By Joel D. Pinaroc

For more than five decades now, Rodic’s Food Express, or simply Rodic’s, at the Shopping Mall inside the University of the Philippines, Diliman, has been faithfully filling up the gustatory needs of budget-conscious students and diners wanting to experience that home-cooked goodness Rodic’s is very famous for.

What makes Rodic’s popular is not merely the simple, yet satisfying menu, but also the pricing, that to this day, continues to be very competitive.

Competitive in a way that a full-meal will only set you back around 55 pesos, which is quite rare, in this age of fast foods and food courts.

Inevitably, there are now a couple of similar establishments also offering the same pricing scheme and almost similar menu.

But ask any UP student on what is the place-of-choice for good food, and Rodic’s is a shoo-in.

There even a saying that you cannot truly call yourself an “iskolar ng bayan” or a “UPian” if you haven’t tried Rodic’s.

You also really can’t go around getting the right answer to the question of “Who is Rodic?” even from the “manang serbidora.”

Rodic’s doesn’t project a certain “image,” either. But the place does bridge that great cultural divide in UP, bringing in the coños and jologs together to rub elbows and share tables, because chances are, Rodic’s is always full. And to most students, this is all that matters.

Rodic’s also retains that no-frills service. Anticipating that budget-conscious students are not likely to strain their wallets for a soft drink to go with that meal, the “serbidora” will serve your food with a plastic cup loaded with ice and point you to the water dispenser.

The Tapsilog Difference

If there is one food item that defines Rodic’s, it will be the “tapsilog.”

Rodic’s is perhaps the first to offer the tapsilog in an entirely different way. Instead of the typical fried “tapa” or cured pork, Rodic’s added its own signature twist to the dish, serving the “tapa” shredded and served in a mound of fried rice topped with an egg cooked sunny-side up.

It may not look much, but customers find Rodic’s tapsilog as the best in the world…

Ask the any of the “serbidoras” and they will say that the tapsilog is best eaten mixed, with the shredded pork blending perfectly well with the piping hot fried rice, and the runny yolk holding the whole dish together.

While health-conscious diners will scoff at this calorie-laden meal, students will vouch that the meal will get them through until the next “recess” or free-time comes along. Some diners have even bestowed Rodic’s specialty as the “Best Tapsilog in World.”

But it’s not just tapsilog that makes customers return again and again at Rodic’s. “Seasoned” Rodic’s diners–students who frequent the place not just for lunch, but also for breakfast, dinner, and in-between meals–will tell you that the “pancit palabok” is a must-have, to be accompanied by a fresh fruit shake.

Other “silog” varieties, such as longsilog, (locally-made sausage, instead of tapa), hotsilog (hotdog instead of tapa), and dishes served on a sizzling plate, are also certified best-sellers.

A full-meal for a group of five, say mom, dad and three kids, will not strain your pocket, as almost all of the items in the menu costs less than 100 pesos.

The Future for Rodic’s

Despite a recent makeover at the Shopping Mall, Rodic’s still retains its laid-back, “canteen” look. Tables and chairs are still cramped in a small, two-storey dining area, and customers still have to form a tight beeline when ordering.

Rodic’s also serves other specialties like the pancit palabok

Space limitations have not allowed Rodic’s to expand at the Shopping Mall, so it is best to go there after rush hour operations, particularly lunch.

Going beyond its target clientele, Rodic’s now caters to 9-to-5 employees, weekend visitors, and UP alumni wanting to bring back the memory of dining at Rodic’s.

Rodic’s has also got bitten by the expansion bug, and has now branched out in other places particularly in Makati, according to several online forums.

However, it remains to be seen if these Rodic’s branches will retain Rodic’s endearing laid-back simplicity, or go with the tide and go for a radical facelift.

Tags: Rodic’s Tapsilog, Philippine Dining Guide, Philippine Restaurants