UNLIMITED RICE!!!

Recession has brought people cutting down on their budget. A lot are out of work and those who are working have less disposable income. Thus, they tend to look for ways to minimize their spending.

We have heard of people who lost their jobs both abroad and here in Manila. A lot of businesses have shut down, and some are still struggling. Some still manage to survive, and these are the ones that have clever ideas.

I was on my way home from work one day and needed to stop by the mall to buy some materials I needed for a project. I usually would take the shuttle but I just walked this time. The sun was almost down anyway and the weather was unusually cold. I chanced upon a group of young men who were in their white uniform T-shirts at the back of a shopping center called St Francis Square, just right behind SM Megamall. I knew that they were having lunch because that area is lined with food stalls but I thought something else was going on. As I made my way near them, some lady approached me and aggressively invited me to eat. "Unlimited rice Sir, with 2 ulam* ", she exclaimed! I was surprised that they were offering that at such a low price.

For PhP 50.00 (around US$1) you get to have your choice of one meat dish & one vegetable dish. The combo also includes a bowl of hot soup. Though I was a bit pressured to sit down, I ordered two dishes & a cup of rice and wondered how it tasted. Surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all. I had a total of three cups of rice, and a very full stomach.

It's been quite a while since I went to a restaurant that had the same promo. One of the most familiar places to have such an unlimited rice offer is Tokyo Tokyo. I used to go there a lot especially when I had a very early morning work shift. Though prices at Tokyo Tokyo are pretty affordable, you would consider it expensive after trying the ones at the St. Francis alley.

One of the newer food chains that offer unlimited rice is Mang Inasal, a fast growing local food company that especializes in grilled chicken products. If you work around the Ortigas Center area and is trying to tighten your belt and get more than your money's worth, this is a pretty decent place to visit.

*ulam Tagalog term for viand; dish