What to Eat in UP? TikTok’s Rising Food Vlogger + Campus Crush Shares His Top Rated Grub

(SPOT.ph) If you’re wondering what to eat in UP Diliman, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone has their own go-to spots, even nostalgic alumni who still fondly remember their university favorites. But as any aging millennial would know, many of our old haunts have since quietly faded from the scene. So, who better to ask for recommendations than a current Isko who’s right there, experiencing the latest food trends on campus right now? Thanks to Tiktok, we found a guy who could help: UP freshman and foodie, Salvador Recio. 

Also read: The UP Libraries' 10 Important Cultural Treasures

We talked to the TikToker who’s taking you on a daily food trip around UP.

If you frequent TikTok, then you might have seen Salvador (@salvadorrecio) on your FYP: A young Mining Engineering student, he’s often filmed sampling the different stalls and restaurants in UP. His reviews are simple, brief, and honest, perfect for students like him.

He started making TikTok videos in 2023 after getting a new phone early in the year. Initially, his goal was to help his mom, who owns a Kumon center near 5th Avenue in Caloocan. He explains, “I thought that if I start a TikTok page and I get many followers, maybe I could help promote so she could get more students.”

As a busy student—back then, he was still in 12th grade at Philippine Science High School—Salvador needed a content idea that would be simple, easy to produce, wholesome, and engaging. Eventually, he found food videos online and thought it would be the right fit. “I imagined Ratatouille,” he says. “Food critics can be of all levels, right? Food critics can be just on the street level and they can go high class all the way. So I thought, well, food might be a good idea.”

True enough, it ended up being a great idea. His follower count is steadily growing; by the end of his 12th grade, he already had 8,000 followers. Now, after several months in UP Diliman, the number is up to 26,000. A handful of his videos have even hit hundreds of thousands of views—and many of the comments are kilig guys and girls gushing less about the food and more about Salvador himself. 

@salvadorrecio #fyp #college #up ♬ RomCom - Rob Deniel

But when it comes to being a campus crush, Salvador brushes it off, saying his social media comments definitely do not translate to real life. “Maybe the comments appear like that, but in school, I’m just a normal guy. It's not like I enter the campus and girls start saying, ‘Oh my gosh, can I have a picture?’ or ‘Are you that guy from TikTok?’ I barely get recognized there,” he explains. “It’s not like [people are] confessing to me left and right.”

Right now, Salvador is still making his way through Area 2—as of writing, he’s tried 16 spots in the neighborhood. This is where some of the most affordable places to eat in UP can be found, making it the perfect hunting ground for hungry students like him. Looking for a new go-to eatery on campus? Salvador shares his top five. 

What to eat in UP Diliman’s Area 2, according to Salvador Recio

1. Chicken City

@salvadorrecio #fyp #chicken #food #up #college ♬ original sound - Salvador

If you ask Salvador for a single recommendation of what to eat in UP, he’ll probably go with Chicken City. Pleasant ambiance, fast service, and chicken that’s always served hot and fresh—what’s not to like?

This Area 2 dining spot serves chicken poppers and boneless wings in a wide variety of flavors, but Salvador definitely plays favorites. “Their best flavors are their garlic parmesan and their honey butter,” Salvador says, adding that he also likes the salted egg flavor, too. “Their honey butter tastes like movie popcorn butter.”

2. Sisko

@salvadorrecio #food #fyp #up #college #student #fypシ ♬ original sound - Salvador

Sisig—always a winner. And when you’re in UP, Sisko is the place to go for a taste of it. Its name, after all, is a clever combination of sisig and Isko. But Salvador also recommends trying the lechon kawali. “[Sisko] puts a lot of ulam in their bowls, and then they chop it in front of you. You can smell the lechon, [and] it’s very crispy when you eat it.”

3. Slice Brothers

@salvadorrecio #fyp #food #up #college ♬ original sound - Salvador

Another staple in a college student's diet is burgers. In Area 2, Slice Brothers is a crowd-favorite spot to pick up one (or more) burgers for lunch. The Smash Burger, in particular, is a big hit among UP students and athletes with big appetites. Although Salvador hasn't tried their banana shakes, he’s heard it’s a popular pairing with the burgers.

4. DOZ Korean Bar

@salvadorrecio #fyp #food #college #up ♬ original sound - Salvador

DOZ Korean Bar promises college-friendly prices for their rice meals—as low as P69, if you’re getting the Kimchi Rice Bowl. But Salvador’s recommendation is Siomai Fried Rice, one of his favorite dishes in Area 2. “They sell simple stuff, but they do it right,” he says. “And they’re pretty generous with the servings.” A bonus: DOZ Coffee Bar sits right in front of the Korean Bar. So, you’ll be able to get some post-lunch brew to stay awake in your next class (or meeting). 

5. Big Tummy

@salvadorrecio #fyp #food #up #college ♬ original sound - Salvador

Shawarma Rice is a student’s classic (at least when this writer was a university student), and Salvador says Big Tummy offers a generous serving of this dish in Area 2. He describes it as a good spot for everyday lunch. A big draw of this spot is its affordability, with Big Tummy’s best-sellers (Sizzling Shawarma Rice and Krispy Sisig) at just P110. 

Still wondering what else to eat in UP? While it didn’t make his top five, Salvador says Jess Jr. is an underrated hawker-style gem, serving a delicious Flossy Butter Chicken. And for people who are willing to leave campus for their next meal, one of the restaurants that Salvador really liked in Maginhawa is Salta. 

There are still plenty of food spots in UP Diliman that are on Salvador’s hit list. The newly opened branch of Drizzled Kitchen in Maginhawa is definitely one. But here’s something that will make alumni clutch their sablays: Salvador has never tried Mang Larry’s. That’s on his list, too (as it should be).

Also read: 10 Cafés In and Around Maginhawa Perfect for a Productive Day Out