Marikeño's April Filipino Food Month

 

In celebration of April Filipino Food Month, Marikeño is inviting you all to embark on a culinary journey that will showcase the vivid colors and flavors, rich heritage of Filipino culture and cuisine scene in Marikina. With a big help from Eats Marikina, we've come up with this very interesting yet challenging food crawl that would begin where Marikina food gastronomy all started, in Lilac Street down to the very trendy and up-and-coming scene of Gil Fernando. So without further ado, let's get started.

Dapo at Tisa: • Bangus ala Pobre never fails to delight. Dapo and Tisa's rendition to this classic Filipino dish is like music to the eyes, the ears and tongues.

• Okoy in Kamote, a true Filipino masterpiece that honors the harmony of flavors and textures. 

• Ginataang Adobong Baka is a delectable local dish that mixes the beauty and richness of adobo and the creamy goodness of coconut milk.

 

Kabigting's Halo Halo: • Kabigting's is known for their signature halo-halo, a bright-colored concoction of shaved ice mixed with an assortment of sweet treats. Enjoy the musicality of its flavors and textures as you mix the sweet beans, fruits, jellies and creamy leche flan, topped with a generous amount of evaporated milk and concluded with a big scoop of velvety ube ice cream. 

• Their pancit palabok completements the beloved lumpia sariwa, a Filipino spring roll filled with a savory mixture of ground meat, crunchy vegetables and others.

Rocha's Puto and Kutsinta: • Rocha's is known for their mouthwatering puto, a very popular steamed rice cake with a soft and fluffy texture, slightly sweetned and topped with a generous amount of cheese.

• Their kutsinta is a perfect accompaniment to their puto as the former is chewy while the latter is soft and fluffy. 

Mang Ding's Pinoy BBQ: • Eveybody loves to eat barbecue especially if it is Filipino style as it has everything from chicken inasal, isaw, puwet, tenga, hotgods, bituka, etc. Every bite is message sent from heaven. 

• Also try their ensaladang talong and salted egg with tomato and onion.

Mama Ting's Rellenong Bangus: • They are known for their deliciously fried and deboned rellenong bangus, a milkfish dish stuffed with meat and ground vegetables.

• Their everlasting is equally delicious. It is the epitome of Marikeño culinary. It is known to llanera.

Salud Panciteria: • It is a household name that was established back in 1968 that has become a true Marikeño icon, specifically for their pancit pinagulong. It got its name from the way it was being cooked.

• Be sure to also try out their super crispy lumpiang shanghai and lechon kawali. They make their special sauces that is uniquely theirs.

BoyNita Ihaw Ihaw:  • The BoyNita bilao bangus is a large round bilao that is usually filled with bangus inihaw (milkfish) cooked in a flavorful and aromatic manner. It also comes with vegetables, pork barbecue and others. You may also try their bilao tilapia which also hot and freshly cooked. 

Again, we would like to thank Eats Marikina for taking the initiatives and for encouraging us on covering this event.  It was a truly our pleasure and honor to take part in the April Filipino Food Month special. Our cuisine is very rich in flavors and has unique qualities that deserves to be celebrated and recognized. Mabuhay ang pagkaing Pilipino.

Posted By Marikeño4:46:00 AM

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Farron Cafe Lilac

 

Farron Cafe Lilac is a vibrant and energetic teen café, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and fresh shakes meet with the tantalizing scent of sweet freshly baked cakes and pastries. This lively hub is a go-to destination mostly for teenagers and young people seeking a delightful mix of flavors and a cozy ambiance to unwind. 

Their menu boasts a variety of refreshing smoothies, invigorating iced coffees, creamy shakes, and rich delectable cakes, all carefully crafted to satisfy one's youthful cravings. Whether you're in the mood for a tropical burst of fruit in a smoothie, a rich and velvety chocolatey shake, or a slice of moist, decadent cheesecake, this teen café is a haven for taste buds seeking indulgence and fun. 

Enjoy a perfect harmony of a sweet buttery smelling croissant filled with a vibrant medley of fresh leafy vegetables, creating a delightful fusion of flavors that is both light and satisfying. For a wholesome option, savor the mouthwatering combination of a thin, light and crispy crust pizza or enjoy a fulfilling rice meal topped with the sweetness of savory cured beef.

