As featured in PAMPANGA: Top 10 Most Awesome Restaurants in Pampanga! (2016)
Everybody’s Café started as a neutral ground during liberation times in Philippine history. Anyone from Filipino, Japanese, and American could enjoy the café’s simple menu of Pancit Luglug (glass noodles with coconut milk sauce flavored with annatto and shrimp) or Mami (egg noodles with shredded meat and broth).
As the business grew, the first official branch opened in 1967 at San Fernando, Pampanga. Little by little they began adding Kapampangan specialties and treasured family recipes to the menu. A branch in Angeles City and one in Salcedo Village, Makati soon followed. After more than 50 years later, Everybody’s Café still stands as one of the most resilient and authentically Kapampangan establishments to date.
Here’s what to expect in the pride of Pampanga…
EVERYBODY’S CAFE
Angeles Branch: 105-106 BPI Arcade, Nepomart, Angeles City
San Fernando Branch: Mc Arthur Hiway, Del Pilar, City of San Fernando
Makati Branch: Salcedo Village, Makati (Saturday Market)
Operating Hours:
Mondays to Sundays–7:00AM to 9PM
Telephone: +6345 887 0361 | +6345 435 2085
Mobile: +6392 284 67121 | +6392 284 67121 | +6392 284 23755
Facebook: Everybody’s Café
Related Blog Post: PAMPANGA: Your Awesome Journey to Pampanga Food Trip (Infographic)
The restaurant itself is Turo-Turo casual dining; hence, readymade viands are displayed for your choosing. Most of the food displayed are restaurant staples, save for the fish and vegetable options. All viands are available in regular portions and small servings called short orders—these are for customers that want to try a little bit of everything.
The Kampampangan specialties like Kamaru (fried field cricket), Betute, and Pindang Damulag are all common dishes, says 3rd generation owner, Poch Jorolan. However, the secret to the establishment’s success lies in the unique preparation of each dish.
Everybody’s Café is homey and non-intimidating, making this a great place for a simple lunch among family and friends.
Mami (P140). Egg and glass noodles, cabbage, pork rinds, eggs.
The Mami is a great merienda for its flavorful, savory broth. While the mami was quite good, it is a little pricey for such a simple dish.
Unlike the regular street Mami, the EC Mami has a combination of egg and glass noodles.
Palabok (P100). Glass noodles, pork rinds, shrimp, coconut sauce.
You can really taste the shrimp and fish essence in the coconut sauce. Almost all dishes in Everybody’s Café are customizable—so if you want more of any topping, you can request the staff to add to your order.
It’s best to eat the Palabok immediately or else you’ll have a hard time mixing the noodles as they cool down and stiffen.
Tapang Kalabaw (P250). Sweet-sour cured water buffalo meat.
Also referred to as Pindang Damulag in Pampanga. Most people have the impression that cured meat is dry and sinewy, but the one at Everybody’s Café is tender.
This specialty is similar to Tocino, but leans heavily towards the sour side.
Murcón (P450).
The Murcón is an heirloom recipe that Poch Jorolan refers to as the “Grandmother of the Embutido”. The EC Murcón has duck eggs, Chorizo el Rey, and Queso De Bola.
We loved the sumptuous play on the common meat roll and this became one of our favorite food items. Each serving comes with drippings from the cooking process.
Betute (P90 per frog). Wild frog and seasoned minced pork.
This dish has a heavy historical significance to Kapampangans. The devastating eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 left many farmers with nothing to eat except frogs.
Because of the humble frog’s contribution to Pampanga’s rich history, a festival called “Fiestang Tugak” (frog fiesta) is held every year to pay homage.
All frogs used are wild frogs caught during the monsoon, making this dish highly seasonal.
The name Betute comes from a play on the word Butete, meaning tadpole. The large stomach of the stuffed frog mirrors the oversized upper body of the tadpole.
Paksiw na Bangus (P230) Milk fish stewed in vinegar, chili, and ginger.
With every batch, the cooks make sure to use Milk Fish that are no lighter than 1KG.
The larger the fish, the more belly fat—and Filipinos love it! The race to the first bite of Bangus fat is commonplace among Pinoy households.
Pako Salad (P100). Fern, salted egg, onions, and tomato.
To add a little bit of green to your meat-heavy Kapampangan food trip, get the Pako Salad!
Best enjoyed drizzled with cane vinegar, this salad is the epitome of the most common flavors that make up our Filipino palate—sour, salty, and tangy.
Tsokolate (P95).
We loved the rich flavors of the chocolate and the aroma of toasted peanuts.
Did you know that each batch of cocoa powder is made using an heirloom grinder older than every staff member? Poch jokingly tells his employees to make “mano po” to the grinder before using it.
(Note: It takes about 3 hours of work to fill up one medium jar of cocoa powder, so the chocolate can never be made in bulk.)
Everybody’s Café’s timelessness lies in the fact that the recipes have practically remained the same since the 60’s. Even if the restaurant is popular among the older generations, it’s good to see how parents are teaching their kids to appreciate Kapampangan cuisine with every visit.
So next time you find yourself in Pampanga, give Everybody’s Café a try!
EVERYBODY’S CAFE
Angeles Branch: 105-106 BPI Arcade, Nepomart, Angeles City
San Fernando Branch: Mc Arthur Hiway, Del Pilar, City of San Fernando
Makati Branch: Salcedo Village, Makati (Saturday Market)
Operating Hours:
Mondays to Sundays–7:00AM to 9PM
Telephone: +6345 887 0361 | +6345 435 2085
Mobile: +6392 284 67121 | +6392 284 67121 | +6392 284 23755
Facebook: Everybody’s Café
Related Blog Post: PAMPANGA: Your Awesome Journey to Pampanga Food Trip (Infographic)
Live an Awesome Life,
Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our experience was courtesy of Poch Jorolan. We wrote this article with our biases, opinions, and insights.
(This article is sponsored by AZURE NORTH, an amazing, tropical-inspired residential project featuring a man-made beach in the heart of San Fernando, Pampanga! Developed by Century Properties who clearly know that Pampanga, with its delightful food and hospitable people, is a place really worth living in. Check it out: www.azurenorth.com.ph)
P.S. Don’t forget to try out the restaurant’s homemade products like Taba ng Talangka, Atcharang Gulay/Papaya, and Burong Hipon.
