From September 2015 to March 2016, I was in Tacloban City for a temporary work assignment. There, I introverted extremely, to the point that the only consolation I got after a day’s work in to masturdate in several local food places. And one of my favorite places to eat there, which I love so dearly, is SurpRice Rice Bowls.
This humble store is one of the city’s best-selling food place, known by almost everyone. What attracted me to the place is the pun, most of all. Before I left Cebu, a close friend suggested this place, and I did not really pay close attention to the suggestion. My first week there, a coworker invited me to try her favorite food place, and this was it. That was the beginning of my love affair with SurpRice Rice Bowls.
Location and Accessibility: 9/10
SupRice is located on Burgos Street, just beside Fideeral Bar and other food chains. The street is one of the major roads of the city, and thus, the store is very accessible from every part of the city. Aside from that, it is also very close to other establishments, like hospitals and schools, so expect a lot of people eating there during lunch and dinner time. The store is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the best time to visit there is around 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM, when most people are still on their way out from work and/or school.
Food Selection and Price: 9/10
There are at least twenty-five rice bowls flavors that you can choose from in the store: from chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, and fish to Asian cuisine, Filipino favorites, and more! Their best sellers are Bagoong Rice with Pork Asado and Mongolian Mixed Rice. They also have desserts which include deep-fried Oreos, cakes, muffins, and other sweets. They offer Pepsi products and Mug Root Beer for drinks, as well as blue lemonade and house blend iced tea. Occasionally, they also offer Del Monte Pineapple Juice.
My personal favourites are the fish steak, bagoong rice with pork asado, Mediterranean beef rice, Hainanese chicken, and burrito rice. Sometimes, they run out of green mango for their bagoong rice, but they will make it up to you by adding more eggs. Being their best sellers, these flavors sometimes get sold out really fast, and I recommend you go there really early to try these.
Food Quantity and Quality: 9/10
As the name suggests, it is a bowlful of rice and toppings! And they are consistent with their serving size. You can never go wrong with whatever you decide to get from them. When it comes to flavor, SurpRice knows how to please their regulars. They try to keep the flavor as authentic as they can (especially the kimchi, Hainanese chicken, and burrito rice) while making sure that it pleases the Filipino taste buds as well. They give you the experience of different flavors all around the world while letting you keep that home-grown taste craving.
Service Speed and Quality: 9/10
What I like about their service quality is the friendliness and politeness of the staff. They always talk to you, building rapport and such, to make sure there is customer engagement. I also like how consistent they are with serving the food, regardless of the number of regulars. They know how to set expectations about how long you need to wait for your food, and they make follow-ups should your food arrive late.
Place Interior and Ambience: 9/10
SurpRice is not a fancy restaurant, but rather a humble diner, a local fast food shop if you will. The interior is very cozy, with minimalist designs. The walls are painted beige with simple, yet clever, quotes about food and hunger. It is a perfect place chill and enjoy your meal. The place does not have Wi-Fi as well, which for some may be a bad thing, but no, because it lets you socialize with your friends without the distraction of online notifications.
Overall Review: 9/10
Despite ruining my no-rice diet for a few months while I was in Tacloban City, Surprice will always be my favorite place to eat there. The friendliness of the staff, the awesome selection of food, the affordability and the superb flavors of their product will surely make me go back there. If you are a fan of rice topping, this is heaven for you. If not, then, this will convert you to become one of us. So when you visit Tacloban City, do not forget to visit this awesome food place in Burgos Street!
Wonderlost 
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