Come, relax, and savor the delicious offerings that make Farron Cafe Lilac a favorite gathering spot for young hearts and discerning palates alike. Click here to view their menu. Visit them at the 2nd Floor of #41 Lilac St. Legaspi Building, Concepcion Dos. Open daily, 10AM - 10PM. Call them at 0939 2784305.

Posted By Marikeño12:59:00 AM

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Onsen by BoyNita

 

Onsen by BoyNita is your newest stylish resort located right in the very center of Marikina City.   It has that fresh industrial-like design that is perfect for both the young and the old. Inspired by the Japanese word, onsen, which means a hot spring. It is a heated jacuzzi pool that can help you eliminate stress and promotes well-being. They also have regular pool to those who want to escape the summer heat. 

Pros:

• The pool and common area is huge. It can accommodate up to 25 people at the same time. 
• It has 3 big bedrooms.  Each bedroom can accommodate 4 (to 5) people.
• It has one private bathroom and toilet in the master bedroom upstairs.  One shared toilet and one shared bathroom for the other two rooms. Also a full bathroom and a shower room downstairs.
• It is a very quiet neighborhood. Super relaxing. 
• It has a spacious kitchen with an induction cooker, an induction pan, a fridge, sink and free purified drinking water. 
• An entertainment area for watching Netflix and Youtube shows.
• Safe parking for two cars. 
• Place is equipped with monitoring CCTV cameras 24/7.
• Fast fiber internet (200mbps).
• A regular pool and a heated jacuzzi pool. 
• Staff are friendly and very attentive.
• You may order your favorite BoyNita ihaw ihaw favorites or from Food Panda and Grabfood.
• They offer massage from their exclusive partner. 
• They have free board games to play with. 

Cons: 

• Karaoke sessions are highly discouraged as it is a residential area.
• Hot shower was not working in the master bedroom's bathroom (Update: It had been fixed). 
• You need to enter your own Netflix account to their smart television's app. 

Onsen by BoyNita is your perfect summer getaway if you are searching for relaxation and tranquility. We highly recommend them not just for their heated jacuzzi pools but for the serenity of the place. I assure to you that by the time that you leave the place, your mind, body and soul will be fully rejuvenated, your energy restored. They are located at 18 Jersey Street, Rancho 4 West, Concepcion Dos.  For your questions on their current rate and availability, you may call them at 0966-6144476 or email them at onsenbyboynita@gmail.com.

Posted By Marikeño3:51:00 AM

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Keila's Bike Shop Marikina Bodega

Keila's Bike Shop Marikina Bodega is the biggest and the grandest bike store in Marikina City. Period. For Ella and April who started this colossal business, it was not always a beautiful story and it was surely not a walk in the park. But let me tell one thing. this story had a really bad beginning and a triumphant ending. This is their inspirational story that started with just one bike. 

April worked in a bank while she supported her siblings with their school tuition. Life was not easy for April as she was working so hard as a sister and as mother to her husband and kid. Not too long, Ella got out of prison under DSWD from a 3-year imprisonment. Her case was dismissed and legal action was terminated. She was just 20 years old at the time. Trying to make things right, she started to sell small items online, things like fishball and kikiam. This was her own way of coping to improve the quality of her life and its livability.  She wanted to prove to her family that she was dead serious in becoming a changed woman.  She was not earning enough and she needed great help.

Undecidedly, on August 2020, she borrowed money from the person she trusted most, her older sister, April. She promised April that she would use the money to run an online bike store and that she would give her her cut of the profit by simply becoming her financer. Without any hesitation, April lent her the money through the help of her partner and started the business.  When I asked April how she lent such big amount of money to her sister so easily, she told me that she knew that Ella was ready. Little did they know that it was just the start of something really big. April decided to quit working in the bank and eventually helped with the business' finance, marketing and networking while Ella did the selling. 

