Mang Rudy’s Tuna Grill & Papaitan at Circuit Makati

Mang Rudy’s Tuna Grill & Papaitan is one of the first restaurants that opened in Circuit Makati. It already opened its doors to foodies even before the mall became fully operational. It took us months before we finally got to try it primarily because it’s always full of diners. We liked it so much that we already lost count of how many times we’ve dined there.

Zayne loves pancit canton that is why it has become a staple dish in our every visit to Mang Rudy’s .


Boyet and I were so surprised when we ordered it for the first time. Zayne loves pancit very much, but we still ended up taking home the leftovers because it was too much for the three of us. I think the angle of my photo can’t give justice to my claim, but it was served on a long and large plate. Apaw na apaw siya, mga beshies!

There is a generous serving of everything – from the meat to the vegetables! I also liked that the noodles are cooked to perfection and that there’s the tasty sauce that’s enough to cover every noodle strand.

Now, this dish is the reason why we took a chance at Mang Rudy’s!


Prior to our first visit at Mang Rudy’s, my husband had been craving for papaitan that he even requested it to my mom.

Mama: Sige, ipagluluto kita. Ano bang gusto mong ulam? Kare-kare? Sisig?
Boyet: Papaitan!
Mama: Sige, kahit ayoko ng papaitan. Mapait kasi e!

HAHAHAHAHA! KAYA NGA HINDI SIYA AALATAN O TATAMISAN IHHHHH!!!

They offer two kinds of papaitan – beef and goat meat. Given the amount of time that I have to slave myself just to cook papaitan, I already consider it a steal for less than PHP200. I’m not really a big fan of papaitan, but I liked the different burst of flavors that this dish gives to my taste buds. You’ll get that salty, sour and bitter taste at each sip. Just like the pancit canton, papaitan has become a staple dish every time we eat at Mang Rudy’s.

During one of our visits, Boyet and I decided to try their Sizzling Pork Sisig. Oh my! It was also good!


There was definitely an explosion of varying textures and flavors in my palates. Just when I thought that the crispy pork was already too much, Mang Rudy’s decided to top it with chicharon! The raw red onions and spring onions added tang to the dish. The tiny bits of red pepper not only added crunch but also a hint of sweetness which complemented the pungent taste of the onions. And of course, sisig tastes better with calamansi and siling labuyo!

We also got to try their Crispy Pata. Don’t worry because we had it not the same time we tried the sisig! Wahahaha! :p


I was so excited when it was served to our table, but all of us had mixed feelings with their crispy pata. It was definitely crunchy. The serving was also more than enough for the four of us (five if you include Zayne because you all know that she eats like an adult) that we ended up taking home the leftovers. (In case you don’t know, this is a good base for stock/soup. This is perfect if you want to make monggo at home!)

Unfortunately, we got turned off because we saw pig’s hair on the skin. I know that this is inevitable, but Mama always makes sure that the last strand of pig hair has been removed when she cooks crispy pata at home. We also had different opinions on the taste. It tastes good, but Boyet and I agreed that it was nearing the bland side. On the other hand, Mama said that it was seasoned well. Good thing that the two kinds of dipping sauce on the side were enough to enhance the taste of the pork.

On the same day we tried crispy pata, we decided to lessen our guilt by also trying out their Garlic Kangkong.


I loved that that they managed to retain the crisp of the kangkong. And they were not joking when they put the word GARLIC in Garlic Kangkong. I think the photo can already attest to that.

Tuna Belly was the first dish we tried along with the papaitan. I guess both dishes left a very good impression that made us coming back for more.


I wasn’t really expecting much when Tatay chose this from the menu. I didn’t think there would be something special with grilled fish, but I was wrong! The smoky flavor was very evident. The fish is also tender. It is served with a very tasty dip, although the fish was already good on its own. It’s sweet, salty and peppery all at the same time.

Apart from Mang Rudy’s tasty yet affordable dishes, they also have very nice and accommodating staff members. The restaurant always gets so busy especially during weekends, but I can’t remember any instance that we had to wait unreasonably long even during peak hours. The place just gets cramped, so expect to smell like sisig after eating. Hihi. :)


Mang Rudy's Tuna Grill & Papaitan
Ground Floor, Circuit Lane,
Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati City

* All photos were taken with a Huawei Mate 10