Jonas’ Original Pares in Cubao
I always believed that good food need not be expensive. For me, it’s always a matter of finding the right food place that suits your taste. Sure, hotels and High Street will always house the best culinary talents, but these gourmet celebrities have always had their humble beginnings, such as in the canteen, panciteria, carinderia or turo-turo. To weed out these possible gourmet geniuses, I’ve always made sure to feature restaurants that the average employee can dine at, being one myself. My personal rule, good food should be available to anyone with a P500 peso bill (US$ 11.75). Though I have managed to dine at more opulent restaurants, my favorite restaurants have always been those that do not require an SSS loan to enjoy. So far, I believe I have adhered to this rule. I am hopeful that the price of food will not go up too high that my Ninoy will still be enough for a dinner and a movie. Wishful thinking, some might say.
So I continue to scour the streets of the Metro and was finally rewarded with a nice surprise during one of my Cubao outings. Jonas’ claims to have started the pares (braised beef stew served with plain rice) craze that has become the mainstay of every Pinoy worker’s lunch hour. Inside Ali Mall (yes, it was named after Muhammad Ali when he came to the Philippines sometime in the 1960s to fight Joe Frazer in what has been eternally known as the “Thrilla in Manila”), Jonas is situated alongside strong competitors such as Ted’s Batchoy and Kentucky Fried Chicken. At P88.00 (US$2.07) per meal, you get a tasty dish of your choice, a large bowl of fried or plain rice and a cup of soup. Water served is purified and, best of all, still free. Pares continues to be their bestseller.
There was a lot of sweet and sour fish in the plate and this could actually be shared by two people.
The lechon paksiw is actually lechon kawali then sauteed in a little vinegar and lechon sauce. Truly yummy and very soft to the bite.
The bestseller and star of the show remains to be the Pares. Started in 1979, Jonas claims to be the fastfood restaurant with a conscience and, indeed, it still seems that way now. According to them, the owner Lolly Tiu coined the term “pares” which means to pair two items together. It was Tiu’s belief that the pairing of beef and fried garlic was the most filling combination there is. And right she was.
Try to drop by this place when you’re in the Cubao neighborhood. Surely, you will enjoy dining there!
Comments
Comment from nina
Time: May 20, 2008, 2:09 am
Nyek, I was in Ali Mall just last week. Syempre I didn’t think to check out the food court because the last time I was there it was… icky. lol. Will definitely check this out when my sweldo comes in!
Comment from Tom
Time: May 24, 2008, 5:55 am
I like pares too. Masarap na, mura pa. I have not been to Cubao for a long time. Would check this out when I do.
Comment from marielle
Time: May 24, 2008, 10:41 pm
i grew up on jonas pares…. sabi nga nila ito daw ang orig…. pag Sunday after Mass…. pares na kame…. noon carinderia set-up pa lang sila at kahit mga driver ng jip dito nanananghali– sabi nila yung mga ibang nagsulputang “orig” pares mga nangpirate ng cook ng jonas…. may pares laki at pares liit pa noon….. ngayon…. airconditioned na ang jonas at family crowd na siya…. was able to eat sa jonas branch sa sm san lazaro. i think yung dun franchise…. iba yung lasa ng sabaw parang basta…. iba cant say why….under 50php lang nun ang pares medyo nagmahal na talaga relatively speaking pero puede na din…. dating pagkaing driver ngayon pang mall set na…. miss ko na ang jonas: pares laki with order of siomai na hahaluan ng sauce ng siopao ang toyo at kalamansi, soup na mainit at pepsi….. kagu2m!
Comment from The Zen Bitch
Time: May 25, 2008, 3:14 am
used to go to jonas in retiro. my mom loves their pares and noodles. meron na pala sa cubao?
Comment from Arpee
Time: May 25, 2008, 8:36 pm
to Bong and marielle: you’re are right. the original branch is in retiro, which was confirmed to me by the cubao branch staff.
to the zen bitch: i’m not sure if the one in cubao measures up to the reputation of the retiro branch. perhaps i should go there one of these days…
Comment from ayi
Time: May 25, 2008, 10:43 pm
hay! nagutom ako upon seeing the pictures.promis me sa next vacation namin kakain tau jan.
Comment from jhed
Time: June 4, 2008, 2:44 am
mas masarap sa jonas kung ililibre ako ni arpee! yan ha di ako demanding…di xa one of the “opulent” restos you have been into!
Comment from melvin
Time: June 4, 2008, 2:55 am
hey arpee!
i’m so lucky my first experience in eating pares was in the original branch in Retiro. According to my dad, who went with me that day, that branch was only a carinderia before way back from its humble beginnings and people would lined up on your back even if you are not yet finished eating your meal just to order because the pares was so damn good! It’s his favorite place to eat whenever he had some business dealings in quezon city and manila way back in the ’80s.
The branch in Retiro was already restructured to a much customer-friendly place because it is now air-conditioned and the ambiance is good.
There are so many restaurants now that claimed they have the original and best pares in town, but nothing can imitate the original taste of Jonas’ pares.
Its always a treat in dining at Jonas and I can’t wait to come back!
Comment from Arpee
Time: June 4, 2008, 8:06 pm
to jhed: jonas lang ba! sige, txt mo lang ako kung kelan tyo magkikita.
to melvin: the original branch is indeed in retiro. one of these days, join me and jhed and i’ll treat you guys to lunch there.
Comment from jared
Time: June 18, 2008, 6:53 pm
Jonas also has a branch at the 3rd floor of SM City San Lazaro. Check it out…
Comment from Arpee
Time: June 18, 2008, 10:33 pm
to jared: thanks for the tip. now i know where to eat when i go to sm san lazaro. thanks for gracing my blog!
Comment from bong
Time: May 20, 2008, 12:43 am
i love Jonas!!!
sa may.. hmm qc area.. near retiro ba un? haha i forgot, that’s the fave pares house of my dad.. basta dun sa may area na yun! meron pala sa cubao? i didn’t know that! :))