Lola Helen Panciteria (Marikina City): The First MICHELIN-Recognized Panciteria in the Philippines (My Honest Opinion)
Last November 2025, the MICHELIN Guide inaugurated in the Philippines! The prestigious award-giving body has awarded 9 Stars (8 establishments), 25 Bib Gourmand, and 74 Selected (check out the spots we’ve visited so far here). One of the awardees is Lola Helen Panciteria.
Located in Marikina City, Lola Helen (literally “grandma Helen”, who is the mother of the owner) is the first MICHELIN-recognized panciteria in the city and even in the entire country.
For the uninitiated, a panciteria is place that serves Filipino-Chinese dishes. These include chopsuey (stir-fried vegetables), the iconic lumpiang Shanghai (deep-fried spring rolls), and different kinds of pancit/pansit (stir-fried noodles; the word “panciteria” literally means “pancit place”), among many others.
Lola Helen Panciteria was started by Ruben and Pacita de Guzman in the mid-2000s. Their son, Bon, is now managing the business.
When the humble eatery received its award, foodies started flocking there. Soon enough, there were long queues. But is it worth lining up for?
Let’s now talk about the food, starting with a noodle soup dish called Miki Bihon Soup. It has two kinds of noodles: Miki (thick egg noodles) and bihon (thin rice noodles). Then it has comforting broth and huge chunks of chicken.
We also tried the classic: Lumpiang Shanghai and Litson Kawali (deep-fried pork belly). The former is crunchy and juicy, while the latter is tender but I wish it has more crunch and fat.
Unfortunately, I find both dishes lacking in salt and flavor. Good thing we got the crunchy Chicharon Bituka (deep-fried pig intestines).
Their Hototay Guisado is probably my favorite. It’s like chopsuey but with more elements (like wonton or dumplings). It has crisp and fresh veggies and is tasty overall.
Finally, I ordered my favorite panciteria dish of all time—Tofu con Litson (tofu and litson kawali cooked in tausi or fermented black bean sauce).
The pork belly is tender and fatty, and the dish has a strong tausi flavor. But I wish that the tofu is softer, and the overall flavor to have some sweetness. Unfortunately, Lola Helen’s version of tofu con litson is not for me.
I’ll be honest: I’m underwhelmed with my experience at Lola Helen Panciteria. The dishes are hit and miss, and even the good ones lack a wow factor.
I’m not sure if this has been the way they’ve been cooking their food. Maybe the MICHELIN recognition is stretching them to the limit that quality started to deteriorate. Or maybe I just picked the wrong dishes. I didn’t order their bestselling Pancit Bihon con Litson.
So is it worth lining up for? If you’re eating the same dishes we ordered, then no. There are other panciterias that make better versions (and I’ve been to a lot of panciterias). But I don’t want to close my doors to Lola Helen Panciteria just yet. Maybe I need to visit one more time and order their bestsellers. Until then, I’m going to withhold my verdict.
How do you find the food at Lola Helen Panciteria? Let me know in the comments section below.
P.S. My concern with MICHELIN inspectors is their capability in rating Filipino food. How would they know good Filipino cooking? What’s their criteria? And we will never know the answer! LOL.
P.P.S. If you’re looking for a panciteria in Marikina City, I suggest trying Luyong Restaurant.
Lola Helen Panciteria
Address: 425 J.P. Rizal St., Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:30AM-9:30PM; Friday-Sunday, 9AM-10PM | Contact No.: 0927-5470111