Madeca in Podium

MADECA is a Filipino-Mexican restaurant in Podium, it aims to combine familiar Filipino tastes with Mexican influences. The name is derived from the MAnila DE aCApulco galleon trade route and is composed of their tried and tested family recipes.

The space is a simple wide open mall space with blasts of the color of Mexico (red, green and white). Watch out for the funky design chairs.

Ordering is pretty straightforward with their simple menu. Order and pay at the cashier then they’ll give you these bright and fun numbers which you can ogle, pose or play with while waiting.

First to arrive was our appetizer, the Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla (P125).  It curiously tasted like Campbell’s cream of mushroom with strips of spinach added. It may not be authentic but it was curiously caught our fancy.

Refillable Ice Tea (P90, P40/single). The ice tea is served in a pretty jar but without the cap so it could be refilled faster. I just borrowed the cap out of envy and of course to take a few pics of. It’s light and refreshing and not so sweet it would make me a diabetic.

I got a Lechon Kawali Burrito (P245). You got that right, lechon kawali encased in a flaky wrap with a 1/2 cup of Mexican rice, salsa and mashed beans. The burrito is not the giant sized ones that we’ve come to expect from the mushrooming tacquerias.

Irene’s choice was the Sisig Soft Tacos (P155). Crunchy little morsels of sisig (peeking at you in the picture) that you can hardly see when eating the taco but you’ll definitely feel and taste it. Bursting with strong evil flavors that’s tempered a bit by the shredded cabbage, salsa and mashed beans (those are vegetables).

Each order comes with sour cream and extra salsa in cute containers and they also provide a small wooden spoon (like the ones from ice cream cups). You also add the salsa to the fried tortilla chips they serve with every order.

On a subsequent visit, I decided to try something new while Irene repeated her order. I ordered the Salpicao Mexikanin (P275). I was expecting the beef pieces to be bigger but I realized they also use that for the tacos and burritos. The beef was fairly generous to match up with the whole cup of Mexican rice and side of chili con carne. The beef had a lot of garlic flavor but the overall flavor was a little too strong for me.

Madeca has become one my excuses to troop over to the Podium, a mall I used to really dislike but what can I do if the food is great. Get a taste of the unusual combinations at Madeca and become addicted like us with their home grown flavors.

Head over there from 2PM-6Pm daily for Happy Hour where they have deals on beer and you can also order single tacos.

MADECA

5th Floor, The Podium
18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center
Mandaluyong City
234-5533

Madeca on Facebook

Like this post? Subscribe to Tales From The Tummy by Email