Mekeni Pinoy's Pride

Kapampangan classics, buffet nights. Classy space. Service can shine, parking is tight.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino restaurant with AYCE buffet nights; Friday buffet around $35. A la carte pricing runs a bit higher than nearby spots.

Menu Highlights:
– AYCE buffet on select days (noted: Wednesday dinner; Friday buffet around $35)
– Weekend breakfast buffet (now until 11 am): beef tapa, tortang talong, arroz caldo, ginatan
– Palabok (large) got strong praise
– Tokwa’t Baboy with crunchy pork skin
– Lobster and shrimp in coconut milk; roasted pork belly/lechon roll with crackly skin
– Lomi and fresh lumpia with big portions
– Sinigang na baboy with spot-on sourness

Service Highlights:
– Friendly, engaging owner; many note attentive, kind servers and quick service during slower hours
– Classy, clean dining room with a calm atmosphere
– Buffet can get busy as the evening goes on; some diners mention smoother visits earlier
– Service consistency varies: greeting delays at times; buffet refills may taper near closing; occasional confusion on seating/time limits

Notes:
– Parking is a frequent pain point: very tight, narrow stalls; tough for larger vehicles
– Food consistency can swing: some dishes salty or bland; cold trays; rubbery shellfish; occasional overcooked fried items; desserts underwhelming
– Buffet selection feels reduced to some; missing items vs. promos; limited refills near end; a few call it “not worth it”
– Prices are higher than comparable Filipino spots; Friday buffet felt steep to some at $35
– A few service missteps: long waitlists despite empty tables, rushed table turn, last-entry misinformation, and takeout mix-ups (e.g., wrong noodles, dry spring rolls)

Logistics:
– On-site lot with very tight, small spaces; parking can be stressful when busy

Customers come for the Kapampangan flavors and the buffet options. The Wednesday dinner AYCE and the weekend breakfast buffet draw regulars, especially for beef tapa, tortang talong, arroz caldo, ginatan, and big-portion staples like lomi and fresh lumpia. Several diners were happy with the large, tasty palabok and the crunch on the tokwa’t baboy. Others highlight richer specials like lobster and shrimp in coconut milk and roasted pork belly with crisp skin. The dining room feels clean, calm, and a bit upscale, which many enjoyed.

Diners enjoy the friendly vibe, too—folks often mention a welcoming owner and standout servers like Robert and Vanessa who keep things smooth and personable. That said, experiences aren’t always uniform. Some customers claim the buffet quality and variety have dropped over time, with breakfast now ending at 11 am and trays not being refilled near closing. A few folks mention mismatched expectations: listed items missing, shellfish that tasted tough or cold, and desserts that looked flat. A couple of groups felt rushed off their tables sooner than promised, and at least one party was turned away earlier than the time given over the phone.

Some people love the value and say the buffet is worth it, while others feel $35 on a Friday is steep for the selection. Food-wise, there’s a split: while sinigang, palabok, and tapa win fans, other dishes like kare-kare, dinuguan, chicharon bulaklak, and lechon kawali drew complaints for being off in seasoning, texture, or temperature. Across the board, the biggest non-food gripe is parking—those narrow, tight stalls make arrival and exit stressful, especially when the center gets busy. Overall, Mekeni Pinoy’s Pride shows real promise and delivers for many diners, but consistency—both in the kitchen and in service policies—matters a lot to how much people enjoy the visit.