PEPPER TREE: A Taste of Indian Filipino Fusion at The Pop Up Katipunan

PEPPER TREE is an Indian Filipino Fusion restaurant by Hiro, who retired from his BPO career to pursue his goal of opening an Indian restaurant.

The Indian food is quite good because it is based on their family recipes, and they import their own spices so as not to compromise on flavor.

Here’s what to expect at the go-to place to eat in the newly opened mini-mall at The Pop Up Katipunan…

PEPPER TREE FOODS
The Pop Up, Xavierville corner Katipunan Avenues, Loyola Heights, Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone: +63 2 296 1690
Mobile: +63 917 587 7433
Email: sales@peppertreefoods.com
Facebook: Pepper Tree Foods
Instagram: @peppertreefoods
Website: www.peppertreefoods.com

Operating Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00am – midnight
Sunday, 10.00am – 10.00pm
Monday, Closed

The Pop Up Katipunan

The Pop up Katipunan is not a food hall nor a food market but more of an al fresco mini-mall with food and lifestyle tenants.

You’ll love the 2-story mini-mall with a community dining area in the middle and high ceiling that provides fresh air and protection from the sun and rain.

There is plenty of parking space but you have to maneuver to find its location on the side of the Katipunan bridge.

Pepper Tree Menu: Appetizers, Curries and Beyond, Dessert | Beverages

Pepper Tree looks like a simple Indian kitchen with a self-service counter and al fresco dining.

Hiro showcased his family recipes and, at the same time, added Indian spices to Filipino comfort food.

Hummus (₱112) The chickpea delicacy that needs no introduction. Served with house-made Roti.

You can start with the classic hummus and their own roti while you wait for your mains.

Beef Keema (₱198) Served with your choice of rice or house-made bread. (Slow simmered aromatic ground beef with tomato and onion sauce.)

Our favorite is the ground beef with Indian spice that’s best eaten with pickled onion bulbs.

The keema is cooked garam masala, cloves, cinnamon black, green cardamom and kashmir chilis, which are not spicy but are a source of good flavor.

Buttered Lentils (Maakhni daal) (₱179). Black lentils mixed with thick yet silky onion and tomato sauce. Slathered with butter and cream.

This is a vegetarian dish that resembles our monggo.

It’s so good and creamy because of the butter and cream mixed with the tomato sauce, ginger, garlic and garam masala.

Chicken Tikka Masala (₱268). Grilled chicken folded into a rich curry sauce. It’s from India, not from the UK. Served with your choice of rice or bread.

Their Chicken Tikka version is served with a thick and creamy curry sauce and mustard seed oil.

Masala Sisig – Pork (₱166). Not your mama’s Sisig. This recipe calls for a delicious dose of Masalal spices and, boy, does it pack a punch.

I was skeptical about the Filipino-Indian fusion food idea, but this Sisig with Indian spices changed my mind.

The sisig is cooked with cloves and black cardamom with pineapple juice that gives it a hint of sweetness.

Creamy Chicken Kebab (₱178). Served with our house-made mint & cilantro chutney. Silk soft grilled chicken with hints of white pepper & cardamom.

Not as exciting as the other dishes with its mint & silantro green dip.

Check out the smell of the garam masala and the quality of the other spices that they import directly from India.

14 Spice Beef Kebabs (₱119). Grilled beef skewers with 14 balanced spices n’ herbs. Served with our house-made mint and cilantro chutney.

At par with the other kebab places in the area, but this is not the highlight of the meal.

Kulfi (₱129). Traditional Indian ice cream with cardamom, almonds and pistachios, giving a very rich ending to any meal.

Make sure to try their authentic Indian ice cream which is very sweet, so it melts quickly.

A good dessert to clean the spices from your palate and to end on a sweet note.

We love their Coorg Honey (₱292/bottle) that is certified from India. Make sure to take one home.

Overall, this is the best place to eat when you visit The Pop Up Katipunan because of its unique take on Indian food that you won’t find anywhere else in the metro.

Our favorites are the beef keema, buttered lentils, chicken tikka masala, masala sisig and kulfi for dessert. Budget about ₱500/head.

It’s fun to support first-time restaurateurs and taste their passion from the food that they serve. Congrats Hiro for a winning concept at Pepper Tree!