Guevarra’s is one of the more affordable, but good buffets that I usually recommend to friends who ask. Aside from the good food, the charm of Guevarra’s lies in the restored 1920’s house and its ambience. I recommend going at night, because the sprawling yard is transformed into a beautifully lit garden.
I have already done a review on Guevarra’s in 2014, you may read it here. The set-up and layout of the buffet is still the same, except for the addition of the Christmas dishes. Price has changed, of course. 🙂
YULETIDE FEAST 2018
This Christmas season, Chef Rolando “Lau” Laudico has added 30+ Christmas dishes to the rotating buffet menu. There are 80+ dishes in the regular buffet menu. These and the new Christmas dishes will be rotated on different days so guests will always find something new when they visit.
Here is Chef Lau officially ushering the Christmas menu and lighting the Christmas tree:
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I was able to talk with Chef Lau and he is probably the most open chef I’ve met. He shared the story of how Guevarra started, and he also talked about his other ventures and the challenges he’s had.
This house used to be owned by an American Jew who built it in the 1920s. The house ownership has changed over the years, and before Guevarra’s, the house was used as a spa. The spa wasn’t doing so well, so one of the owners of the spa called Chef Lau and asked if he wanted to turn the place into a restaurant. Chef Lau had the house restored. The house is beautiful and evokes a bygone era, and it is one of the reasons I love visiting Guevarra’s.
The Christmas dishes that were added to the line-up were developed by Chef Lau and his wife, Chef Jac. They incorporated a lot of questo de bola and ham. They also included traditional items that people look for during Christmas, like bibingka and puto bumbong. The Crema de Fruta has some significance for Chef Jac because it was a dish she was making and selling in high school, and was getting lots of orders for during Christmas.
Crispy Puto Bumbong
Roasted Turkey with Castanas and Chorizo
Lengua ala Pobre with Mushrooms
Steamed Fish Mayonesa
Baked Macaroni Caldereta
Crema de Fruta
Dishes to be added to the buffet menu and rotated for the holiday season:
SOUP:
1. BEEF POCHERO SOUP
Beef stew with plantains and garbanzos
2. CREAM OF LETTUCE AND CHICKEN CHOWDER
Creamy chicken soup with lettuce puree
HOT APPETIZERS:
1. STREET PARTY PLATTER/ SQUID BALL/ FISH BALL
Assorted fried street food favorites
2. CRISPY FRIED ISAW
Crispy chicken intestines
3. QUESO DE BOLA CROQUETTES
Edam cheese croquettes with surprise filling
COLD APPETIZERS:
1. HAM AND CHEESE ENSAYMADA SANDWICH
Brioche bread ham and cheese sandwich
2. EMBUTIDO MEAT LOAF
Special homemade pork meatloaf
3. PORK DINAKDAKAN
Ilocano style sisig with mayo
RICE:
1. ADOBO LECHON PAELLA
Black squid ink paella topped with squid, pork, and chicken adobo
2. ALA CUBANA RICE
Tomato rice with ground beef and fried bananas
PASTA/PANCIT:
1. CREAMY CARBONARA SPAGHETTI
Our version of the classic carbonara with smoked bacon and queso de bola
2. BAKED MACARONI KALDERETA
Our baked mac with our best beef kaldereta
VEGETABLES:
1. GRILLED VEGETABLE DINENGDENG
Grilled bangus and vegetables in a flavorful bagoong balayan sauce
2. SEAFOOD CHOPSUEY
Seasonal vegetables stir -ry with assorted seafood
MAIN COURSE:
1. LENGUA ALA POBRE WITH MUSHROOMS
Slow-braised ox tongue with creamy mushroom gravy
2. LECHON KAWALI IN TARO SINIGANG SAUCE
Crispy pork belly in tamarind gabi puree
3. MENUDO PASTEL PIE
Menudo meat pie in pastry crust
4. CHICKEN ALA KING
Creamy chicken stew with ham
5. SHRIMP IN COCONUT BRANDY SAUCE
Seared shrimps in coconut binagoongan cream sauce
6. STEAMED FISH MAYONESA
Catch of the day with assorted toppings on seasoned mayonnaise
GRILLED AND CARVINGS:
1. ORANGE CHICKEN GALANTINA
Chicken stuffed with seasoned pork meat in orange sauce
2. ROASTED TURKEY WITH CASTAÑAS AND CHORIZO
Roast turkey with chestnut and chorizo stuffing
3. NGOHIONG FRIED CHICKEN
5-spice marinated chicken with gravy
4. PATA HAMONADO
Pineapple-cured fresh pork ham
DESSERTS:
1. CHEESE CUPCAKES
Moist cupcake with tender-crisp cheesy top
2. ALFAJORES
Butter cookies filled with caramel
3. BIBINGKA
Coconut cake with cheese and salted egg
4. PUTO BUMBONG
Steamed purple rice cake served with butter, sugar, and coconut
5. CATHEDRAL WINDOW
Creamy colorful jelly
6. MACAPUNO PANDAN CRINKLES
Coconut sport and screwpine cookies
7. CHRISTMAS PIANONO
Jelly cake roll
8. CREMA DE FRUTA
Cake with fruits, cream and gelatine
I liked the Baked Macaroni Kaldereta, the Lengua ala Pobre with Mushrooms, Menudo Pastel Pie, Orange Chicken Galantina. I am excited to go back to try the other Christmas dishes!
You may also order from Guevarra’s:
PRICING
The buffet is priced at P599 net per person on weekdays and P699 net per person on weekends and holidays. Same price, same menu for lunch and dinner.
The menu is not that fancy, but for P599, it’s a good selection – there are salads, appetizers, a long line of Filipino favorites like Beef Kare-Kare, etc… They also have pasta, soups, various desserts, drinks, and a carving station with lechon, their popular Angus Beef Tapa, and now, Roast Turkey and Orange Chicken Galantina. It’s worth the money if you like Filipino food. For me, I just eat a lot of Kare-Kare and Lengua and I’m happy. Now, I have new favorites like the Baked Macaroni Kaldereta and the Orange Chicken Galantina 🙂
Chef Laudico Guevarra’s is still one of the best value buffets around, and the food is good, especially at this price range. Chef Lau told me that they don’t use shortcuts like chicken powder, etc… so the food is made from scratch.
Parking is available but I suggest going early to make sure you get parking slots as the parking area tends to get full quickly.
Chef Laudico Guevarra’s
387 P. Guevarra cor. Argonne Streets, Addition Hills, San Juan
Contact: (02) 705-1811 705-1874 (0917)311-2222
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guevarrasrestaurant/
Instagram: @guevarras_
Hours: Please check their Facebook page for the service schedule. They currently have early lunch, afternoon and dinner.
