Where to Eat Lunch
on the Cheap in BGC
By Shen Mascariñas
Ask people to describe the BGC dining scene, and you won’t hear anything similar to cheap. You’ll have more chances hearing adjectives along the lines of hip, busy and fancy. While a pocket-friendly BGC lunch may seem impossible to most, there’s a different side of this culinary haven you need to visit. Here are 8 affordable food spots both your belly and wallet will love.
8. Banapple
GF Market! Market!, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 212 1212 | Facebook
Open every day from 8am to 10pm
Budget for two – P500
Banapple’s claim to fame is their delicious selection of desserts—with their cheesecakes and pies being the stars. But before you satisfy your sweet tooth, warm your stomach with something savory first. You won’t be disappointed with their Lasagna Roll-ups, Chicken Parmigiano and Salpicao Rafael.
7. 121
3F BGC Stopover Pavillion, Rizal Drive corner 3st Street, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 246 9069 ext: 781 | Facebook
Open 24 hours
Budget for two – P450
121’s straightforward, comforting take on Filipino cuisine has already gotten so many smitten. So much so that they already have five branches! So, gather the gang for a tasty, affordable feast. 121’s Pinoy Pride combo platter—with Lumpiang Shangai, Garlic Mushrooms and Calamares—is sure to please.
If you’re eating solo, go enjoy their lunchtime rice bowls: Bangus Sisig, Pork Sisig, Adobo Flakes and Chicken Teppanyaki. They’re all less than P200.
6. Kanteen
GF Commercenter Building, 4th Avenue corner 31st Street, BGC, Taguig City
0917 827 4264 | Facebook
Open Monday to Friday from 11am to 10pm
Budget for two – P400
Here’s another simple, yet reliable spot for great Filipino fare. This time, the focus is on Ilonggo cuisine. Visit on the next rainy day, and comfort yourself with Kanteen’s soup selection. Their speciality is Kansi, but there are other delicious options as well. How about Sinigang ng Ulo ng Salmon or KBL: Kadyos, Baboy, Langka?
5. Rekado
31st Street corner 2nd Avenue, BGC Stopover Pavilion, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 330 7720 | Facebook
Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 11pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 10pm
Budget for two – P650
Because we can never have enough good Pinoy food, here’s another great source for it! Rekado is more refined than the first two mentioned, but it’s still very affordable. No visit is complete without devouring their Gising-gising—an absolute treat for those who love spicy food. Other must-tries are their Pinakbet, Tortang Talongganisa and Tahong Sisig.
4. Pastaroni
2F Commercenter Building, 31st Street corner 4th Avenue, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 246 9069 ext: 165 | Facebook
Open Monday to Friday from 11am to 10:30pm
Budget for two – P600
Craving Italian? At Pastaroni, you can satisfy that yearning even on a tight budget. You’ll be surprised at how affordable their tasty Italian dishes are. Most are less than P300 with generous ingredients and servings good for sharing. Just some crowd-pleasers are their Four Cheese Pizza, Sausage Arrabiata Pasta and Osso Buco.
3. Recovery Food
GF Crossroads Building, 32nd Street corner 8th Avenue, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 511 7312, 09178682668 | Facebook | Website
Open 24 hours
Budget for two – P400
Recovery Food has been saving bellies on drunken nights, hungover mornings and broke lunch times for quite a while now. You really can’t go wrong with their breakfast rice bowls. For first-timers, try Tapa de Morning and S.S.T. You can also upgrade your order to feature Talangka Rice. But if you don’t feel like having rice, Recovery Food offers delicious noodles and sandwiches as well.
2. Puzzles
GF, Fort Pointe 2 Building, The Fort Strip, 28th Street, BGC, Taguig City
0917 621 7944 | Facebook
Open every day from 12nn to 11pm, Friday and Saturday extended until 2am
Budget for two – P600
Unwind on your lunch break by pairing great grub with awesome games at Puzzles. You’ll only need to shell out P100 for all-day gaming. And when you get hungry, Puzzles’ scrumptious comfort food won’t disappoint. How do Chicken Fried Bacon, Chicken Katsu Curry and Honey Sriracha Chicken Panini sound? Add pocket-friendly to the adjective forming in your head!
1. Wangfu Chinese Café
GF Serendra, BGC, Taguig City
(02) 246 9069 ext: 307
Open every day from 11am to 11pm
Budget for two – P500
Don’t let Wangfu’s impressive exterior and fancy location intimidate you. Enter, look at the menu, and be surprised just how affordable their offerings are. Aside from great dimsum all priced below P100, their Personal Set Meals are perfect for lunch. Choose from 8 mouthwatering viands—like Chinese Style Beef Steak and Hainanese Chicken—and then enjoy the Japanese Tofu, unlimited rice and soup that come with it.
Any other pocket-friendly food spots in BGC? Sound off below!
