Manila Mart

Love this place but they definitely need more tables for their dine-​in cafeteria. Employees are pleasant and helpful. They have lots of varieties and the halo halo desserts are delicious.

the halo halo with ube ice cream taste bland. palabok and kare kare is comparable to what you get in the Manila. pork barbecue is ok.

Oh why hello halo halo. How I’ve missed the mountain of sweetened banana, jackfruit, sweet beans, milky ice, flan, and ube ice cream. It’s like going back to my childhood, where I’d pick my Mom’s wallet for change just to get my weekly fix of this summery treat. Just for that, Manila Mart gets two thumbs up!
If you need a salty, sour, or spicy fix, they’ve got that too. They have a «cafeteria style» mini restaurant. But don’t let the simple set up fool you. The food is pretty damn good. My go-to’s are the fresh lumpia, dinuguan (blood stew), pork BBQ, and their variety of revolving beef stews (caldereta, menudo, kare-​kare, you name it). Be forewarned though, your cholesterol may be a little high when you leave this place.
The service is super friendly, and the mini market has all the basic Filipino cooking needs. But I will say that the kitchen is definitely the star. Try it once, and you’ll be hooked… hooked by the homemade espasol and everything else they have on the menu!

The place is located in a hidden strip mall of route1.
I walked in there was a mini-​market and in toward the back is a small kitchen. The lady was nice and explained each dish, the girl at the register was nice and helpful. I ordered the oxtail soup and a combo beef, rice and veggies and a halo-​halo (ice shaving drink. must have)
Food was different. Just what I wanted. I need a filipino friend to guide me and teach me about the food. Food was good. I will be back and halo-​halo is one of my new favorite desert drinks,

Was super excited to have stumbled across this place (thanks Unilocal!!)
Was able to share some of my culinary experiences with family. We came right as they were cleaning up and putting stuff away but they graciously made us 4 halo halo’s! Awesome! Very different yet satisfying treat. They package up leftovers from the kitchen. Was able to score some pork adobo. Again… score! Will defiantly come back the next time I am in the area. The staff was super friendly and the food was very good!

Great food, great service and the people were very friendly and happy. The restaurant is a fast and friendly buffet as well as does catering. The grocery has a great amount of hard to find Filipino stables. Don’t forget your mango shake and halo-​halo with a choice of authentic mango ice cream and purple yum! Just one suggestion. .Bring back the Nestle 3 in 1 coffee please :)

I ran away and did not try the mini-​buffet take away, but I can tell why I did not try — the food did not look good and looked like a leftover from the kitchen and have displayed in the mini-​buffet counter. It was past 1pm, but I don’t think the timing should be an excuse for not making food appetizing. Should I come back? Maybe, if I’m in the area. But for now, this review is about if it looks not good, don’t eat there.

I’ve been here several times and have enjoyed their food each time. They’ve also catered for an event of mine and the food was on time and delicious.
Good filipino food for a good price.
Only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is due to a pet peeve of mine. On several occasions, the two young women that work the front of the store need to work on their customer service skills. On several occasions, they have been on their phones before and while I’ve been trying to check out. Not sure if its a generational thing. Kids these days are glued to their phones, checking out their social media profiles and such. Even if it’s a family business, it’s still a business and should be treated in such a manner. To check your phone while people are in line trying to check out is a bit rude and annoying.
Other than that lol, everything else is good to me.

It’s a doubly hidden gem. Not only is the shopping area on a side road off Route 1 in the industrial section, but the restaurant is a counter and four tables in the back of a little market. The first time I was there I was clueless, just got the adobo, Nice comfort food stew, and it did not inspire a review. Then I went back with the Unilocal Luck club, and we had Mike’s thorough research and Shaun’s family ties to guide us to the authentic stuff. Wow! I can’t add much to Mike’s and Joy’s reviews: the pork belly is cooked with the skin on and sliced and refried to order, it’s like carnitas and chicharrones together in every bite, the delightful Halo Halo (close cousin to Hawaiian shave ice) and the 22 oz cans of Thai iced tea in the cooler, that pairs nicely. Like Mexican cuisine, Philippine is a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and Pacific ingredients and methods. It will definitely tickle your palate in new ways.
I’m a regular at Gah Rahm and Da Rae Won in the same strip, and that’s the only reason I don’t get there more often.

