Ka Tunying's Cafe

Michael Perona

3.0

Anthony Taberna or Ka Tunying is one of the most recognizable voices in news broadcasting in both TV and radio. He and his wife are also propriators of a chain of bistro bakeries also known as “Ka Tunying’s” Cafe. Their passion for food and the long history in the food service of the Taberna family has motivated them to export the Tunying’s bakery from Nueva Ecija to Metro Manila. They serve home cooked style filipino favorites made according to the heirloom recipes of their grandparents rooted in the classic technique and preparations. Their first branch is at Visayas Ave. while the second branch is in Tomas Morato right in front of GMA’s headquarters (ironic no?), they also have a branch in NAIA Terminal 3! The were gracious enough to invite us into a big website feast with a suprise appearance from the man himself! It was a really fun lunch filled with great food, chit chatting, and lots of pictures. Here’s the rundown:Ukoy: Deep fried fritters with bits of shrimp and squash were deep fried to golden perfection while maintaining a soft and sweet texture in the centre. ALthough its not quite lavish or unusual, the simplicity of the dish and the flavors worked well as an appetizer.Bruce Tawilis: The tawilis that were familiar with are the smaller, pinky size variaty that’s like the ultimate fish crackers but theirs were like roided out tawilis fishes. The fish was a big as a dorito and had a lot more meat (duh), the clean fishy taste really came through and we absolutely loved it! We’re just at the appetizer portion and im already craving for rice.Inasar Si Ceasar Salad: This salad was composed of chopped lettuce, slices of inasal style chicken, shredded cabbage, and parmesan cheese. The fun and excitement that name of this dish suggested didn’t quite measure up. The salad was plain and boring as the vegetables were pretty generic while the chicken which had a bit more flavor thanks to the inasal seasoning tasted like leftovers from the fridge. I suggest that they liven up this dish by bringing in more flavors similar to inasal to please diners who want to eat healthily.Arroz Ala Tunying: As soon as i forgot about that salad dish this cozy looking bowl of porridge came in. The lugaw base was peppered with slivers of saffron-like herbs that stained it with a soft orange color and had chunks of white chicken meat which made it more filling. The steaming hot porridge had a light chicken broth flavor which was comforting as it reminded me of simpler days when school gets cancelled over bad weather or sick days. The dish itself wasn’t extraordinary but it was just right and that's good enough for me.May Asim Pa Ako...:Escabeche Salmon Belly: That dish title could really benefit from a lil trim down. The dish itself was battered and deep fried strips of salmon belly covered in a sweet and sour sauce. Again, the dish itself wasn’t as impressive as it sounded. The combination of the greasy batter and the oily and funky cut of fish didn’t quite mesh well with me and the sweet and sour sauce was generic at best. Cabanatuan Longsilog: Since were like trying everything their menu has to offer, breakfast for lunch doesn’t seem strange at all. Their silog dish was comprised of longganisa sourced from Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija, adobo rice, and a smiley sunny side up egg. The sausage itself was really delicious, i was expecting something generic but it really tasted like something that you could only get in the provinces. I loved the garlic flavor, mild spices and fatty meat packed into each link of sausage. The savory adobo rice that came along with it was a nice change from the usual garlic rice and was delicious as well. This dish was delicious and filling at the same time! Well done!Pancit Ni Nanay Benny: Ka Tunying himself explained that this dish this was a particular recipe was a personal favorite of his mother which he missed so much that he had to bring it to their restaurants. Sure enough, it’s not your usual pancit dish but a richer and more packed version of pancit with double the amount of “pangsahog” that you usually get. Each strand was coated with a rich, meaty flavor which was absolutely delightful!Bakbakbakan Platter: Well this lunch ran a little bit long so i wasn’t able to get through the rest of the dishes including the dessert but i got a taste of their bakbakan platter which was like a boodle fight on a platter. Each platter had a heap of crispy pork, fish fillet, and eggs. I only got to try the pork and i really loved it. Cooked the traditional filipino way, the outside was cripsy and golden while the inside was soft and sweet, best dipped with some sweet lechon sauce!Naimas Smoothie: There were quite a lot of unfamiliar things that you could find in their beverage menu. Most of which were smoothies belended with traditional filipino ingredients like ube. I got their naimas smoothie which had different kinds of sugar in it. You might say that this was just like sugar and milk but the fresh sugarcane syrup had a nice pleasant taste almost grassy and smoky which wasn't “naakaumay.” I loved it till that last drop that i even got seconds!Overall, Ka Tunying’s Cafe has definite;y come a long way since it’s days as a humble bakeryin Nueva Ecija. The Taberna’s and Co. has nurtured this concept into a restaurant that has the potential to become a huge franchise that they got the attention from investors from The Bistro Group to help it grow. The strengths lie in their simple and authentic dishes that showcase the food culture of the Probinsyas that we have the tendency to ignore. While their weaknesses lie in newer food concepts that weren’t execute well. Nonetheless, the food was satisfying it taste, portions, and price. The service was just as great and they have Wifi and bathrooms for a better dining experience!

