Little Quiapo: Quezon City’s Classic Filipino Food Hub

When it comes to restaurants in Quezon City, Little Quiapo is the institution you never knew you needed. They have been serving classic Filipino food since 1949 to generations of families.

Little Quiapo maintains a strong reputation and holds its own against every other restaurant in the city. They continue banging out their iconic dishes like halo halo and pancit palabok. While also becoming modern enough to feature a dish like Tuna salpicao.

Their focus remains quality of food and customer service.

And today I’m explaining why Little Quiapo earns must visit status.

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Table of Contents:

1. Little Quiapo’s Legacy in Quezon City
   • A Reputation Earned
2. What to Expect From the Little Quiapo Menu
3. What I Ordered at Little Quiapo
   • Lumpiang Shanghai
   • Pancit Palabok
   • Spicy Beef Kaldereta
   • Beef Kare Kare
   • Blue Marlin Salpicao
   • Halo-Halo
4. Little Quiapo Still Earns Its Place Among QC’s Best Restaurants
5. Little Quiapo: Prices, Hours, and Locations
6. Filipino Food in Davao: Final Verdict
7. FAQ

Little Quiapo’s Legacy in Quezon City

Little Quiapo first opened inside the UP Diliman campus under the name Rendezvous. Its founder, Irineo Bartolome, had been selling ice cream outside the gates before opening the small restaurant. As they grew, a customer joked that the crowd reminded him of the busy business district of Quiapo. Mr. Bartolome liked the comparison so much he renamed Rendezvous “Little Quiapo”.

According to historian and professor Oscar Evangelista, Little Quiapo became popular with students for its cheap hamburgers and halo-halo. The restaurant has relocated several times within Quezon City since those early days.

A Reputation Earned

For almost 80 years the food has stayed consistent. Many locals consider Little Quiapo’s halo-halo the best in Quezon City. With more than eight million served, and voted best in Quezon City on numerous occasions, they’re not wrong.

But Little Quiapo’s halo-halo isn’t the only standout dish. Their pancit palabok shows up on just about every must-try list in the city, and several others have earned a cult like following.

Their approach never changed. Keep the food familiar and let people decide what matters.

Today, Little Quiapo is still run by the descendants of Mr. Bartolome with three locations and they’re considered to be one of the oldest restaurants in the Philippines.

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What to Expect From the Little Quiapo Menu

Okay, so you’ve walked in, soaked in the vibe, that familiar smell of goodness hitting you, and now you’re holding the menu. What’s inside? The Little Quiapo menu is not a short list with three safe choices, and it doesn’t drag on forever either. But it is a solid lineup of classic Filipino food.

You’ll find grilled dishes like liempo and inihaw na bangus. Staples that are cooked over coals, to crispy perfection. There are plenty of stews and sabaw (soup) dishes that feel like they came straight from your Lola’s kitchen. Noodle dishes get their own spotlight, and rightfully so. From salads to adobo and every protein dish you can imagine, this menu is loaded.

Look closely and you’ll see the things this place built its name on. The palabok draws regulars for a reason, with it’s thick sauce and familiar toppings. And the halo-halo is legendary for a reason. It’s still loaded, still dependable. And the Kare Kare is called the best in town for a reason. These aren’t throwaway picks. They’re the dishes that built the place.

So, yeah, expect variety. But most importantly, expect classic Filipino food done right. And you’ll probably spend a little longer deciding than you thought, just because everything sounds so good. Get ready to point, order, and have your mouth water.

What I Ordered at Little Quiapo

I showed up solo and ready to eat. I chose several items from the Little Quiapo menu. Some of the more well known items. Others, not so much. My order included six dishes and this is everything I ate. Don’t worry baby birds, I will feed you all the details regarding that Little Quiapo halo-halo and palabok.

Lumpiang Shanghai

The Lumpiang Shanghai at Little Quiapo was exactly what it should be. Crisp on the outside, stuffed with seasoned pork, and fried until golden without getting greasy. It didn’t steal the spotlight, but that has much to do with everything else being overwhelmingly delicious. If you’ve had Filipino spring rolls before, you know what to expect.

Pancit Palabok

I told you I got you. This is one of the big dogs, and it earns every bit of the hype. Little Quiapo’s Quezon City branch goes through five massive pots of palabok sauce a day. Made fresh, from scratch, and unapologetically shrimpy. It’s easily the richest palabok sauce I’ve ever tasted.

The noodles are cooked perfectly and they stack it with chicharron, sliced pork, hard-boiled egg, and more sauce. Everything’s layered, not just dumped on. Make no mistake, this isn’t palabok as an afterthought, It’s a goddamn centerpiece. And if you’re looking for the best pancit palabok in the Philippines, It starts and ends here. And i’ll gladly throw hands with anybody who disagrees.