Yay! I found a place other than my mom’s where I can eat diniguan and not get judged! To those who aren’t Filipino, diniguan is a dish of cubed pork butt in a savory and vinegary pig’s blood stew. Parents tell kids it’s «chocolate meat» and we’re all just dumb enough to believe them.
Anyway, the Manila Mart is half store/​half café with just a few tables and chairs — I think I counted 6 tables. Placing an order is done cafeteria style where you can select different dishes or a combo and then pay afterward (along with any groceries). I ordered the aforementioned diniguan and chicken tinola (ginger and onion based soup). Wait, there’s more. I also ordered shanghai lumpia (thin egg rolls filled with meat and seasonings). And halo halo (shaved ice topped with condensed milk, ube and mango ice cream). And biko — a sticky sweet rice dessert.
The shanghai lumpia came with about 10 to an order and was accompanied with a sweet chili sauce. I honestly don’t think it needed the dipping sauce bc it already had a lot of flavor. The tinola was mild and not too oily and the diniguan was wonderful. I felt portions were a little skimpy but I didn’t mind since the plate was only $ 8 for a 2 meat combo.
I didn’t really take good inventory of the store’s offerings but I did see a produce section, frozen foods (siopao, longanisa, and tocino), a baked goods section (lots of pan de sal and ensymada), and a refrigerated section (leche flan and Goldilocks baked goods).
Now that I know where Manila Mart is I will be frequenting many more times. Oh — and don’t be afraid to eat with your hands! I promise no one will look at you twice. (Unless the second look is to give you the nod of approval).

But I thought they were open today, it’s Tuesday at 7:10! Hey little Filipino lady on the phone looking at me, why are you closed? Well, I won’t be returning, you could to raise your hands and tell me you’re closed during the hours posted on your front door but can’t tell me why… You all clearly don’t need my business.

Boom. Halo halo was awesome. They also sell the flan in the refrigerated section which was good as well.
We will frequent this establishment often.

I sampled nearly everything this quaint eatery had to offer. Mind you, I had absolutely no idea what I was eating, for the most part and I was extremely fortunate that one of the restaurant’s regular’s — Mona, explained not only each dish to me, but all of her favorites as well. I was particularly engaged with the fact that the food here was reminiscent to her mom’s cooking and how she always feels like family, whenever she eats here.
Even though the space in the back of the grocery store is small, it was jam-​packed with traditional foods from the Philippines. I ordered the pork belly (I think that’s what it was). A thin crackling, crispy flavorful skin, atop moist pork and fat. Not the healthiest of dishes, but so good. Also, under the hot lamp were sauced up skewers of meat, and fried fish. The buffet included an assortment of stew-​like dishes, tender chunks of meat in savory sauces, a veggie, a chicken curry, something made with pig’s blood, plus other not so scary staples. My platter consisted of the pork belly and a stew. It was hearty and flavorful. I sampled some sort of leaf; it was dark and unappealing looking, but Mona said it was good and so; I tried it. This was good — a stewed leaf, a little mushy, but with a mound of steamy rice, would be a filling vegetarian dish. I wasn’t off put by a slightly vinegary diced up pork dish. It’s flavor unfamiliar, but still good. Cigar sized lumpia, arrived piping hot, crisp and filled with meat. In my mind, the soup I tried was stellar. Flavorful chicken broth, with the slightest hint of ginger, garlic — a knob of tender chicken and a green veggie, that lent a subtle sweetness to the broth. Honestly, I just can’t wait to come back! If I wasn’t so darn full, I would have tried the Halo Halo, but Mona did allow me to sample a little bit of her dessert. I’m not sure what it was or even if I liked it — a gelatinous mound, tasting slightly floral, which Mona had us dip in shredded coconut. Not that it wasn’t good, just something I’ve not grown up eating, as was not the case for Mona.

