As featured in PAMPANGA: Top 10 Most Awesome Restaurants in Pampanga! (2016)
CISAN’S is home to a mixture of Philippine, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese-inspired dishes picked up by the Nepomucenos of Pampanga throughout their travels.
Nestled in Nepo Quadrangle, this modest restaurant is a good option if you want to eat “healthier” in Angeles City…because we all know how a visit to the Culinary Capital of the Philippines is bad news for our waistlines!
Here’s what to expect at Cisan’s…
CISAN’S
Nepo Quadrangle, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
Facebook: Cisan’s Resto
Instagram: @cisans
CISAN’S MENU: Starters, Salads, Soup, Sandwiches, Desserts, Entrees, and Beverages
Cisan’s gets its name from the daughter of Kiko Nepomuceno, the restaurant owner.
The establishment is non-intimidating and very clean. We like the homey feel and overall focus on simplicity.
WHAT TO ORDER:
Fresh Spring Rolls (P190). Fresh carrots, cilantro, basil leaves, rice noodle, shrimp & porked rolled into rice paper. Served with Cisan’s special peanut sauce.
The spring rolls are tasty with the peanut sauce, though too many rice noodles overpower the rest of the ingredients, making it hard to enjoy the vegetables.
We’re used to fresh spring rolls being paired with a vinegar-based or sour dip. Cisan’s peanut dip has a hint of curry.
Pomelo Salad (P235). Pomelo, cashew nuts, spring onions, shallots, dried and pan-grilled shrimp, coconut flakes, chili flakes, coriander, and pomelo dressing.
This is one of our favorites! We love the flavor complexity of the sour-salty dressing and the sweet, slightly bitter notes of the pomelo.
Pad Thai Shrimp (P275). Rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, tofu, kuchay, Pad Thai sauce. Topped with fresh and dried shrimp, peanuts, cilantro.
Pad Thai is the restaurant’s signature dish, and the serving is OK for the price (though we wish there was a little more shrimp).
This dish is arguably the most ubiquitous to Thai Cuisine. It’s often served by street food vendors or in casual restaurant across Thailand.
Cisan’s Pad Thai leans towards the sweet side and the flavor really permeates the noodles. Ask for more lime or fish sauce to adjust the taste to your liking.
Grilled Pork with Bagoong Rice (P275). Mangoes, shallots, long beans, scrambled eggs, and pork marinated for 24 hrs.
This dish is great for people who say they don’t like bagoong–there wasn’t any fishiness, but rather, an umami aftertaste to the rice.
This dish is like a complete meal rolled into one!
Yakitori BBQ Combination (P265). Skewered beef, chicken and chicken skin. P285 if you want it with rice.
Usually the meat and other skewered items are grilled, but the restaurant adds its own twist by pan-frying them. Served with a side of Sriracha and Yakitori sauce.
Green Beef Curry. Peppers, rich coconut sauce, kaffir leaves, coriander, beef, and eggplants.
Very creamy and aromatic, we fell in love with this curry for its very honest and simple approach to a Thai staple. The beef is tender and the sauce has the essential flavors to it.
Many of the greens used in the curry are actually grown in the owners’ backyard. You can choose your spiciness level depending on your tastes upon ordering.
Brewed Thai Milk Tea (P75). Red tea and milk.
Cisan’s imports their Rooibos Leaves from Thailand. Their milk tea has a strong caramel-like aftertaste and is a little too sweet, but you can request to reduce the sugar level.
Mango Sticky Rice (P199). A traditional Thai dessert of steamed sticky rice with coconut milk and a slice of mango.
This dessert is absolutely perfect, light, and refreshing!
The coconut milk poured atop is made by simmering and thickening on the stovetop. When it’s the right consistency, it’s finished with a dash of salt and sugar. The richness of the coco cream neutralizes any sour notes from the mango.
Cisan’s is an underrated restaurant full of good, albeit pricey, Asian comfort food that is best enjoyed with family and friends.
Get the Pomelo Salad for a refreshing start to your meal, pair the Grilled Pork with Bagoong Rice with the Green Beef Curry for your mains, and order the Mango Sticky Rice and Thai Red Tea for your sweet fix. Budget about P500/head.
CISAN’S
Nepo Quadrangle, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
Facebook: Cisan’s Resto
Instagram: @cisans
Live an Awesome Life,
Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our experience was courtesy of Cisan’s executive chef, Elmer Infante. We wrote this article with our biases, opinions, and insights.
(This article is sponsored by AZURE NORTH, an amazing, tropical-inspired residential project featuring a man-made beach in the heart of San Fernando, Pampanga! Developed by Century Properties who clearly know that Pampanga, with its delightful food and hospitable people, is a place really worth living in. Check it out: www.azurenorth.com.ph)
P.S. According to the chef, one of the other bestsellers is the Papaya Salad, so don’t forget to give it try!