ONE HUGE advantage of the multi-venue setup of the Southeast Asian Games means that you’re also right smack in the middle of what is arguably Luzon’s culinary capital.
If you need a refresher, this infographic from the SEA Games 2019 Facebook page shows all the venues in the “Clark cluster” located in the Pampanga-Tarlac area. Events here include aquatics, athletics, rugby, wakeboarding, and wrestling. (Take note: Despite the name, New Clark City is actually located in Capas, Tarlac.)
There’s no shortage of good food this side of the north, so get ready for our list of top eats that are just a drive away from the event venues. Here we go:
Matam-Ih Authentic Kapampangan Cuisine
Lot 1-D, M.A., Manuel A. Roxas Highway, 2010 Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
First on our list is none other than Matam-Ih Authentic Kapampangan Cuisine. Matam-Ih is the Aeta word for delicious, and this restaurant delivers just that: sumptuous Kapampangan delicacies served by members of the indigenous Aeta community.
The place is homey and is ideal for those looking for a comfortable, unpretentious dining experience. Matam-Ih has an extensive menu and there’s probably no better place to get your fix of legit Kapampangan sisig. You might also want to try some of the province’s more exotic dishes like adobong salagubang, frog legs, or even deep fried croc meat!
Mequeni Live Buffet Restaurant
Mimosa Drive, Mimosa Leisure Estate, 2023 Clark, Pampanga
Quest Plus Conference Center’s all-day restaurant Mequeni Live certainly made a splash when it reopened after a major revamp. It features an interactive buffet that has nine (yes, nine!) food stations where you can catch a glimpse of your next meal being carefully crafted and prepared right before your eyes.
From sushi, to fry, pizza, pasta, noodle, dimsum, appetisers, desserts and of course, good ol’ Kapampangan dishes — their open kitchen is perfect for a growling stomach after a long drive. Be sure to try out their take on sizzling sisig, as well as their homemade gelato.
Maranao Grill at the Oasis Hotel
Clarkville Compound, Clark Perimeter Road, Angeles, Pampanga
Got beef? If you’re craving for that well-seasoned, juicy slab of beef goodness, here’s a place that takes their steaks seriously. Maranao Grill is Oasis Hotel’s main dining outlet, famous for its choice Angus Steaks.
For years, this restaurant has served as a lighthouse for all meat-lovers in the Pampanga area. The place has a creative tasting menu, and offers both a la carte meals and a hefty, ever-evolving international buffet. On Fridays, Maranao Grill has its Roast Beef Special, but on any other given day, their unlimited salad bar has a wide, fresh selection that will not disappoint.
Grill Seoul Korean BBQ
E. Jacinto, Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga
Binge on grilled Korean-style barbecue in a place that’s as cozy as it is contemporary. Both tourists and locals regularly visit the place for some of the best cuts hot off the grill. Grill Seoul has both a set menu and food for sharing. Apart from their barbecue, the restaurant’s other front runners include the seafood pancake and their bulgogi.
Soo Hyang Restaurant and Cafe
E. Jacinto, Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga
Sau del Rosario, one of the chefs at the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City, dropped by Soo Hyang a few months back.
Just a few meters away from our last spot sits another Korean restaurant that sets the stage for your next barbecue adventure — minus the crowd. Clad in glass panels from top to bottom and with modern interiors, Soo Hyang Restaurant and Cafe offers more than the usual samgyupsal, but also a number of other Korean favorites. House specialties include their savory pancake haemul pajeon, their japche, and their whole roasted duck! End your meal with some refreshing pat-bingsoo, too.
Clark Lomi House and Restaurant
ML Quezon Avenue Corner CM Recto Avenue, Clark Field, Angeles, Pampanga
If you and your buddies are looking for some place affordable, then you might want to give this restaurant a go. Light on the pocket but big on flavor is the city’s leveled-up carinderia — Clark Lomi House and Restaurant. Yes, the lomi is excellent, but you can also dine turo-turo style with crowd favorites like tuna belly, kare-kare, and tuna in coconut cream (gata) among many others, plus all your usual Pampanga hits. Lomi House also has one mean chicharon bulaklak as one of their house specialties.
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