Resto managers Rowena Montero (Cabalen Robinsons), Eli Rojas (Regional Manager) and Jenny Montero (Cabalen SM Clark) welcome diners.
CLARK FREEPORT – It started from a humble beginning as a delicacy store known as the “Bahay Pasalubong” along the MacArthur Highway in San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga in the ‘70s.
Then it morphed into the “Ituru Mo, Iluto Ko Restaurant” which was inspired by Pampanga’s rich culinary tradition adopting the “market concept” located along JASA Avenue (formerly Olongapo- Gapan Road) in the City of San Fernando.
Then in 1986, Capampangan owner Maritel Nievera brought the concept to Manila when she opened a pampasalubong kiosk selling Pinoy delicacies at the Food Court of SM City North EDSA. In the same year, realizing her success in the market concept of Ituru Mo Iluto Ko, Nievera was inspired to open the first “Cabalen Eat All You Can, Eat All You Want” restaurant along West Avenue, Quezon City.
The restaurant, which serves cuisines from different Pampanga towns, was an instant hit. This encouraged her to open the first mall outlet at SM Megamall in 1992. Eli Rojas, regional manager of Cabalen Eat All You Can, Eat All You Want restaurant said today, they have 12 branches all over the country with another branch in San Bruno, California, USA.
She said on August 22, Cabalen will celebrate its 28th anniversary with simultaneous rites in all its branches. Rojas said the restaurant serves 51 mostly Capampangan cuisines which include exotic dishes such as camaro, gatang kuhol, pindang damulag, betute and even the traditional Capampangan sisig ni Mely and pinaupong manok.
Jenny Montero, branch manager of Cabalen SM City Clark, said they also serve a daily fare of bulalo, kare-kare, dinuguan, and even the favorite halo-halo for dessert. Montero said for only P298 plus VAT, one can indulge in Cabalen’s eat all you can, eat all you want Capampangan cuisine restaurants.