My husband and I were in the area, and we decided to stop in Manila Mart (as this place has been bookmarked for a while). It’s a little Filipino mart in the 7-​Eleven/​Da Rae Won plaza that carries groceries as well as a little hot-​food station in the back. The staff here are very welcoming, and the line in the back for the food goes pretty efficiently. The menu offers items like Bistek, Chicken Tinola, Ginisang Monggo, Paksiw na Bangus, Sigsig, Beef Caldareta, Pinakbet, Pancit Palabok, Chicken Adobo, etc. I wanted to try the Chicken Adobo and the Sigsig, but unfortunately, it was stated that they only had mostly veggie options after the New Year T_​_​_​T Luckily, while standing in line, a tray of BBQ pork skewers came out — I ordered 2 sticks and an order of pork lumpia; I was asked how much rice I wanted, so I just said 1 serving (I didn’t know that I was being charged for this, so I was a little unhappy (as I wanted a combo initially) — the cost was $ 1.50). I got a styrofoam plate of the rice and the skewers, but I had to wait for the lumpia as they had to fry them. I wasn’t a fan of the rice (tasted like instant), and I was definitely not a fan of the pork skewers — it really didn’t have a grilled/​bbq taste to it, and the sauce on it wasn’t savory — it was more like a thin teriyaki-​esque type of deal. The meat itself wasn’t flavorful at all and quite bland. Thankfully, the lumpia was delicious! It was filled with minced pork and veggies, all garlic-​y and fried perfectly. It reminded me of my Filipina titas’ homemade lumpias, as I used to go to their family get-​togethers and parties when I was younger. This came with a little plastic container of the thick sweet chili sauce that was a perfect complement (don’t be afraid to ask for more — no charge!). When you receive your food items, you get a number (which relates to the order); you return your ticket, and you just pay up at the front (by the entrance, where you also pay for groceries). I was a little shocked that it was a little pricey — the skewers were $ 4 and the lumpias were $ 6 :O I will definitely come back here for the lumpias, and I still want to try their version of the Chicken Adobo and the Sigsig. There are some tables in the back by the hot food station if you want to dine-​in (about 5).
+located on the same strip as 7-​Eleven/​Gah Rahm
+grocery/​hot food
+pork lumpiasssssssssss with sweet chili sauce ;D
+a little pricey
+pay up at the front (by entrance)

Manila Mart has great heart and Philippine soul food. The Luck Club met at Manila Mart this past Sunday. It was a real treat and a shout out to Shaun who’s Philippine heritage gave us great incites on what to order and warm family stories to accompany the dishes we ordered. It was all remarkably delicious. We had the barbecue chicken on a stick that was sumptuous and had great barbecue taste. Then, we ordered the Manuto stew. It was sweet and savory at the same time. It had beautiful color and was filled with meat and vegetables. Next, was the pork adobo. This pork was fork tender and was served in a delicious sauce. The sauce was thick and tasty. After that, we had the chicken in coconut sauce. It was light and creamy. There was tender beef steak in a rich dark smooth sauce that kept me coming back for more. We also ate pork belly le chon. It was crispy and tender. The dish I had a little trouble with was the din iguan or chocolate meat. I was a little uneasy on the texture. I fell in love with the dessert halo halo. It was as beautiful as it tasted. The purple ice cream was to die for. The servers, especially Sexy Kate were as fun and pleasurable as they come. Manila Mart is right off Route one in Beltsville. It was definitely worth the drive. I even brought back my favorite sauce-​Mang Tomas special sauce. It was amazing.

If you’ve never had Filipino food and you happen to be in the Baltimore DC area. This is the place to go. Why? because there is nowhere else to go.
What’s cool about this place. It’s clean. It’s just another Asian grocery store. Except it’s very clean… No boxes, no mops, no stickers everywhere. There’s food and there 4 and a half tables available. The food is soso. But you wouldn’t find better Filipino food anywhere else in this area.
I ordered adobo… Too salty. Menudo tastes not exactly right. So is the kare kare. But it’s better than nothing. And it’s edible.
I’ve been here about five times… And haven’t been sick yet.

I was craving Lumpia! So I searched it on Unilocal and this place came up! I called right away just to double check, they said yes! Placed my order in and I was there within 5 minutes and my Lumpia was ready! It was absolutely amazing! Just what I needed! Can’t wait to go back !

That was one of the best meals of my life
To give you an idea of how good it was… I’m still at Manila Mart and could not make it home to write a review.
Yeah… it was that good.
This little Philipino Market just turned my life upside down. Looks like I’m gonna be spending some more time in Beltsville.
Manila Mart– about as big as a 7 – 11. Three to Four small grocery aisles with a cafeteria style hot bar in the back.
What did I get… they were very broadly described to me, so you should look at the picture.
1. Pork in Coconut Milk sauce with spice: The perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and savory. Delicious over rice, amazing without rice.
2. This soup that has pork ribs in it: So amazingly vinegary! If you love acidic vinegary soupy dishes, this is holy grail. A wonderful layered flavor of acid and savory pork. Some large pieces of bok choy, green beans, and a vegetable similar to potato add texture and interest. The meat falls off the rib bone with little coaxing.
3. A grilled pork skewer: In shining sweet orange sauce. Perfectly threaded and expertly grilled. Kisses of burnt ends mixed with the simple and sweet glaze make for a crucially good skewer.
As I sit here, the counter has a steady flow of regulars come up and take food away. Truly a hidden gem.
The lady was crucially helpful in ordering, offering samples in little bowls and explaining all the dishes that were set out.
There is more seats that one would think for a small mart. approx. 20.
I’m stuffed and I want to eat more.

