Victor's in Tarlac

If Pampanga has Mely's, Tarlac has Victor's!

Similar to Mely's, Victor's Barbeque and Lechon Manok is a hole in the wall eatery situated along  a national highway. It's further up north though and is a good 3 hour drive from Manila.

It was not yet the lunch hour when we arrived, but a lot of cars were already parked outside Victor's. I guess it goes to show how popular among the locals this establishment is. 

For those who will have trouble finding Victor's, let the tempting aroma of its grilled specialties help you find the way.

Famous Lechon Manok

For the Sisig

Victor's is no frills and it is no different from most restaurants found in the provinces. Ambiance is non-existent as the owners let the food do the talking.

 Bulalo Soup

No complaints about this free soup!

Sawsawan

A grill outing is not complete without the dipping sauce.

Pork Barbeque (20php per stick)

Tender and tasty. 

Paldeot or Chicken Tail (25php per stick)

I can't help but compare this with Mely's and it paled in comparison.

Grilled Tilapia (50php)

This was very very fresh making the meat of the fish so sweet and soft. I almost single-handedly finished this dish. 

Sisig (130php)

The first step in ordering sisig in Victor's is to choose from the grill, the components you want to be included in your sisig. I think we just had basic pig cheeks, heart, and brain.  The secret of the sisig is in the onions as it perfectly highlighted the flavors of the meat mixture.  Less is certainly more as this turned out to be so tasty.

For those interested, here's Victor's menu:

Victor's Barbeque and Lechon Manok is located in Tarlac along MacArthur Highway.

Revisiting an Old Favorite, Mely’s

There are only a few instances wherein I would gladly volunteer to become the designated driver for a road trip. Eating at Mely’s in San Fernando Pampanga is one of them.

Curls and I first learned of Mely’s three years ago from Pololo, our Kapampangan friend. Since then, Curls and I have made it a habit to visit Mely’s at least once a year.

Welcome to Mely's

Mely’s is a humble roadside eatery, which has gained popularity over the years through the power of word of mouth. Mely’s mostly offers grilled food though its sisig is what put it on the map.



Mely's Simple Menu


Don’t be surprised to see inuman sessions in Mely’s as it is also a popular drink joint for locals. We, on the other hand, surely weren’t here to drink.



 Let’s bring out the food!

Adobong Mani (20php)

Perfect way to start the festivities.

Buro at Mustasa (70php)

Buro is fermented rice with shrimps so it was no wonder I didn’t like this. A taste only Dum appreciated.

Ensaladang Mangga (50php)

One can’t go all the way to Pampanga without having this comforting mixture of tomatoes, green mangoes, and onions.

Bagoong

Included with the ensalada, this bagoong was very fresh with just the right amount of saltiness. One of the best I’ve tried.



The Sauces. I especially love the sauce on top.



Mely’s secret weapon. Everything tastes better when dipped in these.

Mely’s Sisig (150php)

Mely’s has continued the old tradition of serving sisig without chicharon. Devoid of the crunchy bits, the focus is solely on the flavors of the sisig. This never disappoints as its the most flavorful sisig I’ve eaten.

Hito (28php per 100grams)

This has grown to become my favorite Mely’s dish! The hito is always fresh giving it a sweet taste. Dip it in Mely’s sauce and you’re in heaven. No trip to Mely’s is complete without me ordering this dish.

Pork Barbeque (35php per stick)

Pass on this. Not bad but pales in comparison to other dishes.

Pwet ng Manok (50php per order)

Another Mely’s staple. This at first grossed me out as these are the biggest pwets I’ve seen. Good thing I wasn’t deterred as it tastes marvelous. Far superior than what Manila grills offer.

For those who appreciate Filipino food at its simplest, Mely’s is certainly worth the 1 hour trip from Manila.

Can’t wait for next year!

Mely's Bbq and Seafoods is located at San Fernando Pampanga. Better call (045)9615296 for directions and its operating hours.