Morning Sun Eatery looks just like most carinderias you will see throughout the Philippines. It’s tucked away down a narrow street in Project 4 of Quezon City and has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the best in all of the NCR. But what makes Morning Sun Eatery stand out amongst thousands of other carinderias? It starts with a lot of hard work, a lot of love and finishes with a bit of luck after a visit from one the Philippines most famous chefs.
I didn’t need a celebrity recommendation. I just love Filipino food. And this is where I was introduced to a few of my now-favorite Filipino dishes. Most notably dinakdakan. So forgive me for my incessant rambling about this Ilocano staple as we dive into what makes this carinderia so special.
This site contains affiliate links to products and services. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links which help keep me on the road and costs you absolutely nothing
Table of Contents
About Morning Sun Eatery
Morning Sun Eatery specializes in Ilocano dishes and the owners are from La Union just south of the Ilocos region. So you can guarantee you’re getting authentic Ilocano food within Quezon City. A quick note for foreign readers. When visiting spots in the NCR you will see both Ilocano and Ilonggo cuisines. They are two distinct regions in the Philippines. Ilocano food will refer to a region in the northern areas of Luzon and Ilonggo refers to an area in western Visayas. Both locations have very distinct cuisines with completely different flavor profiles. Both delicious in their own right, but very different.
More than anything, Morning Sun Eatery earned its best carinderia in QC moniker from Filipino chef JP Anglo. He featured it as his favorite carinderia in Metro Manila in one of his vlogs and since then many vloggers have made sure to make their way to QC for an opportunity to sample their Ilocano dishes. Myself included.
The carinderia is small with seating for maybe 16 people max. It’s a classic turo-turo joint, which literally means point-point. Make your way up to the trays behind the glass and point to what you want. They also have a full line-up of BBQ items with an on site grilling station. If you’re one of those tripadvisor-toting foreigners, this is Filipino dining how it’s meant to be. It’s not pretty and it’s not supposed to be. But this and other carinderias like it are where you will find the closest thing to home cooking in the Philippines. Should you try it? Absofreakinlutely!
Not Your Tourist Dinakdakan
I’ll get to everything I ate at Morning Sun Eatery, but I have to take a moment to talk about this Ilocano food staple. In case you don’t know what dinakdakan is, buckle up, princess. Dinakdakan is parts of the pig that most westerners would never see, that are parts most people throw in the trash. I’m talking about ears, face, tongue and snout. Often times you will find offal as well including Intestines, kidneys, and mesentery. The “parts” will be boiled to tenderize and then grilled until smoky and crispy.
This is then chopped up and mixed with things like finely chopped ginger, onions, garlic, chiles and lime juice. The most defining and traditional ingredient to this dish is where the creaminess comes from. Pig brains! Yeah I said it. The entire pig brain is boiled or steamed and then mashed and mixed into all of the other ingredients.
The reason I say “not your tourist dinakdakan” is you can find versions of this all over the country that use pork belly in place of offal and facial parts and mayonnaise in place brains. But if you’re coming to Morning Sun Eatery I guarantee you are finding the version that originated in Ilocos. As for me, this is where I had it the first time and it instantly became one of my favorite Filipino dishes. Since then, I’ve eaten it all over the country. Only one other version came close.
Where to Stay in Quezon City
Luxury Accommodations: – Solaire Resort North↗ – Solaire Resort North in Quezon City offers luxury and adventure with its stunning architecture and world-class amenities. Enjoy waterparks, boutique shopping, wellness facilities, and live performances in one vibrant destination.
Mid-Range Accommodations: – Seda Vertis North↗ – Seda Vertis North offers upscale comfort with room service, club lounge, outdoor pool, spa massages. Enjoy cuisine at Misto’s restaurant and views at ‘Straight Up’ rooftop bar.
Budget Accommodations: – The Wesfame Suites↗ – The Wesfame Suites is ideal for two travelers seeking comfort and convenience. Guests can unwind at the outdoor pool or enjoy delicious meals at the on-site restaurant
Looking for other great places to stay in Quezon City? Use the search bar below to find more options!