I’m going to start off by saying that the service and community here is amazing. Also, as a note, I’ve tried Filipino breakfast before (pork tocino, garlic rice, eggs, etc.) but never these other traditional dishes.
Service/​Experience: ⁶⁄₅
I asked the worker («sexy kate») what she would recommend for first timers. She was appalled that it was our first time there, was super excited to explain what everything was, and even let us sample anything/​everything we wanted to. I ordered the pork adobo and while plating my food, she asked if I wanted an egg, if I wanted some sauce over the rice, AND if I wanted my plate to be heated up because the veggies (that I specifically asked for instead of another meat side) weren’t very warm. After my friend ordered her chicken inasal, Kate offered to cut it into sections for her. Everyone who ordered and came into the market before/​after us seemed to be regulars as I observed many warm greetings and jokes being exchanged. When we sat at one of the five tables they had inside, the diners at the nearby table warned me of some liquid that was spilled on my table. They pressingly advised me to wipe it off so it doesn’t get on my clothes and afterwords, two different parties openly offered me their table’s vinegar bottle since the one at my table was empty. Everyone, including the workers and the diners, were very welcoming and friendly. I’ve never experienced such a dining experience.
After looking at Unilocal,my friend wanted to try the chicken/​pork skewers but they ran out by the time we got there. Kate, told us that if we really wanted it next time, that we could call anytime earlier in the day and they would reserve it for us. What great service! She also informed us that they were usually busy with catering orders on Sunday.
Food: ⁴⁄₅
I ordered the Pork Adobo with rice/​veggies and a 2 scoop Halo Halo for dessert. Got the C2 Apple Green Tea bottled drink and a guyabano (soursop) canned drink. The other dishes reviewed are ones I was able to try samples of.
Pork Adobo — very soft tender pork belly with a few parts that were a little more jerky like. a little salty but perfect when eaten with rice and veggies. Deliciously marinated. The taste kind of reminded me of Korean Brasied Beef/​Short Ribs. 4.5÷5
Chicken inasal — they can slice/​cut it into separate pieces for you. very flavorful but hard to get the meat off the bone though, as described by my friend. 4.5÷5
Kare-​Kare — I’m not a big fan of peanut butter flavor, but it was still tasty. Didn’t get it but I would think peanut butter fans would enjoy this savory dish.
Sisig — the worker described this dish to be a mix of meat parts including pork and liver etc. Various textures — meaty, chewy, etc. A bit of heat which I enjoyed but a little too salty (by itself) though. If you get this dish by itself, you can get it on a sizzling plate with an egg on top for 8.99(?) 3.5÷5
Beef Steak — tender beef slices marinated in soy sauce/​onion/​etc. Tasty, but again a little salty by itself. 3.5÷5
Halo Halo — mango ice cream (with real mango pieces), ube (purple yam) ice cream, shaved ice, leche flan (very thick/​creamy), mung bean, red bean, different colored jellies, banana, and other things. Deliciously refreshing. Good to share between two. Very pretty. ⁴⁄₅
C2 apple green tea bottled drink — tasty apple juice with a hint of green tea fragrance. A refreshing/​unique blend. ⁴⁄₅
Guyabano (soupsop) canned drink — a yogurt-​y nectar texture, tasted similar to milkis/​korean yogurt drink. Wished it was carbonated because it was a little heavy but tasty nonetheless! 3.5÷5
Market: ⁴⁄₅
A good amount of fresh/​frozen foods and snacks.
Great people, good food will definitely come back!

A very good joint for Filipino food. Standard turo-​turo set up: you select from various combos that can include dishes like pinakbet, adobo, lechon, kare-​kare.
You can pick up a catering menu as well.
Seating is limited to four tables at the back of the market.
The market itself has features mostly packaged staples – canned or dried items, sauces, and noodles. There are a few freezer cases for ice cream, frozen fish, sausages and other proteins. There’s one fresh case for some vegetables. I wish there were more baked goods like pan de sal. They have a few versions of hopia.
Behind the counter: cream silk and other haircare products. The market area is not extensively stocked. The best feature is the well prepared foods in the back.
For lunch, we sampled their pinakbet, beef sinigang, sisig, and lechon kawali. The veggies in the pinakbet tasted fresh. I liked the spice level of the sisig; not overpowering and crispy. We finished the meal with their halo-​halo, which you can order with ube or mango ice cream. We requested both. We’ll probably come back to get out Pin@y food fix.