By: Mariann Victoria Fernandez
Cubao Expo is a small but bizarre place located in Cubao Expo, 3 General Romulo Ave., Cubao, Quezon City, near Araneta City. Inside, you will find several vintage stores, cafes, thrift shops, restaurants, pubs, and bars. There is a beautiful round-shaped entrance sign board stating the entrance of Cubao Expo, and it’s definitely one of the most iconic sign boards along Cubao for its remarkable impact on society as being one of Metro Manila's most popular nightlife destinations. As a Gen Z, I’d always see people on social media visiting this place and jokingly labeling it "for aesthetic people’, and there was even a Cubao Expo starter pack that included wearing a maxi skirt, Dr. Martens, and being a Zild fan.
To be honest, I was quite surprised at how small the inside was. I was expecting a bigger place with more shops to discover inside, however, it did not disappoint my overall experience. As a film enthusiast, I went there because there were posters for some films I like, including my favorite, Lady Bird. Also, their floor designs and paintings are unmatched. Cubao Expo is like a small compound with a lot of unique spots and beautiful establishments. Here are some spots to check out inside the Cubao Expo:
Silingan Coffee: Not only do they provide coffee beverages, but they also promote and raise awareness about several societal issues in the Philippines. They take a stand and embrace their platform as a coffee shop to contribute to our society and protect people.
Habanero Kitchen Bar: This spot is perfect for people who love spicy and Filipino foods, as they infuse their dishes with habanero chili peppers.
Bumi and Ashe: A Pottery Studio https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkPlwp3BMKt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Int.Bar This spot is actually tricky to find as it is hidden in a weird place inside Cubao Expo. If you find a photo booth that looks like it is not working, you are in the right place to enter this bar. This spot is perfect for all film enthusiasts out there, because this bar is film-inspired.
Moving forward with my own recommendation, I only tried one restaurant inside Cubao Expo and my experience is 10/10.
Jeongwon is actually an in-house restaurant in Art in Island; they offer all sorts of Korean food, from appetizers to desserts. I’d say the prices deserve the quality and quantity; as per my experience, one serving is good for two people. I’m not the biggest sweet tooth, which explains why I enjoyed trying their Bing-Su.
Mango Bing-Su (210PHP) I like mangoes, but I am not the biggest fan. This was simple to eat, and there is a rich flavor of mangoes. It was nice, but I’d say the flavor is forgettable because it does not have much in it, but I think it doesn’t really matter as long as the Bing-Su is delicious.
Milk Choc Bing-Su (200PHP) This is by far my favorite among the three, even though I don’t like chocolate that much, I still enjoyed this. It has the right sweetness and flavor to serve as a merienda during hot weather. Its texture made it easy to eat, even though it was a little messy because I think there were chocolate crumbles on top. However, the vanilla ice cream and chocolate snacks did not disappoint.
Green Tea Bing-Su (230 PHP) As someone who doesn’t enjoy matcha, I would straight up say I did not like this. It wasn't horrible, I just didn't enjoy it very much. But if you like matcha, I’d say you would enjoy this and buy it again for the second time. There is a mochi on top and home-made Red Bean Paste.
Visiting Cubao Expo will let you discover all sorts of explorations, may it be clothing, food, or hobbies. Cubao Expo is a place for everyone to see its unique beauty. When you get there, you will realize why it is a nice spot to go to and how it got to where it is right now.