The thriving of Ka Tunying's Cafe

I first blogged about Ka Tunying's Cafe (KTC) in 2015 when this restaurant was just a newbie on Visayas Ave. in Quezon City. Since then, how fast has Ka Tunying's grown! Not only has it opened a branch on Timog Ave. also in QC, and another one at NAIA Terminal 3, it also has expanded its menu from just all-day breakfast to now include traditional Filipino dishes (some of them with a new twist!) 
that are well-loved for lunch and dinner. 
There is now lechon belly, embotido, and sinigang, among other entrees or ulam (viand) that are best for lunch and dinner, and pasta and pancit bihon for merienda. There are some rather unusual and interesting (and not to mention healthy!) dishes, too, such as the Pasta Ashitaba (a medicinal plant) and Kalabasa Lasagna. All these, perhaps, explain why Ka Tunying's Cafe has now become a must-visit for many balikbayan 
(returning overseas Filipinos), I read recently. 
Personally speaking, this restaurant is one of my favorites not just for the food and different coffee concoctions but also for the simple but classy, 
homey and quiet ambiance. Because Visayas Ave. is where I go to work, the branch there is the one I frequent, together with my friends in the office. I also would sometimes bring family - sometimes my kids, the other times my sisters. 
Here's what we've ordered over the past few months:

Tinapa Chowder
This soup is so delicious it's become one of my top favorites at Ka Tunying's Cafe. Why, there's my favorite Tinapa, creamy and flavorful soup and bread on which I lavishly spread butter. 
Just this and coffee complete my afternoon work breaks.

Tinapa Carbonara

As I've mentioned, Tinapa is one of my favorites and I eat it with fried rice any time of the day, even for breakfast, and lunch, and dinner. Yup, I can eat it the whole day! Even if Ka Tunying would put Tinapa on pasta, I'd still eat it! And guess what, he already did! Tee-hee. Kidding aside, this dish exceeded my expectations. It tasted way better than I thought! Imagine lots of flaked smoked fish and a balance of spices in a creamy sauce swirled all around all dente 
fettuccine. Served with a piece of cheesy bread, 
this Tinapa Carbonara is a winner!

Fish Fillet and Salted Egg Rolls

My BFF in the office ordered this one time when she was with another friend and she came back to the office, she was all praises for this dish. When we came back together to Ka Tunying's, she ordered this again. I then understood all the rave. This was really good! It's deep-fried cream dory fish with salted egg that's crunchy on the outside and soft in the center, and served with a tartar dip. My friend ordered a cup of rice to go with it but I imagine as I write this post that this would go so well with my favorite tinapa soup! Hmmm...Anyway, there are six pieces in one serving, laid over lettuce leaves that make a perfect  

fresh salad side dish. 
 

Chicken Tocino

If you love Tocino but want to cut down on red meat, like what I'm trying to do, this one is the perfect choice. The chicken is really tender and flavorful. Perfect for this plate of Tocilog that's great whether it's brekky or dinner time. 

Longsilog - Hamonado

There are three kinds of longganisa available at KTC - recado, batutay and this, hamonado. My sister and I ordered the hamonado and batutay one lunchtime. I can't remember who had which kind but we exchanged a piece so we could taste both. Well, the two longganisa are delicious  
and sis and I loved them.

Longsilog - Batutay

This is beef longganisa, the recipe for which originated from Cabanatuan City 
in the province of Nueva Ecija.

Pancit ni Nanay Benny
This was yummy but a little too salty. Maybe it's not always the case? I'm optimistic 'coz pancit bihon is among my comfort foods and I'd definitely order this again 
in one of my future visits to KTC.

Pandesal Platter
Love, love, love this! Four pieces of healthy turmeric pandesal, each with a different filling. There's Spanish sardines, corned beef, adobo and fried egg.  Served with crunchy camote 
(sweet potato) chips.

KTC Fried Chicken
My all-time favorite food! Ka Tunying's version doesn't disappoint. It's not thickly battered so more of chicken, less flour.

Daingsilog

My friend's order and it made her happy and full.

Ham croissant
When you aren't up for a full and elaborate meal, just bread and coffee (or hot chocolate) might suit you just fine. One of my office friends had such pairing one afternoon and she was happy with it.

 Carrot cake, P125.

This has got to be the best carrot cake I'd had in a long time. It's soft, moist and not too sweet -- the perfect after-meal munchie to have with coffee.

Chocolate cake
This would have been a perfect dessert when my daughter and I had lunch one time but we were not very happy with it because it didn't seem freshly baked  because then. We would have wanted it to be moist and soft but it was anything but such. 

Pudding
This is one extremely yummy dessert or light snack that's perfect with a steaming cup of coffee. It's firm but still soft, milky and just rightly sweet. And at just P25., it never fails 
my heart and taste buds sing. 😊

 Citrumeric Milkshake

My sister's drink. Fresh oranges with turmeric and milk.  
Refreshing and healthy!

Kape Berde
Truth to tell, this is one of my top reasons for coming back to Ka Tunying's Cafe. Whoever created this drink deserves a pat on the back. Lots of people love coffee, and green tea is fast catching up as a drink of choice so it's one commendable idea to put them together in one glass. What a genius! I sooo love this! Healthy, delicious and refreshing! 

Spiced Cocochino

This is coffee with a kick! --  cappuccino blended
with coconut syrup and siling labuyo (bird's eye chili). It's truly something different and unique to spice up a rather ordinary working day.

 Mochabayan Frappe

This coffee and chocolate drink would have been so loved by me had I not forgotten to tell the server that I didn't want any sugar in it (that's how I order all of my drinks in any restaurant). So while this was delicious, I cringed at all the sugar I was taking in!

Dalandan Ginger Iced Tea 

BFF's choice on one visit. Quite a unique concoction, isn't it? 
Great tasting and refreshing, too!

Ligaya

BFF's drink another time, paired with her Daingsilog. This is melon juice 
with milk, a little lemongrass and red pandan-flavored jelly.  Delicious! 

Menu
(From KTC's Facebook page)

It might seem I've tried a lot of dishes, desserts and refreshments at KTC but really, there's still many more I have yet to taste like the Kalabasa Lasagna and Pasta Ashitaba that I mentioned. So the crew there at Visayas Ave. 
haven't seen the last of me yet. He..he..

If you haven't been to Ka Tunying's Cafe, you're missing out on a lot, so come visit soon. If you're lucky, you might bump into Ka Tunying himself -- the witty and charming broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna. See you there 
and happy eating!