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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Taste of home: Tanay resto serves nostalgia through traditional Filipino dishes

Taste of home: Tanay resto serves nostalgia through traditional Filipino dishes

Published Apr 12, 2026 05:29 pm
Young foodies and the young at heart may find Tanay in Rizal Province a place that brings back childhood memories, from the familiar aroma of traditional Filipino dishes to the comforting taste of meals once served by their grandparents during weekends.
Several dishes at the buffet restaurant in Tanay (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
Several dishes at the buffet restaurant in Tanay (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
The Sarsa Buffet Restaurant in Tanay (Photo by Nel Andrade)
The Sarsa Buffet Restaurant in Tanay (Photo by Nel Andrade)
One of the restaurants in Tanay that serves traditional Filipino viands is the Sarsa Turo Mo Lang! Cafe plus Carinderia Buffet Restaurant, located in the poblacion area along the Manila East Road. It offers travelers and tourists a place to wind down after a day of adventure in Tanay’s scenic highlands, allowing them to savor age-old dishes in a carinderia-style buffet setting.
Some of the dishes served include adobo (chicken or pork), sinigang (pork or fish), menudo, dinuguan, and other Filipino favorites, prepared carinderia-style but served buffet-style.
The restaurant’s best-selling dishes include Filipino staples such as dinuguan, adobo, balbakwa, bulalo, and lechon paksiw, which continue to attract both loyal customers and first-time visitors.
Dr. Jeff Pino, the municipal government’s administrator, a foodie himself, said Tanay has become a haven of food lovers, as both the upland and the Poblacion municipalities have numerous dining spots that tourists continue to explore.
Pino said that the Sarsa restaurant, owned by Jennifer Sison and formerly known as Rambulls, which was known for its simmering hot bulalo soup and other beef viands, has transformed the dining concept into a carinderia-style turo-turo setup served in a buffet-style setting.
Customers line up at the long buffet table of Sarsa Turo Mo Lang! Cafe plus Carinderia Buffet Restaurant in Tanay, Rizal, where Filipino favorites such as adobo, dinuguan, seafood dishes, and sizzling meals are served in the traditional turo-turo style. The restaurant’s P249 weekday unli buffet has become popular among tourists and riders coming from Tanay’s highland attractions. (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
Customers line up at the long buffet table of Sarsa Turo Mo Lang! Cafe plus Carinderia Buffet Restaurant in Tanay, Rizal, where Filipino favorites such as adobo, dinuguan, seafood dishes, and sizzling meals are served in the traditional turo-turo style. The restaurant’s P249 weekday unli buffet has become popular among tourists and riders coming from Tanay’s highland attractions. (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
Crackling pica-pica dish (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
Crackling pica-pica dish (Photos from Jennifer Sison/Facebook)
At P249 per head on weekdays, the unlimited Filipino buffet has remained an affordable option, allowing the restaurant to build a strong reputation, especially for its generous portions, as well as its familiar home-style dishes and warm Pinoy hospitality.
Located along a route frequently traveled by tourists and motorcycle riders returning from Tanay’s upland attractions, Sarsa has become known as the perfect place to end a day trip with a satisfying meal.
“After a long ride, this is where many visitors choose to relax and enjoy authentic Filipino comfort food,” Sison shared.
The main attraction is the turo-turo dining style, a longstanding Filipino tradition commonly found in neighborhood carinderias. At the restaurant, guests simply point to the dishes they want from a long buffet table lined with freshly prepared specialties, giving diners a taste of everyday Filipino cuisine in one convenient buffet experience.
“These are the meals people look for — the flavors they grew up with. We serve food that feels like home,” Sison stated.
In addition to its main buffet service, Sarsa also offers pasta, sandwiches, burgers, and pizza during snack time, expanding its menu for guests looking for lighter bites or merienda favorites.
What sets the restaurant apart is not only its affordability but also its role as a community gathering place, where families, friends, and riding groups frequently stop by to share meals after visiting Tanay’s popular mountain viewpoints and nature destinations.
As tourism in the municipality continues to grow, the food hub, with its beach-inspired cottage-style al fresco area, is becoming more than just a buffet restaurant and is now part of the Tanay travel experience.
The office of Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco said the municipal government will continue supporting local restaurants serving traditional Filipino food, as these establishments help boost the town’s tourism industry.


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