Tapsi Ni Vivian — Restaurant in Marikina

This review dated Nov 30 2021. Their version of bulalo is one of the better ones even compared to the restaurants in tagaytay and sto Thomas. All the excess oil has been removed so in your bowl is a soup that's not greasy. The cabbage that goes with it is cooked perfectly. There are a lot of viands to choose from. There are silogs and a variety of ready choices. They even have soup no. 5 but you have to be a bit adventurous. I have been eating here even before this building was constructed. For years they had no doors or walls streetside. They were open 24 hours. They survived Ondoy which submerged the whole first floor but amazingly their fish in the pond remained in spite of the floods. Some few years back they had the place airconditioned. They also survived Ulysses. Although the taste and quantity of the food remained the same the prices have dramatically increased. Whereas in 2009 the bulalo would cost 180 pesos its current price is 480. With the bulalo I would order crispy shrimps. They have two versions but both are crispy enough to eat even the shell. I might also order the sitsaron bituka. Also good. What I like about the place is speed. There's very little waiting because the food is already cooked and on display turo turo style. The usual favorites are there like Sinigang, kare kare, Adobo etc and the not so common like kinilaw. There also are desserts like Leche flan and fruit salad. On the corner of the counter is where they boil the large containers of bulalo and where sinangag is always being cooked. They now allow dine in at 50 % seating. With your order comes soup, iced water and kalamansi with sili. The wash area and comfort room is average. No Wi-Fi. Cash only. You pay at the counter...

Craving tapsilog, I decided to try this place in Marikina instead of Goto Bob, which tends to have long waits and no air conditioning. I was happy to find plenty of parking available. The tapa was tender, juicy, and well-marinated, pairing perfectly with their spiced vinegar. However, I wish there were options to have the egg with crispy edges and the sinangag to be fluffier and more garlicky. Also, the tapa-to-rice ratio felt off—there's too much tapa for the amount of rice. If you're dining with someone, you could easily share the tapa by ordering extra sinangag. The food quality is above average, though a bit on the pricey side at Php 175 per order of tapsilog. It's a good option if you're looking for an air-conditioned place to eat, but be aware that beggars and street children may...

Our go-to comfort Filipino food. We've been coming to this place since they were in Anonas and then in the now-parking space that used to be their humble Marikina branch. They're one of the few places that were open 24/7 back when the fastfood chains weren't. They're always open with food that's inexpensive and fills the tummy. What we order when we're here: Letsilog, Tortang Talong, Bulalo, Sisig, Tapsilog Upside: value for money, great food, quick wait staff who serve you utensils, soup, and water. The owners are nice too. Downside: the place isn't squeaky clean and you'll understand why when you're there. It's quite a popular place for large groups, always bustling and busy. So not too sanitary. Do we recommend this place? Yes. Are we...