10. Reyes Barbecue (P95 for a liempo meal with java rice)

If there’s one restaurant in the city that’s dead serious about grilling, it’s Reyes Barbecue—90 per cent of its dishes are cooked on the grill. Known for bestsellers like the boneless chicken barbecue and pork barbecue, Reyes also makes a mean inihaw na liempo. Theirs is directly grilled over fiery coals, a method that produces a slightly charred and caramelized exterior while maintaining the juiciness of the meat and keeping it succulent and soft. Smothered with Reyes’s signature sweet marinade (which is also used in the pork barbecue), this pick boasts an equal flesh-to-fat ratio—an attribute fat fanatics will absolutely love.

Reyes Barbecue
Bonifacio Stopover,
Bonifacio Global City,
Tel. No. 856-1215

9. Three Sisters (P100)

Often overshadowed by the delicious, thickly-basted pork barbecue this run-down Kapitolyo resto has become famous for, it comes as no surprise that they dish out an equally yummy inihaw na liempo too. Just like their pork barbecue, the liempo sports a deep reddish color from the marinade. Freshly grilled upon ordering, the half-inch thick pork belly offers a myriad of familiar flavors Pinoys love. Expect hints of spice and sourness that underlie the smoky-sweet taste of this tender, unevenly-charred slab of pork. The only downside to dining in: be prepared to smell like a smoke pit when you step out of this ages-old establishment.

Three Sisters
East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo
Pasig City
Tel. No. 631-4431

8. Chic-Boy (P160)

A newcomer in the fast food industry, Chic-Boy’s lechon liempo has received rave reviews from liempo lovers. Inspired by the roasted liempo from Cebu, this version is marinated and stuffed with heaps of herbs and spices before it’s broiled over charcoal until golden brown and crisp on the outside. Not as herby as the Balamban and Liloan’s versions, this succulent baby is up to par when it comes to taste. Not to be missed is the addicting sweet-piquant syrupy vinegar that’s served alongside it.        

For a list of Chic-Boy branches, check here

7. Balamban Liempo (P220)

Cebuanos certainly know how to cook pig. Already known for their world-famous lechon (thanks to TV chef Anthony Bourdain), the Balamban liempo is named after a farming and fishing municipality in the Queen City of the South. Generously stuffed with green onions, garlic, and other herbs and spices, this hefty piece of meat is loaded with tasty flavors that will awaken your taste buds. The meat, pinkish in color and dotted with cracked black pepper, is laced with slivers of fat that melt in your mouth. The tastiest chunks are the edges of the 650-gram slab, where flavor is most concentrated. Tip: Skip the suka for maximum flavor.   

Balamban Liempo
San Rafael Street, Kapitolyo
Pasig City
Tel. No. 584-8151

Metrowalk parking area (take out stall)

6. Gerry’s Grill (P165)

No liempo list would be complete without Gerry’s inihaw na liempo. Known for dishing out excellent grilled fare, this casual dining spot’s grilled pork belly is no exception. Here, expect a good piece of pork belly that doesn’t try too hard: not too herby, not too sweet, not too charred, but just right. Gerry’s version has the balance of flavors down pat. Tender and with an ample amount of fat that seems to meld into the flesh, the pork’s flavor really shines in this dish. Then of course, there’s the signature dipping sauce that’s delicious enough to drink.

For a list of Gerry’s Grill branches, check here

5. Manang’s (P50)

Located inside the Ateneo de Manila University along Katipunan Avenue is Manang’s, a no-frills open-air spot that serves one of the best grilled pork belly in town. Situated beside the university’s covered courts, this legendary liempo is so popular even students from other schools and non-students sneak into the campus just to eat it. Not the typical liempo, Manang’s famous dish is small and uses a thin cut of meat, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in its big barbecue flavor. Every bite promises a peppery-sweet taste complemented by that beautiful charred look. Our only complaint is that we wish the serving would be bigger, and that Manang’s wouldn’t be so hard to get to especially for non-Ateneans. Their lechon kawali also rocks by the way—but that’s another story.    

Ateneo de Manila University Campus
Katipunan
Quezon City  

4. Homer’s (P125 with rice)

It’s about time people discover this 24-hour joint in Quezon City serving fantastic Filipino fare, and the grilled liempo being one of the crowd favorites. Marinated simply with salt, pepper, and garlic, and served with rice and atchara, this charcoal-grilled dish has a memorable taste, possibly because it’s marinated for more than a day. With just the right fat content and soft, tender meat that won’t get stuck in between your teeth, the 200-gram slab is a winner you just can’t go wrong with.

Homer’s
54-A Sgt. Esguerra Street
Quezon City
Tel. No. 411-6917

3. Liloan’s Pride Liempo (P190)

Before you say, not another liempo from Cebu, give Liloan’s liempo a try. Located along White Plains Avenue, this tiny take-out store is where you will find one of the best-tasting pork in Manila. Similar to Balamban style-liempo, this one is also packed with herbs and spices, and  because it’s slowly grilled in a rotisserie oven, the meat’s juices remain inside (you can just imagine how succulent every bite is) while the skin cooks to just the right crisp. Every bite is packed with a savory, herby taste. Though not always freshly cooked, Liloan’s forte is its flavor-infused meat and luscious layers of tasty taba. Whichever way you choose to eat this—alone, sans sauce, without rice—Liloan’s liempo will give you an eating experience you won’t forget.

Liloan’s Liempo
White Plains Avenue
Quezon City

2. Dencio’s (P185)

Taken for granted most of the time because of all the other wonderful and more popular Pinoy dishes at this casual dining spot, Dencio’s version should not be missed out on. Sure, it looks like any other grilled pork belly but the difference lies in the taste. Served hot off the grill with an aroma that oddly brings back beach memories (isn’t inihaw na liempo the perfect beach food after all?), this pick boasts perfectly-seasoned pork and a strong smoky, charred flavor that makes it kickass. With beautifully layered fat and flesh plus a side salad of atchara, onions, green mango, and tomatoes, the pioneer in Pinoy grill-style restaurants demonstrates how to execute a simple dish perfectly.

For a list of Dencio’s branches, check here

1. Baliwag (P149)

When discussing grilled food, it’s inevitable for one to ask, “which one is better, Andok’s or Baliwag?” Though Andok’s takes the top spot for their lechon manok, Baliwag undoubtedly bags the prize for the best liempo. Theirs is a prime example of pork grilled perfectly and evenly. Being around for more than 25 years, Baliwag has mastered the slow-roasting method that makes their liempo extremely juicy and tender. A bite into it will reveal an equal layering of flesh and fat and the right balance of flavors—not too robust nor too subtle—making the pork’s flavor stand out. What’s makes it even better is the trademark sarsa, a sweet liver sauce that complements the pork’s flavor nicely. With branches all over the metro, it’s easy for you to get your Baliwag liempo fix anytime, anywhere.  Just hope to get a newly-cooked slab to experience this piece of meat at its best.     

For a list of Baliwag branches, check here