Business was doing quite well for both of them They switched from an online store and turned their home into a bike bodega. They were selling 25 bikes a day and they had to buy more because they sold out quickly. Ella and April managed to pay the money back sooner than what they expected.  On May 2021, they opened their very first bike bodega shop in Lilac Street, Concepcion Dos. It was literally just a bodega to store their bike items so they would not have to crowd their house with bicycles. Fortune was so good to them that on December of the same year, they've fixed their shabby bodega and turned it into a decent store warehouse.

Photo courtesy of Keila's Bike Shop Marikina Bodega.

It may be a quick road to success for them but it was never easy. All those sleepless nights, hard work, stress and afflictions were paid off with immeasurable achievement and contentment. From a hunble beginning of a bike store with just one mechanic, it is now a bike business empire with many mechanics and staff. It is a company built with love and trust as their foundation. As Ella and April would say: "Oo, inaamin namin, mahirap ang buhay pero kinaya namin. Hindi kami sumuko."

Keila's Bike Shop Marikina Bodega is located at 3 Lilac Street Concepcion Dos Marikina City, Marikina City. You may call them on their business mobile number at 0945 729 9706. They offer delivery, online booking and in-store pickup.

Posted By Marikeño2:14:00 AM

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La Casa Paletta

 

La Casa Paletta has that warm homey vibe that everyone will surely love. It is heavily accentuated by paletta wood, thus the smell and feel were earthy.  Light brown, dark brown, white, some pale shade of yellow and blue amplified the space and made it feel more livable. Let us share to you some of our personal comments with this Airbnb space:

Pros: 

• It was very easy to communicate with the owners. They are quite responsive and polite. 
• The caretakers were well trained and prompt with their responses. 
• The entire place was really spotless, from the kitchen, living room, bedroom, study room and to their bathroom.  It was sparkle clean. There was no scent or hint of cigarette. 
• Their internet was very fast (200mbps). 
• The total room area which includes the kitchen, living room, bed room and bathroom is big and quite spacious. You will never feel claustrophobic.
• Their kitchen was complete with utensils from spoon and fork, cooking ware and glassware. 
• Very quiet neighborhood.
• Purified drinking water was provided for free. 
• They have free entertainment like free access to Netflix, board games and even karaoke microphones.
• You are allowed to use their massage chair as long as you want. 
• Aircon was working quite well.
• It has a stunning view of the Marikina valley from the top floor.

Cons:

• The room was at the 4th floor so it was a little hike up. It's a good exercise though.
• Street parking but it was a safe neighborhood.
• The bathroom has no exhaust fan so you will need to turn on the air-conditioner all the time. 

Overall, our staycation at the La Casa Paletta was very pleasant. We highly recommend them. It was a very relaxing stay and we had a great time to spend time with our family. It is recommended to a couple and one baby or a third adult. You can order food via Grabfood or Food Panda if you feel lazy to go out. Click here to check their Airbnb listing and to know their actual rate and room availability.  La Casa Paletta is located in Goodrich Village, Concepcion Uno. 

Posted By Marikeño11:57:00 AM

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Rekado Modern Filipino Cuisine

Rekado Modern Filipino Cuisine is derived from the word "rekado" which means ingredients in Filipino. Filipino food is known to be "marekado" or has so much ingredients. It is a very catchy name for a restaurant and it is the name of the newest food place in Concepcion Dos.  It is a modern Filipino restaurant with a twist. They make your familiar old-style home Filipino cooking and turn it into their own. The place is little small yet warm and cozy. Everything looked so clean and fresh to the eyes.

Rekado is managed and owned by several courageous entrepreneurs who had decided to quit all their cool but tiring jobs abroad and opened a business in Marikina City.  Chef Marco Bitong, their main man, drew inspiration of his dream from his biggest inspiration and idol, his mom. When he was young, he was his mom's assistant during cooking. He would help her by preparing all the ingredients. He would cut the vegetables and prepare all the meat. He did not want to be a chef before, he admitted, but he just could never stop watching his mother cooking. He loved her Caldereta, Dinuguan and Kare Kare. He told us how he would ask his mom to teach him her secrets in cooking but she just encouraged him to watch and to make his own versions of those dishes. We were fortunate enough to experience and taste some of his masterpieces.

