We happen to be lucky enough to live in a place where there’s still an abundance of legit street food. We have vendors roaming the streets selling all sorts of Filipino merienda like taho, balut, fishballs, mais con yelo, halo-halo, green mangoes with bagoong, and, of course, binatog.
Binatog is made of white corn kernels that have been soaked in salted water, boiled, drained, and then topped with grated coconut. You can choose if you want sugar with it or a little salt.
For the past weeks, I’ve been craving for it and I was already getting frustrated. The vendor who sells it on a bike passes our house too quickly that I haven’t had the chance to catch up to him. And, so, over a week ago, determined to finally satisfy my craving, I tasked my shop assistant and our helper to call the vendor when he passes by our house. Yeah, that’s how much I wanted it. 😀
Unlike the taho and balut vendors, the people who sell binatog on the streets don’t yell out “binatoooggg”. Or at least not here or at our old place in Navotas. Binatog vendors have this very distinct bell ring whenever they’re passing by. So, that afternoon, my ears were on alert. 😀
And then I heard that oh-so familiar bell ring. I literally yelled out from inside my room to tell our helper Ate Susan, who was currently ironing clothes at our living room, to go and call out the vendor. Well, she didn’t hear me, but good thing my assistant was on alert mode too. 😀
“FINALLY!”, I exclaimed at manong (sorry, “sa wakas!” was too dramatic 😀 ). I told him he should slow down next time, so we can all keep up with him. 😀 I bought binatog for everyone! Of course, following the tradition, I brought out our own bowls for him to fill up. The contents of the white bowl cost me a measly Php 20, and he was VERY generous with the grated coconut. I bought Php 50 worth of binatog from him that afternoon.
I love my binatog with sugar. The binatog we bought was still nice and hot, so the sugar quickly melted. I hastily took photos ’cause I already wanted to gobble them up. 😀 And when I finally took a spoonful of it, I was indulged by the slight crunch of the corn kernels. Yum!
Craving satisfied! But, writing about it now makes me want to buy binatog again for merienda later. The simple joys of life. 😉
Do you like binatog? Or have you tried it? When was the last time you had binatog? Comment away! 🙂
I don’t recall having a binatog vendor in our neighborhood when I was a kid so I haven’t tried this yet. But it looks so darn good, and you’re making me crave for it, only I don’t know where to get it. *sigh*
Someone on Facebook said SM Food court has this. Not sure what stores / stalls though. Pero mas masaya sana kung sa street vendor talaga! But, you should try it! 🙂
That’s looks good! Nakakamiss… I should learn how to cook it.
It’s easy to make naman so kaya mo yan! But, nothing beats yung galing sa naglalako hehehe.
waaaah!!! miss ko na yan!! ahuhuhu… sana pag nakauwi ako maka-timing ako nyan.
i like it with salt. 🙂
Hmmm… ang dami nyong gusto sya with salt. Ma-try nga ulit. ^_^
Hi, Mhel! Binatog is one of my favorite street food! Pero gusto kong nilalagyan ng kaunting butter, at maraming grated coconut at sugar, yummmy! =)
Butter? Bago yun ah! And yayyy! Finally, someone who prefers it with sugar din 🙂
I lurve binatog with salt. Kahit sa corn on the cob, with salt din. 😀 Gosh, I miss this! When I read this in my email subscription I was hoping that you’ll be featuring a binatog stall in the mall. I think I only saw the binatog vendor here in our area twice.
Corn on the cob, gusto ko salt. Hehehe I want to try this with salt tuloy ’cause a lot of you are saying you prefer yun. 😀
We’ll see if we can find a stall sa mall. 🙂
I havn’t tried that kind of binatog. Â Iba ata yung natikman namin sa Baguio. =( Sana magkaroon ng ganyan sa malls para matry ko rin.Â
Someone said there’s a stall daw in SM selling binatog.
Wow really?  Haven’t seen one though.  Wonder what the name of the establishment/stall is.Â
I miss eating binatog and these are the food i missed when i started  night shift. 🙁
Awww…. I can completely relate. I used to work at night (okay, I still work at night, but my work’s online now) so I’m sound asleep in the afternoon when the binatog vendor usually passes by our house.
We have the same sentiments Mhel, hehe – ang hirap-hirap habulin ni Manong na nagbebenta ng binatog, haha… Naka-bike kasi eh… This is one of my comfy food during my younger days… My merienda food along with, ginataan, bananaque, kamoteque, and kamote fries… I wonder though, why they sell it after lunch or around siesta time sa tangahali mga around 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM, and hindi ko sila nakikitang naglalako during weekends? 🙂
I told manong nga na para kayong di nagbebenta sa bilis. Hahaha. Now, I can hear him ringing his bell profusely when passing by our home :))
Awwww namiss ko naman bigla lahat yan. Good thing my nanay cooks really delicious ginataan…. but the banana que and kamote que, I seldom see any here na. Sa me palengke lang meron, which is a tricycle away.
Baka day off nila ng weekends. Heheheh 😛
 Woooow… I feel so… not filipino. HAHA! This is the first time that I’ve heard of this. WOULD TRY IT OUT! XD
Oh my hahahaha. You’re the first one who said they haven’t heard of binatog. You should try it!! :))
Ang sarap! Nakakamiss kumain ng ganito!Â
Korak!
it’s one of my favorite food …. Â
Would you know kung san nakakabili ng mais na ginagamit for binatog? There’s no binatog vendor here in our place and last resort ko gumawa na lang hehe.
Hmmm… honestly, I don’t know where to buy it. But, I remember seeing white corn kernels nung nasa palengke kami dito samin. Baka they have it sa palengke rin jan sis.
i love binatog. unfortunately, wla akong nakikitang nagtitinda ng ganun sa area namin but everytime i go to baguio, buying a couple of cups of binatog is something i always look forward to.:) yummmeehhhh!
Uy, we were in Baguio in March, wala akong nakitang binatog. Hirap ata hanapin talaga mga tindero nito hehehe.
they sell binatog here at SM Molino, Cavite. Â Php30 ung big size na nila na nkalagay sa paper bowl (bout the size of lucky me cup noodles big) nilalagyan nila ng evap milk then choose ka if you want sugar or salt tpos marami rin grated coconut. yummy!Â
I haven’t tried this with evap milk. Di ba nakakaulaw or nakakasawa agad?Â
I just discovered your blog yesterday and I’m now a follower of your site, GREAT JOB! I just want to share that you should try binatog with whipped cream, definitely better than using condensed milk. Yummy…
Wow, nice touch! Cge, I’ll try that next time. I wish matyempuhan ulit namin ang tindero ng binatog. ^_^ Thank you! 🙂