Spicy Beef Kaldereta

The Philippines took your beef stew and said “hold my beer”. Big chunks of beef, slow-cooked until the sauce works its way into everything. The base leans heavy on tomato, but you still catch the liver spread underneath. It has a beautiful savouriness, it’s smooth and it’s a dish I guarantee you will fall in love with.

There’s no shortage of vegetables either. Carrots, bell peppers, and potatoes that don’t fall apart on the plate. And yeah, some of the beef is bone-in.

While labeled a spicy kaldereta, I am not one to judge that because I have insane spice tolerance levels. You might find it spicy, but I consider it a throat tickle, nothing more. But that is irrelevant, because while Little Quiapo’s menu has its go-to stars, this one should be mentioned in the same breath. This is the epitome of classic Filipino food.

Beef Kare Kare

This is how you do kare kare. Bone-in oxtail, tripe, and tendon, slow-cooked until everything turns melt-in-your-mouth soft.

The sauce isn’t just some bland peanut sludge waiting to be rescued by bagoong. This thing has depth. Earthy, rich, with more flavor than any kare kare I’ve had before. And they don’t skimp on the vegetables either, it’s loaded. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many greens in a bowl of kare kare.

Do I still hit it with bagoong? Every damn time. That salty, funky punch takes it to the next level. But make no mistake, this dish doesn’t need saving.

If you’ve ever wondered why people say Little Quiapo serves the best kare kare in Quezon City, this is why.

Blue Marlin Salpicao

One of the more underrated dishes on the Little Quiapo menu is Blue Marlin Salpicao.

I’ve eaten a lot of blue marlin, especially during the years I spent living in the Bahamas. But this was my first time having it done salpicao style. And sweet mother of God is this good. The soy and Worcestershire build up with salty and savoury, while the oyster sauce adds a hint of sweetness and umami.

The fish stays firm and not overcooked to death. Then they cook it down with fresh vegetables that hold their texture and soak in the flavor. Simply put, it’s just a beautiful dish overall and deserves more attention. Go eat their Blue Marlin salpicao, you gang of mushrooms.

Halo-Halo

If you’re here for the Little Quiapo halo halo, you’re not alone. It’s easily one of the most popular orders on the menu, and for good reason.

They don’t mess around with the toppings. Ube ice cream, leche flan, nata, beans, oh my! And yes, the ice cream is homemade and fresh. The flavor is strong, creamy, and doesn’t vanish five seconds after hitting your tongue.

My only complaint? The ice. It’s the usual crushed variety, which means you’re one wrong spoonful away from turning your mouth into a gravel pit. Compared to the snow-like texture you get at Calle Luna in Bacolod, I have to say I have been spoiled.

Don’t get me wrong, Little Quiapo halo halo is good. It’s a strong contender in Quezon City, and easily better than most. But if you want to know who really owns the crown, I already wrote about Calle Luna, their flavors, and where to find them.

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Little Quiapo Still Earns Its Place Among QC’s Best Restaurants

For nearly 80 years, Little Quiapo has held its ground. That’s not nostalgia talking. And It still stacks up against anything Quezon City has to offer.

That consistency comes straight from the top. Little Quiapo is still run by the Bartolome family, and you feel that continuity in every part of the experience. Huge thanks to Alma and Gil Caleon for arranging my visit and Amanti and Liza for taking the time to walk me through the kitchen, answer every question I had, and most importantly feeding me. This was not a paid collaboration and I pay for all of my meals.

Their Parañaque location has now been around for almost 40 years and they recently opened a new location in Las Pinas. What stands out most? The people who keep coming back. Most of their customers are generational. A grandfather brought his son, the son brings his own kids, and the cycle keeps going. Today it is not uncommon to see four generations of family gather at a Little Quiapo table.

Little Quiapo: Prices, Hours, and Locations

Prices:
Most main dishes sit between ₱250 and ₱400. Larger sharing plates start around ₱550 and can easily climb past ₱1,000 depending on the dish. Whether you’re solo or dining with a group, you’ll find options that work for just about any budget.

Operating Hours:
Quezon City: Open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Parañaque: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Locations:
Quezon City Branch: 89 Malakas Street, Diliman, Quezon City
Parañaque Branch: 42 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque
Las Pinas Branch: 28A Lalaine Bennet, BF Resort, Las Pinas

Little Quiapo: Final Verdict

Wrapping up my Little Quiapo visit, here is the main takeaway. This place is thriving after nearly 80 years for good reason. The family touch means consistency. You taste it in the Palabok and Halo-Halo. It also shows up in dependable plates like the Kare Kare. The surprisingly great Salpicao impressed me too. Generations keep coming back because the food is awesome, period. Little Quiapo is proof that quality and consistency stand the test of time and make many Quezon City restaurants look foolish. If you haven’t been, seriously, go check them out. And if you’re a Little Quiapo regular, what’s your ride-or-die dish? Drop a comment below and tell me!

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Little Quiapo – FAQ:

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