Mark Wiens visits Aling Sonia's Carinderia, a local Filipino food restaurant in Manila, Philippines. He tries various dishes, including grilled pork belly, tilapia, eggplant, squid in black ink, and pork barbecue skewers. He praises the restaurant's delicious food, friendly owners, and lively atmosphere. Mark recommends the carinderia for its authentic Filipino cuisine and suggests visiting early, as it gets crowded during lunchtime.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker, Mark Wiens, is in Manila, Philippines.
2. He is eating at a Filipino roadside restaurant.
3. The restaurant is called Alinsos Carinderia.
4. The restaurant is located on the corner of a neighborhood street.
5. The restaurant is shaded by a giant mango tree.
6. Mark orders food by walking up to the front of the stall and choosing from the dishes on display.
7. The restaurant does not recook any food, so once a dish is gone, it's not available for the rest of the day.
8. Mark orders grilled pork, fish, eggplant, and squid.
9. The restaurant serves a variety of Filipino dishes, including grilled tilapia, inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly), and sinigang (a sour soup).
10. Mark meets a woman named Margarita at the restaurant.
11. The restaurant has a friendly atmosphere and the owners are welcoming.
12. Mark enjoys the food and the experience, calling it a "meal that just makes me so happy and gives me so much energy."