Up until last week, if you asked me where to find a seafood restaurant where you can hang out and enjoy quality food and quiet privacy in Timog area, I’d scratch my head. Now I can tell you: it’s at El Cangrejo – Crab, Seafood and Steak Bistro at South Triangle, Quezon City.
El Cangrejo is one of the dining options located at Jardin de Zenaida, a cozy alternative to the monster malls and spread out venues in its vicinity. This restaurant may be placed in the “hinterlands of Timog” where not a lot of people usually pass by, but making the effort to go there will be worth the trip once you try their food and experience good company throughout your stay. 🙂
Review of El Cangrejo – Crab, Seafood and Steak Bistro (South Triangle, Quezon City)
Ambiance: ★★★★★
As the heavy glass doors hiss shut behind your back, breathe. You’d smell the fresh aroma of lemon in the air-conditioned dining room. Next, your eyes would wander around the framed photographs, which were taken by the owner of the bistro himself and some by his friends. The interior design was personalized and crafted according to the owner’s preference and instruction. The rusty feel of the brick walls gives a hint of drama, completing the industrial, old look to the otherwise chic atmosphere.
Service: ★★★★★
Staffs were pleasant and courteous. Upon the customer’s entrance, they escort you to your seats and ask if you want to be served with drinks. They refill glasses with water quickly and stay available for any request customers might have. They answer questions regarding the food they offer and they’re knowledgeable about the eats. All in all, the good service at El Cangrejo makes it an outstanding place to bring your family and friends as you won’t be discomfited.
Food: ★★★★★
We started with Baked Scallops (PHp 395) which were soft and easy to take out from the shells. The butter’s taste was very evident. So good! Add to that a squeeze of lemon and fresh greens as a mild counterpoint and you get a perfect appetizer to a meal. Note that each order typically consists of an average of 15 pieces of scallops. The count varies accordingly to the sizes of the scallop, so you may expect to have more if they come in smaller sizes and less if they come in bigger ones.
Next up was the Shrimp Cocktail (PHp 295). I posted a picture of this appetizer on my Instagram account and immediately, it gained many likes. Why not? Its presentation was a complete stunner. I have not encountered a similar dish before, so I was surprised that the plump and tender shrimps were eaten cold. It came with ordinary tomato sauce, but what lies beneath making it slightly unconventional were the shredded cabbages that sopped the flavor of the dip and added texture to it.
The only dish we had that night that’s not categorized under “Seafood” was the Boneless Buffalo Wings (PHp 235). El Cangrejo’s boneless buffalo wings were almost greaselessly fried with the skin remaining intact, so they stayed crispy and crunchy. The chunks of buffalo wings would make as good pica picas (pulutan) as they’re spicy and somewhat nutty. A thin coat of mayo and lemon really helped in toning down the spice.
Last in the parade of appetizers were the Clam Steamers (PHp 150). I appreciated the ingenuity of using only the natural saltiness of the clams and not adding salt to make the sauce.
The complementary homemade bread for this dish could be dipped into the balsamic vinegar with olive oil or the orange sauce of the clam steamers. They had two stark opposite tastes, thus it’s better to choose only one at a time to avoid the contrast.
Just when I thought we were done for dinner, the main entrees began to come out. 😯 Whoa, seeing these gorgeous-looking Crabmeat Raviolis made me wonder what the black coat was made out of. Apparently, the coating was made with squid ink and tasted as a seafaring flavor, a jolt of the unexpected. The crab meat stuffing was also good, although I met a few tiny crab shells still in it.
The Grilled Ulang tossed in Beurre Noisette (PHp 595) indeed commanded attention. What’s in a name, Ulang, huh? I was too shy to ask. 😛 I consulted Wikipedia instead and learned that Ulang (Tagalog) translates to “Giant Freshwater Shrimp” in English. What sets them apart from prawns are their “antennae” and larger heads. The grilled ulang was wow-perfect as they were dressed with the sweet-smelling hazelnut butter sauce. The mashed potatoes, I thought, lacked moisture, creaminess and robust flavor (maybe salt). Regardless, it was filling.