Read Next: Cheap Eats in Quezon City: Affordable Restaurants and Meals
Visiting Morning Sun with FoodieMommaPH
Like most foreigners I would have never heard about Morning Sun Eatery had it not been for, Khee Leoncio. Better known by her social media handle of FoodieMommaPH. We had decided to spend a day together and film a video for each of our channels. For Khee’s channel we filmed an episode at the best carinderia in QC, none other than Morning Sun Eatery which you can check out below.
Once we arrived, I watched Khee order almost every damn thing on the menu, including their famous dinakdakan. After ordering, she informed me that this was her first time there as well and had learned about it from JP Anglo’s vlog. It would make sense I wouldn’t know anything about the place being a foreigner, but Khee has made countless vlogs all over Marikina and QC and this was also her first time. More evidence that no matter how long you live somewhere, these small eateries and carinderias are easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Khee and I Devour Everything
This is the closest thing to a mukbang you will ever see me involved with. Plate after plate was delivered to our table, each better than last. Some I had never had before, and others I was excited to try. One thing is certain at Morning Sun: they know what the hell they are doing.
Dinakdakan
Full disclosure, this was actually the last dish we tried but I am writing about it first because it is that good. And we got to watch the preparation of the whole dish. I grabbed a cold Red Horse for myself and a Pale Pilsen for Khee because why the hell not? We are talking the ultimate pulutan after all.
The dinakdakan has perfectly crispy edges, slightly chewy and deep smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness and spice. You’re probably dying to know what brains taste like. I’m sorry to destroy your preconceived ideas of how it must taste, but it tastes like nothing. It’s almost flavorless. It just absorbs everything else and adds creaminess. Nothing more. Just try it. You’ll live.
Lechon Kawali
If you’re the type who judges a carinderia by its lechon kawali, Morning Sun’s gonna pass that test. Crunchy as hell on the outside, fat renders, and it’s still juicy inside. No dry, cardboard pork here. Slightly salty, but the rice is there to balance it out. Dipping sauce not needed but it’s Luzon, so you’re getting Mang Tomas whether you want it or not.
Liempo
Lechon kawali is deep fried pork belly, liempo is the grilled variant. Theirs is basted with a soy sauce, calamansi, and sugar mixture before grilling and it’s fantastic. If you know your NCR carinderias this will go toe-to-toe with Aling Sosings which I think has one of the better liempo in the city. It’s that good
Sinanglaw
This dish is Morning Sun Eatery showing off their Ilocano roots again. A traditional soup made from carabao or buffalo meat and offal. The unique aspect of both this soup and the next one is the use of animal bile as a souring agent. Obviously in this case carabao bile. The broth on this dish isn’t overly bitter which I was a little surprised by knowing the little that I do know about Ilocano food. But the soup is packed with various offal parts and congealed blood, has a deep umami flavor and a strong punch of ginger in every bite. This was the first time I tried sinanglaw and Ioved it.
Papaitan
We are switching animals with this soup but it follows the same principles as sinanglaw. It’s offal and bile from goat this time. Not my first time with this dish but the bitter level is significantly raised in their papaitan. Still not as bitter as what I have heard about Ilocano food, but maybe things are being dialed back to local palates? I’m not sure. For clarity, papaitan comes from the word pait which simply means bitter. Still chasing that true face-melting bitterness, but this one is very good.
Kilawin
Going to show off my silly foreigner schtick. When we arrived and ordered, Khee mentioned she ordered kilawin and asked if I’d tried it before. I said no, because I honestly didn’t know the word. When we started filming, she called it kinilaw, which I had indeed had many times before. I had no idea they were the same thing, so I kept my mouth shut and played dumb on camera.