Narita Pratiwi

4.0

The beauty of dining in restaurants that are named after their owners is that you are guaranteed that most, if not all, the food they offer and serve are really good.Why? Because the owner's name and reputation is at stake. Again, I had the privilege to experience and prove that recently at KA TUNYING'S CAFE together with old and new friends from the website community I belong to.Currently, I find it more enjoyable to dine in restaurants in the company of people whom some I've known for quite some time and with others I just met. The reason behind it is because of what I've said before in my previous reviews: Food, like Wine, IS RELATIVE. What's good for me may not be good for others and vice versa. Dining with them gives me the chance to see (through their reactions) how well they liked the food and know what they thought about a specific dish (through their comments).So, here are the dishes I and company had, in sequence of arrival and my comments (please refer to KTC's menu for the price point):1. UKOY - traditional Filipino version of shrimps fitters with Kalabasa (squash) and dried shrimps.Loved this Okoy! Truly perfect as appetizers or stand alone meal as meryenda.2. INASAR SI CAESAR SALAD - KTC's version of caesar salad with traditional Pinoy chicken inasal.Indeed, the inclusion of chichen inasal gave it a different twist and flavor. Definitely be worth the amount you will be paying for it. Good serving size too.3. ARROZ ALA TUNYING - arroz caldo with boiled egg and sliced chichen breast.Too salty for me but then again, I have low tolerance in salty food. Btw, this is IT's best seller especially during breakfast. I would highly suggest that their waiters make sure that it's with calamansi when they serve this.4. BRUCE TAWILIS - fried crispy tawilis served with vinegar.This was my favorite among the all the dishes served. Perfect as viand, pica pica or by itself.5. CABANATUAN LONGSILOG - served with your choice of longganisa (we had the RECADO longganosa), adobo rice and egg of any style (we had sunny side up).Loved the taste of the Recado longganisa, truly enjoyed the adobo rice and super love the plating! Check out the photos to know why :)6. MAY ASIM PA AKO, PERO SWEET NAMAN (ESCABECHE SALMON BELLY) - tender salmon bellys strips fried and sauteed in butter, ginger and sesame seeds.Awesome and bursting with flavor. You'll need extra rice when you order this.7. PANCIT NI NANAY BENNY - special recipe of Anthony Taberna's mom.One of the best pancit I had and HIGHLY recommended.8. KA-LOVE-ASA LASAGNA - no meat baked dish layered with zucchini, tomato sauce, cheese and lots of kalabasa.Honestly, I didn't eat, not even taste this as I am allergic to eggplant BUT my companions loved it so much.9. TINAPA CARBONARA - their local version of carbonara with tinapa (smoked fish).Their version is at par with my favorite Filipino restaurant (RC) and their serving size is perfect, even good for sharing.10. BAKBAKAN PLATTER - roasted lechon pork belly + fish fillet and salted egg rolls + gising-gising + rice.This is perfect when you're craving for variety of viand that will satisfy your hunger.11. KTC DESSERT PLATTER - Biko-Latik + Ube Macapuno + Turon with Tsoknut.12. KTC's signature breads. I have to come again to try ALL the type of breads they offer as I liked the 2 kinds served to us.13. Drinks: I had the privilege to try not 1 but 4 of their signature drinks namely: AGIMAT - cucumber and calamansi which was truly refreshing; MAHARLIKAPE - caramel frap with coffee ice cubes, definitely a unique way to serve iced coffee; DALANDAN GINGER ICED TEA - another refreshing and unique drink.Finally, TUNYING'S BLEND: their brewed coffee in a big mug. Btw, please make sure to let the waiter know if you want it strong as they serve it quite light (for my taste) maybe because of the size of their mug - baka daw mag palpitate (laughs). Oh, I had 2 mugs of their brewed (1 regular and 1 strong).Ka Tunying's AMBIANCE: inviting, well air-condition, clean and cozy. Their place is not just perfect for dining but for meetings as well.Ka Tunying's SERVICE: with the Bistro Group behind it, you can expect good service but you will need patience during busy hours or when the resto is full (especially during lunch) as their food is (mostly) cooked upon order.Another PLUS factor of KTC is that the owner - newscaster, commentator and celebrity, ANTHONY TABERNA - is very hands on with the business and will definitely smile or even talk to every guests whenever he's in the dining area.Cheers!

