Cabalen Market! Market! — Restaurant in Taguig

Heads-up: This is going to be a long one — but if you’re scouting for a buffet worth your time (and stomach space), you’ll want the details.

You ever walk into a place and just know you’re about to have a good time? That little buzz of excitement. The whiff of something delicious. The faint clink of plates and low chatter that tells you people are happy to be there. That was me, stepping into Cabalen — again. I’ve been here before, once, and now I’m back for round two at this location. Hungry, curious, and maybe just a bit too ready to eat my weight in kare kare.

Getting there was easy. Spot-on location, no parking drama, and the entrance flow was smooth. Walked in, got a smile right away. You know that feeling when the place just feels ready for you? Yeah, that.

Inside? Cozy. Not the “fancy hotel” kind of vibe, but comfortable. Tables spaced well enough so you’re not doing that awkward side shuffle every time you head for seconds. Lighting was just right — food looked great without feeling like you’re in a spotlight. Music in the background? Chill. Temperature? Comfy.

Cleanliness was solid. Tables wiped down fast, buffet stations tidy, plates and glasses spotless. Staff in proper uniforms, moving with that quiet efficiency you only notice when you realize you’ve never once had to wave for help. I didn’t check the restrooms though, so can’t vouch for that part.

The food spread? Impressive. Meat, seafood, veggies, desserts — a good mix. Dishes kept coming out fresh, nothing sitting too long. Labels were clear, so no guessing games. And yes, I know some items were on the cooler side, but honestly, I get it — reheating over and over just wrecks the texture and taste, so I’ll take slightly cool over overcooked mush any day.

Taste-wise, Cabalen nailed it. Fresh ingredients, seasoning that didn’t feel like they were trying too hard, crispy items still had that crunch. No sad, stale trays hiding at the corner. And let me just say — the kare kare and the pork sisig? Life. I’m still thinking about them.

Service was another plus. Warm greeting, attentive without hovering, plates cleared before I even noticed they were stacking up. Staff actually knew what was in the dishes — a big deal if you’ve got preferences or allergies.

Price felt fair for what you get. Drinks were clearly priced, so no “surprise” add-ons at the end. Payment was smooth, and they had promos running if you were paying attention.

Food safety seemed tight. Sneeze guards in place, hot food stayed hot (mostly), cold food stayed cold, utensils switched out regularly. I even noticed they were careful about timing how long dishes sat out.

Overall? I’d definitely recommend Cabalen. It’s not trying to be a luxury buffet — but it’s doing exactly what it sets out to do: give you a satisfying, unhurried meal with solid variety, good flavors, and a team that knows how to take care of you. And if you’re craving that distinct Filipino taste — the kind that feels like home, the kind they’re proud to offer — this is a place that will surely give it to you.

Disclaimer: All my reviews are based purely on my own visits and personal opinions. I’m not a certified reviewer, inspector, or professional in any related field. Your experience may be different depending on timing, staff, or other factors. My goal is simply to share my honest perspective, not to provide formal evaluations...

Overall impression: DISSATISFIED. Since there are a ton of things that went wrong with my first dining experience there, I'll explain it all in a categorized way.

FLOOR PLAN. The restaurant is not capable of serving a large number of customers. When me and my family got there, it was so cramped that I felt like I was in a market rather than a restaurant.

INTERIOR DESIGN. I get that they're trying to go for a Filipino dining room vibe with their design but sadly, the place looks way beyond its prime. The windows were filthy, some of the chairs were dilapidated. The excessive presence of mirrors was just annoying. It gives you the illusion that you're in a large restaurant when really, you're not.

DINNERWARE. The plates, spoons and forks were okay. But their drink dispensers looked old and filthy. Thinking about it, I can't believe that I drank from those dispensers.

FOOD PRESENTATION. Labels were all over the place. Too little selections. And speaking of selection, it wasn't balanced in variety. I expected an array of meat, fish, veggies, salads but all we got was one main meat option and mostly veggies that didn't even look fresh and appealing. Like what the heck? Only the Lechon Kawali looked appealing. And their spaghetti, good lord, it looked paler than a dead person it might as well be raw and tasteless.

FOOD. This was the pinnacle of disappointment. Let's start with the spaghetti. Like I said, it was pale. It was so dry that my taste buds could barely feel the sauce. It was cold too which might explain its dryness. Come to think about it, it tasted like leftover spaghetti that came out from the refrigerator. Their Lechon Kawali. I thought I'd be satisfied but the cuts were disgusting. One of the pork slices had INGROWN HAIR inside it. It was atrocious. The salad. Good lord, the sauce was watery. One of the veggies tasted so bitter that my brother had to spit it out. The drinks. None of the drinks were refreshing because none of them tasted right. They were all bitter and their old dispensers gave me the impression that those drinks were filthy as well. Their Bulalo. It was the only thing that tasted right but the bummer is the fact that it didn't have any meat nor corn in it! All I could see in their cauldron was just all soup and lettuce. It's Bulalo with no meat and no corn despite the label saying otherwise.

I did not take the time to try the rest because I was already too disappointed at that point.

Would I recommend this place? ABSOLUTELY NOT. If you don't want to waste your money, then just dine elsewhere.

If somehow I get another chance to eat there, I am highly expecting that it...

This store is next level greedy. We booked for a specific celebration and they accepted another booking with the same date and time. When we got there they told us that we won't be using the function room and instead use the common area. We didn't allow that to happen and reasoned that we reserved the place first. The other group was then placed in the common area. But still they didn't stop with their horrible policies. They limited us with the time to give way to the other group, with no way to extend our hours. Come on, this is a once in a year gathering and extensions are practically common. If they had not booked another group then we wouldn't have this dilemma. On top of that, when we got to the time limit they hurriedly removed everything even the tarp for our event was taken down by a crew with that awful face. If I can only say one thing to that guy is "You have no right to give that face, it's your fault for being greedy!" THIS CABALEN BRANCH IS SOOOO GREEDY!

Food was not the best either, and so...