{"id":9851,"date":"2024-12-14T12:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T04:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/?p=9851"},"modified":"2024-12-14T12:02:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T04:02:56","slug":"head-to-escobars-if-you-want-affordable-not-too-expensive-steaks-and-long-queues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/head-to-escobars-if-you-want-affordable-not-too-expensive-steaks-and-long-queues\/","title":{"rendered":"Head to Escobar\u2019s if you want affordable not-too-expensive steaks&#8230; and long queues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>We have cows, yes, but steak isn\u2019t a Pinoy staple food. We\u2019re more bound to use those beef cuts for <\/strong><em><strong>nilaga<\/strong><\/em><strong> (boil), or <\/strong><em><strong>kaldereta<\/strong><\/em><strong> or <\/strong><em><strong>menudo<\/strong><\/em><strong> than grill\/pan-fry\/broil them. And so yeah\u2026 grabbing steaks isn\u2019t a \u201cusual\u201d activity of many, and so it\u2019s also not that easy for many of us to discern not-bad yet not-too-expensive steak houses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@outragemag\/video\/7448103932913519880\" data-video-id=\"7448103932913519880\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;\" >\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@outragemag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@outragemag?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@outragemag<\/a> Out on an <a title=\"lgbt\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/lgbt?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#LGBT<\/a> date? @escobarsphilippines means pila and waiting = affordable <a title=\"steak\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/steak?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#steak<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound  - outragemag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-outragemag-7448104014249528081?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u266c original sound  &#8211; outragemag<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a kicker: Too\nmany vloggers recommend this or that place, claiming this or that\u2019s the best\n(in the Philippines, or the world, or\u2026 ever). And yet they end up obfuscating\nour choice because too many of them were fed for free, or were paid to say good\nthings even if what they ate is s.h.i.t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so here we are, checking Escobar\u2019s in Quezon City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar2-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar2-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar2-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar2-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar2.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar3-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar3-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar3-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar3-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar3.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar4-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar4-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar4-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar4-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar4.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar6-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar6-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar6-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar6-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar6.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar7-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar7-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar7-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar7-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar7.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar8-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar8-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar8-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar8-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar8.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar9-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar9-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar9-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar9-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar9.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar10-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar10-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar10-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar10-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar10.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>And let\u2019s be blunt\nhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The branch we went to\nwas small (after checking another one that was similarly small). So expect a\nqueue\u2026 a long queue when you get there, particularly during peak hours (which\nwould be basically when you need to eat). You can actually pre-order stuff, but\nanything ordered will still only be prepared when you\u2019re already seated.<\/li><li>Ambiance? This is a\nbusy place \u2013 e.g. singing a \u201chappy birthday\u201d for a client in one table actually\nends up as a singalong for the entire venue. And so this place isn\u2019t ideal for\nromantic dates or something\u2026 more for families (that\u2019s if you can get a table\nfor a big party), or <em>tropa<\/em>, or to eat out with someone you\u2019ve already\nbeen involved with for some time (that is, not necessarily in need to <em>pa<\/em>-cute\nin a private space anymore).<\/li><li>The staff\u2019s \u201cpresent\u201d.\nI dropped a fork, and before I can say \u201c<em>ate<\/em>\u201d, a replacement was\nprovided. But then again this is to be expected since the place is quite small;\nmeaning, too, that while the staff do not mean to be intrusive, they\u2019re\neverywhere all the time.<\/li><li>The food, the food\u2026\nis not bad. Salad sells for \u20b1210, but you really just get <em>pepino<\/em>, <em>kamatis<\/em>,\nolives, and carrots. At least fresh. And the vinaigrette is tasty. The pasta is\nsimilarly <em>malasa<\/em>, and you can tell <em>na di tinipid sa sahog<\/em>. As for\nthe steaks, they\u2019re well-seasoned (thankfully). And considering that some of\nthem sell for around \u20b1500 <em>lang<\/em>, they\u2019re actually not (too) thin. If you\ndon\u2019t want to be served with pre-slices steak <em>pala<\/em>, inform the staff\nwhen you order (I personally abhor when the <em>mantika<\/em> of sliced steak\nstarts to \u2018sleep\u2019 <em>na <\/em>since <em>grasa<\/em> isn\u2019t yummy for me).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Babalikan<\/em>? Yeah, why not. But for those who\u2019d visit, <em>habaan ang pasensiya<\/em>. <em>Muni-muni rin<\/em>: Is this steak worth wasting my time in the queue? Only you can answer that after assessing if <em>tiis-pila<\/em> is worth at Escobar\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar11-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9861\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar11-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar11-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar11-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar11.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar12-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar12-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar12-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar12-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Escobar12.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><em>Escobar\u2019s \u2013 with the bar visited located at 42 Sgt.\nEsguerra Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila \u2013 is open from 10AM to 12AM.\nFor more information, visit their website (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/escobarsphilippines.com\/\"><em>https:\/\/escobarsphilippines.com\/<\/em><\/a><em>).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In search of a steak venue that&#8217;s affordable and not bad-tasting? Escobar&#8217;s is worth considering&#8230; if you&#8217;re willing to put up with waiting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9852,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2455,775,1445,772],"class_list":["post-9851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dining-out","tag-dating-tips","tag-dining-manila","tag-dining-out","tag-foodie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9851"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9864,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9851\/revisions\/9864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}