Chicharong Bulaklak is a deep-fried ruffled fat made from pig's intestine, a very popular "pulutan" or appetizer. It is best consumed with alcohol but can also be enjoyed with hot steamy rice. It is an oily food and can be lessen by dipping into spicy vinegar. It was not as crispy as I thought it would be but it was perfectly and evenly seasoned though.  If it was made crispy enough, it would be my personal favorite.

Tinapa Roll is another deep-fried appetizer made from tinapa flakes, diced vegetables, salted egg and lumpia wrapper. The lumpia wrapper was a little thick but the filling was tasty and the light tangy vinegar sauce complimented it quite well as it felt light, not oily.

Bam-I or Pancit Bisaya is a Filipino noodle dish which first started in Cebu City. It is quite similar to our favorite pancit canton flavored with chopped vegetables, small shrimps and garnished with calamansi fruit. The serving is a little small, I think. I hope they will side it with small pandesal bread.

Laing is simple and spicy yet true to its taste. Very tasty and perfect with hot white rice.

Sweet and Spicy Garlic Chicken reminds me of Bonchon's Soy Garlic Chicken. Perfectly crunchy glazed chicken.  You can enjoy it with or without rice.

Curry Bicol Express is your favorite spicy Bicol Express enhanced with curry and spice. Another cup of hot rice, please.

Prawn Spicy Aligue has this rich tasty vibrant sauce that is not just visually stunning but also satisfying.

Sinigang na Bulalo is one of their most popular dishes. Served hot and sour, this is definitely one of our Rekado favorites.

Beef and Tripe Kare Kare is creamy and has a rich texture. Marikeños will love this.

Boneless Crispy Pata is literally a killer and a monster, both in size and taste.  Drooling?

Crispy Leche Flan is new and definitely different. Leche Flan strips carefully wrapped in lumpia wrappers and deep-fried into sweet perfection, then beautifully decorated with chocolate syrup.

Rekado Modern Filipino Cuisine is a combination of something modern yet familiar, old yet new, truly Filipino but with a twist. They have a really big menu and lots of foods to choose from. Quality yet affordable food for big groups and families. Chef Marco Bitong had experiences working professionally in big restaurants like Red Crab, Victoria Sports Tower and Mesa. They are open daily from 11AM to 2PM and 5PM to 11PM. Visit Rekado along Katipunan Street, Concepcion Dos. Click here to follow them on Facebook. Click here to view their map for directions.

Posted By Marikeño12:21:00 AM

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Fountain of Fruit | Fruteria

Fountain of Fruit | Fruteria opened 5 months ago. Fruteria comes from a Spanish word that literally means a fruit store where agua frescas or water-based fruit drinks and fruit smoothies are sold. Michael, the store owner worked as a manager in Jamba Juice in the US for 10 years and worked for another 10 years at Coffee Bean. So he knows exactly what he was doing and how to run his business.

Their biggest challenge would be their store location. It is actually their house which he and his brother partially turned into a smoothie shop. They are located along Dawn street, just a few minutes car drive away from the hustling and bustling street of Lilac. They have a humble shop with 3 indoor tables and 3 outdoor tables. Unlike most stores in Lilac, they have a really big parking lot. So parking your vehicles will never be a problem. And they are surrounded with fruit trees, so they have all the rights to name themselves, Fruteria, the land of fruits and smoothies.

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie Bowl  is one of our most favorites and probably the yummiest and healthiest item on their menu.  With everything nice and good, all put into one bowl. Isn't she just gorgeous?

Chunky Monkey Smoothie Bowl is your perfect breakfast. It has cereal, rice crispies, choco bits, peanut butter and real bananas. You will surely go bananas over Chunky Monkey.

Pineapple Cantaloupe Melon Smoothie is so refreshing it will take your thirst away. I like it because it is not so sweet. It is equally healthy because they never use sugar or honey.

Orange Strawberry Banana Smoothie is my most favorite smoothie on their menu. Sweet tangy and fragrant smoothie. It has yogurt so it is super yummy. Filled with vitamin C. It will for sure, quench everyone's thirst. You can also ask for their store favorite, Strawberry Pineapple smoothie.

Their Watermelon and Pineapple Agua Frescas are as equally refreshingly energizing as their smoothies. They are better than water and have no sugar added. No pretentions. All natural. Michael is a health buff so he also thinks about the health of his customers.

