Tapsihan ni Mama Berna: Serving Crispy Lechon Kawali (Pork Belly) in Makati City
Makati City, my hometown, is the country’s financial hub. Expectedly, prices are higher in Makati, including food. In fact, if you cross over the neighboring cities such as Manila and Mandaluyong, prices are already lower.
But if you just go outside the central business district, you will find establishments with affordable food. One is Tapsihan ni Mama Berna.
Tapsihan ni Mama Berna
Tapsihan ni Mama Berna is an eatery that specializes in Tapsilog, which is short for tapa (marinated beef), sinangag (garlic fried rice), and itlog (egg). I learned about this spot when Sarsa’s chef JP Anglo featured it.
But while Mama Berna is a tapsihan (or tapsilog place), they’re more known for their Lechon Kawali (deep-fried crispy pork belly). It’s crunchy and fatty, though I wish it has more seasoning.
Lechon Kawali with Rice (PHP105)
They also make Kilawin Lechon, which is their crispy pork belly in kilawin (soaked in vinegar). This elevated their specialty dish!
Kilawin Lechon with Rice (PHP205)
The vinegar concoction has a nice acidity and sweetness. It also has onions which add crunch, and garlic and spring onions which enhance the flavor. This is easily my favorite!
Last dish we tried is the Camto Soup, which is made with camto or beef flank steak. It has a generous amount of beef, and its broth is tasty, garlicky, and a bit saltier than I want it to be.
Camto Soup (PHP105)
I have to be honest. While the food at Tapsihan ni Mama Berna is good, the place could improve in its cleanliness (to be clear and specific, I saw some crawlers on the table but not in the food). While I don’t expect the hole-in-the-wall to be the cleanest place, I believe that they should exert some effort to reach some level of sanitation. The lack of cleanliness simply takes away from the experience.
I love street food and hole-in-the-walls, and I’m used to its cleanliness or the lack thereof. But as I grow older, health and hygiene are becoming more important to me. I’m really hoping that Tapsihan ni Mama Berna will improve its cleanliness. Or better yet, they will expand and renovate/relocate into a cleaner venue. Anyway…
Tapsihan ni Mama Berna makes good and affordable food. If you don’t mind its level of cleanliness, then I recommend that you give it a try.
Address: 7302 J. Victor St., Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Friday, 10AM-10PM | Contact No.: 0927-4811784 | Facebook | Instagram