Let's Eat- Some Food Recommendations in Araneta City

We are all excited for HIH All Access. My TL is flooded with pics of people who are in an airplane, on the airport and similar stuff showing us that Bubblies are ready and willing to go the miles for Donny and Belle. For those who will be new to Araneta, here are some places you can consider to eat. There is a range of ones that are must-haves when you are in the area and also some tipid tips. Not as exhaustive as I hope I can make it to be, but this can help start you off into a good experience at the heart of Cubao.

Gateway is a few footsteps away from the Green Gate of Araneta Coliseum. It has various restaurants: Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Mary Grace, Banapple Café Adriatico, Burgoo, Starbucks, McDo, PhoHoa, Salo, Sumo Sam, etc . It also has its Food Court or Food Express which has a lot of choices. KFC, Bonchon, Pepper Lunch, Taco Bell (again), Pizza Hut (also), Master Siomai, World Chicken, Sisig Hooray, Steak Break, Wendy, Turks, Mr. Kimbob, Doner Bites, Davao Tuna Grill, Bulalo World)

Personal Recommendations:  Big portions and yummy food and dessert- Banapple is a must-visit. Sometimes, some friends would even share one order because the portions are quite huge. This is my go-to when I have the budget of around ₱375- ₱ 500 per person (depending on whether you will order dessert and drinks). I also like Pepper Lunch in Food Express. It is just so good. 

Tipid Hack: You might want to save some bucks, because fangirling is quite costly that I sometimes think Donny and Belle can single-handedly revive the post-pandemic economy. My go-to when money is sparse is Master Siomai, one of the kiosks in the middle of the Food Court. You can buy siomai with rice for less than a hundred pesos and pair it with sago-gulaman drink. It is your budget-friendly meal. The only caveat is sometimes they run out of rice and could not serve the siomai with rice and the Food Court can get crowded, and you may have to spend time looking for tables. Btw, there is also one in Farmer’s Plaza lower Ground Floor.

Splurge Worthy: Right at the heart of the upper ground level is The Oasis. Though listed in the website under food and dining with other restaurants, it is not like the others since they do not have their own menu. You can eat there if you order from participating restaurants like Mary Grace and a Japanese restaurant that I have forgotten. The plus points is that it is like a respite from the crowd and the madness inside a mall. It is like being transported to an out-of-town dining experience. A good place to have a date or a catch up with friends or just to feel a bit luxurious for a bit of time.

Across the street is Shopwise Arcade. And you can easily see the resto while standing from just outside Araneta. At the corner is KFC. It is usually filled with people, though. If you are looking for sweet chicken, you can opt for Bonchon, but take note that it is not as spacious as KFC. There is also the equally crowded Buddy’s if you are craving for Filipino food. There is also an Army Navy Branch with only a few tables. You can also try Wendy’s which is on the other corner of this strip. I will skip the others, but there are other restaurants there, as well.

Tipid Hack: Shopwise offers more than grocery stuff. You can also enjoy a meal right there. If you see the bread section after the counters, you will easily catch sight of kiosks that will offer different fares. What is notable is that they have a Mongolian Bar where you can choose what you want to put in your meal, but if you want to save some bucks, but still have a satisfied pallet and tummy, order the pan-pan. This is the Lucky Me Pancit Canton and Pandesal Combo. It goes for only 20 pesos prior to the pandemic (not sure now, but I think it will still be budget-friendly). I sometimes, do a double round since pancit canton is just so good.

If you have a hard time trying to find a table for your group in the abovementioned establishments, there are other restaurants, but you might need to walk a bit further. From Shopwise Arcade, if you go to Wendy’s, you will see SM and even some of the restos it houses like Kenny Rogers. If you want a more pricey chicken with tasty side dishes, this is your bet.

Somewhere inside the building is Mang Inasal. It is visible from P. Tuazon or the street on the other side of SM. There might be an off-chance that you can find a seat and enjoy unli-rice and soup with your chicken. Hands down, it is the sulit choice when chicken is concerned. There is also an SM Food Court in the basement. There are also a lot of food that you can choose from over there.

If you are looking to be authentic to your Bubblies or Solid self, then there is only one choice- McDO! You can see McDo in Kia Theatre just across KFC from Shopwise. There is also one in Gateway, but you have to go over to the other side. It is in the building that is connected to the LRT station and is visible through Aurora Blvd. Be careful if you get to find yourself in Aurora. It is such a busy street with lots of people. There is also a McDO branch in Farmers Plaza facing EDSA. Usually, a lot of people go there, though. There is also one in Ali Mall. This building is across the street from SM, and needs a considerable walking time.

There are more choices to fill your hungry tummy. Keep in mind, though, you may not be able to brush your teeth after meals, so it might be a wise decision to stay away from food that has pungent smell. Let's be considerate of our seatmates, and you just might even have a chance of talking to Donny and Belle or having a pic with them taken, and I hope that you will all have a pleasant experience. 

I hope this would help you even if just a bit to be able have a good time and enjoy your meals and not go through the hassle of wondering how you can conserve your cash or have the convenience of not waiting for tables to be vacated before you eat. Welcome to Araneta City!