Sheela Dimayuga

4.0

Full review and experience to follow soon.Ambience – 4/5Service – 4/5Location – 4/5Food – 4/5Bruce TawilisMay Asin Pa Ako, Pero Sweet NamanPancit ni Nanay BennyKa-Love-Asa LasagnaPastillas de LatteUkoyInasar si Caesar SaladArroz Ala TunyingCabanatuan LongsilogBakbakan PlatterKTC Dessert PlatterTinapa CarbonaraLigaya

Finna Tania

3.0

Lunch @ Ka Tunying's Cafe:We ordered the following:- Ukoy sa Orayt: Traditional Filipino version of shrimp fritters w/ kalabasa & dried shrimps. Served with atchara on the side. We all loved this, especially when dipped in vinegar. It could use a little more crunch and dried shrimps, though.- Tinapa Lumangoy sa Chowder: Thick & creamy Pinoy chowder with tinapa in soya bowl. Way too salty for us. :( Better just break a piece of the bread bowl and then dip into the soup to somehow lessen the overwhelming saltiness.- Arroz ala Tunying: Arroz caldo w/ boiled egg and sliced chicken breast. I almost always order lugaw everytime it's offered in a restaurant. This is good enough, but I expect a few more chicken slices than what was served.- Pansit ni Nanay Benny: Huge serving of pancit canton-bihon. I enjoyed this flavorful noodle dish, but the chef is a bit heavy-handed with the salt.- Pakner C: Kangkong Tuyo Pasta + Garlic Bread + Ukoy. The kangkong tuyo pasta is my favorite. I was actually expecting this to be ultra-salty based on the first few dishes that I've sampled. Fortunately, they got this on point. Will probably order their ala carte version of this (in the menu as Tukhang Pasta, w/ poached egg on top) next time.- Anak ng Bakang Dalaga: Their version of caldereta. Slow-cooked beef ribs served w/ chunks of potato, carrots, onion & kalabasa. Beef is tender, but flavor-wise, it doesn't justify the P395 price tag.We also ordered some pastries from their panaderya for takeout. We got spanish bread, kalabasa ensaymada and kalabasa cheese roll. Yes, we are kalabasa fans. 😂The cafe opens early at 7am and they have a handful of all-day breakfast meals for you to choose from (eyeing the Cabanatuan longganisa and champorado w/ tuyo flakes for next time). There's ample parking space in front, enough for around 10 cars. Service is excellent. They have newspapers that you can read while waiting for your order.

Stonibert Lim

5.0

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. I will be returning to this resto, hungry for more.excellent... very accomodating staffs

