The Original Pares Mami House Retiro — Restaurant in Quezon City

Stepping into The Original Pares Mami House in Retiro, Manila, on a lively evening is like entering a world where unpretentious street food meets culinary passion. The atmosphere is vibrant and raw, setting the stage for a dining experience that is as straightforward as it is flavorful. Here’s my detailed critique of their standout dishes:

Original Beef Pares The signature beef pares arrives in a modest, no-frills presentation—yet it is the taste that speaks volumes. The beef is slow-cooked to a tender consistency; it retains a firm bite that allows you to appreciate the natural texture of the meat. The sauce is deeply flavored, with hints of sweet soy and a rich umami character. However, while the sweetness is present, it could benefit from a bolder savory note to achieve better balance.

Lechon with Butter Rice The lechon, known for its crispy skin and juicy interior, delivers a satisfying crunch that sometimes falls short of the ultimate crispiness one expects from a well-roasted pig. Nevertheless, the meat itself is succulent and well-seasoned. Paired with the butter rice—a dish that is anything but ordinary—there’s a comforting richness enhanced by subtle umami undertones. The rice, with its delicate buttery flavor, complements the lechon nicely, though it occasionally overshadows the star of the plate.

Chicharon Butter An unexpected twist comes in the form of chicharon butter. The chicharon is delightfully crunchy, and when blended with butter, it creates a smooth, creamy texture that offers a pleasant contrast. This dish is intriguing and shows promise, though a slight sprinkle of sea salt or an infusion of aromatic spices might elevate it further, enhancing its layered flavors.

Chili Oil with Citrus Acidity Perhaps the unsung hero of the meal is the chili oil, infused with just the right measure of citrus acidity. The chili oil is not merely about heat; it is a masterful balance of spice and tang. The vibrant citrus note cuts through the richness of the beef pares and lechon, brightening the palate and adding a refreshing zing that ties the entire meal together beautifully.

Overall Experience: This dining experience is not about ornate presentation or high-end plating—it’s about raw, unfiltered flavors that hit you with a punch of authenticity. The Original Pares Mami House delivers comfort food with an attitude, reminiscent of the candid and passionate critiques of a MasterChef judge like Juna Rorimpandey. There’s room for refinement, especially in balancing sweetness with savory depth and perfecting the textural contrasts, but the spirit of the food is bold and genuine.

For those who crave a hearty, unpretentious culinary adventure with layers of flavor and a bit of street-side grit, this is a must-visit spot in Manila’s bustling Retiro district. Prepare your palate for a memorable journey that challenges conventions and celebrates local comfort food in its most...

The OG pares-an. This place was proudly named The Original Pares because the cook who originally made the first 'pares' meal is the one who started this place. This cook used to be employed by Jonas restaurant a few blocks away, but he later went on his own. This is why some people claim that Jonas is the original purveyor of the 'pares' dish.

Anyway, this place has been raking in tons of dough day in, day out since it opened in the late 80's. I used to frequent this place even in the wee hours of the morning after hanging out the whole night with friends. They never closes. I don't know about their schedule during this pandemic, though.

When you eat here, especially during peak hours, be prepared to wait for some time to get a spot in the counter, or for one of the few tables outside to be free.

When you get a spot in the area of the restaurant where they accept take out orders, be prepared also to have food packs and money exchanging hands over your head. Haha.

Place can be a little chaotic sometimes, but the food sure does not disappoint.

Of course, the star of the place is the beef pares - beef stew paired with fried rice and a bowl of soup. Ask for extra 'lotong' or sauce when you order this dish. You can ask for this for free one time only. The next one will be charged extra. Another thing that you should definitely ask for is their chili sauce and calamansi which you mix together with a dash of soy sauce. Perfect dipping sauce.

Another hit dish over here is their bulalo. Order it and ask for 'lotong' again which you pour over your rice. The combination of the bulalo, its soup, and the lotong on the rice is terrific.

Besides these two dishes that I mentioned, they have so many more dishes that sometimes I am amazed by their kitchen. They have, of course, mami, siopao and siomai. They have fried chicken and other chicken dishes. They have a few sizzling dishes as well. They have short orders of Chinese dishes too such as chopsuey. Try also their kiampung rice.

Parking can be a problem. Sometimes there are people asking for money...

I was too eager to try their pares because everyone says its the best pares they've ever had. I even cried one night because my cousins would be visiting there in the wee hours of the night and i cant come because im too far from manila. Good thing after a week, i was bitten by my dog (hahaha) and had to under go series of antirabies injection at san lazaro hospital, that given me a chance to dine at their store. But sad to say, my expectation wasnt met i expected highly of their pares because andaming positive feedback that it was soooooo masarap. Their steamed rice was just topped with toasted garlic with a little bit of scrambled egg yata yun(i thought it would be fried rice) the soup isnt hot at all. The pares itself has a hefty chuck of beef. Meat was tender, more like 4 or 5 chuck in 1 order.

But i know and tasted a pares better than theirs ( more savory pares, big as in BIG serving of yangchow rice, and soup that is so flavorful na sabaw palang ulam na. 50pesos lang sya too bad 1 or 2hrs after they open ubos agad pares nila-bulacan

Back with pares retiro, I tried their siomai and ghawd! Siksik sa laman and worth it sya sa 3pcs 45pesos. Tried sisig too, pero di ko sya bet, parang theres something missing. I ordered tapsilog for take out, the container has a divider so your tapa wouldnt mix up with your rice. The tapa is like a fried beef lang na marinated with soysauce, nothing special and sobrang konti lang ng tapa, like 5 small pieces lang sya with 1 thin slice of tomato and cucumber, but i think sakto lang sya sa presyong 70. Their kiampong rice is like just like rice with some sticky sauce di worth it sa 35 pesos, ang liit pa ng serving. Their chili garlic sauce isnt too spicy for may taste.

Would definitely go back here to try other...