The next two entrees, the Grilled Prawns Aglio Olio (PHp 395) and Fish and Chips with Homemade Tartare Sauce (PHp 370) were the dishes I liked the least. You can order them if you want comfort food; these make an instant recall to our list of most familiar food. But other than that, I don’t suggest choosing them out of the many other great food listed on El Cangrejo’s menu.
Or it could be just me—I’m not a pasta person and also not one who’s fond of eating the same typical food (ahem, fries) in every restaurant every time. Even so, I tasted them. Worth to mention was that the fries were thick and robust (like KFC’s). Yup, they are fries for the true potato lover.
We were given maroon bibs before eating the Steamed Mud Crabs tossed in Beurre Noisette (PHp 595). These crabs had the same burned butter sauce that appealed to our palate as in the Grilled Ulang. They tasted as great as they appear on the picture. And listen, it can be hard to eat them without rolling up your sleeves. It’s wise to use your hands and go comfortable to dig the crab meat. Smash the shells with the tools given and suck every morsel of the succulent sweet crab. With that said, the mud crab is not a first date kind of a dish.
This plate consisted of about 500-600 grams of crab (El Cangrejo’s standard range). It’s said to be good for one person, but I totally disagree. (I’m speaking for myself only.) There’s no way I could finish that alone! This course is served with a choice of (1) Caesar salad or farmhouse salad or sauteed vegetables and (2) roasted mashed potatoes or fresh-cut fries or plain rice or garlic rice. So do you think one can manage to finish everything? If yes, I challenge you. Feel free to leave your comment in the Comments section to share your experience. I know I’d be in awe! 😀
For desserts, we had the Apple Pie Ala Mode (PHp 150). The outer layer had a dense, buttery crumb that beckons you to take bite after bite. My tummy was so full but could not resist it! A shell of crisped pastry cracked off the top like an apple pie turnover. The dollop of white cream easily blended as one integrated yummy cake.
The El Cangrejo Special Cake (PHp 190) was not to be missed as well. It’s a chocolate cheesecake with blueberry on top—super creamy, tasty and sinfully divine. The cake melts in your mouth and you may feel like the rest of the world is melting away. It’s so savory that you may finish one slice in a flash. I know it’s sometimes hard to help yourself, but watch out on the calories. 😛
For the drinks, we had a bottle of fine white wine (La Umbra Pinot Grigio 2011) which came from Italy. It was a fresh wine with aromas of green pears and juicy nectarines. I drink wine occasionally so I’m sorry to report that I could not differentiate its taste to all the other white wines I’ve sampled. 😛
Also, we had El Cangrejo’s Homebrewed Iced Tea (PHp 65) that was too strong for me. It had a lip-smacking aftertaste of lemon, lime and honey (not sure) and so deadly sweet that I had to request for a glass of plain water to neutralize my palate.
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
With copious serving and excellent quality of food, prices of food are reasonable here. I’d say that El Cangrejo makes a suitable venue to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day or the nearer special holiday, Chinese New Year. If your significant other starts to drop Olympic-sized mentions about romantic dining places to spend Valentine’s Day, El Cangrejo – Crab, Seafood and Steak Bistro in Timog has got you covered! Hey, they also do catering services so if you’re interested, see their contact numbers below to inquire.
The only downside I found in El Cangrejo for now is its location. It’s a healthy drive from anywhere who’s within or near Quezon City, especially those who are coming from the nearby hospitals, condominiums, and commercial offices (ABS-CBN and GMA networks), but it does not take one smooth train or bus ride to get there for those who are living and/or working far. Also, the establishment still has not posed a big signage outside to draw people’s attention to come visit the restaurant, so they run the risk of losing a stature.
