Taps
Kuya Ed’ s
FOOD & CUISINE
Frugal Dining in
Story & Photography
by PIE RIVERA
Davao City
I have lived in Metro Manila all my life, congested streets, polluted air and high prices are part of daily grind. So whenever I travel to other cities in the country, most often I find myself not wanting to come back to my familiar zone. Why would I? Outside the metro, walking the streets is a breeze and the air is fresh and the food highly affordable.
During my recent visit to one of my favorite cities, I happen to check out some of Davao City’ s dining scene.
Taps
I wanted to eat something simple. Maybe a familiar meal for breakfast and something light on the pocket. My beau and I were in downtown Davao and we decided to walk to TAPS.
For more than two decades TAPS has been serving home-cooked meals that is easy on the budget. A decent filling meal can be had for as low as Php47 with three pieces of fried hotdogs and fried rice called Hotsi or hotdog and sinangag. Add an egg, which becomes Hotsilog is only Php56. An entire piece of fried bangus and fried rice is only Php95. For my breakfast, I opted for two viands – porkchop and bangus plus a cup of garlic rice( Porbangsi), all for only Php65. A cup of coffee was only Php12. My plate was a little greasy, I wish they allowed oil to drip before serving, but all is forgiven since my food was quite tasty, very filling and highly reasonable.
As for the place, it’ s as simple as their dishes: No aircondition, and it was painted in white with a touch of red and blue hues. You sit on stools and eat in counter-like tables, much like Goodah here in Manila. You do not need a menu since their meals are displayed on the center wall with blown-up pictures of the meals and prices.
Modest fast-food restaurant for the hungry traveler: Taps fit the bill.
Kuya Ed’ s
Never thought Davao City was home to numerous buffet restaurants with two digit rates. For lunch( they also have dinner buffets), we headed to Rizal Promenade to check out Hometown Fiesta Buffet by Kuya Ed, which locals refer to as Kuya Ed’ s Buffet for only Php99. Though this just opened last August 2010, Kuya Ed is not a newbie in running a buffet restaurant. He pioneered the buffet-style in the 90s and was part of several established buffets such as Iron Horse Buffet, which offered Php79 per head and Bangka Buffet ni Kuya Ed.
For only Php99, it was amazing to see that
Kuya Ed’ s budget buffet is quite popular in Davao. Enjoy varied dishes at low price.
82 7107 ISLAND TRAVEL