Trix Mae Cimafranca

4.0

Coming from humble beginnings, Ka Tunyings became an established Filipino restaurant serving hearty Filipino dishes that their families loved and shared it to the masses. We had an opportunity to try them out and here are some that I highly recommend:Bruce Tawilis - It's really hard to find a resto that served really good Tawilis and these guys nailed it! really crispy texture that I surely enjoyed. Kept snacking on it while waiting for other foods tbh... Pancit ni Nanay Benny - Goosebumps when I tasted it as it was really similar to what my lola used to make before. It was really good and highly recommended for diners to try on.Ka-Love-Asa Lasagna - Had to make a special mention to this as this does not have any meat on it but tastes great as well. Tinapa Carbonara - The taste was great. Not too salty but you can really taste the Tinapa and it went very well with the sauce. Bakbakan Platter - consists of Roasted Lechon Pork Belly, Fish Fillet and Salted Egg Rolls, Gising-gising with rice. This is for going all-out dining for the day. Agimat - One of the awesome concoctions of the day. It's Cucumber with citrus that was very refreshing.They also have their signature breads that you might want to try out. They're really good and freshly baked daily. Must try their Spanish Bread and Cheese Tasty.The place itself looks like a local diner and looks cozy as well. The crew were very attentive to our needs so a very good job to them as well.They have couple of branches in T. Morato and Visayas Ave. There will be a new branch to be up in NAIA Terminal 3. For a quick fix of Filipino meals, I'm confident enough to say that Ka Tunying's is a definite contender and I will definitely be back for their baked goods.

Tin Baroña

4.0

Hailed from up north, Ka Tunying's brought twists to Filipino cuisine and its respective names. Their made sure we have everything. Even offered us their loaf with cheese in it. Though I am not familiar with its name, Im sure I wont forget its taste and fluffiness! Their Spanish bread was also nice btwSo we dug into the hereunder served to us:Ukoy sa Orayt - Was really okay for me. Didnt know Kalabasa in Ukoys can be a thing till I had this. This had atchara for its side and can be dipped in vinegarBruce Tawilis - Tawilis fritters, perfect when dipped in vinegarArroz ala Tunying - One of my favorite. Or maybe because I had personal bias on lugaws but this one is sticky rice boiled on chicken broth with sliced chickens and boiled egg. Not to mention it got Kasubha in it which made its taste richerInasar si Caesar Salad - Nothing extraordinary with this dish except that they had Pinoy inasal for the chicken in itCabanatuan Lonsilog - Not your normal longsilog since once this is served to you, it literally will put a smile on your face coz this dish will smile at you first! May Asim pa Ako - Salmon Belly Flores - Crunchy fried Salmon belly tasted to be somewhat tossed on sweet and sour sauce. Crunchy on the outside, tender in the inside!Tinapa Carbonara - I may have expected to much on this since I was thinking they just replaced bacon on regular Carbonara with Tinapa. But this one turned out to be oil based not like the traditional creamy versionKa-Love-Asa Lasagna - Another Kalabasa dish! But worry not coz even if this is one meatless meal for the healthy buffs, you wouldn't feel the need for the meat taste. Layered with Zucchini, eggplant and squash plus lots of melted mozzarella and tomato sauce which completed everything! Bakbakan Platter which consist of the following: Fish, Pilay, Nakalunok ng Itlog na Pula - Salted egg rolled into Cream Dory then deep fried, what do you expect? Bites of Heaven!Belly Crispy, Belly Yummy - Who could ever go wrong with slowly cooked boneless pork belly? If you go a little umay, this has atchara on the sideGising Gising - One of the traditional Filipino Spicy Dishes, ground pork sauteed with green peppersDesserts were some of the Filipino favorites in their KTC Dessert Platter:Turon with TsoknutBikoLeche Flan with MacapunoAnd for the drinks, I tried their Paraiso which is a very invigorating drink which had pineapple overpowering the cucumber taste. Aside from Paraiso, they also have Agimat, Fiesta Gulaman, Ligaya, Maharlikape, Naimas Smoothie, Pastillas de Latte and Tsoknut Frappe which are nice-tries! We were lucky enough that even Anthony Taberna himself went and related to us the origins of Ka Tunying's and the dishes themselves. Their branches are conveniently located at Timog Ave, Visayas Ave and Naia Terminal 3.

Wiwie Bernice

3.0

We chanced upon Ka Tunying when we were driving along T.Morato Ave. Tired of our go-to place for coffee, we were eager to try because of the signage outside. The place is as simple as the caricature face of AnthonyTaberna. We ordered coffee at 70pesos per cup. Not bad. Their arroz caldo is, for me, a real comfort food. At 135pesos, it will satisfy your merienda cravings. I ordered their KTC platter - a combination of suman sa manga, ube macapuno and turon. I find it a bit pricey at 225pesos, though you need help on this one if you're a light eater. They also offer breads for dine-in and even bought some to-go.As to the other dishes, the prices are affordable. Pretty sure it is worthy of another visit. The place is clean as well as the restroom and the staff are attentive.

