One of my best finds in Manila is Angus Pares.
My favorite is Chicken, but I like a Beef Dinner occasionally.
I got a few items in SM City Manila and checked out the basement’s food court.
Veronique knows Manila well, more importantly, where to find the yummy Filipino food.
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Angus Pares at Food Court SM City Manila
We headed to the food court during dinner, and it was packed.
I looked at all the exciting dishes on sale; most were pork-based.
I wanted to try Sisig, but the queue was about 20 people.
I spoke to some friendly Filipinas, who recommended a mild beef noodle.
After walking up and down for 20 minutes, I headed to Angus Pares.
The servers were dressed in black and white stripe tee shirts and had a big smile.
I remembered this is what Filipino hospitality is all about.
The smiles are what Filipino hospitality is all about.
What to order at Angus Pares?
Pares is a Filipino word that means ‘pair.’
I love to eat simple basic food, and this Beef Stew and Java Rice is delicious.
Served with a bowl of beef stew seems a perfect Saturday night date meal.
I rememeber asking a Filipino man about his order.
Should I take the Noodle Soup or Rice?
“When there is Java Rice, why take noodles?”
My eyes widened.
“It is the most delicious rice, and you must take the big bowl.”
When a local tells me this, I follow the same order.
The noodle dish at Angus Pares.
Angus Pares – Rich Beef Stew
The Angus Pares rich stew made from cubed beef briskets cooked with spices is addictive.
The aroma of this dish is enticing.
The beef stew is full of flavors of herbs and spices and has a captivating taste.
It is savory, rich in flavor, and often served as the main dish.
You will surely ask for more after tasting it.
Beef Pares Recipe Pinoy
Beef Pares is a rich beef stewed in soy sauce with star anise.
This dish is best enjoyed with Java Rice and a bowl of beef stock.
The secret to making tender melt in your mouth Beef is merely using a pressure cooker.
Angus Pares Set. Image: Angus Pares Facebook.
How to Cook Beef Angus Pares (not the actual recipe)
Cooking Beef Angus Pares is easier with a pressure cooker, which helps tenderize the Beef quickly without simmering.
The only thing you need to do is saute the aromatics star anise and onion, garlic, and ginger.
These aromatics bring a depth of flavor and aroma to your dish.
The onion makes the stew sweeter.
Some recipe adds brown sugar.
I like to use freshly cracked ground black pepper. Scatter some chopped scallions and fried shallots for extra flavor!
Beef Soup is best to pair Angus Pares
Delicious melt in your mouth, Angus Pares Stew.
Making a Delicious Beef Stock for Beef Pares
Beef Pares is not complete without the soup.
The ideal way is to make beef soup from scratch.
But if you’re short on time, you can use Beef Cubes.
For the most flavourful Beef Soup, broil Beef neck bones in the oven before boiling.
Start preparing the soup using beef bones.
I used beef neck bones in this recipe.
This part of the beef is good for making beef stock because it has a good ratio of bone to meat.
Let the beef bones and mirepoix (carrot, celery, and onion) boil.
Then add vinegar to the mix to break down the collagen.
It makes your stock more gelatinous and improving its overall taste.
You can add Beef Cube to give it that robust beef flavor.
The best results are simmering the bones for more than 8 hours.
The Java Rice at Angus Pares
In Malaysia, we have yellow rice called Nasi Kunyit, which is cooked with turmeric.
Though it may seem similar, Java Rice is prepared differently in the Philippines.
Java rice is reddish-orange because the Filipinos add annatto seed instead of turmeric.
Rich flavors, a buttery texture, and a delectable taste characterize Java Rice.
The best part for me is how easy it is to prepare and cook Java Rice.
Everyone can make this dish if you mix simple ingredients with hot steamed rice!
The ingredients you need are basically
- 5 – 6 packed cups of steamed white rice
- One tablespoon of annatto powder
- ¼ tablespoon Butter
- One tablespoon of garlic powder
- Half a tablespoon of salt
Finally, season the freshly cooked Java Rice with salt and pepper as you stir it.
You will know that it’s ready when all the white rice grains take on the famous yellow hue of Java Rice.
Java Rice is an aromatic, savory rice dish noted for its rich flavors, buttery texture, and delicious taste.
Annatto seeds taste sweet, nutty, and peppery.
The flavor of the seeds is not too strong, but they impart a beautiful color.
If you can’t find Annatto seeds, you can replace them with Annatto powder, which you can buy from Asian shops.
Serve Java Rice hot with Filipino sweet-style barbecues and grilled meat, fish, and BBQ seafood dishes.
The best condiment is Atchara, a grated unripe papaya popular side dish in the Philippines.
This simple dish is perfect with Beef Stew!
Java Rice is incredibly tasty with all that delicious garlicky flavor.
Angus Pares Review
The first thing I realized when I looked at this dish was how fragrant it smells.
The Java Rice (I love carbs) looked inviting, creamy, and luxurious (I love Nasi Lemak).
Beef Pares are cubed beef briskets cooked with spices and tenderized to perfection. The aroma of this dish alone is enticing.
The taste is captivating.
You will surely ask for more after tasting it.
Angus Pares Stew has Beef with the right ratio of meat and fats.
It looked so fork-tender and meltingly delicious.
I was so glad that I ordered the Angus Pares Rice Supreme.
The dish came with some veggies and a boiled egg.
The pickled veggies are forgettable.
The stars are the surprisingly tender Angus Pares Beef – it melts in your mouth!
My set, which I finished. Photo: Doris Lim.
The Taste of Angus Pares Beef
I tasted it with and without the chili sauce, and both versions tasted so good.
Melt beef cubes in a beefy broth and the most delicious rice in your mouth!
The Java Rice is so good and flavorful that Veronique asked to share a few mouthfuls.
My regret was not buying another set as a takeaway for late supper.
I could have bought it for my friends too if I had more Pesos!
As for the lovely soup, I managed to add a spoonful of the Angus Pares dark gravy, and it was so beefy and tasty!
If you want to eat in a pleasant, clean environment, Angus Pares is clean and conscious of hygiene.
Angus Pares – Fast food restaurant
SM City Manila
Address: Lower Ground Floor, Food Court SM City Manila, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines
Business Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10 am–9:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am–10 pm.
