Cafe Juanita’s legendary kare-kare crowned the best

Despite shifting food trends and Kapitolyo’s growth, Café Juanita’s signature kare-kare remains a constant favorite.

Before Kapitolyo became one of Metro Manila’s busiest food destinations, there was already Café Juanita—and at the heart of the restaurant’s enduring reputation was a pot of kare-kare.

Now, the decades-old Pasig institution has another reason to celebrate after its Kare-Kare ni Juanita emerged as the Grand Winner in food content creator Today with Arcii’s “Battle of the Best Kare-Kare.”

The competition brought together 26 contenders, with Today with Arcii describing it as his “biggest battle so far.” Among those in the field were Manam Comfort Filipino, Romulo Cafe, Locavore Kitchen, Borro Manila, Cochi by Marvin Agustin and other restaurants known for their takes on the Filipino favorite.

Café Juanita later proudly shared its winning plaque, saying it was “grateful and honored” to receive the recognition.

But for longtime diners, Café Juanita’s kare-kare is hardly a newcomer to the spotlight.

When owner Dr. Boy Vasquez established the restaurant, kare-kare was literally Dish No. 1—and decades later, it remains one of the dishes most closely associated with Café Juanita.

Its version stays close to the comforting character of traditional kare-kare: oxtail cooked in a rich peanut-based sauce thickened with toasted rice, served with vegetables and house-made bagoong.

The result is rich, nutty and deeply familiar—the kind of Filipino comfort food that demands another serving of steaming rice.

Café Juanita itself has become one of Kapitolyo’s enduring dining institutions. Its famously maximalist interiors—filled with chandeliers, fabrics, antiques, figurines and curiosities—are almost as recognizable as its food.

Through changing food trends and Kapitolyo’s transformation into a major dining district, its kare-kare has remained firmly on the table.

And its latest recognition offers a reminder of why.

Sometimes, becoming legendary doesn’t require reinventing a classic. It means cooking it so well that generations keep coming back for more.

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