Backdoor Blues Cafe restaurant & blues bar

Last Wednesday, Backdoor Blues Cafe finally re-opened and had Jook Jam baptize its weekly gig nights on Saturday after a hiatus from the blues and restaurant scene. I'm one of the regulars who were anxiously waiting for its resurgence because I've been missing my favorites on the menu for much too long.



When Backdoor Blues Cafe was open at its old venue along Maginhawa Ave., it was also home to me and my friends every Saturday night as we imbibed the live music and admired some of our country's top musicians and performers.

I'm not kidding. They really are top caliber.

In addition to being a patron, I am also involved with the establishment. Check out the lomowall I built that doubles as the backdrop for the live performances. I might put up a smaller version with square format images.


With that being said, I'll focus on dishes that I recommend (yes, my favorites!) and my friends absolutely love.

On Backdoor Blues Cafe's soft opening, I went straight to the 3rd floor of Amaremca Bldg. along Kalayaan Ave. in Quezon City, which it now calls home. I immediately ordered one of its best-sellers, Cream Peppercorn Chops (Php 155), of which I forgot to take a picture before ravaging my plate.

Cream Peppercorn Chops is a staple among family and friends. It's meat, it's yum and it's filling. You can never go wrong.


That night I ordered Egg Foo Yong (Php 130), one of Backdoor Blues Cafe's most loved dishes, and Fish Fillet in Pesto Aligue (Php 155), a new addition, to take home with me. The fish was for my mother, while I ate the Egg Foo Yong for lunch the next day.


My friends go crazy over this special oriental-inspired omelet. They order one Egg Foo Yong after another and would go to Backdoor Blues Cafe just for that. It's famous in its own right.


Of course I didn't miss the first gig on Saturday night, with Kakoy Legaspi, Chester Manalang, Ruben Flores and Joric Maglanque aka Delta Slim composing Jook Jam for Backdoor Blues Cafe's opening party.


Before I even got to order, my friends and I were enticed to try the chocolate-flavored 80-proof vodka from Turkey. We couldn't pronounce the name, which was a bad thing.

Now, I'm not a vodka person myself, but we were feeling extra celebratory, and the vodka piqued our interest.

Curiosity didn't kill the cats, but it seemed to have killed a lot of bacteria in my innards. My mouth was ablaze with a tinge of chocolate aftertaste. How perplexing indeed!

A favorite pulutan: Potato Marbles Php 95

Did we get another round? Nah, we weren't that hardcore, but Jack Daniels, my super duper favorite liquor, kept me company for the rest of the night.

Not before we ordered some food, of course. I had the Egg Foo Yong again, while C got the Fish Fillet in Pesto Aligue, which he is so crazy about lately.


I know, where's the variety? But these two are the winning dishes that you can't say no to. Looking back now, I could've ordered Salpicado Bulalo or Beef Steak Melt. Yup, it's Backdoor Blues Cafe's Filipino take on Philadelphia Cheese Steak. But there is always next time.

No Smoking inside the restaurant except on gig nights.
There are al fresco tables by the balcony.

I'm going back for my other favorites, including Tofu Heaven, and I've been dying to try Crispy Pork Adobo Sandwich. I'll surely do so on Saturday, when PLUG is playing.

I love this blues-rock band with its members Emy Rodil, Rusty Magcalas and Julpril Santiago. They always entertain. Their music is fantastic, and their guitarist, Chester "The Lickmeister" Manalang , will drive you crazy with his improvs and own version of Jeff Beck's masterpieces such as Definitely Maybe and Cause We've Ended As Lovers.

For more information on the event, go to the Facebook post on PLUG Live at Backdoor Blues Cafe.

My favorite spot

Backdoor Blues Cafe is open from 11am onwards, serving lunch and dinner. It is located on the 3rd Floor of Amaremca Building, 107-A Kalayaan Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. On the ground floor, you will see Woorijib Korean restaurant at street level. You can email backdoorbluescafe@yahoo.com or contact (0926) 6173108.

Here's a map to Backdoor Blues Cafe.
You can check out their menu: front menu back menu