Bulaluhan sa España: One of Manila's Best-Kept Secrets

Recently, I was able to take part in GMA News TV's POP Talk as one of the reviewers for the "Basta driver, food lover" episode which aired yesterday. Although I'm usually out and about when scouring for food spots, I have never gone food tripping in España yet, so I'm very fortunate to have discovered a humble eatery in the area, Bulaluhan sa España.

I honestly didn't plan on blogging about the driver-recommended carinderias we've visited for the episode. However, Bulaluhan sa España really stood out among the eateries we've tried out. And since I got to take decent photos even while shooting, I guess I don't really have enough reasons why I shouldn't share about this yummy bulalo place which garnered a perfect score of 9 POP points from all three of us, POP Talk reviewers.

Although the two other eateries featured on the episode were well-maintained and clean enough, Bulaluhan sa España was the most spacious and conducive when it comes to ambiance. It has both an outdoor and indoor dining area, the latter being brightly-lit with cream-colored walls. Maaliwalas as I call it. Ventilation is also good. Plus, they have a television and not just one, but two clean comfort rooms. We also got to check their kitchen and cookware, and I'm very impressed at how organized and clean they were.

Being named after bulalo, of course we didn't miss trying out their ever-famous Filipino dish. They offered 2 kinds of bulalo -- Regular (P68) which is sinigang na baboy-based, and Special (P118) which is nilagang baka-based. We ordered the special one which was served in just a few minutes time. And after my first spoonful, I was sold! The broth alone was very flavorful, and the beef was so tender and succulent that it literally falls off the bone. The vegetables and corn were cooked nicely, far from being withered. The bone marrow on the other hand, was my favorite part as it was so tasty and so sinful.

Another item we got to try was the Chicharon Bulaklak (P48) which is deep-fried pork intestines. As you can see on the photo, the plate was already almost empty before I even got to snap a shot. That's how good it was. In short, mabenta! And although I know how highly unhealthy this crunchy delicacy is, I can't help but eat a piece after another.

We also had an order of Sisig (P60) which is generally one of my most favorite Filipino dishes. However, compared to the first two items we had, this one fell below expectation. My fellow reviewer, Kuya Boni, found this sisig dish a little bland. If only this was a little more salty, it would have been quite good as I liked how chewy and slightly crispy it was to the bite. Oh, and I think I would very much appreciate it if this came as sizzling sisig.

After the so-so sisig, our dining experience had a nice rebound with this Liempo (P48) which was really tender, juicy and oh-so-flavorful. It had a nice sweet, savory and smoky flavor which left all of us oohing and ahhing at every bite. Kuya Tonipet and Alyssa even ordered several servings for take out. Now, doesn't that speak of how good this grilled liempo dish was? Take note however, this liempo in the photo is not the actual serving.

The last item we had was the Inihaw na Hito. Although I forgot how much a single serving (one piece) of this dish costs, I can guarantee that it's still very affordable at around a hundred pesos, more or less. Honestly, I'm quite picky when it comes to grilled fish items 'cause most of the time, people tend to overcook them. However, I'm really impressed at how soft and moist this smoky and flavorful catfish dish was.

THE VERDICT

Aside from the exposure and the experience, I'm very thankful to POP Talk for introducing me to Bulaluhan sa España which really left me impressed. Aside from its specialty, the bulalo, their other dishes were also worth more than their price. For a humble eatery, Bulaluhan sa España's dining space and even its kitchen, is clean and well-maintained. The owners and servers were also very friendly and helpful. And oh, haven't I mentioned that Bulaluhan sa España is open 24/7? So with good food, great prices, and a clean restaurant, I stand by my verdict.. Pop na pop!

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Bulaluhan sa España, Manila
2166 España Cor. Josefina St.,
Sampaloc, Manila
Philippines
(02) 781-7353