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 am – 12:00 am
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
wow! the place looks awesome sis!!! 😀 I wanna experience their food too! 😀
You can perhaps include El Cangrejo to the list of contacts for private gathering, functions or events. They prepare seafood paella, foie gras, ribs, ulang and other dishes that may not be even on their menu. They are also able to do outside catering and provide you with a mobile bar. 😀
These crabmeat raviolis are THE YUM!
Would love to taste them myself!
Squid ink + crab meat is a winning combination. The raviolis looked aggressively simple but I thought they’re hard to make, self-contained and more than satisfying.
This is something I should check out and be part of my food tripping adventure.
Great food always makes a day. Actually all the restaurants in Jardin de Zenaida now look good. When you’re there, you’ll sense that you’ve just embarked on a marvelous adventure. There’s no turning back now! 😀
This place looks great and the food delicious! A great informative post, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this restaurant, may many travellers – and locals alike – enjoy the great ambiance there! Great site btw!
Thanks, Milene. Yes, travelers like you can enjoy great tasting and value-for-money crab, seafood and steak here. El Cangrejo specializes also in prawns, scallops, slipper lobsters and choiced angus beef. I am excited to see other new items they will be incorporating on their menu soon. 🙂
You know what, I was browsing this together with my boyfriend a while ago and he was like “where is that, where is that?!” hahaha. Too bad it’s in QC 🙁 I like the food! I think my fave would be the desserts, of course, plus the baked scallops! 😀
If you’re coming with your boyfriend, you can order and share about two entrees and take one dessert. 🙂 I think that will be enough.
I sometimes hate post like this. Coz it makes me drool! LOL!
Great review of great resto. Wanna try that scallops soon! Cheers!
It’s interesting that you found the scallops most appealing among all the food listed here. Some people prefer to eat the baked scallops together with rice and that’s totally fine. To wash it down, El Cangrejo has local and imported beer as well as red and white wines that would go excellently with the food.
nice shots! just looking at them makes me want to visit the place later for lunch!
Is it near your area? Anyway, it’s open every day, from 11AM to 12MN, so you can drop by anytime. 🙂
The Crabmeat Raviolis looks fantastic! Their food looks delish, though a bit pricey. Definitely a must try!
You got it. The crabmeat ravioli is one of their newest dishes. 🙂
Damn looks so yummny :(btw, nice photos as well! :)I wanna experience the food.
A plus is that they have wi-fi but they don’t suggest connecting to it because customers are mostly thrilled to using their cell phones and not focusing much attention to dining. They encourage to put gadgets away and tie on your bibs when you see the food making its way through the dining room.
it is indeed a great place for seafood lovers. the ambiance as i look in the photo is good enough to drive appetite and indulge in the mouthwatering seafood dishes 🙂
Yeah. The more it will drive your appetite when you’re there…because of the smell…hmmm wow. 🙂
Looks like they are loaded with all the seafood dishes and buffalo wings I love to eat. I’ll check the place out when I’m in QC.
Sure. It’s a beautiful space with a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere and at less than a year old, it’s popularity is still growing and deservedly so.
I love their brick design for the walls and of course, the food looks really delicious.
These food can easily make one drool! 😛
I go for El Cangrejo Special Cake. I want to have it gradually melts in my watery mouth. Hhhmmmm, it is so tasty. Isn’t it?
Yes, so you really better save room for dessert. 🙂 Their cakes will keep you smiling your whole trip home.
I love seafood! Your post really brightens up my rainy day! Thanks for sharing, Roch! 🙂
Anytime. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
omg! seafoods my fav. huhu i really miss eating seafoods .. here in france is so expensive i’ll try ti visit when i’ll be back in pinas 🙂
Yeah I used to miss a lot of seafood when living overseas. It’s more fun in the Philippines. 😛
wow crab seafood and steak all at one place sounds really awesome!!my husband love steak and we all love seafood this sounds fun and yummy! plus the pasta is love too!
