The Everybody’s Cafe is known for authentic Kapampangan cuisine ranging from the familiar to the exotic
The foods that make up Filipino cuisine can range from the familiar to the exotic and one place to try these out is at the Everybody’s Cafe, a popular restaurant in Pampanga—the culinary capital of the Philippines.
Reputation of the Everybody’s Cafe
Opened in 1946, the Everybody’s Cafe is reputed to be one of the few remaining restaurants in the Philippines that serve authentic Kapampangan cuisine. Through the years, it had received accolade upon accolade from food critics both here and in other parts of the world. Recently, the Everybody’s Cafe gained international coverage as being one of the restaurants in the Philippines featured in two popular foodie travel shows of the Travel Channel: Bobby Chin’s World Cafe Asia and Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods.
Dining at the Everybody’s Cafe
Being in Pampanga for the annual hot air balloon festival, I suggested to my friends that we try out this restaurant. My friends were in the mood for a bit of food adventure during our road trip to Pampanga, so they were game about it. After all, it’s all part of the whole experience.
Getting There Was a Road Trip on It Own
There was just one little catch, though. The Everybody’s Cafe restaurant in Pampanga I knew was located in San Fernando, the capital of Pampanga. At that time, we were in Angeles, which was quite a distance away. I knew that driving all that way just to eat dinner would not only be very impractical, but extremely tiring for all of us, especially since we all knew that we had to get up the next morning for the hot air balloon festival.
It was a good thing, though, that I decided to give the restaurant a call. It turns out that they have another branch right in Angeles. I was ecstatic, until I asked for the directions to their branch in Angeles. All that the restaurant staff gave us to go with is to look for Nepo Mall. I explained to him that we were from Manila, and we aren’t really familiar with the ins and outs in Angeles. He assured me that it’s quite easy to find since everyone knows about it.
Our reality was nowhere close to what the restaurant staff member assured us. One of the things that I’ve learned about asking directions in the province is that they seem to have this presumption that you’re familiar with their place. Thankfully, Erika was based in Cebu, another province in the Philippines, for a few months and had a better understanding on how they give directions and after about 30 minutes driving around and asking directions, I saw the familiar sign of the Everybody’s Cafe.
Turo-Turo Style Dining at the Everybody’s Cafe
Despite the reputation of the Everybody’s Cafe, Erika and I were quite surprised to find the restaurant empty. Whether it was because this branch is not as popular as the one in San Fernando, or if it was because of the time that we arrive here, we weren’t too sure.
The Everybody’s Cafe features a turo-turo style of dining, which means that there are no menus here. Instead, you get to choose from the array of prepared dishes displayed behind a glass counter and simply point to what you want to eat.
We decided upon getting the morcon (meat roll made of ground pork, chorizo, queso de bola, and other ingredients), paksiw na bangus (milkfish poached in a vinegar-based broth), mixed seafoods, and kalderatang kambing (a local stew made of goat’s meat).
Our dinner (clockwise from right): Morcon, Mixed Seafood, Kalderetang Kambing, and Batute
As my eyes surveyed through the dishes that are on display, I noticed that they didn’t have the ones that I was so eager get my friends to try: batute (deep fried frogs stuffed with ground pork) and kamaro (sauteed mole crickets). The waiter told me that the crickets were not available but the frogs were. One out of two wasn’t bad.
The Food at the Everybody’s Cafe
Since the dishes were already prepared, they were served to us within a few minutes of waiting. As the dishes were laid out before us, the one thing that we noticed was that the servings were quite small. The size is relatively good for two people, or one hungry person. Even the rice served to us (which was by the cup) was bit smaller than what we were normally used to that we each ended up asking for seconds.
A brief moment of silence greeted the frogs as they were served on the table. Brian and Erika moved forward to take a closer look at it. I smiled. I knew Erika is just as adventurous about food as I am. Brian, on the other hand, I wasn’t sure. He had always told me that he would eat anything placed in front of him, and this was the moment to see if he was really a man of his word.
Erika’s moment of hesitation
We all took each a frog and decided to eat it all at the same time, just for the fun of it. The meat of the frog did taste a bit like chicken, but more delicate. The ground pork filling was full of flavor, however, it overpowered the very delicate taste of the meat of the frog.
The morcon very much tasted like your regular meatloaf. I didn’t get any sense of taste from the cheese or chorizo that was supposed to be in them. The meat kalderatang kambing was really tender and juicy—something that can only be attained by slow cooking with no short cuts. There was a bit of heat that helped heightened the taste, although I would have wanted a little bit more kick to the spice.
Next up was the mixed seafood which was made with an array of shrimp, fish, and squid. It was very light and pleasantly tasting. I particularly enjoyed the squid which was tender and not at all rubbery, which can easily happen if you overcook it.
If there was one let down during our dining experience at the Everybody’s Cafe, it was the price of the dishes. Considering the servings, the price that they charged for the dishes were quite expensive, particularly the morcon which was the most expensive dish that we ordered. The waiter explained to us that the restaurant is a novelty, which justifies the prices that they charge. Had the servings been a little bit more generous, we would have found it more reasonable.
Final Thoughts on the Everybody’s Cafe
As we left Everybody’s Cafe, I have to admit that my high expectations about the restaurant were a bit doused down by the small servings and high costs. Still, it is definitely a restaurant to try if ever you’re visiting Pampanga. Quick service and a great place to test just how adventurous you are with food. Just be prepared to pay the price.
The Everybody’s Cafe in Angeles is located at Santo Rosario Street corner Teresa Street (in front of Nepo Mall), Angeles City, Pampanga. Click here to view a map to the restaurant. They are opened seven days a week from 10am to 9pm. To make a reservation, or ask directions to their branch, you can call them at (045) 887-0361.Have you eaten at the Everybody’s Cafe? Share your experience below!