Anyway, at least this was a version of kinilaw I had never had before with goat meat. Kinilaw is usually fish much like ceviche from Peru. Same principle in each dish but make no mistake, kinilaw is not ceviche. Both have existed for well over 1000 years and each developed independently of the other. The difference between ceviche and kinilaw is the acid used to “cook” them. Ceviche utilizes citrus and kilawin uses vinegar. Citrus is used in kilawin only as a flavoring and Morning Sun smashes their kilawin kambing. Sour, citrusy and spicy in every bite.
Talong
simple straightforward dish here. grilled eggplant, skin peeled, and marinated in a mixture of vinegar, fish sauce and sugar. Best paired with something grilled or fried and it also acts a perfect palate cleanser.
Pork BBQ
Another everyday Filipino staple. Marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, banana ketchup, sugar, and calamansi. The thinly sliced is porked is marinated, threaded onto skewers and grilled with additional basting and oil for a deliciously sticky glaze.
Laing
This was the first time I had this too and to this day it’s still my favorite Filipino vegetable dish. Laing is dried taro leaves that are then cooked down in coconut milk and spiced up with chilies. It’s one dish at Morning Sun that isn’t Ilocano in origin. Laing originated in Bicol where they are known for their spicier flavor profiles so maybe that’s why I like it so much.
Wondering What to do in the Philippines? Have a Look at Some of These Tours From Viator:
You Might Also Like: Where to Eat in Quezon City: 11 Must-Try Locations
QC’s Best Carinderia Doesn’t Need to Brag
Forget the tablecloths and air-conditioning. Morning Sun Eatery is all about straight-up Ilocano flavors served in a no-frills setting. It’s a small place, you’ll drive right by it if you blink and operates on the classic “turo-turo” system. You point, they serve. But don’t let the simplicity fool you. From their legendary dinakdakan (yes, the one with the pig brains!) to their perfectly grilled liempo and smoky sinanglaw, every dish is a testament to their Ilocano roots.
Morning Sun Eatery Prices-Hours-and Location
The pricing at Morning Sun Eatery is the best part and one of the reasons I love carinderias. Everything we ordered totaled ₱ 1000 for 9 ulam with a few rice thrown in there too. Liempo was easily the most expensive at ₱250. Prices are super affordable
Hours:
- 10:00 AM to 100:00 PM Monday-Sunday
Locations:
120 J.P. Rizal, Project 4, Quezon City, 1109 Kalakhang Maynila
Morning Sun Eatery-Final Verdict
You don’t need a write-up from me to know Morning Sun Eatery is the real deal. Just sit down, order whatever looks good, and listen to the regulars. That’ll tell you everything you need to know.
Chef JP Anglo’s stamp of approval is just the cherry on top. If you want a taste of real Filipino home cooking, this is the place.
So, what’s your take? Have you found a carinderia that blew you away? Or did this post make you curious enough to try a bit of dinakdakan with pig brain? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it!
Morning Sun Eatery-FAQ
Is Morning Sun Eatery halal or vegetarian-friendly?
Absolutely not. You can order vegetable dishes and/or halal items but I do not think you would be able to guarantee they haven’t been contaminated in some capacity
Does Morning Sun Eatery use pig brains in their dinakdakan?
Yes they do. And it’s made fresh daily. It doesn’t last long so be sure to get it while you can.
Can foreigners eat at Morning Sun Eatery without issues?
It’s a stupid question but one I feel I have to answer. Yes, a foreigner can eat there without issues. The staff are super friendly and willing to help although English may be an issue. As to the food, of course you can, but if brains and bile scare you stay away from those dishes.
Does Morning Sun Eatery offer BBQ options?
Yes. While we only ordered the pork BBQ, they have a full line of skewered items ready to be thrown on the grill.
Who is FoodieMommaPH and where can I find her videos?
The video embedded in the post is her video, I just appear in it. Click the view on YouTube button in the video and follow it to her channel and subscribe to her channel while you’re there.
Are there other affordable dining options in Quezon City?
Of course, you can find BBQ just about everywhere and turon stalls on every corner. And if you want to find a unique street food experience, grilled scallops can’t be missed. Other than these, wander random streets in QC, you will find something within minutes.