Summer is definitely not over yet at Fountain of Fruit | Fruteria. Have a fresh cool glass of your favorite smoothie or agua fresca. You can choose from their 20 mixed fruity combinations, all natural and all sugarfree. They are open from Tuesdays to Sundays: Tue-Thu 9am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 9am to 11pm and Sun 9am to 10pm. 

Take advantage of their Fruity Fridays and Smoothie Sunday promos where they offer all their licuados for only Php99 each. Yes, you read that right, smoothies and agua fresca for only Php99. Visit them at fof.ph and their Instagram account.  Click here to see their map.

Posted By Marikeño9:59:00 PM

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Soul Chefs

Soul Chefs only promises honest-to-goodness comfort food. When we asked Chef Sean and Chef Billie how they came up with the name of their restaurant, they gave us an obvious answer and it was the answer that we wanted to hear. "It is because we cook with our feelings. We put our hearts to every single dish we cook together with lots of passion. So, for every spoonful of our food, you feel loved."

Chef Sean came from a family of chefs, so cooking runs in the family. Nothing makes him any happier than cooking, he said. He was supposed to work in Italy and in Hongkong but ended up managing his own business in Marikina City. Chef Billie has been in the food industry for five years and she had worked in different restaurants. Her biggest influence was her mother who used to cater. She would observe her mother prepare food and that's how her love for food came about. She likes being inside the kitchen. She likes the action that goes on in it.  From prep work to actually doing the dishes to plating. She enjoys everything about it. Check these food that they have especially prepared for us.

Soul Chefs Salad is fresh crunchy lettuce with chicken poppers drizzled with sweet slightly salty Asian spiced sesame seed vinaigrette. A perfectly light yet tasty salad.

Honey Chicken Poppers is Soul Chefs' special deep-fried to crispy perfection chicken sided with white cream sauce. It is not only good to eat but fun, too. If you are tired of your usual chicken, these poppers will literally explode in your mouth.

Pasta Amatriciana is a light tomato based pasta. If you like it light and right, then try this.

BLT Pizza (top-most image) is a classic pizza topped with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Served with pesto. Best eaten when it is really hot. Pizza never felt this healthy and good.

Daredevil Fried Rice is both sweet and spicy bagoong rice topped with egg, pork and vegetables. Are you adventurous? You like it red-hot? If you are not a chicken and you want a fun dish, then this one is for you.

Dinaksig is probably their most sinful item on their menu, and very good, too. Imagine two of your most favorite Filipino dishes, combined in one sizzling plate: Dinakdakan and Sisig.  Is it sinful? Yes. Does it taste good? Hell, yes!

Sizzling Bulalo is my personal favorite in Soul Chefs. Not only that it is served sizzling hot but it is also the tastiest dish they have. Made from imported New Zealand beef, smothered in rich clean tasting sauce.

Soul Chefs Crispy Pork Belly is a double fried pork belly with tomato coleslaw salsa on the side and Ponzu dip. The dish tastes as good as how it looks. Perfect with plain white rice.

Tamarind Seafood is sizzling shrimp and salmon belly with dry tamarind and Tom Yum soup. It is literally exploding in flavor and not oily at all. The tamarind fruit adds body to its flavor and makes this dish quite pleasant.

Ginger Caramel Banacopita is a deep-fried dumpling filled with real ginger and caramelized banana fruit, then topped with scoops of ice cream. It was a great dessert and has an interesting combination of ginger and banana taste. It would have been a lot better if the ice cream was vanilla.

Overall, our food trip to Soul Chefs was enjoyable, more like a gratifying experience. We had fully exercised our lazy taste buds. We experienced salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter in just one sitting. We were so fulfilled.

Thanks to Chef Sean and Chef Billie for having our team.  Their staffs were so courteous and accommodating to our small requests. We had a very pleasant visit to Soul Chefs. They are open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 4:30pm to 2am. You can find them along Lilac Street in Concepcion Dos.

Update: Soul Chefs has permanently closed their business.  We hope they will re-open.