A Taste of Exotic Filipino Cuisine at Everybody's Cafe,
About Adeline Yuboco
Twitter: nicamandigma
says:
This reminds me the restaurant in Jupiter St., Lola\’s Best. It\’s also turo-turo-style restaurant. The prices are reasonable since they cater to a working crowd — call center workers mostly.
How much was the morcon? It’s one of my faves and miss my mom’s cooking.
Love your WP theme, btw.
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Thanks for dropping by and for your kind words, Nica. I’m gonna be in Makati tomorrow. Gonna check that restaurant you mentioned out.
The morcon in the Everybody’s Cafe was priced at P400.
I like its name. But I think it doesn’t go with the high cost. If it’s “everybody’s cafe”, it should cater to at least almost everybody.^^
Unfortunately, I’d have to agree with you, Tiffany on that point. Yes, the price should fit the name so that it can really deserve to be called “The Everybody’s Cafe.”
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Everybody’s Cafe – what a cool name! As a matter of fact, I have never tasted frog before, but my face surely looked like the same as yours, if I’d once do it. BTW, how did you do your watermark to your photos? I really like it!
Be sure to check out Julie’s most recent post…veneers cost
Hi Adeline,
I enjoyed reading your article and getting some more Philippine inside info.
I have to admit though that I would hesitate eating frogs or other unknown dishes too.
~Anja~
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Thank you for the kind words and for taking your time to look for our Angeles City branch. Please let me know if you plan to visit us again. I would be glad to entertain you and your friends.
Happy eating and hearty cooking always!
Poch
Everybody’s Cafe
Such a great looking delicacies! Filipino foods are delicious. I love it so much! Everybody’s Cafe is sounds like for everybody, it’s cool!
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We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write with regards to here. Again, awesome web site!
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That was so yummy.You seemed to have exotic cuisines but I love it though!
I am a little interested in your Turo-Turo Style Dining.
Cheers!
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Twitter: Jennjihyun
says:
Hello Adeline,
I’m not sure if my previous comment had been posted because the connection became down. This is a very informative post especially for the food trippers but I have to agree when you said it’s a bit pricey. I also know a decent restaurant in Pangasinan in case you happen to go there or be on your way to Baguio. It’s a famous stop actually, the place is called Matutina’s. They cook good food and have sets for big groups at a very low price.
Filipino food looks great! If I ever travel to your country I will be sure to stop by here.
You have an excellent looking blog. Nice work.
Thank you for your kind words, JP!
Twitter: careermomonline
says:
I am Kapampangan, but I’m not very adventurous when it comes to food. The only time I ever ate a frog was when I was a kid. And I only ate them fried. There are other exotic Kapampangan dishes people swear by, but no matter what I do, I just can’t bring myself to eat them.
Twitter: ronniedare
says:
Exotic Filipino foods do always have a place in my heart , errr stomach I mean. Looks good and yummy. Hope I can visit the place or any of their branch soon.
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Well, they did say that the way to man’s heart is through his stomach right? Hahaha! I’d suggest that you try their branch in San Fernando. I know that’s a lot bigger than the one in Angeles so you might find more selctions there.
Twitter: tedclaudio
says:
Php 400 for a morcon! That’s already a buffet somewhere else
I think it’s worth a visit if you are into exotic food.
That was my same reaction when I saw the bill, Ted.
I’m all for exotic dishes so I definitely want to visit Everybody’s Cafe when I get the chance..
So far I’ve only had a taste of frog, crocodile, eel and ants. Hope this list grows soon.. ^^
One quick question. If it’s P400 for the morcon, How much was the kalderatang kambing, mixed seafood and the other dishes you tasted in Everybody’s Cafe?
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I really don’t like it when the servings are small. I tend to complain after that. Also, it is always not safe to dine at a restaurant that happens to be empty =)
Shucks! Parang ang sarap nga! I haven’t been here pa.
this is a regular ‘kapitbahay’ to us.. and yes, you are correct, this place has been featured a couple of times too even by international food shows
But you have great time eating those foods. Very adventurous. Thanks for sharing this.
Its waaaay pricier compared to most restos that offer turo-turo dining experience. >.<
)
I would pay for that much if I can't find their dishes else where. But if I'm really starving I really wouldn't mind paying extra.
A very comprehensive and honest review… I want to try their food.
Everybody’s Cafe is one of the most popular restaurant in Pampanga. Next time you go on road trip in Pampanga, try visiting Cely’s Canteen they also serve authentic Campangan dishes at very affordable price.
I wanted to visit the place so that I can compare it with the exotic resto we have here in Laguna.
In a nutshell, great food at expensive prices so it would be a great place to pamper yourself from time to time.
Heard about this before. Kapampangan dishes always make me drool. They cook the best viands ever. Included this on my list. Planning to visit this with my close friends.
Twitter: tauyanm
says:
haven’t been there yet but the post you made me want to! its sounds really good! xx
Thanks so much, Jane!
Twitter: fairygodbeauty
says:
Naku I’ve tried frog legs before but never again! They said it tastes like chicken, hindi naman!
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Hahahaha! It has a unique flavor of its own, Cai. Actually, out of all the things we’ve tried, the frogs were the ones I liked the most.
Hmmm I’m a bit turned off with the price thing. But still worth a try.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Everybodys Cafe and I guess I have to check this place myself. ^_^
Awesome post! Will be visiting Eveybody\’s Cafe tomorrow! Wuhoo!
Great to hear! Love to read about your experience there.
Twitter: leirs
says:
great post! i am not from Angeles but it seems like a great place to visit when I’m in the area. Thanks for sharing!!