Genia’s in Marikina
Along Kapitan Miong Street in a residential neighborhood in Marikina City, there is a carinderia where my family has been a regular customer for over a decade. It was my husband’s co-workers who introduced him to the place, a favorite among sales agents on field work who preferred good but inexpensive meals. Simply called Genia’s after its owner and cook, it offers the best lechon kawali that I have ever enjoyed in my entire life.
Genia’s lechon kawali starts with good quality pork liempo (belly). The animal must be young enough so that the rind is thin and the layers of fat between the meat is no more than a few millimeters thick. The pre-cut slabs of pork belly are boiled in highly salted water then deep fried until the skins are puffy and crisp.
I have eaten lechon kawali in countless places including the so-called “institutions” like Max’s and Barrio Fiesta. But none compares to Genia’s lechon kawali which, over the years, has remained consistent in quality. Imagine the Ilocano bagnet — the crispiness is comparable. But, unlike the bagnet, Genia’s lechon kawali is not sun-dried. Hence, the insides are moist — you can actually see the juices run clear when the pork belly is chopped right before it is served.
The carinderia is a small affair. It makes more money from customers who order “pabalot” (take-out) than from those who dine in. In the first place, the carinderia cannot seat too many customers with its size and those who are fussy about ambience would probably balk at the idea of eating at Genia’s. Wooden tables and wooden benches in a front room of a small house… there are no waiters and waitresses; Genia’s daughters and mother serve and Genia cooks.
Dine-in and “pabalot” are not the only ways to enjoy Genia’s cooking. She accepts orders for parties as well. Not a catering service but more of an order-and-pick-up kind of thing. The last time we were there, Genia was busy finishing a huge order of lumpiang ubod (spring rolls stuffed with the heart of palm). She peeked through the kitchen doorway when she heard us and she asked if we wanted to try the lumpiang ubod with her special handmade egg wrappers. In the decade or so that we had been going there, I had never tried her lumpiang ubod. After I did, I decided I now have two reasons to keep going back to Genia’s — her lechon kawali and her lumpiang ubod.
Genia’s is a small unassuming place. But the food is just wonderful. Traditional Marikina cooking at its best.
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Hi Connie =)
I’m making a mental note about this place! I wanna go there when I go home to Marikina..hehe..I love lechon kawali and lumpiang ubod =) I can’t wait to taste the food at Genia’s. Something to look forward to…yumm!!! Nakakagutom talaga!!
Hi Ellen, yung lechon kawali ni Genia’s talaga namang babalik-balikan hehehe
hello!
do you have the exact address of the place? i’m ready to jump in the car and go straight to genia’s right now =P
i really enjoy reading your blogs. thanks!
you want to know where there are places like Genia’s anywhere in our 7000+ islands ask any field sales people or route salesmen- they’re usually the ones with a tight budget- looking for good food without the fuss
thank god for small eateries like Genias of Marikina,
shout out to J2 whose lechon kawali is a clone of Genia’s and Mely or Melying B….t of Balanga Bataan or as she was called by by Doreen Fernandez ” ang babaeng bastos”….for her inihaw and sinigang na hinugasan ng …..LOLOLOLO
Kapitan Miong po ba ito or Kapitan Moy sa Marikina?
Nakakalito po kasi may Kapitan Moy din. Sa may Calumpang po ba ito?
wer exactly is this?
Ive been to Marikina for several times but never tried this one. I’d like to drop by on my coming vacation this Aug.
Btw, i really ike ur website.. tnx a lot….more recipe pls!
hello connie, is there a landmark that we can go by?
we like trying out food stuff even as familiar as lechon kawali but masarap! !
Nakakatakam ang lechon kawali at lumpiang ubod. Pwede bang malaman kung paano pumunta sa Genia’s coming from Cubao. Thanks.
from quezon city, go straight passing the riverbanks then the marikina river bridge then turn right after seeing 7-11 then straight again, passing the famous clean wet market… straight till you see the OLA parish * note along the street is its famous gotohan Macky’s Goto try its goto and lechon kawali. then youll be seeing Imelda Marcos shoe
useum. again in front of it is the traditinal burger serve by Mama Chit to the mariquenos, absolutely yummY. oh and they also have a turkey sandwich. and…. straight again till yoiun see China bank, now your near. ask any tricycle and theyll tell you. so near.
Hello. Hmmm….looks really good. This would be a perfect meal for “karnevours!”. Can i have the exact address of Genia’s please? Does it have a landmark po? We’re not familiar with Marikina kse? Tnx.
Kilala sya sa Marikina, hanapin nyo lang ang San Roque Elementary School. Ipagtanong nyo lang.
Carl & Jojo, Kapitan Miong ang alam ko. Barangay San Roque.
FYI, Genia’s husband passed away two weeks ago and am not sure if it’s back to business already.
Dorcas, naku sorry, I have no idea.
hi – i grew up in marikina & my family still lives there, thanks for discovering / featuring this marikina eatery!
the lechon kawali looks so good. fyi only, marikina is also famous for these mini puto ( kulay cuchinta with small cheese on top ) the store is right in front of the Lady of the Abandoned Church ( hope it’s still there ) it’s so interesting to check it out & hope u get to try it sometime! thanks!
Hi, Connie!
I really love your website. It helps me a lot. I’m just learning to cook. I try lots of recipes but my husband don’t like the taste. My cousin recommend your website to me. When I tried one of your recipes we all love it. Everyday na ko nagluluto na mga recipe mo. Im saving your recipes in a disc. I don’t have internet connection but i have a computer. I want to know why I can’t copy the pictures. I love looking at the pictures when i cook it na. Is there any way para ma copy nako ang pictures?
Thanks for your helpful blog. Godbless!
Lourdes, it is still there. I’m going to feature it one of these days.
Stela, the photos are protected because too many cyber thieves keep reproducing my content in their sites. Di bale, after you have cooked the recipes, you can always enjoy looking at your very own masterpiece, si ba?
san b yung kapitan Miong? wla silang phone number?
Malapit lang yon sa San Roque Elementary School.
dearest ms. connie”
hahahha!!! this lechon really made an impression. yesterday morning while i was reading this. i called genia nd told her to keep one order for me ( as we have always been buying from her , i completely know her ). i kinda miss the Lk ( lechon kawali ) so she did accompanied by Pakalog – dalag in tamarind base kinda sabaw. so we feast, as if the fat content was not enough we also ate with it Lapids chicaron and longonissa the traditional one ha, garlicky and sweet.
dearest connie,
its true, genias lechon is good but lumpia from boyongs, is the famous lumpia from marikina.
try it. i love your site.
boyong’s is located near genias eatery.