It’s not every day I crave for huge servings of delicious seafood like this but when I do, it helps to have a place like El Cangrejo gussying up the ritual. Visit it when you fly back to PH some time. 🙂
MMMMMM.. SO DELICIOUS!!!
Aside from the food, there’s a lot to love about this spot, including the accommodating service. You need to walk in to understand the magic of the place.
Crab and seafood you say? Now that’s my kind of place. Hope to check this out soon.
Bonus: They offer free parking, a rarity nowadays. 😀
I’m not a seafood person. I like salads and pasta more. Good thing they have Seafood Aglio and the desserts that looks yummy 🙂 I’m craving for apple pie now
We’re opposites. I’m into seafood and I don’t like salads and pasta. Haha. But yeah, we can agree on desserts. Yummy! 😛
The photos in itself suggest that the food is indeed mouthwatering. What I love about food reviews is that it gives us foodies an insight as to what to expect and what to try when we go to these places. When in Manila, we will definitely try this out.
You mean when in Quezon City (or Metro Manila). 😀 Yup, definitely. Try it.
Going through this post with a grumbling tummy. LOL Definitely gonna check this place out. Lapit lang! 😀
Buti ka pa malapit lang dyan hehe. The food takes some time to prepare, but the result is well worth it.
MMM that food looks so delicious! I love the starter and the shrimps, would love them right now. Definitely looks like a great restaurant 🙂
More than anything, the smiling, easy, comfortable service and the reasonable prices of food that will bring you back there several times. Watch out for the new stuff upcoming on their menu this first quarter. I’m excited! My mom is too. 😀
Looks like my kind of restaurant! I would love to try the ravioli!
Nice choice. I’m sure you will like the ravioli. 🙂
Wow, chocolate cheesecake with blueberries looks yummy. But is that 190 per slice? craazy!
I love seafood. My favorite in the dishes that you show is the Shrimp Cocktail. That or the Grilled Prawns. Your photos make me crave for seafood dish tuloy.
Yeah prices are quite high but they are worth the happiness and satisfaction you’ll get afterwards. 😛 Also, it’s not every day when you bump into these nice food so once you’re there, order everything you can that suits your crave and fits the budget.
Yes, I agree. My boyfriend and I once dined at Breakfast at Antonios and was surprised with the price of their breakfast meals. It costs 300php for an egg sandwich. The name of the sandwich looks sosyal but once you see it, it’s just an egg sandwich with ham and bacons. I can make that sandwich at home too. The only difference is that the egg is poached while mine is just regular fried egg. LOL.
Haha yeah I often wondered how come some places charge more when the food they serve are just the same as other restaurants. Also, they are easy to make and ingredients are not that expensive. Finally, I understand why and this is all because of branding, the overhead costs (rental expenses, labor costs, transportation expenses, etc.) and the exclusivity that customers can have when deciding to buy such food. If not all people can afford to pay, then certainly they are not the target market. The logic behind is that each business has its own group of customers they aim.
That place looks great,all the arrangement and decorations are awesome,indeed a nice place to have some sea foods.
The name El Cangrejo is somewhat hard to remember though because it’s not in English and not a term that’s familiar or used practically every day. But once you’ve experience dining here, I think you’ll easily remember the restaurant because of their memorable food. 😉
talk about sea food galore!! If only El Cangrejo was nearer to me though. I think they’re best for celebrations and the likes <3
Yeah, perfect for V-day. 🙂
These are totally drooooling! Would love to have a meal here someday!
Attack! 🙂 They’ll be updating their menu this first quarter of the year so make sure to check their Facebook page for the details.
[…] the nice chunks of tomatoes. Compared to the quality and taste of raviolis by Bistro Ravioli, El Cangrejo, Balducci Ristorante and Deli and L’Opera Ristorante Italiano, Bellini’s raviolis were […]
[…] is a case in point. The venue may be “hidden” somewhere near Livestock, ABS-CBN, and El Cangrejo in Jardin de Zenaida, but when it comes to craving for real Japanese food and playing kendama, this […]