Posted By Marikeño5:54:00 PM

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Milieu Urban Comfort Food

Milieu Urban Comfort Food is not your usual eating place.  Since they've opened to the public early of 2016, they have been offering not just good food but crazy, bizarre yet insanely yummy food.  Chef Law and Chef Mark are the cruel duo behind this phenomenon and they satisfy us really well with their mouthwatering heavenly comfort food. If good food could kill, we will charge them with murder.

Above is a sample of their Cookie Dough Bacon: a sweet blend of your chewy cookie ingredients, mixed and stuffed in a small cup, topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and real bacon bits, then drizzled with sweet caramel syrup.  If that is not insane enough for you, then I do not know what insane really is.

Milieu is your perfect environment for socializing with your close friends and families. One will easily notice how high their ceiling is, which makes their place look so much bigger. Their place was designed by Ohm David but it was Chef Mark's primary idea for their theme: industrial and rustic.  Hard sturdy wood were used for their furniture which all came from Bulacan.  I really love their wooden tables and chairs, they are strong and one will feel secured sitting on them. The place looked raw and bold, yet somehow unfinished but beautiful.

Menu and food were a genius collaboration between Chef Mark and Chef Law who studied culinary arts from the same school. They specialize in Western food yet they both share the same love and passion for Asian food which explains the type of food they serve.  They serve anything that is good and comforting, familiar yet different. Here are just some of the food we've tried.

Shrimp Mango Salad has fresh crisp spear of green lettuce, seaweed, slices of tomatoes, sweet mangoes and shrimp in apple wasabi vinaigrette. It is your perfect salad starter with sweet, salty, sour taste. I can definitely eat this everyday and not feel guilty about it.

Bacon Fat Fries (image above, top left) for those who love french fries. It is smothered in thick garlic cheese sauce with salty bacon bits.  It was perfectly cooked and very crispy. How do you know if your fries are perfectly cooked? You let it sit for 10-15 minutes before you start digging in. If your fries still tasted good, then you got yourself a good potato.

Chicken Karaage (image above, top right) is deep-fried marinated chicken breast in teriyaki sauce, Japanese coleslaw, in ciabatta or Italian white bread with side salad. Chicken is nicely seasoned and the bread was warm and soft. If you like it light and nice, try this one.

Roasted Tamarind Chicken (image above, bottom left) is probably one of my most favorite items in their menu. Chicken was tender and perfectly marinated. It was nicely roasted and paired with garlic rice and roasted tomato. You can enjoy it with or without its gravy. It was that good.

Quattro Formaggio Pizza (image above, bottom right) has mozarella, cheddar, parmigiano blue cheese and tomato pesto in it. I simply love cheese.  Should I say more? Cheese is it.



Applewood Smoked Slab of Bacon is definitely my most favorite dish in Milieu. It is a simple bacon dish paired with Japanese coleslaw, Bonito corn and sweet tangy honey syrup. A dish that every one of you should try. It has sweet. tang, salty, crunch, tender, everything you are looking for an awesome dish. If you have not experienced falling in love with your food, then try this one. Tip: This goes well with their Strawberry Apple Freeze.

Baby Back Ribs used with their homemade barbecue sauce, served with Bonito corn and Japanese coleslaw. The sauce was just too flavorful for me and it was kind of hard for me to taste the meat. Coleslaw toned the taste down a little and maybe a little rice will do the trick.

Buffalo Wings is deep-fried marinated chicken wings in Sriracha butter sauce topped with blue cheese crumble. Perfectly fried and seasoned really well. Best to be enjoyed without rice.

Shake Meshi is a Japanese French inspired fusion rice mix topped with high grade pink salmon then drizzled with sweet Teriyaki sauce. Served with shoyu, wasabi paste, kalamansi and gari (pickled ginger). A creative dish, insane yet delicious.  A must try.

The entire Marikeño Team would like to thank the hospitality and kindness of Milieu Urban Comfort Food, its management and staffs.  We encourage everyone to try and visit Milieu. They are open daily, from 11AM to 11PM. You can find them along Lilac Street, Concepcion Dos. Click here for their map.

Update: Milieu Comfort Food has decided to close and will open up another business. We were so sad to hear this as we were their biggest fans. Good luck on your new future endeavor.

Posted By Marikeño12:42:00 AM

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