Alvin Jason Bravo

4.0

Tried their Tukhang Pasta and omg it's so good! I didn't expect anything because it's their cheapest but the more I eat it, the more I was able to appteciate the taste and it's great! The pasta alone was very flavorful and the tinapa gives THE kick. Will def order thia again!Ps. I wasn't able to take a photo of the served pasta lol. This looks gross but I swear it's good!

Alexitow.inc

4.0

This is it. The best Pancit. I’ve always been a fan of Pancit whether Bihon, Canton or Sotanghon. I though Chinese makes the best Pancit there is but I was wrong until I had one at Ka Tunying’s Cafe in Timog.Located in front of GMA, at Caswynn Building, Timog, the place is easy to catch as it has a huge singnage of the name. Ambiance was homey too. When you enter, different kinds of breads are available as well as they are known to have a Bakery in Nueva Ecija.For starters, we get to try their Cheese Bread. Soft dough with cheese toppings and cheese on the dough as well. This is perfect for your favorite spreads but even without it, it’s still delicious.Ukoy: Traditional Filipino version of Shrimps Fritters with Kalabasa and dried Shrimps. I love the fact that it is made of Kalabasa. There’s small shrimps inside it and you can still taste it but there’s a bit of a sweetness to it because of Kalabasa. Dip it in vinegar for added flavor.Bruce Tawilis: Fried cripsy Tawilis served with Vinegar.So delicious. Fried to perfection with its batter for that crispy taste. Can’t help but dig in.Inasar si Caesar Salad: Their own version of Caesar Salad with Traditional Chicken Inasal. For you healthy people. They also have Caesar Salad with chicken strips. Yum!Arroz Ala Tunying: Arroz Caldo with Boiled Egg and sliced Chicken Breast. This dish tasted to good. The glutinous rice was boiled perfectly. It was so soft and so easy to eat. Chicken breast and egg added more flavor to it. I think Ka Tunying needs to advertise this more. Since Timog has a lot of bars in its area, this dish is perfect as a cure for hangover.Cabanatuan Longsilog (Recado): An original from Nueva Ecija. Served with Longanisa, Eggs and Adobo Rice. Surely, this dish will put a smile on your face and on your plate too. Look at how it was served. Its Adobo Rice was oozing with flavor. It’s like you actually have Adobo already. Longanisa has a garlicky flavor which what I love in Longanisa. You can ask them to cook the eggs the way you wanted. May Asim pa Ako, Pero Sweet Naman – Escabeche Salmon Belly: Tender Salmon Belly strips fried and sauteed with butter, ginger and sesame seeds. Salmon Belly fried to crisp. They already perfected how to fry dishes so well. Another block buster hit from their menu.Pancit ni Nanay Benny: A special recipe of Ka Tunying’s Mother.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best Pancit I’ve tasted. This has a generous amout of vegetables, pork, shrimp and a lot more. Just the noodles tasted to good. This definitely is on my top favorite Pancit in the Metro.Tinapa Carbonara: Local version of Carbonara with Tinapa. I was expecting it to be more salty but it’s not. Probably their Tinapa wasn’t that salty enough.Ka-Love-Asa Lasagna: No meat baked dish layered with Zucchini, Eggplant, Tomato Sauce, Cheese and lots of Kalabasa. This dish is again for health conscious. There’s no meat in here but you won’t be asking or looking for it anyway. This tasted sourly and creamily good and you will not feel any regret eating a lot as this is all vegetables. Bakbakan Platter: Roasted Lechon Pork Belly, Fish Fillet and Salted Egg Rolls, Gising-gising with Rice. For those people who’s not on diet. Perfect combo meal for us! Love the taste of Fish with Salted Egg inside it making it taste more addicting.For drinks, we’ve tried Tsoknut Frappe, Mochabayan Frappe and Maharlikape. All three tasted amazing.They also served us with desserts. My favorite would be Biko Latik with Mango on top and Ube Macapuno. Turon with Tsoknut also tasted good.