succulent shrimp loaded with bonito flakes, Japanese mayonnaise and a special sauce. Serving deep fried tempura snacks, they also offer unli-tempura for only P199! It includes kani, calamares, chili cheese, shrimp or a little of everything.
Melmac Peri Peri Express
They give you two choices of how you want your chicken – grilled or fried. Both comes in Solo (P165) which is a huge quarter cut, one sauce, one sides and one staple, the 2-Share (P315) comes with two chicken quarters, two sauces and 2 sides and they even come in Bunch (P640) for four chicken quarters! Talk about an affordable and filling meal you can share with your barkada.
Other stalls are: Mac n Chicks, Kotsehawan, Ice Box, Cajita and Halal Kabab Express
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The Yard at Xavierville is located at 83 Xavierville Avenue Loyola Heights, Quezon City. They're open all week, Mondays to Sundays from 4pm to 12am. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram for more details.
