The Legendary Isawan of Mang Larry’s at Peyups

In the late afternoons at the sprawling UP Diliman campus in Quezon City, the iskos and iskas ng bayan gather at a vacant lot in front of Kalayaan freshie hall and beside UP Post office. A simple barbeque stand under a few scantly trees is where the people assemble in line, ordering that one delectable street food that is one of my favourites—isaw. The place where I’m referring at—Mang Larry’s Isawan! And I say, parang box office hit ang pila dahil patok na patok sa mga estudyate ang isaw ni Mang Larry!

Lining up at Mang Larry's isawan

This barbeque stand has been known for ages by the students of the University of the Philippines. Every late afternoon to evening, Mang Larry and his crew sets up a stand for his barbeque. Students from the nearby dormitories (Kalayaan, Molave, Yakal, Sanggumay, Ipil) and the nearby staff housing take a hike and go satisfy their cravings for chicken or pork innards skewered and barbequed till golden brown. Isaw refers to either pork or chicken intestine that has been roasted over charcoal—inihaw na bituka ng baboy o manok! On the other hand, the barbeque stand also offers goto (pork large intestine), betamax (pork blood cubes), walkman (pig ears), chicken isaw (chicken intestines), pork barbeque and more. You dip the isaw at either sweetened vinegar or spicy vinegar…nomnom!

Isaw!

Enjoy isaw for only PhP6.00 per stick. The usual price for food in the BBQ stand ranges from PhP4.00 to PhP10.00. Ang drinks lang naman ang mahal—PhP10.00 hanggang kinse ata.

More skewered barbeque, betamax, baticulon, etc.

The simple barbeque stand is so popular, that even students from nearby Ateneo, Miriam and other schools come to UP. Cars line up the vacant lot at Mang Larry’s—at palaging buong barkada ang kasama. Rich and poor alike, they come here just to satisfy and enjoy their craving for Filipino street food. Life’s simplest pleasures.

Sawsaw isaw

Indeed, this institution of Buhay Peyups culture is said to be a success story. Mang Larry was able to send his kids to school, all because of what he earns from his popular barbeque stand. I was caught with surprise that the Mang Larry’s barbeque stand near Kalayaan Hall is already Cart Number 11! Kumikitang kabuhayan! Mang Larry must’ve a fleet of barbeque stands nearby.

Whew! Init!

Basta isawan tayo mamaya mga repapips!

How to get there? Simple.

Note:

Mang Larry’s Isawan has transferred near the International Dorm near the Church.

Here’s the location map courtesy of Google
View Mang Larry’s Isawan in a larger map